During the recent Wimbledon Championships, US Davis Cup captain Jim Courier made a fascinating point.
Courier told his television audience that Bulgaria's Grigor Dmitrov has patterned his game after Roger Federer.
Here's what Courier means.
Federer's Serve:
Dmitrov's Serve:
Federer's Forehand:
Dmitrov's Forehand:
Federer's Backhand:
Dmitrov's Backhand:
Uncanny, isn't it? Note that even the racket is identical.
Now: you could say that a tennis player couldn't possibly choose a better role model than Roger Federer. And you'd be right.
However, Courier made a terrific point on the broadcast: "I've never seen a champion who just mimicked someone else. At some point you've got to develop your own style."
Painful (if you're Grigor Dmitrov) but true.
And then I realized the same is true of ministry. The more a pastor tries to be a replica of Celebrity Preacher Who's Hot and the more a church tries to adopt the Latest Church Model, the less authentic the whole experience becomes.
I know it because I've tried it.
It's much better to develop your own style and let God magnify that for his glory.
Whether it's on the court or in the sanctuary.
Courier told his television audience that Bulgaria's Grigor Dmitrov has patterned his game after Roger Federer.
Here's what Courier means.
Federer's Serve:
Dmitrov's Serve:
Federer's Forehand:
Dmitrov's Forehand:
Federer's Backhand:
Dmitrov's Backhand:
Uncanny, isn't it? Note that even the racket is identical.
Now: you could say that a tennis player couldn't possibly choose a better role model than Roger Federer. And you'd be right.
However, Courier made a terrific point on the broadcast: "I've never seen a champion who just mimicked someone else. At some point you've got to develop your own style."
Painful (if you're Grigor Dmitrov) but true.
And then I realized the same is true of ministry. The more a pastor tries to be a replica of Celebrity Preacher Who's Hot and the more a church tries to adopt the Latest Church Model, the less authentic the whole experience becomes.
I know it because I've tried it.
It's much better to develop your own style and let God magnify that for his glory.
Whether it's on the court or in the sanctuary.
Talbot I want you to know that your style is what has 100% improved my walk with our Lord. I have read the Bible all the way through before due to some "Disciple" classes that I have taken, which were excellent. But after your last series I decided to dig in deeper and commit to reading God's word on a daily basis which is something I have promised myself that I would do for a long time. I gave up watching GMA in the mornings and replaced it with reading the Bible. I haven't missed GMA once and am not only understanding the Bible better with the NIV notes but also am excited and looking forward to reading each day and often have a difficult time finding a good stopping place so I can get to work. I am mostly following the notes that you give in the bulletin and am just fascinated with what I find now that I missed before. Thank you for being the kind of pastor that you are! And you are so right about what you do in the mornings sets the tone for the day:)
ReplyDelete