NOT ME…OR YOU! WHAT?

Posted on June 4, 2018 by randscallawayffm
Timothy and Titus – Inconspicuous Leadership
 
As kids playing, caught doing something we were not supposed to do, the first response was, “It not me, I didn’t do it, it wasn’t me!” Admit it, we all said that at least a few times in our young lives. We were ready and willing to boldly plead our “case”.
 
2 Timothy 1 but as for you
With the same passion, Paul explains to young Timothy that the work that has been given to them to proclaim the saving grace of Jesus Christ did not come from us. The power that comes from proclaiming this message is not from us. “We had nothing to do with it”, says Paul. “It was all HIS idea, a gift prepared for us in Jesus long before we knew anything about it. But we know it now.” This bring us to the next leadership principle. It’s NOT about us. It’s all about the saving grace of Christ. HIS power in us causes us to speak boldly and unashamed of His grace and mercy to us. All because of the work of Jesus on a Cross. It’s all about HIM, not us. We had nothing to do with it.
 
Read Paul’s encouraging, passionate, plea to Timothy. Meditate on the words that cheer us on our own journeys. Observe all the holy characteristics Paul points out that abide in Timothy because of Christ.
 
“Guard this precious thing placed in your custody by the Holy Spirit who works in us.”
 
2 Timothy 1, The Message
1-2 I, Paul, am on special assignment for Christ, carrying out God’s plan laid out in the Message of Life by Jesus. I write this to you, Timothy, the son I love so much. All the best from our God and Christ be yours!
 

2 timothy 1 God has givenTo Be Bold with God’s Gifts

3-4 Every time I say your name in prayer—which is practically all the time—I thank God for you, the God I worship with my whole life in the tradition of my ancestors. I miss you a lot, especially when I remember that last tearful good-bye, and I look forward to a joy-packed reunion.
 
5-7 That precious memory triggers another: your honest faith—and what a rich faith it is, handed down from your grandmother Lois to your mother Eunice, and now to you! And the special gift of ministry you received when I laid hands on you and prayed—keep that ablaze! God doesn’t want us to be shy with his gifts, but bold and loving and sensible.
 
8-10 So don’t be embarrassed to speak up for our Master or for me, his prisoner. Take your share of suffering for the Message along with the rest of us. We can only keep on going, after all, by the power of God, who first saved us and then called us to this holy work. We had nothing to do with it. It was all his idea, a gift prepared for us in Jesus long before we knew anything about it. But we know it now. Since the appearance of our Savior, nothing could be plainer: death defeated, life vindicated in a steady blaze of light, all through the work of Jesus.
 
11-12 This is the Message I’ve been set apart to proclaim as preacher, emissary, and teacher. It’s also the cause of all this trouble I’m in. But I have no regrets. I couldn’t be more sure of my ground—the One I’ve trusted in can take care of what he’s trusted me to do right to the end.
 
13-14 So keep at your work, this faith and love rooted in Christ, exactly as I set it out for you. It’s as sound as the day you first heard it from me. Guard this precious thing placed in your custody by the Holy Spirit who works in us.
 
15-18 I’m sure you know by now that everyone in the province of Asia deserted me, even Phygelus and Hermogenes. But God bless Onesiphorus and his family! Many’s the time I’ve been refreshed in that house. And he wasn’t embarrassed a bit that I was in jail. The first thing he did when he got to Rome was look me up. May God on the Last Day treat him as well as he treated me. And then there was all the help he provided in Ephesus—but you know that better than I.
 
2 Timothy 1 rekindle the fireLEADERSHIP PRINCIPLE #8: It’s not about us.
 
Leadership Characteristics
 
–Humbly knowing that we have nothing to do with saving others. We only point them to Jesus. Jesus saves us and others because of HIS work on the Cross and by His power working in and through us to boldly tell others.
–Point others to Jesus…not us….or the imperfect church who is a repentant group of believers seeking Jesus, finding and following Jesus. We cannot say this enough.
–Be rich in faith, unwavering, bold, unrelenting and passionate.
–“God doesn’t’ want us to be shy with his gifts, but bold and loving and sensible.” Mm, “sensible”. Be wise with all opportunities to share Jesus with others.
–It’s all about God. Our message is Jesus, the Truth, Way and Life to God. It’s all about God.
–This message was formed from the beginning. Salvation through Jesus was all by HIS design in the blueprint of life eternal with Him. Not me, not you.
–Our part is to simply receive this gift of salvation and live grateful lives that tell others about His gift. We can all do that!
 
“So keep at your work this faith and love rooted in Christ…”
 
Dear Heavenly Father,
We lay down our own agendas, let go of what is happening around us to look full into your wonderful face. It is indeed ALL about You. We are ready to listen to You, following the sound of Your Voice with hearts, minds and souls bent and yielded toward obeying You. Speak to our hearts. Your servant is listening. Continue to transform me with the power of Your Holy Spirit in me. Transform your church. Transform the world.
In Jesus Name, Amen
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PURSUE

Posted on June 3, 2018 by randscallawayffm
Timothy and Titus – Inconspicuous Leadership
 
I don’t physically run. But I walk fast. Like the old saying, “If you see me running, then something is after me.” I don’t run. I have weak ankles. This problem existed since I was a kid playing softball and other sports. However, this does not hold me back from running the race God set before me. I will run, walk fast, crawl my way to Him and what He tells me to be and to do. I am in pursuit of God’s will and purpose for me. I run from world thinking to pursue what and how God thinks. I run from what is popular down a road less traveled. I run from fake people and false theologies. I encourage others to be in hot pursuit of God’s will for them.
 
