2025

Life to the Fullest

Dr. Mike 2025 , , ,

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.   Galatians 2:20

Jesus Christ lived, died, and was resurrected for you. HE sacrificed HIMSELF. HE showed us what love means through HIS words, actions, and purpose. The end result is HIS Spirit living within you. You and Jesus are now joined together through the Holy Spirit. As your spirit yields to God’s Spirit, you are both partnering in a great dance called life.

You are also wired for good work. Jesus has a place for you in HIS Kingdom. Yet HE will not force you nor coerce you toward it. You must decide whether or not you want to be engaged with HIM. When you do, you begin to experience life the way HE designed you to be.

Like a good marriage where couples share in the decision-making, so is your dance with Jesus. HE has open the lines of communications with you in prayer. HE instructs us to ask, seek, and knock. As we ask HIM for HIS thoughts on the matter, we also put forth our effort. Together, HIS grace and our effort germinate faithful action. All for HIS glory, the benefit of others and ourselves. For HE cares about you and those around you.

HE is the incarnate Triune God of humanity. HE has a greater purpose for life than this earthly experience. Yet, as we pursue our daily tasks with HIS spirit leading us, we learn how life is lived within HIS Kingdom culture. We don’t dream about the impossible, we ask HIM to show us the path toward making the dream become reality. We don’t play virtual life, we live life. We work, play, and relate with real people in real places doing real work for HIS glory and for HIS children.

Though at times life gets hard. Circumstances may stink. There may be days when you feel no one truly cares you even exist. These are the times we reach out for heaven’s help. We lean on HIM. We place our faith on HIS life living in us. We ask HIM for help. To direct our steps. To bring people who can help us. To give us the internal fortitude and strength. We wait. But we focus. We keep leaning on HIM. As we move through the dance floor of life, we sense HIS touch, HIS push, HIS confidence. We follow HIS lead. We partake and observe at the same time.

As the dominoes fall, and the music becomes clearer, the doors begin to open. As we walk forward, events move fast. Before we know, we are looking in hindsight to what just happened. A miracle. An outcome better than we expected. Not as we wanted it, but good. Good for ourselves. Good for all those involved. But most respectfully, a good outcome that glorifies our God in heaven.

This all begins when we choose to be engaged with the Savior and Lord of heaven and earth. HE brings life to the full for everyone who walks with HIM.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Faith-Integrator, Encourager, Scribbler

“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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The Triune Way

Dr. Mike 2025 , , , , ,

And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”   Luke 10:27

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But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.   Matt 6:33

In a recent small group discussion, an eighty-year-old asked life’s big question. What is our purpose in life?

He was quickly responded to by several of the men. Their answers covered all the religious responses one hears from YouTube preachers. Before I had the opportunity to respond, the group topic went into another direction. So, I now will respond to him and others who may be asking the same question.

Since this is a general question, I will reply with a general Biblical response from Jesus’ own words.

To love God. To love others. To love HIS Kingdom and ways.

This is the Triune Way. Father-Son-Spirit united in purpose. The reason – to birth humanity into their world. A world patterned after their character. A world reeking with the fruit of their Spirit. A world of real flourishment, freedom, and fulfillment.

Jesus when confronted by the Pharisees was asked a similar question. What is the greatest of all the commandments in the Torah? His reply turned the focus unto God. To love HIM with all one’s being. But HE didn’t stop there. HE included the importance to also love all those people around you. In other words, love is the focus and essence of living.

Then during HIS ministry on earth, HE introduced the people to God’s Kingdom. On the sermon of the mount, HE outlined the manifesto of God’s government. If one wants to experience life the way God designed humanity to live, they must deny themselves. Then accept their cross-bearing responsibilities, and follow HIM. When one does, one comes under the order and provision of God’s Kingdom.

The Triune Way is simply living in relationship with Father-Son-Spirit. It is following the teachings and practices of Jesus. HE provides you with the means to have order in your life. The Spirit empowers you with a life of assurance and security. All this within the bonds of an intimate relationship with your spiritual parent.

Love God. Love others. Love HIS Kingdom Ways. When this becomes the central core of your life, you will experience life the way God intended you to live. This is the Triune Way.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Faith-Integrator, Encourager, Scribbler

“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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Outcomes

Dr. Mike 2025 , ,

In the morning sow your seed, and at evening withhold not your hand, for you do not know which will prosper, this or that, or whether both alike will be good.   Ecclesiastes 11:6

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And you shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not.  Deuteronomy 8:2

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Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”  Daniel 3:16-18

One of the principles that I teach in management class is expectation of outcomes. Many of the students in class are in the leadership training program. They are people of high intelligence and accustomed to finish with a top grade. They are achievers. For them to get anything less than an “A” on their essay paper or test is unbeknownst for them.

Their self-perfection mindset though is soon broken. It begins when they form teams to play a business simulation game. Some try to implement their personal willpower to produce their expectant outcome. Others struggle to reach mutual agreement on strategic decisions. If they do reach consensus, they are perturbed by poor business results on each turn. Their frustration leads to blaming others for the outcome. They have difficulty acknowledging that maybe their judgement was wrong.

They review their work and are confused why their formula didn’t respond as expected. The formula was correct. The decision was based on good facts. Everything was done according to the book. Then how come the outcome was so poorly attained. The closed environment of an academic setting has unprepared them for the real world. My job is to prepare them to be managers of uncontrollable outcomes. Systems are manageable; but people are not.

Systems operate within the bounds of mathematics and logic. People operate under the guidelines of emotion and willpower. Faith is an open system. Trust and belief are dependent on others. You may believe. You may be trustful. You may be able to control yourself. But what about the others? In business, you have your customers. Your vendors and suppliers. Your competition. You have the local, state, and federal governments. And yes, there is always God. There are a lot of others who have a say in the matter.

Daniel’s three friends Shadrach, Meshack, and Abednego knew what they believed. They were also willing to die for it. But they also realistically knew that God could save them, but didn’t have too. They were being tested and willing to accept the outcome.

Remember how Moses helped the nation of Israel escape from Egypt. It was only a 13-day journey to the promise land. But they found themselves wondering in the wilderness for forty years. They didn’t expect such a short trip to take so long. Yet through the process they learned humility, faith, and trust in their God.

It takes a life time for most of us to learn the important things. You can do everything according to the Book. You can manage your response. But the outcome is best left to God.

When you can lay the outcome in HIS hand, you learn to walk with HIM. You learn HIS Spirit is involved in your life as well as in the life of others. That there is a greater purpose being shaped then the results you seek in your life. As HIS disciple, you are being morph into the character of Jesus. So are others. We are all in this together. Your responsibility is to do your part as best as you are able. And let God and HIS Grace do HIS.

So, like I teach our future managers, focus on what you can manage and let God manage the outcome.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Faith-Integrator, Encourager, Scribbler

“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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