The time has come to once again make goals for the new year only to break them in about three weeks. I am determined to do better this year, though. I have written "check points" into my day planner so that I can track my progress. Here are a few of my "less important" goals. I write them down so that you can ask me how I'm doing later in the year.
1) Hobbies/Achievements - Finish a book by year's end! You probably know that I have several book ideas, but I never focused on one. This year, I am choosing ONE idea and working on it every week. I hope to be done with my first draft by summer. Then I will complete my third draft of it by December.
2) Weight - I'm not so much focusing on weight this year as body fat percentage. I have ordered some measuring calipers and I will let you know the bad news as soon as I get them! My goal is to get down to a healthy body fat percentage by the end of the year.
My next post will contain some more resolutions for 2006. Until then...WHAT ARE YOUR RESOLUTIONS FOR THIS YEAR? Maybe we can start following up with each other!!!!! Feel free to post a comment!
Thursday, January 12, 2006
Monday, December 19, 2005
The Land Rover
A memory surfaced the other day. You see, I used to be a pretty adventurous kid. With heroes like Indiana Jones and Luke Skywalker you are BOUND to try some stupid stuff sometimes!
When we lived in Africa, my parents owned a Land Rover. This mode of transportation is NOT comfortable at all, but is purely for the purpose of getting to “hard-to-reach” places! Because of this purpose, one of the main additions is a ladder on the back which leads to a luggage rack on the top.
One day, a missionary friend borrowed the Rover to go into town. As he pulled away, that beautiful ladder called out my name! I couldn’t turn down an opportunity for an adventure, so I sprinted after the Rover and launched myself onto the ladder.
“Wow,” I mused, “I did that PERFECTLY…just like the stuntmen in the movies!”
As the Rover accelerated, my pride was quickly replaced by a question, “How do the stuntmen get OFF these things?!”
I knew that I had to get off quickly. Luckily, the road beneath me was dirt and we were only traveling at maybe 10-15 mph.
As I jumped, I formed a plan to run as fast as I could when my legs made contact with the ground. That way, I would not fall.
I learned a lot about physics (and myself) that day! It is NEAR IMPOSSIBLE to match speed with a vehicle after jumping off of it! As a result, I went tumbling…kicking up dust in the process.
As I lifted myself up off the ground, insult was added to injury as I heard, “Look at the silly white boy! Hahahahaha!”
But they were wrong. My face was no longer white…it was red with embarrassment!
I wonder how many other people were adventuresome as kids? Did anyone else ever try a stunt like this? Or did anyone else ever try to jump off their house and float down using an umbrella (a la “Mary Poppins”) ? That doesn’t work, either! So, got any stories?
When we lived in Africa, my parents owned a Land Rover. This mode of transportation is NOT comfortable at all, but is purely for the purpose of getting to “hard-to-reach” places! Because of this purpose, one of the main additions is a ladder on the back which leads to a luggage rack on the top.
One day, a missionary friend borrowed the Rover to go into town. As he pulled away, that beautiful ladder called out my name! I couldn’t turn down an opportunity for an adventure, so I sprinted after the Rover and launched myself onto the ladder.
“Wow,” I mused, “I did that PERFECTLY…just like the stuntmen in the movies!”
As the Rover accelerated, my pride was quickly replaced by a question, “How do the stuntmen get OFF these things?!”
I knew that I had to get off quickly. Luckily, the road beneath me was dirt and we were only traveling at maybe 10-15 mph.
As I jumped, I formed a plan to run as fast as I could when my legs made contact with the ground. That way, I would not fall.
I learned a lot about physics (and myself) that day! It is NEAR IMPOSSIBLE to match speed with a vehicle after jumping off of it! As a result, I went tumbling…kicking up dust in the process.
As I lifted myself up off the ground, insult was added to injury as I heard, “Look at the silly white boy! Hahahahaha!”
But they were wrong. My face was no longer white…it was red with embarrassment!
I wonder how many other people were adventuresome as kids? Did anyone else ever try a stunt like this? Or did anyone else ever try to jump off their house and float down using an umbrella (a la “Mary Poppins”) ? That doesn’t work, either! So, got any stories?
Wednesday, December 07, 2005
The first Christmas was not about shopping malls. It was not about credit or presents, but about a PERSON!
This simple fact reminds me that I need to be thankful for many PEOPLE in my life. I am thankful for my son Fischer and our time together. I am thankful for my insanely beautiful wife! I am thankful for the kids in my youth group and my church family. I am thankful for my ministry buddies. I am thankful for my extended family. I am thankful for teachers through life so far. I am thankful that a REAL baby named Jesus was born many, many years ago.
Who are YOU thankful for?
Tuesday, November 22, 2005
Robber's Cave Retreat
Just a few reflections on our Fall Retreat this past weekend:
- I hope that I will NEVER AGAIN see a teen lying facedown after falling about forty feet ever again!! Yes, he is OK, and YES, I believe he had some angels flying with him that day! (Ask me and I’ll tell you the story.)
- I hope my son Fischer NEVER has an accident like that. But (more importantly) if he does, I hope he knows and loves God. So, I will NOT expend my energy trying to protect him all the time, but trying to lead him to God.
- I DEARLY LOVE all my ministry buddies! Your love, encouragement, and unity of spirit are a little glimpse of heaven every time we do these retreats!
- I wish I could budget for a CHURCH JET. That way, it wouldn’t take FIVE HOURS to reach our retreats!
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