Introduction
You are about to witness a sneak preview into the lives of five
people. These are real people with real-life, everyday challenges
similar to those faced by thousands of others. See if you relate
to any of these situations:
Mary is exhausted.
Being a CFO of a small technology firm was easy compared
to her present work as a full-time mother for three children
under five years of age. She and her husband Rob agreed to
the change in her income and status for the pre-school years.
They both work hard to provide a loving, nurturing environment.
Rob is helpful and supportive, but Mary has had five
years of diapers, interrupted sleep and child-proofing the
house. She wants to find time for friendships, a spiritual life and
some professional reading, but at best it’s hit and miss. For the
first time, Mary is feeling angry inside and out of control.
Pastor John is frustrated.
Three years ago he came to his new church full of hope and
vision. The board was eager to try John’s new ideas on outreach,
and during his first year the church grew steadily. But lately all
the first-year honeymoon feelings have been replaced as key
parishioners relocated or retired. A former staff member has
started a new contemporary church only five miles away. There
are increasing financial challenges as members lose jobs and
giving drops. One Sunday afternoon Pastor John wonders if he
should move on—or even if he should stay in the ministry.
Ron is a devout Christian.
He loves God and has a supportive family. An entrepreneur
at heart, he has bounced from one great idea to another but
nothing ever seems to work out. Financially he’s behind on
his bills and bankruptcy is looming closer every week. Lack
of focus has a lot to do with his lack of financial stability.
It’s got to the point where his health is being affected and
there’s tension at home.
Bob and Gail are in a counselor’s office.
They are arguing about who is to blame for their failing marriage.
Bob is angry because his wife has no desire for romance.
Gail is crying because Bob never slows down to listen to her.
This is the second marriage for both and they don’t want it to
fail, but only a year into being a family they find themselves
wondering if they’ve made a mistake.
Harold has built a very successful company.
He enjoys a comfortable lifestyle. He is a church board member,
plays in several charity golf tournaments and has a stable
family life, yet inside he is feeling discontentment. Although
not experiencing a mid-life crisis, he has a nagging feeling that
there is something more to life, some greater purpose beyond
tithing to a church and being a local philanthropist. The question
troubling him lately is: “Where do I go from here?”
Sound familiar? For many people it seems that life is more
complex than ever, no matter what part of the socio-economic
scale they have achieved. The pace and price of living, along
with the level of stress, have reached all-time highs. Somewhere
along the line these good people lost their focus, and now they
feel out of control.
Today we have information overload, but less time to learn.
We have more credit cards, but less real money and freedom.
We want spiritual comfort, but we chafe at religion and all its
rules. We want to have it all: God, family, professional success,
inner peace and no money worries, but we don’t know how to
put the pieces together.
If you are reading this book (or deciding whether to buy it),
you are probably wrestling with some of these issues. As you
look on-line for help, or browse sacred and secular bookstores,
maybe you’ve wondered if any book will give you real insights
and practical answers to your current challenges.
The Power of Faithful Focus was written for you!
Inside these pages you’ll find a unique combination—the
timeless truth of the Bible aligned with twenty-first century
reality. This book offers real-life solutions that will help you
live in spiritual, personal and professional abundance.
This doesn’t mean a life of ease, free from challenges and
trials. Jesus Christ told his disciples that they would face tribulation,
persecution and struggles. Jesus also said for us to take
heart, for Christ has overcome the world and will help us conquer
the obstacles ahead of us. (John 16:33; Romans 8:31–39)
This book is not a magic pill or quick fix. Rather, it will
challenge you to look to Christ and the principles of scripture
set before you. If you are serious about personal growth and
fulfilling God’s highest purpose for your life, read on. If you
want to blame God and others for your troubles, or if you can
only offer lame excuses about why your life isn’t working, then
save a few dollars and let someone else buy this book.
Jesus made it clear that through him a magnificent opportunity
is available for everyone: “My purpose is to give life in
all its fullness.” (John 10:10) This abundance includes spiritual
vitality, family stability and financial freedom. Bear in mind
that abundance does not look the same for everyone. Abundance
for a corporate executive in New York City will express
itself differently from a rancher in Southern Alberta—but
both can have all they need to bring pleasure to God, and good
to others and to themselves.
The Power of Faithful Focus offers a Christ-centered vision
of life and real-world applications for personal abundance. A
key scripture at the heart of this work is found in Hebrews 12:2.
“Fix your eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith….”
Jesus Christ is the one “in whom all things hold together”.
(Colossians 1:17) He is “the beginning, middle and end of all
God’s ways and works.” (Philip Schaff)
Another writer, Thomas Oden, declares that Christ is the
“center and circumference” of life.
Why We Wrote This Book
LES:
As the creator of The Power of Focus series I felt directed
by God to do this book. That’s not just a glib cliché phrase.
My spiritual awakening has been gradual. There was no
thunderclap from above one day, rather a realization that
this planet earth in all its complexity didn’t just happen.
