To an extent, this is as it should be. Planning gives us a sense of order, direction and purpose. Anticipating what will happen in the near future can prepare and equip us to respond appropriately. Without proper planning and trying to anticipate accurately what may unfold in the future, we could find ourselves woefully ill-equipped to deal with important factors and influences involving our work, as well as other aspects of our lives.

However, much of everyday life is spent dealing with the unexpected - both good and bad. When we awaken in the morning, we cannot know for certain what the day will bring. We may encounter exciting situations: a major new client; an unforeseen opportunity to expand or diversify our business; a pay increase or promotion; a surprise visit by an old friend; a happy family development. But we might also need to confront unanticipated problems: customer complaints; missed deadlines; a financial setback with no warning; a serious health report; a flat tire; bad weather that interferes with our planned activities.

For this reason, we should be cautious about letting the future command too much of our concentration. Abraham Lincoln, the 16^th President of the United States, put mankind's obsession with the future into perspective with this wise observation: "The best thing about the future is that it comes only one day at a time." In reality, how we spend today will have a great impact on what we experience in the future. A timeless source of wisdom, the Bible says much about both the present and the future, including the importance of not looking too far beyond the day at hand. Here are some excellent passages to consider:

Appreciate the present. Too often we stare longingly into the future with our hopes and dreams, but fail to value the time we have right now. We will only have today once; when it has passed, we can never regain its opportunities. "This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it" (Psalm 118:24).

Do not agonize over the future. We waste a lot of emotional and mental energy worrying and agonizing over what could happen in the days to come. While ignoring the future is foolish, we can directly affect only what we encounter today. If we strive to resolve today's problems, tomorrow's issues may be less serious than we might have imagined. "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own" (Matthew 6:34).

Value each day as it arrives. Time passes so quickly, a fact that becomes more evident as we grow older. If we approach each day as a unique, special gift, we will realize the importance of trying to draw as much from it as we possibly can. "The length of our days is seventy years - or eighty, if we have the strength; yet their span is but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away.... Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom" (Psalm 90:10,12).

Avoid procrastination. "I'll get around to it tomorrow." Have you ever said that? Too often, when tomorrow comes, other pressing concerns can squeeze out tasks we postponed. Procrastination is a disease that can kill time - and destroy cherished opportunities. "Be very careful, then, how you live - not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil" (Ephesians 5:16).

Robert J. Tamasy is vice president of communications for Leaders Legacy, Inc., a non-profit corporation based in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A. He is the author of Business At Its Best: Timeless Wisdom from Proverbs for Today's Workplace (River City Press) and has coauthored with David A. Stoddard, The Heart of Mentoring: 10 Proven Principles for Developing People to Their Fullest Potential (NavPress).

Reflection/Discussion Questions

1. Do you sometimes find yourself focused more on the future than on the present? What are the pros and cons of such thinking?

2. Think of a time, perhaps recently, when unexpected events dramatically changed a day that you thought had been well-planned. What happened, and how did it effect what you did that day - and the days that followed?

3. Think about the statement, "The best thing about the future is that it comes only one day at a time." Do you agree with it? Why or why not?

4. Which of the principles cited from the Bible, if any, seem most meaningful to you? How can you apply one or more of them in how you approach your responsibilities today?

NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to consider some other passages that address this topic, turn to the following passages:

Matthew 24:36-44; Mark 13:32-37; Luke 12:35-40; Revelation 3:3

• First solo hot air balloon trip around the world.
• Sailed around the world in the fastest recorded time (58 days).
• First person to circle the globe nonstop without refueling.
• Competed in Alaska's famed Iditarod sled dog race.
• Swam the English Channel.
• Finished an Ironman Triathlon endurance competition.
• His business successes enabled him to become a multi-millionaire.

I sent this list to a friend of mine, a fellow Ironman triathlon competitor who also was a U.S. space shuttle astronaut and pilot in the 1990s. I asked him this question: "Do you think he (the missing millionaire) was really satisfied or happy?" My friend responded by sending a question back at me: "Happy? Satisfied? Would you have been happy breaking 10 hours in your most recent Ironman race? If you had, wouldn't you now be imagining being able to break nine hours the next time?"

