Clare De Graaf - The 10-Second Rule: Following Jesus Made Simple

Praise for The 10-Second Rule

Ive known Clare De Graaf for more than twenty years now. He is a great example of the transition from success (CEO of an industry-leading company) to significance (twenty-five years of mentoring men). The l0-Second Rule is a simple yet profound practice that could change your whole point of view on life. It works.

Bob Buford, cofounder, Leadership Network, and author of Halftime , Finishing Well , and My Never Ending Blog (ActiveEnergy.net)

Ephesians 2:10 tells us, For we are Gods workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do the work that He has prepared in advance for us to do. In his book The 10-Second Rule , Clare encourages us to become so familiar with the voice of the Spirit of God, so in tune with His call, that we hasten to listen and obey. This has been Clares lifestyle for many years as he mentors other men and sees many of them grow in Christ.

Betty Huizenga, founder, Apples of Gold Ministries

Ive known Clare for over twenty years. Hes a passionate and devoted Jesus follower. This book is simple yet profound, and anyone who is interested in obeying Jesus will benefit.

Edward Dobson, pastor emeritus, Calvary Church, Grand Rapids, MI

This author has been my guide and counsel for more than forty years, so I can testify that most of what he says about himself is true, with the following exceptions: He claims to be just a normal guy, when in fact he is probably the most extraordinary person I know. Furthermore, he confesses the sin of pride, but in fact I know him to be obedient to the Holy Spirit even when that obedience might humiliate him. This book is tangible evidence that the man who wrote The 10-Second Rule practices it himself, for it is only by Clares obedience and Gods provision that you are holding this book in your hand. May every reader be as blessed by this book as I have been by the God who conceived it and the man who penned it. (Dad, of course I didnt expect this to be publishedI wrote it because I felt an impression to do so. Im more proud of you than youll ever know.)

Jennifer Tendero, cofounder, Stockbridge Boiler Room Ministry

Clare writes with a fresh honesty that is challenging us to think anew about what God wants us to do when confronted with certain opportunities and temptations. Read the book through. We expect you, too, will find yourself yearning to participate in an adventure you might otherwise never have dreamed about.

John and Sarita Holzmann, cofounders, Sonlight Curriculum

I have known Clare for over forty years and have been an accountability partner of his for the last fifteen. Clares heart for God and for people is undeniable. The life he lives and perspective he shares has challenged and changed me. This book will challenge and change the way you engage with the world, I promise!

Dick DeVos, former president, Amway, and author of the bestselling book Rediscovering American Values

I love The 10-Second Rule ! Clare not only lives this principle in his own life, he has done a great job of communicating what it is all about in this honest, compelling, and easy-to-read book. My hope and prayer is that many Christians will read this book and begin putting The 10-Second Rule into practice.

Jim Samra, senior pastor, Calvary Church, Grand Rapids, MI

The 10-Second Rule encourages a steady faithfulness. This is not a book about instantaneous results but a reminder that our character is forged by daily obedience in the relatively small things. Clare has served as a faithful, one-on-one mentor, and nowthrough his bookhis instincts and insights will be greatly multiplied.

Jeff Manion, senior teaching pastor, Ada Bible Church, and author of The Land Between

The l0-Second Rule is a brilliant concept and takes the Lordship of Christ in day-to-day living from principle to practice. I have known and worked with Clare De Graaf and can verify that descriptions of how the Lord has used him are authentic. Hes the real thing!

John Guest, evangelist and pastor emeritus, Christ Church at Grove Farm, Sewickley, PA

A great challenge in life for all of us is discerning the wisest thing to do in any given moment. I believe applying Clares idea of The l0-Second Rule will enable each of us to more consistently end up doing the next thing we are reasonably certain Jesus wants us to do.

Todd Peterson, NFL placekicker, 19932005, and chair, Pro Athletes Outreach

This book can be life changing for those with the courage to take a step of faith. After reading The l0-Second Rule on vacation, Rita and I arrived at the airport for our flight home, and there was a woman with four little ones, trying to juggle a baby and get snacks for the other three. The nudge in my heart was to offer her a hand. To my surprise, she immediately accepted, sending me off to her table with pretzels and crackers, and thanked me warmly. An hour later, in the terminal, she spotted Rita and me near our gate and gave me the biggest and warmest thank you again for helping her. Such a simple step.... May the Lord get the glory.

Roy Peterson, president and CEO, The Seed Company, and former president, Wycliffe Bible Translators

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To my wife, Susan,

You have been a Proverbs 31 woman, helping and advising me at every stage in this work. I love you, my wife of forty-four years. You are the wind beneath my wings.

And to our children, Jennifer, Molly, Megan, Betsy, Tyler, Veti, and all their children, thank you for making my quiver full, and for being one of the great joys of my life. I love you effortlessly.

U p until age thirty-one, I was your standard-issue Christianthe kind the Christian schools and churches in our conservative town pounded out year after year like spiritual Model Tsmostly in one color: beige. We were covenant children. We figured we came with a cradle-to-grave salvational warranty.

And in the midsixties, high school seniors in my church were expected to make a public profession of their faith unless they were atheists or Democrats. I was neither. But I had my questions.

So my parents called our pastor. A good man, reallykind, intelligent, but a man who could be deadly serious when he needed to be. Our sons just not sure, Pastor. Maybe if you talked to him. So over he came to our house to work on me like I was the last holdout on a hung jury. My parents knew they needed a closer. And local legend had it that Reverend Jacobs win record stretched clear back to the Truman administration.

My parents sat in the room with us, praying, while Pastor Jake went to work. Tell me, sonwhats the problem?

Well, the problem was that I didnt feel any real excitement for Jesus. I believed that everything in the Bible was true. I believed that Jesus was the Son of God, that hed died on the cross, risen from the dead, and was coming back to judge the living and the dead. I bought the whole party line but felt no passion for God, no passion to live a life radically different from any other guy my age.

It just seemed to me that if I was going to make a public profession of my faith, the equivalent of adult baptism or confirmation in most churches, that I ought to have a little fire in my belly for God. I didnt. All I really cared about were girls and making a ton of money as fast as I could. Of course, I couldnt say that to the pastor, especially not in front of my parents, so I just stuck with the I dont feel anything special line.