I'm not a big new year's resolution kind of guy. In part because new year's resolutions are to be made to be broken. At least that's the running joke. So instead of resolutions for the whole year I am going to make a few goals for my first half of 2009 and you get in on the madness so that both of you reading the blog can hold me accountable.
Any good goal is
Specific
Measureable
Attainable
Realistic
Timely
So my goals have to be SMART. You won't find any "get in better shape" resolutions from me (although that is probably needed). Instead you'll find the following three goals for my first half of 2009.
1. I will turn my internal clock completely around in 30-60 minute intervals by April 5, 2009.
This blog is an example of the clock I am on. I stay up extremely late most nights trying to cram in work, personal finances, blogging, and a little recreational web-reading (usually Texas Rangers or Arkansas Razorbacks related). This leads to me dragging out of bed in the mornings usually not very well rested, in not the best mood, and makes me less than fully effective as a person, husband, father, and pastor. For example, I am doing finances after this blog because it has to be done tonight. I'll get to bed around 1:30 or 2:00 in all likelihood only to get up about 6:30 or 7:00. Some people function great on that amount of sleep... not me. I can do it for a day or two but the crash is coming. It's absolutely necessary for me to turn my clock completely around but I just can't do it cold turkey. If I tried to do it tonight I'd lie awake until 2 mad at myself for not going to sleep and not getting anything done. Laugh if you want but its true. For my health and productivity I need to turn my clock around where I am getting up at 5 (or ambitiously 4:30) and asleep no later than midnight and preferably around 10:30 pm. (And yes I finished this paragraph at 12:10 am... see I have work to do)
2. I will share the gospel at least once a week personally to the point of asking for a decision.
I'm almost ashamed to make this a goal but it needs to be for me. In college I shared the gospel on average once a day and I'd love to get back to that regularity but in the interest of "achievable" I better start at once a week. That's not to say I'm not sharing the gospel. I am, but sometimes, ok often, I fall short of leading toward asking for a decision because as a church planter I don't want someone to be offended or to form a bad image of our church before they even come. But the honest truth is that I've bought a lie of satan in that area and I am not loving them if I'm not leading toward a decision. And conviction on this came from a very unlikely source...
Honestly, as a church planter I should be leading toward a decision everyopportunity. People are going to be offended. It's biblical. Paul said people would be... Jesus said people would be. For me to think they won't be is arrogant to say the least. That doesn't mean I'm going to be pushy and try to offend. That's the other end of the error. So you don't have to run if you see me approaching the playground or swimming pool. But I must make the most of every opportunity! And God is going to have to give me the opportunities.
3. I will work ahead in my message prep at least 1 week and preferably 2 weeks by the June 30.
I am a much better preacher/pastor/husband/father/and follower of Christ when I'm ahead in my message prep and it's better for everyone involved in leading Sunday mornings at The Church at Sendera Ranch. Getting ahead moves me out of the "URGENT-MESSAGE MUST BE DONE BY SUNDAY-URGENT" mentality and into the "What does God want to say to us in this message" mentality. The urgent is about getting the task done... it's the work of ministry without the heart of ministry behind it. It's not quite "these people honor me with their lips but their hearts are far from me" type of stuff but it's leading that direction. And some guys work better by focusing on that week's message only. But I'm not really that guy... percolation is a great thing for me and it enhances my preaching and connection.
There's no doubt that there are other goals that need to make this list but any more would severely hamper the reality of achieving any of them. I think I can knock these three out in the next six months and then formulate another set to hone in on. Pray for me in these areas if you please... and check in with me to see how I'm doing. A little accountability is a really good thing.
