2009’s To Do List

Totally screwed up over 2008’s. It was a busy year, but what ones aren’t.  A rundown: got married, graduated, got my first real full time job, moved twice, wrote a lot, bought a new car, along with Jen is in the midst of taking master’s classes and working full time. But here are some goals to do and for my personal life this coming year. 

Goals for 2009

1. Read the Bible in a year.  Encouraged by folks at our home church, as there are many who hold each other accountable in this endeavor, Jen and I picked up the baton.  It is a first… I think I never finished Isaiah and Jeremiah before.  I am using one of the ESV reading plans.  

2. Grow in my prayer life.  Seriously who does not wish this?  I have a notebook to keep track of daily readings and I write prayer requests as I cross off assigned chapters.  Hope it works.  Here are two things helping me so far (here and here). 

3. Be a better husband.  Do more things with Jen.  Camping/backpacking is one of them.  Do not know the rest.  Many men suggest date nights.  I need to think creatively on this one.  We share many passions, but our hobbies do not coincide directly. 

4. Begin my seminary training.  I plan on teaching at Trinity for at least another year (2009-2010 at least).  TCS assists in their teacher’s continuing education since that is an aspect of certification and professional development.  I am looking at distance education programs from Covenant Seminary and Reformed Theological Seminary.  Perhaps I might enroll for a class or two at RPTS.  These are all churning through my mind.  (I want to stay local.)  I enjoy teaching, but my heart is restless and I want to preach.  Eventually I want to church plant.

5. Grow in efficiency.  I admire men who get things done and are good at it.  I am a multi-tasker.  I read a few weeks back on the Art of Manliness blog that you should not multi-task unless you have to.  I am paying more attention to Getting Things Done (GTD) and others.  

6. Write and perfect my curriculum.  You might have seen my church history syllabus, but that is far from all of it.  If you heard I am contemplating getting my apologetics curriculum published.  But for that to happen I need to do a lot of thinking, reading, and writing.  Things that must happen for me to be the best teacher that I can be, even if I do not get published.  All for his glory.  

7. Get to know my neighbors.  See this wonderful little piece.  In our 8 months of marriage our families have eaten at our table, our young adult group met here once, and we had friends spend the night or visit.  I think the count is under 10 and I hardly know my neighbors.   

8. Be a better leader. The focus of these is to be the man I believe God called me to be.  To love him with my whole being and to love others as myself.  First and foremost I am a child of God, secondly I am a husband to Jen.  Ways to do this is hanging out with guys who will speak truth in love to me, hold me accountable with respect to my callings, and support me as I discover, with them, redeemed masculinity.