Wisdom Walks E-Book

Dan Britton

• Herausgeber: BroadStreet Publishing Group, LLC
• Kategorie: Religion und Spiritualität
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2014

Seitenzahl: 235

Beschreibung

Want a purposeful life packed with mission and meaning? WisdomWalks will ignite your passion to walk like Jesus in all of life's moments and spark a deeper journey of impact and influence. WisdomWalks is a real-life guide for walking purposefully with God, engaging the next generation, and living the life of significance you were created for. Filled with forty intentional, spiritual, life-changing connections, Wisdom Walks will inspire and challenge you to live a powerful life to love unconditionally, walk with integrity, make a difference in the lives of others, and do greater things than you ever imagined. Don t miss out on the adventure of a lifetime!

Leseprobe

What People Are Saying about WisdomWalks…

I’ve always asked God to surround me with people who inspire me to walk more deeply in my pursuit of Him. In this, He has truly been faithful. I can’t say enough about the influence (positive or negative) people have on us. We usually become who we hang out with. Dan and Jimmy get this. WisdomWalks is a read you should check out.

TOBYMAC, Grammy-Award recording artist

Jesus transformed the world through the power of relationships, and so can we. That’s why I’m giving WisdomWalks to everyone I know, so we can all leave a legacy that matters.

JON GORDON, consultant, author of international best sellers The Energy Bus, Training Camp

WisdomWalks calls men and women to become passionate about this young generation that is overwhelmed by culture. It provides what it promises—confidence and courage to meet the needs of those who are desperate for spiritual parents, godly mentors, and powerful leaders.

BECKY TIRABASSI, author, speaker, life coach

There is nothing about a walk pitchers enjoy, but WisdomWalks is a great tool for mentoring and transferring truth to a teammate, family member, or friend. It’s a walk even I can recommend!

ANDY PETTITTE, Pitcher, World Champion New York Yankees

Read and learn from this book! Apply these principles. Be that voice for the next generation, so your children too can be powerful difference makers.

CAREY CASEY, CEO, National Center for Fathering, author of Championship Fathering

Mentoring is how Jesus changed the world. This engaging, hands-on tool gets you moving in that same direction.

MELODY CARLSON, best-selling author, Diary of a Teenage Girl, TrueColors

A fresh, relevant way to teach the next generation the power and influence of wisdom. Encourages a lifelong pursuit of excellence.

DON COLBERT, M.D., New York Times best-selling author, The Seven Pillars of Health, Eat This and Live!

The writers of this book are the real deal—guys who display Christ and help you love God more. Experience this exciting spiritual adventure with a group of friends.

RON FORSETH, Vice President, Outreach, Inc., General Editor, SermonCentral.com

A spiritual home run for personal growth, discipleship, and mentoring. Biblical, practical, inspiring, and digestible—I’m all in!

CHIP INGRAM, Senior Pastor, Venture Christian Church, President, Living on the Edge ministry

Encourages you to get wisdom, grow in wisdom, and give wisdom. To live life to the fullest and impact the world around you.

LEAH AMICO, three-time Olympic Gold Medalist

Whether you’re in the locker room, the board room, or the living room, if you’re intentional about walking like Jesus, you will influence people. WisdomWalks gives you a winning game plan to invest biblical truth in the lives of others.

MATT STOVER, twenty-year NFL player (Baltimore Ravens, Indianapolis Colts, Cleveland Browns, New York Giants)

Lots of people talk about the importance of engaging the next generation and passing on the faith. Dan Britton and Jimmy Page do it. Read, embrace, and live this book, and you’ll ensure another faith-filled generation will follow.

DAN WEBSTER, Founder, Authentic Leadership, Inc., formerly on staff with Willow Creek Community Church

A simple, practical way to pass on truth. A must read for those who desire to help raise up the next generation!

NANCY ALCORN, Founder and President, Mercy Ministries

A great resource for parents, coaches, and anyone who cares about kids and their futures.

