Remembering the big picture, even in the small details

So let’s not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don’t give up, or quit. Right now, therefore, every time we get the chance, let us work for the benefit of all, starting with the people closest to us in the community of faith.

 Galatians 6:9 (The Message)

Our church just finished our annual Christmas Blessing for those who are in a bind this holiday season.  I am the person who administrates and coordinates this event for around 50 families (or about 200 kids).  If you know me, the words “administrate” and “coordinate” are pretty much never mentioned as being in my skill set.  Many times, I must admit, I lost site of the “why we do this” because I was buried in some very daunting and unwanted details. 

As families came this weekend to pick up presents, I once again remembered the purpose of this ministry.  People where incredibly grateful.  There where plenty of tears, hugs, and words of appreciation for everyone!  There were also those who showed remarkable love and integrity by forfeiting their gifts for those they knew needed it more.  Several even returned packages intended for others that they had accidentally picked. This was at the expense of extra gas and time on their behalf.  This Christmas season, may we not forget the love and compassion that Christ has extended to us, may we never get so buried in the minutiae of life that we don’t recognize opportunities to bless others, and may we not miss the bigger picture even in the smaller details.  

Be patient, God keeps his promises

There have been times in life when I really felt that God wanted to do something either with me, through me, or for me.  I have watched with anticipation for something to happen and for “my opportunity” to present itself!  Some of those events happened quickly but many times I found myself waiting and wondering if I missed it.  Upon closer reading of the Bible, along with some clarity by a friend and ministry partner, Jeanette Flynn, It becomes clear that the problem isn’t with God’s timing, it’s with my expectations.  God has his perfect timetable and, while we are the recipients of His promises, it’s not on our terms. 

Here are some examples…

From the time God tells Abram and Sarah they will have a child until they hold the baby in their arms is 16 years.

From the time Joseph dreams of his brothers bowing down to him until he stands in the palace and sees it happen is 22 years.

From the time that Noah is told to build the ark until the flooding begins is 120 years.

From the time God called Abraham to go and receive his inheritance promised for his people until the day they take possession of the land is 400 years!

Don’t get discouraged when things don’t happen right away.  God is still in control and he still fulfills HIS promises.

A wake up call for the Church and for Christians. Keith Green - Asleep In The Light (live)

The first time I heard this song, I was in 6^th grade.  I remember being broken hearted with eyes full of tears and wondering how I could make a difference.  It played heavily in what later led to my call to ministry.

The other night my Spotify account brought up some golden oldies from the Christian music scene.  When I heard this song two nights ago, I had the same response to it that I did as a sixth grader.  As a Christian, especially as a pastor, I have to keep my faith from becoming professional and being locked up inside of church walls. 

This Video is of Keith Green. He was a strong, prophetic musical voice from the 1970’s.  He died at the young age of 28 in a plane crash but made the most of his very short time of living for Christ. 

I hope you can get past the very cool 70's hair and beard and hear the message of this song.  I truly believe it exudes the heart of Christ for His church and His people!

parenting lessons from King David's mistakes

Now his father, King David, had never disciplined him at any time, even by asking, “Why are you doing that?” Adonijah had been born next after Absalom, and he was very handsome. 1 Kings 1:6  (New Living Translation)

I found this verse interesting.  We know that King David was a great warrior, superior leader, and legendary king!  What we do not see in David’s life is a priority on family.  Because of that, his family looked like something from 90210.  If you read on in 1 Kings, you will find that Adonijah ended up a handful for David.  As a matter of fact, David had several kids who had some major issues.  That’s for another day. 

What can we learn from this passage?

1-    What’s ignored doesn’t go away.  This goes for many areas of life.  Expect what you inspect.  

2-    Children NEED discipline.  Psychologists from many fields of study are showing that children WANT discipline.  They need boundaries.  There is obviously a line here but ignoring poor behavior doesn’t work either.  Children need to be raised and not just be allowed to grow up.

3-    Don’t be afraid to ask questions.  I’m very seldom concerned about the issues that people/ my kids can talk about, it’s the one’s that they won’t talk about that are usually points of concern.

4-    Looks mean nothing.  A child may “look” the part of the wholesome perfect child but looks can be deceiving.  There is where knowing your child is important.  

