Excellence and Perfectionism

Posted on August 30, 2022 by DW

Excellence and Perfectionism

So what is the difference between having a pursuit of excellence verses perfectionism? Please allow me to share my perspective, thoughts and how I believe the Holy Spirit leads and is leading me.

First of all, we know it is impossible to be perfect. No human being can be perfect. You may get straight As in your coursework. You may be the top 1% in your career field. You may go to church every Sunday morning, Sunday night, Wednesday night, visitation Thursday, hospitals on Tuesday, or more… however none of this makes any human being perfect. We are imperfect beings in need of a Savior, that serve a perfect God. We inevitably will make mistakes, and yes, fail. However, you do not truly fail unless you do not get back up, or learn from your mistakes.

Let’s start with “Perfectionism”.

The Dictionary defines it as: noun: refusal to accept any standard short of perfection.

Here is what the magazine, Psychology for Today, states:

“Perfectionism is a trait that makes life an endless report card on accomplishments or looks. A fast and enduring track to unhappiness, it is often accompanied by depression and eating disorders. What makes perfectionism so toxic is that while those in its grip desire success, they are most focused on avoiding failure, so theirs is a negative orientation. And love isn’t a refuge; in fact, it feels way too conditional on performance. Perfection, of course, is an abstraction, an impossibility in reality, and often it leads to procrastination. There is a difference between striving for excellence and demanding perfection. The need for perfection is usually transmitted in small ways from parents to children, some as silent as a raised eyebrow over a B rather than an A.”

I must confess I was somewhat of a perfectionist in my younger days. I was very driven, and chased the “Corporate Ladder”. In my home, the family room / living room had to be spotless. Most of my clothing had to be ironed or starched with the dress shirts in a certain aligned crease. Dishes had to be arranged in the cabinets in a certain order. I didn’t only prefer to do well at work, I worked and did whatever it took, well above and beyond, to be the very best. Number one. I worked out 6 days a week. If I was not in the gym each of those days, I was in the Karate Dojo training. Even with church, I was there not just Sunday morning, but Sunday evening, Wednesday evening, Thursday visitation, and often Tuesday hospital visitation. My efforts bordered on an obsession with perfectionism or performance. I was not just prepared, I was overly prepared.

Now reading the above paragraph you may either think this is borderline Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, or you may say all of that sounds good, or what’s wrong with it? I am here to tell you that regardless of your perspective, it is a prison and thinking that you may perfect something or become perfect is a failing endeavor.

First of all time is priceless and you can never get time back. Wasting it on the pursuit of perfectionism is not a good investment of your time versing investing it with loved ones. Being obsessed with things or activities that do not make a true positive impact, help build the Kingdom, or truly grow in your relationship with others, and most especially with God, can be a wasteful pursuit. I am not saying all of those things I confessed are bad. We should take care of our body, mind and spirit. We should work hard at what we do, or anything we set out minds too. We should worship, serve, learn, grow and go out in church. However, God did not design us to be “workaholics”, or “churchaholics”, or “perfectionists” There is a difference between perfectionism and the pursuit of excellence. And I do believe God designed us to pursue excellence.

The pursuit of excellence is not perfectionism.

Just because you are a fallible human being and not perfect, it does not give you permission to not pursue excellence, or a license to be a sluggard. It does not give you permission to be a sloth in your work, leading and loving your family, and striving to serve Jesus Christ. We are all wonderfully, fearfully, and miraculously made for a purpose. As believers, many others, not just the lost will look to, and up to us as an example. If you are a born again believer, part of your responsibility is to fulfill the Great Commission. It was the last things that Jesus said before He ascended unto the Heavenly Father.

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” — Matthew 28:18–20 NIV

“Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might,[a] for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going” — Ecclesiastes 9:10–12 English Standard Version (ESV)

A job or career is both a blessing and a privilege. Many do not even have a career, or able to choose one. It should be done well. A person should strive to be excellent at their job, as long as it is not first in their lives. Meaning, give your work your best during the hours you are assigned. Your employer extended trust in you in hiring you to do the work. Do it with the best of your ability. Learn more, listen well, and do your best, then let God take care of the rest. The bible says a man must work, and not be a sluggard.

“Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit,[a] serve the Lord.” — Romans 12:11 English Standard Version (ESV)

“Spiritual maturity is a quest for character for which there will be little progress without the pursuit of excellence. Without pursuing excellence, life will remain bland, very vanilla, lukewarm at best (see Rev. 3:15–16).” — Charles Swindoll.

“And this I pray, that your love may abound (i.e., excel) still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” — Philippians 9:1–10 (NET)

If you are a father or a mother, do you instruct your children to give their endeavors little effort? Do you tell them that they do not have to show up for school, or church? That is okay to be late, that their time is more valuable than the teachers or coaches? Do you allow your children to sign up for an activity in which they lead, or a sport to then accept them quitting after a few practices or games? Do you get concerned when they get poor grades or sleep in too late? Do you as an adult show up on time or even early demonstrating not only your respect for the person or employer in Christian maturity or as a responsible adult, or are you habitually late for work, events or activities not only disrespecting the other person or employer’s time, but disrespecting yourself in your faith and as an Ambassador of God?

“O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you[a] and watch.” — Psalm 5:3 English Standard Version (ESV)

“Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest. How long will you lie there, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.” — Proverbs 6:6–11 English Standard Version (ESV)

“Finally then, brethren, we request and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that, as you received from us instruction as to how you ought to walk and please God (just as you actually do walk), that you may excel still more.” — 1 Thessalonians 4:1 (NASB)

I have several friends who either are in the military or who were in the military. They are some of the most punctual, dedicated and persevering people I know. If they were late, it could not only cost a unit member their lives, it could cost civilian lives. Some may say, well that is for times of war, or for when we are at war. Readers, we are at war. There is a Spiritual War waging all the time and all around us. We face three enemies: the world, our flesh, and the devil

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” — Ephesians 6:10–12 (ESV)

Allow me to expound on another personal example. What about your “Sir name” Your character as it is associated to your lineage or legacy? Is it okay to do activities, work or something you have been assigned or responsible, half way? Is it okay for you, your character and Sir Name to think that it is acceptable to just throw anything together without much thought and work? Is it okay for your children to do the same? Your children are observing you, and will learn to be a responsible adult, citizen and eventually a parent from your example. In addition, God and His Son, our Savior, is also observing. Are we living our legacy in the way of striving to do well, and pursue excellence in all that we do, and say?