He was right. Mankind has an unquenchable spirit that will leave him feeling empty and unfulfilled, no matter how many trophies or how much money he is able to accumulate. I understand this concept, but sometimes still think I am the exception to the rule. Then, when I am honest, I realize that I am not. We all seem engaged in a perpetual quest to reach and attain what we do not have.

To achieve true fulfillment, instead of earthly accomplishments, we should make lists of achievements that would please our Creator. For me, if I were to be reported missing, I would like my list to read:

• Loved and obeyed God with all his heart, soul and mind.
• Loved his wife exclusively.
• His kids thought he was a superhero in the flesh.
• Was the kind of friend that could be called upon anytime, anywhere.
• Was rich, but not in monetary wealth but in the number of people who loved him and were loved by him.
• Was an athlete who maintained an eye on the real prize in life - eternal life!

Now that, in my view, is a truly rich legacy, one worthy of leaving on Google or any of the other Internet search engines! How would you like your list to read? As Jesus said, "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matthew 6:21).

Adapted from a column by Dan Cadriel, a 44-year-old husband and father of three. He is a three-time Ironman Triathlon finisher and a two-time USAT Honorable Mention All American. He is the president of his local triathlon club, and he races for FCA Endurance and Amino Vital. This column originally appeared on http://www.fca.org/.

Reflection/Discussion Questions

1. What were your first impressions when you read the missing adventurer's list of personal accomplishments?

2. The writer suggests that despite those stunning milestones, they never brought lasting satisfaction. Instead, he believes, the missing millionaire experienced a lack of fulfillment, constantly in search of even greater challenges and achievements. Do you agree? Why or why not?

3. How would you compare that man's list with the very different list that the author presents for his own life?

4. If our desire is to fulfill God's plan and purpose for our lives, how can we best prioritize our goals and ambitions most effectively?

NOTE: If you have a Bible, consider these other passages that deal with this topic:

Psalm 37:4-5; Proverbs 16:1-3,9; Ephesians 2:10; Colossians 3:17,23; 2 Timothy 3:17

STEP 1: PRAY FOR GUIDANCE (Principle of Inspiration): Start by asking God to help you see His perspective on the problem. Intuition is often wrong. "A man is foolish to trust only himself. But those who use GOD'S WISDOM are safe" (Proverbs 28:26).

STEP 2: GET THE FACTS! (Principle of Information): Do not make decisions out of ignorance. First, find out as much relevant information as you can. "Every prudent man acts out of knowledge" (Proverbs 13:16). "How stupid to decide before knowing the facts" (Proverbs 18:13). "Get the facts at any price..." (Proverbs 23:23).

STEP 3: ASK FOR ADVICE (Principle of Consultation): If possible, talk to someone who has already taken a similar risk. It is wise to learn from experience - but it is even wiser to learn from the experiences of others! That way you do not have to learn everything the hard way. "Get good advice and you will succeed" (Proverbs 20:18). "The intelligent man is always open to new ideas - In fact, he looks for them" (Proverbs 18:15).

STEP 4: SET YOUR GOAL (Principle of Selection): Be sure you understand the reason and purpose for the decision you're about to make. You cannot chase two rabbits at the same time. "An intelligent person AIMS at wise actions, but a fool starts off in many directions" (Proverbs 17:24).

STEP 5: COUNT THE COST (Principle of Evaluation): This is called a calculated risk. Ask yourself (1) Is it necessary? (2) What will it cost... in terms of time, energy, and money? (3) Is it worth it? "It is a trap to dedicate something rashly, and only later to consider your vows" (Proverbs 20:25).

STEP 6: PLAN FOR PROBLEMS (Principle of Preparation): Remember Murphy's Law ("if something can go wrong, it will") - and remember that Murphy was an optimist! Do not ignore problems - they will not ignore you. So be prepared. "Don't go charging into battle without a plan" (Proverbs 20: 18). "A sensible man watches for problems and prepared to meet them. The fool never looks ahead and suffers the consequences" (Proverbs 22:3).

STEP 7: FACE YOUR FEARS (Principle of Confrontation): Fear is not a sign of weakness - it is a sign of your humanity. Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather it is moving ahead in spite of your fears. "Fear of man is a dangerous trap, but to trust in God means safety" (Proverbs 29:25).

