Soldiers in battle require physical courage in facing the enemy. Have you ever been in this situation? How many people do you know who have? Yet there are other types of courage that everyone can experience. Have you ever suffered rejection or ridicule for holding an unpopular position? Even if there is not a risk of death or injury the pain associated with standing for principle is real. Soldiers have weapons with which to fight back, but those weapons are not helpful in this situation. Nevertheless the truth will sustain you for speaking up when it would be easier to remain silent.

Peter journaled with 500 people at the Catch The Fire Conference in Toronto. When I asked for volunteers to come to the front to share their journaling, here is what Peter shared.

Do you see the gospel as a positive or negative message? If you ask the next ten people you encounter walking down the street would you be surprised if they said the gospel was a list of rules and things you cannot do? Is this how you see it? Whose fault is it if they have the wrong impression? The gospel is a message of life. It is about abundant life. It is about finding and fulfilling the unique destiny and purpose for which I created you. It gives meaning and belonging and a sense of identity to those who embrace it. Is this how you see the gospel message in your own life? Can you share it this way with others?

Have you ever seen an iceberg? Most people have not, but most people also know that only a small portion of an iceberg is visible above water, so if they ever did see one they would realize that most of it is below the surface. Do you know that you live in a spiritual realm? The visible world that you see is just the tip of the iceberg, so to speak.  You are immersed in a spiritual reality that is just as real even though you can’t see it. You know that the 90% of the iceberg underwater supports the 10% that is visible. In about the same proportions the invisible spiritual world supports the world you can see.