Point Nemo is one of the most remote locations on Earth, officially known as the oceanic pole of inaccessibility. It is the point in the ocean that is farthest from any land. Specifically, it lies in the South Pacific Ocean, about 2,688 kilometers (1,450 nautical miles) from the nearest landmasses. The International Space Station is closer than any landmass.
There are times when I believe I am at the pole of inaccessibility. I’m disconnected from what is going on around me. The world is whirling around me; activity is everywhere, and I don’t care. I’m in my little world that seems frozen in time. My prayer life slows to a standstill. I pray, but not with conviction. I’m walking knee-deep in mud.
Psalm 32:1-2 – “Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit.”
The lies are impeccably factual. They contain no errors. There are no distortions or falsified data. But they’re lies all the same because they claim to tell us who we are and omit everything about our origin in God and our destiny in God. – Eugene Peterson, A Long Obedience in the Same Direction
Point Nemo
We all experience times when we seem to have been left behind by the world around us. We have concerns and issues that don’t matter to anyone but us. Someone has hurt us unintentionally; we know there is no real cause, but we feel it. When we feel disconnected from the world, even amid a crowd, it’s like a glass wall surrounds us—able to see and hear everything but not truly part of it.
Untreated, this feeling can mushroom into full-blown depression. For most of us, it is a fleeting melancholy. Generally, we are left feeling like we don’t matter; our goals and dreams are too far away. Our past controls our future. We don’t measure up to the people around us. Maybe because we can’t catch a break, everything is too hard. Money, work, family, friends, and society are flashpoints.
Psalm 32:1-2 – Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit.
Traversing this storm in life feels like being caught in a cyclone where the winds of uncertainty howl and the rain of challenges pours relentlessly. Each step forward is met with resistance as if the very ground beneath is shifting, threatening to swallow us up. Amidst the chaos, there are moments of exhaustion, where the weight of the storm bears down, making every breath a battle. How do we escape the pole of inaccessibility?
Tranquil Journey
The raging storm is a mirage; it doesn’t actually exist. It is a construct of our mind. That is hard to believe. Isn’t it? Most visits to Point Nemo are self-inflicted wounds. Point Nemo is real, but the journey away from Point Nemo doesn’t require you to overcome a storm. You feel what you feel (Point Nemo), but the path to serenity doesn’t require a great physical effort. More importantly, you do not have to accomplish it alone. The more time you spend at Point Nemo, the harder it is to believe you can leave.
Isaiah 1:18 – “Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.
Seeking refuge in Christ is our only hope, whether we feel condemned by our actions or by the actions of others. Christ is our true identity, and our past does not bind us. Instead, we are defined by Him. Scripture continually guides us forward, reminding us that our identity rests in Him alone.
Remember that solutions take as much time to create as problems, and problems are not as spontaneous as you think. You will not change your thinking quickly when you have taken a lifetime to create it. The journey starts with prayer and proceeds through a path of willing friends and loving family.
2 Corinthians 5:21, “For our sake he made him be sin who knew no sin so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
Contentment, Happiness, and Joy: I discussed these three issues with a good friend. It is easy to get confused. Which one is the most important?
Contentment
I have held many things in my hands and have lost them all, but whatever I have placed in God’s hands, I still possess. – Martin Luther
1 Timothy 6:6-7, “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.”
Contentment is a state of being satisfied with what one has. It’s a feeling of peace and acceptance regarding one’s situation. It comes from a place of acceptance and is often associated with having a sense of sufficiency and being at ease with one’s life.
Contentment offers a steady and enduring sense of satisfaction and peace. It’s less dependent on external circumstances, which means it can provide a reliable foundation for well-being. Contentment makes you more likely to navigate life’s ups and downs with a balanced perspective. Contentment is about accepting and finding peace with what you have.
Hebrews 13:5, “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.'”
Happiness
Do not let your happiness depend on something you may lose… only (upon) the Beloved who will never pass away. – C.S. Lewis
Luke 12:15, “Then he said to them, ‘Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.'”
Happiness is a broad term that generally refers to well-being and euphoria. It encompasses various emotions and experiences that make one feel good. It comes from external factors like achievements, relationships, or material possessions, as well as internal factors like personal attitudes and outlook on life.
External factors heavily influence happiness and might fluctuate based on circumstances, achievements, or experiences. While happiness can be exhilarating, it often relies on positive external factors or events that are not always within our control.
Joy
Joy is not necessarily the absence of suffering; it is the presence of God. – Sam Storms
Ecclesiastes 3:12, “I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live.”
