My word for 2008

My word for 2008 is.... Discipline!  One thing that I have found in my life that causes me the most frustration is my lack of discipline, I mean across the board. Whether it's prayer, Bible reading, exercise or simply just telling myself NO!  I want to work on being more disciplined this year!  This is not a New Years Resolution or anything like that... it is simply an observation of my life and how I need to improve it.

Yesterday I went to the gym for the first time in along time, (Ideally I like to go in the fall, winter and spring, leaving the summer for more outdoor activities) I hadn't been there since probably April or May.  Anyway it felt really good to get back on the treadmill and walk/run a couple of miles and then go and lift a few weights.  

Along with this I am trying to eat better as well.  So after dinner last night I was at home and so tempted to pick something up and eat it, but everytime I put it back and said out loud "discipline." 

I want to start telling myself "NO!"  Whether its because I was an only child and got my way or maybe its because of my personality, but I have always told myself "YES!"  And because of that I have gained probably 20-30 pounds over the past 7-8 years, I have not prayed or read my Bible or any other books for that matter like I would like.  So this year I am disciplining myself like never before!

Because I know the first question that Gary Fowler is going to ask is..."what is your plan?"  here it is:

• Go to the gym on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday or Saturday (depending on weekend schedule or plans).
• Rotate days on cardio and weights (yesterday was 1/2 hour on the treadmill, today will be more time on weights)...burn a minimum of 1,000-1,200 calories a week.
• Only eat between 1600-2000 calories a day
• Come into sanctuary before noon during the week: Prayer, read my Bible, and journal!
• Read 1 book a month (not exceeding 200-225 pages)
• Read/pray through Celebration of Discipline - I want to get everything out of this book that I can about spiritual discplines; so I want to read about a particular discipline and then work on implementing that in my life.  Read the next and so on...
• Our family to be on a written budget and FOLLOW IT!  We are out of debt except for our car...I want to get our car paid off and have 3-6 months of expenses in saving and another $10,000 for a down payment BEFORE we buy a house.  Probably won't happen this year, but that is the goal we are going to work towards

This list may grow, but right now this is where my discipline is starting for now...I want to have  plan and then work it...plan the work and the work the plan (I think that is the correct saying...haha).

Love to hear some feedback...especially from my workout mentors: Konan, Andy and Gary!

On the road again...

Well as you can tell my time off for the Holidays has ended and I have been going at it solid for the last week and half.  Last week I was out of the office a total of 2 days with Fine Arts Meetings.  Tuesday afternoon with Steve Patient who is our HR coordinator, I used to that job so I met with him to go over stuff and get him up to speed.  He is doing and will do a great job in that role.  Steve is an incredible guy, it has been so cool to get to know him and Christine over the past few months...I look forward to getting to do more stuff with them in the future.  

Then on Thursday I drove down to Cincinnatti to see my buddy JT and Lisa.  It was so cool to see them and their new church.  I have known JT for at least 5-6 years and I gotta say he is one of my closest friends.  We worked to together at P-ville for several years and then took over for me when I left.  He and Lisa have been through alot while in P-ville, so it is so awesome to finally see him in a ministry position...I know he is going to do an incredible job!  Anyway, they were nice enough to let me crash at their place since we had a FAF meeting on Friday in Dayton...I can't tell you how awesome it was not to get up at like 5AM to drive to that meeting.

Speaking of FAF, I think this year is going to be awesome!  We have moved some categories around to give them more space, we have also added a "mother's room" for mom's that are nursing or just want a place to take their kids to sit down and chill for a little while.  I got to admit it was my wife's idea...she won't need it this year, but next year she will with the new addition... (still praying for a boy!).

So that kind of catches you up on whats been going on...my next post will be on something that I feel that God is really speaking to me about in 2008!

RMC Students

It has been so good having Tona, Hannah and Kyle home for the past few weeks.  Haven't really gotten to hang out with them much except for the last couple of days.  Took them to Olive Garden for lunch today and had a blast just hanging out.  

You know sometimes ministry can get so tough!  But when you see what God has done in students lives that have been in your youth ministry it kind of refreshes your resolve to see God do things in other students lives.  Hearing what God has done in their lives has been so cool!  I can't wait to see what he does this spring as they go back and continue to grow and learn.  They will be attending missions trips in Chicago and God willing Kenya.  

I am so glad they are in a place that does ministry out of the box.  Below is a video that all three of my students were in, they shot this video for a series that Pastor Jeremy did called Glamorous...this is so cool!  Hope you enjoy...

P.S - Pray for all three of my students as they go back, they all need to raise money for tuition as well as missions trips.