“What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good[a] is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works” -James 2:14–18 ESV

The pursuit of excellence is a good thing. It is also not proud, nor boastful. It is not a quest for superiority. It is all done with love, love of others, and love for God.

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.” — 1 Corinthians 13:4–8

“But as you excel in everything — in faith, in speech, in knowledge, and in all eagerness and in the love from us that is in you — make sure that you excel in this act of kindness too.” 2 Corinthians 8:7 (NET)

“And may the Lord cause you to increase and abound (excel) in love for one another and for all, just as we do for you, so that your hearts are strengthened in holiness to be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.” — 1 Thessalonians 3:12–13 (NET)

If you love and respect your parents. Or let’s say you have or had an amazing boss or coach. Would you not strive to please them, to honor them? Would you not strive to do your best for them? What then shall we do for our Heavenly Father? We are His son’s and daughters. We are all adopted by salvation through Jesus Christ. We are also Jesus Christ’s apprentices. Should we not pursue excellence as a good son or daughter? Should we not be the best apprentices that we can?

Life is a gift. Time is priceless. We should strive to make the most of it and seize each day with purpose, navigate with principles and explore with passion. Are setting back, and observing life from a cozy recliner, or are we getting in the game of life and giving it our best? Do we look forward to each day that the Lord blesses us with, in thanksgiving, striving to honor not just ourselves, our children, but our Heavenly Father by giving Him and those other loved ones our best? Are we getting to up and out to not just work, or events, but to life on time, or better yet early with enthusiasm and optimism?

“Seize life! Eat bread with gusto, Drink wine with a robust heart. Oh yes — God takes pleasure in your pleasure! Dress festively every morning. Don’t skimp on colors and scarves. Relish life with the spouse you love Each and every day of your precarious life. Each day is God’s gift. It’s all you get in exchange for the hard work of staying alive. Make the most of each one! Whatever turns up, grab it and do it. And heartily! This is your last and only chance at it, for there’s neither work to do nor thoughts to think in the company of the dead, where you’re most certainly headed.” — Ecclesiastes 9:7-10 The Message (MSG)

I say, we should pursue excellence in all that we do and say. To do our best, and let God take care of the rest. To look at life as an adventurous expedition, launching each day with purpose, navigating with principals, and exploring with passion!

Posted in Faith, Health & Fitness, leadership | Tagged Christian Living, excellence, faith, perfectionism, Pursuit of excellence | Leave a comment

“Christians don’t dance…”

Posted on August 17, 2022 by DW

“Christians don’t dance…”

So it is rumored that someone, or several, I attend church with, or have attended church with, saw me dancing at a local Lodge. It seemed as if they felt I shouldn’t be dancing or carrying on as I may, being a Christian who serves in church and a ministry leader…

Allow me to expound upon my perspective and thoughts: First of all I am who I am whether in church or out of church. No matter if it is Sunday, or any day through the week. I do not put on a fake facade. I am consistently me, and I know who I am, what I am about, where I came from, what I do, where I am going, and to Whom I serve and why. It certainly isn’t the thoughts or opinions of mankind. Besides what someone else thinks or says about me is none of my business.

Everyone has an opinion, and many assume. However we should know what assume does. Yes, I am a Christian, an imperfect human in need of a Savior Whom is perfect. Many Christian have a variety of convictions, and there are many denominations of churches in which have a variety of covenants. Some churches mandate certain behaviors, “codes”, or conduct. I think it is a bit ironic or possibly hypocritical that in some denominations a members will run up and down church isles, jump dance, and have flag led performances like a cheer leading competition, but frown upon or critical judge people whom may dance in public. Or churches whom say anything but hymnal related or gospel singing is “of the devil” yet many of those “southern gospel” songs sound like Hank Williams Jr. or Conway Twitty drinking, and cheating songs. Or those whom are so “reverent” in church they sit there with their hands folded or on their laps and don’t even clap for the music performances, or willing to let the Holy Spirit shout a Hallelujah. Yet, when they are watch or at a sporting event they let lose and shout and dance around for their favorite sport team, or shout out distaste for their least favorite sports team.

In fact, due to denominational doctrines or covenants, some churches would never let me lead, teach, or preach because I am divorced. Some would consider it unacceptable to wear jeans in church, listen to rock music or dance music, and only sing traditional hymns and have no instruments in church other than maybe an organ or piano…. I believe the church was never meant to be a dry or dismal museum for saints, artifacts, and statues, but a hospital for sinners to learn, repent, worship, serve, get equipped and go out; and we are all sinners.

Personally I care very little about human made church rules and regulations, and what people whom are not very close to me think or say. I care what the bible says, and strive to chase the Beautiful Outlaw in Jesus. I try not to assume what the bible does or doesn’t say, only what it does say, and the context in which it says it.

Now if you have read thus far, allow me to share my perspective and thoughts even more with some biblical references…

I don’t necessarily adhere to a strict interpretation of a specific church’s denominational “rules” and “regulations” that tend to be man made. Jesus set us free to live life with passion.

“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” — John 8:36

Not a life in bondage of a specific rule to where we may be “judged” if we watch certain movies or listen to certain music, or dance. I’m not “fundamental” in that aspect. Granted I am cautious on lyrics and content in music and movies, however, I like good music, good movies, much of the arts, theater, and dancing,… and I don’t wear a tie or suit to church unless for a wedding or funeral. I often go to church in shorts, sandals, and a T-Shirt, or an old pair of jeans and Harley shirt or leather jacket. Some denominations may be strict on those things. However, I am me, and I know who I am, what I am about, and to Whom I serve. I do not need humanity to define me, nor place me in a box. My Creator has told me who I am, and has set me free to be me, and strive to be the best man He is continually molding me into.

