Join us @ COR today as I conclude our "The Walk of Worship" series. Services at 9, 11, 1 & Span @ 4. Info @ http://www.church-redeemer.org
1 days ago

Strategic Living

How strategically are your living your life?

 

One of the games my wife and I have played at home from time to time is checkers.  While the game is much less sophisticated, intellectually challenging and time consuming than chess, it still requires a similar skill — strategic thinking.  Consistent winners are strategic in their thoughts and actions.  They think through the positive and negative implications of their moves BEFORE they make them.  A strategic checker or chess player is always several steps down the road in their mind.  They know where they are going and how they are going to get there.  Each move is appropriately considered in the light of the desired end result.

 

What is strategic thinking?  Thinking is strategic when it goes after long-term goals and advances.  Thinking is strategic when it focuses on a bigger picture and a greater purpose.  Thinking is strategic when it involves moving toward a positive plan for the future.

 

The opposite of strategic thinking is short term thinking.  Short-term thinkers yield to the wants, desires and pressures of the immediate at the expense of the truly important.  They are unwilling to invest spiritual, mental and emotional effort and energies in considering the implications of their decisions, actions or attitudes for the future — their future.

 

One of the saddest examples of non-strategic thinking is seen in the story of a man in the Bible named Esau.  His short-term mindset cost him his destiny.  (Read the full story in Genesis 25:27-34.)

 

The New Testament writer of Hebrews reminded Christian believers of the tragedy of Esau’s poor strategy:

 

Watch out for the Esau syndrome: trading away God’s lifelong gift in order to satisfy a short-term appetite. –  Hebrews 12:16 (Message)

 

Esau’s failure should cause us to stop and think about the way we are living our lives.  All of us sacrifice certain possibilities and potential for our tomorrows when we fail to think and live strategically today.

 

Living strategically starts with a goal.  In the personal realm, it involves identifying and defining the kind of person we want to become in character and skill in the next one, five or ten years, and setting in motion the decisions and disciplines that are required to get us there.  It involves getting rid of habits, behaviors and attitudes that are robbing us of our spiritual, mental, emotional and relational potential, no matter how deep-seated they are or comfortable we are with them.

 

Living strategically is the right way to live.

 

By the way, going back to the checker games with my wife, she usually wins!

 

Pastor Dale

 

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A proverb a day …

One of the devotional habits I try to maintain consistently is the daily reading of a chapter from the Old Testament book of Proverbs, based on the corresponding day of the month, (e.g., June 1: Read Proverbs 1, etc.).  Since there are 31 chapters in Proverbs, and 31 days in most months, it is possible to read through the entire book every month.

 

The book of Proverbs is a source of practical wisdom, instruction and correction.  I find that reading and meditating on the short nuggets of truth in each chapter provides me helpful guidance and knowledge for daily interactions and decisions.  Many times the course of my day has been positively altered or mistakes avoided because of the principles I discovered in the pages of this wonderful book of the Bible.

 

You also might like using a web resource for daily Bible reading if you are not doing so already.  Bible Gateway (www.biblegateway.com) is a great source for online Bibles.  I like to use their audio Bible resources and listen to Scripture being read while I follow along in my reading.  Here is a link for that resource:

 

 http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/audio/

 

Enjoy your Bible study!

 

Pastor Dale

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Makeover — The Power of Small Intentional Change

All of us have seen television programs that chronicle some kind of home makeover.  It is interesting to see how an interior designer can come into someone’s house, review their current room layout and decorations, and with a relatively small budget and a few key changes, transform the place.  The house takes on a whole new look, all because someone was willing to change a handful of things.


Changes don’t have to be big to make a significant difference.  Sometimes small intentional changes have a huge positive impact.  For example, small changes in our diet such as reducing our intake of soft drinks by one serving per day (or for me, one Starbucks latte per day) results in over 46,000 fewer calories a year, or a potential loss of almost 12 pounds!  12 pounds make a big difference in how a pair of pants fits!


The point is, to grow and improve the quality and impact of our lives, we have to be intentional about making positive changes.  All too often we think that big changes are required for big impact.  Actually, making the right small changes in how we think, live and relate to others is frequently where the most significant dividends are realized.


What small intentional changes do you need to make that could significantly transform your life?  What changes could you make in the way you think, live and relate that could dramatically improve your personal effectiveness and positive impact on others?


Don’t let apathy, complacency and comfort keep you from your makeover!


Pastor Dale

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The Heart of the Matter

This past Wednesday our area was hit with some significant thunder storms with very strong winds.  All throughout the DC vicinity trees were downed and electricity was off.  As I listened to and watched the intensity of the wind and rain, it brought to mind our real weaknesses and vulnerabilities as human beings.  The wake of the storm revealed a lot about the importance of having the right spiritual foundation and strength of character — of having the right heart.


An example of weakness and vulnerability exposed by this storm happened at our house.  One of our trees, a big, beautiful and mature Weeping Willow tree at the entrance of our driveway, took a hit from the wind.  A large section of the tree split from the main trunk and much of it landed on a power line.  It was amazing to see the tree trunk suspended in air.  It was hanging precariously, with part of the damaged section dangling over the road in front of our home.  It was supported primarily by electrical cables that appeared ready to snap at any moment.


My wife reported the situation to our utility company and eventually a tree cutting crew showed up at our home to take care of the situation.  As the workers carefully pruned back the large portion of the split trunk, something interesting and instructional became evident.  The inside of the tree was diseased, decayed and infested with hundreds if not thousands of black ants.  The inner disease, decay and infestation had weakened this huge section of the tree and made it vulnerable to the storm.


From outside observation I would have never thought that such a problem existed.  The tree looked healthy to me.  Obviously, there was a lot more going on inside the tree than the outside revealed.  The storm made evident the real character of the tree.  It had a heart problem.


This situation brought to mind the biblical teaching about the human heart.  When our heart is infected and infested with the wrong thinking and attitudes, the resulting spiritual and emotional disease and decay weakens us and makes us vulnerable to destruction, especially when times of testing come our way.  Just as the disease and inner decay of the tree not only made the tree vulnerable to destruction but also made the tree dangerous to others, the diseases, decay, infections and infestations of our heart are not only destructive to us, but also make us dangerous to others.


Listen to these words of wisdom:


“Above all else, guard your heart, for it affects everything you do.” — Proverbs. 4:23 (NLT)


What’s going on in your heart?


Pastor Dale

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