A life full of opportunity

Last week I attended my Grandmother’s funeral.  While she will be sorely missed,  this service was definitely a celebration!  Alice Beach lived for 99 ½ remarkable years.  I don’t have the time or the space to log all of her amazing accomplishments.  What I would like to do though is let you know what this incredible woman did after the age of 75 (that’s how old she was when my grandfather died).

* She learned how to use email

* She learned the functions of smart phones

* She travelled from her home in Ontario, Canada to San Francisco, Germany, Australia, India and Hawaii.  She also visited her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren all over Canada and the U.S.

* She continued to keep the books for her church and, I believe another local business.

* She read more books than you would believe if I wrote them all down

* She made it a regular practice to learn new words from the dictionary

* She rode four wheelers on more than one occasion.  The last time, she was in her mid 90’s

*Finally, she bought and drove a mustang!

Grandma was asked not to long ago what she thought where the most important rules to live by in life.  Her response was “take advantage of every opportunity in life God give you and honor him with it”.  What a challenge for all of us who desire to be faithful to God!  Her second piece of advice was, “be wise with your finances”.  She would always say, “be wise with your pennies and the dollars will take care of themselves.” 

Alice Beach was an incredible woman who has received her eternal reward for a life well lived.  

Ministry, money, abuse and the fallout

There are many things I love about being a pastor.  I love people, I love seeing God change people's lives.  I love seeing people set free from all types of bondages and addictions.  I love knowing I cant talk to God.  I love hearing that still small voice of the Holy Spirit.  Christ is real.  He is risen.  He is alive and is doing incredible things on our planet today.

There are certain things that, as a pastor with a heart for people, I can't stand.  Jim Allen does an excellent job summing up some of the erroneous practices of Television ministries.  Unfortunately, these are also practices that have crept into our local church.  Yes, it's been around for a while but it doesn't make it ok.  For a description of what I am talking about and the harm that it does, you can click here and read Jim's blog.

the fishing nightmare!

My wife got a friend, Craig Eason, and myself a fishing trip a 20 miles out in the Atlantic Ocean for my birthday.  I have gone fishing several times in the Gulf of Mexico but never in the Atlantic Ocean.  Craig and I boarded the boat after eating a big breakfast (mistake #1) ready for a big day of catching trophy fish!  After two hours riding out to sea to reach our fishing destination, I quickly realized that the north/south winds and east/west currents were rocking the boat in ways that caused my stomach to experience feelings it had never experienced before.  We had only been stopped for about five minutes when the first person got sick (and he was a LOUD yacker as well).  Many people followed suit, including Craig and me.  I have never been motion sick in my life but I guess there is a first for everything.  The next 4 hours saw both us hanging over the side of the boat.  It was a horrifying experience.  I was waiting for my organs to come out of my mouth.  On top of this, a little stocky fisherman from Oklahoma (probably about 11 years old) kept walking by us with plates of bacon and Ketchup. Did I mention it was 90 degrees?  It seemed like every time we got sick the fish would appear.  This young fisherman recognized this and asked my friend if he would “puke on his bait”.  Craig responded, “Son, this isn’t on demand!” 

The nightmare ended with Craig catching one fish and I caught NOTHING.  Not even a guppy! I tipped one of the salty boat workers because he had to clean off my side of the boat.  I honestly swore at one point that I would never fish, eat fish, swim, or touch a fish stick again in my life! 

After a LONG ride back to shore and a 2-hour car ride home, there was only one thing left to do in regard to dealing with this trip.  Laugh.  It’s amazing how many times some of the worst experiences in our lives can become endearing if we are willing to laugh at ourselves.  This will definitely be something that Craig and I will laugh at for years to come.  Hopefully, our next trip will involve far more fish and far less spewing!

Having a positive attitude.

Does anyone else struggle with keeping a positive attitude?  No matter how good things are, I can always see how they can be better.  I enjoy working with people and having fun but I have a lot of trouble being satisfied with where things are.  I fail at seeing the positives in life. 

Last week I attended a conference for ARC (Association of Related Churches) and Pastor Stovall Weems dealt with this subject.  He pointed out that in Genesis 1, God ended each day by looking at what he had done.   He always states that “it’s good”.  The message hit home on many fronts. I began realizing that I don’t look at life and see what is good.    I determined that every Monday I will journal nothing but the positive in my life.  No “but’s” or “what if’s” are allowed. 