I believe that God wants us to enjoy the creative. He is the Creator by all means. We were built to be creative. There is some great music out there, thought provoking theater performances, and good movies to watch, and if you feel like dancing, do it, I say. King David danced with gladness. I believe we should be passionate about what you do and who you are. We just should be respectful, and be guided by principles in our passion focusing on what is good, and acceptable to our Creator.

Psalm 150:1–5

“Praise the Lord.

Praise God in his sanctuary;

praise him in his mighty heavens.

Praise him for his acts of power;

praise him for his surpassing greatness.

Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,

praise him with the harp and lyre,

praise him with timbrel and dancing,

praise him with the strings and pipe,

praise him with the clash of cymbals,

praise him with resounding cymbals.

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord.”

Psalm 149:3, “Let them praise his name with dancing and make music to him with timbrel and harp.”

Ecclesiastes 3:4, “a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,”

Jeremiah 31:13, “Then young women will dance and be glad, young men and old as well. I will turn their mourning into gladness; I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow.”

Ecclesiastes 3:9–13 NLT, “What do people really get for all their hard work? I have seen the burden God has placed on us all. Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end. So I concluded there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can. And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God.“

Yes, I dance and enjoy it, especially with my loved ones. I danced with my children as they grew up, and I dance with the woman I love. I like a variety of music including rock music. In fact, I do a lot of things that may not be agreeable by some churches and church denominations. I am okay with that as I serve God, and not mankind. I have also had more near death experiences than I care to count. I was in a wheel chair for a month after breaking 15 bones, and thought I may not fully recover as the doctor told me, let alone be able to dance again. I’ve lost a lot in my life, and grateful I have lived through it all, and built much back up. As I experienced all that I have experienced in my life, I celebrate the gift of each new day the Lord has blessed me with Purpose, navigating with Principles, and exploring with Passion. So yes, I dance.

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“Should Christians be trained for battle?”

Posted on June 30, 2020 by DW

I started training in Karate around the age of 13. I am also an avid advocate of our 2nd Amendment Rights. I made a profession of faith when I was around 15. I understood and applied Christian surrender in my early 20s and I remember a man that was active in our church at the time, get up and share in our Young Married’s Group how Karate was evil and we as Christians should not support or train in such violence. I happened to be serving in another ministry during that hour. However, I got some feedback shared with me by others.

I do not claim to know it all, and surely would never claim to. I strive to learn more, grow, and listen to other perspectives. However, as I have shared in the past, nothing tends to frustrate me more than arrogant ignorance. Now what I am about to share and post you may not agree with. That is okay, we can agree to disagree with grace & humility.

First of all, I am an advocate of any training that helps you enhance your physical, and mental health, as well as defend and protect yourself, and others. Whether it be the Martial Arts, Boxing, or how to shoot guns, and handle other weapons. It is not wicked nor evil to do so. It does not mean you believe or adhere to another faith. Most, I hope, are smart enough to determine the difference.

Secondly, the bible is full of very dangerous violent men of God who were trained to destroy, kill, and eradicate. A helpless man is not a good man, a good man is a very dangerous man who has it voluntarily under control.

“Blessed be the Lord, my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle;” — Psalm 144:1

“He said to them, “But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one.” — Luke 22:26

“In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables.” — John 2:14–15

“When I saw their fear, I rose and spoke to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people: “Do not be afraid of them; remember the Lord who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives and your houses.” — Nehemiah 4:14

“But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” — 1 Timothy 5:8

“When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are safe” — Luke 11:21

“And for your lifeblood I will require a reckoning: from every beast I will require it and from man. From his fellow man I will require a reckoning for the life of man.Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image.” — Genesis 9:5–6

“Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears; let the weak say, “I am a warrior.” — Joel 3:10

“From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and violent men take it by force.” Matthew 11:12

Later in that same church I began teaching Karate classes to some of the youth and young adults. I also took some of the older teenagers and adults in that same church hunting and to the shooting range. The thing is meekness doesn’t mean weakness. Being a person of faith doesn’t mean you are to be a door mat. As for me an my house, we will serve the Lord, and I will defend my house, and loved ones with all my ability, scope of influence, and within my disposal.

There is a saying I seen that I kind of like:

“HOLY enough to pray for you, HOOD enough to swing on you.”

Meaning we strive to be men of God, and will love, pray, minister, serve…, but make no mistake, we will defend ourselves and our loved ones aggressively, swiftly if necessary.

“Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.” — 1 Corinthians 16:13

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“Skulls are kind of scary…”

Posted on June 18, 2020 by DW

Some, if not many, in average society may relate the image of a skull to death or something evil. Some years ago, that may have been my typical thoughts as well.

So my son the other day shared that he didn’t understand the preference to skulls by some people, or groups. He thought them to be “kind of scary” from his perspective. This ended up being a great opportunity for a teaching and learning moment. So I began to share the history of skull images, what it means by different cultures, countries, groups, as well as the biker community.

Such as, by some, it was to actually ward off evil and/or evil spirits as the gargoyles or lion images we see on some buildings or gables. To some it means that we as human beings are all the same underneath our outward appearance, what we wear, ethnic background, etc… and that we will all return to death. In another culture it is to honor those that passed and their ancestors like you may typically see in what are called Sugar Skulls or skeletons. In another culture it is to demonstrate a statement of being different, unique and not of a mundane society expectations, and yes to instill fear to ward off others. While in others it may be an expression of their art, culture, and they are dedicated to their passions unto death such as riding motorcycles and/or for the brotherhood they built. Then again with others it may be a representation of their strong patriotism to defend their country, their loved ones to the death. While some the skull may be a representation of their deep faith, and commitment unto death as they have died to the ways of the flesh, and are new creatures, that the life they live now is of Christ.

