A couple of weeks ago I posted about trying to start to rebuild the foundations of my life that seem to have crumbled recently.  Well, I have not done well.  I could blame it on being sick for a week, or I could blame it on having my daughter with me, or any number of other things, but if I am really honest, I am the only reason I have not done better.

I was looking through some documents I had written in the past and cam across one with this title (Life Priorities).  Well, it made me thing, if I don't change something today then tomorrow will be just like yesterday.  So here it is, the document (with some updates).  I am going to try to start over (again).

Development Areas

Spiritual

To build and maintain a life foundation based on apersonal relationship with Jesus Christ that all other life goals canbe built on top of.

• Bible Reading
• Prayer Time
• Personal Worship

Romans12:1-2 NIV  Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, tooffer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--thisis your spiritual act of worship.  (2)  Do not conform any longer tothe pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of yourmind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--hisgood, pleasing and perfect will.

Personal

To form meaningful and last relationships that are not based on connivance but on genuine love for each other.

Maintain my physical body as a living temple to Jesus Christ in the most healthy state I am able

• Relationships
  • Friends
  • Romantic/Dating
  • Family
• Wellness
  • Maintain weight < 150lbs
  • Regular exercise

1Corinthians 6:18-20 NIV  (18)  Flee from sexual immorality. All othersins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sinsagainst his own body.  (19)  Do you not know that your body is a templeof the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? Youare not your own;  (20)  you were bought at a price. Therefore honorGod with your body.

Professional

To provide the needs of my family and have the resourcesto provide help to other in genuine need, without sacrificing otherlife goals.

• No more long drives
• More time with children
• More time for Peyton
• More time for matters that mean more

Mark8:34-36 NIV  Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciplesand said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and takeup his cross and follow me.  (35)  For whoever wants to save his lifewill lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel willsave it.  (36)  What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yetforfeit his soul?

Plans

Bible Reading

10 chapters a day, based upon the plan from Linda.  Thisneeds to be done through out the day.  Remember the physical bodymodels the spirit.  If the physical body needs nutrition through theday, then so does the spirit.  Feed it through out the day like you dothe physical.  This is also like sitting in a lecture about God andChrist.  I need to learn more about who He is and I need information todo that.

Prayer

If the word is our spiritual food, then prayer is ourspiritual drink.  We can go weeks without food and live, but we cannotgo more than a few days without water.  We need to drink the Lordspresence in our prayer time.  Note, drinking is a silent task.  Prayertime includes silence.  Now, as Bible reading is like sitting in thelecture, the prayer is putting what I learn into practice.  I can sitin lectures all day long, read books about things and "learn", but Ireally ever "know" unless I actually put into practice what I have"learned?"  We have a saying in programming, you never really learnanything until you have a project and a deadline.

Personal Worship

Personal worship is like exercise for the spirit.  Itinvigorates us and gets the blood pumping.  Like exercise works theheart and lungs, worship works the spiritual heart.  Worship is notabout singing either, it is about expressing who God is and what Godhas done and will do. If Bible reading is the classroom work, andPrayer is the field work, then worship would be the intimate timesspent after the knowledge has been memorized and the work has finishedand it is time to enjoy the fruits of the labor.  Worship to me is oneof the most basic expressions of emotions toward God.  Oh I know thatwe show our love by our obedience, but worship, when done right, iseverything within us giving praise, honor and glory to God.  It's us,dancing in the street before the Lord, not caring who sees us or whatthey think.

Friends

Even if you have seen friends earlier in the week, youneed to call them just to say Hi and see what is up with them  Youshould also plan one outing a month with someone and it should be ableto be at your house (meaning you need to clean it).  And maybe even aphone call is not needed.  You should take the time out to call orwrite someone once a week.  Everyone in your church is available forthat letter. 

Relationships/Dating

This one is tough.  I have tried the online dating thingand found it unsatisfying.  I don't like trying to get to know someoneonline.  I want to meet them face-to-face.  I want to see them on aregular basis without having to manufacture a reason to see them (howelse will I really get to know them).  Ideally I would meet someone atmy church, but there are few choices in my small church (really onlyone I am interested in and I am having a hard time getting to know herat all, plus she may be a bit young for me, maybe).  Guess since thereis no real options right now I will not make any plans in this area yet.

Family

This one is tough because is really deals with my mom. For the rest of the extended family, writing them is also a greatidea.  You have lost touch in these last 12 years or so and you need toreconnect to extended family.  This includes those in Metropolis alongwith Grandparents.

As for mom, I am not sure what to do.  There is still alot of issue between us that I do not think will be resolved untilPeyton is no longer in her care full time (sorry mom).

Professional

Not sure what to do here.  My currentjob is very unsatisfying, and I doubt that will ever change (sorry isyou are reading this Tony or Carl).  I may be able to design the mostelegant and efficient software program there is, or provide the bestcost savings in the world, the best analysis of sales data to helpssomeone grow the business, but who am I really helping?  Whose lifehave I really changed?  No one.  That is why it is not satisfyinganymore.  I want to make a difference in individual lives, one life anda time.  I am not sure how I can do that as a computer programmer.