Core Values: Be Bold

Knights of Heroes is an adventure camp in the mountains of Colorado for sons and daughters of fallen soldiers. Boston and I have been attending this camp  for the past 11 years, and are now mentors. We accredit the incredible program for putting us on the path to true manhood. Knights of Heroes' five core values of teaching are from the following mission statement, found on their website:

"Knights of Heroes objectives include teaching children to be responsible, proactive, boundless, bold, and to exercise leadership while rejecting immorality, substance abuse, infidelity, and a sense of entitlement."

These five core values are instilled in the young men and women campers every day, in order to teach them what being a real man or a real woman looks like in a world of phonies. Each day this week, we're going to take a deeper look into one these traits.

The third post, on being Bold, is written by Eric Eaton.

           Eric started out early in his career blazing a quick trail of success as a consultant. However, he was sidelined by a hip reconstruction surgery, which left him in chronic pain at age 27. Eric's desire is to show those who live with limitations that their lives have meaning and purpose. In battling chronic pain for over 18 years, Eric discovered to live an extraordinary life he needed to live life, and define success, on his terms.
            Eric is the Co-Founder of Knights of Heroes, a Keynote Speaker, and Author of The Raging Sloth and soon to be released The Thrival Guide. 
           Through his leadership, speaking, and writing, he is committed to helping people find their own path to a better adventure. Eric and his wife Erica live in the mountains of Colorado and are blessed with three kids. 

The following is his take and experience on the value of being bold.

UNWORDLY BOLDNESS

In our Knights of Heroes summer camp for boys and girls who have lost their fathers in military service to our country, we teach several traits in order to build character.  One of the traits we teach is to be bold. The purpose is to teach them if they are going to stand above the crowd, be young people of character, and do what is right then they are going to have to be bold. It is not an option. They are going to have to be willing to fight an uphill battle to stand against the overwhelming messages of entitlement, selfishness, and stress penetrating our society.  

Understanding Boldness

I like to believe I have an understanding of being bold and have demonstrated this trait through my life. But the more I read the Bible, the more I realize I am not sure I have a clear definition of the word bold. When I read about the prophets Jeremiah, Elisha, Elijah or Isaiah, who had to stand before Kings and Rulers upon penalty of death, exile, or punishment. Especially if they said anything negative and did not repeat God’s words, which was usually the case.

To truly grasp this picture, we have to realize these men did not ask for this job, God called them, He raised them up for his purpose. Then they entered the chamber to confront a king. This moment would be the most prestigious, frightening, and awkward place to make your presence known at the time. You would have known, or heard stories, of kings who beheaded, whipped, strung up, or threw into wells people they did not like or did not speak kindly to them. Yet alone, someone who comes before them to tell them the awful death they will die and how their kingdom will be destroyed. 

This was the duty of these prophets. Time and time again, with absolute and utter obedience, these men would go before the king and deliver the news the kings did not want to hear. This is true definition of boldness at its best. To deliver the unpopular message, to do the unpopular task, or to go against what common sense would tell you to do in order to deliver the message God has placed upon you. 

When I think about my own life and how I have been “bold”, it does not compare to what these men did in the Bible. I really could not imagine going before the world leaders of our day; the presidents, kings, and rulers and telling them they will die a horrible death and their kingdoms are going to be destroyed. Pretty sure that would be the most ackward conversation I ever had, and probably the last. 

The writer of Hebrews tells us, “Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.  For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.  Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”  - Heb 4: 14-16.

I think, to follow Christ with everything we have, we need to be bold, and be bold in a way we may not fully understand. Paul tells Timothy "For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love and self-discipline." (NLT) It is the true realization you life is not your own, but you are sent, you are created for His good purpose and you must be bold in the purpose. Even when His good purpose may be the last thing you want to do, his purpose is always the same, to bring people closer to Him.  

Reality of Being Bold

Think for a moment what your life, family, churches, and communities would look like if you were actually bold. If you were bold enough to tell your neighbor about the love of Christ. If you were bold enough to tell your co-worker about Christ's saving grace. If you were not afraid to stand tall, no matter what the circumstances and be a light in a darkened world. 

What if you could be as bold as Jeremiah, Nehemiah, Isaiah, Esther, Elijah or Elisha. To be able to go before the most powerful person in the land and simply proclaim truth. This definition of bold scares the daylights out of me, but also is exciting beyond belief at what God can truly do in your life when you are willing to let go.  

Challenge:

Where do you need to be bold in your life today? What conversation are you not having because you are afraid of what others will think? Spend some time writing out the reasons you are not bold when it comes to Christ. Then pray for strength to be bold in those specific areas? It is time for YOU to change the world!