As I continue to focus on the book I am writing the section below provides a brief overview.
What the Book is About
This book is about our journey of faith, hence the title, Walking with Jesus: A Journey of Faith. A key aspect of it, which I referenced above, is Selah: Thinking About. I have incorporated it at the end of each chapter in each section with reflective questions.
The idea of Thinking About is a core concept in my book on worldview (Worldview: The Adventure of Seeing Through Scripture). Our normal tendency is to think with our worldview rather than about it. Granted, we can’t be continuously reflecting on our worldview or we won’t do anything else. However, we can be intentional in setting aside times to reflect and think about. My approach is one of invitation, encapsulated in a quote I used to post when teaching adults, “The teacher who is indeed wise does not bid you to enter the house of his wisdom but rather leads you to the threshold of your mind.” (Kahlil Gibran, The Prophet). My goal here is to be descriptive rather than prescriptive and invite you into reflection that can lead to any change you desire to make.
I think that walking with Jesus begins with leadership, hence the title of my first section, Reflective Leadership: Thinking About. In the arena of leadership, some years ago, a friend gave me a bookmark, which I still have. It contained a quote by John Maxwell, “Leaders see life as it could be. They are always seeing a little farther, a little more, than those around them.” The quote is about more than simply seeing, it is about how we see. I believe that in our Christian journey, whether we are a formal leader of others or simply the leader of our lives, we all need to lead through thinking, reflecting, and praying then carrying out our actions as the Spirit leads.
There is another very important aspect of leadership. Years ago, I did my own translation of Proverbs 20:5. Here is the Randy version, 5 Purpose in the heart of man is like deep water, But a discerning man will draw it out. While I have primarily used the New King James Version (NKJV) for over three decades, more recent translations, the English Standard Version (ESV) and the Lexham English Bible (LEB) have now translated the same words in the way I did years ago, as purpose and discernment. To illustrate this, I have listed all three variations below.
5 Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water, But a man of understanding will draw it out. Proverbs 20:5 (NKJV)
5 The purpose in a man’s heart is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out. Proverbs 20:5 (ESV)
5 Counsel in the heart of a man is like deep water, But a man of discernment draws it out. Proverbs 20:5 (LSB)
Translating the verse in the way I did, “Purpose in the heart of man is like deep water, but a discerning man will draw it out,” was not some random act. It was a recognition that the verse captures our personal responsibility and the responsibility of leaders. Whether we are parents, teachers, coaches or church leaders our responsibility is twofold. Our first responsibility is to recognize the gifts and abilities inherent in those we are leading, gifts that God has given them, then intentionally create an environment that allows them to flourish. Leadership is meant to be enabling and to draw out the gifts and purpose in the lives of others, and ourselves. And it all begins with an inner awareness and developed character.
The other sections of the book, Steps on our Journey: Walking with Abraham, Prayer and Spiritual Warfare: Standing our Ground, Discernment: The Church’s Great Need, and Intimacy with Jesus: The Capstone all capture important aspects of our journey to spiritual maturity. I have deliberately set them up in this order as a way to mark our progress on our journey.