American Underdog
I Can Only Imagine
Woodlawn

You don't have to be in ministry or be a missionary to serve God. All you can do is give God what's in your hands.

Our heads follow our heads, and we can communicate redemption straight to our hearts through beautiful art.

There is a powerful opportunity to change the culture through bravely engaging in art. We are giving up a powerful tool when we disengage from art in our culture.

When you give up a seat at the table in culture, the culture does not come chasing after you.

Your failure often can be your fuel. It's all about your perspective.

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Andrew Erwin
Kingdom Story Company

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Student Leadership University’s mission is to develop and equip student leaders to think, dream, and lead. We strive to instill future tense thinking; character-driven decision making; ownership of biblical values; and a commitment to influence through service.

Jingle Jangle on Netflix
Advent for Everyone - Josh Rutledge & Jennifer Nasser

A Paradigm for Traditions

Traditions are like a magnet that brings the family back together.

Traditions don't have to be "big".

One of the best gifts we can give the important people in our lives is the knowledge that they are a priority in our lives.

Traditions create opportunity for connection
Many of the great traditions of the Church create opportunities for our spiritual growth.
They help us grow, gather, and have fun.

Traditions create rhythms
They create memories for the journey.
People remember how you use the time you have with those you value in your life.
Memories help us journey well, and traditions help us create memories.

Traditions help us create communities
Traditions transfer from one generation to the next.

Traditions from Jeff and Brent

Jeff

Giving to homeless shelters

What it communicates:
Someone in a less fortunate situation deserves the same thing we get– not the leftovers.

Brent

Celebrating Advent

What it communicates:
We not only look back to the birth of Jesus we also look forward to the coming of Christ again.

Anticipating the coming of Jesus helps us filter our anticipating of other things.
It should inform our outlook as we anticipate everything else in our lives.

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Student Leadership University’s mission is to develop and equip student leaders to think, dream, and lead. We strive to instill future tense thinking; character-driven decision making; ownership of biblical values; and a commitment to influence through service.

Thanksgiving helps us prepare our hearts for Advent because being grateful for what we have helps us look forward to the coming of Jesus.

God created all aspects of Christmas, and the joy and fun of the season please God.

Jeff:
• Gingerbread options from The Grand Floridian, the biggest gingerbread house in the world.
• Holiday Popcorn

Brent:
• Homemade hot chocolate
• Christmas Truffles
• German Kolaches

Jeff:
• Similar to the Thanksgiving meal, a modification of some of the Thanksgiving food, but it's all about the sides.
• Apple upside-down cake.

Brent:
• Breakfast Christmas morning.
• Cinnamon Roll Bake

Jeff:

1. Christmas Vacation
2. Home Alone
3. Elf
4. The Christmas Story
5. Frosty the Snowman

Brent:

1. White Christmas
2. Scrooged
3. Elf
4. Disney's A Christmas Carol
5. Christmas Vacation

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Student Leadership University’s mission is to develop and equip student leaders to think, dream, and lead. We strive to instill future tense thinking; character-driven decision making; ownership of biblical values; and a commitment to influence through service.

Student Leadership University’s mission is to develop and equip student leaders to think, dream, and lead. We strive to instill future tense thinking; character-driven decision making; ownership of biblical values; and a commitment to influence through service.

Ten Steps to Your Best Life: Connecting the New Normal to the Ancient Wisdom of Jesus - Brent Crowe
The Ragamuffin Gospel - Brennan Manning
The Furious Longing of God - Brennan Manning

What if we were to invite Jesus into our problems?

This is not self-help. This is the Savior helping us to a better life.

A blue tarp is a temporary fix for something that could be become a lifelong problem.

It's okay to come to Jesus and admit that we're not okay. Jesus responds to us in kindness and tells us to come to him and find rest for his soul.

So we invite Jesus into our mess and he will give us rest.

This is a book for those who have tried souls.

Your best life is not what you do, it's not the highlights of your life. It's who you become in Jesus.

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Student Leadership University’s mission is to develop and equip student leaders to think, dream, and lead. We strive to instill future tense thinking; character-driven decision making; ownership of biblical values; and a commitment to influence through service.

His Truth Is Marching On: John Lewis and the Power of Hope - Jon Meacham and John Lewis
How Christianity Changed the World - Alvin J. Schmidt
A Hobbit, a Wardrobe, and a Great War: How J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis Rediscovered Faith, Friendship, and Heroism in the Cataclysm of 1914-18 - Joseph Loconte
How Christianity Changed the World - Alvin J. Schmidt
Letter from Birmingham Jail - Martin Luther King, Jr.
5 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME - The Imperial War Museums
Mythopoeia - J.R.R. Tolkien

Three ways to read history:

1. Read about events in history
2. Read about seasons of history
3. Read about persons in history

Don't only read literature that you agree with. It is important, as a leader to engage with events and people that you disagree with.