I reminded my son of the skull ring I wear that has Galatians 2:20 engraved on it in which I purchased to support the organization “Hope Over Heroin” that the life I lived before my surrender to my faith is the old self, that I strive to die to that, and the life I live now is to chase the “Beautiful Outlaw” in Jesus Christ. To live, love, serve and lead more like Him. The Biker Skull Shirts, or “Lazarus Skull” my son sees me wear in support of a Christian MC is a representation similar, but they call that skull, Lazarus. After Lazarus of the bible that was raised by the dead by Jesus Christ.

My son soon connected the dots of all I was sharing with him, and said “yes, that is when Jesus wept. The shortest verse in the bible with one of the most profound meanings.” I smiled in pride not realizing how my son, as well as his sister, are rather observant, listen, and take in much. So the next time you see people wearing attire, jewelry, or adorning tattoos with skulls, it may not mean what you may think or assume. Maybe next time, just ask them what the skull means to them. You may find it not only surprising, but rather intriguing, informative, and profound.

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Get In The Game…

Posted on May 28, 2020 by DW

April 17th, 2019

Are You in the Game?

If you spend any time around me, you’ll eventually notice something: I love sports analogies, old movie lines, and the occasional sports cliché. I’ve played, coached, and followed all kinds of sports, and I’m also a movie buff, so those worlds often show up in my everyday conversations.

One term you hear a lot in sports is “benchwarmer.” That’s the player who never gets into the game. It makes me wonder: Are there people who are benchwarmers when it comes to their faith, their calling, or God’s purpose for their life?

When we come to Christ, we’re given the Holy Spirit, spiritual gifts, and the seeds of the fruit of the Spirit. We weren’t saved to sit on the sidelines. God didn’t call us to be spectators or fans. He calls us to follow Him; to pick up our cross, not a cushion.

Church Isn’t a Theater

Church was never designed to be a comfortable place where we sit back and watch a show. No matter the size, the church is meant to be a gathering place to:

Learn
Serve
Praise
Worship
Get equipped
And then GO

Before Jesus ascended, He didn’t say, “You’re saved, now relax.” Instead, He gave His followers their mission:
Go. Teach. Make disciples. Baptize. Live out everything He taught.
And He promised to be with us every step of the way.

Learning From the Disciples

My goal in writing this is to help connect the dots between our lives and the lives of the disciples; those fishermen, the tax collector, the doctor, and even the one who betrayed Him. They weren’t flawless. They weren’t chosen because they already measured up.
God doesn’t call the qualified; He qualifies the called.

I’ve achieved a lot in my life, and I’ve also lost a lot. Life throws curveballs whether you’re a believer or not. What matters is perseverance. That’s one reason Hebrews 12:1–3 has always meant so much to me—running the race with endurance.

When I trained sales teams, I often told them:
“Anything worth having takes work. If it’s worth having, it’s worth working for.”
Same message when I coached. Same message I give my kids.

Dive Into Their Stories

I want to encourage you: over the next several weeks or months, spend time in the New Testament learning about the twelve disciples. Read about who they were. Study how Jesus:

Spoke to them
Taught them
Corrected them
Served them
Loved them

If you want to grow as a disciple of Jesus, and learn how to disciple others. Start there. Don’t rush it. Don’t skip past the journey.

Remember when Peter was eager to be “first” among the disciples? Jesus basically told him, in today’s terms:
“Slow down. Greatness in My kingdom starts with serving. The greatest are the ones who humble themselves.”

We Make Time for What We Value

Scripture teaches that where your treasure is, your heart will follow. In other words, we invest our time, money, and talents into what we value most. I’ll be the first to admit, mine hasn’t always been invested wisely or in ways that advance God’s Kingdom.

Faith Is a Team Sport

If you’ve ever played to win, really played to win, you know it takes:

Training
Hard work
Teamwork
Discipline
Good coaching
Commitment
Playing by the rules
Early mornings and long hours
Off‑season conditioning

Professional athletes don’t reach that level by accident. They do the work, year after year. They have a vision, a mission, and a purpose that drives them.

Success in faith is similar. It takes time. It takes effort. It takes learning from mistakes and getting back up again.

You’re Not Alone

As I write this, I pray the Spirit connects these analogies and truths to your heart. Living out your calling isn’t easy. It requires commitment and discipline. But you’re not walking alone. You’ll form brotherhood or sisterhood along the way. You’ll have mentors. And above all, you have God and your relationship with Jesus Christ.

Paul encouraged Timothy to pursue righteousness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness, to fight the good fight and hold tightly to eternal life. That same encouragement applies to you and me today.

So… Which One Are You?

Are you a benchwarmer, watching the game from the sidelines?
Or are you a player in the arena, fighting the good fight, running your race, and helping lead others into God’s Kingdom?

Do the work.
Make the time.
Push through discouragement.

Get in the game. Stay in the game. And play to win—because in Christ, we’re already on the winning side

~ DW

Posted in Faith, Health & Fitness, Uncategorized | Tagged Christian Living, Christianity, Dedication, Diligence, Disciples, Discipleship, faith, get in the game, inspiration, Jesus Christ, life, perseverence, sports fans | Leave a comment

Happiness…

Posted on May 2, 2017 by DW

Source: Happiness…

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What is in your back pack?

Posted on March 12, 2016 by DW

What’s in your back pack?

02/2016

A few weeks ago I joined a rather large group of men on a camping trip. We hiked what we were initially told was “about a mile”, that ended up being around three miles one-way! Now it wasn’t so much of the distance that ended up making it extremely challenging, it was the weight of my back pack, the extra duffle bag, and rather bulky sleeping bag. In addition, the hike up and down steep hills in the mud, made it even more challenging.

