Five Steps for Goal Setting

I know it is already January 7th as I write this and many people have made New Year Resolutions that have already been broken--but I'll throw my two-cents into the ring. 

Let me share some brief thoughts to consider when you think about setting goals.  First, let’s deal with the why and then the how.

Why should we set goals?  Many people don’t like to set goals because it forces us to think, to be intentional, and setting goals makes us accountable thus giving the potential for failure.  What I have discovered is that I never achieve the goals I don’t set. 

I was struck by a comment by Mark Batterson when he said, “The brain is a goal-seeking organism.  When you set a goal, it creates structural tension in your brain, and the brain will seek to close the gap between you and your goal.” 

I believe this tension is good and it is what makes the day-to-day grind of life have meaning and value because we view the daily grind as part of a bigger picture—the goals we have set for ourselves.

Now we tackle the how of setting goals.  Here are five steps to consider:

1.  Pray:  Solomon tells us to “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.”  (Proverbs 3:5).  I am assuming that we have a desire to get God’s help and to glorify God with our lives so let’s start with consulting Him.  This will help make sure our motivations and perspectives are in order.
2.  Evaluate:  take an honest look at my life to see where I am, where I have messed up, and what opportunities I have in front of me.
3.  Break it down:  establish areas to build your goals around.  Some of the areas I work with include family health, personal development, professional development, physical health, financial health, and spiritual health.  Having specific areas to think about helps me develop balanced goals.
4.  Write it down:  putting goals in writing forces us to have specific goals.  These should be measureable, repeatable, and sustainable.  If I can’t measure them, repeat them, and sustain them over a long period of time they are not good goals.
5.  Plan your review:  have a set target date for each goal and a reoccurring time when the goals will be evaluated.  With no monthly or quarterly review process the goals will easily slip away.  (This is my most difficult part—I get carried away in life and forget to review my goals.  I have to schedule a time on the calendar for review or it never gets done.)

Ok, let’s get started!  Dream big—you have a big Partner!

The Power of Hope

During the Christmas season I always try to read writings by various authors to rekindle the wonder of the incarnation.  As I was reading a rather simple writing the author referenced Matthew 12:21, a passage I don't remember ever using as a sermon text are even spending much time in meditation.  Matthew is actually quoting from Isaiah 42 following Jesus' healing of the man with the withered hand on the Sabbath.    After the healing the Pharisees begin their plot to kill Jesus and Jesus goes away into semi-hiding.  Matthew says all this was done to fulfill Isaiah's words and then quotes from Isaiah 42.  The last verse of the prophecy is verse 21.  Here is what is says from the NIV translation, "In his name the nations will put their hope."

I was suddenly grabbed by the word "hope."  Jesus came to bring "hope!"  In a messed up world of political chaos, economic hardship, rampant sickness, and broken relationships Jesus came to bring hope.

The writer of Hebrews tells us "faith is the substance of things hoped for" (Heb 11:1).  That means we can't have faith unless we first have hope.  We can't believe for the impossible until we have the hope of the impossible.  So my faith must have the fuel of hope to get started!

We are even told "without faith it is impossible to please God" (Heb 11:6).  Therefore, I can't please God until I have hope because faith starts with hope.

So the big question is, "What am I hoping for?"  As I face this season of Christmas--and a new year ahead, what am I hoping to see accomplished in my life, family, ministry, community, and world?  Am I dreaming big enough to release faith for the impossible?

Jesus came born of a virgin and laid in a manger so He could be nailed to a cross and buried in a tomb.  But He didn't stay in the tomb--He arose as God's plan of resurrection for all of us.  Because of His birth, life, death, and resurrection we all have hope.  None of us are past the point of hopelessness.

Let's ask God to release hope fresh in our lives this season and all year long.  Let's dare to hope for the impossible!

Morning Musings

It is 6:30 in the morning and I have just finished my reading from the One Year Bible.  This reading started in Ezekiel about his dream/vision of two sisters who commit harlotry with Egypt and Babylon.  I know these sisters represent Israel and Judah and their abandonment of commitment to God.  In the same section Ezekiel's wife dies and God tells him not to mourn for her as a sign to the people.