1 Timothy 6, The Message
 
1 Timothy 6 runningRunning Hard
11-12 But you, Timothy, man of God: Run for your life from all this. Pursue a righteous life—a life of wonder, faith, love, steadiness, courtesy. Run hard and fast in the faith. Seize the eternal life, the life you were called to, the life you so fervently embraced in the presence of so many witnesses.
 
13-16 I’m charging you before the life-giving God and before Christ, who took his stand before Pontius Pilate and didn’t give an inch: Keep this command to the letter, and don’t slack off. Our Master, Jesus Christ, is on his way. He’ll show up right on time, his arrival guaranteed by the Blessed and Undisputed Ruler, High King, High God. He’s the only one death can’t touch, his light so bright no one can get close. He’s never been seen by human eyes—human eyes can’t take him in! Honor to him, and eternal rule! Oh, yes.
 
17-19 Tell those rich in this world’s wealth to quit being so full of themselves and so obsessed with money, which is here today and gone tomorrow. Tell them to go after God, who piles on all the riches we could ever manage—to do good, to be rich in helping others, to be extravagantly generous. If they do that, they’ll build a treasury that will last, gaining life that is truly life.
 
20-21 And oh, my dear Timothy, guard the treasure you were given! Guard it with your life. Avoid the talk-show religion and the practiced confusion of the so-called experts. People caught up in a lot of talk can miss the whole point of faith.
 
Overwhelming grace keep you!
 
LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLE #7: RUN! Run from all the is evil to God, all that is good and right. Pursue a righteous life that only God can help you achieve.
 
1 Timothy 6 pursue GodLeadership Characteristics –
 
-Pursue, run after all that is God, with a clear focus on a life of wonder, faith, love, steadiness, courtesy.
–Seize the moment, making the most of every opportunity to live the life we were called to live!
–Don’t give an inch to what is not God. Remain firm.
–Keep His commands.
–Be tenaciously driven to be and do what God wants.
–Tells others to go after God with all that is in them.
–Guard the treasure of knowing God with all that is in us.
–Don’t miss the point of our faith…Jesus died to save us from our sin. AND Jesus is coming back to take us home with Him forever and ever. Yes, and Amen!
 
Dear Heavenly Father,
You are God and we are not. You are Holy and all that is Right. We come to you to make us holy before you. We are in pursuit of your overwhelming grace today…and always. Continue to transform me. Transform your church. Transform the world…through your church.
In Jesus Name, Amen
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ENOUGH

Posted on June 2, 2018 by randscallawayffm
Timothy and Titus – Inconspicuous Leadership
 
When do you have enough to be satisfied? A very rich man was asked this question and he responded, “Never”. “I will never have enough.” “There is always one more dollar to make!”
 
This is the state of our world today. We will never have enough, be enough and be content with what we have right now in front of us. The world thinks this is a good thing so you will always strive to get more and be more. We look down or patronize people who are content to be a difference in our schools, churches, missionary fields, and other activities that are helpful to others growth and maturity but do not bring them wealth in the world’s eyes. Noble is the word used for this kind of contentment by others in doing what God has asked us to do, but power is the word most used in other professions.
 
1 timothy 6 penneysSo, who has real power? What does it mean to be “rich”?What is enough? The answer, according to Paul who speaks wisdom to Timothy is, “A devout life does bring wealth, but it’s the rich simplicity of being yourself before God.” He reminds all of us, “Since we entered the world penniless and will leave it penniless, if we have bread on the table and shoes on our feet, that’s enough.”
 
Living gratefully content, knowing God, being who He has created us to be and following His ways taught to us by Jesus Christ who died for us…is enough. Be yourself before God.
 
1 Timothy 6, The Message
 
The Lust for Money
2-5 These are the things I want you to teach and preach. If you have leaders there who teach otherwise, who refuse the solid words of our Master Jesus and this godly instruction, tag them for what they are: ignorant windbags who infect the air with germs of envy, controversy, bad-mouthing, suspicious rumors. Eventually there’s an epidemic of backstabbing, and truth is but a distant memory. They think religion is a way to make a fast buck.
 
1 Timothy 6 enjoy life6-8 A devout life does bring wealth, but it’s the rich simplicity of being yourself before God. Since we entered the world penniless and will leave it penniless, if we have bread on the table and shoes on our feet, that’s enough.
 
9-10 But if it’s only money these leaders are after, they’ll self-destruct in no time. Lust for money brings trouble and nothing but trouble. Going down that path, some lose their footing in the faith completely and live to regret it bitterly ever after.
 
LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLE #7: Avoid the lust for more money. Money and power does not define us in God’s eyes.
 
Leadership Characteristics –
 
–Contentment.
–Honest before God. Honest before the world.
–Knows God well and enjoys an intimate relationship with God.
–Because of an intimate relationship we can be ourselves before God because we trust He knows all about us.
–God guides AND provides all we need.
–If God is all you have, you have everything. We have enough!
 