Joy is a deep-rooted, inspired happiness that transcends circumstances. Unlike fleeting emotions tied to external events, biblical joy is a state of contentment, confidence, and hope rooted in a relationship with God. It is often associated with spiritual well-being and the presence of the Holy Spirit. Biblical joy is a profound and enduring state of happiness rooted in a relationship with God, characterized by trust, hope, and the assurance of His presence and promises.
Galatians 5:22, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness.”
What is your Priority?
After a long debate and much consternation, I walked away thinking this: Joy is the essence of my existence, Contentment is a goal I have control over, and Happiness, well, I hope it visits me often. I can be joyful in any situation, even when I am discontent. The strength of that choice is God’s promise for my life. Contentment can be challenging because it typically requires physical, emotional, worldly, and spiritual living within my means. Sometimes, in a broken world, being content is problematic; it takes tenacity.
Happiness is a bluebird; in sales, we used to refer to a bluebird as a sale that dropped into your lap. That is a good metaphor. Happiness happens; it is spontaneous and serendipitous. We can build an environment that improves the likelihood of it visiting, but it takes external conditions for it to appear. Just as quickly as it comes, an event can chase it away.
Hebrews 11:6, “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.”
Cascading decisions rule our lives. Millions of people make millions of everyday decisions in millions of places, causing a cascade that eventually affects us. The overseas workers can make the products we bring into our homes. Their decision every morning to work hard or blow it off can eventually affect us. People’s interactions with significant others, friends, family, or co-workers affect how they go about their lives and may encroach on our lives. Product developers in companies worldwide make decisions every day that eventually seep into our existence. People we never see, talk with, or know, make decisions that eventually cause difficulties.
Why is it important to understand this human dynamic? Every day, we face challenges created outside our sphere of influence. These challenges are ours; we own them. We are the ones that react in the wake of their existence. How we react is part of the millions making decisions that affect others. We see the immediate impact on those close to us, but we may not see the ripple effect across time.
The person we cut in front of in line at the grocery store who then speaks harshly to their mate, who then takes that out on an employee. The cycle goes on. A viral tsunami of vitriol emotions that spawns outward. Just as we are the recipients of cascading decisions made by others, so are others the recipients of ours.
Prayer
“True prayer is neither a mere mental exercise nor a vocal performance. It is far deeper than that – it is spiritual transaction with the Creator of Heaven and Earth.” – Charles Spurgeon
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
Why did this come to mind? It came to mind because of its impact on answered prayer. Yes, God can and does create miracles. But I don’t think He is in the miracle business. Throughout the New Testament, Jesus constantly comments on an unbelieving world that requires signs and miracles to believe. He does not want us to rely on miracles as evidence of our faith. He wants our faith to reveal the evidence of His miracles.
1 John 5:15, “And if we know that He hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of Him.”
The example that comes to mind is the fig tree Jesus cursed as He arrived in Jerusalem. It did not wither and die immediately. The fig tree revealed the evidence of the curse the next day. Prayer works that way many times. Yes, I have had the experience of prayer being answered almost immediately, which is what I would describe as a miracle. But often, my prayers are answered in a very subtle way over time. Sometimes, if I am not looking, I miss them all together. It is later that I realize the impact of that single prayer.
1 John 5:14, “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.”
Cascading Decisions
Keep this in mind as you pray. We are not an island but part of an eight-billion-person ecosystem. Most problems we face are not simple transactions between two people but the cascading culmination of many decisions. The way God answers our prayers may affect more people than ourselves. This cascade of actions starts the moment we pray. We may not see the results of these actions for some time. It does not mean God does not go to work the moment you pray, but, like the fig tree, the results take time.
Psalm 145:18, “The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth.”
Do not get discouraged when you feel that God did not hear you. Do not feel your faith is weak because the answer was not immediate. Be patient; let God work in the lives of all the people affected by His response. Many times, I miscalculated the complexity of my prayer only to see the impact on myself and maybe a few others. I don’t see the pattern of ripples as this one decision goes across time.
God Loves You
1 John 4:19, “We love because He first loved us.”
God loves you unconditionally, even when we do not reciprocate that love. God never changes. He is not affected by mere human frailties; He knows us better than we know ourselves. God knows what you are going through. What He wants from you is for you to glorify Him by coming to Him with whatever is on your mind. He wants you to invite Him into your world.
Hebrews 4:16, “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”
The world is not too complex for Him. He created it along with the universe. God looks over every person, animal, plant, insect, molecule, and quark He created. To us, it is a giant and hostile planet constantly buffeted by the afterglow of Adam’s betrayal. To God, it is His loving creation that He carefully cares for even when we do not see it.
