Soaking in the right stuff (as Christian leaders)

An important point here made by Scot McKnight about what pastors and church leaders are reading, and reading alot of.

Are Christian leaders reading and soaking in the newest trends or the old story of the gospel? Are we (me included) absorbing the right stuff? I have failed many times over in this area.

Dallas Willard once said that the most important thing he ever did in life was at a young age spend enormous amounts of time in the scriptures - sometimes days. He said it is what most influenced his life! (read The Great Omission for more on this)

Recently reading Eugene Peterson's The Jesus Way as he slowly walks through the life of Abraham, Moses, David, Elijah, and others. He gives you the sense he's lived and walked with them. The focus on a word, and event, a phrase, their character. Makes you wonder if you even know any character in the Scriptures well. But Peterson spent the better part of his life - before he or The Message became popular - soaking in the Bible (in story, words, phrases, culture, language). Was a refreshing reminder how much joy and meaning there is in the scriptures.