LES STECKEL, President/CEO, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, twenty-two-year NFL coach

With WisdomWalks’heart-impacting stories, timeless truths, and meaningful Scripture, I can say to young women I mentor, “Listen to this!”

TRICIA GOYER, award-winning author, Life Interrupted, Songbird under a German Moon

A prescription for anyone who wants to grow in Christ, written by men who have done just that!

KYLE ROTE JR., 2010 Soccer Hall of Fame, ESPN’s “Greatest All-Round Athlete of All Time,” national commentator for CBS, PBS, USA Cable

A powerful collection of incredible insights, practical exercises, and motivation that will get results in both personal and professional endeavors. Find a place in your briefcase or on your bedstand for this!

STEVE NEWTON, Founder and Owner, Mission BBQ

For those who know we are called to be salt and light but don’t always know how,WisdomWalks gives the how in a fresh, practical way.

JAMI SMITH, premiere worship leader, recording artist, Faith in You (Top Worship Album, 2008), Verse

A very useful, practical field guide based upon forty biblical principles that get one to “true north.” Packed with wisdom and eternal truths.

TOM OSBORNE, former Athletic Director and Head Coach, University of Nebraska, author, More Than Winning

Equips you to maximize your relationships into conversations that transfer biblical truths into daily wisdom.

KEN WHITTEN, Senior Pastor, Idlewild Baptist Church

Dan and Jimmy didn’t invent mentoring, just the mentoring game plan. I know these two FCA leaders personally, and you will be blessed by their powerful insights!

JAMES B. “BUCK” MCCABE, CFO, Chick-fil-A, Inc.

Broadstreet Publishing™

Racine, WI

www.broadstreetpublishing.com

WisdomWalks

© 2010 by Dan Britton and Jimmy Page

ISBN 978-1-4245-4914-6

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without permission in writing from the publisher.

Unless otherwise indicated, references are from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. Scripture references are from the following sources: The Holman Christian Standard Bible® (HCSB), copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Holman CSB® and HCSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers. The Message(MSG) by Eugene H. Peterson, copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. The Holy Bible, New Living Translation (NLT), copyright 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois. All rights reserved.

Cover and interior design by Chris Gilbert

Author photos © 2010 by Dan Michael Hodges

Stock or custom editions of Broadstreet Publishing titles may be purchased in bulk for educational, business, ministry, fundraising, or sales promotional use. For information, please e-mail [email protected].

Printed in China

Dedication

To all the WisdomWalkerswho walk with Jesusand have a passion to invest in others.

To our wives, Dawn and Ivelisse,who pour heart and soul into the next generation,investing everything in what really matters. Without you,there would be no book. You truly make us better men—better husbands, better fathers, and better friends.

To our kids, our daily reminders to stay on the path:Kallie, Abigail, and Elijah Britton; Jimmy, Jacob, John, and Grace Page.You inspire us to follow Jesus and show you the way.You are our greatest joy.

To our parents:Dottie and Ed (a man of passion and urgencywho passed to eternity May 2, 2008) BrittonRaymond and Susan Page

And a special thanks to Puchy Ryder, Ivelisse’s mom:a true prayer warrior who stands in the gap!

Acknowledgments

What an incredible journey! Since becoming accountability partners and life friends in 1990, God has surrounded us with a multitude of Wisdom-Walkers who have invested in us, pushed us to be authentic in every area of life, and inspired us to do great things.

Deep appreciation to Carlton Garborg. Your enthusiasm for Wisdom-Walks and our shared passion for changing the world inspired us to do our best work, to honor God, and to finish well.

Hats off to Mat Casner for building our online WisdomWalks community.

FCA is the most amazing ministry in the world. Special thanks to the entire FCA team: the men and women who walk with Jesus and faithfully invest in the next generation of coaches and athletes. Notable thanks to true servant leaders: Les Steckel, Donnie Dee, and Ken Williams.