1 Timothy 6 you are enough
God is that Friend who will always know you and can strike up a conversation with you even if it has been a while. So talk with Him. Be with the One who knows and loves you best.
 
Be still and know God.
Be still and know.
Be still.
Be.
 
In Jesus Name, Amen
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CHECKLISTS

Posted on June 1, 2018 by randscallawayffm

Timothy and Titus – Inconspicuous Leadership

1 Timothy 5 checklistI am a list maker…even in retirement from my secular work. For me, what doesn’t get listed, doesn’t get done. It is also very rewarding for me to check that item off the list when it is accomplished. The list has a progression of priorities. One task cannot happen until another task is completed. And so life goes with my lists guiding my behavior and productivity.

As I journal each morning in my conversational prayer with God, the Father, His Spirit guides me to make another list that helps me to mature and grow in Him. I am convicted of some of those “fruits of the Spirit” that I have not tended to or cultivated, have ignored or left undone. His Holy Spirit redirects my thoughts and helps me form a list of tasks that will help me improve my behavior. “Keep a close check on yourself”, writes Paul to Timothy. For me, that means to make a spiritual checklist that keeps me in close contact with the will and purpose of our Father, God and helps me to grow closer to Him.

We can do nothing of significance without God. I am convinced that He guides us to all things that are good for our growth and aid our learning about Him and how He works. Paul also gives Timothy sound advice about how to treat those whom God has called to lead with character traits with another list of how to lead. This list still applies to us today. The theme of this episode seems to be; Know God, Know Yourself, Know The Message, Know Your Audience. Our deeds, good and bad, will be evident. Be driven by God’s love in us.

1 Timothy 5, The Message

17-18 Give a bonus to leaders who do a good job, especially the ones who work hard at preaching and teaching. Scripture tells us, “Don’t muzzle a working ox” and “A worker deserves his pay.”

19 Don’t listen to a complaint against a leader that isn’t backed up by two or three responsible witnesses.

20 If anyone falls into sin, call that person on the carpet. Those who are inclined that way will know right off they can’t get by with it.

21-23 God and Jesus and angels all back me up in these instructions. Carry them out without favoritism, without taking sides. Don’t appoint people to church leadership positions too hastily. If a person is involved in some serious sins, you don’t want to become an unwitting accomplice. In any event, keep a close check on yourself. And don’t worry too much about what the critics will say. Go ahead and drink a little wine, for instance; it’s good for your digestion, good medicine for what ails you.

24-25 The sins of some people are blatant and march them right into court. The sins of others don’t show up until much later. The same with good deeds. Some you see right off, but none are hidden forever.

1 Timothy 5 check yourselfLEADERSHIP PRINCIPLE #6: Keep a Close Check on Yourself

Leadership Characteristics –

–Fully rely on God. Trust Him with all you are and all you have. We are His. All we have is His.
–Ask God “if there is anything offensive to you, cleanse me.” as the Psalmist prayed.
–Repent with a heart and mind not wanting to return to the old life.
–Look full into the face of Jesus, our Master, Lord and Savior with laser focus so we know what direction to take next.
–“Keep a close check on yourself.” Avoid, “he did it, I can, too” or “my sin is not as bad as his sin” or “everybody’s doing it” mentality.
–Ask God for wisdom, insight and understanding.
–Allow God’s transformation to continue in our lives.
–Ask God to make your lists of to BE and to DO. HE will prioritize your lists in ways you cannot imagine! Where He guides, He provides help all along the journey.
–Do all in a Spirit of love for God and others.
–Care enough to confront others with God’s love and concern for their spiritual well-being and growth.

Warning   The things on our spiritual check list can never be crossed off because we’ll be working on them our whole lives. By listing we are reminding ourselves of what we need to work on to “keep a close check” on our lives. It is only by The Atonement of Jesus Christ can we accomplish anything of eternal significance.

Dear Heavenly Father,
You have convinced me that we must do spiritual “business” with You each day to improve our being in You. Thank you for helping us on this journey. Thank you for Your Holy Spirit that points out things in our behavior that could cause us to crash…before crashing. Thank you for always being with us, guiding and directing, loving and protecting and challenging us to grow and bear Fruit. Continue to transform me. Transform your church. Transform the world through your church.
In Jesus Name, Amen

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HONOR YOUR FAITH FAMILY

Posted on May 31, 2018 by randscallawayffm
Timothy and Titus – Inconspicuous Leadership
 
When we are young in age and in faith we don’t really think about the state of mind or condition of those who are much older in our gathering of believers. If they smile, we smile back. If they elderly reach out to give a hug, we reluctantly allow it…if we know them. If they have trouble getting around, we move around them as an obstacle with our busy, fast pace. It annoys us to have to repeat what we say to them often because they cannot hear as well as they used to hear. We forget that they have worlds of wisdom through experience on this journey than we could possibly have…because we are young.
 
Now, I am getting older. I have retired from secular work of teaching science. I have free time to think and reflect. I let my hair go silver gray. I stopped using hair dye just to make myself “look younger”. I am embracing my age and even celebrating it. But I am still me. My mind still tells me I am younger than I am. I still ride my bike and can climb the rock wall at the local baseball field. According to my husband, I still move around at a quick pace and must slow down for others. (This is inherited, my Grandma Kellerby walked fast, too. Just saying.)
 
