Question for you & me for 2010

Copied from Don Whitney

Ten Questions to Ask at the Start of a New Year or On Your Birthday

Once, when the people of God had become careless in their relationship with Him, the Lord rebuked them through the prophet Haggai. "Consider your ways!" (Haggai 1:5) he declared, urging them to reflect on some of the things happening to them, and to evaluate their slipshod spirituality in light of what God had told them.

Even those most faithful to God occasionally need to pause and think about the direction of their lives. It's so easy to bump along from one busy week to another without ever stopping to ponder where we're going and where we should be going.

The beginning of a new year is an ideal time to stop, look up, and get our bearings. To that end, here are some questions to ask prayerfully in the presence of God.

1. What's one thing you could do this year to increase your enjoyment of God?

2. What's the most humanly impossible thing you will ask God to do this year?

3. What's the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your family life this year?

4. In which spiritual discipline do you most want to make progress this year, and what will you do about it?

5. What is the single biggest time-waster in your life, and what will you do about it this year?

6. What is the most helpful new way you could strengthen your church?

7. For whose salvation will you pray most fervently this year?

8. What's the most important way you will, by God's grace, try to make this year different from last year?

9. What one thing could you do to improve your prayer life this year?

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

In addition to these ten questions, here are twenty-one more to help you "Consider your ways." Think on the entire list at one sitting, or answer one question each day for a month.

11. What's the most important decision you need to make this year?

12. What area of your life most needs simplifying, and what's one way you could simplify in that area?

13. What's the most important need you feel burdened to meet this year?

14. What habit would you most like to establish this year?

15. Who is the person you most want to encourage this year?

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

17. What's the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your work life this year?

18. What's one new way you could be a blessing to your pastor (or to another who ministers to you) this year?

19. What's one thing you could do this year to enrich the spiritual legacy you will leave to your children and grandchildren?

20. What book, in addition to the Bible, do you most want to read this year?

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

22. What single blessing from God do you want to seek most earnestly this year?

23. In what area of your life do you most need growth, and what will you do about it this year?

24. What's the most important trip you want to take this year?

25. What skill do you most want to learn or improve this year?

26. To what need or ministry will you try to give an unprecedented amount this year?

27. What's the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your commute this year?

28. What one biblical doctrine do you most want to understand better this year, and what will you do about it?

29. If those who know you best gave you one piece of advice, what would they say? Would they be right? What will you do about it?

30. What's the most important new item you want to buy this year?

31. In what area of your life do you most need change, and what will you do about it this year?

The value of many of these questions is not in their profundity, but in the simple fact that they bring an issue or commitment into focus. For example, just by articulating which person you most want to encourage this year is more likely to help you remember to encourage that person than if you hadn't considered the question.

If you've found these questions helpful, you might want to put them someplace—in a day planner, PDA, calendar, bulletin board, etc.—where you can review them more frequently than once a year.

So let's evaluate our lives, make plans and goals, and live this new year with biblical diligence, remembering that, "The plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage" (Proverbs 21:5). But in all things let's also remember our dependence on our King who said, "Apart from Me you can do nothing" (John 15:5).

Which one of these do you know the most about: Black Friday or Advent?

Last Sunday I offered to send to our group a short article they could use to send to friends about what the Advent season is about and to introduce our church plant. Use is if you like.

Which one of these do you know the most about: Black Friday or Advent?

My guess is that you know more about Black Friday. Let me tell you something you do not know about this upcoming Friday. It occurs on the Friday after Thanksgiving, and it's one of the major shopping days of the year in the United States, falling anywhere between the 23^rd and 29^th of November. While it's not recognized as an official US holiday, many employees have the day off – except those working in retail, of course! In the 1960's, police in Philadelphia griped about the congested streets, clogged with motorists and pedestrians, calling it “Black Friday.” It also has a financial connotation. “Black” refers to stores moving from the “red” to the “black,” back when accounting records were kept by hand, and red ink indicated a loss, and black a profit.

My personal goal is to never have to go shopping on Black Friday – but I am a guy. But what about Advent? I am a pastor and a church planter. The name of the new church is Advent. Let me tell you a little about what Advent means because this Sunday is the first of four Sundays called the Sundays of Advent.

"Advent" comes from the Latin word adventus, which means "visit" or "coming" or "arrival." The four week season of Advent is a time to get ready for the two "visits" of Christ: His first coming through the Incarnation, and His second coming as the reigning Lord. It's a time of waiting, hoping, and getting in touch with our need for a Savior. It's a season of preparation for Christmas, much as Lent is a season of preparation for Easter.

In Advent we look back to the experience of Israelites as they yearned for God to forgive their sin and restore their nation. We put ourselves in their shoes as they hoped for the coming of the Messiah. Thus we ready our hearts to celebrate the good news of Christmas.

No doubt you will see one of the many versions of the classic story, Christmas Carol. This story reminds me of the power of being forced to reflect on the past, present and future. Scrooge is remembered for his coldness but ultimately for the reverse direction he took when confronted with the future as well as misspent past. Tiny Tim has a future because Scrooge looked to the past and repented! I want to be like Scrooge – someone who is willing to repent and also live in light of a hopeful future – that is what Advent is all about. Look back, look forward and have hope because there really is a Savior!

So as you look at your budget before you leave for “Black Friday”, look at you soul during the next four weeks of Advent and see if you have the hope that only the Lord Jesus Christ can give! And if you would like to find out more about that hope and joy you are invited to be a part of the new church we are calling Advent – a joyful, preparing people that are learning how to party!

Until the Trump,

Ken Cross
Church Planter

I know where you can send your holiday giving!