His Truth Is Marching On: John Lewis and the Power of Hope - Jon Meacham and John Lewis

In this section Jeff wrestles with what it means to still be inspired by someone even when you don't fully agree with all of their beliefs.

Just because you loose your role in an organization or movement does not mean you should leave the organization or movement.

Sometimes the people who start with you aren't the one's who end with you.

A Hobbit, a Wardrobe, and a Great War: How J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis Rediscovered Faith, Friendship, and Heroism in the Cataclysm of 1914-18 - Joseph Loconte

Read more about the Battle of the Somme -> 5 Things You Need to Know About the Battle of the Somme - The Imperial War Museums

Mythopoeia - J.R.R. Tolkien

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Student Leadership University’s mission is to develop and equip student leaders to think, dream, and lead. We strive to instill future tense thinking; character-driven decision making; ownership of biblical values; and a commitment to influence through service.

Time to Get Serious - Dr. Tony Evans
Knowing God - J. I. Paker
Holiness - J. C. Ryle
The Cross of Christ - John Stott
The Mission of God - Christopher J. H. Wright
Life Together - Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Spiritual Direction: Wisdom for the Long Walk of Faith - Henri J. M. Nouwen

We need other voices to come along side us to teach us about the truth of scripture.

Psalm 63: "Oh God you are my God..." - A good paradigm for looking for a devotional book that helps you with spiritual growth.

A good devotional book based on Psalm 63:

1. Stirs something inside you.
2. Helps you become more of who you are in Christ.
3. Contributes to a sense of awe and reverence for God.

A pilgrimage is the metaphor through which to understand discipleship.

What you do on the platform is determined by what you do in the prayer closet.

Your private faithfulness will dictate your public fruitfulness.

The Cross of Christ - John Stott

The Cross is undeniably at the center of human history.

The Cross of Christ is at the center of the Mission of God.

This is a book that can be read by a 15 or a 50 year old– and they will both get something good out of it.

A good book helps you grow in your faith and should be read more than once.

Spiritual Direction: Wisdom for the Long Walk of Faith - Henri J. M. Nouwen

The Five Core Questions of the Spiritual Life:

1. Who am I?
2. Where have a been and where am I going?
3. Who is God to me?
4. Where do I belong?
5. How can I be of service?

The practice of unceasing prayer:

1. Cry out to God our all our needs and requests
2. Turn our unceasing thoughts into a conversation with God
3. Learn to listen to God in our hearts through meditation

We must push away from the business of life.

We must always and continually go back to the basics.

Everyone you read has flaws, brokenness, and personal struggles. And this will either help or hinder their writing.

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Student Leadership University’s mission is to develop and equip student leaders to think, dream, and lead. We strive to instill future tense thinking; character-driven decision making; ownership of biblical values; and a commitment to influence through service.

Winning the War in your Mind - Craig Groeschel
Linchpin - Seth Godin
The Leadership Challenge - James M. Kouzes, Barry Z. Posner
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People - Stephen R. Covey
A Game Plan for Life - John Wooden
Servant Leadership in Action - Ken Blanchard

Leaders are readers.

Reading helps develop critical thinking skills that are applicable in every area of your life. Because, if you can't think critically, you'll never make wise decisions.

Reading helps you expand your vocabulary and imagination.

There is something amazing about taking a deep dive into the stories that are around us.

There's a lot of content but few great storytellers.

Benefits of Reading:

1. The ability to engage perspectives from diverse mindsets
2. Constant development of critical thinking skills
3. Serves as a catalyst for creativity
4. Expands our vocabulary
5. Prevents you from having a prideful heart
6. Gives an appreciation for the history of ideas

The Negatives of not Reading:

1. When we read only things we agree with, it can create an echo-chamber of our ideas.
2. You're less intelligent than those who make reading a life long habit.

Winning the War in your Mind - Craig Groeschel

We often perceive ourselves based on what society sees as successful. What is often sold to us as success is not what is best for us. But our lives can be driven by our most powerful thoughts.

Your thoughts are going to set you forwards or backwards, so we must work hard to keep our thoughts pure and praiseworthy.

Who you become in the future is in part determined by what you think today.

Linchpin - Seth Godin

How you can become an essential ingredient to your organization.

Don't endure your job, become essential in your job by balancing emotion and energy.

If it doesn't ship, it doesn't count and done is better than perfect.

Excellence does not equal perfection.

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