Romans 1:20, “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.”
Everyone has a story—you have one, and everyone you meet has one. One of the most essential life skills is the ability to listen to those stories. In listening to these stories, we start to connect with other people. It is not their bias, preconceived ideas, or emotional state that brings us together—it is the stories of our lives. We can not earn the right to speak until we show compassion and listen.
“Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply.” — Stephen R. Covey, “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People“
Everyone’s Story
I have traveled worldwide and met people of many diverse cultures. What I have learned is that we all share the same DNA when it comes to life stories. It starts in tragedy, then crescendos to the impossible, and ends with great overcoming. The crescendo’s amplitude varies based on the environment, but the storyline remains intact.
I have found that the root cause of much of the conflict we experience in life is a lack of understanding about our commonality. We focus too much on our differences and not enough on our similarities.
Hebrews 3:4, “For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything.”
Everyone has a personal story of overcoming challenges, and these stories are profoundly individual yet universally relatable. These stories showcase resilience, growth, and the human capacity to adapt and thrive in adversity. Listening to these stories can inspire us, foster empathy, and build connections by highlighting everyday experiences and struggles. Each story is a testament to the strength and determination inherent in the human spirit, reminding us that we can overcome even the most daunting obstacles.
“Listening is an art that requires attention over talent, spirit over ego, others over self.” — Dean Jackson.
EARNING THE RIGHT TO SPEAK
Mark 12:31, “The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”
How do you earn the right to speak? Most of us enter a conversation assuming we have the right to speak our minds. While this is conventional wisdom, it should not be the default attitude. A better way to position yourselves is to earn this right to speak.
Be Attentive: Eliminate distractions and concentrate fully on the speaker. Maintain eye contact, nod occasionally, and adopt an open posture to show you are actively engaged in the conversation. You are not listening until it is your turn to talk; you are listening to understand their point of view.
Proverbs 18:13, “To answer before listening— that is folly and shame.”
Avoid Interrupting: Let the speaker finish their thoughts without interjecting. Pause before replying to ensure the speaker has finished their point. Keep your emotions in check and avoid reacting impulsively. Allow the conversation to flow naturally without rushing. We almost always find something to respond to in the middle of their monologue. There is a natural inclination to stop the speaker while your thoughts are fresh. If you let them continue, you show respect, and you might learn something that changes your response.
Show Empathy: Try to grasp the speaker’s emotions and perspectives. Acknowledge their feelings and experiences. This action shows that you understand and care. You can’t fake this. You care, or you don’t care. If you don’t care, why are you even having this conversation?
Ask Questions: Ask open-ended questions to gain a deeper understanding. Questions should encourage the speaker to elaborate and share more details. The advice given to me is to convert every statement into a question. Instead of saying, “That won’t work.”, say, “How do you see that working?
Avoid Judgments: Listen without forming immediate opinions or assumptions. Respect the speaker’s viewpoint, even if it differs from your own.
Benefits of Listening
Proverbs 1:5, “Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance.”
When we become so wrapped up in our own story that we can not see or choose to disregard the story of others, we miss an incredible opportunity for grace. Rather than launching into a defense of our story, stop, take a deep breath, and listen to the story of the person in front of you. Here is what you might Learn:
Value of Empathy: Listening to someone’s story is a way to walk in their shoes, to see the world through their eyes. It fosters empathy and deepens your understanding of human experiences, creating meaningful connections. People do not create positions contrary to their experiences. There is a reason they think what they think. Discover it.
Personal Growth: Every story you hear can teach you something new. It can challenge your perspectives, broaden your horizons, and contribute to personal growth. We are all a product of our environment, and so are they. Try to understand the worldly forces molding their experience.
Proverbs 27:17, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”
The Power of Validation: When you listen to someone’s story, you validate their experiences. This acknowledgment can be incredibly powerful and healing for the storyteller, reminding them that their voice matters. Stories remind us of our shared humanity. In a world that can often feel divided, listening to others can bring us closer together and highlight the common threads that unite us all.
Inspiration: Consider when someone’s story has inspired you, changed your perspective, or motivated you. By listening to others, you allow yourself to experience these moments regularly. We all love overcoming that moment when the impossible becomes possible. We need to hear more of these.
This Week’s Final Thought
Listening to others’ stories isn’t just about them—it’s also about you. It’s a reciprocal act where the listener and the storyteller gain something valuable. A person’s emotional state is derived from their previous experiences. We sometimes misunderstand a current situation because we do not know its story. Ask them their story when you sense something greater is going on. This moment could be the moment when another great story begins.