Now that I look more like the part of an old person, I am now noticing that others who don’t really know me well treat me differently in this world. Strangers either treat me with kindness or as a burden to them. I am either honored for wisdom or assumed too old to know and treated as stupid. In this world, there are advantages (like Senior Discounts) and disadvantages (like a younger gal taking my phone from me at the store when I didn’t pull up my coupon fast enough.) I am amused at both advantages and disadvantages in my experiment of letting my hair go gray and watching how I’m treated. It is almost like an episode of “Undercover Boss” or “What Would You Do”. (Smiling, now.)
 
But that is the world.
 
As believers, Paul tells us plain and simple how to deal with aging in the community of faith. Honor them. Help when needed. But don’t help too much. Teach family members that they are responsible, too. Remember the church is being persecuted. Young and old have lost spouses because of their faith. Paul offers advice to Timothy, given the circumstances, to be helpful not harmful.
 
1 Timothy 5, The Message
The Family of Faith
1 Timothy 5 old hands5 1-2 Don’t be harsh or impatient with an older man. Talk to him as you would your own father, and to the younger men as your brothers. Reverently honor an older woman as you would your mother, and the younger women as sisters.
 
3-8 Take care of widows who are destitute. If a widow has family members to take care of her, let them learn that religion begins at their own doorstep and that they should pay back with gratitude some of what they have received. This pleases God immensely. You can tell a legitimate widow by the way she has put all her hope in God, praying to him constantly for the needs of others as well as her own. But a widow who exploits people’s emotions and pocketbooks—well, there’s nothing to her. Tell these things to the people so that they will do the right thing in their extended family. Anyone who neglects to care for family members in need repudiates the faith. That’s worse than refusing to believe in the first place.
 
9-10 Sign some widows up for the special ministry of offering assistance. They will in turn receive support from the church. They must be over sixty, married only once, and have a reputation for helping out with children, strangers, tired Christians, the hurt and troubled.
 
11-15 Don’t put young widows on this list. No sooner will they get on than they’ll want to get off, obsessed with wanting to get a husband rather than serving Christ in this way. By breaking their word, they’re liable to go from bad to worse, frittering away their days on empty talk, gossip, and trivialities. No, I’d rather the young widows go ahead and get married in the first place, have children, manage their homes, and not give critics any foothold for finding fault. Some of them have already left and gone after Satan.
 
16 Any Christian woman who has widows in her family is responsible for them. They shouldn’t be dumped on the church. The church has its hands full already with widows who need help.
 
1 Timothy 5 honorLEADERSHIP PRINCIPLE #5:
Honor Each Other
 
Leadership Characteristics to acquire and mature
 
–Don’t be harsh or impatient with those who are older. If this is hard, and it was with me, pray for God’s help. He WILL help you.
–Help with reverence and honor, not giving into pride and selfishness.
–Help in ways that retain the dignity of those we help.
 
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for helping us through all the stages of life on this brief journey here. Thank you for always being with us. Thank you for helping widows through the tough times of doing life without their spouses emotionally, spiritually, physically and intellectually. Thank you for Your Word and Your Holy Spirit that teaches, comforts, convicts and restores us. Continue to transform me. Transform the church. Transform the world.
In Jesus Name, Amen
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WHAT ARE WE TEACHING?

Posted on May 30, 2018 by randscallawayffm

Timothy and Titus – Inconspicuous Leadership

1 timothy 4 after churchAre you breathing? Are you moving? Are you still on the journey here we call life? Then you are a teacher. Whether we know it or not, like it or not…we are all teachers. Our lives tell others what we believe is important, what we think about often and who (or what) we trust and obey. Our lifestyle is a lesson. Our demeanor is our doctrine. Yes, our lives even predict where we know we are headed. We are what we think…not what we eat! Our lives teach others because someone is always watching us to see how life works. WHAT are we teaching?

Paul has a great message to his “son” in the faith about being a Christ-in-us example of living a life dedicated to God with boldness. “Don’t be timid about your faith, Timothy, for God gives us His Holy Spirit with power to tell His story!” Paul tells Timothy to “pass on” what he has been taught “as a good servant of Jesus”. Jesus, Son of God, came down from heaven, passed on the Truth of who God is and what He wants to his disciples to be and do, then laid down His life for us. Jesus was the Supreme Example. Paul, a life changed and transformed by Jesus, and lives imitating Jesus now passes the Truth to Timothy. This “passing it on” to those who believe and will believe is the reason we are alive in Christ today! Who or what teaching are we passing on with our lives? Everyone is watching. Do our lives make God smile?

1 Timothy 4, The Message
Teach with Your Life

1-5 The Spirit makes it clear that as time goes on, some are going to give up on the faith and chase after demonic illusions put forth by professional liars. These liars have lied so well and for so long that they’ve lost their capacity for truth. They will tell you not to get married. They’ll tell you not to eat this or that food—perfectly good food God created to be eaten heartily and with thanksgiving by believers who know better! Everything God created is good, and to be received with thanks. Nothing is to be sneered at and thrown out. God’s Word and our prayers make every item in creation holy.

