The End of an Experiment

Due to low use... we are discontinuing the Blog of our reading plan. We encourage you to continue the reading plan (you can get the pdf on this site - check the right hand column). We are also brainstorming other ways to help people stay in the Word. If you have ideas, you can email office@crosswindschurch.com

This was a great experiment and we look forward to trying something else in the future.

Week 48 - December 20 - Taylor Hays

Nehemiah 5
A lot of leadership seminars in business teach the concept of “servant leadership.” Over 2500 years ago Nehemiah was already practicing this principle. He was a leader who truly had the best interests of his people at heart. In this chapter he gives a clear message to all of the wealthy people in Israel… stop oppressing the poor. In order to live in the land that had been ravaged by invaders the people had to mortgage their land from their enemies and borrow more every year just to get their crops in the ground. They were so far in debt that they even had to sell their children into slavery. Nehemiah had repaid the debt to their enemies so the people would be free. But his own noblemen were now loaning money with high interest rates to the people and they were becoming enslaved to debt again. Nehemiah rebuked this practice and “practiced what he preached.” He loaned money interest free and never asked the people to give him anything. His desire was for them to prosper. Compare his actions with many political leaders today who are out to serve their own interests.

When I am in a position of leadership I want to always keep in mind Nehemiah’s example… serve others needs first (Philippians 2:3 Don't be selfish; don't try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.4 Don't look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.).

Nehemiah 6
Nehemiah’s strength of character shines again in this chapter. His enemies used intimidation (today we call it extortion and blackmail) to convince Nehemiah to stop rebuilding the wall. In fact Nehemiah saw his mission not as simply a construction project but as a project to rebuild the lives of the people he served. He knew that he would face opposition and he took it head on. His main ally in standing against his enemies was his integrity. Although his enemies attacked his character, Nehemiah lived in such a way that their accusations simply would not stick. None of us is perfect but living a life of integrity provides no opportunity for our enemies (or The Enemy) to accuse us. (see 1 Peter 5:8-9)

Psalm 48
We will get to see it some day too…
“We had heard of the city's glory, but now we have seen it ourselves— the city of the LORD of Heaven's Armies.”

This is the place that Jesus has prepared for us (see John 14:1-3). It will be our safe home forever.“It is the city of our God; he will make it safe forever.”


Proverbs 5
Sexual sin is the fastest way to ruin your life. It robs you of true love and relationship with your spouse and family; it robs you of health (mental and physical); and robs you of a close relationship with God. I have seen dozens of examples of this have in my lifetime and I am sure you have too.

Acts 27
This is probably the most detailed description of a 1st century sea voyage found in any ancient writing. Beyond reading the great description of the action at sea, We see Paul demonstrate his unshakeable faith in God. Imagine standing in the hold of this ship that is being tossed by a hurricane, surrounded by over 200 souls that are seasick and fearing for their lives. Paul broke bread and gave thanks to God for what He was about to do. Paul’s faith was great not because of his own strength but because of the great God he served.