Proverbs 27:19, “As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart.”
Watch one, Do One, Teach One. One of the things I have learned in life is that original ideas come about once every one hundred years. Almost every new and innovative idea is a remake of a previous idea. Ányos Jedlik invented the electric car in 1928. We take something other people have already thought of, add our spin, and call it new. The idea behind watch one, do one, teach one is not new. It is biblical in that Jesus used this process to mature His disciples.
“Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.” – Benjamin Franklin.
Watch One
Matthew 11:29, “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
Jesus was the consummate teacher. Reading, listening, and praying are the signs of a lifelong Christian learner. Jesus spent much time teaching the disciples the wisdom He wanted them to use when He sent them into the world. It was not learning for the sake of learning. He did not want them to be great Tanakh scholars; He wanted them equipped for the work ahead of them.
Do One
Matthew 10:5-8, “These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, and drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.”
Then Jesus asked them to do. He sent them out into the world to mimic what they had learned. They returned to Him to get instruction and advice. Jesus wanted them fully prepared to advance His Kingdom once He was gone.
Teach One
Matthew 28:18-20: “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, Son, and 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.'”
Then Jesus commanded them to teach others what they had learned. Jesus watched His teaching go viral through His disciples. The best and fastest way to expand your message is to engage others in spreading that message.
What About Us
“I hear, and I forget. I see, and I remember. I do, and I understand.” – Confucius
As of 2024, there are approximately 2.6 billion Christians worldwide. That is quite a multiplier; twelve have grown into 2.6 billion. I don’t think I am going to have that impact. But I believe I will have an impact if I follow Jesus’ formula. It doesn’t make a difference what plan God has for your life; this formula applies. Wherever your passion, gifting, resources, or experience leads you, be a constant learner, do what you have learned, and then teach others.
James 1:22, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”
The idea behind Watch One, Do One, Teach One is pragmatic. Requiring the learner to do before they are allowed to teach means that the learner must have experienced life lessons from the learning before passing the knowledge to others. Do not skip over this phase. Doing infuses credibility into the audience when teaching. The teaching goes from theoretical to real life. Many spend their lives learning and trying to pass it on as teaching when we have never lived it. That is the definition of a hypocrite. To have an impact, you must live what you teach.
Romans 2:20-24, “An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth— you then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal? You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? You who boast in the law dishonor God by breaking the law. For, as it is written, “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”
What is your art? That was the question Charlie Paparelli posed this morning. Charlie is what I would call a distant friend. He is one of the great minds in the Atlanta entrepreneurial ecosystem. We often met through High Tech Ministries, but I always considered him a rung above me; Charlie drew me in through his directness. He would ask the crucial, tricky question without sugarcoating it.
This question is one of those critical, challenging questions. What do you care so much about that you don’t care if other people find it acceptable? Charlie gave the example of his sister, who became a well-known artist in South Florida. Early on, when her art was still unpopular, Charlie asked why she didn’t paint more pictures that people liked as opposed to what she liked. Her answer was that she was an artist, not a commercial painter. What she did was deeply personal and important to her.
Proverbs 22:29 “Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before obscure men.”
This concept got me thinking about my art. Now, pragmatic solutions and logic are my entire world. That is how God wired my brain. That type of personality doesn’t lend itself to natural creativity as one would traditionally think of creativity. Things like music, art, or poetry are not in my wheelhouse. So, what is my art?
Philippians 2:13, “For it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”
MY ART
For me, I would guess it is human potential. In my lifetime, I have met some extraordinary people. People who soar above me on eddies that I find unreachable. When I listen to great music, it brings me to tears at the beauty that one person can create. The emotion is so unfiltered I don’t know how they channel it. Sometimes, I find an artisan who created such an extraordinary piece that I want to gently slide my hand across the surface to feel the texture; the love that went into it is tactual. The greatness that humans are capable of is beyond my understanding. It reminds me that God put people on this earth to use their gifts to glorify Him, and that glorification takes us all to deeper meaning.
All the passion, talent, skills, and drive to create great things are gifts from God that we can use to honor Him or ourselves. The flaw I find in people who are never satisfied is that they are living for themselves, not their maker. They will never achieve their true potential until they use their God-given gifts to honor Him.
Matthew 6:33, “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
I can’t say I care if self-absorbed people believe this or not. My reaction is the same as not believing in gravity; it doesn’t mean you can fly. You can go through life denying this and wander in an emotional desert, or readjust your thinking and have joy and contentment. It’s your choice.
True purpose and meaning do not come from the gifts God gave you but from the application of those gifts.
Romans 11:29, “For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.”
