A new year is quickly approaching! I can’t believe it…2009.

In just 5 days, you won’t be able to find a parking spot at the YMCA…the snack food industry will take a few week dip in sales as people begin to watch what they eat…iTunes sales will be up as people fill their ipod with music for their workout. The resolutions begin.

If you are like me, maybe you’re a bit reluctant to make a resolution because your track record has been about 2 weeks to stick to it, and then it slowly fades away as the newness of the new year disappears. 

Last year, I made a commitment to read through the Bible in 2008. In just 5 days, I will complete the goal…and my soul is better for it. Just like physical exercise, 15 minutes/day in spiritual exercise builds up over a 1 year period of time. I invite you to join me as well as several others in 2009 in reading through the Bible…here is the link with the details.

What are some goals that you have for 2009? 

#3 – God has taught me to enjoy the journey

I want to improve in all areas of my life…and I want to see measurable growth in my life and in our church. I’m on a journey and I’m looking ahead. But, I also want to take in the sights along the way. God has helped me with this balance… I don’t want the pursuit of the future to cloud the enjoyment of the present. However, I also don’t want the frustrations of the present to cloud the hope for the future.

I think sometimes we focus too much on the goal that we forget that on the journey to the goal is where all of the growth happens. We focus so much on the future, that we don’t enjoy the present. The present is the gift. I want to remember the journey, every part of it…because God gave it to me. He’s taking me on a journey and I want to take lots of pictures along the way!

#2 (In no particular order) God cares more about Elk Creek Church than I do

God reminded me this year several times that Elk Creek Church is His church, not mine. He has shown me that no matter how much I care about Elk Creek Church, He cares more… No matter how much I love Elk Creek Church, He loves it even more…No matter how much I think I am sacrificing, He has sacrificed infinitely more.

I can look back over this past year and see how God has provided for us. This time last year, several of us were putting together the budget for 2008. We were putting together a budget with no track record to go on…no history, and nothing to base it on other than what we trust God for. I remember looking at the projected income and saying, that’s a big amount, but God…we trust you to provide…And God did! It looks like we’re going to end the year having met the projected income that we budgeted for 2008…Praise God!

Sometimes we forget that this is His church, not ours. Sometimes we forget that it’s not up to us to produce the results. I’m thankful that I don’t have to take on the pressure of yielding results. Jesus said, “I will build my church, and the powers of Hell will not stand against it!”  I look forward to what God is going to do in 2009. I know this much…It’s probably going to look different than I expect.

God I pray that you will use me as you continue to build your Church…Use Elk Creek Church to accomplish something BIG for your kingdom in 2009. Father, we give you all the credit for what you’ve done and will continue to do! Thank you for caring more about Elk Creek Church than I do!

I had a great time in the scriptures this morning. These two verses (Isaiah 43:18-19) refreshed my soul.

The word “new” is the Hebrew word “châdash” (khaw-dash’) it means to rebuild or renew. God is at work all around us doing a “new thing”…rebuilding, renewing, replacing, reshaping, & restoring. The question is…Do you perceive it?

I thank God that He is always doing a “new thing” in my heart, in my life, in my soul. He is at work giving me renewed vision…renewed passion for the things of God. 

Yesterday is gone…Today, God wants to do a new thing in your life! Look around…it’s right in front of you.

I think one of the struggles that leaders face is not wanting to hear what they need to hear. Sometimes leaders fall in love with an idea, they call it vision, and they circumvent a very necessary part of the vision process…hearing from God and hearing council from Godly men. 

Listen…A vision not submitted to the process is not a vision…it’s a pipedream.

Don’t make the mistake of calling a man-made pipedream a God-led vision.

I read 2 Chronicles 18:4-34 this morning. King Ahab desperately wanted to go to war against Ramoth-Gilead. He wined and dined King Jehoshaphat and formed an alliance with him and convinced him to fight along side of him against Ramoth-Gilead. Jehoshaphat said…I’ll do it, but first let’s inquire first of the Lord to make sure that this is His vision and not just a pipedream. They called 400 prophets together and asked them…”should we go to battle or refrain?” I can picture Ahab standing behind Jehoshaphat shaking his head up and down emphatically coaching the prophets into giving him the answer he wanted. Every one of the 400 prophets affirmed the “vision” and said yes…God will give them into you hands. Ahab was thrilled…process over…due diligence completed! Jehoshaphat said hold on…one more step. There is one more prophet that we need to inquire of. His name is Micaiah. Ahab rolled his eyes…not him…anyone but him…he never prophesies anything good about me! Micaiah was coached before he got there to agree with the 400 prophets. Talk about pressure! He didn’t cave…he listened to God and said, “don’t do it! God is NOT in this…I don’t know what these 400 other prophets are smoking, or maybe it was bad sushi, but I’m telling you…You will die if you go to battle!” Ahab was livid! He ordered Micaiah to be thrown into prison. Ahab went to war with the warning words of Micaiah playing like a recording over and over in his head. Just in case there was some truth to Micaiah’s words, Ahab decided it would be best to disguise himself. He put on his big nose mustache & glasses and went to war. The Syrian army were sent out to seek out and destroy Ahab. While they were looking for him, a stray arrow comes down and hits Ahab between the scale armor and the breastplate and kills him…not only is Ahab dead, but his pipedream is now dead! 

When leaders push a pipedream forward and disguise it as vision, there will be casualties!

Leaders, are you surrounded by Godly men that you allow to speak into your life or have you surrounded yourself with people that only tell you what you want to hear?

I’d rather have “1″ Micaiah than 400 yes men!