Distractions

Dr. Mike 2026 , , , ,

One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple. Psalm 27:4

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Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, Philippians 3:13

What is your ONE thing in life? What are the distractions that prevent you from your ONE thing? How do you keep focused on your ONE signal from the noise around you?

King David’s ONE thing was to live with God in the center of his life. The apostle Paul was so focus on serving Jesus that he would always focus on the future. He did not look back at the hurdles and sufferings of his past.

But what about you and me. What is the ONE thing you are focused on at this moment? Is it the main thing? Or is it distracting you from your ONE thing?

In my long business career, I learned a few habits which carried over into my personal life. One was knowing when my work for the day was done. As an executive, one’s day is an open book. The options, choices, and decisions are limited by time, money, and resources. Every opportunity either maximizes results or ends busted. There is nobody to accept responsibility but yourself.

Like the homemaker whose day is never finished, so it the professional manager. But life is more than work. There are other responsibilities. In many ways we are like a circus juggler tossing five or more pins into the air. They keep them moving without dropping one, so are the days of our life. But we don’t juggle pins. We balance life activities with: God. Health. Family. Friends. Work. Play. Social. Academic, and the list only grows thereafter. So how does a person keep focus on the main thing all the time?


I learned the principle of three. With a to-do list longer than a roll of toilet paper, I would end the day listing the top three activities for the next day. These were the most important activities from the list. They were not the most critical. They were not the most fun. They were the ones when completed provide the greatest breakthrough for the organization.

This became a productive habit over the years. When those three items were completed, my major accomplishments for the day were done. Anything else was a freebie. The longer I practiced this method, the better life became.

I learned to do the main things first each day. Personally, this included quiet prayer time with God. It also disciplined me to exercise for physical health. It helped chisel the time doing those items that made life more enriching. At work it helped separate the signals from the noise. At community events, it helped align priorities built on strengths with greater impact.

But it all begins knowing what your ONE thing is. When you choose wisely, your ONE thing will leave a path of dividends for the rest of your life. If you choose foolishly, your life will be one of confusion, trouble, and mental anguish.

Distractions are the enemy’s game. When you run life’s obstacle course, there are many choices to make. But when you are focused on the ONE, life is much better.

Learn to keep focused on the ONE; chisel away the noise and allow HIS signals reach you. It takes planning and execution. But when done properly, life is better. Jesus is the ONE.  

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Faith-Integrator, Encourager, Scribbler

Click Here for more Writings Neatly Bound in Book Format Available at Your Favorite Bookstore.

“We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,” (Colossians 1:9)

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Trust Papa’s Process

Dr. Mike 2026 , , , , , , ,

“for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” Philippians 2:13

God is at work. HE is a master designer. HE is a master planner. HE is a master operator. HE makes university-level genius’ look stupid.

HE started the plan of salvation from the foundation of creation. HE wants to have a human family join HIM in HIS Triune circle. HE didn’t want preprogrammed walking robots. But independent thinking people who choose to love and share life with HIM. So HE created time, space, and matter. HE then added life. All sorts of life. From plants, fish, and insects to crawling lizards, flying birds, and over-size elephants. And of course people.

People made in HIS image. To represent HIM on earth. To govern and serve HIS creation. People with attributes patterned after their Creator but limited in physical form. Children given a taste of adulthood. They may not be ready for full responsibilities to manage the universe. But they can now play the game as if eternally real.

Most importantly, HE gives the option to choose between joining HIM in HIS way of life or not. If we choose to follow HIM, HE provides personal help and training for eternal adulthood. If we decide to live outside HIS will, HE will not force you to join HIM. In fact, HE will accept your decision. HE loves you more than you realize. HE doesn’t force HIS Will upon you, but honors your decision.

But if you do decide to join HIM on HIS adventurous training program to eternal adulthood, HE will work with you. HE created you and knows how you are wired. HE knows how you may add the most value to HIS Kingdom. HE will share HIS advice and coach you into becoming the best person possible. HE will mirror your worldview, attitude, and character after Himself. History knows HIM as Jesus.

HE started the process at the foundation of the world. HE continued the process through HIS life, death, and ascension from earth to heaven. HE now intervenes on behalf of humanity before our Father God. HE now leads HIS siblings toward the restoration of everything HE planned from the start.

The process hasn’t changed, but the relationship has. HE has formally adopted us into HIS family. We are now heirs of an eternal home with HIM. Yet we are not ready. The training has only begun. As HIS disciples, we are learning to lead, govern, and serve others with Jesus. We are being prepared for eternal responsibilities. We are being morphed into a new creation. A new human. Where the divine nature smooths out human nature. Where a divine heart replaces a stony heart. Where Kingdom values replace self-centered values. Where sacrificial love replaces fleshy desires. The process is the divine work of a supernatural being in cooperation with the recipient.

We may not understand how HE manages the entire process. How HE gives us the free will to choose and yet is sovereign to fulfill HIS plan. Yet we experience the fruit. We over time see the outcome. But in between, there is the pain. The struggle. The disappointments. The hurt. The failures. The dreams that die. The hope that is stretched to the max. Our relationship with Father/Son/Spirit is put to the test.