1 Timothy 4 godly6-10 You’ve been raised on the Message of the faith and have followed sound teaching. Now pass on this counsel to the followers of Jesus there, and you’ll be a good servant of Jesus. Stay clear of silly stories that get dressed up as religion. Exercise daily in God—no spiritual flabbiness, please! Workouts in the gymnasium are useful, but a disciplined life in God is far more so, making you fit both today and forever. You can count on this. Take it to heart. This is why we’ve thrown ourselves into this venture so totally. We’re banking on the living God, Savior of all men and women, especially believers.

11-14 Get the word out. Teach all these things. And don’t let anyone put you down because you’re young. Teach believers with your life: by word, by demeanor, by love, by faith, by integrity. Stay at your post reading Scripture, giving counsel, teaching. And that special gift of ministry you were given when the leaders of the church laid hands on you and prayed—keep that dusted off and in use.

15-16 Cultivate these things. Immerse yourself in them. The people will all see you mature right before their eyes! Keep a firm grasp on both your character and your teaching. Don’t be diverted. Just keep at it. Both you and those who hear you will experience salvation.

LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLE #4: Teach with Your Life

Leadership Characteristics
A leader is a learner. We can only take others as far as we have been ourselves.

We are all called to exert a godly influence in a decadent society We are called to set a godly standard in a very ungodly world. We are called to communicate a godly message to a sadly deceived people. Sometimes we use words.

Question: How can we exert a godly influence if we ourselves are not godly? Answer: We can’t.

Personal purity will always remain as a priority prerequisite to knowing God. Why? When we forfeit our godliness, we shatter our intimacy with Christ. Yes, it’s that important to us and to those we teach with our very lives.

We are all ministers of the Gospel. Ministry is modeling. But we don’t have to starve ourselves! We feed on God’s Word, filling ourselves to overflow with His Story with a passion for pleasing Him. Then we model His Word with our very lives.

You are I are nothing less than cross cultural missionaries to the deceived world in which we live. A heart that seeks to please Christ burns with a desire to read the Word (“give attention the public reading of Scripture”), apply the Word (lifestyle) and explain the Word (teaching).

1 Timothy 4 watchLiving a life of integrity is a powerful life! What is integrity? I picture integrity as someone standing in front of any group of people anywhere, anytime, and allowing them to ask anything they want about his/her personal, private life. Integrity is the ability to answer every question honestly, without being ashamed.

Live to teach! The servant of Jesus Christ understands that he/she is helping to change the destiny of the world. This world seeks authenticity, the real deal. Our lessons must be lived out in our lifestyles; doctrine demonstrated in our demeanor; instruction illustrated in integrity; our message both seen as well as heard, visual as well as verbal. To speak a biblical message while refusing to live a godly life results in hypocrisy. Others will spot hypocrisy in us before we do.

Do you ever feel inadequate in passing on the Good News of Christ? JOIN THE CLUB! NONE of us walks on water. First Timothy 4 sets the standard. Don’t expect perfection, but we see to it that the direction of our lives moves toward the standard.

What change in life will bring you closer to the standard? Ooh, time to get real! Write it down. Ask God to transform you. I do this all the time. I need help. We all need help. Jesus saves. We pray. God works. His Holy Spirit is always with us. Live well through every circumstance.

‘”Pay close attention to….your teaching” (1 Tim 4:16)

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for bringing us to a place of being honest with ourselves and honest before you. Continue to transform us. Transform your church. Transform the world.  In Jesus Name, Amen

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WALK WORTHY

Posted on May 29, 2018 by randscallawayffm
Timothy and Titus – Inconspicuous Leadership
 
“Let’s elect him to serve as deacon, maybe he’ll start coming to church with his family.”
 
“We need to fill this empty slot with a warm body, at least.”
 
“If no one else will do it, I guess I will.”
 
“Our budget needs help, let’s elect Dave, he is wealthy. Maybe he’ll start tithing and solve our deficits.”
 
“Let’s choose her, then maybe she will not be so mouthy about how to do things around here.”
 
Over the years, I have actually heard these and other unbiblical statements made in various board meetings. How these statements must break the heart of God! This method of choosing leaders AND servants is not what is acceptable or in the will of God according to His Word. Paul teaches us how to choose leaders and servants who walk worthy and serve well.
 
Slide 11 Timothy 3, The Message
 
1-7 If anyone wants to provide leadership in the church, good! But there are preconditions: A leader must be well-thought-of, committed to his wife, cool and collected, accessible, and hospitable. He must know what he’s talking about, not be overfond of wine, not pushy but gentle, not thin-skinned, not money-hungry. He must handle his own affairs well, attentive to his own children and having their respect. For if someone is unable to handle his own affairs, how can he take care of God’s church? He must not be a new believer, lest the position go to his head and the Devil trip him up. Outsiders must think well of him, or else the Devil will figure out a way to lure him into his trap.
 
8-13 The same goes for those who want to be servants in the church: serious, not deceitful, not too free with the bottle, not in it for what they can get out of it. They must be reverent before the mystery of the faith, not using their position to try to run things. Let them prove themselves first. If they show they can do it, take them on. No exceptions are to be made for women—same qualifications: serious, dependable, not sharp-tongued, not overfond of wine. Servants in the church are to be committed to their spouses, attentive to their own children, and diligent in looking after their own affairs. Those who do this servant work will come to be highly respected, a real credit to this Jesus-faith.
 
