​Erwin Wullschleger, Jr. (Mr. W, I'll call him).  You probably don't know him, but hearing the name, it sort of sticks with you.  Speaking of sticking with you, Mr. W continues to stick in my mind even though the last time I saw him was in 1973.

It was a sunny school day in junior high school.  I remember vividly being called out of class that afternoon and asked to take a walk with my English teacher, Mr. W.  I wasn't sure what this was all about, but it was okay with me, because I trusted this teacher.  He proceeded, as we strolled the school grounds, to express his concern that my grades had dropped recently and I didn't seem to be putting forth my usual effort or engagement in class.  All of the teachers had noticed it.  As he shared and asked for my feedback about what I thought was at the heart of the problem, I felt safe and knew that I could be open and honest with Mr. W.  I began to open up and tell him that things were tough at home.  My parents had not been getting along very well and I was upset about how things were going.  I found it hard to concentrate on my homework and classwork because of the sadness and fear that was constantly on my mind.  I wasn't neglected at home and I was provided a safe and supportive environment. Family members knew what was going on and provided support and comfort in ways that they could.  However, the emotional impact of what was happening felt overwhelming.  That day, walking with my junior high English teacher made a difference.  It helped me to know that he and other teachers would be supportive and take measures to help support my functioning at school.  It didn't change what was happening in my life, but it added one more aspect of support to better equip me to cope and keep moving forward.  It is important to note, however, that his gesture was not the beginning of Mr. W's impact upon my life, it was the culmination.  There was a reason that he could have that important conversation with me that day.

Rewind almost two years to the beginning of 7th grade.  Mr. W was a new teacher at our school.  He came to our small southern town from Cleveland, Ohio.  Being from the north, his accent and mannerisms were a little different from that to which I was accustomed.  He was firm with classroom control, but, as I recall, he was creative and liked to provide unique learning opportunities.  Other teachers did this too.  But there was something different about Mr. W.  He was also very open about his interest in impacting kids outside the walls of King Springs School.

It wasn't long into that 7th grade year that Mr. W took notice of me.  He seemed to believe that I had promise beyond the average junior higher.  I'm not sure what he saw in me...and he did not limit this to me...but the way he engaged with me, and the things he told me, sent the message that I had great potential and could achieve significant things in my life.  I won't take the time to detail all of the ways he invested in me, but they were significant and many.  Just let me summarize...he encouraged me to participate in an oratorical competition and coached me two years in a row.  I won district 2nd place and 1st place respectively in that contest.  He asked me to join an effort to create a community service organization we called Group Action Project (GAP) in which we secured an empty house in a poor neighborhood and hosted fun activities, provided snacks and offered tutoring to children of the area each Saturday morning.  He took me to a local youth camp to introduce me to the facility and dream about how it may be used to further the work with the underprivileged youth.  He invited me and a girl from our class to come to his home and have dinner with him and his wife...to help us develop social skills in a more formal setting.  You see, that stroll on the school grounds in 1973 wasn't the first time that Mr. W and I had a serious conversation.  He had spent time intentionally investing in me over months, that had earned him the right to speak into a tough situation.

It has been a long time since I last saw Mr. W as I lost track of him and he has since passed away.  However, because of his intentional investment in a naïve, simple junior high student, his impact and legacy have been lasting.  I'm quite sure he probably had similar influence in many lives over the years.  I can tell you, however, his investment in me yielded good returns.  Since then, others have made investments as well...an aunt and uncle, Rosella and Oscar Huffman, Pastor Tommy Maines, Theater Professor Joe Jones,  Education Professor Dr. Ken Riggs, Music Professor Vernon Whaley and entrepreneur John Saddington.  Each of these, and others whom space does not allow me to mention, have made investments in my life that have reaped great returns.  For their investments, I am deeply indebted.  Perhaps that is why I have taken seriously the opportunities that God has given me to invest in the lives of others. No matter how I have lived out my purpose of making a difference in the lives of others, through sharing the good news of Jesus, it has been most effective when I am engaging in an incarnational ministry relationship with another person.  This may have been with a student, working with a youth or college-aged person through student/campus ministry, counseling in the local church or agency, life coaching, accountability relationships, or doing therapy with foster kids.  It all involves investment.