STEP 8: MAKE THE DECISION - GO FOR IT! (Principle of Initiation): This is the point at which you must stop talking and start acting. You must begin. "Commit to the Lord whatever you do and your plans will succeed" (Proverbs 16:3).

Adapted from a column by Dr. Rick Warren, the author of numerous books, including the highly acclaimed, The Purpose-Drive Life, which has been translated into many languages and sold throughout the world. It affirms the importance of having a carefully considered, clearly expressed purpose to guide everyday life.

Reflection/Discussion Questions

1. Are you facing a difficult or very important decision at the moment? How successful have you been in trying to work toward a conclusion?

2. Do you agree with Mr. Warren's statement that "success is a matter of making wise choices"? Why or why not?

3. What do you think of the steps or principles that he has suggested for making decisions? Which - if any - do you find particularly helpful?

4. How might any of these steps be useful as you work toward the significant decision you currently are confronting?

NOTE: If you have a Bible, consider these other passages that deal with this topic:

Psalm 37:4-5; Matthew 6:19-34, 7:7-12; Philippians 4:6-7; James 1:5-8

Today, through the use of special graphics software, photographic images can be manipulated in many ways, even to the extent of placing individuals alongside people they have never met, or showing them in locations where they have never been. By using such software, a trained computer technician could take the image of an Egyptian pyramid and make it appear to be sitting on the floor of America's Grand Canyon, or balanced atop the Great Wall of China.

One common - and more legitimate - tool for creating a variety of photographic effects is the lens filter. There are many types of filters that can produce a variety of results: starbursts or crisscross lights at night, distinctive soft-focus effects, or a simple colored tint giving a photo a vintage appearance. Regardless of which filter is used, these can affect how we view the image captured through the lenses.

Recently I saw a documentary that discussed a different kind of "filter" - the worldview that we use every day, consciously or not, to interpret what we see and hear, and in a general sense, govern how we approach life. Our individual worldviews help to shape our values and establish our priorities. They also influence how we react to situations and events that occur in our lives every day.

This is how C.S. Lewis, the British celebrated thinker, scholar and author, described his own worldview, the spiritual filter that governed his life: "I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen; not only because I see it, but also because by it I see everything else." Lewis was saying that upon discovering what he understood to be the truth, it colored - or filtered - every aspect of his life. Someone else expressed this thought in a slightly different way: "Once you see the truth, you cannot un-see the truth."

What is the filter that you utilize as you experience and observe life around you, drawing conclusions about what you see? Whether we realize it or not, we all employ such "filters" - they consist of the beliefs that motivate us, affecting the goals we seek to achieve, values we hold most important, and the biases that we form over the years. Here are some things the Bible says about a worldview anchored in a strong faith in God:

God has a plan. Those who believe in God and seek to faithfully follow Him can trust that He has a clear, specific plan for every aspect of their lives. "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future'" (Jeremiah 29:11).

God is in control. Even in those times that seem most desperate, that appear most hopeless, God is still actively working to fulfill His purpose - in keeping with the best interests of His people. "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who are called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28).

God knows what is best. We may strategize carefully, confident that we know what to do, but God often will overrule, guiding us toward even better outcomes than we could have hoped or imagined. "In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps" (Proverbs 16:9).

Robert J. Tamasy is vice president of communications for Leaders Legacy, Inc., a non-profit corporation based in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A. He is the author of Business At Its Best: Timeless Wisdom from Proverbs for Today's Workplace (River City Press) and has coauthored with David A. Stoddard, The Heart of Mentoring: 10 Proven Principles for Developing People to Their Fullest Potential (NavPress).

Reflection/Discussion Questions

1. How would you define the term, "worldview"? In light of your definition, how would you describe your personal worldview?

2. In what ways do you think your thoughts, attitudes and actions are shaped by your worldview? Explain your answer.

3. What is your reaction to the statement by the late C.S. Lewis about how his trust in the essentials of Christianity influenced how he looked at and perceived life and the world around him?

4. Do you think that having a strong faith in God should make a major difference in how we approach our work, our family life, our involvement as citizens of our communities and cities, even the activities that consume our leisure time? Why or why not?

NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to consider some other passages that concern this topic, turn to the following passages:

Job 42:2,10-15; Psalm 10:1, 11:4-7, 100:1-2; Proverbs 3:5-6, 16:4, 21:1; Isaiah 25:1-5