YOUR ART
So, what is your art? What are you so passionate about that you will not allow it to be diluted by those who disagree? Now, I realize that internal needs drive many of our passions. The need to be accepted or liked is a prime example. When we feel isolated, we become vulnerable to fake passions. These are passions driven by emotional needs, not God-given gifts.
Ephesians 4:12 “Christ gave these gifts to prepare God’s holy people for the work of serving, to make the body of Christ stronger.”
I want you to think about what you would continue to do even if all your friends thought you were crazy. It is quite the opposite of emotional codependence; you do it for yourself, not for anyone else. It is the thing that makes you quirky or illogical at times. Your art is also the one that brings you the most joy.
“Starve your distractions, feed your focus.” –Daniel Goleman
1 Corinthians 4:20, “For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power.”
THE WRAP UP
We can wrap this back around to your calling. What is God driving you toward? I would suggest that your art is part of your calling.
Even small actions driven by passion can have a significant impact. Teaching, sharing, or simply being enthusiastic about what you love can create ripples that influence and benefit others in ways you might not immediately see.
“On the plains of hesitation bleach the bones of countless millions who, at the dawn of decision, sat down to wait, and waiting died”- George W. Cecil.
Do not allow the world to dampen your art, your passion. Do and be; don’t wait for others to come beside you.
Romans 12:2, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
There are three essential steps to achievement. No one can achieve anything without these three steps. We must achieve them in this order. Either most of us don’t believe in this list, or they don’t believe they can achieve it. You must embrace these three elements to become the person God made you.
It is incredible how many people I meet at every stage of life still don’t feel fulfilled. They struggle to find meaning and purpose. Some are very successful; some are not. They started down a path and couldn’t or wouldn’t change directions. They somehow believe they are on the right path; the actual destination is around the next bend.
Romans 9:21, "Or does not the potter have a right over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use?"
I Conceive
“Without God, life has no purpose; without purpose, life has no meaning. Without meaning, life has no significance or hope.” Rick Warren
The first step is accepting that you are unique and perfectly made for what God has planned for you. This step allows you to perceive yourself as invincible to failure. Things will not always go as you have in mind and prefer, but they will always lead you to where God has planned for you to go. The challenge is to find the right path. Trying to be like someone else because they have something you want is not the same as living as you are designed.
Proverbs 19:21, "Many plans are in a man's heart, But the counsel of the Lord will stand."
Most of us are under the influence of social media, well-meaning parents and friends, or cultural norms that push us toward artificial purpose and meaning. We get there to discover it wasn’t a destination but a milepost. God will use every experience, relationship, opportunity, and roadblock to hone your ultimate path. Many of the setbacks and disappointments are nudges from God to get you moving in the right direction.
2 Timothy 1:9, "Who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity."
The first step to lifelong achievement is to recognize who God made you to be. Your vocation, skills, and aptitudes are tools to achieve that purpose.
I Believe
Probably the most challenging part of becoming a Godly person, living within God’s plan, is commitment. We all want that safety net. Our society has created alternatives to failure, so we don’t have to commit fully. One of the most important decisions you can make in life, who you will marry, allows for no-fault divorce. There is a back door to almost any decision.
Job 42:2, "I know that You can do all things and that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted."
Our brain has the reticular activating system designed to move us from discomfort to comfort by recognizing patterns around us that mimic our expectations. We do not like uncertainty; we gravitate to what we know. There is risk in committing to being a Godly person. The world will not support your decision. It wants you to conform to expectations. You must believe God created you for a specific purpose, which will not fail regardless of public opinion.
You can not achieve your full potential without an iron-clad commitment to that path.
I Achieve
“God has a purpose behind every problem. He uses circumstances to develop our character. In fact, he depends more on circumstances to make us like Jesus than he depends on our reading the Bible.” Rick Warren
Finally, you must do it. God can not steer a stationary ship. Movement is required. My experience dictates that God is not a straight-line kind of guy. He doesn’t find the quickest path from A to B. Just as Paul went to Rome via Asia Minor, Greece, Antioch, Ephesus, Corinth, and then Jerusalem didn’t have a well laid out straight path, neither will we. But each stop along the way has meaning.
God does not waste effort. It is up to us to search out the meaning and use it as we move forward.
Romans 8:28, "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose."
Living with Christ is a person’s highest and most satisfying achievement. It is not the trophies accumulated along the way; it is the destination. It is not measured as people would measure it. We can not see the eternal impact of our efforts, but God can. First, you must understand that God loves you and has an incredible plan for your life, then you must believe it to the point of commitment, and finally, you must do. No other process will bring the joy that only God can bring.
