Resolution #5: More Music

This may sound like a strange one for those who know me.  Music was once a major part of my life, but slowly ebbed away with the responsibilities of life.  Seems like nowadays if the radio is on, someone is talking.  I hope to pick back up that old love called the guitar, or maybe that sax.  I was trained in music theory, have written peotry and music, and even had a prophetic word spoken over me by a stranger that God would use my music for His glory.  We'll see.

Sometimes it's the simple things like music that are missing in our lives.  Sometimes we get away from the city and just listen to nature and realize, "Oh, that's what we've been missing."  Music is a gift from heaven that I wish to redicover this year.  I'm looking forward to making time for that.

Resolution #4: Read More Books

I've always been a reader.  Even as a kid I had bookshelves full of books.  I have to weed out my books every so often just to make room for more of them.  But in the last year or so I've read less than I used to.  Numerous books that I long to read sit on my shelf waiting for my time.

"Brethren, this ought not be," my old college president would often sternly say.

This year I plan to read more frequently outside of my normal Bible reading.  Perhaps a book a month?  I've got more than 12 waiting on me, but I think at least 12 is a good goal.  When learning stops, progress follows.  To adequately teach, I must be continually learning.  This is one of my goals for the coming year.

What about yourself?  Do you have a book to recommend?  As I am reading, I'll be sure to share what I pick up.  Currently I'm reading "the Year of Living Biblically."  You can check out my reading hobby on my Facebook page along with my reviews of various books.

Resolution #3: Better Time Management

In high school I bought a self help book on time management, and after taking the quiz in the back of that book I learned that I was a "full blown chronic procrastinator."  After becoming convinced that it was dishonoring to God to be irresponsible with time just as it would be with finances, I took significant steps to improve in that area, and genuinely made progress.   But over the years, I've continued to struggle with the issue of time management.

It's not that I'm as bad as I once was.  I just always need improvement.  A good time management system, like the Franklin Covey method, is an invaluable tool.  This is what I have used for about 15 years, and it has helped me immensely.  Discovering your values, planning how to implement them, then acting on those plans is the 3-part methodology they employ.

Benjamin Franklin wrote, "Dost though love life?  Then do not squander time, for that's the stuff life is made of."

Resolution #2: Better Health

As I get closer to the big Four O, I've realized just how out of shape I am.  Twenty years ago I could do the splits both ways, loved backpacking and high adventure, and (though always on the heavy side) was fairly fit.  In the last 7 years I've faced various minor to major health problems that have given me a serious wake up call to the need to take better care of this body that God gave me.  I did lose nearly 100 pounds about 10 years ago, but gained about half of it back.  I need to seriously lose and keep off at least 50 pounds this year, and I need to also take care of some other health related issues as well.

How?  Well, actually I've already started.  Between the fitness center I recently joined and the karate that I'm studying, I hope that January 2011 will see a new me. 

Resolution #1: Finish Reading My Bible

OK, it's confession time.  Yes, I have a degree in Bible, and I spent 7 years in college and seminary studying the ins and outs of Scripture.  Yes, I've been preaching for over 20 years, done all types of ministry and have read my Bible extensively over the years.  Yes, I've even paid for Bibles to be smuggled into countries so others could have the Word.  But no, I have never read the Bible completely, as in all of every single book.

What?  Yes, I know.  I'm embarrased.  I've read most of the Bible.  But there are some books that, how shall I say, are more difficult to finish.  Say, like, Leviticus or Job, or how about all 150 Psalms?  Major prophets like Ezekiel and Daniel.  It's not that I've ignored them or never read from them.  On the contrary!  But sitting down from beginning to end?  No.

So this is my first resolution for the new year.  Fortunately, I've read most of the Bible, so my list is short of those I've never finished.  I just feel that I need to be intentional about it and make sure to finish them.

What about yourself?  Are you in a similar boat?  Remember, you can always download a free Bible reading guide from my website and read the whole thing in a year.  Let me know if you decide to do so, and good luck!

A Week of Resolutions

I'm going to do something different this week by posting some of my New Year's resolutions.  I think I'll take the top 5 personal goals and post them one each day over the coming week.  This resolution thing usually invokes a rolling of the eyes when we hear someone say they made some.  But I do believe that it's important to set goals.  The key is to (1) Be realistic, and (2) Be accountable.

It's also important to distinguish among those various categories of goals like personal, business, household, family life, financial, community, ministry, etc.  In God's Kingdom, the first domain of His rule is over our person.  Thus those personal goals should reflect those areas of improvement we need to help us be more of the person that God intends for us to be. 

So over the next 5 days look for some realistic personal goals to be posted, and feel free to check in with me later in the year to see how I'm doing.

New Church Website

These last several months we have been gearing up for the beginnings of a new church here in Memphis.  With the New Year we are picking up our efforts and one of those things is a new website that is specifically for the new church plant.

The HaDavar site will continue to host my Blog and other miscellaneous ministry-related articles and such.  The new site will relate only to the church, and gives more detail about our vision and goals.

Please take some time and look over the new site and let us know what you think.  We would love to hear back from you.  The new site is http://www.midsouthchurch.org/.

New Year's Resolution: Reading the Bible

If you're like so many people, one of your New Year resolutions is to read the Bible more.  If that's the case, I've got the perfect plan for you.  Simply download my 5-5 Bible Reading Guide, which allows you to read the Bible in a year by reading 5 chapters a day 5 days a week. 

If that's too intense for you, don't worry.  This plan allows 8-11 days per month with no reading, so there is plenty of catch-up time.  You can customize the plan to fit your schedule and still complete the entire Bible in a year.

This plan is unique because of the arrangement of the books.  You'll read one of the four gospels each quarter along with other NT books associated with that author.  You'll also read a little bit of wisdom literature each day.  The rest of the OT books are read in traditional order beginning with the Torah which is foundational for all later biblical learning.  I hope you enjoy it!

To download and print out the guide, click HERE.