Last week was my first attempt and I have to admit, it was much harder than I thought.  I kept thinking of how the good things could be better.  When all was said and done, I ended up with three.  Three?  Of all of the blessings in my life I could only think of three positives?  I kept thinking of a better version of the good stuff in life.  This week though is going better.  The week hasn’t been great, but I am now looking for the positives that are occurring all around me. 

Try it this week and I would love to know how it goes!

Spring Football and prepping for the next season...of life

Virginia Tech football has always been known for it’s tough, blue-collar mentality.  If we weren’t the most talents or most athletic team on the field, we would outhustle and outwork you for the win.  We would deliver a whoopin’ in every game.   Last year my Virginia Tech Hokies went soft!  Our offensive and defensive lines were manhandled.  Our receivers didn’t block and just seemed to go through the motions.  When players were asked what the problem was, almost to a person, they said it was a lack of leadership. 

Coach Beamer saw where things were trending.  He changed almost the entire offensive staff and brought in a group of coaches who had “been there” and new what needed to be done to right the ship. 

Spring practice has begun andI love seeing what the coaches are doing to change the environment. 

*more intense 6:00AM practices that are pushing the players and separating those who want to be great compared to those who are just going through the motions.

* Coach Loeffler is being more verbal and demanding of an offense, that underachieved and a quarterback who had some seriously bad habits that were detrimental to his game and the team.  Everything is going back to the basics.

*Bull in the ring!  Those words bring fear to every person who ever played football who didn’t want to hit (Dion Sanders?).  Coach Grimes is requiring toughness from an offensive line that was anything but tough last year.  Check out the video!

These coaches understand that you can’t wait until game time to change a team’s culture and habits.  It must be a day-by-day event that begins right now.  It’s true what they say, “you will play like you practice”.

What areas in life do we need to change now to see long term change in becoming who we want to be?

Who are the people we need to surround ourselves with (our coaches) who will help us get headed in the right direction?

May we all have the heart to want to be all that we can possibly be.  

What happened to the Apostles?

Happy Resurrection Day!  I think most people know what happened to Christ.  The unfair trial, the beatings, the crucifixion.  Then comes the resurrection!  I think to many Christians figured "Jesus suffered so my life can be easy."  We NEVER see this in Scripture.  To make the point, let's look at what happened to those closest to Christ.  His 12 Apostles.

For convenience, the Apostles are listed in the same order in which they appear in Leonardo's famous painting, The Last Supper:

Nathaniel traveled to India to preach to the people there, leaving behind a copy of the Gospel of Matthew.  The king there had him beaten with rods; and after having been thus scourged, was beheaded.

James the Lesser, according to Foxs' Book of Martyrs, was beaten, stoned and clubbed to death.

Andrew "It is generally agreed that he was crucified by order of the Roman Governor, Aegeas or Aegeates, at Patrae in Achaia, and that he was bound, not nailed, to the cross, in order to prolong his sufferings” during the reign of Nero in 60 AD.

Peter  It is believed that Peter was crucified upside down in Rome during the 60s.

Judas Iscariot was not a martyr. He killed himself after betraying Jesus.

John is believed to have died of natural causes, and he might have been the only Apostle to have done so.  He was imprisoned along with Peter by the Jewish authorities.

Thomas was killed with a spear, according to Foxs' Book of Martyrs: "Called Didymus, preached the Gospel in Parthia and India, where exciting the rage of the pagan priests, he was martyred by being thrust through with a spear."

James The martyrdom of James son of Zebedee is recorded in the New Testament of the Bible, in Acts 12:1-2. He was executed, with a sword, by order of King Herod Agrippa I in the year 44 AD: it was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. - Acts 12:1-2.  We also learn in Acts, chapter 12, that King Herod Agrippa I also imprisoned Peter for a while.

Philip was crucified, according to Foxs' Book of Martyrs: "He labored diligently in Upper Asia, and suffered martyrdom at Heliopolis, in Phrygia. He was scourged, thrown into prison, and afterwards crucified, A.D. 54."

Matthew was killed with a spear, according to Foxs' Book of Martyrs: "The scene of his labors was Parthia, and Ethiopia, in which latter country he suffered martyrdom, being slain with a halberd in the city of Nadabah, A.D. 60."

Thaddeus was crucified, according to Foxs' Book of Martyrs: "The brother of James, was commonly called Thaddeus. He was crucified at Edessa, A.D. 72."

Simon   Simon was crucified, according to Foxs' Book of Martyrs: "Surnamed Zelotes, preached the Gospel in Mauritania, Africa, and even in Britain, in which latter country he was crucified, A.D. 74."

