A high school basketball team was behind by one point with just seconds left in the game. So they came up with a clever play. They had possession of the ball. When the referee blew the whistle to resume play, they threw the ball inbounds to a player close to the basket. But at the … Continue reading When there are barking dogs all around you
distraction
When things that seem fine are fatal
In Mark 4:18-19 Jesus says that some people “hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.” He’s describing people who don’t respond well to God’s word and message because of three things. Today we focus … Continue reading When things that seem fine are fatal
Why willingly enlist for chaos?
Author and Professor John Leith describes simplicity like this: “Simplicity if very close to sincerity. It clears away the ornaments, the ostentations, the contrivances, and pretenses that obscure the real.” I like that. I like the idea of sweeping away whatever obscures “the real” in my life. Do you? In 2 Corinthians 1:12 Paul writes … Continue reading Why willingly enlist for chaos?
An unworthy focus
To those of you who are Christians, let me ask a very direct question: Is Jesus the centre of your Christianity? It’s easy for it to become about something else. If we’re not careful, our religion can become about how well we observe a certain set of rules, or about a certain denomination, or a … Continue reading An unworthy focus
What is your (real) goal?
On Monday we talked about idolatry. When many of us hear that word, we think of ancient peoples bowing down to man-made statues. But our understanding of idolatry might be too narrow. Here’s how I define modern idolatry. It’s giving first place priority to something or someone who isn’t God. With that definition in mind, … Continue reading What is your (real) goal?
Distraction is deception
In yesterday’s devotional I said that you need to deliberately establish godly priorities and put them into your schedule. Why? Because at first you make your schedule, and then your schedule makes you. In other words, the routines you establish shape who you become. So today I’d like to further motivate you with one more … Continue reading Distraction is deception
When you think everything is important
When you think everything is important you live like nothing is important. If that sounds confusing, here’s what I mean. If you think that everything in your life is a priority, you’re not actually making anything a true priority. Imagine your time and energy divided up into a pie chart. If you say your relationship … Continue reading When you think everything is important
151,600 people every day
All of us are one heartbeat from meeting our Maker. So this is the #1 thing you need to figure out, especially in this world of distraction.
When many things are important none of them are
Ephesians 2:10 "For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works..." (NIV) Today's Thought 15 years ago one of my co-workers had a habit of writing important things on sticky notes and pasting them around his computer screen. He soon ran out of space. So when the area around his computer … Continue reading When many things are important none of them are
The blurry-eyed speed trance
Proverbs 17:22 “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” (ESV) Today's Thought When I was taking driving lessons in high school, one of the things our instructor taught us as we pulled off of the four-lane highway was to desensitize ourselves to the speed. Driver Dave, as we … Continue reading The blurry-eyed speed trance
