My Last Post Until the New Year: A year in review

It has been an incredible year.  I am glad for all of you who have joined me here to make this a fun place to spend some time.  I am hoping to get more organized this next year with this, so that the content is more consistent, and honestly, better.  Until then, I want to end my posts for this year with this simple post, a set of small lists for your enjoyment:

Five Lessons Learned This Year:
1. I am responsible for fixing the problems I see in the world.
2. Sometimes going too big too fast is a recipe for failure.
3. Being in the same room as someone doesn't mean you are really with them.
4. Grace is more than an initial "cleaning" but is a constant lifeline and source of spiritual strength.
5. The greatest moments in life seem to happen quietly.

Five Books I Read That I Recommend:
1. Wierd by Craig Groeschel
2. Beyond Reason by Ravi Zacharias
3. The Old Man and the Sea by Hemingway (Favorite of All Time)
4. Erasing Hell by Francis Chan
5. Suprised by Hope by N. T. Wright

Most Interesting Stories of 2011:
1. The Royal Wedding!
2. Mavericks win the Finals!
3. Ron Paul...in general
4. The North Korean power exchange.
5. Duh! Winning!

My Goals for the Year 2012:
This one won't be exactly a list.  My goal this year is to focus on one thing (thanks Groeschel).  This one thing is a big thing in my life for so many reasons.  The goal:  Grow to maturity in regards to my mind.  Romans 12:2 tells us to not conform to the pattern of the world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  I have worked hard to get my conduct in a good place over the past several years, but my mind is light years from where I think Christ wants to take it.  I will be sharing much more about this in January, including a look at some of the specifics of the "renewing of my mind" and the mini-goals that will get me there.

My Next Few Books to Read:
1. A Hole in the Gospel
2. Some commentaries on Galatians
3. Hopefully Jesus+Nothing=Everything
4. This Momentary Marriage by John Piper
5. Something about Zwinglianism

Ok all, thanks for this year, I will see you next year!

Exposing Secret Jealousy

I am a jealous person.

There I said it. It is true. I get jealous of people all the time. I see who they are, what they have, what I WANT, and I have a great desire to turn them into fleas, put them into a box, put that box into a bigger box, then mail that box to myself. When it arrives, I'd SMASH IT WITH A HAMMER! (Thanks The Emperor's New Groove for giving me a dream!)

Where was I? Oh, how I kinda hate everyone. It's not that I genuinely hate people, but it is just that I look at those around me and their lives seem to be as seamlessly awesome as Bruce Wayne--billionaire by day, crime fighting crazy man by night--awesome!

Meanwhile, I feel like I've got all the Clark Kent, none of the Superman.

Like I said though, it isn't that I really hate these people, it is just that people sometimes seem to have the things in their lives that I want in mine. So, to help me feel more awesome, I've compiled a list of things you can do to help me. If you follow these five easy steps, you can cure me of jealousy!

1. Stop dressing cooler than I do. Youth ministers are notorious for making odd outfits look cool. Your V-necks and skinny jeans make me feel out of date (although more comfortable) than you. My average outfit--T-shirt, normal jeans, and a goodwill plaid suit jacket over the top.
2. Please have less self-control than I do. I eat like a hog headed to the market. I can't keep a workout regiment for anything. Please follow suit.
3. Please have typos in your blog posts. It never fails. I finish my post, I read through my post, I post my post. The next day, I find typos in my post. Can you do this too, it would help my jealousy!
4. Please be less witty than I am. Our senior minister is the most witty man I know. I have to sit for an hour or two to think of a good zinger to get back at him/anyone else. If you could act slow and slightly dim-witted, that would be much appreciated.
5. Don't tell me how much more you have read than I have. I love to read, but I got a late start on the reading train (I was too "cool" in junior/senior high, and too lazy for a couple years in college). I am trying to get with the picture, but please, don't make references to Dostoevsky! Stop the alluding to Austen! And please, whatever you do, don't quote from the most famous of all authors: Rob Bell.

So there it is, my jealous list. I would love to hear your jealous problems on one condition: your issues with jealousy can't sound worse than mine, or it will just make me jealous!