1 Corinthians 10:31, "So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."
Understanding myself; evolving from information to wisdom. Like many Christians, I struggle with obedience. I have gotten to a place where I don’t struggle with the big decisions, but I struggle with the everyday reactions to meaningless situations. I become emotionally highjacked by simple events. Things that I can stand back and say to myself, this is meaningless; it has no bearing on my life or my salvation; it’s just wrong; the wrongness is a value judgment on my behalf.
I go back to Paul’s passage in Romans 7:15-20, one of the most grammatically challenging passages in the Bible, but its message is something we all can relate to.
Paul says, “I do not understand myself. I want to do what is right, but I do not do it. Instead, I do the very thing I hate. When I do the thing I do not want to do, it shows me that the Law is right and good. So, I am not doing it. Sin living in me is doing it. I know there is nothing good in me, that is, in my flesh. For I want to do good but I do not. I do not do the good I want to do. Instead, I am always doing the sinful things I do not want to do. If I am always doing the very thing I do not want to do, it means I am no longer the one who does it. It is a sin that lives in me.”
Struggling with Repetitive Sin
We all struggle with sin. It is inherent within us to stray from God. The lure of the world is ever-present. That lure is not always selfish in origin; sometimes, it disguises itself as righteous indignation. We internalize our behavior as a way of making it more palatable. Sin finds a way of making us think that being right is better than doing right. Once being right is more important, we fail. We fail repeatedly, always wanting to improve but never quite getting there.
1 John 1:8, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”
The genesis of this thinking comes from a new project a friend and I are undertaking. As we grow older and watch our parents grow older, we want to avoid the pitfalls of aging. I don’t want to become that grumpy older man that people avoid. I want to be light in the darkness. As the saying goes, growing old is not for sissies. As we age past sixty, we realize we are slowly losing control of our everyday life. This loss of control can be frustrating.
So, my friend and I came up with a list of attributes that older people need to become aware of as they age. This list isn’t about how to live healthier or happier; it is about how to interact more positively with younger people who may not realize what you are going through. We then applied Biblical teaching to each attribute. This project was a self-improvement project, not an educational project aimed at others.
Understanding: Converting Information to Knowledge
Proverbs 17:27 – “The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint, and whoever has understanding is even-tempered.”
The problem that came to light is that even knowing the issues, I still fall short. I struggle to convert information into knowledge, expecting it to become wisdom someday. I live my life like it is just information. Converting information to knowledge requires contextualization, evaluation, application, and reflection. We can not accomplish this in the rearview mirror; it must be forward-thinking.
I do not know myself; I don’t want to move my sin underground away from prying eyes, thinking sinful thoughts while responding with “Bless you.” I want to turn away from sin altogether. Paul and I have a common problem. We know what to do; we don’t always do it.
The first step is engaging actively with Biblical concepts through discussions, teaching, or hands-on practice. Converting information to knowledge is active, not passive. Knowing something doesn’t mean you understand it and can apply it. In my case, I need to put our list of attributes into action and reinforce that action with discussions and introspection. We can not accomplish this in a vacuum.
Understanding: Converting Knowledge to Wisdom
Ecclesiastes 7:19 – “Wisdom makes one wise person more powerful than ten rulers in a city.”
“Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise. Many men know a great deal and are all the greater fools for it. There is no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool. But to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom.”- Charles Spurgeon.
It gets trickier to change knowledge into wisdom. Wisdom requires time and experience. Wisdom comes from the repetitive practice of trial and error. It is about getting knocked down and getting back up repeatedly. We need to use each opportunity to teach us something new. You start to get a deeper understanding and recognize patterns. There becomes this interconnectedness between the existing state and the desired state of our being. We develop more empathy and emotional intelligence, not just for our being but the being of others. We can’t change others without first changing ourselves.
Final Thought
Paul was more extraordinary than I could ever hope to be, and he still struggled. I can not expect to experience anything different. What Paul did was constantly push back against worldly traits. He never conquered his sin, but he didn’t give in either. He battled it every day. I can not ask myself anything more than that.
James 3:17 – “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.”
According to Dr. Henry Cloud, there are three types of people: wise, foolish, and evil. Every morning, I read from Regi Campell’s Radial Wisdom. It is radical mainly because it draws life lessons from scripture and provides a pragmatic application that creates action that day. On several days, Regi writes about Dr. Henry Cloud and his book, Necessary Endings. The fact that Regi hits this subject more than once made it stick.
Proverbs 9:10-12, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding, for through wisdom your days will be many, and years will be added to your life. If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you; if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer."
