I am always amazed when I realize just how much I am affected by life’s circumstances. How are things going at my church? If I perceive they’re going well, I’m feeling happy. If I perceive they’re going poorly, I feel discouraged. How are things going with my family? If I perceive we’re doing well, I feel happy. If I perceive we are struggling, I feel discouraged. How are things going with my finances? If I perceive we’re making it, I feel happy. If I perceive we are in need, I feel discouraged. How are people perceiving me? If it seems they like me, I feel happy. If it seems they don’t get me, I feel discouraged. And on and on it goes. The problem is, I don’t think you or I see things as they really are. If one little thing goes right in life or goes wrong in life, what a dramatic effect it has on us! Our perception on how things are going is so easily influenced. This is why it is so important to have a relationship with Jesus. I’ve been reading the book of Colossians lately, and what strikes me from that book is the truth that everything in life ought to be about Him. A life that is centered around Jesus is a life built on the “rock,” according to Jesus’ own teaching. Consider the analogy Jesus makes and contrast it to how I started this blog post: How are things going at my church, with my family, with my finances, with my relationships…? If my life is built on the “rock,” it doesn’t matter if the rain is pouring and the wind is blowing, or if it’s a calm, sunny day. The structure of the house remains unchanged. But if it is built on sand, that is another story. The house is greatly affected by external conditions. Of course, as we’ve seen in Alabama recently, tornadoes can destroy homes built on rock or sand. There is indeed something to be said about how a house is built, even if it is built on the rock, which is why discipleship matters. But clearly, a house built on a poor foundation has no hope whatsoever,...