To our friends and family, who’ve made their mark on us: Scott Steiner, John Patton, Ward Kinne, Tim Fisher, Chris Regan, Sean McNamara, John and Kimarie Page, Tracey Jolley, Lou Santoni, Jon Bisset, Pastor Joe Duke, Tricia Duke, Bryan Kelly, Dale Waters, Joe Knotts, Steve Livernois, Dave Britton, Steve Britton, Barry Spofford, Chris Anderson, Legacy Christian Church, LifePoint Church, all our Community Group Families, 95.1 SHINE FM. To all those we didn’t have enough room to mention, we thank you.

To our heavenly Father, for giving us Jesus,the ultimate WisdomWalker, to show us the way,the truth, and the life.

Forewordby Dr. Kevin Leman

WisdomWalks to Live and Give

Build Your Dream Team

The Four Relationships

1    A Walk with the Wise

Friends will make you or break you.

2    Walkie-Talkie

Be the person you want others to become.

3    GIGO

What’s in the well comes up in the bucket.

4    Gap-Free Living

What you see is what you get.

5    Permanent Marker

Leave the mark of Jesus.

6    Tweet-Tweet

Your words are powerful and permanent.

7    Blind Spots

What you don’t see can hurt you.

8    The Money Mirror

Put your money where your heart is.

9    Rumble Strips

Pay attention to God’s warnings.

10  Can You Keep a Secret?

God rewards good deeds done behind the scenes.

11  Mr. Irrelevant

There is greatness in everyone.

12  Pray Like Birdie

Prayer changes everything.

13  Dig In

A step of faith often means “stay,” not “go.”

14  Opportunity Knocks…

Guard yourself, because temptation lurks.

15  The Biggest Giver

When you give, give big.

16  Image Is Everything!

Make your reputation match your reality.

17  Identity Theft

Reclaim the real you.

18  3-D

Engage God daily—no matter what!

19  The Snowball Effect

Little things always become big things.

20  Just One Word

Narrow the focus for greater life change.

21  No Doubt!

Take every thought captive.

22  70x7

Forgive…then forgive again.

23  Can You Stand the Heat?

Life is tough. Be ready.

24  Life Detox

Put off the old; put on the new.

25  A Game-Changing Moment

Be sold out for what you believe.

26  Dog on a Leash

Life is a battleground, not a playground.

27  Dream On!

Follow the visions God-places on your heart.

28  Don’t Go Alone

Life is not a “me” thing—it’s a “we” thing.

29  Ten Camels

Serve big or go home!

30  Glory Hound?

Don’t steal the glory.

31  Pray It Up!

Pray like your life depends on it.

32  Called to Greatness

God uses the few who are faith-full.

33  One Way

The path you pick leads to life or death.

34  Failure Is Nothing

God sees your future not your failure.

35  Pump It Up!

Stay connected to the Source.

36  Four-foot-nine Giant

Give it all you got.

37  It’s Contagious!

Make your life worth catching.

38  Going, Going… Gone

Live light on earth. Hold tight to heaven.

39  What’s Filling You?

Be controlled by the Spirit, not your-self.

40  The Greatest Gift

Live every day like it’s your last.

You Can Do It!

(In fact, you’re already doing it!)

The WisdomWalks Roadmap

About the Authors

Be a WisdomWalker!

SMART TALKS, WISE WALKS

He who walks with the wise grows wise.

PROVERBS 13:20

I have to hand it to wise ol’ King Solomon. He certainly made his share of mistakes during his lifetime (hmm, sounds like somebody else I know), but he also came up with a wealth of wisdom that has influenced my choices—and countless others’—over the generations.

Who doesn’t want to be smarter about which life paths to choose? About everyday decisions? About which friends to make—and keep?

And who doesn’t want to make a difference in the world? To leave some imprint on humankind that says, “The world is a better place because I’ve been in it”?

Of all the people who’ve made an imprint on the world, Jesus Christ is, hands down, the one Person who turned the world upside down. That’s because He not only talked wisdom, He walked in wisdom and lived out wisdom. Day by day, in every relational connection, He told stories, asked questions, and referred people back to God’s words.

