follow me as I follow Christ

Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example. 18 For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth. 20 But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. 21 He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control.

I am continuing on a journey to think about and investigate leadership. The point is to refine my own goals and ways so that I can be a better leader for the cause that God has put in front of me.

There are several passages in the Bible that stand out to me as keys to leadership, growth and some sort of pattern to follow. The verses above are one of those for sure. I have thought about the first verse for years, and several of the other verses stick out as well.

Paul said, “follow my example” or “pattern your life after mine”. Both translations seem a bit arrogant to me. Who is this guy that that thinks his life is above others or has more meaning than the people he is speaking to? Paul was an incredible man who a huge testimony of what God can and will do in our lives.

Yet any person that suggests that others should pattern their life after his has several things happening in them. First of all, this person has huge self-confidence. Don’t get me wrong, but this is a tough balancing act. Some people go too far, think to high of themselves and even miss God. Others don’t think high enough of themselves.

God gave us value. He has placed potential in each of our lives. It is ours to discover what He has placed in our lives. Paul knew that he was seeking God with all that he had in his life. Therefore, Paul could with a clear conscious ask others to join him on the journey of faith that was in front of him.

Second, Paul points to the important thing that changed his life. That was and continues to be the cross of Christ. That was a fixed point in history that changed Paul’s life and changes others as they experience it. Some people miss the cross and are headed to destruction. Others focus on the cross and allow their lives to count for Christ in big ways. Paul did that.

And finally, Paul shows us that we can make sure our lives are fixed on heaven, seeking Christ while on earth all the while allowing our weakness to be replaced or overlaid with the grace of God. God’s power through our lives changes us and changes others.

Great leaders make much of Christ and pursue Him with all they have all the while asking others to join them. That is just what I am doing today. I am not perfect, but I am pursing Christ. Join me. Join others who are on this journey, and may we see God do more in and through us than we can do on our own!

Have you heard of EDITH BURNS?

Edith Burns was a wonderful Christian who lived in San Antonio, Texas . She was the patient of a doctor by the name of Will Phillips. Dr. Phillips was a gentle doctor who saw patients as people. His favorite patient was Edith Burns. One morning he went to his office with a heavy heart and it was because of Edith Burns. When he walked into that waiting room, there sat Edith with her big black Bible in her lap earnestly talking to a young mother sitting beside her. Edith Burns had a habit of introducing herself in this way: "Hello, my name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?" Then she would explain the meaning of Easter, and many times people would be saved. Dr. Phillips walked into that office and there he saw the head nurse, Beverly. Beverly had first met Edith when she was taking her blood pressure. Edith began by saying,"My name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?" Beverly said, "Why yes I do." Edith said, "Well, what do you

why is it Good Friday?

Holy Week is the time we focus on God and His gift of salvation. We come to Friday. The day we remember the cross, Jesus’ death and all God has done for you and me Why do they call this day “Good Friday” because it doesn’t seems good? Jesus was treated as a criminal. He was beaten so much that He could not recognize Him. His pain would have been too much for you or me to endure. That is especially from Scripture I’ve read or as in the movie the Passion of the Christ . Yet it is a good day. It is Good Friday because God had our good in His heart. What Jesus did that day changed our forever direction. Here are some thoughts that come to me: He is Redemption and Redeemer He too our Pain and Punishment He is our Righteousness and Reality He is the Savior and Life All of those happened from the cross. It was meant for the worst lawbreakers. It was not meant for a Savior who never broke a law. It was lifted high so that onlookers could see the price Jesus. Look

Day 8 in Cuba

We have just come off and incredible weekend, and it is day 8 of the mission trip in Cuba. Thank you to all who have been praying for this trip, the mission team and the impact it will have on those we serve. Please don’t stop praying. Last week Alex and I served with a mission team in the mountains of southern Cuba. There were several challenges, but God gave us safety, provision and opportunity to serve some of the sweetest people I have ever met. No running water… sporadic electricity generated by a small, logo dammed up river, no transportation other than animals, limited food sources and more. These people love the Lord and sharing their faith with others. Over the weekend we made our way back to Havana. On Friday our vehicle broke down leaving us on the side of the road for several hours. We then boarded a bus and rode 14 hours. We arrived safely and even got some rest. Sunday was so, so good. We visited two partner churches. In the morning we were with one church that

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