Category: Uncategorized

Location, Location, Location

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Location, location, location.

When it comes to real estate or business, location is everything.

I once consulted with a congregation that was located in a 90% Hispanic neighborhood. Nothing wrong with that. Except this was a Korean congregation. There were virtually no Koreans living within a five mile radius. In order for Koreans to come to this particular Korean church, they would drive past dozens of other Korean churches.

Location matters. I suggested that the congregation has two realistic options for its future: sell the property and move to where Koreans are, or start ministering to Hispanics.

Location matters.

But I think location matters also in the arena of sin.

When I think about the times I’ve gotten myself into trouble, location absolutely mattered. You see, if I were where I was supposed to be I wouldn’t even had the opportunity to be tempted by sin and commit sin. Only if I were where I should have been, I would have avoided much heartache.

Location matters.

So, where are you?

Why I Gave Up Football

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I love football season.

I love watching football. I love talking football. I used to love playing football.

I particularly love football when my teams are kicking butt. The Pacific Northwest is a pretty good place for football. The Seahawks were really good for a time and are still competitive. The University of Washington Huskies are getting really good.

It’s fun to watch the Huskies and the Seahawks play…that is until they lose. Then it’s like doom and gloom. It literally takes me a few hours to get back to a semblance of normal. I just feel so terrible and frustrated when the Huskies or the Seahawks lose. But when both lose on a weekend, that’s a bad weekend.

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That’s exactly what happened last weekend. And when the Huskies and Seahawks lose, I feel terrible for hours!

And that’s when it occurred to me…this is stupid. It’s just a game. What difference did their loss mean in our world? What difference did the Seahawks winning the Super Bowl mean in our world? Did our world become a better place because of that? Did anything in the world improve because the Seahawks or the Huskies won? Did anything get worse because they lost?

And here I was getting upset, needing a couple of hours before I could start feeling normal again.

And to top it all off, I was spending about 7 hours watching the games itself. Hello? I happen to be pretty busy on weekends!

So, I made a decision. I would have never thought something like this possible before. In order to protect and honor the Lord’s Day, I choose not to watch the games and I choose not to let the games determine my mood and emotional condition. Until I can watch the games for the pure enjoyment of the game itself without getting emotionally involved, I refuse to have a football game impact my spiritual and emotional health.

So, I’ll catch a few minutes of the game. I will check the score. But I am no longer emotionally involved in the outcome of the game. I like it when the Huskies and the Seahawks win. But if they lose, it’s only a game. If I make it anymore than that, then shame on me.

It’s the day of worship. I am going to honor Sabbath worship.

Focus Requires Forgetting

Screenshot 2018-09-12 at 3.30.53 PMFocus requires Forgetting.

I want to focus.

But I find myself distracted.

There are thing that need my attention. There are things that need by best leadership and focus.

But I find myself distracted.

I want to focus on what God wants for me, what is best for my family, for the congregation I serve. I want to focus.

But I find myself distracted.

Other concerns keep intruding. Other desires keep interrupting.

So, in order to focus, I am choosing and willing myself to forget, forfeit, and let go of those things that are a distraction to God’s best for me.

Focus requires forgetting everything that isn’t the focus.

Focus