Remembering Those Who Have Led You

This morning's time in God's word was rich.  I know some of you super spiritual types are saying, "It's always rich."  I wish that were true for me, but there times I come up empty.  Today was not one of those days.  This is just one of the nuggets I got this morning:

"Remember your leaders who taught you the word of God. Think of all the good that has come from their lives, and follow the example of their faith." Hebrews 13:7 (NLT)

I stopped and made a list of people who have impacted my life for the Kingdom of God:

• My dad, Marcus Walker - He taught me to think and encouraged me to use the gifts God has given me to preach, teach, and lead others.
• My aunt and uncle, Barbara and Kenneth Walker - They taught me what a family could be and gave me a model to follow.
• Craig Klepper - Craig modeled the Christian life.  Until I met Craig I had never met a person who claimed to be a Christian that had a life I wanted.  Craig modeled authenticity and integrity.  Craig lived by priorities - God, family, and others.
• Ran and Elizabeth Stovall - Ran explained what it means to be a Christ follower and modeled authentic faith.  Ran and Elizabeth lived a life without "nets" (safety nets).  Ran showed me the simplicity of sharing Christ and Elizabeth and Ran taught me what it means to be "in Christ".
•  Ed Jarrett - Ed is my friend and fellow encourager.  Ed is one of the best dads and friends I have ever known.  I am a better dad and friend because of Ed.
• Kenny Lewis - my mentor for the last 30 years. Kenny came into my life weeks after I trusted Christ.  Kenny is without a doubt the most faithful man I know and has done more to shape my life than any other human being.

Like the author of Hebrews 11 there is not room to mention all the people who have influenced my life. When I think of all the good that has come from these people - the good they have brought into my life and this world - I'm brought to tears.   God, thank you for the investment they have made in me and please let me follow their example.  Amen.

Craig

Overcome Fear - Find Courage

Everybody deals with fear at some time or another.  I've been frozen in fear before when it comes to talking about Jesus and I can't always figure out what I'm afraid of either.  Some times I think I'm afraid of saying the wrong thing, but most of the time if I were to be completely honest I've been afraid of what someone might think of me.  What if I couldn't present a compelling argument for the "hope that is within me", what if their arguments were better than my knowledge?  You probably know exactly what I'm talking about.  But what if I could show you a way to overcome your fears and find God sized courage, would you want it?

Paul told Timothy, "For God has not given you a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love and self-discipline." 2 Timothy 1:7.  Since a right understanding precedes right action we need to take a look at what this means.  The two words in our English translation "fear and timidity" is actually a translation of one Greek word meaning, "cowardice", "one who is overcome with emotion".  The words "power" and "love" are self-explanatory, but clarification on the word "self-discipline" is needed.  Self-discipline comes from a compound word meaning to have mastery over our emotions, it means to be free from excitement or hesitation.  "Self-discipline" is what's needed when our emotions say run, or shut-up.

Getting at the heart of this verse would sound something like this: "If fear is controlling you it may be from a spirit, but not God's Spirit.  God's Spirit has given you power, love, and the ability to stay calm when your emotions tell you otherwise."  And this is what makes this verse so important.  Read 1:8.  "So never be ashamed to tell others about the Lord" (emphasis added).

What we need, courage, is what God's Spirit provides.  It is not that God's Spirit might give us boldness, but that God's Spirit has given us boldness.  The next time you are tempted to shut-up when God's Spirit is prompting you to speak-up remind yourself, "God has not given me a spirit of cowardice, but of power, love, and self-mastery."  It's a done deal.  Now let's (both of us) boldly seek to make Christ known.

Mark 8:35

Craig

Best Find 2/16/11

In Matthew 10:37-39 Jesus gives three ways to test our love/devotion for him.  I labled them the test of preference.

Jesus said, “If you love your father or mother more than you love me, you are not worthy of being mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than me, you are not worthy of being mine. If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine. If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it."

