My Own Personal Mahaney Mentor
Adrian Warnock just published a very short but helpful interview with author and Covenant Life church pastor, Josh Harris. Josh Harris has had the privilege, blessing, and (I'm sure) challenge of being mentored by CJ Mahaney and then eventually taking over his pulpit. Just like Tim Challies, I too find myself jealous of his relationship with CJ. However, just like CJ did for him years ago, Harris directs us to our local church. Looking at my relationship that I take for granted with so many in my life, I would be wrong and not appreciating the sovereignty of God in bringing my life into contact with so many Godly men and women to leaern from them away from the national eye. Likewise I would be amiss if I did not think that there was anything to be learned from the Godly men/authors out there, the three most impactful in my life being Mahaney, Piper, and MacArthur. As Harris says, "I wish I could clone CJ so that 5,000 young guys like me could have their own private Mahaney Mentor. But it's not possible. What is possible is to read his books." I strongly recommend reading Adrian's interview.In a recent assignment in school, I was assigned to develop a "Tapestry of Influence". This is a collage of those who have most impacted me. I found it interested that not one of those what had most shaped me was a national guy, despite the great impact that they have in my life. Every one of those people are people with whom I have personal relationship, a person who God sovereignly brought into my life at the perfect time in the perfect way to seek to perfect me. What a gracious God.
What a gracious God to give me men like this:
- Walter Crutchfield
- Nacho Gonzalez
- Jose Lopez
- Manuel de la Cruz
- Scott Maxwell
- Kirt Mellberg
- Kiki Hantla
- Jeff Hantla
- Tom Angstead
- Matt Dodd
Each of these has impacted me in a great way. Perhaps I will devote a later blog to discuss how God has used each of these guys in shaping my life