2010

This is a brand new year and brand new decade. I love new things. Like most people I have made some real resolutions for this coming year. I have taken the last couple of weeks to really think and pray about this coming year and while I am really excited about what is ahead, I realized today that most of my thinking and praying is about our church. I have been consumed with launching fresh vision, planning messages and meetings, writing role descriptions and updating flow charts for different areas of ministry, and a thousand other things that will produce great results for our church. But today (my first day off without a houseful of kids) I am exploring my personal vision, what God is saying to just me and only me. I am seeking Him about what He wants for me this year. I know I want to be more committed, more disciplined, and more excited about Jesus this year than any year before, but today I am grappling with how to really accomplish that. I love the Word of God, I love to read and study, but I have never had a consistent daily reading plan. I grew up thinking that was rigid and boring, I have always preferred to read and study as I have been led by God, and once in the Word, I rarely stop before I have to. I find the Word of God totally consuming and intriguing. This year I want to try something new though, I really want to read through the Bible without a personal agenda and without preparing any message or sermon from it. This may very well be the toughest thing I have ever done. I also really want to be a great husband and dad this year. I am convinced that at the end of the day, at the end of the year, and at the end of this coming decade, how many people our church reaches and touches will not matter to God near as much as how strong my marriage is and how secure our kids feel in this crazy world. I live and preach that every person that has experienced the saving power of God should become a witness and reach out to as many people as possible. But more importantly is the simple fact that you can win the whole world and still lose at home. I am determined not to be in the statistics of pastors and ministers that live with urgency but without priority. I have also realized that one of my personal resolutions is be healthy enough to play with my grand kids someday and if Jesus tarries, I want to be around to cheer on my kids and my spiritual kids as they shake their culture and reach their generation for Jesus. So as simple as it sounds, I have narrowed my personal goals for this year to: 1. putting the Word first and purposing to digest it as often as I do natural food. 2. putting my family first which means I am going to keep dating my amazing wife, I am going to keep having lots of fun with my kids so they can grow up with a dad and not just a pastor 3. I am going to rest so that I can have plenty of energy for my family and friends and not just my calling. 4. I am going to do a better job of taking care of myself, so I am going to stop fuelling myself with junk, start eating more fruits and veggies, and work on a plan to get more exercise.

I am already overwhelmed with all these goals so in order to keep my sanity and stay accountable I am resolving to do something I have always enjoyed and never have been able to devote very much time to and that is writing. So if you don't see me posting very much, that probably means that I am focusing on the other resolutions. And if you see me posting too much, you may want to send me a note and make sure I am eating good and exercising because I probably gave up those aspirations for this one.