14-16 I hope to visit you soon, but just in case I’m delayed, I’m writing this letter so you’ll know how things ought to go in God’s household, this God-alive church, bastion of truth. This Christian life is a great mystery, far exceeding our understanding, but some things are clear enough:
 
He appeared in a human body,
was proved right by the invisible Spirit,
was seen by angels.
He was proclaimed among all kinds of peoples,
believed in all over the world,
taken up into heavenly glory.
 
LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLE #3
 
–We refer back to #1 and #2. Remember #1? Jesus saves. We do not save people by putting them in charge of anything. That is not fair to them who will be frustrated for serving while still getting to know God. #2 is the rule of thumb for all decisions…Pray FIRST! Ask God for wisdom, insight and understanding for what HE wants for HIS church.
–Choose those who are walking worthy right now, at this moment, fully devoted to God and His will.
 
1 Thessalonians 4-1 Walk Worthy brownServant Leadership Characteristics
–Well thought of in the community. Integrity. Does what is right even when no one but God is looking.
–Committed to spouse and family.
–“Cool and collected, accessible, and hospitable.” Open door to his/her life with welcoming arms of love.
–Knows God. Knows God’s Message.
–Does not get drunk in social settings or anywhere else.
–Doesn’t push but gently works with others as a humble team member wanting others to know and follow Christ as the Head of the group.
–Handles life well. Loves their family in the most excellent way…with love and respect.
–Is not a new believer. Has been proven to walk worthy for a while without being pulled away by temptations to do other than what God wants.
–Loves God with heart, mind, body and soul. Loves others in the same way God loves.
 
There is a debate about letting people serve who have yet to accept Christ as Savior and Lord. If you ask Paul, the answer would be probably be no according to the “list” of requirements. In Paul’s day, infant churches were facing persecution by the government. Strong believers were need to serve and lead well. “Let them prove themselves first”, says Paul. Could this statement be for the protection of those still seeking and are very vulnerable? Could the new and still seeking be hurt by church people who think they are solid and committed but underneath are immature and anxious? Mm. We need to think about this seriously. For sure, every person who seeks to serve and lead needs a mentor. Every person who serves needs to be a mentor. We all need each other to stay strong. Every. One.
 
Lord, help us.
 
Dear Heavenly Father,
We ask for your wisdom, insight and understanding to develop the your kind of thinking and doing to live this life well…in the most excellent way…with unconditional love. Thank you for loving us. Thank you for help us to love well. Thank you for inviting us to your work. Equip us to BE first then do what you ask, readily and without hesitation. Continue to transform me. Transform your church. Transform the world.
In Jesus Name, Amen
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PRAY

Posted on May 28, 2018 by randscallawayffm
Timothy and Titus – Inconspicuous Leadership
 
When all else fails, pray. That seems to be the popular opinion and life hack these days. What if we began each day by first praying to the God of Creation who was, and is and is to come. What if we pray to the One who knows all, is in all and above all. Why not ask HIS opinion of what He wants… FIRST?
 
1 Timothy 2 prayAs Paul mentors Timothy and Titus as inconspicuous leaders who are devoted to God, obedient to God and so, therefore equipped by God, he teaches them, “The first thing I want you to do is pray.”
 
1 Timothy 2, The Message
1-3 The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know. Pray especially for rulers and their governments to rule well so we can be quietly about our business of living simply, in humble contemplation. This is the way our Savior God wants us to live.
 
4-7 He wants not only us but everyone saved, you know, everyone to get to know the truth we’ve learned: that there’s one God and only one, and one Priest-Mediator between God and us—Jesus, who offered himself in exchange for everyone held captive by sin, to set them all free. Eventually the news is going to get out. This and this only has been my appointed work: getting this news to those who have never heard of God, and explaining how it works by simple faith and plain truth.
 
8-10 Since prayer is at the bottom of all this, what I want mostly is for men to pray—not shaking angry fists at enemies but raising holy hands to God. And I want women to get in there with the men in humility before God, not primping before a mirror or chasing the latest fashions but doing something beautiful for God and becoming beautiful doing it.
 
11-15 I don’t let women take over and tell the men what to do. They should study to be quiet and obedient along with everyone else. Adam was made first, then Eve; woman was deceived first—our pioneer in sin!—with Adam right on her heels. On the other hand, her childbearing brought about salvation, reversing Eve. But this salvation only comes to those who continue in faith, love, and holiness, gathering it all into maturity. You can depend on this.
 
1 Timothy 2 pray with open hands
LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLE #2:
–Pray first. Pray to God. Pray for everyone. This is what God wants. This is the way to live and mature in our relationship with God.
 
Leadership Characteristics
–Humble adoration of the God who saves us through Jesus Christ, His Son.
–Believe in men and women humbly praying together to God, our Father.
–Know what God wants…to help others find and follow Jesus.
–Know that God wants EVERYONE saved.
–Know God. “There’s one God and only one.” “One Jesus…who set us free.”
–God is not to be debated. Prayer is opening clenched fists (what we think we want) and raising holy, open hands (ready to receive what God wants) to God, trusting Him for all we need for the journey.
–We know we need God.
–We cannot be or do anything of significance without God.
–God equips who He invites to HIS work of salvation.
 
