What’s Your Focus?

by Tim Howard

Back I my mid-forties, I noticed a change happening in my vision.  Things that were once crystal clear became blurred, distorted and difficult to see.  Being somewhat of a pessimist, I must admit the thought of blindness entered my mind.  Unable to discern what was truly happening I shared my experience with my wife and children, who diagnosed the problem rather quickly.  They simply said, “You’re getting old and need glasses!”  They were right – even though I rejected the ‘old’ part!

Whether you are old or young, the need to see life and maintain a clear focus is extremely important.  Without it, you will spend endless amounts of energy engaging in things that are very unproductive.

Your schedule will be busy but progress will be minimal. We all know people whose lives are always on the go but the answer to the question: ‘Where are they going’ – remains elusive.

People like this remind me of an airline pilot who once said to the people on board: “I’ve got some good news and some bad news. The bad news is – We have lost our sense of direction and don’t know where we are or where we are going. The good news is – we are ahead of schedule and making great time.”

Paul the Apostle described his focus this way in Phil 3:12-16 “ …I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus.  I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back.  So let's keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us.  If any of you have something else in mind, something less than total commitment, God will clear your blurred vision—you'll see it yet!  Now that we're on the right track, let's stay on it.”

As a hunter sets his sights on his prey - your and my sights need to be set on those things that are worthy of attention.  Paul made God’s purpose the focal point of his life and by doing so, was able to see with 20/20 vision.  He didn’t need glasses because God opened his eyes and gave clarity.  If it happened for Paul, it can happen for us!

I encourage you to make God’s Word a focal point. It has some great and wonderful words of wisdom for those who follow Him and for those who haven’t made that choice.  Amazing thing happens when you read, research and reflect on the Bible.  Your insight begins to develop and your perspective begins to change.  God’s Word is like an airplane, it lifts you up to an altitude where the view of life is radically altered.

I also encourage you to make others a focal point. A child’s nature is self-centered and self-seeking. They focus on themselves and want others to focus on them as well. That’s called immaturity! God’s call for us is to become mature and the only way to break immaturity is to change our thinking and focus. Self-centeredness is never a good focus.

1Cor. 14:20 Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil but in your thinking be mature. NIV

1 Cor. 13:11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child – I thought like a child – I   reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. NIV

 Remember, what gets your attention and focus will ultimately get you!

Bobble Head

by Tim Howard

Do you remember the ‘Bobble Head’ figures that some people put in the back window of their cars? As the automobile moved down the highway, the body of the little figure would remain stable while the head would bobble back and forth. Well, they’re making a comeback… Just check out Duck Dynasty or America’s Funniest Video.

If you aren’t careful, you can live your life like a Bobble Head. You can move through the days, weeks, months and even years without focusing on anything while looking at everything. If you want to develop a shallow and superficial life then keep on doing that. Look at everything but don’t focus on anything.

King David said in Psalms 103:  “I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless.” He was committed to looking straight ahead and maintaining focus.

At a certain age many people notice a change happening in their vision. To correct their problem and see clearly they often need to embrace glasses. Whether you are old or young, however, the need to see life and maintain a clear focus is extremely important, especially at the beginning of a new year like 2014. What you focus on will direct your steps. Someone said: “ What gets your attention will ultimately get you.”

Without focus you will spend endless amounts of energy engaging in things that are very unproductive.  Your schedule will be busy but progress will be minimal.

Paul the Apostle described his focus this way in Phil 3:12-16 “ …I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus.  I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back.  So let's keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us.”

As 2014 has already commenced, you’ll benefit greatly if you set your sights on those things that are worthy of your attention. Like David, Paul the Apostle focused his attention on becoming all he was created to be.  He knew God had a plan for him and he was committed to fulfilling it.  It was the focal point of his life and in so doing; he developed a deep, stable and satisfying life.  If it happened for Paul, it can happen for you too.

 Here are 5 things the Bible tells us to look at and focus on:

1.     Look to Jesus for your help and strength. When times are difficult, keep your eyes focused on Jesus.

2.     Look for people to help. God has gifted you with talents, abilities and resources for the purpose of assisting others. You are created for a purpose and when you help someone in need, you are fulfilled.

3.     Look at what a person can be rather than what they are right now. It will free them and help you maintain a right attitude.

4.     Look at what you have rather than what you don’t have. It will create a spirit of gratitude and dispel negativism.

5.     Look for the good and not just the bad. There’s an abundance of both so don’t forget – there’s always a sun behind the clouds.