Why Personal Investment in People is a Profitable Strategy

We hear much in the media and marketing about investing for our future...for retirement.  There are many options available for anyone to grow their financial wealth in preparation for those later years.  Whether we consider individual stocks, mutual funds, 401k, Roth IRA, employer retirement plans, or even cryptocurrency like Bitcoin, it can all be rather confusing and sometimes risky.  Perhaps risk is always something to consider...some investment instruments offer more risk than others, as we are always concerned about the Return on Investment (ROI).

When it comes to investment in people, considering a few important benefits makes it clear that the returns are worth any risk that may be involved.

• It is Relational

 This may seem obvious, but it bears emphasizing because it is central to God's design for his creation, and particularly, His plan to redeem fallen humanity.  As I have written in a previous post, God is a relational being.  He is one God in three persons...Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  God is an example of the perfect harmonious work of relationship in accomplishing a perfect plan of purpose.  Someone has written that Father is the planner and initiator, the Son is the provider and mediator and, the Holy Spirit is the prompter who activates.  All of these roles of the members of the Trinity provide us with an emphasis on the relational work of ministry.  When we talk about incarnational ministry in relationships, we are speaking of allowing the work of God in, and through, us, by the person of the indwelling Holy Spirit.  I don't mean to get overly theological in this. Suffice it to say, however, that investing in the lives of others is a divinely empowered process that impacts lives eternally...at least that is true when the one investing is fulfilling the call of God upon their lives...living their purpose.  Amazingly enough, God has commissioned his followers to take the good news of Jesus Christ to others through relationships.  That is why the Apostle Paul told his son in the faith, Timothy, "I have taught you, now you pass it along to others."  It is the way God has designed it to be done.  To live out our purpose must incorporate this process in some form...whether it is in a "formal" setting such as counseling/coaching/mentoring, or whether it is a parent investing in their child, a grandparent investing in their grandchild or a teacher taking a student under their wing.  It's all about relationships.

• The ROI is Unmatchable

What is the ROI for investing in people?  For me, in junior high school, it was believing I could do things that I would have never dreamed, discovering and developing talents and skills, seeing the needs of others and learning that I could make a difference, and being encouraged and strengthened during a difficult period of life.  My aunt and uncle mentioned earlier were instrumental in my coming to faith in Jesus.  The investment of these people have had lifelong and eternal dividends in my life.  I would say that is a pretty good ROI.  When you are able to have a part in positively guiding the course of someone's life and changing their eternal destiny for good, there is no comparison that even comes close.  The benefits for that person in whom you have invested can't really be measured in any material or physically measurable way.  We could say that our investment may empower that person to pursue a career path that is more financially rewarding than they might otherwise have achieved.  That is valuable.  However, there are deeper and more significant returns than that, which can only be measured in eternal terms...much of which we won't fully see short of heaven.  "...remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins" (James 5:20).

There is also a return for the one who is investing.  Jesus has told us that we can live in such a way that we are making heavenly investments.  "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matthew 6:19-21).  Where we invest ourselves will determine where our hearts lie. When we invest in the eternal welfare of another, we are making deposits in our heavenly retirement account.  The good thing is, it's not the FDIC that guarantees that investment, it is God Himself!

• It is Impactful

Investment in others is powerful in any situation where a life is impacted.  However, it is more far-reaching when it occurs cross-generationally.  Mentoring most often takes that form...an older person investing in a younger person.  This is actually a very biblical concept as we are instructed in Titus 2:2-8.  In this passage, older men are instructed to teach the younger and the elder women, the younger women.  In a culture where the elderly are more marginalized and disrespected than ever, it would behoove us to foster a renewal of valuing the experience and wisdom of those who have traveled the road before us.  Seeking out their wisdom and guidance will enhance our lives.  As older adults, we must never allow ourselves to believe that we have nothing to offer.  Look for ways to fulfill your purpose through investing in those who would benefit from your wisdom.

What is the Next Step?

If you agree that investing in people is not only biblical, but urgently needed in our world, what will you do about it?  What is your purpose? Generally, as a Christ follower, it is to glorify Him and to point others to Him as you love Him supremely and love others as yourself.  Specifically, however, your purpose...the unique context in which you carry out that general purpose...that is where you can focus to determine what investing in others looks like for your.  Is it your children at home because you're in that season of life, or that coworker or supervision report that needs you to take them under your wing?  Maybe it is that youth of a single parent at church, or a college student you know.  Ask God to show you who may need your investment...praying for awareness and guidance often opens our eyes to the people who are right there before us and we may not have noticed before.  A willing heart is the first step. 

