Happy New Year...plans & goals...

We're already a few days into this new year. Can't believe, as we often say, that 2012 is here and moving forward. As we all know, time keeps moving, it doesn't stop for anyone or anything.

I have many dreams & hopes for 2012. Our family has transitioned into a new reality. We are officially 'church planters' and like most planters, are both very excited and scared to death about what we're doing and what God's called us to.

Here are somethings I want to resolve in 2012. Let's call them goals :)

Plant a church
I realize that it doesn't take a year to plant a church. It'll take a lot longer. We're in this for the long hull; 10-15-20 years! However, this is the year that it'll all get up and running. Our hope is that by years end we will have and be part of a community of people that form a fresh expression of the Gospel story in North Whitby.
This will include many other goals and activity that can be tracked and found HERE.

Be a better Father & Husband
I'm not a bad husband or father, but I know that I can be better. Last night as I laid my head on the pillow I felt very strongly that God wants me to be the best Father that our beautiful children can possibly have. That means sacrifice and commitment, plus lots of love of grace. Jacob & Madison need me more than anyone else; more than our new church does & more than my neighbours do. They, along with Janet are my most important and intimate neighbours.




Continue to improve on my musical craft.
As I've transitioned to planting a church, I realized that I'm letting go of some of the things I used to do in ministry; that includes leading worship regularly and playing lots of music. However, I also know that music, both playing and writing, are very close to my heart and gifts that God has given me. It can never be a distraction to our church plant, but it can be a healthy distraction at times. One main musical goal is that I move beyond the worship arena and begin to worship God through music in other circles. I would love to find a band to play bass with: An adele/nora jones feeling band that I focus on playing the bottom end with.


Read more.
I do read regularly, but I want to be more structured and strategic about it. I have a list of books that I've purchased and been given (a huge blessing I might add). Here are some titles I'll be going through:
- The Bible (continual reading)
- Divine Commodity (Skye Jethani)
- King Gospel Jesus (Scot Mcknight)
- Simply Jesus (NT Wright)
- Road to Missional (M. Frost)
- Focusing our Faith (BIC)
- Onward (Howard Schultz)
- Body Politics (John Howard Yoder)
- The Sabbath (A. J. Heschel)
- Telling the Truth (Frederick Buechner)
- The Holy Longing (Ronald Rolheiser)
- The Jesus Way (E. Peterson)
- Practice Resurrection (E. Peterson)

Create a few financial plans
I want to put together a 2, 7 & 13 year financial plan that includes eliminating dept, saving for future...investments, travel and giving.

Fast & Pray
Can't say more otherwise it will lose it's effectiveness.
This will include our family trying to memorize a scripture verse weekly. Something we've never done, but want to try. This will mean that every morning before we start our hectic days, we'll take time to read that verse & pray. I'm probably looking forward to this the most.

That's all I got. Probably ambitious, but better to plan high than not plan at all. May God be in the middle of this - the middle of our lives.