I was on a charter boat with a captain and two other Christian leaders. When we arrived at the fishing grounds, another crew member started setting out the lines while we trolled for fish. I asked him to show me what he was doing, and in two minutes he gave me an overview, and I started helping set lines.

As the trip wore on, we missed fish, got tangled lines, and the captain grew frustrated.

The fourth member of our boat, who had been extremely silent, heard the captain complaining about our fishing success. Out of his silence, he said, “In sports, when a team isn’t winning, they usually blame it on the manager. A team is only as good as its leadership.”

I had guessed the captain would be outraged and braced myself to hear some yelling. Instead, he sat down and said, basically, “You are right; I am used to fishing with seasoned guys, and I forgot you are just out here to enjoy the day.”

He turned the boat around and went back to troll through the same area once again. This time he slowly explained to each one of us exactly how the lines should be set. He explained how everything worked and what he was hoping we would do. It took about fifteen minutes to do a job that should have only taken a couple. Amazingly, that time we went through the fish and had our limit by adding nine more in just a few minutes.

In a busy world, I have to remind myself to slow down and explain things clearly to the people I lead. It is too easy for me to assume they know things they don’t. People need explanations and insight to help them achieve all that God wants them to do.

Ministry is about developing other people; that is true whether you are a paid staff member at a Church or a volunteer. God calls us to build one another up. It might slow us down initially, but it will usually make us more effective in the long run.

Recently, I rewatched a season of one of my favorite TV shows in preparation for a new season that was about to be released. I wanted to make sure I remembered the story arc of the previous episodes and was ready for the storyline to continue to develop.

As I rewatched the twelve episodes a second time, I started to notice all the things I had missed the first time through. Previously, I had been caught up in a couple of storylines and missed several parallel subplots that were developing. The further I went into the season, the more I realized I only truly remembered three of the shows. And even then, it came down to a handful of powerful scenes. I had caught the big picture and missed so much else.

And that is why you should read the Bible more than once. You may have understood the big picture but missed numerous small subplots. Those unnoticed moments can shape your thoughts and heart as you read through them again.

We like to think we are so observant that nothing escapes our attention. The story of God and his people revealed in his word is enormous. Only when you read it over and over can you start to fill your soul completely.

You might need to be extra careful about the places you put yourself.

There are environments you should probably avoid. Certain influences you should limit. Certain situations where you know you are more vulnerable than others.

All of us have areas where we are more susceptible to sin. And sometimes those vulnerabilities are connected to our family history.

Maybe you grew up around anger, addiction, unhealthy relationships, insecurity, or control. Those experiences can shape the way we respond to life even when we don’t realize it.

That doesn’t mean you are destined to repeat your family’s mistakes. But it does mean you should pay attention to them.

One question worth asking yourself regularly is: “Where am I most vulnerable based on my family history?”

Knowing your weaknesses isn’t a sign of weakness. It’s wisdom.

One of the most encouraging truths in the Christian life is that God is not finished with me yet.

I still have habits that need to change. I still say the wrong thing, make poor decisions, and discover blind spots I didn’t know were there. Most days I wish I were farther along than I am.

But spiritual growth is a process, not an event.

God loves us enough to accept us as we are, but He loves us too much to leave us there. Every challenge, every conviction, every lesson, and every new week is another tool in the hands of the Master Craftsman.

I’m not who I should be, but by God’s grace I’m not who I used to be either.

He is still working on me, and if you let Him, He will keep working on you too.

While I am not a big baseball fan, I do know the expression, “Swinging for the fences.” That is when someone uses all their strength when swinging so they might hit a home run.

At the Church I lead, I believe in swinging for the fences. As a result, we are always attempting to do big things in the name of Jesus. I am not content for us to sit back and relax, hoping that we will have an impact for Jesus. I am actively initiating programs, making changes, and planning new ideas for our Church community.

This fall, we are having our second Back to School Sunday and our first-ever Friend Day. We are also bringing back our Grill and Chill, with some modifications from last year. I have introduced “Impact Cards” for people to pray and invite others to faith and the Church strategically. I am also making plans for a bimonthly Meet & Greet time for our newcomers over the past year or two. The membership class that I lead will undergo complete rewriting to focus on our relationship with Jesus and serving. Almost every month there will be something new or an exciting change coming.

Will all these projects be successful? I highly doubt it. Most will not accomplish all that I hope, and some will be total failures. But I am praying that this fall, at least one time, our Church will make contact with the ball and send it over the fence.

When I stand before Jesus, the Church I led may not have had all the impact it could have had, but we are going to go down swinging.

I know some people think I’m obsessive. Others might even say I’m annoying.

They’re probably right.