There had to be a Creator. I mean, look at the abundance
of resources, wild life, the oceans, the beauty of landscape
and colorful variety of people who populate our
world. It’s amazing! So I’m sold on God. As I’ve read more
of scripture and become involved at the local church level,
intuitively I know God is opening the right doors for me.
Professionally, I’m a businessman. Currently I coach owners
and corporate executives to find an excellent balance
between work and family. Our Company, The Power of
Focus Inc. (formerly Achievers Canada), started in 1983
and over the years we’ve promoted more than 750 workshops
and trained thousands of people in personal and
professional development. The first book, The Power
of Focus was published in May 2000 followed by The
Power of Focus for Women in October 2003, co-authored
by my wife, Fran.
Many of our clients are people of strong faith. In talking
with them and many church pastors it became obvious
that staying focused was a major challenge. Keeping God
front and center is not always easy as you’ve already seen
from the opening stories. This book was written to give
everyone who experiences these struggles a practical
solution. The focusing strategies you are about to learn
have transformed the lives of many people. My co-author
Charlie has shown me how these same strategies are
steeped in Biblical principles. This project has significantly
enhanced my understanding of Scripture and reinforced
the fact that God’s plan for my own life is just starting
to unfold, and that’s very exciting. My sincere hope is
that the words in this book will touch you through God, in
a way that leads to an even more fulfilling life than you
are already experiencing.
CHARLIE:
I’ve been in ministry since 1979, encouraging and empowering
people as a missionary, pastor and professor. Also
I’m a coach and consultant to business leaders and a
confidante to several spiritual leaders. It has been my
honor to serve Christ in Europe, Washington, D.C., Oregon,
and in the Silicon Valley.
About three years ago I heard one of Les’ coaches, Ken
Johnston share some of the principles of the Power of
Focus. I invited him to address our leadership at Bethel
Church. Ken did well, and as he spoke, scores of biblical
passages and principles came to my mind. I realized that
the best ideas in the book were based on the truth of
the Bible. I took a leap of faith and wrote Les a three-page
letter outlining a way to bring his insights to the Church.
To my delight, Les agreed and for the last two years we
have collaborated to present a completely new work, fully
grounded in Scripture and totally practical for people from
all walks of life.
My life has changed radically for the better since starting
this venture. Les and Fran are my brother and sister in
Christ, two new friends and the finest coaches I could pray
for. I have received an MBA in the real-life application
of truth! We believe the Holy Spirit is using the synergy of
our combined efforts to help all people of goodwill grow
in the Lord and discover Christ as the source of life.
To help you focus on the lessons in this book The Power of
Faithful Focus is underpinned by a powerful visual formula
called The Faithful Life Quadrant (FLQ).
In Chapter One you will discover how this quadrant is created
and how it impacts every area of your spiritual, personal and
professional life. Awareness is the first step to any improvement
you wish to make. Knowing God and yourself at the deepest
level is the starting point. Beginning with a clear focus on
Christ, you will learn ten practical strategies for fulfilling God’s
plan for abundance. Each chapter has biblical teaching, real-life
testimonies and practical steps for application. At the end of
each chapter you’ll find specific Action Steps so you can immediately
act upon what you have read. Our motto is, “Focus and
follow through!” This is not a slogan for a new bumper sticker.
It’s a great way to summarize and implement the practical
insights the Bible offers us for real living.
You’ll find timeless ideas and time-tested, high-impact principles.
We eliminate the gap between concepts and concrete
action, between spiritual notions and real-life application.
The order of the chapters is designed to ensure you get the
most out of this book. Each one includes a Focusing Prayer
that emphasizes the specific content.
We start with Seeking God, Finding Purpose. This will help
you see life from God’s perspective and energize you to grow
spiritually. You will discover that having Christ at the center
actually enhances personal fulfillment. (Ephesians 1:3–14)
In Chapter Two, Focus and Follow Through!, we will unlock
your unique skills, helping you to spend more time doing what
you do best for God, your family and those at work. (Romans
12:1–8) Confidence in Christ will propel you toward personal
freedom and healing as you find comfort and strength in God’s
unconditional love. You’ll get the tools you need to break
through the barriers of fear and shame that hold so many back
from their true destiny. (Jeremiah 29:11–13; 33:3)
Chapter Four will help you partner with God in designing
a specific plan for your life. There are many great books on
divine purpose and writing mission statements, but Faithful
Focus takes you further, by showing you how to follow
through with appropriate action. (I Corinthians 12:27–31)
This is where the rubber meets the road. The best-laid
plans are futile unless they are anchored with positive habits,
excellent relationships and proper balance.
Old habits are hard to break, and new ones are challenging
to learn. It is the power of Christ in you that will transform
your thinking and your actions. In Chapter Five, you’ll learn
step-by-step methods for how God can help you delight in
disciplines that move you forward. (Ephesians 4:22–24)
Chapter Six, Building Excellent Relationships, goes beyond
pat phrases to practical insights on how to make the most of
every relationship—personal and professional—that God has
given you. Knowing how to avoid self-destructive and timewasting
situations is an important part of this section. You’ll
also discover how much God has given you to share with others.