Erwin Wullschleger, Jr. may never know what an impact he had on a junior high student in whom he took the time to invest.  I've often wished I had looked him up and shared my appreciation for what he did for me.  Nevertheless, I think he has some idea now, as he has laid up treasures in heaven.

Have you noticed how basic home design has transformed in the last 10-20 years?  Front porches have gotten smaller and patios and fenced-in back yards have grown larger.  It is possible to come home from a day out in the world, remotely open your garage door, pull in, and close the door behind you...all without interacting with your neighbors next door, or across the street.  It is a growing trend...notably, more significant among Millennials in their 30s.   A survey by the Ownerly Team revealed some interesting results:

1. Nearly 1 in 6 people don't know any of their neighbors' names.  This increases to 26% for Millennials.
2. People living in apartments are least likely to know their neighbors' names.
3. Older respondents (60+) reported knowing 11 or more of their neighbors' names.  Interestingly, young Millennials (in their 20s) were the second largest group to know 11+ names of their neighbors.  However, Millennials in their 30s were least likely to know 11 or more of their neighbors' names.

What is the significance?  People have a decreasing sense of community in our culture.  At the writing of this post, we are emerging (hopefully) from a worldwide pandemic that has kept people in lockdown for months...isolating us from neighbors, friends and family.  This survey was done just prior to the beginning of the pandemic...I wonder what the numbers would look like after a year of isolation and social distancing?

There was a day when the sense of community was woven into the fabric of our lives.  Neighbors would sit together on their porches and share stories of the day.  Kids would play in the street or gather in a neighbor's yard for a friendly game of baseball or hide-n-seek.  It was not unusual for a family to leave their doors  unlocked when they left home for a few hours, because they trusted one another and everyone looked out for their neighbors.  Any parent in the neighborhood could parent, correct and guide any child in their yard or home...everyone felt they were a part of a community.

God has created us for community.  Think about His nature and character, as reflected in who He is and how he has worked to accomplish His plan.

• He is a tri-une God...that is, One God manifested in three persons (Father, Son, Holy Spirit).
• He demonstrated cooperative work from the beginning when He said, "Let us make man in our own image."
• He sent His Son to the earth, named Emmanuel...meaning "God with us."
• He calls all who place their trust in Him, His children.
• When God established the early church in Acts 2, they immediately began to meet together daily, in their homes and in the Temple, for worship, study and fellowship.
• God is preparing a home for all those who follow Him by faith in Jesus Christ...He wants to spend eternity with His family of faith.

This only scratches the surface, but I think it is clear that God values relationship and community.  He is a God of relationship and He has called us to enjoy and thrive in community.  We are at our best when we are together...better together.  Many of the struggles of our world can be traced to the division that comes through hatred, distrust and fear.  The opposite is also true.  When the people of God come together and selflessly love one another and those around them, God does some amazing things to heal and redeem his fallen creation.  It only stands to reason that God would use community in our lives to help us understand and pursue His purpose for us.  That is the reason we have established Purposed 365 as a community of encouragement and inspiration!  We are better together!  Here are a few reasons why we believe engaging in relational community is valuable in living our purpose.

The Value of Relationship in Living Our Purpose

• Clarity and Focus - The Sounding Board

Living out our purpose through relationship and community provides clarity and focus.  We know the value of having a sounding board, where we can verbalize our thoughts, dreams and goals.  Whether it is a trusted friend, a mentor, or a life coach, talking through our thoughts can help us sift out the chaff and sow the seed that will bear fruit in our lives.  An objective perspective provides a voice of reason.  Someone has said that every Christ Follower needs a "Paul," a "Barnabas" and a "Timothy."  This point could be that "Paul" to whom you give permission to speak into your life...providing insight and guidance.

• Confidence - Encouragement

This relationship could be considered your "Barnabas."  His name means "son of encouragement," and he was a companion of the apostle Paul, who worked side-by-side with the missionary as He preached the gospel.  We are helped along the path of our purposed life when we have that friend who exercises their gift of encouragement toward us.  When we face those challenging moments and we don't feel we have the strength to keep going, God often uses the words of a "Barnabas" to help us keep on going...soaring to new heights.

