Goal Setting

Saturday morning, Margaret and I were laying in bed taking advantage of not having to be anywhere that morning. She had her Iphone out looking at facebook and telling me what people were putting down as their status. She saw that her parent's pastor's wife was running in a 5k race that morning. We started talking about what it would take to run in a 5k and that one of the girls that used to help us in kid's church had run in one. We decided that would be a great way for us to get in shape because we would have a goal before us. We have tried all kinds of stuff to get in shape. We joined a gym (we went until the kids school scheduling got in the way), we bought workout dvd's (The Carmen Electra one is still my favorite to watch), we tried wii workout games (that kicked my tail), and gave a try to a host of other failed bits. We never seemed to keep doing whatever we tried. Something always got in the way. It was kids or ministry or we were just to tired. Having a race to train for we thought would give us a goal to see the workouts through. I thought about being in High School and how I never had problems working out in the Summer because I knew football season was coming, I had a goal to aim for. We got online found a race and looked up workout plans. Margaret got up yesterday morning, early, to run. I took off and ran last night after the kids went to bed.

As I was walking at the end of my workout, I begin to think about how setting a goal is important in our lives. I think our relationships with Christ suffer because we forget about our goal. We may have stuff pop up in our day to day lives that effects the way we live for Christ because the other stuff is right there in front of us like our kids, our schedules, or just being tired. We forget about our goal, Heaven. I know this is borderline blasphemous, but I think Paul was wrong when he used our lives as a metaphor to a race. I wish he had used our lives as a metaphor to training for a race. When you train you can see the end in sight. When you train you set goals for yourself along the way. You work hard day in and day out. The race is our goal in preparing for a 5k, Heaven is our goal in this thing we call life. When I have Heaven squarely in my thoughts, I don't have a problem reading my word, praying, worshiping, or serving. It is when I worry about other stuff, the goals that are earthly that my priorities get messed up. Just as I can train for a race because I can see one coming, I can work on my relationship with Christ so much better if I can aim at that goal, Heaven.

I hope we never forget our goal in this life, even when the busyness has to be done. If we remember our goal, then it makes doing the truly important things a lot easier to accomplish.

Healthcare: my take

I sat up Sunday night watching CSpan. I don't think I have ever watched CSpan for more than 20 seconds at a time. I found myself just getting so frustrated at leaders that disagreed with my point of view. It was ridiculously frustrating. When congressmen that were on my side spoke, I found myself almost cheering them on. I understand the idea of helping people that can't afford healthcare. I understand creating laws to protect people from getting booted from their insurance because they are sick. My question is when did the job of helping the needy and taking care of the sick become the responsibility of the government. I always thought it was the job of the church. I know many churches have drastically decreased helping people for multiple reasons. People trying to take advantage of churches and the economy just to name a couple of them. How do we get back to the church being the place people go for help. I pray that God would give us the ability to get our churches back to a place of taking care of the needy and the sick. It may be the only way to save our nation.

Leadership 101 from God

The other night I went to a "Leadership Tour" event with some of the pastors from our church. I sat and listened as attentively as my ADD would allow (which means I played on my phone some as the speaker spoke). I quickly realized it was going to be an advertisement for a missions project. There is nothing wrong with informing people about missions projects, but not at a leadership tour. It really frustrated me that I came for one thing and got another. I prayed through and the anger was gone. I think my disappointment was because I am always looking for leadership tidbits. Well, I started reading the book of Joshua today. Low and behold, God was giving Joshua a lesson on leadership in the first chapter. Here are some of my thoughts on it.

"Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. 7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." Joshua 1: 6-9

This is the word that God gave to Joshua just after Moses died. He was left in charge of a weary group of people, the Hebrew nation. They had been wandering for a generation without a home. He was given the keys to the army and the reins to his people now what was he supposed to do. Well, God told him what to do.

It is a lesson on leadership straight to Joshua. First, be strong and courageous. Often, leaders get placed into situations they are not completely comfortable with and they panic or clam up. They let stuff ride for fear that we may offend someone. They let fear of confrontation override a vision that God has given them. Leaders must remember to stick to the convictions God gave them. Can you imagine if Joshua had said, "we need to wait and not cross the Jordan because some people will think that is disrespectful to Moses"? It would have cost them another generation of wandering.

Then, God told Joshua do the right things according to the law. He wanted him to know, in kid's pastor speak, make good choices. It is a sad commentary that leaders have to be reminded of this, but they are human. Making the right choices or following the law set up by God creates opportunities to be blessed. Generally, if you aren't doing anything stupid then you can't be brought down by something stupid. If you do the right things (i.e. work hard, respect people, etc.) then you will have good things happen. If you don't do stupid stuff on top of doing the right things you can succeed. This isn't just a Biblical truth it is just the way it is. Does this mean you will be rich? No. It does mean you can be successful at whatever you try to do whether it be teaching kids, being a good parent, or being a good spouse.

Then God reminds Joshua how he started. He says be strong and courageous. God is with him. I think we have to remember that in all our decisions as we move forward with anything we do. Be strong and courageous. God gave you this vision now take his people there because he is with you. This was God's lesson on leadership to Joshua. Today, it was God's lesson on leadership to me.

Pondering after a trip to the park

So, I went to the park with my kids, Scout and Cooper, after I got home from work. It was beautiful outside. The sky was blue about 75 degrees with a slight breeze and kids were playing, really a perfect afternoon after work. I looked around and thought, hey I am the only Dad here". I was astonished by that. I mean it is the twenty-first century. There is numerous research articles about how kids get screwed up when dads blow off their kids. You have one article I read that talks about daughters starting periods later because of better father relationships. (God, I have to make sure Scout and I have a great relationship.) Another one I read said that when a Dad checks homework even periodically the child does better in school. My dad never checked my homework. I know everyone can tell. It is one article after the next article after and still I was the only Dad there at the park today. I know guys have to work. I know we are busy and tired. I understand men are stressed but I spent a total of 45 minutes at the park watching my kids play. I spent time pushing my kids on the swings. I stood underneath them for a spot as they went across the monkey bars. It was fun.

I know many dad's will say, "Hey I spend time with my kids. I coach her team or take him to karate". Do we really take time and spend with them in environments where it is fun and no one is pressured? Create those. Today, it was special for so many reasons. The main was just cause I got to hang out with my 2 favorite kids. Hey, and I know a lot of kids.

Starting

I wanted to start a blog as a new years resolution. I figured today would be as good as any to get started because January is half over. I have been here at our new church now for nearly 2 months. The excitement is still going strong. I think my family settling into routines and making friends. It is a wonderful time to be at our house. As hard as it is to move, I think there is something very cool about starting new. Get to meet new people and have fresh experiences. It feels like you have no limitations. I can do anything and propose anything and it feels like it will work and get accepted.

Is this what new Christians feel like? They find something new in their lives. They feel like they can do anything because of this new relationship they have. They have found a fresh dose of empowerment in their lives. How often do Christians get beaten down by being a Christian?

I have always said I have an issue with people that get burned out by doing the thing God has put a passion in their lives for. I don't think I ever read in the Bible where Paul got burned out from doing ministry? Or Peter needing to take a break from church because he had to much going on?

Boy this blog is moving all over the place. I guess that is what is going on in my head. Always scatter shooting. Just a few thoughts.... Go Cowboys beat the Vikings!