One of the most important purchases in my life and the lesson I learned…

• 1 Kings 6:38 (NKJV) And in the eleventh year, in the month of Bul, which is the eighth month, the house was finished in all its details and according to all its plans. So he was seven years in building it.

I bought my first computer back in the ‘80s (the 1980s as in the 20^th century) // Wow, makes me feel old!

Keeping in mind that the average price of a new car was 9000.00 in those days, it was a major purchase for Sonja and me:3000.00+.

Though I didn’t appreciate it at the time, I am forever thankful that Sonja supported me in making this investment in our lives and ministry.With my computer, I received four manuals:

• A manual on computer programming (Pascal)
• A manual on DOS (Disc operating system)
• A manual on the specific specs of my computer
• A manual on the (primitive by today’s standards) software that was loaded on my computer

I didn’t realize it at the time but buying that primitive computer was one of the most important decisions of my life (for several reasons).

The one that I want to highlight today is: I was forced to master the details before I could be truly productive. 

Through typically I “play dumb” when it comes to computers (I don’t have the time to be the computer guy), I can’t tell you the times that having a little inside knowledge of the details of computer programming, DOS, and software has given me the courage to tackle the more advanced computers/gizmos and their software.

Furthermore, learning the details put a hunger in me to pursue this discipline in other areas that matter to me.

Now you can’t know (and do not need to know) the details about everything.   However, it amazes me the number of people who play the victim by not getting a grasp of the details to do their jobs.

Or worse yet, the number of people who have no grasp of the clearly defined details required for having successful relationships (like marriage and parenting) or worse yet…

The number people who know almost nothing – in detail – about their Bible and their faith (you know…like eternity is riding on it!).

Bottom line, I encourage you to spend a little time each day or at least several times a week on drilling down and learning the little details that are required to make the important things in your life work.

Hope is a terrible strategy and…

Experts like divorce lawyers and computer guys are so expensive.