• Contribution - Sharing our Wisdom

​Here is where your "Timothy" comes into the equation.  He was Paul's protege into which he poured a great deal of investment, giving Timothy the opportunity to grow and learn...preparing him for ministry.  Who are you pouring into?  As you are learning and growing in your understanding of the purpose God has planned for you, there is much that you are gaining which would be valuable for others to learn in their own pursuit of purpose.  Investing in others not only benefits them.  It also benefits us.  As Aristotle wrote, "Those who know do.  Those who understand, teach."  Investing your experience and knowledge into another, solidifies and deepens that knowledge...helping you further clarify and apply what you have learned.  Invest for them and for you.

• Complement - Strengths-Based Living

No one has it all.  Discovering our strengths and weaknesses is a part of the process of self-awareness.  As believers, we have all been given spiritual gifts from which we are expected to carry out our purpose.  We are all members of the body of Christ...each of us playing specific roles that work together in harmony with the others.  When we realize our gifting and we live fully in that gifting, we find that our purpose flows naturally from that equipping.  We complement one another with our strengths and weaknesses offsetting one another.  Paul explained, "It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have. The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ." (1 Corinthians 12:11-12).

• Challenge - Accountability

Life offers challenges to each of us.  Just as we need to recognize our strengths in order to fulfill our purposed life, we also need to understand where our weaknesses lie...where we are most vulnerable.  One of the most important relationships we need is having a trusted person with whom we can be open and honest...giving them permission to hold us accountable for our decisions and thinking.  This mutual and encouraging relationship can hep us maintain our focus and direction in life, when the enemy wants to do whatever he can to destroy us.  We only fool ourselves when we think we don't need anyone else.  Stepping out to trust another person enough to be vulnerable and open may be the most important step you take in living your purpose.  Don't think it's too late...start where you are and don't wait another day.  "Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working." (James 5:16).

Maybe tonight, as you drive in from your long day at work, park in the driveway.  Get out of the car and walk across the street...introduce yourself to your name, and start working on learning those names.  You never know when you may meet a friend that will become your Paul, Barnabas or Timothy.  So, go ahead...step into community...into relationships that will enhance and facilitate your pursuit of your God-given purpose.  Allow the voice and partnership of others help you fulfill a life that you may never know otherwise.  Live purposed in community!

"Please, please, please!"  The voices rang out as the kids were begging their parents, "Please let us spend the night!"  It was such a common occurrence when the cousins got together.  So much so, that I remember my mom giving instructions to my sister and I on one occasion, "Now when we get ready to go, I don't want to hear you all begging to spend the night!"

It was that way with us cousins.  We loved being together and my cousins were some of my best friends growing up.  On my mom's side, my cousin, Ron, was closest to my age and his sister, Karen, was closest to my sister's age.  So, we were a perfect match to play and have fun together.  Our adventures were filled with fun and mischief alike.  Whether it was paper routes, softball games, Barbie dolls and G.I. Joes or bicycle rides and trail bike adventures, tree houses and camp outs...we loved spending time with our cousins...there may have even been a few adventures involving eggs and a roll of toilet paper (I apologize for our few mischievous escapades).  Our cousins on both sides were our friends and we grew up cherishing those times, and still cherish the memories we made as kids together.

Did you have those kinds of experiences with your cousins?  Sometimes cousins can be as close as siblings.  They play a special role in our lives and have a special place in our hearts.

There is another couple of cousins that I've thought about recently as I've been reading through the Gospel of John.  Jesus and John the Baptist were second cousins.  Their mothers were cousins: Mary and Elizabeth.  They had a unique connection, however.  Unlike the closeness I experienced with my cousins, John the Baptist said of Jesus, "I myself did not know him..." (John 1:31).  The cousins lived apart from one another growing up, Jesus in Nazareth (northern Israel) and John, in Judea (southern Israel).  So, it is not surprising that John didn't grow up knowing Jesus personally.  However, John apparently grew up being taught something very important about the relationship between he and his cousin from the north.  John had a calling...a purpose for his life.  As a matter of fact, an angel appeared to his father, Zechariah the priest, to foretell the miraculous birth of his son and the purpose he would fulfill.  The account of this is found in the Gospel of Luke, chapter 1.  Among other things that the angel Gabriel said to Zechariah, was that his son would prepare the way for Jesus to come onto the scene.

