A Blog by Jason Salamun

This quote is for the folks who have the courage to go for it.

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”

- Teddy Roosevelt

Those crazy dreamers.

Just when things are set to cruise control, those crazy dreamers come along and change the course.

Just when roots are firmly established, those crazy dreamers come along and shake the tree of complacency.

Just when times get to be predictable, those crazy dreamers come along and interrupt the status quo.

Everybody tells you to dream- but not everyone wants (or expects) you to actually follow through with it.  Especially if it rattles their cage.

Dreaming is safe.

Doing is daring.

Ignore the critics and cynics.

But listen to wisdom.

And advance that dream you crazy dreamer.

That’s why you’re here.

This is a dangerous verse:

“My son, eat honey, for it is good, and the drippings of the honeycomb are sweet to your taste.” – Proverbs 24:13 (ESV)

On the surface, these words of wisdom from a father to a son seem innocent.  You could even say the father is saying that life, much like honey, is to be enjoyed.

But maybe there’s another message hidden in this verse.

To enjoy honey, you’ve got to get honey.

Where do we get honey from? The beehive.

What’s in beehives? Bees

What do bees do? They sting.

Everyone wants the honey, but few want to stick their hand in the beehive to get it.  The same is true with life.  The thing that keeps us from living the lives we’re meant to live and being the people we’re called to be are the beehives.

What are the beehives in your life?

Fear of failure?
Self-doubt?
A broken heart?
Physical pain?
More bills than money?
Fractured relationship?
Regret, guilt, shame, and mistakes?

What if your biggest opportunities lie within the beehives?

Most people look for the path of least resistance. The obvious open door that requires no struggle.  But I would suggest that if it’s easy, maybe it’s not what God wants.  Think about it. To see the mountain view you’ve got to climb the mountain.  To taste the honey, you’ve got to stick your hand in the beehive.

Jesus understands.

To do the impossible, and save us from our own sins, Jesus had to bust through a moment of anguish and difficulty as he was praying in the Garden of Gethsemene right before his arrest and execution.  But he did it.  Thankfully.  So we could have eternal life and life in full right now.

He died for you so that you might live for him.

God meant for your life to matter.  YOUR LIFE!!!!

He has a purpose and a destiny for you to fulfill.

He has honey he wants you to taste.

The honey is in the beehive.

Will you seize it?

You crazy missioneers.

Following Jesus around like he’s God or something.

You crazy missioneers.

Actually believing the Gospel can change lives.

You crazy missioneers.

Persevering despite the adversities, missteps, and criticism.

You crazy missioneers.

Knowing full well that what makes you likely is being unlikely.

You crazy missioneers.

Chasing dreams that used to belong to professionals.

You crazy missioneers.

Sitting in smoking sections, bars, and pews.

You crazy missioneers.

Changing stories by entering stories.

You crazy missioneers.

Walking in darkness yet guided by the light.

You crazy missioneers.

Slaying the dragon of religion with the gospel of grace.

You crazy missioneers.

Loving God, loving people, and backing it up.

You crazy missioneers.

Standing up for the people who can’t stand up for themselves.

You crazy missioneers.

Shaping the future by living for today.

You crazy missioneers.

Working on a better city and not just a better church.

You crazy missioneers.

Leading the mission not from up-top but from out-front.

You crazy missioneers.

You’d do this for free.

You crazy missioneers.

Seeing the web as the means- not the end.

You crazy missioneers.

Praying daily for your mission field.

You crazy missioneers.

Starting movements, not churches.

You crazy missioneers.

For to you, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

You crazy missioneers.

You’re pioneering a path by following Christ.

You crazy missioneers.

Jesus is your treasure, your joy, and your finish line.

You crazy missioneers.

Striving for one Church, under Jesus.

You crazy missioneers.

Asking more questions, providing less answers.

You crazy missioneers.

This is not a game.  This is real life.

You crazy missioneers.

Answering questions about the hope that you have.

You crazy missioneers.

Bringing good news and being good news.

You crazy missioneers.

Called by God, compelled by love, committed to truth.

You crazy missioneers.

Thank you for who you are and all you do!