Wise
Wise people evaluate their experiences, learn lessons, and apply them. As learners, they regularly humble themselves, own their mistakes, and look for ways to do better next time.
One of my favorite sayings from my dad is; If you are the smartest person in the room, you are in the wrong room. You can only learn from people who know more than you do. Life has never been about you; it is about those God puts in your path. Being wise means you slow down and use what God has given you to reach out to others. Much of what God gives us comes from our association with the people He connects us to.
Proverbs 13:20, “Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.”
You can tell if a person possesses wisdom by how they present information.
Characteristics:
Sound Judgment: They make well-considered decisions and exhibit good judgment. They weigh the potential consequences of their actions and choose paths that align with long-term benefits rather than short-term gains.
Empathy and Compassion: Wisdom involves a high degree of empathy. Wise people understand and share the feelings of others, showing compassion and kindness in their interactions.
Humility: Wise individuals are humble, recognizing the limits of their knowledge and remaining open to new ideas and perspectives. They do not boast about their wisdom or look down on others.
High Emotional IQ: They manage their emotions effectively, staying calm and composed even in challenging situations. This emotional stability allows them to think clearly and act rationally.
Adaptability: They are adaptable and flexible, able to adjust their thinking and behavior in response to changing circumstances. This ability helps them navigate life’s uncertainties with resilience.
Curiosity and Lifelong Learning: They maintain a curious and open mind, continually seeking knowledge and understanding. They recognize that learning is a lifelong journey.
These are the people you spend time with and learn from. They generally don’t suggest solutions but ask questions about pathways to solutions.
Proverbs 17:10, “A rebuke goes deeper into a man of understanding than a hundred blows into a fool.”
Foolish
A fool does almost the opposite of a wise person in every situation. Fools don’t take feedback or learn from their mistakes. They are full of blame and excuses.
Proverbs 26:1-11, "Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, honor is not fitting for a fool. Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest. A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools! Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be just like him. Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes. Sending a message by the hands of a fool is like cutting off one’s feet or drinking poison. Like the useless legs of one who is lame is a proverb in the mouth of a fool. Like tying a stone in a sling is the giving of honor to a fool. Like a thornbush in a drunkard’s hand is a proverb in the mouth of a fool. Like an archer who wounds at random is one who hires a fool or any passer-by. As a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly."
The definition of a foolish person is one who does not evaluate their experiences and doesn’t learn from their mistakes. My dad used to say that a mistake is a bad thing that happened to you that you didn’t learn from. It is not a mistake if you learn something important. Foolish people don’t learn from mistakes and are generally defensive when discussing them. They place blame on others and make excuses. They don’t listen, take responsibility for their actions, and see themselves as the victim of their environment. Their life is riddled with mistakes.
Few people are one hundred percent foolish. All of us have our blind spots. We are partially foolish in that we deal wisely with some issues and foolishly with others. Dr. Cloud would advise us to take wisdom from their strength, but in areas of weakness, stop talking. It is always good to help illuminate consequences and set boundaries, but don’t expect change.
Characteristics:
Impulsiveness: Foolish people tend to act on impulse rather than reason. They may rush into actions without thinking them through, driven by immediate desires or emotions.
Stubbornness: They can be rigid and inflexible, unwilling to consider new information or alternative perspectives. This stubbornness can prevent them from learning and growing.
Narrow-Mindedness: They might have a limited perspective, failing to see the bigger picture or consider the interconnectedness of various aspects of life.
Overconfidence: Foolish individuals may have an inflated sense of their knowledge and abilities. They often overestimate their competence and underestimate risks.
Emotional Instability: Foolish people might be prone to emotional outbursts and poor emotional regulation. This emotional instability can result in erratic behavior and strained relationships.
Irresponsibility: Foolish individuals may avoid taking responsibility for their actions and decisions. They might blame others for their mistakes and fail to learn from their experiences.
Short-Term Focus: They often prioritize immediate gratification over long-term benefits. This shortsightedness can lead to decisions that are detrimental in the long run.
Stop talking to foolish people about problems because they aren’t listening anyway.
Proverbs 23:9, “Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, for he will despise the good sense of your words.”
Evil
Unfortunately, there are people in this world that are just plain evil. They have dark hearts. Evil people want to hurt and destroy you, your family, your business, and your church. Your goal with evil people is protection. You can not talk them into or out of anything; they are entirely internally focused. God wants them redeemed, some may be, but leave that to God. Be careful how and when you interact with them until you feel a direct calling from God, not of your own volition.
