Be Prepared

The motto of The Boy Scouts of America.

It also was the message at church yesterday. We learned about how it is our duty as Christians to be prepared to live the life that Jesus wants us to live.

Some of the definitions of prepared are 1. made ready or fit or suitable beforehand; 2. to be equipped with necessary intellectual resources.

So, for example.....we should be prepared to answer questions from people who want to learn more about Christ or maybe just why we have faith in times when others do not, or simply cannot....... based on what they have always seen or believed. I know I need to be more prepared in many areas, but I try my best and speak from my heart when I am asked about my faith. I try to be respectful of others' belief systems and not be "in their face" with mine. But if I am asked questions or my opinion, I believe that this is my opportunity (and duty) to witness or share my testimony about Jesus. It might be the only chance or window of opportunity for anyone to speak into this persons heart, so I should make it my best. It should be filled with wisdom, compassion and radiate God's Word in all it's Glory.

So I am going to take it up another notch and invest more time learning and preparing. First, I am going to make an effort to start reading more. I am not a very good reader.....I mean, of course I can read......but as I mentioned, my ADD gets in the way with constant distraction and I have a hard time retaining information. So it ends up taking me three times as long to read one page of a book as when I get to the bottom of one page.....I already forgot what I read from the top of the page. I probably need to take a crash course in speed reading as my only opportunity for "alone-time" to read/learn will be when I am on the toilet and I cannot even rely on that being uninterrupted in this house. {*bag on head* for being honest and admitting that one.}

I am planning on attending a great conference coming to our church called Earnestly Contending. Now these scholars can debate Creation vs. evolution like no one else's business (one of my biggest hot topics! YAY!). Speakers such as these have changed the minds/hearts of hard core famous atheists such as Anthony Flew who after 50 years of debating, lecturing and teaching atheism, has come to the conclusion that "some sort of intelligence or first cause must have created the universe". He also goes on to say "A super intelligence is the only good explanation for the origin of life and the complexity of nature".......I know he doesn't give God the glory He deserves, but it's a start in the right direction..... ;)

There also are so many resources available on the wonderful word of the internet with podcasts and webcasts of many great teachers/preachers from all over our country and world.

So yes, I want to be more prepared. I want to be armed with whatever it takes so I will be ready for who or what it placed in my life. It's funny.........we (society) rely on people to be prepared in life such as the doctors at the Emergency Room......we rely on them and have to hope and trust that they are prepared to save a life. So why should it be any different for us.......of course, in a different context......why should we not be prepared, as Christians..... to save a soul?

So I pray for God to help pour in His wisdom and compassion when I am at a loss for words....I know I will need Him soon enough when my friend Karen asks me why these tragedies have happened in her life....of course I do not have the answers, but I hope and pray that I can offer some comfort to her aching heart by letting her know that we serve a loving God and He is weeping right along side of her.

Oh, I'll leave you with this.....on the motto deal with the Boy Scouts. Now, my boys were never into the Boy Scouts. If I remember correctly, I believe G and H did join the Tiger Scouts but lost interest very early on. Maybe if they had "extreme" badges to earn for how many broken bones/injuries you could get from motocross or skateboarding or if would have allowed rocket launchers attached to the pinebox derby car events.....they might have stuck it out. It seems like a great positive organization, it just wasn't their thing. ;)

But my neighbor is very involved with The Scouts with their two boys and I found this framed in their hallway. I think it was pretty awesome so I wanted to share it. It was written by Robert Baden-Powell, the founder of the Boy Scouts and found in his desk after he passed away in 1941. I just love how God is given such glory and recognition throughout.

Enjoy!
Peace and love
Michelle

Dear Scouts,

If you have ever seen the play Peter Pan you will remember how the pirate chief was always making his dying speech because he was afraid that possibly when the time came for him to die he might not have time to get it off his chest. It is much the same with me, and so, although I am not at this moment dying, I shall be doing so one of these days and I want to send you a parting word of good-bye.

Remember, it is the last you will ever hear from me, so think it over.

I have had a most happy life and I want each one of you to have as happy a life too.

I believe that God put us in this jolly world to be happy and enjoy life. Happiness doesn't come from being rich, nor merely from being successful in your career, nor by self-indulgence. One step towards happiness is to make yourself healthy and strong while you are a boy, so that you can be useful and so can enjoy life when you are a man.

Nature study will show you how full of beautiful and wonderful things God has made the world for you to enjoy. Be contented with what you have got and make the best of it. Look on the bright side of things instead of the gloomy one.

But the real way to get happiness is by giving out happiness to other people. Try and leave this world a little better than you found it and when your turn comes to die, you can die happy in feeling that at any rate you have not wasted your time but have done your best. "Be Prepared" in this way, to live happy and to die happy-- stick to your Scout promise always-- even after you have ceased to be a boy-- and God help you to do it.

Your Friend,
Baden-Powell