WisdomWalks is modeled after the way Jesus walked, talked, and lived. It isn’t a devotional or a program. It’s an experience that provides the perfect opportunity to grow yourself—and to grow others who accompany you on your life journey. The real-life, relatable stories are intriguing, the life principles stick with you throughout the day, and the provoking questions and Scripture study prompt you to think more deeply about forty key areas of life where decisions you make every moment not only matter, but matter greatly: integrity, friendship, prayer, forgiveness, and faith, to name a few. After all, it’s the tough choices you make all along the way that end up being the most significant decisions for your future.

WisdomWalks is a compact game plan by two highly respected Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) national leaders who not only talk the walk, but walk the talk. They’sre serious about the business of seeing lives change—yours, your loved ones’, your coworkers’, your neighbors’, and whoever else might be in your sphere of influence—because they believe that you can make a difference. And so do I. I’ve spent a lifetime marveling over the incredible impact one person can have on the world. Why not you?

So do it for yourself. Carve these forty key life principles into your heart and mind. Allow the truths of God’s Word to seep into everything you do. Follow after Jesus, the ultimate WisdomWalker, every moment of the day. Become a WisdomWalker yourself—someone who intentionally pursues and creates spiritual, life-changing connections.

And then make your life contagious! Make a difference in people’s lives. Be a joy-spreader. Be a faith-spreader. Be intentional about doing life together with others. Go out of your way to meet people, talk with them, and get to know them. There’s nothing I believe in more than passing on core values, faith, and practical life lessons to the next generation. It’s what my life’s work has been all about.

That’s why I think of WisdomWalks as Smart Talks, Wise Walks. When you know what to do and you’re smart enough to do it (and I know you are), you’ll walk with the wise and become wise.

WisdomWalks will transform the way you think—the way you do life. And you’ll be a better person for it.

Guaranteed.

DR. KEVIN LEMAN

Internationally known psychologist, humorist, and New York Times best-selling author of more than 40 books about marriage and family issues, including Have a New Kid by Friday, The Birth Order Book, Dr. Kevin Leman has taught and entertained audiences worldwide with his wit and commonsense psychology, making thousands of house calls for Fox & Friends, The View, Fox’s The Morning Show, Today, Oprah, CBS’s The Early Show, Janet Parshall’s America and Talking It Over, Live! with Regis and Kelly, CNN’s American Morning, Life Today with James Robison, and Good Morning America.

WISDOMWALKS TO LIVE AND GIVE

It’s time to engage.Make your life count.

In the movie The Incredibles Bob and Helen Parr are raising three kids who have superpowers. One night the older two are fighting, Bob is in the other room, completely worn-out and detached, and Helen yells at the top of her lungs, while holding off the sparring siblings, “Bob, it’s time to engage! Do something! Don’t just stand there! I need you to intervene!”

It’s all too easy to gravitate toward “shutdown mode” when life gets crazy. But life never slows down; it gets more hectic and complicated every day. In the midst of this busyness, we lose our ability to live purposefully. It’s like we’re constantly playing defense, reacting to life instead of creating meaning in it. So instead of doing something, we unplug. We sit on the sidelines and watch life happen.

Disengaging isn’t the answer—not for us, and not for those counting on us. Guess who the next generation is looking to for wisdom? You and me. We can play a significant role in their lives, helping them become all that God wants them to be. We can pass on to them a game plan that prepares them for challenges and opportunities and reveals to them God’s truth in a relevant, practical way.

Living intentionally, maximizing relationships, and passing the torch of faith was the example Jesus set when He poured His truth and wisdom into His disciples. It’s a desire God set in each of our hearts: to transfer our beliefs to others. But it won’t happen automatically. You have to be intentional.

WisdomWalks is all about sharing your experiences of God’s presence and personal connection. It’s about stepping up to the plate and doing what God has called you to do. In Psalm 145:4, David declared, “One generation will declare Your works to the next and will proclaim Your mighty acts” (HCSB). But most of us don’t know how to do that. We desire to make an impact on those around us, but often we don’t act because: (1) we don’t know how to engage in that kind of relationship, (2) we don’t feel qualified to do so, and (3) busy schedules get in the way.