Fast-forward 30 years and we find John in the wilderness outside of Jerusalem, preaching and baptizing people who came to hear his message.  He was fulfilling the purpose for which he had been created as he proclaimed, "I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’ ”  When Jesus showed up, John went on to declare, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:19-42)  Then the most interesting thing happened.  John's followers left him and started following Jesus!  John was successful in fulfilling his purpose and it meant losing all of his followers to someone else!  But, then, that was the idea, right!?  Exactly!

Consider what we can learn from John's example of fulfilling his purpose

• He Found His Purpose Through Surrender

John's parents had received the prophecy from the angel, prior to his birth.  No doubt, they spent their lives teaching and preparing John to live out his purpose.  And what a purpose it was!  He was to prepare the way for Messiah to begin his ministry of revealing the redemptive plan of the Father to the world...to come as the sacrifice for all sin.  There is every reason to believe that John enthusiastically embraced his purpose and knew the gravity of doing so, as it would impact the world eternally.  Could it be that your purpose has the potential of impacting the world...even one person...eternally?  Not only is it possible, it is definite...a God-given purpose always fulfills God's plan of reaching the world with his salvation.

• He Didn't Make It About Himself

How many times do leaders get stars in their eyes and lose sight of what they were originally intended to accomplish?  Large crowds were coming out of Jerusalem to hear John's messages.  He was the hottest thing going in the religious world there in Israel's capital city.  He was garnering so much attention, as a matter of fact, that the religious leaders (Pharisees) sent representatives out to question who he was and what he was doing!  Talk about front page news!  Had there been a talk show circuit, he would have been on it.  Yet, in all of the fanfare and public recognition, never once did John make it about himself.  At every question and at every opportunity, he declared, "I am only a voice crying in the wilderness...this is about Messiah."  He pointed people to Jesus.  When we live our purpose boldly, it will always point people to Jesus.  He will be on display in our lives as we give witness to His work in and through us.

• He Didn't Compare His Purpose to Someone Else's

Jealousy sometimes gets in the way of our ability to see and live our purpose.  There is so much temptation for us to compare ourselves to one another.  Whether it is seeing someone in the "limelight," or that person who has the ideal situation, or the one who appears to be having so much "success" in making an impact, we can lose sight of our unique and powerful purpose as we get lost in obsessing about what someone else is doing.  John didn't let himself get lost in such trails of thought.  He saw that Jesus was Messiah and was the one who was rightfully taking the spotlight.  John was satisfied and honored to be the one who would introduce Him to the world.  There is no greater satisfaction than knowing we are fulfilling our unique reason for being.

• He Knew His Purpose Was Part of a Bigger Purpose

When we see the big picture, it is easier to understand how important and how integral our part is to the mission in which we are engaged.  In mental health therapy, it is often helpful to guide the client in exploring their big picture...past experiences, future goals, relationships and their worldview...in order to put their present circumstances into perspective.  It tends to help give clarity.  That is not much different than understanding our purpose more clearly.  When we consider the bigger picture of what God is doing to bring hope, healing and life to a hurting world in darkness, it brings our lens into focus.  John knew that it was all about Jesus...it was all about His mission.  That made John's purpose all the more important.  When John's disciples left him to follow Jesus, that was not failure.  That was confirmation that John's purpose was being fulfilled just as it was intended.  Your purpose is no different.  Sure, you're not introducing Jesus' public ministry to the Jewish world and ultimately to the greater world.  By fulfilling your purpose, you ARE introducing Jesus to the world.  That is the bigger picture!

It was April 26, 2008...a cool Saturday morning with an early light drizzle that had turned to gray skies.  As I made my way through the streets of Metro Center office park, the muscles in my legs began to weaken, my body started to feel heavy and my brain was telling me to stop and rest.  At that moment, a passenger van slowly passed by with the sliding door open.  The people inside asked, "Do you need a ride?"