The effect of 2014 will largely be determined by what you choose to focus on so take the words of David and Paul as words of instruction and don’t focus on anything that is worthless. Don’t be a Bobble Head.

The Back Roads of Life

by Tim Howard

I’m a freeway type of person, how about you? If I’m going somewhere, I like to get there quickly. I don’t want to get behind someone going slower than the speed limit, someone who is out to see the sights or someone who isn’t in a hurry – unlike me. Imagine how happy I would be if it were legal to purchase and install some blinking red and blue lights on the top of my car. I would promise to never use them unless I was in a hurry! Then again, I always seem to be in a hurry.

Back roads are slower but God usually chooses this type of road to shape us and make us into what we are designed to be. He’s not interested in speed as much as substance and moving at a slower pace allows God to do more than a superficial work in us. 

Back roads are narrow. If you have ever driven in the mountains you know what I mean. Jesus said: “… wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” Matt 7:13-14. When you narrow your focus, you increase the force of what Jesus can do and open the door to life.

Back roads are dimly lit, if lit at all and Jesus uses our darkness to reveal his light. He is at work when darkness surrounds you – He works the night shift! King David said: “even the darkness will not be dark to you – the night will shine like the day for darkness is as light to you.” Psalm. 139:12

Back roads are bumpy, littered with potholes and often not paved. If you are looking for convenience, comfort and trying to avoid pain, then freeway living is a logical choice. If you want to make an impact and grow some deep roots, however, back roads are the best. Jesus intentionally uses our hurts, pains and the troubles of life to develop us rather than destroy us.  The Apostle Paul confirmed this by saying, I’ve been knocked down but not destroyed.

Back roads are where you will meet Jesus.  Back in the 60’s the Hippie Movement was in full swing and it was common to see people hitch-hiking along the road. You never saw them on the freeway, however – only roads less traveled. Don’t get me wrong, Jesus can be found on the freeways of life too but you miss Him because you don’t take time to notice.

If you are caught up in the ‘rat race’ of our culture, moving at great speeds but making little progress – If you have forgotten that the process is as important as the goal – If your busyness had blurred the significance of life then you may want to look for a back road.

I promise you this. You won’t get to your destination as quickly but you will smell some roses along the way, see some life-changing things and encounter Jesus along the way.

Pastor Tim Howard is the Lead Pastor at Koinonia Christian Fellowship. Any comments can be sent to: tim@kcfchurch.org

Fa-la-la-la Focus

by Andrew Cromwell

December is here and that means the Christmas season and all that accompanies it. Love or hate the incessant and ever-present Christmas music, the cheery sweaters and the bright decorations, you certainly cannot avoid them. Some of us come kicking and screaming into the season, but come we must. Even the Grinch couldn’t avoid it in the end.

Whether you have more in common with the Grinch or Cindy Lou Who, let me encourage you to keep your focus on those things that matter the most during this season. Retailers will tell you what is important is to show the ones you love (including yourself) that you love them by buying them gifts. The key word here is “buying.” Every type of ad imaginable will tickle and taunt your senses seeking to entice, cajole or bully you into trading your dollars for their devices, your pittance for their paraphernalia and your cash for their crap. Before you know it, you will be right back where you were last year—deep in debt just because you want to make others happy with manufactured miscellany that they probably didn’t even need in the first place.

And if it is not the mad rush to shop till you drop, then you can easily be drawn into the pressure to do everything and be everywhere. There are so many family parties, gatherings with friends, holiday spectaculars, tree lightings, school plays and seasonal celebrations, that if you try and do them all, you will make yourself and your family sick or miserable (or both). In an attempt to try and do everything and make everyone happy, you will only end up hating what is supposed to be a joy-filled season.

This Christmas, why don’t you do things differently?

First, buy less. So much of what we give on Christmas is out of a sense of obligation we put on ourselves. We give things people don’t really want with money that we don’t have. And even if they really do want it, we are spending money we don’t have (hint: if you are paying with your credit card, you don’t have the money), then we are just dumb.

Second, plan more. Make a game plan with your family now. Decide which events and activities you want to do together. Make a quality decision to focus on each other. Preserve your energies so you can best enjoy the things you should do together.

Finally, focus on the real reason we celebrate Christmas to begin with.  The true gift of Christmas was found not at Sears, Best Buy or Apple, but in a dusty half-forgotten village.  It was there in Bethlehem that the world received it’s greatest gift in the form of Jesus.

The pastors in Kings County would love to encourage your family to see the real reason for the Christmas season.  You may even plan to make a family trip together to church!