Dear Heavenly Father,
Here we are again. We come before you with humility in knowing we cannot do life without You. It is a new day and we rejoice in our relationship with You. We thank You for this day and ask that You give us all we need to be and do all that pleases You. Your daily manna, first “breakfast” of the day you have made, is all we need to begin each day with confidence in your faithfulness to us. Continue to transform me. Transform your church. Transform the world.
In Jesus Name, Amen
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SECOND PLACE

Posted on May 27, 2018 by randscallawayffm
Timothy and Titus – Inconspicuous Leadership
 
Christians are quite serious in believing that when they gather together for worship and work, God is present and sovereign, really present and absolutely sovereign. God creates and guides, God saves and heals, God corrects and blesses, God calls and judges. With such comprehensive and personal leadership from God, what is the place of human leadership?
 
Quite obviously, it has to be second place. It must not elbow its way to the front, it must not bossily take over. Ego-centered, ego-prominent leadership betrays the Master. The best leadership in spiritual communities formed in the name of Jesus, the Messiah, is inconspicuous, not calling attention to itself but not sacrificing anything in the way of conviction and firmness either.
 
In his letters t two young associates–Timothy in Ephesus and Titus in Crete–we see Paul encouraging and guiding the development of just such leadership. What he had learned so thoroughly himself, he was now passing on, and showing them, in turn, how to develop a similar leadership in local congregations. This is essential reading because ill-directed and badly formed spiritual leadership causes much damage in souls. Paul in both his live and his letters shows us how to do it right.
 
May we read with an open heart and mind, willing to lay down what the world teaches us about leadership. Read these passages with prayerful consideration and think about each characteristic trait that is expressed. Meditate on each leadership principle as Paul gently and lovingly pens the lessons that God developed and formed in him. Paul is a leader transformed…all because of Christ in him. We will learn a lot in the coming days. Let’s do it!
 
1 Timothy 1, The Message
 
1-2 I, Paul, am an apostle on special assignment for Christ, our living hope. Under God our Savior’s command, I’m writing this to you, Timothy, my son in the faith. All the best from our God and Christ be yours!
 
Self-Appointed Experts on Life
3-4 On my way to the province of Macedonia, I advised you to stay in Ephesus. Well, I haven’t changed my mind. Stay right there on top of things so that the teaching stays on track. Apparently some people have been introducing fantasy stories and fanciful family trees that digress into silliness instead of pulling the people back into the center, deepening faith and obedience.
 
5-7 The whole point of what we’re urging is simply love—love uncontaminated by self-interest and counterfeit faith, a life open to God. Those who fail to keep to this point soon wander off into cul-de-sacs of gossip. They set themselves up as experts on religious issues, but haven’t the remotest idea of what they’re holding forth with such imposing eloquence.
 
8-11 It’s true that moral guidance and counsel need to be given, but the way you say it and to whom you say it are as important as what you say. It’s obvious, isn’t it, that the law code isn’t primarily for people who live responsibly, but for the irresponsible, who defy all authority, riding roughshod over God, life, sex, truth, whatever! They are contemptuous of this great Message I’ve been put in charge of by this great God.
 
1 Timothy 1 letters to a leader12-14 I’m so grateful to Christ Jesus for making me adequate to do this work. He went out on a limb, you know, in trusting me with this ministry. The only credentials I brought to it were invective and witch hunts and arrogance. But I was treated mercifully because I didn’t know what I was doing—didn’t know Who I was doing it against! Grace mixed with faith and love poured over me and into me. And all because of Jesus.
 
15-19 Here’s a word you can take to heart and depend on: Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners. I’m proof—Public Sinner Number One—of someone who could never have made it apart from sheer mercy. And now he shows me off—evidence of his endless patience—to those who are right on the edge of trusting him forever.
 
Deep honor and bright glory
to the King of All Time—
One God, Immortal, Invisible,
ever and always. Oh, yes!
 
I’m passing this work on to you, my son Timothy. The prophetic word that was directed to you prepared us for this. All those prayers are coming together now so you will do this well, fearless in your struggle, keeping a firm grip on your faith and on yourself. After all, this is a fight we’re in.
 
19-20 There are some, you know, who by relaxing their grip and thinking anything goes have made a thorough mess of their faith. Hymenaeus and Alexander are two of them. I let them wander off to Satan to be taught a lesson or two about not blaspheming.
 
LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLE #1:
 
Know your message. “Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners.” Point the way to Jesus, not yourself. Jesus saves. We do not.
 
LEADERSHIP CHARACTERISTICS:
–Love, simply love God and others like Jesus loves us.
–Stay focused on Christ. Go deep in faith and obedience.
–Keep a firm grip on the message. Preach the message of Jesus.
–“Live a life open to God”. Listen to God. Speak the words He gives us to speak. Do what He says when He says to do it. When we are open to God, we are emulating the example of Christ, “I only say and do what the Father tells me….”
–HOW you say it as important as what you say. Love God, love others. Speak the Truth of Jesus Christ with love. This is a love “uncontaminated by self-interest and counterfeit faith.
 
