Living to Leave this Legacy
Leaders,
Lessons and Libraries
John S. Oliver
Begun march 28, 2006 and last
revised April 2, 2006
Many people have observed that I am a driven man. That is easy to see. What is not so obvious is what motivates me at the deepest places of my mind and heart. Here are the three key terms. The most bottom line is that at the end of my life I wish to leave a legacy of Leaders, Lessons and Libraries.
Note that I am single and I have never been married. Unlike most people I know I do not have children and grandchildren. For me to leave a mark on future generations I feel deeply committed to invest the best of my time and talents to leave a legacy of Leaders, Lessons and Libraries.
When I am very prayerful, still and reflective the word that stirs my soul the most is ‘posterity’. I sense a responsibility and compassion for many thousands of souls that will be born long after I am gone.
In my opinion the greatest need in the body of Christ is for more and better lay leaders.
This includes youth, men and women.
There needs to be many affordable and accessible ways for those in the pews to lead.
The Great Commission is a massive and on-going challenge.
The Lord Jesus Christ has commissioned every believer to share in this divine assignment.
There will never be enough seminary-trained pastors to do all the work needed.
Previously lay people that were motivated to gain more knowledge and skills had to pay.
There have been books, workbooks and seminars that had a price tag.
The Internet has forever changed the communication landscape.
It is easy and cheap to download PDF text files, MP3 audio and PowerPoint slide shows.
Paul exhorted Timothy to teach teachers who will teach. (2 Timothy 2:2)
I exhort pastors, elders and seminarians to lead leaders who will lead.
My opened-ended challenge is to provide ways to equip the saints.
Not every person will become a leader but there needs to be easy ways to become one.
God has given me contact and favor with dozens of seminary students and graduates.
These people often desire to minister more than the local church gives opportunity.
They will be my adjunct faculty in exchange for a feedback from others.
Those who encounter the free teachings will be invited to send constructive comments.
They will be invited to pray for them and send donations.
God can use this to connect them with those who will invite them to be guest speakers.
God had granted to me dozens of lessons that I feel compelled to offer the body of Christ.
I have developed some in to essays that I have given to friends and posted on the web.
I have outlines and rough drafts for many dozen more.
These lessons will be shared over the web platform that is part of Four Bridges.
I will give an account to the Lord Jesus Christ to have faithfully taught what He taught me.
This will also set a precedent and serve as a model for other teachers on Four Bridges.
I have lived a difficult and complicated life.
Along the way I have experienced major disappointments with nearly every institution.
These include public schools, colleges and corporate employers.
I have felt deeply disappointed in how they took my time and energy but gave little back.
They had agendas, traditions and policies that did not serve their clients or purposes well.
Lots of studies from many sources have documented the kinds of problems they had.
They talked about reforms but very little improvement ever happened.
By contrast I have been repeatedly delighted about my experiences with libraries.
As a child my mother took my brother and me to the public library often.
We enjoyed our times there and borrowed many materials.
During my teen years I rarely went to a library.
But from my mid twenties until now in my early 50s I go to libraries frequently.
Currently I work in the library of a seminary and often go the library of my home church.
There have been many years when most of my non-employment hours were in a public library.
There are many things that are appealing about a library.
The price to access the resources is free contrasted to a bookstore.
There are quiet and private places to read, study, think, reflect and pray.
There are no unrealistic deadlines to have read a book and written a report like in school.
A person can go at their own pace and explore any subject instead of following a syllabus.
From doing this over the decades I have learned to think in interdisciplinary ways.
Our society is changing rapidly in many ways all at the same time.
A person cannot afford the money to buy all the books and courses to keep up.
There are lots of videos that effectively present the educational materials well.
People spend a large percent of their income on entertainment.
Entertainment dollars that have been spent cannot go into the Kingdom of God or other needs.
However videos and other materials can be borrowed from a library for free.
Parents have a monstrous challenge to serve each child as they grow up.
A library can be a wonderful way to meet their education and entertainment needs for free.
My main focus for the short term is on leaders and lessons.
Later I will develop the passion I have to leave libraries.
I am not sure what that will look like.
I will be harnessing the best technologies and methods that will be available then.
I anticipate this will dominate my sunset years.
Like a church planter I will become a library planter.
I will develop systems and guidelines for libraries in churches, small groups and families.
Besides having accomplished all it takes to leave this legacy I seek to have the character qualities listed below. I do not want my workaholism to so consume me that my tasks are my only priority.
This is how I want to be remembered by those who knew me.
Appreciative
Approachable
Articulate
Bold
Caring
Courageous
Friendly
Generous
Gentle
Gracious
Hospitable
Humble
Insightful
Insightful
Inspirational
Intelligent
Jovial
Kind
Loving
Optimistic
Patient
Sensitive
Supportive
Thoughtful
Understanding
Wise
Zealous