I pray we remember that this is not our final reward.  And the price paid by believers who have gone before us and been martyred for their faith in Christ.

Ode To A Heroine Addict

This past week I had an incredible opportunity to join Pastor Marty and Ronda in speaking to a group of students at Anderson Seminary in Indiana.  The classroom experience was fun but what really made the trip for me was getting in touch with my roots.  My grandparents attended this same college in the 1930’s and I found their freshman yearbook pictures (just a side note, my grandmother turned 99 this year).  Anderson is also where I began school.  Lynhurst Elementary School is where I attended Kindergarten and 1rst grade.  I was able to find the old house where we lived and I was flooded with memories from when I was 5 and 6 years old. 

In the early ‘70’s, my dad was traveling a lot speaking at conferences and camp meetings.  He was on TV a number of times and was working in both prisons and corporate offices sharing the testimony of what God had done in his life and assisting others on their road to recovery.  Looking back only about 10 years previous to these days in Indiana, my dad was still on heroine in New York.  He was addicted, violent, angry, and had served 2 jail sentences.  This was before meeting Christ in his mid-twenties in the mid 60’s.   In the early 70’s he had started a rehab center in Miami, Florida (F.Y.I.- there are a few drugs in Miami). We then moved to Anderson. Here he was a dad of three and having a profound impact on this blue-collar city.  Dad wasn’t perfect. He was still working through some of the ghosts of his past. 

We only lived in Anderson for about two years before moving to Blacksburg, Virginia. where my brother, sister, and I spent the rest of our childhood.  We made the move for stability for the family and because he didn’t want to be an absentee dad. What is amazing to me is that in going back to Anderson 35 years later, I still found a number of people who remember dad and the work he did in that short time.  This challenged me to ask two questions:

1-    What am I doing in life that is going to have a long-term effect on people?

2-    What am I doing with the testimony of what God has done in my life? 

Thanks dad for being a role model to me and so many other people.

A Word of Encouragement for Parents

Most parents know that there are moments in life where you wonder if you are going to survive the season that your children are going through.  It may be your child’s crying in the night, teething, hospital visit, puberty, relationships, grades, scary phone calls after midnight, visits from a police officer, or breaking up the fights between sibling where you wonder if they will kill each other!  As children get older, some of those challenges seem to get more intense.  However, there are times where you look at your kids in absolute awe of what God has done.  

Last week was a highlight moment for me as a parent. I hung out with Joey -my oldest child- on the campus of the college he attends.  He has connected with great friends and he has a heart for God.  I left campus with Joey and then the whole family drove to Richmond, Virginia for, my daughter, Maddie’s graduation from Youth With a Mission.  Over the next 48 hours, I watched my four kids laugh, hug, converse, and celebrate each other’s lives.  We even rode in the good old family mini-van without an argument over who sits where!  That may be the first time that has EVER happened.

I want to encourage all parents to find joy in the journey.  Also, REMEMBER that the battles you fight with, and for, your kids right now will bear fruit in the long run.  Every confrontation you have with your child now can protect and preserve them for something better in the future.  I wasn’t so sure of this even one year ago. This year, my kids thanked me for keeping them out of some messes they wanted to get into.  As long as the motive is love and not control for what you want for their lives (I had to fight that battle within myself) your children will grow and eventually realize that you loved them and weren’t crazy after all.

How To Make Better Decisions

How to make better decisions

I have made my very fair share of poor decisions so this is something that has come out of a lifetime of trial and error.  I have made some decisions in life where I made moves that affected my whole family.  How do I know what I’m supposed to do?  How do I know if it’s me, God, or the devil that’s giving me an idea or an urging.  I know I’m not alone in this.  Praying over a decision is probably the greatest prayer request I receive. 

Who should I date/ marry

Should I take this new job over the one I currently have?

Should I buy this house?

Should I go back to school?

Should I _____________________  (place your request here).

Over the last two decades I have whittled down a checklist that has proven pretty effective at clarifying my decision making. 

1-    Who are “people of wisdom” in my life and what do they have to say about it?  People of wisdom are people who have been where I want to go and can help me get there.  They are people who are not afraid to shoot straight with me and tell me the truth.  They are people who pray and I know they pray for me.   

2-    Is it something I am having to force to happen?  Am I having to kick doors open or is God opening the doors for me?

