|
|
Engaging and Equipping Men of all ages
with God's Word to Lead and Live
Transformed Lives through Jesus Christ
|
|
Leadership in Action The Standard
May 2013
|
|
|
 | | Chad Crawford, Founder |
Greetings!
Do you live your life according to a specific standard? If so, by what standard? In today's world there seems to be no standard and no absolute truth. People live by relativistic values and standards. "What's okay for you may not be okay for me, but we'll all just get along," according to the world. No standards leads to destruction. Take the building of a house for example. The contractors use a tape measure as the standard when building a new home. A foot is 12 inches. What if each contractor was to use his physical foot for the measure to build a house? One might have a size 9, another a size 11, yet another a size 13. The completed house would be misshaped, uneven, not level, and probably unlivable. Why, because they used a relative standard that was unique to them personally, rather than the standard of a tape measure. Our Christian walk is no different. We must live by a standard. That standard is the Word of God. We cannot pick and choose what part of it to live by, otherwise the foundation of your life will be crooked, and the structure of your life uneven and misshaped. Living by the standard requires obedience to God's Word. When an aircraft flies from DFW to Europe it takes a specific course. If that aircraft is off by just 1 degree when starting the journey it will arrive way off course. Instead of coming in over the Rock of Gibralter, it will arrive on the West Coast of Africa. 1 degree off course at the beginning of the journey ends up taking the aircraft hundreds of miles off course at destination. You see, when we make little exceptions to God's Word or allow a small change from God's Word, then we may not be far off course at the beginning, but over time we will arrive at a completely different destination than desired. In the case of our lives this is most often some type of destruction. Living by the Absolute Truth of God's Word is not only important, but imperative. We must be obedient to God's Word. In fact Jesus tells us that, "If you love Me, you will obey what I command." (John 14:15) Obedience is proof of genuine love for God. The Bible is the standard by which we are to live. We must read it, know it, use it, and apply it to our lives and every situation each and every day without exception. Fundamental number 2: Make God's Word the Final Authority in Your Life. "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy 3:16-17) I want to challenge you to live by a standard, not the world's ways and not your ways, but God's way... the Bible, The Standard. Read it, know it, and apply it. Don't just be hearers of God's Word, but be doers of God's Word. Your Brother in Christ,
Chad Crawford 214.282.5207 |
|
|
THE FUNDAMENTALS
Make Jesus
Lord of Your Life
Make God's Word
the Final Authority
in Your Life
Become a
Man of Prayer
Link together with
a Group of
Like-Minded Men
Give it all away
|
Thank you for your financial support!
|
|
Memorial Day is the day we remember and pay tribute to those fallen in defense of our country and our freedom. Please pause to reflect on their sacrifice. Teach your children and the next generation to do the same. We need patriots in America, especially today.
Give comfort and thankfulness to those families that have lost loved ones who so graciously sacrificed their lives for our freedom.
FREEDOM IS
NOT FREE.
it was paid for with a price; that price... the blood and life of another.
Never forget!
|
|
Thank you for your financial support!
|
|
THE FUNDAMENTALS
Make Jesus
Lord of Your Life
Make God's Word
the Final Authority
in Your Life
Become a
Man of Prayer
Link together with
a Group of
Like-Minded Men
Give it all away
|
|
Thank you for your financial support!
|
|
 Ministry Updates
Game Day: The Spring Season Closer was Friday at Rudy's BBQ. Lord willing we will reconvene in August. We moved from FC Dallas to Rudy's BBQ due to lack of funding. Please pray for provision.
Friday was great. Our time was intimate and insightful. Men's lives are being changed for the Kingdom. Praise God!
Small Groups: Small Groups continue to meet through the summer. The men in these groups are solid and impacting others' lives for the Kingdom. I wish I could convey the specifics of spiritual growth, but the issues are deep and personal and we live by the code that what is said in the group of a personal nature, stays in the group.
