The Fifteen

okay…i’m going to go waaay out on a limb.   i’m going to give you my best shot at honest transparency, in an attempt to be held accountable…and see if anyone wants to dare to join me.  check it out:

over the next fifteen days, i’m going to tell you fifteen things that need to change in my life in the coming year.

i’ve never been much on new year’s resolutions, so don’t get confused.  these are not pithy little token goals for the year.  these are things (both big and small) that need to change in my personal world.  for me, they are life and death in my relationships, my health, my ministry, my attitude, my spiritual growth, my confidence, and my reputation.

yeah, they are that important.

i’m sharing them with you, hoping that you will dare to hold me accountable.   that you would ask me about them and make me tell you how i am doing.   i am asking you to help me keep my promises.  i’m challenging you to force these issues in my life.

i’m not just going to tell you what needs to change, but i’m also going to tell you what i am going to do about…as best i can tell you.   dreams without goals and tangible plans are nothing but talk.  and this year of my life needs to be action and not talk!

change number one:

i need to get back to reading my bible everyday, just to listen to what god has to say.   that may sound odd to you…a preacher that is not reading his bible everyday.   sorry.   i’m human.   i’m busy.   i’m lazy.   i’m pre-occupied.   whatever.

i am constantly preparing sermons and lessons and counseling sessions and bible studies.  being in god’s word is a normal occurance in my daily grind.

i suppose that’s really what this is all about.  the grind. i am always preparing something.  i’m always looking in god’s word to find out what it has to say to others.   i’m always looking for lessons and messages and information and truth and stories and answers.

i feel like over the past few years, my relationship with god’s word has become totally utilitarian. it has stopped being god’s personal message to me.

i desperately want this to change!

sooo, starting january 1, i am beginning a new bible reading program…just for me.  completely separate from sermon preparation…separate from lesson and bible study preparation…separate from what you need to know.

i’m going to read through the whole new testament, psalms and proverbs…a little bit every day…for 365 consecutive days.  really.

i’m no legalist.  i don’t think there is anything mystical about reading the bible everyday.   i don’t think it will make me better than you…nor do i think god is going to be particularly impressed with me.   i just know i need this discipline in my life and i’m going to raise this bar.

…and see if there are any of you who would like to join me.

i found this really simple bible reading plan that i’m going to follow…basically a chapter or two each day.  that’s it.

here’s the link to the plan,  if you want to use it.

i’m also going to make a habit of writing down a couple of things that i learn each day for you to read and comment on, if you are doing  the same plan.

anybody up for the challenge?  anybody want to join me in this daily bible reading plan?  you won’t be disappointed!

#biblereading