1. Do I prefer others over him? "father, mother, son or daughter"
2. Do I prefer pleasure or comfort over him? "refuse to take up your cross"
3. Do I prefer self over him? "cling to your life"

Lord, I commit to seek you first in my life today giving you preference over others, pleasure and comfort, and self.  Amen.

90 Day N.T. Challenge Reading Schedule

1. Matt 1-4 (2/13)
2. Matthew 5-7
3. Matthew 8-11
4. Matthew 12-15
5. Matthew 16-19
6. Matthew 20-23
7. Catch up day (2/19)
8. Matthew 24-25
9. Matthew 26-28
10. Mark 1-3
11. Mark 4-7
12. Mark 8-10
13. Mark 11-13
14. Catch up day (2/26)
15. Mark 14-16
16. Luke 1-2
17. Luke 3-6
18. Luke 7-9
19. Luke 10-12
20. Luke 13-15
21. Catch up day (3/5)
22. Luke 16-18
23. Luke 19-21
24. Luke 22-24
25. John 1-2
26. John 3-5
27. John 6-8
28. Catch up day (3/12)
29. John 9-12.
30. John 13-17
31. John 18-21 (You are over one third of the way finished and you have completed all four gospels).
32. Acts 1-4
33. Acts 5-7
34. Acts 8-9
35.Catch up day (3/19)
36. Acts 10-12
37. Acts 13-15
38. Acts 16-18
39. Acts 19-20
40. Acts 21-23
41. Acts 24-26
42. Catch up day (3/26)
43. Acts 27-28
44. Romans 1-3
45. Romans 4-5
46. Romans 6-8
47. Romans 9-11
48. Romans 12-16
49. Catch up day (4/2)
50. 1 Corinthians 1-6
51. 1 Corinthians 7-10
52. 1 Corinthians 11-14
53. 1 Corinthians 15-16
54. 2 Corinthians 1-5
55. 2 Corinthians 6-9
56. Catch up day (4-9)
57. 2 Corinthians 10-13
58. Galatians 1-6
59. Ephesians 1-6
60. Philippians 1-4
61. Colossians 1-4
62. 1 Thessalonians 1-5
63. Catch up day (4/16)
64. 2 Thessalonians 1-3
65. 1 Timothy 1-3
66. 1 Timothy 4-6
67. 2 Timothy 1-4
68. Titus 1-3
69. Philemon 1
70. Catch up day (4/23)
71. Hebrews 1-2
72. Hebrews 3-4
73. Hebrews 5-7
73. Hebrews 8-10
74. Hebrews 11-13

75. James 1-5
76. Catch up day (4/30)

77. 1 Peter 1-5
78. 2 Peter 1-3
79. 1 John 1-5
80. 2 John 1
81. 3 John 1
82. Jude 1
83. Catch up day (5/7)
84. Revelation 1-3
85. Revelation 4-6
86. Revelation 7-9
87. Revelation 10-13
88. Revelation 14-16
89. Revelation 17-19
90. Revelation 20-22  You are finished!!!  Congratulations!

The NEW TESTAMENT Reading Challenge

I'm inviting you to join me in a New Testament reading challenge beginning Sunday, February 13 and ending May 13.  With 27 books and a total of 260 chapters you only have to read less than, on average, three chapters a day (actually 2.89 chapters a day).

But the goal of our reading is not to see how fast we can get through the scriptures, but to see how much of the scriptures we can get into us.  Therefore, let's use the social media of fb to share our insights.  You don't have to write something everyday, but the more you share the more your retain.  After you read take a minute or two and post your best insight for the day.  Didn't find anything, or came away confused?  Ask for insight or read the posts of others.

Pretty simple.  Don't want to wait until Sunday to begin?  Get a  jump on it, start today!


Helping others find and follow Christ.

Craig

Why Pray?

We pray because our vision exceeds our abilities. Prayer is the soul’s deepest cry of rebellion against the way things are, seeing the lost world and crying out, ‘This does not glorify God and, by God’s grace, it must change!’ Prayer comes from God and ascends back to God on behalf of those who do not know God.
- David Garrison, Church Planting Movements, p176-177