The weight of the back pack I estimated at around 70 pounds, and the duffle bag was at least 50 pounds. Well, needless to say, I had to take a few breaks until one of the other men had to threaten me to get me to hand over the extra duffle bag and sleeping bag. I finally agreed and I am actually very glad that he did take it, as I thought I was near a heart attack, or at the minimum loosing consciousness. I am a bit over weight, and very much out of shape that added to the challenge.

We go through life with our own personal and metaphorical “back pack”. It may start when we are very young. Often they may be packed with rocks to boulders of pain, hurt, loss, low of self worth, humiliation, guilt, shame, and regret.

You may of been called “fat”, or “wimpy” as a child and it affected your own self confidence. Your mother or father may of not appreciated you, or even ridiculed you to the point of telling you they wish you were smarter, more organized, more athletic, or more like someone else’s son or daughter, so you put another rock into your back pack of low self esteem, and shame. You took that rock, and the weight of it, in to the form of low self esteem, or feelings of worthlessness, and put it in your own personal back pack.

When you become an adult, you may of had a break up with the “love of your life”, or even worse, you go through a painful divorce. Maybe you have children that mean the world to you, that go through the divorce with you. As you proceed with your life, your back pack becomes even heavier, yet you hold onto the weight of this regret, shame, low self esteem, and even anger. You pack another boulder in your personal back pack of feelings of inadequacy, failure, and worthlessness.

Maybe you were at the wrong place at the wrong time, or you made a drastic mistake, or was around the wrong crowd, and ended up in prison. Or you acquire a mental illness that you suffer from that was caused by past traumatic events, genetics, or injury. Or maybe you gave into peer pressure, and/or “self-medication” and get addicted to alcohol or drugs. You then add another boulder to that back pack of a label, stigmatization, regret, shame, worthlessness, and feelings of hopelessness; unable to see the light through the tunnel.

Then you may lose your job and, or God forbid, a family member or two. You then heave another boulder into that back pack to where you are weighed down so much, the bag is so heavy, that you nearly, cannot move. You feel as though you cannot take another step. You are so exhausted and feel so worthless you are near to the end of your rope. Yet you crawl, filled with so much shame, or maybe pride, that you do not ask for help, not a soul, and not even by your own Creator.

What is in your back pack? Are you holding onto guilt, shame, regret, or anger? Is your back pack so heavy that you feel near worthless, that you do not even know if you may be able to take another step? Do you not only feel it emotionally, and mentally to your very soul; you even feel it physically that your body is in pain?

Jesus said, “To all those who are weary, cast your burden upon me and I will give you rest.” In the bible it further says, ‘Bear ye one another burdens as so fulfill the law of Christ.” Another verse is “Pray ye one for another, the effectual prayer of a righteous man availath much.” Over and over again the bible gives each of us the direction and way to lessen the weight of our back packs to removing them all together. This is done by seeking Him, reading His word, going to church to worship, praise, and learn. To fellowship with the body of Christ, which is the fellowship of believers. God works through people, and the Holy Spirit in them. God has also equipped professionals in doctors, well taught Holy Spirit filled pastors, and even medications, if so required or advised by a professional, to help us remove the weights of our back packs when we may seem we cannot take another step.

My favorite verse that seems to put it all together is:

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.” – Hebrews 12:1-3 (ESV)

Jesus told us there will be troubles and trials in this world. He also said “Do Not Fear”, for He has overcome the world, and He has given us at the time of salvation a comforter in the Holy Spirit.

The things is we do not have to pack up that back pack, and keep putting rocks and boulders in to it over, and over again. We have examples in what is called “The Hall of Faith” in Hebrews 11. In this Hall of Faith are imperfect people. Broken people, and even those with disabilities, that were used greatly by God because of their faith. These people of faith, also allowed God to use people in their life to help, inspire, pray, and work along side them to accomplish amazing and miraculous things for healing, restoration, and inevitably all for the cause of Christ.

I am so very glad this other man came along to help me when I was hiking those three miles up steep hills full of rocks and mud. Although I was stubborn at first, I am enviably glad he came along side of me and helped me. You too are not alone. God is present, and He has sent His people. Sometimes we may have to knock, other times He and the body of believers are right in front of your face. Do not be so stubborn filled with pride, or blocked by the forrest of the valleys in life not to see the light through the trees.

ALL of us have our own personal back packs sometimes called “baggage”. Do not keep putting those rocks and boulders in your personal back pack. Let it go! Give it to God! You are a new creature in Christ capable of amazing and miraculous things. Lay those rocks and boulders aside, do not let sin “cling” to you, YOU ARE FORGIVEN and SAVED by GRACE! You are important. You matter and YOU ARE NOT the SUM of YOUR MISTAKES or PAST. Run the expedition race of life; and press on looking to Jesus, the perfecter of our faith, our salvation, and our strength. Do not grow faint, weary ,and give up. Jesus died for each of us, conquered death, and sits at the right side of the throne of God interceding for us, and there is an entire body of Christ in believers that will be there to help you finish this expedition, this marathon of life. May you fight the Good Fight, with the Full Armor of God, and finish it well!

~ DW

Posted in Health & Fitness, Uncategorized | 4 Comments

Are you “fruity”?

Posted on February 23, 2016 by DW

So are you fruity? In the bible the fruits of the spirit are discussed. No, these are not physical fruits in the matter of say a banana or apple. These are fruits of what God calls the spirit. That is the Holy Spirit of Christians. The Fruit of the Holy Spirit is a biblical term that sums up nine attributes of a Christian life according to Paul in his Letter to the Galatians “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” Galatians 5:22-23.

When you were saved, (That is when you accepted Jesus Christ as you Savior.), confessing your belief in words, openly accepting Him into your heart and life, believing He died, resurrected and sits on the right hand of the throne of God; the fruits of the Spirit were planted inside you in seed form.

The apostle Paul, in his writings put it in these terms: When we were controlled by our old nature, sinful desires were at work within us, and aroused evil desires that produced a harvest of sinful deeds, resulting in death. But now we have been saved and delivered, for we died to our old self, and are no longer captive to its power.