3- Is it moral, legal, and ethical?  For me, the Bible sets the standard on this the way a ruler sets the standard in math.  It is the bottom line (but that’s for another discussion)

4-    Do I have any kind of “gut check”.  When something in my gut says something isn’t right, I have learned not to ignore that.  Each time I do, I end up regretting it. 

Do you have any safe guards in your decision-making?  

What do I want to be remembered for?

I perform about 20 funerals every year.  Each has a unique flavor to it.  Some are very heavy and heartbreaking, such as a funeral I did for a 24 year old who was killed in a car accident.  For others, like a feisty 80-year-old Italian grandma, there are lots of laughs, hilarious stories and family hugs.  The mood of the funeral largely depends on the family, the personality of the deceased, and the circumstances behind the death.  There is also far more peace for those who know that their loved one is in Heaven. 

What stands out the most to me is that no matter what age or socio- economic status, people will remember you for three or four things. 

This got me thinking, what will I be remembered for?  My guess is:

1-    My love for my family.  (having some nerdy fun in the picture below)

2-    My service to God and ministry. 

3-    Being a die hard Hokie fan.  Wow.  Really?  Yep.  I would guess that’s what people will remember me for. 

The cool thing is that I can change it if I really want to.  There is still game time left on life’s clock. 

What about you?  What three or four things do you think you will be remembered for?  If you could change it, what would you want your life to have stood for?

Appreciate your past but don't get stuck there.

Last night I was struggling with a bad case of nostalgia.  Joey had to go back to college, Maddie is in Africa, and I was missing my mom who passed away two years ago. Plus, living in Florida, I was begrudging the fact that it was 80 degrees in January and not snowing.  I felt like Uncle Rico from Napoleon Dynamite, craving a time machine to go back and relive the past.  However, with no time machine in my possession, I did the next best thing.  I pulled out some old home movies and watched them with Sophia and Dominic. 

It’s funny, seeing how things were brings a heavy dose of reality. For example, every snowy winter would bring the kids at least two bouts with the flu.  I listened to an old sermon I had preached. I was ready to crawl under a rock. I think I preached a two-hour message in about 25 minutes.  After15 years, I have learned to pace my speaking.  

I even watched my wedding video. It showed how far Gina and I have come.  Our wedding AND reception cost about $500.  That included a gym with wooden chairs, a cassette player that played a friend’s mix tape, a chocolate fountain that had homemade punch flowing out of it and a friend shooting our wedding pictures and video.  My tech-savvy son was horrified by the video work and editing.  He didn’t think the video was even 5 pixels.

Here is what I came to grips with:

1-    I have been blessed with great family and friends.

2-    It’s alright to peak in the rear view mirror every once in a while, but there is still a lot going on out of my front windshield.  Don’t get stuck in the past.

3-    Appreciate the lessons learned back then, apply them now, and enjoy the fruit of lessons learned.

4-    Things weren’t as great as I remember them.  Every phase of life brings its challenges.

5-    Palm trees in January isn’t necessarily be a bad thing.

Keeping life in proper perspective

Keeping life in balance


I truly believe God made us body, soul (mind, will and emotions), and spirit.  I also believe he expects us to steward all three areas of life well.  If we fall in love with any one of these three to the negligence of the others, we get out of whack.  For example...

We can absolutely fall in love with their bodies.  It can become our obsessive idol.  

We also can be run by the soul.  Our emotions or mental capabilities rule everything.  The problem is that our emotions can lead us all over the place based on such things as a lack of sleep, eating something bad, or seeing a dramatic movie.  Our minds need to be sharpened but we don't, and can’t know everything!  Nobody on this planet does or ever will.  We cannot disregard spiritual things because they seem, in the words of Dr. Spock; "rather illogical".

Finally, we can wrap ourselves in nothing but spiritual things.  When this is done at the abandonment of wisdom we can get flighty.  When we ignore our bodies, they begin breaking down. Illness and fatigue can limit what we can attempt for God.