In general, in the ministry God breaks his men before he really uses them for His glory. I believe it was A.W. Tozier that said, "A man must be broken deeply, before God can use him greatly." Youth Groups:
The High School youth group just finished a 2 year series in Ephesians. I wanted to build into their lives and teach them what a healthy church looks like according to Scripture. It's been great looking at the theological and then the practical application and getting very specific of how that looks in their lives now and their future lives in college. A couple of young men in the Junior High have gotten real serious about their walk with the Lord. Each day they rise early and read God's Word and hold each other accountable in the process. I'm very impressed with these young men.
Personal Mentoring: I continue to meet with men on a personal basis over breakfast, coffee, lunch, or tea. God has placed several men in my life that absolutely needed someone to walk alongside them to help them navigate the stormy waters of life.
Young Men's Discipleship:
I'm very proud of they young men as they continue to grow in Christ, mature in life and are prepared to step out into the real world. Each year it brings great joy knowing that another few young high school men have completed their time of Discipleship; they are well prepared to enter life. These young men get it!
Africa: I continue to desire to get back to Uganda. My health and the ministry's financial income have kept me away. Robert Kennedy, my African counterpart, continues to build into the lives of men in several small groups, holds at least 2 men's conferences each year, and has developed a heart for a small community that does not know God. Robert and his wife Monica have been praying about leaving their teaching jobs and moving into full time ministry. They continue to seeks God's wisdom, guidance and provision in this area. Please join me and the Kennedys in prayer regarding this prospect.
| |
|
 | The Crawford boys.
Jacob (8th grade) and Brock (11th grade) |
Christian Character Award X2
God has graciously gifted both Jacob and Brock with many individual and group gifts and talents. We are very proud of our boys.
This year both boys were awarded the Christian Character Award which is voted on by their peers and/or teachers. Cheryl and I are very proud of these two Godly young men. The boys are not only hearing God's Word, but practicing God's Word in every aspect of their lives. Needless to say, Dad has been choked up over this accomplishment. Thankfully, this is one where they can boast in the Lord.
|
|
Personal Prayer Request
Praise! Cheryl's cancer blood work was half the level it was just 4 months ago. Praise God! The doctor will now let her go 6 months between bloodwork check ups.
Medical Update: Thank you for your prayers! My neck recovery has been slow and limiting. I just got my neck brace off last week after a very restrictive 6 weeks. I still have another 6 weeks of significant limitations. The most difficult part of this recovery thus far has been pain, sleep, significant computer limitations, and not being able to drive. The good news is that the bone graft seems to be healing on schedule. I'm not sure I fully appreciated the length of recovery and the limitations associated with that recovery.
Next Surgery: Yes, that's right, another surgery. I'm scheduled for lower back surgery on Wednesday May 29th. This will be at least a 6 week basic recovery process. For the past year my legs have gone to sleep and generally stop working very well after about 10-15 minutes of standing or walking. Lord willing, these surgeries will get me back to 100% by the end of the summer. I tend to have significant muscle spasms after surgery and for a long period of time. Please pray not only for the physical healing but for my mental attitude. I'm already worn out from staying at home and not driving for 6 weeks and now I'm in for another 6 weeks of recovery.
Gunter: Please pray for the men of the Gunter group as we continue to plant a men's ministry in their church. Their pastor resigned Sunday and he is the latest casualty of a generational problem within the church. I cannot get into the details, but please pray for these men who love the Lord and have grown deeply over the past several years. Pray specifically that they will stand on the truth of Scripture, be a very bright light for the Kingdom of God, for courage to speak the truth in love, and that their words would not fall on deaf ears.
I want to thank you in advance for your prayers!
How can I pray for you??? chadcrawford@tx.rr.com
|
Mailing Address Changed!
Don't forget. We've had to change our mailing address. Please make sure your records reflect the new address as forwarding will not be possible. The old address will stay in effect until May 31st. If you are sending mail to my personal address on Coralberry, no change needed.
New Mailing Address:
5000 Eldorado Pkwy
Suite 150
Frisco, TX 75033
Please make sure to update all automatic payments and change your records. Thank you for your help!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5000 Eldorado Pkwy, Suite 150, Frisco, TX 75033 214.282.5207
|
|
|
|
|