Very 'interesting article! Ken

Holiday Giving

According to new study results soon to be released from Harris Interactive^®, more than three out of four U.S. adults would prefer to receive a meaningful gift this holiday season that would help someone else instead of a traditional gift like clothing or electronics. The study was commissioned by World Vision^® among 1,001 adults from October 29 to November 1.

The new survey on charitable giving also concluded that nearly half of U.S. adults (49%) would be more likely to give a "charitable gift" as a holiday present this year. "That finding reveals our charitable culture at work," said Justin Greeves, senior vice president of public affairs and policy research at Harris Interactive.

Additionally, the study showed that, this year, around six out of ten adults (57%) said they will spend less money on holiday presents and almost three out of four (74%) plan to increase their charitable giving once the economy improves. [ChristianPost.com]

As many of you know I am a church planter in Charlotte, NC. Our goal is to have our first public worship service on Palm Sunday, almost 5 months away and there is so much to be done. One vital element of this is the need to raise $50,000 for start up cost (sound equipment, chairs, nursery equipment...). If you would like to give one time gifts to this effort you can send checks made out to Advent Church to our treasurer:

Ben Coulter

4008 Cedar Point Ave

Matthews NC 28104

Things are not as they seem!

Easter was yesterday - and it was great. We had worship that was very meaningful for me. I spoke on John 21 about Jesus fixing b'fast for Peter and disciples. I will not relay the whole thing here - but I was thinking. Easter points us to remember that things are not as they seem.

Peter, having already witness the crucifixion and then twice saw Jesus after he rose from the dead, still got depressed and thought he would do something that he know he could do well. He didn't know what the future would hold without Jesus. So he went fishing - he grew up fishing. He knew the spots. But - no fish. Until a voice from shore tells them to put the nets on the right side of the boat. 

Now that is humorous to me. All night fishing - no fish and will throwing the nets on the other side of the boat make a difference? ABSOLUTELY - when Jesus tells you to do it!

Fishing is not what is seems with Jesus. Neither is marriage, gall bladder surgery (a friend is having it done today - pray), church planting or house hunting.

Not what it see

ms with Jesus! IT is always more!

(The picture is a chalk drawing on concrete!)

# 5 Pictorial Thanksgiving

#4 Pictorial Thanksgiving: the kids

#3 Pictorial Thanksgiving

#2 Pictorial Thanksgiving

A Great Thanksgiving - pictures are worth ... #1

Yes it was a great day!

July 5th, or the second "4th of July" this year, was a stupendous day with our immediate family, my nephew Wil Cross and his beautiful bride Ashley. Wil and Ashley live in Charlotte and I had the privilege to perform their wedding less that 2 years ago. Wil is working as an engineer for John Deere and Ashley is in nursing School after finishing a degree in industrial design from GA Tech. Both very bright people.

Ashley got up skiing for the first time - not long - but she got up. Wil looked like a pro. When Rebekah finally got to tube we heard thunder and headed into shore and watched the rain = can't complain about rain ever these days! Then it rained until about 8:30 PM while we taught Wil and Ashley the great board game, "Settlers".

Fireworks were scheduled for 9:20 PM about a mile or two up the lake, actually right in front of the pool that Margaret lifeguards. God stopped the rain, we got in the boat and saw a great show while Lynn uuhed and awwed. We were so close that we felt pieces of the shells fall on our heads! Lynn says that 4th of July is her favorite holiday because of the spectacle of the flotilla of boats, the lights, the great fireworks all reflecting off the water. But all that is second to having  good friends and family in the boat.

15 minutes after we returned home it began raining again.

If you are reading this and live close enough join us next year, we might need you to bring a boat, but join us anyway!

The picture in this post is a picture of a picture that is hanging in Wil's parent's home. It is of Katie and her 2 cousins (Wil and BJ) long ago at the beach. Wil is the one in the headlock!

4th of July

What a great day! Family and friends here at REVILO made this a special day. (The only thing that could beat yesterday will be today as we have Will and Ashley come for a visit! But back to yesterday.)

Justin, Michael and I broke the sailboat and almost turned it over. We did fill it with water while we were sailing more than a couple of times.

Great meal with everyone bringing food: Coconut macaroons, charcoal grilled chicken & hotdogs, zuchinni nut birthday cake for Janice, mashed potatoes, mexican chicken casserole, coconut macaroons, fruit, salads, chips, squash casserole and especially coconut macaroons!

There was tubing, wake-boarding, getting wet when the dogs shake, floating, paddle boating, canoeing, swimming and the active sitting under the fan and talking a blue streak. These are memories that will last. 

We watched man's fireworks and God's. The lightening was vivid!

The best of my lifetime - back yard firework display was put on by the Justin and Michael. WOW!

Talking with long time friends until midnight ministered to my soul.

I could have done without the Fire Dept. arriving or the foul language as  next door hormonal boys strutted their stuff in an almost fist fight among themselves but like ants at the picnic you will remember that picnic! 

This week I have been meditating on Psalm 126 - it was written for me, I pray it will be true in my life.  (Next week will determine where I labor to bring in the sheaves. More of that in a later blog.)

 When the LORD brought back the captives to  Zion, 
       we were like men who dreamed. 

 2 Our mouths were filled with laughter, 
       our tongues with songs of joy. 
       Then it was said among the nations, 
       "The LORD has done great things for them."

 3 The LORD has done great things for us, 
       and we are filled with joy.

 4 Restore our fortunes,  O LORD, 
       like streams in the Negev.

 5 Those who sow in tears 
       will reap with songs of joy.

 6 He who goes out weeping, 
       carrying seed to sow, 
       will return with songs of joy, 

       carrying sheaves with him.