I can’t remember the last time I missed church because I was sick. I think it was about 12 years ago. I have missed church because of hunting, fishing, and bicycle riding, but not very often because I was sick. It wasn’t anything serious, just a stomach bug that kept me close to the bathroom. The worst part was I missed teaching my discipleship class on “Angels and Demons” and all three of my Leadership Classes.” The main reason I skipped this weekend is because I really wanted to go to our church retreat at Cannon Beach Monday through Wednesday with Patty, and I was afraid that if I pushed through and taught all my classes I would be to sick to go to the retreat with my wife. It is Sunday evening, and I am still feeling a bit puky, but way better than yesterday so I think I will make it tomorrow.

I have been feeling guilty for choosing to miss my teaching responsibilities for a trip to the coast with my wife, but I am thinking that all the guilty feelings will go away five minutes after I start walking on the beach holding Patty’s hand.

It is interesting that this choice of skipping teaching opportunities followed my two most recent blogs on “Wisdom” and making choices to do things that will be rewarded at the “Judgment Seat of Christ!” yikes!!

Oh well, as I already said I will probably have justified my decision shortly after we arrive at our room, after all, I certainly didn’t want to give everybody in all my classes the same bug that I had, all though it is probably floating around everywhere.

We all tend to do that throughout our life. Make choices that are motivated by pleasure rather than eternal fruit or results, or choosing to do the easy and fun thing rather than the hard thing, and then justify the choice with any number of personal arguments. I certainly have made my share of those choices over my lifetime.

As we maneuver our way through life making choices all day long, little choices and big ones, it is important to remember that every choice has results, and sometimes a seemingly small choice will end up changing the entire trajectory of our life for the Lord.

Psalms 31:3 For You are my rock and my fortress; For Your name’s sake You will lead me and guide me.