Dear Heavenly Father,
Your Word to us is rich with wisdom, insight and understanding through the experiences you have given to Paul. We thank You for telling Paul to write this down so that Your ways can be passed on. Help us to learn well. Continue to transform me. Transform your church. Transform the world.
In Jesus Name, Amen
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LOVING DILIGENCE

Posted on May 26, 2018 by randscallawayffm
Thessalonians – Hope
 
The first church Randy pastored after leaving full time teaching was in Oklahoma. This church was located on the border of Oklahoma City, Spencer and Midwest City, so the highway that ran parallel to our church was greatly traveled. Being highly visible to this busy road brought many who needed help to get from point A to point B, “find work in another town”, “need new tires to get down the road”, “need food for my family”, and “need money so I can get to California”. Many came knocking at the door with all kinds of stories.
 
2 Thessalonians 3 work for food
Randy stopped giving money early on in this ministry because he quickly became a target for freeloaders. With wisdom of God’s Holy Spirit, God used Randy’s gift as a teacher to show the needy how to solve their problems. He stopped giving money and showed them how to fix a tire at the local tire and junk yard, how to buy enough groceries to go farther and still be healthy, and generally how to use what they already have to get where they are going.
 
I think of those days as I read the last passage of our study of Thessalonians. Paul writes to this loving group of people with a warning about placating to freeloaders in the church. When we pool our resources, there will always be someone who sits back with excuses of why they cannot do the work and/or bring in resources. Instead of being resentful towards them, Paul tells us to lovingly sit them down and “talk to them as someone who cares.” We do not help the needy with handouts. We help them with reaching our hand out with a hand up.
 
Our local rescue mission is driven by “Real Change, not spare change”. The devoted and dedicated leader of God readily speaks the message of Paul tenaciously. Don’t hand out money, bring them to the mission where we will guide them to God, find work for them to do and teach them how to manage as good stewards. This is what Paul is talking about when he says to lovingly sit the needy down and really care about them.
 
Handing out money consistently does not help those who fall into depending solely on hand outs. Don’t look away but care enough to point them to real change.
 
Does this happen in the church? Yes. “You can feed a man a fish and feed him for only a day. Teach him how to fish and you have fed him forever.” Care enough to take the time to teach. Is it easier to just hand out money and walk away? Yes…but it seems this is not God’s way.
 
2 Thessalonians 3, The Message
 
Those Who Are Lazy
1-3 One more thing, friends: Pray for us. Pray that the Master’s Word will simply take off and race through the country to a groundswell of response, just as it did among you. And pray that we’ll be rescued from these scoundrels who are trying to do us in. I’m finding that not all “believers” are believers. But the Master never lets us down. He’ll stick by you and protect you from evil.
 
4-5 Because of the Master, we have great confidence in you. We know you’re doing everything we told you and will continue doing it. May the Master take you by the hand and lead you along the path of God’s love and Christ’s endurance.
 
6-9 Our orders—backed up by the Master, Jesus—are to refuse to have anything to do with those among you who are lazy and refuse to work the way we taught you. Don’t permit them to freeload on the rest. We showed you how to pull your weight when we were with you, so get on with it. We didn’t sit around on our hands expecting others to take care of us. In fact, we worked our fingers to the bone, up half the night moonlighting so you wouldn’t be burdened with taking care of us. And it wasn’t because we didn’t have a right to your support; we did. We simply wanted to provide an example of diligence, hoping it would prove contagious.
 
2 Thessalonians 3 lazy10-13 Don’t you remember the rule we had when we lived with you? “If you don’t work, you don’t eat.” And now we’re getting reports that a bunch of lazy good-for-nothings are taking advantage of you. This must not be tolerated. We command them to get to work immediately—no excuses, no arguments—and earn their own keep. Friends, don’t slack off in doing your duty.
 
14-15 If anyone refuses to obey our clear command written in this letter, don’t let him get by with it. Point out such a person and refuse to subsidize his freeloading. Maybe then he’ll think twice. But don’t treat him as an enemy. Sit him down and talk about the problem as someone who cares.
 
16 May the Master of Peace himself give you the gift of getting along with each other at all times, in all ways. May the Master be truly among you!
 
17 I, Paul, bid you good-bye in my own handwriting. I do this in all my letters, so examine my signature as proof that the letter is genuine.
 
18 The incredible grace of our Master, Jesus Christ, be with all of you!
 
2 Thessalonians 3 finish lineWhat do we learn?
–Freeloading is not permitted.  Permitting freeloading hurts them more than you.
–Care enough to teach others what they CAN do to help instead of letting people slide by who concentrate only on what they can’t do. Everyone can do something to help themselves and others.
–Love enough to lead them to Christ who saves us, leads us to God’s best and strengthens all of us with every step we take toward the Almighty Father.
–Leaders lead by example.
 
Dear Heavenly Father,
Makes holy and worthy of our calling to help others find and follow you. Give us wisdom, insight and understanding so that we might live our lives in the most excellent way, full of Your love and care for each other on this brief journey on earth. Continue to transform me. Transform your church. Transform the world.
In Jesus Name, Amen
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