Now we can serve God, but in the new way of living in the Spirit. (Romans 7:5-6 NLT)

On your own, it would be impossible. But when you operate in the Spirit, you have a supernatural ability to overcome. The more you draw near to God, praying and reflecting on His Word, and fellowship with other believers, the more you will experience the fruit of the Spirit in your life. Remember with God all things are possible!

All of this is instrumented by love. It is through the love of Jesus Christ and the two most important commandments he said to hang all the law and all the prophets “You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.” He added, “A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’” (Matthew 22:39).

It is not about words, and not entirely about actions. It’s our frame of mind and motivation for doing it. God isn’t nearly as concerned about what we do as He is about the attitudes of our hearts (see 1 Thessalonians 2:4).

Therefore we exude our spiritual gifts through our love. We shine of these spiritual gifts through love. The supernatural love used through us by our Creator. This is how the bible says, “You will know them by their fruits” Now lets take a micro approach and try to define these fruits.

Love

Love (Greek: agape, Latin: caritas)
Main article: Agape
Agape denotes a really undefeatable benevolence and unconquerable goodwill, that always seeks the highest of the other, no matter what s/he does. It is the self-giving love that gives freely without asking anything in return, and does not consider the worth of its object. Agape is more a love by choice than philos, which is love by chance; and it refers to the will rather than the emotion. Agape describes the unconditional love God has for the world. Paul describes love in 1 Corinthians 13:

Love is patient, love is kind.(love) is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.

Evelyn Underhill considered love to the “budding point” from which all the other fruits come, referencing 1 John 4:16, “God is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him.”

Joy

Joy (Greek: chara, Latin: gaudium)
The joy referred to here is deeper than mere happiness, is rooted in God and comes from Him. Since it comes from God, it is more serene and stable than worldly happiness, which is merely emotional and lasts only for a time. The fruit of joy is the awareness that God is one’s strength and protector.

Paul wrote in Philippians 4:4, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again: rejoice!”

Joy proceeds from the theological virtue of charity. George Campbell Morgan wrote that “Joy is love’s consciousness.” In Augustine’s Discourse on the Psalms he says, “We are an Easter people and our song is ‘Alleluia'” Noted preacher Charles Haddon Spurgeon in his sermon, The Fruit of the Holy Spirit: Joy cited Psalm 144:15, “Happy the people whose God is the Lord.”

This does not mean that a person may not experience sadness on occasion through the death of a loved one, financial trouble, the actions of others, or depression; but underlying the sadness is the sure knowledge that one is still loved by God.

Peace

Peace (Greek: eirene, Latin: pax)
Peace is the result of resting in a relationship with God. Peace is more than an absence of conflict. It is the tranquil state of a soul fearing nothing from God and content with its earthly lot, of what so ever sort that is. It is a kind of equilibrium that comes from trusting that everything is in the hands of God.

The word “peace” comes from the Greek word eirene, the Greek equivalent for the Hebrew word shalom, which expresses the idea of wholeness, completeness, or tranquility in the soul that is unaffected by the outward circumstances or pressures. The word eirene strongly suggests the rule of order in place of chaos. When a person is dominated by peace, he has a calm, inner stability that results in the ability to conduct himself peacefully, even in the midst of circumstances that would normally be very nerve-wracking, traumatic, or upsetting…Rather than allowing the difficulties and pressures of life to break him, a person who is possessed by peace is whole, complete, orderly, stable, and poised for blessing.

Jesus is described as the Prince of Peace, who brings peace to the hearts of those who desire it. He says in John 14:27: “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid”.

When having peace with God through the sacrifice of Jesus, we are then able to make peace between men, and also between men and God, also called “evangelism”. It is understood that those who have peace with God, and are therefore sons of God, will act like their Father in heaven and become those who are able to make peace, or be peace makers, as Jesus says, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God” and “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and have come from God, for I have not even come on My own initiative, but He sent Me”. So by saying this, Jesus is stating that only those who have received peace with God through Himself, the “sons of God”, are able to make peace, no one else. These sons of God are specified by John when he says, “None of those who are children of God continue to sin, for God’s very nature is in them; and because God is their Father, they cannot continue to sin”. Paul also says, “Never pay back evil for evil. Take thought for what is right in the sight of all men”. Peace, in the Bible, is much more than just a lack of yelling or lack of war, it is the presence of YHWH allowed into a place and a person. Only with the Jewish God is there peace, as Isaiah writes, “‘There is no peace,’ says the Lord, ‘for the wicked.'” Jesus is the Jewish God, and He is alive.

Forbearance (Patience)

Patience (Greek: makrothumia, Latin: longanimitas)
Generally the Greek world applied this word to a man who could avenge himself but did not. This word is often used in the Greek Scriptures in reference to God and his attitude to man. Exodus 34:6 describes the Lord as “slow to anger and rich in kindness and fidelity.”

Patience includes the concepts of forbearance, long-suffering, and the willingness to bear wrongs patiently.

Patience, which in some translations is “longsuffering” or “endurance”, is defined in Strong’s by two Greek words, makrothumia and hupomone.

The first, pronounced (mak-roth-oo-mee-ah) comes from makros, “long”, and thumos, “temper”. The word denotes lenience, forbearance, fortitude, patient endurance, longsuffering. Also included in makrothumia is the ability to endure persecution and ill-treatment. It describes a person who has the power to exercise revenge but instead exercises restraint.

The latter, hupomone, (hoop-om-on-ay) is translated “endurance”: Constancy, perseverance, continuance, bearing up, steadfastness, holding out, patient endurance. The word combines hupo, “under”, and mone, “to remain”. It describes the capacity to continue to bear up under difficult circumstances, not with a passive complacency, but with a hopeful fortitude that actively resists weariness and defeat, with hupomone (Greek ὑπομονή) being further understood as that which would be “as opposed to cowardice or despondency”

“With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love”

Kindness

Kindness (Greek: chrestotes, Latin: benignitas)
In Greek, old wine was called “chrestos” which meant that it was mellow or smooth. Christ used this word in Matthew 11:30, “For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”

In contrast, kindness is acting for the good of people regardless of what they do, properly, “useable, e.g. well-fit for use (for what is really needed); kindness that is also serviceable”.