(John 13:1-6; 34–35)
The Blessing of Balance provides specific strategies to
help you find peace of mind as you juggle life’s demands.
With the help of the Holy Spirit, you can make good decisions
every day that create harmony between work and family.
(Philippians 1:9–10)
In Chapter Eight, you’ll enjoy learning how to ask and receive
from God and others in a biblically audacious and successful
way. These are not cheap phrases to manipulate others, but biblical
keys to the Kingdom of God that unlock heaven’s resources.
(Matthew 16:19; John 10:10)
You can accelerates your progress by challenging yourself to
go beyond your current limited thinking to a greater trust in
God’s ability to do immeasurably more. (Ephesians 3:19–21)
Chapter Nine, Taking Decisive Action, is what the whole
book is about. In this chapter you will gain insights and clues
about how to really receive the life God has planned for you.
You’ll see how to conquer procrastination and put together a
strategy that will give you financial freedom. All too often the
only difference between failure and success is focused action.
The final chapter, Consistent Persistence, will help you finish
what you start. It will challenge you to not give up when the
going gets tough. You will be inspired by stories from the great
saints of the bible and everyday people just like you who have
overcome major challenges. (Hebrews 11–12)
To enjoy the fruits of your labor to the fullest, you must be
committed to serving the Lord Jesus Christ, and to the longterm
transformation of your attitudes, character, focus and
habits. Don’t cheat yourself like the vast majority of people
who read self-help books but never follow through.
As proof that commitment to change pays off, let’s update
the true stories you read about earlier.
Busy mom Mary applied some of these focusing principles.
She is now much more content. Every day she creates some
time for God and for herself. Now she sees her parenting as
part of a family mission.
Pastor John refocused his heart on loving Jesus Christ.
Rather than focusing on success, he has rediscovered the simple
joys of scripture, prayer, and encouraging others to grow. There
is a feeling of peace in the church and new members are
joining. Pastor John and his former associate are now working
together to reach the poor. The two congregations have celebrated
communion together.
Ron is still struggling.
He dreams of hitting a “home run” in business one day that
will solve everything. The trouble is he’s not dealing with his
present reality. Even though he loves to learn and knows all
about the focusing strategies, he prefers to dabble at change
instead of making a serious commitment.
Bob and Gail looked at the Faithful Life Quadrant and wept.
Together they recognized their misplaced expectations and
selfish attitudes. They are learning to pray together, beginning
to write a Family Mission Statement, and starting to share
thoughts and feelings without personal insults. They also made
a commitment to improve their health and fitness and now go
to the gym together three times a week. As a result, they have
much more energy and less stress.
Harold hasn’t become a missionary.
Nor has he in one grand gesture given all his money away. As
he prayed with others and discovered more about Christ, he
realized that God had placed him in profitable arenas for a
purpose. He has set up a corporate foundation to channel some
of his earnings toward business enterprises in Africa. His wife
leads their personal charitable trust, distributing resources to
grassroots efforts, including college scholarships for enterprising
women and men who share Christian values.
The message is clear. Any challenges can be confronted and
overcome with faith and focus. Wherever you are on your
journey, the Faithful Life Quadrant will strengthen your
relationship in Christ and guide you along the spiritual high
road, so you can experience life in all its abundance. So let’s get
started—and may you be blessed every step of the way!
Sincerely,
Les and Charlie
How To Read This Book
Depending upon your personality and time available, you
can use any of these strategies:
• Read each chapter carefully, taking notes,
underlining and looking up the Biblical references.
Doing the Action Steps at the end of each chapter
will accelerate your progress.
• Scan the entire book, getting a good overview.
Then, focus on the areas that will have an immediate
impact on your life. We have written the book in a
logical order, but you are not bound to our logic.
Your life with God may have you working on
relationships (Chapter Six) before you tackle
detailed planning (Chapter Four).
• Read and enjoy the parts of the book that are
most relevant. Keep a copy close at hand for
reference as life issues arise and you need some
coaching. We have over fifty years of combined
experience encouraging growth in others. However,
we are still consulting other resources to expand
our own growth. Thank God that the learning
never ends! (Philippians 3:12–14).
• We have included many references to the Bible.
Please don’t let this intimidate you. You may be
a novice or stranger to the scriptures, but their
life-changing power is still yours to receive.
If you are really flowing in your reading, don’t get
bogged down looking up every reference. We have
included this material to prove that these concepts
are not merely our imaginations at work, but the
distilled wisdom of the ages. If you are mature
in spiritual matters, the Bible references will
reinforce your own positive thinking.
• Consider starting a Power of Faithful Focus
Book Club that meets for coffee or breakfast once
a week. You can do this with a church group, a few
committed Christian friends or business colleagues.
This is a great opportunity to have meaningful
discussion as you read each chapter. An extra
bonus is the ability to share your accomplishments
as you implement the Action Steps.
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