I pay attention to the little things. That’s true in every area of my life, but people notice it most at Church. Every week I straighten the QR codes that are magnetically attached to the backs of our chairs. I refill the Keurig and make sure the coffee supplies are stocked. If something is dirty, I notice it and make sure it gets cleaned. And my habit of adjusting the chairs in our auditorium has become something of a trademark.

Do any of those things really matter?

On one level, no. They’re all small details.

But on another level, absolutely.

When I see someone paying attention to the little things, I rarely worry about the big things. Think about walking into a restaurant. If the dining room is spotless, the tables are clean, and the bathrooms are immaculate, what do you naturally assume about the kitchen? Attention to small details creates confidence that the important things are being handled well too.

The same principle applies to our lives.

I once heard a wise pastor say, “Show me your car, and I’ll show you the condition of your spiritual life.” The little things often reveal the condition of our hearts.

So what do the details of your life reveal?

What do they say about your character, your relationship with God, and the importance you place on Christ and His Church?

How do your interactions make other people feel?

Do you talk about yourself all the time? Does every exchange end up a discussion about you and your issues or accomplishments?

How do the stories you tell make other people feel?

Does every story you tell make you look like a perfect person? When someone tells a story, do you feel an overwhelming desire to “one up” them with a tale of your actions?

How do other people feel when you are done talking to them?

Did you learn anything about them? Did you make their day feel lighter by asking thoughtful questions and offering helpful solutions, even if all you can do is pray?

Everyone brings some level of joy. Some people provide it when they come to talk to you. Others do when you finally go away and stop talking.

Many of the greatest stories follow the same pattern. An ordinary person leaves the familiar behind and sets out on a grand adventure. Along the way, they face difficult tests, impossible obstacles, powerful enemies, and moments of deep doubt. In the end, they overcome the challenge and return home changed by the journey.

This pattern of transformation includes familiar elements: a call to adventure, initial resistance, trusted companions, trials, setbacks, enemies, unexpected detours, and ultimately a comeback. Some writers identify twelve stages in the hero’s journey. Not every story includes them all, but most contain many of these elements.

Perhaps that is because God wrote this story first.

Following Jesus is far more than agreeing with a set of beliefs. It is an invitation to a journey. Christ calls us to leave behind our old way of living and become the people God created us to be, transformed into the likeness of His Son.

Faith is a call to a great adventure. If your walk with Christ never stretches you, never asks you to trust Him in difficult circumstances, and never calls you to use your gifts and resources for His kingdom, then perhaps the problem is not with Jesus. Perhaps it is with the way you are following Him.

It is 1:30 in the afternoon on a Wednesday as I write this, and I do not feel like working the rest of the day. I have this same feeling every Monday morning and Wednesday afternoon. It is a good time to scroll social media or surf the web. It is easy to disengage and find an excuse not to work.

Then God reminds me of his word in Colossians 3:17: “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus.” If that is not enough, Paul’s words to the slaves of his day (which was often like our work today) in Ephesians 6:7: “Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people.”

When I don’t feel like working, I get up and go to work anyway. When I run out of motivation at midday, I keep working with all I have.

Why? Not because I am a great employee, but simply because I am a Christian. As such, I represent God in everything I do, including my approach to work.

Today is an easy day to be half-hearted, give minimal effort, and punch a clock without being productive. But faith should motivate our work on Monday just like it does our worship on Sunday. In fact, this might be the day we see what we truly believe.

The apostle Paul describes his life and ministry with a powerful image from the Old Testament. Writing to both the Church in Philippi and to Timothy, he says that he is “being poured out like a drink offering” (Philippians 2:17; 2 Timothy 4:6).

Paul’s metaphor comes from the sacrificial system found in the Law of Moses. Along with certain offerings, wine was poured out before the Lord as a drink offering. Once it was poured onto the altar or the ground, it could never be reclaimed or used again. It was a visible expression of complete surrender and wholehearted worship. Nothing was held back.

That is how Paul viewed his own life. Day by day, he poured himself out in service to Christ and for the good of others. His time, energy, comfort, and even his future were willingly placed in God’s hands. He did not see his sacrifices as something lost or wasted. He saw them as an act of worship.

That image should challenge every follower of Jesus. Our culture encourages us to preserve ourselves, protect our comfort, and keep our options open. The gospel calls us to something very different. God is not looking for leftovers or spare moments. He desires lives that are fully surrendered to Him.

At the end of each day and each week, can we honestly say that we have poured ourselves out for Christ? Whether through serving someone in need, encouraging another believer, sharing the gospel, or simply being faithful in the responsibilities God has given us, every act of obedience becomes an offering of worship.

A life poured out for Jesus is never a life wasted.