With the exception of the Goals on steroids, every goal had to pass this test before making the list…

• Is this something that I am willing to commit to or just something that would be nice?
• Why is this an important goal to me? If I can’t answer this with a clear answer, than the goal is probably not important enough for me to reach.
• Is this something that I am willing to be held accountable to by someone? If not, I know that there is zero chance of me reaching it.
• Is this something that can be tracked and measured?
• Is this a realistic goal?

The Goals on steroids are crazy goals that could never be reached without God reaching in & reaching through to make it happen. They are desires & dreams that are stirring within my heart and soul. They aren’t realistic at all. In fact, quite the opposite…they are BIG, unrealistic, & unmeasurable. Why have this list? Because I believe that as I allow God to stir the dreams inside of me, and I write them down it demonstrates my faith to God. It says to God, that I believe that He can accomplish the impossible. As adults we have lost the what if dreamer mechanism that we were born with. These goals on steroids might not be met in 2009, but guess what? I’ll add it to my steroid goals for 2010.

I hope that you take some time in the next few days to write down a few trackable & realistic goals as well as some crazy, jacked up, super-sized, goals on steroids. Go for it!

In just 5 days, you won’t be able to find a parking spot at the YMCA…the snack food industry will take a few week dip in sales as people begin to watch what they eat…iTunes sales will be up as people fill their ipod with music for their workout. The resolutions begin.

If you are like me, maybe you’re a bit reluctant to make a resolution because your track record has been about 2 weeks to stick to it, and then it slowly fades away as the newness of the new year disappears. 

Last year, I made a commitment to read through the Bible in 2008. In just 5 days, I will complete the goal…and my soul is better for it. Just like physical exercise, 15 minutes/day in spiritual exercise builds up over a 1 year period of time. I invite you to join me as well as several others in 2009 in reading through the Bible…here is the link with the details.

What are some goals that you have for 2009? 

I want to improve in all areas of my life…and I want to see measurable growth in my life and in our church. I’m on a journey and I’m looking ahead. But, I also want to take in the sights along the way. God has helped me with this balance… I don’t want the pursuit of the future to cloud the enjoyment of the present. However, I also don’t want the frustrations of the present to cloud the hope for the future.

I think sometimes we focus too much on the goal that we forget that on the journey to the goal is where all of the growth happens. We focus so much on the future, that we don’t enjoy the present. The present is the gift. I want to remember the journey, every part of it…because God gave it to me. He’s taking me on a journey and I want to take lots of pictures along the way!

Do we really care about those that are far from God?

Do we really believe that Jesus has given us eternal life?

Is our fear of sharing our faith really the fact that we have very little faith to share?

Let’s take some risks…the world needs to hear the truth!

God reminded me this year several times that Elk Creek Church is His church, not mine. He has shown me that no matter how much I care about Elk Creek Church, He cares more… No matter how much I love Elk Creek Church, He loves it even more…No matter how much I think I am sacrificing, He has sacrificed infinitely more.

I can look back over this past year and see how God has provided for us. This time last year, several of us were putting together the budget for 2008. We were putting together a budget with no track record to go on…no history, and nothing to base it on other than what we trust God for. I remember looking at the projected income and saying, that’s a big amount, but God…we trust you to provide…And God did! It looks like we’re going to end the year having met the projected income that we budgeted for 2008…Praise God!

Sometimes we forget that this is His church, not ours. Sometimes we forget that it’s not up to us to produce the results. I’m thankful that I don’t have to take on the pressure of yielding results. Jesus said, “I will build my church, and the powers of Hell will not stand against it!”  I look forward to what God is going to do in 2009. I know this much…It’s probably going to look different than I expect.

God I pray that you will use me as you continue to build your Church…Use Elk Creek Church to accomplish something BIG for your kingdom in 2009. Father, we give you all the credit for what you’ve done and will continue to do! Thank you for caring more about Elk Creek Church than I do!

It’s crazy to think that in just 18 days we will be donning those party hats and those oversized 2009 glasses and bringing in a new year! 

God has taught me a ton in 2008! I think we look forward to each new year so much that we forget to look back to see what God has taught us. To see how far God has brought you, you need to look back. I’m not talking about dwelling on the past. I’m talked about evaluating the past…there’s a BIG difference. Dwelling on the past becomes a “pity party” and evaluating the past can become a “praise party” for what God has taught us.

I’m gonna post a series of things that God has taught me in 2008. This is my list…I hope that you make a list of your own.

#1  (in no particular order) – To be comfortable in my own skin

This has been a breakthrough for me this year. When you are new at something and are learning, the tendency can be to seek out someone in your field that you view as doing a good job, and take on their persona. This happens subtly and usually with good intentions to model their successful qualities, but instead becomes copying the person, not just the transferable qualities that you see in the person. I’ve learned to ask myself the question…

 Am I transferring a quality that I admire in someone or am I trying to copy this person?

The truth is, God created me to be me and He created you to be you. He wants us to learn and grow without us losing us in the process. I think that’s what it means to be comfortable in our own skin.

The more we learn to be comfortable in our own skin, the more we can be who God created us to be!

Thanks Discover, but I have a better idea and it involves a pair of scissors and a garbage can

Here’s the deal…the flight needs to be completed by Dec. 5th. So, I was thinking that maybe there is someone that wants to visit someone for Thanksgiving or get someone home for Thanksgiving. Maybe a college student…maybe a relative…maybe a close friend. 

If this works for you or a loved one… Email me. Make sure that you check Southwest.com for departure cities/destinations. I’ll update the post when the ticket is gone

UPDATE: THE FREE FLIGHT HAS BEEN CLAIMED…SORRY!