Kindness is goodness in action, sweetness of disposition, gentleness in dealing with others, benevolence, kindness, affability. The word describes the ability to act for the welfare of those taxing your patience. The Holy Spirit removes abrasive qualities from the character of one under His control.

The word kindness comes from the Greek word chrestotes (khray-stot-ace), which meant to show kindness or to be friendly to others and often depicted rulers, governors, or people who were kind, mild, and benevolent to their subjects. Anyone who demonstrated this quality of chrestotes was considered to be compassionate, considerate, sympathetic, humane, kind, or gentle. The apostle Paul uses this word to depict God’s incomprehensible kindness for people who are unsaved (see Romans 11:22; Ephesians 2:7; Titus 3:4).

One scholar has noted that when the word chrestotes is applied to interpersonal relationships, it conveys the idea of being adaptable to others. Rather than harshly require everyone else to adapt to his own needs and desires, when chrestotes is working in a believer, he seeks to become adaptable to the needs of those who are around him.

Kindness is doing something and not expecting anything in return. Kindness is respect and helping others without waiting for someone to help one back. It implies kindness no matter what. We should live “in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left”

Goodness

Goodness (Greek: agathosune, Latin: bonitas)
The state or quality of being good
Moral excellence; virtue;
Kindly feeling, kindness, generosity,joy in being good
The best part of anything; Essence; Strength;
General character recognized in quality or conduct.
Popular English Bibles (e.g. NIV, NASB, NLT) translate the single Greek word chrestotes into two English words: kindness and goodness. “Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power”. “For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth”, with agathosune being “found only in Biblical and ecclesiastical writings, uprightness of heart and life

Faithfulness

Faithfulness (Greek: pistis, Latin: fides)
Faithfulness is committing oneself to something or someone, for instance, to one’s spouse, to a cause, or to a religion. Being faithful requires personal resolve not to wander away from commitments or promises. It’s not always easy to be faithful. True faith requires trust in God. “O Lord, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth”. “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith”.[Eph 3:16-17]

The writer of the Letter to the Hebrews describes it this way: “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God”.

The root of pistis (“faith”) is peithô that is to persuade or be persuaded which supplies the core-meaning of faith as being “divine persuasion”, received from God, and never generated by man.

Gentleness

Gentleness (Greek: prautes, Latin: modestia)
Gentleness, in the Greek, prautes, commonly known as meekness, which is “a divinely-balanced virtue that can only operate through faith (cf. [1 Tim 6:11]; [2 Tim 2:22-25]).

. The New Spirit Filled Life Bible defines gentleness as

“a disposition that is even-tempered, tranquil, balanced in spirit, unpretentious, and that has the passions under control. The word is best translated ‘meekness,’ not as an indication of weakness, but of power and strength under control. The person who possesses this quality pardons injuries, corrects faults, and rules his own spirit well”.

“Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted”.[Gal 6:1]

“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love”.[Eph 4:2]

Self-Control

Self-control (Greek: egkrateia, Latin: continentia)
The Greek word used in Galatians 5:23 is “egkrateia”, meaning “strong, having mastery, able to control one’s thoughts and actions.”

“…make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love”.[2 Pet 1:5-7]

So may your seeds of the fruits of the spirit be watered daily by the word of God, great bible believing preaching, and fellowship with other believers. And be very “fruity”!

Blessings,

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Ikigai 生き甲斐

Posted on October 28, 2015 by DW

Ikigai 生き甲斐 is a Japanese concept meaning “a reason for being”. Everyone, according to the Japanese, has an ikigai. Finding it requires a deep and often lengthy search of self. Such a search is regarded as being very important, since it is believed that discovery of one’s ikigai brings satisfaction and meaning to life.^[1]

In the culture of Okinawa, ikigai is thought of as “a reason to get up in the morning”; that is, a reason to enjoy life. In a TED Talk, Dan Buettner referenced ikigai as one of the reasons people in the area had such long lives.

The word “ikigai” is usually used to indicate the source of value in one’s life or the things that make one’s life worthwhile. Secondly, the word is used to refer to mental and spiritual circumstances under which individuals feel that their lives are valuable. It’s not necessarily linked to the economic status or today state of things. Even if a person feels that today’s dark, but has a goal, he may feel ikigai. Behaviours that make one feel ikigai are not actions which individuals are forced to take – these are natural and spontaneous actions.

The term “ikigai” is composed of two Chinese characters : iki and kai. Iki refers to life and kai is a suffix meaning roughly “the realisation of what one expects and hopes for.”

Kobayashi says that people can feel ikigai only when on the basis of personal maturity, the satisfaction of various desires, love and happiness, encounters with others, and a sense of the value of life, they proceed towards self-realization.

In a small village outside of Osaka, a woman in a coma was dying. She suddenly had a feeling that she was taken up to heaven and stood before the Voice of her ancestors.

“Who are you?” the Voice said to her.

“I am the wife of the mayor,” she replied. “I did not ask whose wife you are but who you are.” “I am the mother of four children.” “I did not ask whose mother you are, but who you are.” “I am a school teacher.” “I did not ask what your profession is but who you are.”

And so it went. No matter what she replied, she did not seem to give a satisfactory answer to the question, “Who are you?”

“I am a Shinto.” “I did not ask what your religion is but who you are.” “I am the one who wakes up each day to care for my family, and nurture the young minds of the children at my school.”

She passed the examination, and was sent back to earth. The next morning she woke at sunrise, feeling a deep sense of meaning and purpose. She tended to her children’s lunches, and planned fun lessons for her students that day. The woman had discovered her ikigai.

