Seven Commitments For 2007

#7 - To Be A Better Manager Of My Time   

I STINK AT THIS!!!  Most of us do…I have many plates I am trying to spin…husband, father (in July), pastor, speaker, leader, friend…and…uh, I am sure I am forgetting something.

For me, most of the time I tend to work my rear end off keeping these plates spinning…and usually neglect myself.  WHICH is WRONG…one can discover this in a reading through the ten commandments–check it out for yourself in Exodus 20…the longest command, the one that God spent the most time explaining was the one about REST.  Hmmmm

So…I am going to make an effort to “disconnect” more…to not be married to e-mail and my cell phone…and to take a day to CHILL and relax…I need that–and YOU DO TO!!!  I used to say, “The devil never takes a day off–why should I?”  Finally someone reminded me that the devil isn’t supposed to be my example–OUCH!

#6 - To Be A Better Leader

I’ve GOT TO GROW this next year…and I am desperate to learn as much as I can about leadership.  I am going to read more–go to more conferences…and network as much as I can in order to try to learn more and more.

I have been reading through Proverbs recently…and in the first eight chapters we are instructed to pursue wisdom…to do whatever we can to get it…to pay whatever price is required…and that is my goal for this next year.

#5 - To Continue To Redefine Church For This Generation And The Next

When I was growing up I HATED CHURCH!  SO…as soon as I could I made a break for it and began to live a “life without rules.”  (I am still haunted from time to time from the decisions I made during that time.)

I can’t stop thinking about this, “What would it have been like if there had been a church that I had actually ENJOYED going to…that I actually LEARNED something in that I could APPLY to my life?  Could things have been different?”

The answer is yes…and so when we began NewSpring Church seven years ago–we did so with this in mind, “There are thousands of people in this county who are good people…but they just don’t go to church.  They believe in Jesus…they read their Bibles…they want to do what is right…but they are so turned off by church.  SO…let’s do church differently–let’s be focused on Jesus…teach His word creatively–show people how to apply it…and who knows…”

Don’t get me wrong–we are not perfect; in fact, we are FAR from it.  However, this next year the team that I serve with and I are going to continue to push the envelope on what needs to be taking place…which leads me to the next commitment.

#4 - To Make More People Mad

In doing church the way we do church…it has drawn out more criticism that I ever imagined.  There are people who hate me who don’t even know me…and who read this blog and listen to my sermons JUST to talk about all the things that I say and do that are wrong.  I am a constant source of anger and frustration for them…

AND if you are one of these people…you haven’t seen NOTHING yet!!!  God has called me to do what I do the way I do it…and I will not apologize to self centered, narrow minded Pharisees (see, you’re getting mad) for who He has called me to be and what He has called me to do.  I will be more outspoken this next year about the need for change in the church…I will not back down…and so, if I have ticked you off this year and you hate my guts…please–for your own sanity–stop reading this blog–because if you don’t you might just have a breakdown in ‘07!!!  :-)

#3 - To Be A Godly Father

My life changed this year with the news that a baby is on the way!!!  I can’t wait…I am both scared and excited.  I want to do this right…I want to raise this child in a home that is secure.  I want to teach this child how to choose between right and wrong.  I want this child to pursue his or her dreams in life.  AND…I want to be the kind of dad that my kids, when they have kids of their own, actually WANT to come around me & do not have to be guilted into it.

#2 - To Love Lucretia MORE Than Ever Before!

I love my wife–she’s AWESOME!  AND…I want to love her more this year than ever before.  I want to laugh with her…I want to create memories with her…I want to be EXTRA sensitive to her during this pregnancy.  (Ladies–any advice here?)  I want her to feel special.  I want to invest time in our relationship.  And I want to continue to date her…EVER after our child is born.  She still gives me chills ever time she gives me that certain smile!  DANG…she’s hot!!!

#1 - To Learn More About And Fall More In Love With Jesus!

I feel like I have learned more about Jesus than ever before this year…and HE AMAZES ME!  He changed my life…and HE’s STILL CHANGING ME!!!  I am consumed by this man…and it is my goal to please Him with every ounce of energy that I can!!!

That’s about it…hope you have a good New Years…I KNOW you will have a good New Years Eve if you come to NewSpring!!!  :-)