The day had started for me well before sunrise, but this journey had begun months earlier.   I, and two of my friends, had set out from our homes that morning, just outside Clarksville, TN, heading for Nashville.  It was a day to follow through on a challenge and commitment we had made to one another the previous September, to do something none of us had ever before attempted.  We embarked upon the process of training to run a marathon...that is a 26.1 mile long-distance run.  I remember vividly, the first day I ran a mile on my training plan, I was so winded that I could hardly breathe.  But, over the intervening months, I slowly advanced in my stamina, strength and distances.  The short runs, the Saturday mornings dedicated to the long runs, learning about hydration and nutrition, meeting up with my buddies to encourage and cheer each other along on those increasingly lengthening Saturday runs, all added up over the months to prepare us for this day.

So, our training was being put to the test.  As we approached mile 18, my friend, Eric, and I, began to experience what is called "hitting the wall."  It is when the body has expended the fuel is stores and the energy dips, impacting the physical as well as the mental functioning of the runner.  It is a point at which the runner has to take steps to push through and not give in to the slump and give up.  The passing van that was provided to transport injured or fatigued runners to the finish line, offered an added temptation to give in to the thoughts in our minds to stop and not finish the race.  However, there was something that took place in that moment that got us through.  We began to talk to each other.  We coached one another, we encouraged and told one another, "We can't give up."  We were completing 18 of 26.1 miles...we had come too far to stop.  We had trained and we had worked hard to prepare for this day.  As we pumped one another up, and grabbing energy gels and hydration at the next station, we pushed through that wall.  We were not going to be stopped.  And, you know what?  We made it.

The next 8 miles were not easy, but they were not defeating.  We kept going because we could visualize in our minds what it was going to be like to cross that finish line.  It didn't matter what our time would be.  It only mattered that we were going to finish...we were going to cross that line.  And, I will tell you, I couldn't have imagined what it would be like to make that final turn and see the finish line in view.  As we did, Eric and I looked at each other with smiles that engulfed our faces.  I was thinking, "We are going to do this!"...thinking it, until I was saying it!  And, we did...we crossed the finish line that day, completing the challenge and the commitment we had made 7 months earlier.  I can't tell you how good that felt!  I would go on to run another marathon and 11 half marathons over the coming years.  Never fast, but always finishing.

Life is a Race, Purpose Gives Us a Reason to Run
I share this story to illustrate an important concept of living a purposed life.  However, let me be quick to say, this isn't original with me.  A writer, led by the Holy Spirit, wrote about it a few centuries ago.

Run the Race in Community
​A "cloud of witnesses" describes those who have gone before us on this journey of faith.  The picture that is painted is that those who have finished are cheering on those who are still in the race.  Like a marathon runner coming into the stadium on the last leg of the course, the cheers in the bleachers rise.  This picture reminds us that we are not meant to run this purposed race alone.  Just as Eric and I were encouragers to one another when we hit the wall, we are to be encouragers, cheering one another on, providing support and reminding ourselves of the reason we run...to fulfill our purpose and to bring glory to the One who created us for this race.  Sometimes, our engagement in community lifts us when we are weak.  Sometimes, it challenges us to lay aside the things that weigh us down or the sins that will trip us up.  Always, it points us toward the finish line.

Keep Our Eyes on the Finish Line
Part of the words that Eric and I spoke to one another when we hit the wall, were reminders of what we had set out to accomplish.  We talked about the finish and how we would feel when we finally crossed that line.  We could visualize that moment and it was an encouragement to keep going through that tough phase.  In the same way, we are reminded to keep our eyes upon Jesus in the life marathon.  He is the One who gives us our purpose...the "source and perfecter of our faith."  In his place at the right hand of the Father, he advocates for us, and he has sent his Spirit to encourage and empower us.  When we start to lose focus on why we are running this race, He is the One who reminds us of our purpose. He has already paved the way for us.  Following Him, keeps us on the right course.  Our encouragement of one another to maintain that focus is actually a part of the purpose we are called to fulfill.

