2009: Jon's year to learn Obedience

Happy New Year to all of you!  This year I am going to write out my desires for 2009 (what I would like to see happen in my life and others).

Spiritually:

 

Ø  I desire to be more intentional about my time with God.  The Plan:  I will get up 20 minutes earlier each day to dig into God’s Word and pray.  A person can only go so far in the sanctification process by just hearing smart people talk about God.  When the Word is opened up it allows for the Holy Spirit to do a great work of revelation.  Prayer and the Word

Ø  I desire to learn what it means to fast, because it is an act of obedience.

Ø  I am very excited to attend Catalyst again next October.

Growth:

 

Ø  I desire to read at least 12 books (outside of required school readings) this year.  The books can be Spiritual in nature, fiction, professional and leadership based, etc.

Ø  My current reading list for 2009 starts with 12 and will hopefully expand from there:

      UnChristian by David Kannaman

      Culture-Making by Andy Crouch

      Pagan Christian by Viola and Barna

      The Shack by William Paul Young

      Leading Change by Peter Drucker

      The Sacred Echo by Margaret Feinberg

      IT by Craig Groeschel

      The Organic God by Margaret Feinberg

      The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein

      The Oath by Frank Peretti

      Convergence by Sam Sterns

      Traveling Light by Max Lucado

This is a tentative list of books.  I already own most of them.  I also would like to read more books by Seth Godin (marketing guru) and by John Maxwell who is an expert on leadership.  I am willing to move the list around and/or change some books out based on suggested reading from my valued friends and mentors!

Educational:

 

Ø  I desire to be very intentional in my MBA coursework this year.  I have one more year so I want to finish strong this sprint in the longer race we call life.

Ø  I desire to be more intentional about my learning, taking full responsibility for it rather than relying on professors and others.

 

Family:

 

Ø  I desire to spend as much time as possible serving Heidi, loving her and caring for her.  No matter what happens this year she will be the only human that influences my life every day.  I will spend more time praying for her.

Ø  I will spend more time praying for our families

Ø  I desire to pray more intentionally for my God-daughters Allison (my niece) and Helly (from Lucumo).

Ø  I desire to build better and stronger relationships with my sisters, Emily and Katie.

Ø  I desire to learn more about and become closer to Heidi’s family.

Ø  I desire to go hunting with my dad this fall, to go to another Vikings game and go fishing.

Ø  I desire to support and pray for my mom in her work with the women’s Bible Study at her church; that her group will grow closer to God and pursue His will.

Ø  I desire to pray more specifically for Tom and Nancy’s ministry.

Ø  I desire to support Mom and Dad in all the different and wonderful things they are doing.

 

Others:

 

Ø  I desire to learn new technology and software to make better movies (home videos and promotional)

Ø  To take more pictures

Ø  I desire to go snorkeling once a month

 

I desire to pursue change, not just for the sake of change, but for growth.  A quote that I heard from a friend that I believe comes from a Keanu Reaves movie goes like this, “People only change when they come to a moment of crisis.  Don’t rob me of my crisis!”

Lastly, I desire to trust and obey Jesus with all of my heart.  I want the year 2009 to be a year where I learn the gift of obedience.  By obeying I know that the Lord will show and do great things.  Therefore, my theme for the year 2009 is:

“2009:  Jon’s year to learn Obedience”