Distractions

20262026 Dr. Mike 2026 Christ-centered, Distractions, focus, One with God, priorities

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}

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“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)

Distractions and Traditions

20262026 Dr. Mike 2026 Christ-centered, discipleship, life in christ, Love God

“…but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.” Mark 4:19

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And the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?” And he said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, “‘This people honor me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ Mark 7:5-7

One day, if you haven’t done already, you will come to a place in life you stop, look around, and shake your head at all the distracting noise surrounding you. Each way you look, you see nothing but others pushing their agenda upon you. Influencers vying for your attention. Marketers packaging their merchandise in your face. Politicians communicating their message of fear and more dollars to feed their mission. Every which way you look you are being bombarded with distractions from your goals.

Then there are those who still live in yesterday’s past. They want to keep the fences in place but cannot give you a viable reason for their position. To remove the fence would change their surroundings. They cannot tell you the importance of the fence. All they mutter is tradition is important and we need to continue keeping it.

Jesus faced the same issues in his time on planet earth. The religious people made up traditions that they placed more importance over God’s way of life. The cares of everyday living and the pursuit of power, money, and sex is nothing new. The same carnal desires humans pursue today were alive and well in Jesus’ time.

All these distractions and made-up rituals are the same battles we face today. They challenge us in our walk with Jesus. We may notice the spiritual fruit of a godly life is missing. Then wonder why? Could it be time to stop; get off the worldly bus, and start down the road the slower way – walking with Jesus.

He has a way of teaching you where to find real freedom, flourishment, and fulfillment. HIS Word, Spirit, and Kingdom ways open the door for you to fully live as a human being. HE leads you to discover real love, joy, and peace without the trappings of social customs. HE welcomes you into a family of the Triune God circle. You meet Papa God. You are introduced to the Holy Spirit. You capture HIS vision for humanity. You find purpose in your life. You find a way of life that is grace-paced. It all starts when you disregard the noise around you and focus your eyes and heart unto 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)

Being With Jesus

20262026 Dr. Mike 2026 Christ-centered, discipleship, Learning, Relationship

“No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.” John 15:15

Being a disciple of Jesus is a lifelong adventure. Like any learning role, it begins as a student/teacher relationship. The rabbi has selected his students and now the lessons begin. Unlike today’s schooling, the Jewish rabbi of the first century operated differently. He would meet outside the classroom and teach through life’s everyday routines. Jesus was no different in that format.

Most rabbis had a high academic bar for selecting their students. They would not allow you to sit with them unless you met their standard. In the first century, this meant you had to repeat per verbatim from memory the entire first five books of the Bible. It is estimated that only one out of every ten thousand would qualify. Jesus’ selection process was somewhat different. He didn’t select his students based on their mental acumen or elite status. He invited all to follow HIM if they wanted to learn. But it was from this disciple group HE selected twelve for more intense training. They became the apostles. And HE specifically chose them only after conversing with HIS Father.

Unlike today’s academic setting, the student’s training was both academic and hands-on. They listened at the feet of their teacher, and didn’t have to take academic tests. Instead, they went on missionary field trips. There they put into practice the Lord’s teachings and saw the fruit of their efforts. It was all hands-on. In a sense it was a small group master-level training class.

They became known as apostles because the twelve learned directly from Jesus. They then replicated the process. They also selected students who they would pass on their learning. Thus, we have our early church fathers who learned from the apostle’s feet. They then continue to replicate the process.

What made this process so effective was the emphasis on relationship over task – being over doing. Jesus himself would emphasize his relationship with HIS father. He then showed the strength of that relationship through the good works HE performed. Though HE would share the knowledge of God’s Kingdom with them, HIS focus was always on the heart of the issue. HIS last prayer emphasized the intimate relationship between HIM, HIS Father, and disciples. In today’s Scripture, HE again emphasized the relationship with them. Not as teacher/student, master/servant, boss/employee, but as friend/friend.

The three-plus-years-experience of the disciples with Jesus is a great lesson of discipleship. They realize being with Jesus was more rewarding than the work one does for Jesus. That wherever one goes, Jesus is already there, because HE is always with you. As one practices the way of discipleship, one learns to live with Jesus rather than just do work for Jesus. The joy of living is greater when one shares the time and space, and process with Jesus. And allow HIM to share HIMSELF with you.

The apostles were happiest being with Jesus wherever they went. They marveled at HIS work, HIS words, HIS actions. They couldn’t get enough of HIM. They wanted HIM as their friend; but hesitated because of the Rabbi/Learner role they shared. But this night, Jesus broke down the wall, and called them friends.

As disciples we will go through a similar process. HE will always be the Rabbi. We will always be the student. But one day, HE and you will both become friends. Welcome to being with Jesus.

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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