For twenty-five years, the two of us have been WisdomWalking together. Funny thing is, we didn’t even know it—at least we didn’t call it that in the beginning. The two of us linked arms to do life instead of trying to handle it on our own. As a result, we’ve both had opportunities to get wisdom, to grow in wisdom, and to give wisdom. And we’ve passed the blessing on—intentionally and successfully pouring lessons of faith into our children and a host of other individuals we’ve mentored over the years.

WisdomWalks is designed for multiple uses: for individuals, for study/discussion groups, and for mentoring relationships. Each WisdomWalk comes from a real-life experience and is a reminder to walk like Jesus, talk like Jesus, and live like Jesus. Jesus used images of bread, water, meals, and money to show us who He is and how we are called to live. WisdomWalks are modern-day parables that reveal forty of the most important life principles you can live out and give to others.

Each WisdomWalk has a specific order to guide you through each experience. There are three basic sections:

WisdomWalk Principle

•  Introduces the key life principle and shares a true-to-life WisdomWalks story.

•  Connects the truth of Scripture with the WisdomWalks Principle.

Be a WisdomWalker

•  Encourages you to Live It through individual action and includes questions for reflection or group discussion; Maximize It through connection with a friend, mentor, or mentoree; and Pass It On by studying and sharing additional Bible passages. You can journal your “aha moments” along the way in My Insights. Each WisdomWalk ends with a prayer of commitment and connection.

WisdomWalks work—they energize and transform lives. We know, because they’ve done just that to our lives, and the lives of every person we’ve used them with over the years! When you live intentionally, maximize your relationships, and pass the torch, you become passionate about life, excited about relationships, and your desire to understand and know God is ramped up. Every moment becomes an adventure because you wonder, What is God going to do next? And how can I intentionally be a part of that?

WisdomWalks Is Not a Formula; It’s a Field Manual

WisdomWalks Is Not a Result; It’s a Relationship

This is not about achieving a goal. It’s not something you check off your “to-do” list. Instead, it’s about relationships. It’s about intentionally investing your life in getting to know God more, and then intentionally investing in the lives of others to build a godly foundation and grow their desire for an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ.

WisdomWalks Is Not a Moment; It’s a Movement

This is not about crossing a finish line or driving a stake in the ground. It’s not the latest fad or a resolution to live better that you’ll forget within a month or two. It is part of a lifelong movement to walk as Jesus did, to follow in His steps, and to encourage others to walk with Him.

God has planted seeds of greatness—our very own “superpowers”—in each of us. And He’ll use us to cultivate those seeds in others—but only if we will engage. So what are you waiting for? Make your life count!

DAN BRITTON AND JIMMY PAGE

BUILD YOUR DREAM TEAM

Choose your team wisely.Teammates will make or break you.

The “Dream Team” was the nickname given to the 1992 United States men’s Olympic basketball team. It was the first American Olympic team to feature active NBA players, and the results were awesome. As they dominated their way to the gold medal, they beat their opponents by an average of forty-four points! Since the Dream Team, the United States has had numerous teams with the best and most talented players, but USA basketball has never been able to repeat the Dream Team’s success.

We always think the best team consists of the best players. However, the best team is about getting the right players. In the movie Miracle, US Olympic hockey coach Herb Brooks has a classic line when he is selecting the 1980 team. He shows the roster of players who will be a part of the team to his assistant coach, Craig Patrick. Shocked at who is on the list, Craig says, “You’re missing some of the best players.” Coach Brooks responds, “I’m not looking for the best players, Craig. I’m looking for the right ones.”

If you could assemble your own Dream Team, who would be on it? We’re not talking about a sports team, but your own team of godly friends who build you up when you’re down, pick you up when you stumble, guide you when you’re uncertain, and confront you when you’re out of bounds. We all need a few steadfast friends to do life with. Who are the right teammates to ensure your personal and spiritual success? Who will be in your “inner circle,” walking with you through thick and thin, pouring God’s wisdom into your mind and heart?

