{"id":77,"date":"2007-07-12T13:41:00","date_gmt":"2007-07-12T13:41:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/chadstutzman.net\/?p=77"},"modified":"2007-07-12T13:41:00","modified_gmt":"2007-07-12T13:41:00","slug":"personal-growth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chadstutzman.com\/?p=77","title":{"rendered":"Personal Growth"},"content":{"rendered":"

My personal mission statement is “Growing in Faith, Character & Leadership” To me the most important part of that statement<\/span> is the first word; “Growing”. Growing means that I am learning, changing, adapting, failing, planning, attempting new things, going, doing, thinking and focusing.<\/p>\n

If I am not growing then I am declining. I want to grow in my personal faith, becoming more intimate with my Lord. I want to know Him and experience His presence and learn His ways.<\/p>\n

I also want to grow in character, which usually happens through adversity. I want to be known for the character qualities others see in me, not the accomplishments. Qualities like dependability, flexibility, patience, responsible, determined, gentle, wisdom, discernment and courageous.<\/p>\n

I want to grow in leadership as well. To become a better leader with t<\/span>he people that I have influence with. Leadership is about influence and I want my influence to grow. I want to be the leader that God created me to be. To step out and take chances and live life to the fullest.<\/p>\n

So how do I grow? One way is I read a lot of books. I love to learn from other people. The more I read the more I grow in knowledge and understanding. I just finished three books I had been reading over the last couple of months. Each of those books challenged me in a different way. It fed my desire to become a better husband, employee, pastor, friend and Christ-follower.<\/p>\n

Reading is very important in growing. Remember as a child how reading played a significant role in your development. In school I had to read, in college I had to read even more. Now I read because I want to. I read books on leadership, Christianity, discipleship, business and management. I also read fiction, usually stories about ordinary and extraordinary people. My favorite fiction writer is John Grisham<\/span>, my favorite non fiction author is Erwin McManus<\/span>.<\/p>\n

As important as reading is in personal growth, so is going and doing what what I read. I need to put into practice what I am learning or it is wasted. If I read the Bible and don’t do what it says, all that reading is wasted. My challenge to you is to Grow. Don’t stay where you are at spiritually, emotionally<\/span> or intellectually<\/span>. Read, listen to Cd’s<\/span>, watch DVDs<\/span> whatever works for you, but don’t stop learning and growing. The more you grow the more God can use you.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

My personal mission statement is “Growing in Faith, Character & Leadership” To me the most important part of that statement is the first word; “Growing”. Growing means that I am learning, changing, adapting, failing, planning, attempting new things, going, doing, thinking and focusing. If I am not growing then I am declining. I want to … <\/p>\n

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