The Challenge -- Jason Brown

The Challenge -- Jason Brown

"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your moths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen."  - Ephesians 4:29

OK, so this week, by the grace of God and with the understanding that He loves you deeply and that you can't do anything to curry his favor (enough with the caveats, already!), let's try doing this.  No unwholesome talk.  This doesn't just mean putting a cap on swearing or naughty jokes.  It means putting a cap on every single demeaning, sarcastic, subtly gossipy thing (you know the things you and I say about presidents and politicians and people we don't like and our prayer requests regarding friends) and replacing this with words that help build others up.  

Let's try it.  Let's try going a week without any -- none, nada, zippo, zero -- unwholesome talk.  Nothing that approaches a slightly judmental sentiment about another human being.  And, with the help of the Spirit, let's try to say ONLY what's helpful for building others up according to their needs.  We'll call it "Paul's Pipe Dream Challenge"  If you've got a better name, let me know.

So, who's with me? Are you in?  

Also, if you've got some thoughts on Love Languages, feel free to chime in.

 

14 comments (Add your own)

1. Ricky Williams wrote:
I'm in. I'm going to throw a rubber band around my wrist as a reminder. I'm not going to snap myself when I mess up though. Just for a reminder. Let's check in at the end of the week to see how we did.

Mon, April 20, 2009 @ 2:36 PM

2. Ron wrote:
I'm in (starting now). Love languages; never even knew they exsisted till yesterday. That was a turn the switch on, light bulb over the head moment. It was like, ohhh now I get it. So simple but it will change my way of interacting with people forever.

Mon, April 20, 2009 @ 2:41 PM

3. Jason Brown wrote:
Alright. So Ricky and Ron are in. I'm hoping for some people whose names begin with other letters in the alphabet. Ron, I'm glad the love language teaching was blowing your mind -- frankly, i've heard about it before but I was paying all kinds of attention yesterday and thinking a good deal about how to love the people around me a lot better. Ricky, I love the rubber band around the wrist idea. I'm going to look for one that doesn't cut off circulation to my fingers.

Mon, April 20, 2009 @ 2:47 PM

4. Ricky Williams wrote:
Alright. I love the challenge. I had a basketball game tonight at ERC and it was absolutely fun to not say any negative words - even the normal little wise cracks.

I also came with a pocket full of rubber bands ready to recruit more people to participate in The Challenge. I told them to try their best and give themselves grace when they failed. I also told them I would post their names on this blog so we could all know who's in. So here are the names:

Daniel Frey
Kim Nava
Emily Guzman
Alex Jimenez
Dylan Bousema
Annika Bousema
Kari Korver
Craig Karli
Brooke Karli
Manny Gonzalez
Jordon Hambrick
Jahlon Hambrick
Dave Nearpass
Amani ???

I got a feeling that a revolution of niceness is going to break out in small little pockets this week. I'm really excited!

Mon, April 20, 2009 @ 7:19 PM

5. Craig Chapman wrote:
I tried it today, but failed miserably. Thank God for grace though. I will continue to try to put it into practice. God knows how badly I need to apply this scripture to my life. Please pray for me....

Mon, April 20, 2009 @ 10:28 PM

6. Christine wrote:
I desperately need a reminder to think before I speak. Thanks for your comments, Jason. I'll be wearing a lovely rubber band as well.

Tue, April 21, 2009 @ 6:54 AM

7. Greg Wallace Dolmage wrote:
I'm on board. Let's do this.

Tue, April 21, 2009 @ 8:01 AM

8. Julie Dirkse wrote:
I am in. Ricky mentioned this idea to me today and I am excited! I think it is a great idea. I found and am wearing a rubber band as a reminder. Thanks for sharing this Jason.

Tue, April 21, 2009 @ 12:08 PM

9. Jason Brown wrote:
I found a rubber band that doesn't cut off circulation. I'm looking at it right now and thinking about meaningful words with which to build people up.

Tue, April 21, 2009 @ 1:29 PM

10. Daniel Frey wrote:
this is hard! but i think im getting the hang of it!

Wed, April 22, 2009 @ 6:38 AM

11. Heather Gates wrote:
I didn't get around to reading this blog til now and the week is already half gone, but count me in!

Thu, April 23, 2009 @ 1:14 PM

12. Almita wrote:
O.K. - but what about 'constructive criticism? Is that a loophole? This is a challenge for me - really! I'm so prone to give out 'constructive thoughts' on others behavior or speech. But, I will try my best to be positive even in this.89322

Fri, April 24, 2009 @ 2:52 PM

13. Alicia Ferrari wrote:
This is actually for the current week, when Pastor Larry Dove spoke on listening. How powerful. Today, I read my excerpt from a daily devotion, Oswald Chamber's "My Utmost For His Highest". It totally ties into listening, love, and acting out love. The title "Gracious Uncertainty". Basically, in a nutshell, we constantly are looking for God's powerful voice to say everything's going to be alright. But, we need rely on our faith that God is going to pull through. If we continually harp on God for a better life, it become more nagging, rather than truly wanting it. We need to act upon wanting a better life. We need to have faith that God will then provide. How many times have I nagged my husband to do something, only for it to be done. But, If I truly express my heartfelt concern from the get go, and let God, it gets done. Sometimes a gentle reminder is all He, or rather we need. But, how selfish if we just continually to ask our spouse or God the same thing over and over again, and not have faith. It's like an image of a 3 year old having a temper tantrum. Thanks so much.

Wed, April 29, 2009 @ 10:47 AM

14. Darrel Wilson wrote:
I just got around to reading this today (a week late). I'll give it a try, this is verrrrrry difficult being a sportsfanatic that I am with extreme tasteful dislike of anything Boston Celtics this time of year.

Wed, April 29, 2009 @ 10:57 AM

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