1 Corinthians 5:11, “But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler—not even to eat with such a one.”
Characteristics:
Lack of Empathy: They exhibit a profound inability to empathize with others. They are indifferent to the feelings and suffering of those around them and may even derive pleasure from others’ pain.
Deception: They are frequently deceitful, engaging in lies, manipulation, and betrayal. They use dishonesty as a tool to achieve their evil goals.
Exploitation: They exploit others for personal gain without regard for the well-being of those they exploit. This exploitation can be financial, emotional, or physical.
Narcissism: Many evil people exhibit extreme narcissism, believing they are superior to others and entitled to special treatment. They have an inflated sense of self-importance and a lack of regard for others’ rights and feelings.
Manipulativeness: They are skilled at manipulating others to achieve their ends. They may use charm, flattery, or intimidation to control and dominate those around them.
Parasitic Behavior: They often live off the efforts and resources of others, contributing little or nothing and taking advantage of others’ hard work and generosity.
Moral Disregard: Evil individuals often blatantly disregard moral and ethical standards. They do not adhere to societal norms of right and wrong and act according to their self-serving principles.
Aggressiveness: They are often aggressive and prone to violence. Their aggression can be physical, verbal, or psychological, and they use it to dominate and intimidate others.
Lack of Remorse: They do not feel guilt or remorse for their harmful actions. No matter how destructive, they may rationalize their behavior or feel justified.
Psalm 14:1, “They are corrupt, their deeds are vile, there is no one who does good,”
Don’t walk away from these people; run, for these people will rain evil upon you.
The Key
Surround yourself with wise people who can help you achieve God’s purpose in your life. Don’t spend time with the foolish. They will waste your time and divert you from a meaningful pursuit of God’s plan. Foolish people are time consumers. Evil people will always exist. Be quick to identify them and move them out of your life.
Most importantly, pray for everyone. You have no idea how God works in their lives and what plans God has for them.
Fate whispered to the warrior, “You can not withstand the storm. ” The warrior whispered back, “I am the storm.” This quote is from an unknown author, considered Genghis Khan around 300 BC. I wear this on my wrist to remind myself that I am the storm. If I live within God’s will for my life, I am an unstoppable force. No force in this universe can stop God from achieving His will in your life but you.
If you have God’s blessing upon your actions, you are the raging storm. Any problem in your life must be faced by the army God has put at your disposal. What stops us from being that storm is uncertainty. We struggle to believe we have the correct answer to one or both of these questions: Am I genuinely living within God’s will, and does God care about what I am going through?
Fate’s Storm
Genesis 1:26-28, "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth."
We live in a broken world. We know that but forget that God has not relinquished control. He allows certain things because He has given man dominion, and He will not go back on His word. This commitment by God seems counterintuitive at times. Man creates so many problems for himself. If God can solve all problems, why doesn’t He? We have a lot of biblical theories about that; along with these theories, we must realize that no one knows God’s mind.
Romans 11:34, "For who among us can know the mind of the Lord? Who knows enough to be his counselor and guide?"
With our dominion, God also keeps control. He did not condemn us to a world out of control. God allows us to choose, and some choose unwisely. If we continue to seek Him, He will save us. See the story of Job. God made a wager with Satan when God stacked the deck in His favor, and He could not lose. Satan still doesn’t get that.
Matthew 28:18, "Jesus drew near and said to them, 'I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.'"
The fall of Adam and Eve has opened the doors to sin and evil. Sin and evil do not always visit us because of our actions but because of the fall. We experience turmoil and uncertainty every day. No one has been protected from calamity. We have all suffered.
Jeremiah 25:32, "Thus says the Lord of hosts, "Behold, evil is going forth from nation to nation, and a great storm is being stirred up from the remotest parts of the earth."
God’s Storm
Ezekiel 38:9, "You will go up, you will come like a storm; you will be like a cloud covering the land, you and all your troops, and many peoples with you."
We are the storm. With the power of God, it is we that fate must withstand. We rage against all things, not of God. God gives us stamina, discernment, patience, wisdom, and power to overcome the world. When we see the tsunami of life building on the distant horizon, we should turn to God. What will hit our shore may be a gentle wave or a rough sea, but never a tsunami.
James 1:6, "But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind."
We must calm ourselves, look fate directly in the eyes, and whisper, “I AM THE STORM.” I am God’s chosen. I am unstoppable. There is no need to blare and bluster.
Job 30:22, "You lift me up to the wind and cause me to ride, And You dissolve me in a storm."
Fear not, for God is with you.
Psalm 18:30, "What a God he is! How perfect in every way! All his promises prove true. He is a shield for everyone who hides behind him."