The other day, I was watching John Piper interview Rick Warren about the Purpose Driven Life (which you should check out), and it took me back to the moment I first read the book. It was given to me by my youth pastor, Danny Anderson, during my youth ministry internship with him.
I was so intrigued by the interview that I decided to re-read through Purpose Driven Life. I went to my office to pick it up and I saw a notebook inside. I had completely forgotten that Danny had given the book to study and take notes on. As I thumbed through the pages, I remembered just how special this book was.
He had given me his copy with all his handwritten notes in the side.
This is one of the most special books on my bookshelf for that reason. Not only do I get to see where Rick’s words took him, as he wrote parallel Scriptures and notes, but it is a tangible reminder of the legacy Danny holds in my life.
What do I remember about him?
1. He always, always shared Scripture with me. Not just Scripture, though; Scripture he memorized. He showed me that it wasn’t enough just to read the Bible – you need to hide it in your heart.
2. He was ultra-focused on what matters most. What matters most? Jesus, and how we can introduce Him to everyone around us! And when I was too insider-focused, he pulled me aside to help me re-focus. I’ll never forget that.
3. He invested one-on-one time with me. He helped me understand the Bible. He taught me about ministry. He asked me the hard questions. He was available.
What do you want people to remember about you? If you were to ask people today, what would they say?