Building your Dream Team is what WisdomWalks is about. Getting the right people on your team and understanding the role they play is essential. Life gets complicated quickly, and without those key people, it can get overwhelming. When we go with the flow, we drift toward complexity. However, when we are intentional, we drive toward clarity. WisdomWalks helps you create relational clarity by defining these relationships.

A WisdomWalker’s Dream Team has four key relationships: Walker, Watchman, Warrior, and Workman. It’s the perfect blend of mentoring, accountability, and discipleship. Without these key relationships, it will be increasingly more difficult for you to live a life that matters—a life of influence. We need an inner circle that brings us to Jesus, because in Christ is the fullness of wisdom.

Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. This foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God’s weakness is stronger than the greatest of human strength.

1 CORINTHIANS 1:24–25 NLT

All you need to become a WisdomWalker is to have the personal desire and the practical discipline to walk like Jesus and make a difference in the lives of those you care about. You can be a catalyst for generational change by investing in others! Ultimately, the fruit of a WisdomWalker grows on other people’s trees.

We have developed a simple formula for WisdomWalks:

No matter how much godly wisdom you have, unless it is infused into relationships, it’s worth nothing. The power of wisdom is not quantity but context. As we grow in Christ, there should be a natural growing of our relationships, because our God is a relational God. As godly wisdom increases, relationships become richer and fuller. There is always a direct connection between wisdom and relationships.

However, when the wisdom of Jesus is applied in our relationships, we experience two-way influence. Influence is God’s work though us. It establishes an eternal legacy. But wisdom is only valuable if it’s lived out in relationships. Life is a team sport. We must assemble our own Dream Team with an inner circle of people whose singular goal, in everything they become and do, is for God’s glory. If you want to experience transformation in your life and relationships, it all begins with the WisdomWalks journey…and the four key relationships (for more, see “The Four Relationships” on pp. 8–9).

Life is all about relationships.

Proverbs 18:1 (HCSB) says, “One who isolates himself pursues selfish desires; he rebels against all sound judgment.” In other words, we make foolish decisions. Isolation is the silent enemy. If we distance ourselves from relationships, we will crash and burn. Most people float along and never take the time to develop a Dream Team.

Each one of us needs to be a Walker, have a Watchman, have a Warrior, and have a Workman. The WisdomWalks journey is multidimensional. On a team, you have teammates and you are a teammate. Once you get your Dream Team assembled, you will realize the full power of WisdomWalks: every Walker not only has these key relationships in his or her life but also plays these roles for others. You have a Warrior, and you are a Warrior. You have a Watchman, and you are a Watchman. You have a Workman, and you are Workman. And all of you are Walkers.

In order to help you recruit the right teammates, we’ve provided the image below. It is blank so that you can fill in names in each circle. Your name goes in the middle. It’s okay to have one or two empty circles; it just means you have some work to do. You need to pray and wait, but also search and ask. Make sure you define the relationship. WisdomWalks is not about connecting with people once a week for a meal or cup of coffee without a clear purpose for growth.

Ask God to reveal to you who needs to join your Dream Team. There are people already in your life who are ready and able, so start recruiting the right teammates. You’ll be amazed as you and every other WisdomWalker on your Dream Team begin to live out a passionate, unstoppable faith in Jesus Christ—both on and off the field.

Get ready for a WisdomWalks experience so powerful it’ll transform your life, your team, your coaches, and generations to come. It’s time to get in the game!

Live Intentionally. Maximize Relationships. Pass the Torch.

THE FOUR RELATIONSHIPS

The Walker

The Walker is you. This relationship is your own passionate pursuit of Jesus. So before you try to start identifying significant people in your life and what role they possibly can play, take the WisdomWalks journey yourself. First John 2:6 says, “Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.” This biblical challenge encourages us to grow spiritually first. You can’t give away what you don’t have. Your public impact on others is directly related to your private walk with Jesus.

A Walker does two things—pursues and abides.