SALT 2012The need for courage and conviction

Philip Paul

Brain teaser #1

A farmer returns from the market, where he bought a she-goat, a cabbage and a wolf (what a crazy market :-). On the way home he must cross a river. His boat is small and won’t fit more than one of his purchases. He cannot leave the she-goat alone with the cabbage (because the she-goat would eat it), nor he can leave the she-goat alone with the wolf (because the she-goat would be eaten).How can the farmer get everything on the other side in this river crossing puzzle?

Brain teaser #1

Take the she-goat to the other side. Go back, take cabbage, unload it on the other side where you load the she-goat, go back and unload it. Take the wolf to the other side where you unload it. Go back for the she-goat. That's it.

Brain teaser #2

A fellow encountered a bear in a wasteland. There was nobody else there. Both were frightened and ran away. Fellow to the north, bear to the west. Suddenly the fellow stopped, aimed his gun to the south and shot the bear. What color was the bear?

Brain teaser #2

It all happened on the North Pole. When the man shot, he must have been right on the North Pole. Getting it? So it makes sense to assume that the only color the bear could be was WHITE.

Brain teaser #3

The day before yesterday I was 25 and the next year I will be 28. This is true only one day in a year. What day is my birthday?

Brain teaser #3

He was born on December 31st and spoke about it on January 1st.

Have you witnessed courage recently?

Michael Mansoor

Fukishima Nuclear Plant workers

Mohamed Bouazizi

Some references

1. Deuteronomy 31:6Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

2. Deuteronomy 31:7Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you must go with this people into the land that the LORD swore to their ancestors to give them, and you must divide it among them as their inheritance.

3. Deuteronomy 31:23The LORD gave this command to Joshua son of Nun: “Be strong and courageous, for

Some references

4. Joshua 1:6Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.

5. Joshua 1:7“Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.

6. Joshua 1:9Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Some referencesJoshua 1:18Whoever rebels against your word and does not obey it, whatever you may command them, will be put to death. Only be strong and courageous!”

Joshua 10:25Joshua said to them, “Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Be strong and courageous. This is what the LORD will do to all the enemies you are going to fight.”

1 Chronicles 28:20David also said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you.

Courage - Spiritual Discipline?

God to Joshua

David to Solomon

Spiritual Disciplines

Faith and Courage

Courage

“Courage is simply not one of the virtues but the form of every virtue at the testing point. Without courage, we will shed any virtue like a raincoat at the moment we need it the most” - C. S. Lewis

Courage

Courage is not the absence of fear but the capacity for action despite our fears” - John McCain

Courage

Without courage, all virtue is fragile; admired, sought after, professed, but held cheaply and surrendered without a fight” - Winston Churchill

Courage & Conviction

Esther

“I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.”

Courage & Conviction

Daniel

Daniel 1

1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it.

Courage & Conviction

Daniel

II Kings 25:7

1 So in the ninth year of Zedekiah’s reign, on the tenth day of the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon marched against Jerusalem with his whole army. He encamped outside the city and built siege works all around it. 2 The city was kept under siege until the eleventh year of King Zedekiah.

They killed the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes. Then they put out his eyes, bound him with bronze shackles and took him to Babylon.

Courage & Conviction

Shadrach & Co.

Daniel 3:16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us[a] from Your Majesty’s hand. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”

What are some causes that could be areas of conviction

Evangelism

Missions

Bribery

Abortion

Human trafficking

Child labor

Illiteracy

Poverty

Orphans

Will you act out your convictions?

Are your ready to be courageous on your convictions?

Benny Yu

Courageously pursuing your calling

Are you ready to fulfill your purpose in life by following Christ, being a part of a Community and work on a Cause by following your Convictions Courageously?

Contact

Questions?

E-Mail: ppaul@me.com

Philip Paul

Philip Paul