A couple of years ago I began the practice of taking the first 10 to 21 days of each year and some time in August to fast, pray and make sure things are in line.  This is not an attempt to "try and please the gods to get what I want".  The goal is to take an inventory of what's going on in life and see what needs to go, what needs to change, and where am I just plain missing it.  The fast (usually fruit and vegetables, juices and unsweet or honey sweetened tea) is both physically and spiritually beneficial.  It cleans out the toxins from the body and forces me to see what I'm addicted to (I'm jonesing for some ribs and sweet tea right about now...and a donut!)  By pushing back the plate, I practice discipline I usually wouldn't.  It also focuses my prayer life (more on that in a minute).
  I also basically kill social media.  It does very little to build body, soul or spirit.  As a matter of fact, it can add to unneeded drama and distraction in life.  Not to worry, after the fast I will get back on to see who broke up, who is in a new relationship and catch up on all of the "LMS's" that I missed :). 
The free time allows me more time to pray for family, friends, my church, and what I need to be focusing on in the upcoming year.  

A GREAT resource is Elmer Towns book "Fasting for Spiritual Breakthrough".  It gives 8 biblical examples of fasts and reasons why these fasts occurred (getting wisdom, finances, breaking a bondage, spiritual insights, etc.  Can anyone else relate to needing any of these?).  I use it as a guide for prayer each day.  I also go into the fast with a reading plan in the Bible (either by topic or specific book or whatever I need or "feel led' to read) and many times another book on an area I feel I need to grow. 

It’s not always easy because work doesn’t stop and I still have all of my regular responsibilities.  I just know I will be better at home and work when I do this.  I also figure out that some of those responsibilities don’t need to be on my priority list right now.

Body. Soul. Spirit. 

How about you?  How do you put life back in priority when you know things are getting off kilter? 

Also, is there anything I can be praying for you about?  I promise I will pray and it will not become a sermon illustration.  :)

Thanks for reading and I welcome feedback!

Bowl Games, New Years, and Great Expectations

My Hokies were in town this past Friday for the Russell Athletic Bowl.   I got a great deal on four tickets for Gina the boys to join me.  (Sophia would view going to this game, or any game, as cruel and unusual punishment).   The Virginia Tech Hokies and the Rutgers Scarlet Knights!  I was ready for the GREATEST BOWL GAME OF THE YEAR!!

Honestly, the game was ugly. Rutgers took the lead 17 seconds into the game.  I’m glad our defense was good because we couldn’t run, pass, or block.  The entire first half would have had me pulling my hair out had I had any.  My expectations went from seeing the greatest bowl game of the season to trying to figure out how to fire our entire offensive staff DURING HALFTIME! 

We go into the third quarter and now, on top of an ugly game, it begins raining.  We are all wet, slightly cold, and losing by 10.  (Just a note here, Gina did not complain about the rain, the drunk guy who rubbed her head, the overpriced $12 hamburger with nothing on it, or sitting in the rain even when the game went to Overtime.  I’m gonna have to pay for this one later on in a major way).  After tying the game in the fourth quarter and taking the lead in overtime, I was on a total adrenaline rush. I was so jacked up; I would even let the drunk guy rub my head!  This ugly game came down to a 43-yard field goal attempt by Rutgers.  The kick was up and… NO GOOD!  Everyone was hugging and high fiving and, in my mind this game had become an instant Hokie classic.  Same pathetic offense through out, sitting in a driving rain, but all of a sudden, this was the greatest game ever!

Now, looking back on 2012.  I was so FIRED UP when 2012 began.  I started back to school, my kids were set for great things in their own academics, and my dad’s life seemed to have settled down after losing my mom.  Gina’s online store seemed ready for a big year, we were ready to make new hires and move forward at the church.  I was expecting really big things!  In short, the year flopped.  2012 was one of the roughest years I have ever had to endure.  In my family, in ministry, financially, everything was a challenge and it seemed like I was always on defense and never progressing offensively.  At the end of the year though, I look back and the final 5 weeks of the year seemed like “we won by a field goal”.  Two of my kids pulled 4.0’s in school.  I finished my degree.  Gina had to downgrade her store but it is opening other opportunities for her.  Dad retired after 45 years of ministry.  And Maddie is in Amsterdam preparing to head to Africa tomorrow and she is fired up for God.  I didn’t see any of this happening in July.  I was wondering how to just survive.  The secret seems to be in not quitting.  Press on even when the game of life does not meet our expectations at the moment.  As Matthew 6:34 in the Message paraphrase says, “Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.” 

2013 has launched.  I have some big goals and big expectations.  My challenge is not to quit in the second quarter and remember the game is not over.  Some of it is stuff from 2012, some of it is working toward life goals I have, and some is just high expectations. 

Do you set goals for the year? 

How do you do it? 

Do you consider your expectations to be optimistic, realistic, or pessimistic? 

Any advice?