Celebrate Every Mile and the Ultimate Finish
The picture that the writer of the Hebrew letter paints for us is as if the crowd is cheering us across the finish.  But, there is also a sense in which their victory is a celebration of our completion of every mile.  After Eric and I pushed through that wall at mile 18, I can assure you that we celebrated every tick of those last 7 miles.  Each mile marker was a step closer to the goal.  God's Spirit encourages us, and so do His people.  Every step of the way, we can find support and help from those with whom we are running.  When the course gets tough, we find the grace and strength we need from the indwelling Holy Spirit and through the incarnational ministry of Christ through our fellow runners.  Then, when we finally reach that last turn and the finish line is in view, we will be able to celebrate that we have lived a life of purpose, not perfection, but one of purpose that has made a difference in this world.  I can't think of a better way to finish...finishing strong.

What can we learn from this about living a life of purpose, 365 days a year?  Allow me to summarize:

1. Purpose is what gives you a reason to run the race of life.
2. A purposed life is best lived in community...encouraging and supporting one another.
3. Jesus is the source of our purpose and keeping our eyes on Him keeps us focused on that purpose.
4. A life of purpose is something to celebrate!

As a 10-year-old, I remember sitting on my bed in the darkness and peering out the window of my bedroom at the headlights of the cars on the distant highway.  Even at that age, I had a sense that there was a big world out there, as I imagined where those cars were going.  I would even picture in my mind, traveling on that highway for as far as I could remember the lay of the road, and then letting my imagination take over to create a journey into new places that were just waiting for me to explore.  It was both an escape, and an excitement, to consider the possibilities that I may one day be able to experience.  The curiosity and imagination, I think, was somehow linked to wanting to figure out how I fit into that big world that lay beyond my bedroom window.

It is an intrinsic characteristic of the human heart to want to understand one's purpose and place in the world.  Someone has said that every person is created with a God-sized hole inside, that only He can fill.  However that meshes with theology, the reality rings true.  We want to know why we are here.  This has sent explorers on adventures for centuries, led thinkers to fill books with volumes of philosophical writings and driven heroes to pay the ultimate sacrifice for what they believe in.  You, my friend, are no different...and, the fact that you are reading this may mean that either you are searching too, or you are on this exciting journey and want to expand your horizons even further as you travel that highway into all that God has in store for you.

So...What can you expect from the PURPOSE 365 Blog?

• ​Transparent Reflection

​ The posts will share honest reflection on the journey of realizing our purpose.  This will include the ups and downs, ins and outs, the good and the not-so-good that comes our way in life.  Determining to live out one's purpose every day of our life does not mean that challenges won't come our way.  We want to share honest experiences and victories that reveal the loving and gracious heart of the Father, while acknowledging our utter need for His redemptive work in our lives.

• Inspiring Thought

The greatest inspiration for any of us who follow Christ, is found in the revelation of God's heart and plan to mankind...the Bible.  We will endeavor to seek out the truths of God's Word and apply them to our lives in ways that help us more fully understand our purpose and His plan...generally, and more specifically for each of us.

• Practical Tools

As we explore these truths and principles, we are not just seeking to have a philosophical conversation.  We are intent upon translating them into practical daily living.  We will share ideas and tools that will help us live out our purpose in real-life, rubber-meets-the-road fashion.  No ivory tower rhetoric here...just messy, real, life.

• Engaging Community

​This is, perhaps, one of the most powerful aspects of this experience.  We are designed to be in community...relational beings.  Even the God who has created us demonstrates this in His triune manifestation of Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  We invite you to interact, respond, share and become an active participant in what God is doing here.  As we enter into community with one another, we find that we can become iron sharpening iron...fulfilling God's purpose for pure koinonia (fellowship).  We just ask that your input is respectful, uplifting and representative of your own pursuit of the purpose for which God has created you.  

Come Along...

As my 10-year-old self lay back on my bed and I looked up at the stars at night, I thought about how those same stars (or others like them), would be seen by millions of other people around the world...somehow tying us all together on this terrestrial ball on which we live.  Somehow it made me feel a connection to something bigger than myself.  Now, as a grown man, when I walk out onto my patio at night and look up into that starry sky, I'm reminded of the journey I've traveled since those days of innocent childhood and the amazing things God has done for, in, and through me over these years...all because I set out on a highway to discover meaning in life...His PURPOSE for 365 days a year.  

Won't you join us?  The conversation in each podcast, the interaction in this community around the blog posts...these are opportunities to connect, share and grow in our pursuit of purpose.  It's an exciting adventure and there's never a dull moment.  Our amazing Creator makes sure of that!

Continue the Journey...Go the the latest blog post here