Fifteen Important Questions – #14

in the spirit of new years, here’s your next-to-last question:

what habit would you most like to establish this year?

would love to hear from more of you on this one!

Fifteen Important Questions – #13

here’s today’s question:

what is your most important financial goal this year, and what is the most important step you can take toward achieving it?

of all the questions i have posted, this is probably the one that has the potential to impact our lives the most…in a practical way.  in the economic situation we find ourselves in these days, a sound financial plan is an absolute necessity.  does your financial condition control you…or are you controlling the condition?  what do you need to do about it…right now?  who are you going to tell?  where are you going to get help?  don’t do this one alone!

Monday Morn…er, Afternoon Quarterback

wow, what an interesting sunday!  here are some of my thoughts and observations:

• what was up with the first service seating arrangement?  i felt like i must have had germs or something…the way that people sat in the back.  
• every time i get to play in the band (which is less and less these days), i come away with a much deeper appreciation for what they do each week…how good they are…how deep their dedication is…and how severely they have passed me by.
• brandon better get his behind back here by next sunday.  that’s all i’ve got to say about that.
• do you like “love is here” as much as i do?  what a cool song with an amazing message.
• do any of you remember the days that it was our middle school wanderers that got up during the service to go visit the restroom…multiple times?  it’s not those crazy middle school kids anymore…
• there were a bunch of new people yesterday.  i loved it!
• i really thought that yesterday was going to be a really low attendance.  boy was i surprised.  i don’t know why i am ever surprised by the surprises god surprises me with!  you would think i would come to expect it.
• the offering continues to be awesome!  over $5000 this week.  what a way to go into the new year.
• the majority of our young couples were gone yesterday visiting family…out of town.  we had six new young couples come as our guests.  can you imagine what it will be like when all of our young couples start getting together with each other?  it’s going to be awesome!
• we are getting ready to have a real problem with the size of our nursery and the number of people we have helping.  great committed servants, but we need more.  any suggestions for either of these problems…i mean possibilities?
• speaking of opportunities…we really need some people who will serve as welcomers and information people.  we need to take better care of our guests on sunday mornings.  are you willing to step up?
• my favorite time in the week is going out to lunch with people on sundays.  had a great time at chili’s with friends.
• even though i have a love-hate affair with the holidays, i’m grateful we are a church family that doesn’t guilt people into doing stuff.  i’m grateful that we have the freedom to miss sundays and visit families and get away on long weekends without people getting all worked up over it.  now that’s simple church!

The improbable becomes reality…

Fifteen Important Questions – #12

we’re winding down to the final question of the year.  i bet you can’t wait to see number fifteen!  in keeping with my recent sermon sermon series, here’s the question of the day:

what area of your life most needs simplifying, and what’s one way you could simplify in that area?

i am becoming more and more convinced that simplifying is the path to spiritual maturity. in every area of our lives.  i’m really interested in knowing where you are planning to simplify.

Fifteen Important Questions – #11

as we wind down our final few days of 2008, so also will our questions.  here’s your question for today:

what one thing could you do to improve your prayer life this year?

there is no question that we all have so much to learn…so much to experience…so much wisdom to gain, when it comes to prayer.  it is the oxygen of our god experience and the fuel of our relationship.  don’t you think it’s time to make it a priority?

Fifteen Important Questions – #10

in the spirit of christmas…the commercial christmas, i thought i’d give you a fun question for you to ponder, now that all the wrapping paper has been picked up and christmas wishes have been fulfilled:

what’s the most important new item you want to buy this year?

don’t get all spiritual on me…just lay it out there.  what are you hoping to get this year?

Fifteen Important Questions – #9

hope you had a great christmas day…whether it was filled with family and friends or traveling or a good book or some much needed rest!  here’s your question for today:

what one thing do you most regret about last year, and what will you do about it this year?

our lives are full of good decisions and…not so good decisions.  the amazing thing is that we are always one good decision away from turning everything around and starting a brand new phase of our journey.  most of the time, the start of this process comes down to admitting the truth of our past.  with ruthless honesty.  

happy admission.

Fifteen Important Questions – #8

merry christmas!  how about a question that goes straight to the heart:

what single thing that you plan to do this year will matter most in ten years? In eternity? 

honestly, i think this may actually be the single most important question we could ever ask ourselves…

Fifteen Important Questions – #7

here’s a christmas eve question:

what are some ways the incarnation (god with us…right here…right now) will make a difference to you this year?

sometimes i think we live our lives as if god were out there…detached…aloof…disconnected from our daily existence.  would we really be doing some of the things we do or thinking some of the thoughts we think or saying some of the things we say if we really believed that god was right here with us?  think about it…