Action

I have been mesmerized by how many times we get stuck in bad thinking. I have discovered that many of us think that we will be judged by what we think and not by what we do. The old adage says, Actions speak louder than words and although I agree with that statement, I don't think it takes it far enough. I believe that words hold little weight at all in the eternal, rather action is the defining characteristic of us all. Many people get caught up in trying to define who they are, but really the legacy we leave will be based upon the actions that we take in this life. An interesting study on this thought is found in the book of James 2.
Every action that we take is speaking something. We can say a lot without opening our mouths or placing ink on a piece of paper. I pray that I will be slow to speak, but quick to act, for in so doing I display my faith. The true walk of faith is not to discuss how God is good, but to show how God is good. The true walk of faith is not to talk about how God gave, but to be one that gives out of the Love of God. The true walk of faith is not to live in fear of opinions and strap ourselves into a box, but live with the eternal in mind and actively pursue a life pleasing to God! I wonder how my day would change if I could not speak at all, but all I could do was act? What would people say about me if all they knew was what I did, not what I said I believe. A study in this would be to read the book of Acts, or the book of Actions. It is interesting to note that there was never a book written called the book of thoughts, simply because a good thought that is never placed into actions never changes culture!

Innovation

Yesterday while in the car on the long drive from St. Louis to Little Rock I watched as my 3 year old taught me a valuable lesson with his bobble head toy named wobble head. 8-) Reese kept dropping his toy and then he proceeded to try and discover unique ways to reach him to do it all over again. Little did he realize, but he was teaching a valuable lesson on innovation.

There is a statement that says, "Necessity is the mother of all invention." I believe this statement whole heartedly because there have been times in my life that I have discovered things out of necessity, but what I learned on our long trip yesterday in the car was something that I believe takes the step even a little further. If necessity is the mother of all invention, then I believe curiosity and desire are the creators of innovation.

What I have learned from my children, even though they do not know what they are doing sometimes, is that if they truly love something and desire to do something, it really will not matter what the stated rules are, they will find a way to do what they want to do. This immediately began to get my mind to wonder, at what age do we cease to lose our curiosity and desire and we align ourselves with the paradigm that is filled with reasons of why we can't? What would happen if we could stir our God given curiosity and pursue after our passions? What if the words, I can't, did not exist in our language. What innovations would spring up if we could open our minds and value creative ways to accomplish things. In doing this we could quite possibly change our realities through innovation.

I desire more than anything to never lose my curiosity. I hope I never become a part of the party that says that certain things can not be done. I hope I challenge myself to find innovative and creative ways to forge ahead into the 21st century that will spark momentum and passion into peoples lives to fulfill the purpose that God has for them.

The Power of a Question

Have you ever had a question that it just seemed you could not get answered?  We live in a world that no longer struggles trying to find information, but rather the true test of the day is to sift through a plethora of information until you find what you are really looking for.  The struggle is finding what it is that is needed in a fast paced hyperactive world.  The answer lies in something that seems very simple, yet it is more difficult than what one could imagine.  To get the right answer we must be willing to ask the right question.   The scripture says...  You don't have, because you don't ask.  

I feel that many times as leaders it is difficult for us to ask the right question because we are concerned about how we will be perceived.  The facade that we have built around ourselves many times is what we hide behind.  If we ask a question, we are concerned that we will be perceived as not knowledgeable. Unfortunately we end up becoming a slave to ourselves that has not, because we were never willing to ask.  

What is the right question?  One question can open up so many doors in our lives.  Questions have the ability to dig deep into a matter, or they can become surface oriented and leave us wondering.  We learn by asking questions, and if we do not allow questions to be asked we are limiting our potential for knowledge.  When was the last time you put thought into the question you were going to ask?  How quickly could an argument be resolved if we knew what question to ask?  What depths of knowledge could be unlocked if we knew how to arrive at the right question.  

Let me challenge you today, before your next meeting, spend time thinking about what questions you are going to ask.  Think of the power of one question and always remember,  You many times don't have, simply because you didn't ask.