We understand the process. We know diamonds are made from coal through the pressure. We know gold is refined through the heat. We understand the test and trials are necessary to prepare us for eternity. But man, can a guy get a break. This may be our current mindset, but as we pray and lean on HIM, HE restores are heart. HIS peace comes upon us. HIS joy returns. We acknowledge HIS love for us and our love for HIM.

HE is the master designer. HE is the master planner. HE is the master operator. HE knows how to best manage the process. HE is also the Best PAPA any earthling can have. You can always trust HIM.

Thank you Daddy for caring and preparing us for eternity with Jesus.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Faith-Integrator, Encourager, Scribbler

Click Here for more Writings Neatly Bound in Book Format Available at Your Favorite Bookstore.

“We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,” (Colossians 1:9)

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A Vision For Discipleship

Dr. Mike 2026, Jesus Apprentice, Kingdom Paradigms , , , , , ,

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20

In reviewing several discipleship programs for our faith community, I was intrigued. Each one emphasized a different area of the disciple-making process. What all had in common was using Matthew 28 as their key Scripture to build upon. But each emphasized one specific aspect and gave little time for the vision.

Some emphasized the recruiting aspect. Others the learning. But none on the relationship-building purpose behind the discipleship making process.

This Scripture does capture the vision and strategy his team is to use for growing the Church. Yet when I see what programs are being used, I see an immense amount of strategy but very little on the vision. So let’s read this Scripture together. Let us see how the importance of capturing the vision helps direct the strategy to use.

First when Jesus states that ALL authority in heaven and on earth has been given to HIM, what does that mean? In summary, HIS incarnation restored humanity into the Triune circle. Humanity is now included within the Triune God circle of Papa God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. Jesus lived the perfect righteous life on behalf of all humanity. HE also defeated Satan in the process. Papa God thus rewarded HIM with full authority as the Son of Man and Son of God, and as Lord of Lords and King of Kings. Jesus has final say on all heavenly and earthly matters. We now serve a benevolent dictator who has a heart of love balanced with the discipline of justice.

HIS instructions are for us to make disciples from all ethnic and racial groups. This includes all people from all nations – no one excluded. “Make” does not mean we force people to accept HIS beliefs. But as one practice this way of life, one learns to walk along with the Holy Spirit in HIS work. “To make” is a process. It is about recruiting and mentoring others with Jesus, Holy Spirit, and Papa God.

Also “go” doesn’t mean we necessarily leave our homes and travel to a far-off place. But the Greek text states otherwise. It is a corrective passive particle rather than an imperative verb. It means where you are already planted and active you share the message of Jesus to others.

“To be baptized” is our public acknowledgement we accept the work of Jesus Christ in our life. HIS life restored us into a relationship with Father-Son-Holy Spirit; the Triune God. To be baptized is us participating with Jesus in HIS death and resurrection. HIS death washed our sins away and HIS resurrected life has given us new life in HIM.

“Teaching them” is the primary function of the Church. As HIS disciples we teach others what we have learned from HIM. The process is for life; it never ends. It involves more than academic knowledge. It is training in all the practices and all the ways of HIS Kingdom. It involves head knowledge and heart knowledge. It involves the body, soul, and spirit of the believer. It covers the entire human experience of birth, family, work, community, and death. Jesus spoke about it all.

In the end, HE encourages us. HE reminds us that HE is alive and with you in all you do. Always. Even when you sin. HIS grace covers you. Even when you are rebellious. You may close your eyes at HIM, but HE is always there for you. We need to keep refocusing our eyes on HIM.

The purpose behind discipleship is to observe Jesus, our Rabbi and Teacher, work in our life. Yes, HE is Savior and Lord. But we start off the discipleship route as a learner. We are learning HIS Kingdom ways. We are putting them into practice each day. As we do, our relationship with HIM changes over time.

Like HE spoke to HIS graduating class of disciples the evening before HIS death. HE called them friends. The relationship changed from student to friend. Then again, after HIS resurrection, the relation changes even deeper. HE calls them brothers. A familial relationship.

Today we are HIS disciples. But we are also HIS brother and friend. The purpose of discipleship is to be trained in Kingdom practices. It is to learn how to live under the auspices of King Jesus. It is to learn how the Triune God governs the universe through the Kingdom of God. It is for us to learn how to govern ourself and others in similar fashion.

In many ways, discipleship is an executive training program of the Kingdom of God. It is the way Jesus is preparing you and me for eternity with HIM. It is more than head knowledge. It is training the entire body-soul-spirit under HIS authority. We are to learn how to serve others for God’s glory and for the sake of others. It is our preparation unto eternity. It starts now. It never ends. It is a life-long process. We are learning, integrating, and growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. This is the vision and purpose of discipleship.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Faith-Integrator, Encourager, Scribbler

Click Here for more Writings Neatly Bound in Book Format Available at Your Favorite Bookstore.

“We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,” (Colossians 1:9)

Encourage a Friend…Share Today’s Message! | Copyright 2013-Present | Abbaco LLC | All Rights Reserved