An Audacious Mind

An audacious mind... by t. semakula

Audacity fuels the mind with energy and develops its potential. Those who lack audacity become mediocre, functional, average, cowardly and retarded in their thinking. Jesus is a perfect example of an audacious thinker. Jesus had the audacity to claim that he was the Son of God. He had the audacity to walk the earth twelve deep, determined to deliver a message that was defined by hope and salvation. He had the audacity to be homeless, yet, all the while, knowing that in his father’s house there are many mansions.

Jesus was also an early proponent, as it relates to developing critical thinking skills. He thought it barbaric to answer a question with an open ended answer. He welcomed critical thinking with his numerous parables and made it clear that he had no tolerance for lazy minds. He approached simple folk with metaphors and challenged them to develop more strategic ways of applying the practicality of God’s word. The challenge that Jesus put forth to the people was one that required an audacity that was built around stretching the mind and strengthening its capacity.

Today, a less audacious population,waters down the word, and simplifies the message, in order to engage lazy minded people. Today our so-called leaders are afraid to challenge others, or if God forbid, for folk to have to the audacity to utilize their minds. World leaders, corporations, community organizations, and ministries are always on the lookout for folk who are excellent critical thinkers. These folk are key to solving complex issues and they are good at establishing effective networks and processes. These are the folk that have the audacity to use their minds.

I have always been a fan of the Prophet Elijah. I was always fascinated by his mind. I believe that God respects one who utilizes the true potential of his or her mind. Elijah’s audacity allowed his mind to be open to the word of God, this was integral to the progress of Israel and its leaders. 1 Kings 17-1-2 goes on to state…Now Elijah the Tishbite from Tishbe in Gilead said to Ahab (The King of Isreal),“As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word. Elijah had the audacity to speak truth to power. God had commanded him to stand up to a leader who eventually fell, due to his own stupidity.

How audacious is your mind? Has God trusted you with the audacity to hear his word and to follow through on what he told you to do? Did you draw back in fear? It is important for our minds to be strong, because in strength, lies power.

In Dr. Gwen Washington’s upcoming book titled Inner Healing: Wounds Superficially Cured, she goes on to state… The Greek word for power is “exousia,” {which means} delegated authority and liberty to exercise the full power of attorney in all God’s interests. Complete authority to act in God’s stead as if God Himself were here doing the work; power to act as freely of his own will as one has power to eat and drink. Be yet not double minded and stay focused on what God has told you to do. You are where you are because of what your mind has conjured.

Be mindful of the thoughts that roam about in your head. The Word of God specifies in Jeremiah 31:33-34…This is the convent I will make with the house of Israel after that time,” declares the Lord. I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother saying, Know the Lord, because they will all know me from the least of them to the greatest….declares the Lord.

The Audacious Community

The Audacious Community

By t. semakula

Where is audacity these days? Is it stuck underneath the pews like a freshly chewed piece of gum? Was it left inside an old sermon that a preacher didn’t have the courage to deliver? Was it left on the shores of the Red Sea after the last Israelite walked over the dry ocean floor? Did it chip off the stone that David used to lay down Goliath? Did it burn up in the flames that consumed the false prophets of Baal? Did it see the noozle of Sojourner’s gun, because it wanted to retreat back to the fields of the south? Did it lay waiting on the podium after King delivered his discourse on the state of black and white folk in America?

It is time for audacity to return to its rightful place. Audacity has left the church and only finds comfort outside the sanctuary. Have you ever been in the presence of an audacious child of God who possessed a righteous spirit and who was able to produce fruit that enacted change, lead folk to salvation, and impacted the world? When someone is overflowing with audacity, they are consumed with boldness, they are inspired by bravery, they are filled with courage, and they are embroiled with nerve. Within audacity lies the power to transform your community, your mind, and your faith.

A community

So, what does a community look like that is void of an

audacious population? It looks a lot like
a community that could care less about the education of its people. Louisville’s local school system is filled with many disparities. These disparities have created a poorly educated underclass who have a high school diploma, minus the marketable skills that will allow them to compete in the twenty-first century (Stark). Local change makers, movers, shakers, and leaders have acknowledged that …education is Louisville’s greatest liability (Greater Louisville Project). Please note that the word liability is associated with the word glitch, snag, obstacle, hindrance, puzzle, problematic, difficulty, predicament, quandary, trouble, crisis, conundrum, drawback, and challenge.

Proverbs 3: 13-14 goes on to state… Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding (14) For the merchandise of it is better than silver, and the gain thereof. Local ministers, laypersons, evangelists, and prophets, have found it difficult to be engaged in effective ministry due to a lack of education and skills. I have noticed that our inner city’s most effective ministry is lead by a minister who is educated and whose ministry team is staffed with learned folk. This minister has also taken over the helm of an urban bible college that was once, ready to close. He has the audacity to believe that educating the next generation of ministers is a worthy endeavor. The word of God states that we …Should study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth (II Timothy 2:15).

So, what does a community look like that is void of an

audacious population? It looks like a
community that locks up its kings. Kentucky leads the nation, as it relates to the number of folk who have been disenfranchised, due to a previous conviction or felony. A report titled Low-Income Fathers Need To Get Connected goes on to state… Policies designed to get tough on crime have devastated low-income fathers and families over the last three decades. A disenfranchised population roams the community with no power to vote, no power to obtain housing, and no power to seek reliable employment. The local community has been quick to shackle down our men, shutting them off from society, progress, power, and their families.

What Kentucky fails to realize is that they have retarded the

growth of their own communities
because they have shackled men based on their poverty and their skin color. They have shackled leaders, thinkers, and strategists. They have shackled scientists, engineers, and ministers. They have shackled writers, journalists, and essayists. They have shackled artists, creators, and healers.

Pharaoh had to call on Joseph who was locked up in a jail,

in order to interpret a dream that
would save the country from famine. Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon: and he shaved himself, and changed his raiment, and came unto Pharaoh (Genesis 41:14).

So, what does a community look like that is void of an audacious population? It looks like a
community that praises cowards. It is interesting to know that when God lists the seven things that he abhors, the word coward comes before the word murderer. I am firm believer that God is a God of order and in this case, it may have meant from the greatest to the least. A murderer may have only taken one life, whereas a coward, due to his or her silence or compliance , caused the death of a whole city,town or nation.

It is important to note that in the community of West Louisville, there is a lack of small business
success, a lack of effective ministry, high unemployment, and slow to nil economic development. Russel Simmons, hip hop pioneer, a self proclaimed Buddhist, the founder of Rush Communications and co-founder Def Jam Records, was courageous enough to wait on the success of his subsidiary company, Phat Farm. In his autobiography titled Life and Def , we see that it took Russell almost a decade before he gained a profit from Phat Farm. It is a shame to note that so-called people of God lack the tenacity, patience, and courage that Simmons held onto as he waited for his company to make a profit. If only more ministers, more community activists, or more business owners had the audacity to see West Louisville come to fruition. If only they had waited, to see the benefit of audacity.

I remember a conversation that I had with my mother, who grew up in West Louisville. I was
telling her about how local leaders had blamed the former mayor for the issues that existed in the neighborhood. My mother said that we have no one to blame but ourselves because West Louisville is our neighborhood.

The Word of God states that...I can do all things thru Christ who strengthens me (Phil 4:13). With the strength of Christ, we will feel awkward living amongst a community of cowards who sit by and watch the things of God diminish.

Co-Bishop Sharon Polk was audacious enough to publish her book titled He's My Personal Friend (Jesus Still Heals). Find out how you can purchase it online.

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