Purpose, Principles, Passion

Posted on October 3, 2014 by DW

This is why my blog has it’s name…

Every day is a gift. It is precious and irreplaceable. Time is the most valuable asset of all and so is your body. You have one life, you have one body. Take care of it and be grateful for each day and everything that you have.

Purpose, Principles and Passion is based on my thoughts, belief system and favorite verse, Hebrews 12:1-3

“Wherefore seeing we also are encompassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.” Hebrews 12:1-3 KJV 1611

The first verse recalls the “Hall of Faith” in chapter 11 of many people of faith who are examples of people who had great faith against much odds, with human challenges and even flaws. They are examples. “cloud of witnesses”.

Furthermore in this first verse it says “let us lay aside every weight, and sin which doth so easily best us” I believe it is saying lay aside our weaknesses, flaws, burdens, guilt, anxiety, sadness, and shame. The weights of this world that occupy our minds, and drain our strength. We have many examples of human beings in the bible that had many flaws, and challenges but lay aside those things and accomplished wonderous things.

Furthermore is the last part of the first verse; we are to experience life as though it is a race of endurance, however not to be taken as a race literally. It is that we push forward with endurance and strength given by love, and the love for and by God. To live in the present and not in the past. To run forward taking advantage of the life God has given us. As an example, I use to run track and train in Karate. It would get very tough during the race, training, or tournament. There is a point that I’ve been completely exhausted and didn’t think I had anymore energy. I wanted to quit, but then then I would be blessed with a second wind to go futher. To go the extra mile. It took training, it took perseverance, it also took patience but I would finish the race, finish the tournament. Life is like a race, it takes patience, perseverance, and endurance. There is no giving up in life. God gave us His word, and He has given us talents and abilities. Everyone has them and everyone can strengthen them to “run the race” and use them and bless others by them.

In the second verse it is said we should look unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith for it was His joy to lay down His life for us and endure the cross for forgiveness of our sins. We are not to forget what He has done for us, and that He loved us that much. God cannot look upon sin, and Jesus endured the cross, death and resurrection and sits at the “right hand at the throne of God making intercession for us. Jesus was the payment for our sinful nature and sits at the right hand of the throne of God. What Jesus did is a gift of eternal life, and a payment for our sins. We are to look to Him in His teachings and wisdom to repent of our sins, and live as “new creatures.” To be “born again” as Jesus said. We live in a broken world, and we are imperfect beings. Jesus is that hope and if we accept Him as that payment for sins, we live a more fulfilling and less burdomesome life. That is why Christians call Him the “Blessed Assurance”.

The third verse further amplifies what Jesus went through, eventhough He may be contradicted, we should not grow weary and give up. Jesus went through horrible torture, and the pain of death by crucifiction for everyone. Don’t get weary, don’t lose hope. He knows each of us, even before we were born. He loved us so much and died so we could live, and have life more abduntantly. He gave us the path to eternal life with Him and God.

We all have a purpose. We were all made for God and He wants a relationship with us. Our main purpose is to please Him. He knows it is not going to be easy. Hardship, challenges and obstacles will come. In pleasing Him, we are to serve others, provide for our families, learn, teach, earn, and grow closer to Him. Our purpose is to be more like Jesus. To be merciful, thankful, kind, generous, and ambitious.

Each day I get up, I know I have a purpose. I also have a lot of things to do and complete each day. I try to arise in optimism for the gift that God has given to me for this day. I try to remember to start in prayer, head for the fridge for an energy drink, or coffee and some fruit and yogart. To eat a good lunch, dinner and make time to exercise. I have a purpose to grow, to improve and to provide and teach my children and make a positive difference to my loved ones and others. This is my purpose.

Purpose is not by itselft. You need a road map I call principles. Those written by God. Those guidelines and compass lead my faith and learning. My principles come from the word of God. It is the compass to life. So are the help of many great scholars, teachers, and “solid” preachers. It is not always easy to follow this compass. That is why it is called “to run with patience that is set before us.” It takes perseverance and endurance.

Passion comes from my belief that God wants to bless us and to live each day with passion. To do what is good and what we love with passion. Your work is to be done with passion. To have a positive attitude that you will “run a good race”, and finish well. You should be passionate in what you do. Whether your a janitor or a doctor, a clerk, or a lawyer… There is so much to be passionate about in the world. New experiences, new joys, fulfillments yet to recieve and blessings to be granted. I have a passion for life, helping others that have had similar challenges in life, and investing quality time with my kids, family, and friends.

I want to expand a little more on my own thoughts on passion. I don’t adhere to a strict “churchy” interpetation of doctrine, rules and regulations that tend to be man made. Jesus set us free to live life with passion. I rarely would rare a suit and tie to church. I prefer a church that welcomes everyone and anyone no matter what they wear, what they make, or what they do. Jesus came to us being born in a manager which was said to be more like a cave. He ministered to all. He demonstrated passion, compassion, empathy and grace growing up in a family of no wealth and social stature.

I like music, movies, the arts, theatre, and dancing. Some denominations may be strict on those things. However I believe that God wants us to enjoy the creative. We were built to be creative. There is some great music out there, thought provoking theatre performances, and good movies to watch, and if you feel like dancing, do it I say. King David danced with gladness. Just make sure it’s within the boundaries of good repore.

——–

I feel that Hebrews 12:1-3 is telling us how to sit aside things that can ways us down, and enjoy life, live it to it’s fulliest. Launching each day with PURPOSE, navigating with PRINCIPLES, and exploring with PASSION.

I strongly believe if you think this way and apply the truths written in Gods word, you will be happier, and more successful in most everything you do.

Blessings,

“All you need is the plan, the road map, and the courage to press on to your destination.”
-Earl Nightingale

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Thank you for your response. ✨

Posted in Faith, Uncategorized | Tagged endurance, faith, God, happiness, Jesus, life, passion, principles, purpose, the race | 1 Comment

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