In.Motion

Quickly, before we start, think up a short, working definition for Prudent or Prudence.

Got it? . . . Good.

Now, didn’t we all hear that word growing up in movies and stuff. The really edgy kid who wants to do something bad to look cool would say this to the kinda nerdy kid who doesn’t want to drink beer or get in trouble. Think Judd Nelson talking to Molly Ringwald in “The Breakfast Club”.

No one wants to be the prude.

Why?

No one wants to be left out . . . but that’s another post entirely.

My point is this: I think that our view of prudence is vastly different than its original intent. We have taken this concept, that could save us a lot of trouble if we gave it some weight in our lives, and made it into something that isn’t desired. Why do I bring this up? Well, I’m glad you asked.

Proverbs 1:3-4
[In reference to seeking/attaining wisdom}
“(3)for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair; (4) for giving prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young.”

Think back to your definition of prudent. Maybe you though of phrases like “No Fun” or “Lame” or maybe a good ole’ fashioned “Stick in the Mud”. Whatever your definition was, it probably doesn’t have a positive connotation. Here’s what it really means:

Prudent – acting with or showing care and thought for the future.

Interesting.

There’s no mention of missing out on things, or letting fun/mischievous events pass us by. Having prudence in our lives means that we are living with regard to our future. The decisions we make today effect where we are down the road, and prudence means that we are all to aware of this.

Solomon mentions this word twice, very closely together. This has got to be a point he wants us to really take hold of. He has seen how little decisions can become something that we didn’t see back when. To seek wisdom is, then, to seek prudence. To always consider, “In light of my future, what is the wise thing to do?”.

So, I urge you to take a few minutes and consider your future. Don’t try to control it or plan every detail, but think about the man/woman you want to become and think about what needs to happen for you to get there. Then, begin to live your life in such a way that will aid in your walk there.

One.Love

cd

I’ve been trying out this new way of doing my Qt’s and I think it is really helping me with being focused and really digging into what I’m reading. I read over it in this book, which talks about the process in more depth than I really need to know honestly. I just heard about it from a friend, and browsed over it the other day in the bookstore.

Here’s the basics: It’s foundation is the SOAP method. I’m not sure if you’ve heard of it before, but it merely stands for the order of how you take scripture in. Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer. I think the most important part of this whole process is how you start. Before you even open your Bible, take a moment to pray that God would show you one thing. Just one thing. Just one piece of something that you can really focus on and try and unfold. That’s where my problem has been. My mind wanders a lot, ask SB. So, when I can really focus on something, it helps immensely, and this process not only allows me to really take in what I’m reading, but It encourages me to apply what I read to my life.

If this all doesn’t make sense, allow me to share with you my entry from tonight . . .

Scripture: Mark 10:43-44 “Instead, whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all” (NIV).

Observation: This was a revolutionary idea. I don’t think anyone have ever emphasized or encouraged servanthood as a way to lead or to build up leaders. Using serving as your motivation to lead eliminates pride, envy, and other destructive things ego fosters. As a servant, your focus is helping and coming alongside/under who ever you are serving. Serving lightens the load for someone and encourages/elevates others. When people can see that your motive is to help and serve themselves and others, they feel appreciated and respected.

Application: When I think “Is this my job?”, I need to refocus and serve. No questions asked. I want to be able to see where I can serve daily. I need to stop hesitating and asking questions and just start doing. This won’t be easy or fun, but it is essential to becoming a leader that is focused on Christ.

Prayer: Jesus, I ask that You would open my eyes to opportunities where I can serve. How can I do more than just slide by? Give me places to offer more to You and others. Allow me to love the people I couldn’t on my own. Le my motives come form a desire to serve. Show me what hold me back from being able to fully allow myself to serve, so that I can work and grow.

What are you reading?

One.Love

cd

So, I’ve been reading lately in Acts. You know, the first happenings of the Church after Christ rose with Peter and John and those guys. I’ve noticed a few things in my reading. But before I get there, I want to tell you guys about a book I’ve been slowly working my way through a book since Big Stuf called UnChristian by David Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons. It basically a book full of very in depth research from the Barna Group about what the world really thinks about the Church. What they found is that if you look at what the Church is supposed to look like, as individual people and as the collective body of Christ, we apparently don’t match up.

People don’t see a bunch of good people who get up early on Sunday to listen to stories and worship God. They see, according to the reliable and vast research, hypocrites who only care about converting people and telling people that “being gay sends you to hell”. The see a group of people who are sheltered from the culture around them, who are too politically minded and who are just waiting for opportunities to judge and point out wrongs in people (that’s all without looking within themselves).

Not pretty, is it? This hit me pretty hard. I know all of us, at one time or another with most of these, can admit to have had these be things in our lives. Maybe, if we dared to be honest enough, we are too comfortable with some of these things to let them go. We don’t like change, yet we love normalcy. We love finding what’s easy and coasting with it. However, this one question stands: Who ever said living like the true Body of Christ was going to be easy or comfortable?

So, this leads me back to Acts. I wanted to see and read for myself what it looked like to be the Church, in it’s truest form. Like I said, the book of Acts follows the story of the Apostles and the early followers of Jesus immediately after Jesus rose. Think about that. We’re in a time where, not very long ago at all, quite a lot of people were witness to some of the most amazing things in history. Healings. Miracles. True Love. People had first hand contact with Him and His personal ministry. I’ve made a few observations about the first Church that we should take heed to today . . .

1. They were Selfless – These people were truly a body. If someone had a need, it was met. It wasn’t recognized as in “Bob gave Ted a mattress for his son. How great is Bob for doing this?” These people understood that it is about community, and not individual efforts. They were motivated by something greater than themselves, and not by pride or a desire to be known. Thats because they all knew from the deepest parts of themselves that the One who rules the universe cares for them deeply and they are known there more intimately than they could ever know (redundant, ehh?).

2. They were Bold – Several times in the early part of the book, the Sadducees confronted and imprisoned the Apostles and other followers for speaking about Christ and His life. One time, (after they all had been taken to Jail, only to be let out in the middle of the night by an angel) Peter and John were called back to go before the Sanhedrin. Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, then proceeds to bring the heat to the council. This caused a man named Gamaliel to take a step back and think about all of what’s happening. What he said blows my mind, “Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.” Peter was bold enough to speak the life of Christ, no matter what. His word never returns to you void when you preach the truth. God is faithful to be true to what he has said, and that seems to be all the confidence we need.

I could go on, but I’ll stop there for now. But I’ll leave you with this question:

What needs to be different in YOUR life for you to look more like the true bride of Christ?

One.Love

cd

NOTE: Be on the lookout for the 200th post, which is the 2nd Super Fun Big Centennial Contest! If you don’t know what this might look like, check out the last one here. The prize is gonna be sweet. Thanks for being awesome.