I've got to admit that is a weird section of scripture!

Then I got to the Psalms for the day from Psalm 127--loved this part.  All about "unless the Lord builds the house the workers labor in vain."  This was easy application.

Then came the New Testament section from Hebrews 11 about faith being the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen.  And then the stories of the great people who did awesome things "by faith."

After the reading I took a moment to see what God was trying to say from these mixed up passages.  And then the light came on.  God wants to build my life, family, and ministry and I have to accept that "by faith."  I have to be careful not to look to the ways of the world--Egypt and Babylon--to accomplish what God wants to do.

So today, I ask God to protect me from looking to the world for my satisfaction, support, or joy.  I ask for God anointed eyes of faith to see what He wants to do in and through my life.  And, by faith I believe that God is building me, my family, and Christ Church to impact our community and our world.

Why are we crazy about sports?

I have a confession--last night I stayed up ridiculously late to watch the Texas Rangers blow the sixth game of the World Series against St Louis.  The outcome of that game will not directly affect my life in any shape or fashion--but none the less I sat with pounding heart trying to see the Rangers win their first world series.  Why?

Why would I use four-and-a-half hours watching a baseball game?

I remember years ago being confronted about my--and our culture's--obsession with sports.  It was when my oldest son was a senior in high school and being recruited as a place kicker for college football.  After visits to a few universities with serious football programs I was beginning to wonder about the priorities of my culture.  My son was getting more attention and college offers than one of his best friends who was the valedictorian of the class.  No local papers ran photos and wrote articles about the academic accomplishments of Joey, the valedictorian.  But we have a collection of articles with photos and stats of our son.

One morning in my prayer time I believe God gave me an insight.  Here it is for your consideration--in a complex society people search for something concrete.  Sports becomes the escape from the complexity of our society.  In sports everyone knows who wins and who looses.  Our enjoyment of sports is based upon our understanding of the rules and objectives.  (This is why I struggle with enjoying hockey--I don't understand icing!)

Perhaps this is also why so many churches are stagnant or declining--we have lost clear sight of our objective.  Jesus was pretty clear with His purpose--"to seek and to save what was lost" (Luke 19:10).

Perhaps we can become excited again about life and church when we break it down to the simple "seeking and saving the lost."

And yes, I will be watching game seven tonight--although it will be tape delayed because I get to have my grandkids spend the night.  So my game will start about 9:00.  Grandkids trump everything--even sports!

What is the Most Important Thing I Can Do for God?

That is a big question!  Some might say we should be out winning the lost.  Others would say that we should care for the widows and orphans.  Some might say the most important thing would be to build more churches or schools.

But when I read John 15 I hear Jesus say that our first priority is to “remain” or “abide” in the vine.  The Greek word means, “to remain, continue, stand firm.”

Much of what we attempt to do for Jesus fails to reach its full potential because we fail to get the first part right—we do not begin from a position of remaining in Christ.  There are a lot of good ideas that were not “God ideas.”  I believe that “God ideas” are birthed from our time standing in the presence of God.

In a western culture that values action and busyness it is hard to carve out the intentional time to “remain” in the presence of God.  But the most important thing I can do for God is “remain” in His presence.

When Gabriel introduced himself to Zacharias in Luke 1 he identified himself as “Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God.”  He was the same Gabriel who brought God’s word to Daniel in the Old Testament 600 years earlier.  He is also the angel who came to Mary to announce God’s plan for the birth of Jesus.  From scriptures we know that Gabriel was a warrior and messenger for Almighty God.  But when he introduced himself the focus was on one thing, “I stand in the presence of God.”

I challenge each of us to look at our daily schedule and see when we can carve out a few moments to “remain” or “stand” in the presence of God.  If you don’t have a regular pattern of time with God start with five minutes a day.  Read a passage of scripture and ask God what He wants you to get from that passage.

If you have been following God for some time, try 15 minutes a day.  Read some Scripture, ask for God to show you His truth, and then share with God your hurts and needs.  As you begin to make this a regular habit you will need more time—and you will discover some “God ideas” and directions.