Simon from Cyrene

“A man named Simon from Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was coming from the fields to the city. The soldiers forced Simon to carry the cross for Jesus” (Mk. 15:21)

Tradition states his sons Rufus and Alexander became missionaries; the inclusion of their names in Mark suggests that they were of some standing in the early Christian community at Rome. 

This means that the experience of helping Jesus carry his cross, which is historical fact, moved Simon so deeply that he began to believe, ultimately raising his two sons to believe the same. This was a once in all of history moment and it shook this farmer's spiritual foundation. 

I can only imagine the way that Simon recounted this story to his sons when they were of age. He must've shown emotions that Alexander and Rufus rarely saw. He must've taken deep breaths between sentences. He must've changed his sons lives with his story telling. 

“If any of you want to be my followers, you must forget about yourself. You must take up your cross each day and follow me” (Lk. 9:23 CEV).

The Name

This Jesus of Nazareth, without money and arms, conquered more millions than Alexander, Caesar, Mohammed, and Napoleon; without science. . . he shed more light on things human and divine than all philosophers and scholars combined; without the eloquence of schools, he spoke such words of life as were never spoken before or since, and produced effects which lie beyond the reach of orator or poet; without writing a single line, he set more pens in motion, and furnished themes for more sermons, orations, discussions, learned volumes, works of art, and songs of praise than the whole army of great men of ancient and modern times.

-www.ccci.org

Grounded.

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought.”

Jeremiah 17:7-8

Love

"If we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us." 

- 1 John 4:12 (NIV) 

Do-Be-Do! Do-Be-Do!

Do today what God is asking me to do today in my family, church, and community. 

Be more like Christ.

Do the distinct and bold work God has specifically designed for me to do before I die!

[concept from Katie Brazelton]

"Redefining Prayer" by Max Lucado

“Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving.” 
Colossians 4:2 NKJV

Early Christians were urged to:

“pray without ceasing” (I Thess. 5:17 NASB);

“always be prayerful” (Rom. 12:12 NLT);

“pray at all times and on every occasion” (Eph. 6:18 NLT).

Sound burdensome? Are you wondering, my business needs attention, my children need dinner, my bills need paying. How can I stay in a place of prayer?

Do this. Change your definition of prayer. Think of prayer less as an activity for God and more as an awareness of God. Seek to live in uninterrupted awareness. Acknowledge his presence everywhere you go. As you stand in line to register your car, think, Thank you, Lord, for being here. In the grocery as you shop, Your presence, my King, I welcome. As you wash the dishes, worship your Maker.

Planting seeds...

"It's not the one who plants or the one who waters who is at the center of this process but God, who makes things grow. Planting and watering are menial servant jobs at minimum wages. What makes them worth doing is the God we are serving!" 

-1 Corinthians 3:7-8 MSG

We all strive to impress. Whether it is a professor, a colleague, a friend or a family member, we have a strong tendency to show our good deeds. Sometimes we get so carried away that we end up taking credit for portions that we aren't responsible for.

We take credit for things God is doing.

Paul is begging the Corinthians to control their jealousy; urging them to subside their quarrels. No matter how successful our jobs, how intelligent our children, or how beautiful our spouse, we have no right in claiming anything other than being a farmhand. 

Many times it is a thankless job, and worldly praise and prosperity doesn't seem likely. What makes it worth doing is that you're working for God, on God's farm.

"Taking Steps Toward Him"

God longs to see his children make serious and consistent efforts toward growth. God offers us instruction through the Bible, support through his people, and strength through his Holy Spirit, but he will not force us to grow. We must respond to his invitation and promptings and take action that will result in maturity.  

God's dream is to see us taking steps toward him. And when we stumble or fall, God rejoices when we get up and keep trying. He does not promise that we will never struggle, but he longs for us to keep striving as we grow to be more like Jesus.

From Seismic Shifts: 

The Little Changes That Make a Big Difference in Your Life 

by Kevin G. Harney

Compassion

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.” 

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 

Paul

Paul's work was of a pioneer nature, preaching where no one had ever preached before.

"Work and Worship" by Max Lucado

“Work and get everything done during six days each week, but the seventh day is a day of rest to honor the LORD.” 

Exodus 20:9-19

We need one day in which work comes to a screeching halt. We need one twenty four hour period in which the wheels stop grinding and the motor stops turning. We need to stop.

There is a verse that summarizes many lives: “Man is a mere phantom as he goes to and fro: He bustles about, but only in vain; he heaps up wealth, not knowing who will get it” (Ps. 39:6 NIV).

Does that sound like your life? Are you so seldom in one place that your friends regard you as a phantom? Are you so constantly on the move that your family is beginning to question your existence? Do you take pride in your frenzy at the expense of your faith?

Slow down. If God commanded it, you need it. If Jesus modeled it, you need it… Take a day to say no to work and yes to worship.

Eugene Peterson

"The bible doesn't promise that a life of faith exempts us from difficulties, but it does promise preservation from the evil in them... all the water in the ocean cannot sink a ship unless it gets inside. Nor can all the trouble in the world harm us unless it gets within us." -Eugene Peterson

learn more about Eugene...

Onions

"No, we speak of God's secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began." - 1 Corinthians 2:7 (TNIV)

"God's wisdom is something mysterious that goes deep into the interior of his purposes. You don't find it lying around on the surface." -MSG

Aslan

"I'm sure Aslan would have, if you'd asked him," said Fledge.
"Wouldn't he know without being asked?" said Polly.
"I've no doubt he would," said the Horse (still with his mouth full). "But I've a sort of idea he likes to be asked."

Pride

It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."

1 Corinthians 1:30-31

Be proud of the Good News of Jesus Christ! Live like you are!

Friends...

"A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother."

Proverbs 18:24

"We got a good life..."

"Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him." 

- 1Corinthians 1:26-29

"Every day is ice-cream and chocolate cake..."

"Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, 

that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days." 

-Psalm 90:14

1 Corinthians 1:17

"God didn't send me out to collect a following for myself, but to preach the Message of what he has done, collecting a following for him. And he didn't send me to do it with a lot of fancy rhetoric of my own, lest the powerful action at the center—Christ on the Cross—be trivialized into mere words.." -1 Corinthians 1:17 (MSG)

God does not call us collect followers of ourselves. God does not call us to recruit followers of specific ministries or churches either. He sends us to speak in actions and words the unshakable truth that is Jesus Christ.

So often we clutter the story of Jesus with elaborate dissections of scriptures, parables and all of our cute attempts at apologetics. Paul tells us that this distracts our audience from the truth!

We obviously need to discern how quickly and in what manner to explain these things to new believers, but we should not dilute. If we dilute anything by contemporizing it, we "empty the power of the cross."

Top Priority: Loving Others

Life is all about love.

Love is the foundation of every command. It is God's deepest desire for us to develop a love for one another, and love is built through fellowship. Love cannot be built in isolation, you have to be AROUND people.

Love should be your top priority and your greatest ambition.

God says that relationships are what life is about. Busyness is NOT. This love will last forever. The Bible says that faith, hope and love will never die. Love leaves a LEGACY, and your awards and money won't. 

People on their deathbeds never tell their solemn children to promise them to work more or to make more money than they did. They make them promise to love each other. 

God measures our spiritual careers through relationships. The more satisfied and loving relationships we have, the deeper our connection to Him. The most precious gift you can give someone is your time. Period.

Mother Theresa said "It's not what you do, but how much love you put into it that matters."

A section of our day put aside to spend time together is the most sincere offer anyone can make. You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving.

"Who do you need to spend more time with?"