Life is getting more complicated all the time and the “rules of engagement” have changed. Consider for a moment how a simple trip to the grocery store has escalated to a “no holds barred” event. Years ago, you could run into a store, find your item, visit with the employees, finish the transaction and head on down the road. Now it’s a completely different scenario. First, you have to make it through the obstacle course in front of the store. The list of events is endless; the promotional table jump, the vendor face off, political arm wrestling and the hard to resist cookie monster tug-a-wars are just a few possibilities. Then once you have made it “safely” inside it starts all over again; sample maniacs, demolition cart racing, and video loop propaganda machines are blaring at the registers. Just when you think you have made it through the gauntlet, the clerk hands you a four foot copy of your two item purchase which tells you what you need to buy the next time you make it back. You stuff it in your pocket and begin to mentally prepare yourself for the exit door course that awaits you. It’s more than enough for me to praise God for my wife who does most of the shopping.
 
Now let’s consider the “rules of engagement” as they apply to changing our lives. We have looked at the following topics over the last month; our health (spiritually, physically and attitudinally), our need to have order, and our need to pursue our passion. The unspoken question is “now what?” Now that we have made decisions to change, what do we do? The answer to the question is not easy. It requires us to change our “rules of engagement” from “I will do it someday” to “I will START today”! “Centering On Real-life Effectiveness” is what Challenged to the Core is all about. Our mission is to help you “Pursue Your Passion & Change Your Life”; however, the “rules of engagement” are different based on where you are in your life. A single college student can make drastic changes without affecting anyone else, whereas a person who is married with children will have to approach change in an all together different manner because their changes will have a dramatic impact on the whole family. Any changes they make will have to be tempered and in some cases creatively limited for the good of everyone involved. The same is true for “seasoned citizens” who are married. Spouses need to consider the impact their decisions have on the person to whom they have committed their life. Think about the ramifications of your changes as you “START” to change your life today!
 
Set realistic goals. Our goals need to be realistic based on our talents, our abilities and our real-life circumstances. Unrealistic goals become “fodder” for defeat. That does not mean that our goals shouldn’t be challenging. James tells us that “You do not have, because you do not ask God.” (James 4:2) Ask God to help you set realistic goals so that with His power you can achieve.
 
Tell someone you trust. Accountability, encouragement and strengths are some of the results of confiding our hopes and dreams to someone else. Proverbs tells us that “a cord of three strands are not easily broken”, that “plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed” and that “as iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.”(Proverbs 4:12, 15:22, 27:17).
Attempt, attempt, attempt! Winston Churchill is famous for many things, but I have this quote from him all over my office “Never, Never, Never quit!” When Jesus sent out his disciples with a very specific task he told them that “If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town.” (Matthew 10:14) It was an admonition to keep on going if no one listens to you. Not everyone is going to accept what we do and not everything we try will succeed; but we need to keep trying if God has called us to a task.
 
Rebound from your mistakes. People were often frustrated when they would ask Jesus a question and he would answer them with a story or parable.  He was more concerned about teaching them principles so they would “know” the answers to their questions. More often than not, we want a quick fix to our problems, rather than wrestle with the hard questions. When we make a mistake or “fail” we need to investigate the situation to discover what “really” happened. The answers can then be integrated into our future plans. I read a story once about a college graduate who made a “million dollar” mistake at his first job. He went into the president’s office with his resignation in hand expecting to be fired. The president of the company told the young man that he had no intention of firing an employee for which he had just paid a “million dollars” toward his education. Mistakes are only mistakes when we don’t learn something from them.
 
Take responsibility for your actions. Our society is filled with people who are quick to point the blame at someone else, but slow to accept any personal responsibility or they will accept responsibility as long as there are no consequences. We are responsible for our actions and for our “inactions”, because in each case we have made a decision. Scripture says that the quality of our work will ultimately be tested anyway (1 Corinthians 3:13-15). Our goal should be to do our best and pass the test!
 
Well now it’s time to “check your pulse”. How are you doing? Are you ready to incorporate the “rules of engagement” into your life? Take time today to “START” pursuing your passion and changing your life by engaging in all that you were called to be and do.
 
Del Brixey
“Living by the Rules of Engagement”
 
CHALLENGED TO THE CORE
P.O. BOX 414
LAKE ARROWHEAD, CA 92352-0414