Archive for June, 2008
UNLEASHING YOUR INNER WARRIOR: 3 Tips for Modern Day Wimps
I am so tired of email forwards. I receive at least three every single day. That’s over a thousand chain letters, photos of kittens, annoying limericks, scroll to see the answer, fake virus, disguised commercials, and pieces of outright misinformation every year.
I am so ready for a National Do-Not- Email-Me- Forwards-Anymore list.
Email forwards tend to give the author an inflated sense of courage. All of a sudden a normal everyday wimp somewhere in cyberspace becomes an eloquent albeit anonymous critic of a politician, purveyor of financial savvy, or proponent of the latest computer hoax.
I believe that inside every one of us is a warrior that’s just waiting to be unleashed. A focused, hard-working warrior that is determined and courageous. Hopefully we have the desire to create more than anonymous email forwards!
The question is: What is it you wish to create? What is your passion? What is your dream? Why is it that your dream and reality seem so far apart?
Author Erwin McManus wrote in his book Barbarian Way,
In Exodus 14:13 (CSB) we find Moses telling his people, “Don’t be afraid. Stand firm and see the LORD’s salvation He will provide for you today.”
I think there are three warrior tips here for modern day wimps:
1) SET IMPOSSIBLE GOALS
Since God is in control clearly we have nothing to fear. Therefore we can allow the warrior in us to set goals that seem impossible to others. The warrior’s not afraid because he knows who is backing him.
Just because a goal seems impossible to others or even to yourself does not mean it is not worth pursuing. Some of the greatest inventors of our country have set seemingly impossible goals, failed many times in pursuing them, and finally struck gold.
Thomas Edison once said, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” What a great attitude for those warriors who will dare to set impossible goals.
2) FOCUS ON YOUR STRENGTHS
The warrior does not win battles by constantly worrying over his weaknesses and insecurities. The warrior picks his best weapon, puts on his best armor, and forges headstrong into battle. Likewise you win the daily battle when you focus on your strengths and live out God’s purpose for your life.
3) TAKE ACTION – YOU DO NOT FIGHT ALONE!
Finally, you must take action. Sitting on the bench your entire life is about as exciting as sitting in a traffic jam: you’re not going anywhere and you’re frustrated all the time. At some point you must take the off-ramp!
Surely one of our greatest barriers is in over-planning and under-executing. We take aim, aim, aim… and never get the shot off. Dare to experiment and fail sometimes. Realize that since you do not fight alone the Lord is providing your strength, your ability to achieve your goals, and the ability to recover even after failure. Take aim – and then be willing to fire!
Look beyond the mundane wimp stealing your life and let the mighty warrior unleash the destiny for which God has created you.
BLOG BONUS FREE DOWNLOAD: Unleashing Your Warrior Message Notes (PDF)
Keep your eye on the ball!
I once was the best pitcher tee-ball had ever seen. My skills in baseball were simply amazing. The truth is I was pretty bad.
One day at practice I held my glove facing up to receive a toss from my buddy. You know what comes next – that hard baseball bounced out of the glove and hit me right in the eye. That was the biggest black eye I’d ever had – I recall the ER staff asking my dad again and again how it happened.
One of my recurring problems in sports whether racquetball, basketball, baseball, or now golf is that I have a tendency to take my eye off of the ball. And in these sports – where the ball is located is pretty important!
Ever since the “Southern Baptist Declaration on the Environment and Climate Change” was released back in March I’ve been struggling with the issue of going green. I believe in conserving resources and being a good steward of what God has given to us.
I use flourescent lightbulbs in every possible fixture in my home and office. I intermittently recycle. I conserve gasoline by doing all grocery shopping once per month. I do not leave lights on and I conserve water when I shave. All of my computers are Energy Star compliant and go to sleep after 3 hours.
Yeah – I’m a pretty amazing guy.
But seriously, I never thought of this as a reaction to my faith – it just seemed to be the right thing to do. I never expected that I would need to make a religious statement on the issue. It saddened me that in a world brimming with people absent of the hope of Christ in their daily lives that we’d attract so much media attention over something so unrelated to our purpose.
Research released today by Ed Stetzer’s Lifeway Research team shows that many pastors think global warming and the focus of creation care is overstated.
I’m afraid we’ve taken our eyes off of the ball if we think any social, political, or economic issue trumps the central purpose of why we exist – “for the propagation of the gospel“. (from 1845 SBC charter)
Our denomination’s black eye is the steady decline nationwide in baptisms and membership.
My prayer for the church is that we’ll drop the social, political, and economic agendas and get back on-mission in our local communities, states, North America, and the ends of the earth.
-c
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
- Acts 1:8 CSB
About
Clark Frailey is a husband, father, and Lead Pastor of Coffee Creek Baptist Church in Edmond, Oklahoma.
clarkfrailey.com
