the one with only a week left

We only have one week left in Muncie…actually like 3 days… and really just two weeks left in the states… where did the time go?

As the time winds down, I wonder

1.     what happened to the time

and

2.     how can we maximize the time left

As well as, what do I absolutely NEED to do before we go… and there is a lot of that too… but a lot we can’t do

And so…  I’m trying to

1.     call everyone I know- we’re on the same time zone or close to it at least

2.     see people and get some closure with folks

3.     read the books in the bookstores

4.     eat the food I can’t later

(Except, I’m not doing that too much… a little, but not really)

A couple weeks ago our Pastor was preaching out of Ecclesiastics and it made me think… if I knew I only had one week left to live what would I do

1.     I’d want to make sure Soo & Halle knew how much I loved them

a.     I would be spending a lot of time with them

b.     Sharing with them how much I love them

c.      And writing notes they could read later

d.     And I’d make sure everything was in order for them

2.     I’d be spending time with my family

3.     I’d be seeing friends and calling them up on the phone

4.     I’d be spending time in prayer & worship

5.     I’d eat all my favorite food- it wouldn’t matter how unhealthy or how expensive

6.     I’d be sharing Christ with my friends and even strangers

7.     I’d be writing down all sorts of thoughts I want to share with the world for their edifcation and God’s glory

8.     I’d probably still watch Purdue play

9.     I probably wouldn’t sleep much- who could? and why bother?

We probably should live every day, every week, every month as if it were our last. Our last time we might see a person… or the last opportunity we have… or y’know, live with an eternal perspective… maybe as Kris Allen (ok the Script) sings “Live like we’re dying!”

But there is a bit of a problem with that…

1.     We wouldn’t sleep

2.     We wouldn’t be taking care of our bodies that much- who would exercise or eat well?

3.     We wouldn’t be working at the development stuff that takes time – like reading

But we would

1.     Take advantage of our time with people

2.     Seize more opportunities – especially with people

3.     Not fight over petty things & resolve conflicts & speak encouraging words

4.     Not waste as much time on meaningless things

5.     Be more courageous

The way I’d like to answer the question “If you only had a week to live, what would you do?”:

Nothing different.

(Unfortunately, I can’t).

I want to live my life in such a way that honors God, exalts His glory, builds His kingdom.

I want to love others well, bless them, encourage them, challenge them in their faith, and helps them feel encouraged & loved.

I want to prioritize my family and those who love me well. And put others before myself

I want to enjoy life and all that God gives

I want to be courageous & full of faith.

I want to praise God all the time.

I want to live in light of my purpose, mission, vision, values & priorities

I want to live in light of eternity.

I want to glorify God. I want love Him & love others.

How would you spend your last week in America?

How would you spend your last week in life?

How would your life be different if you lived with an eternal perspective.

My Values

After doing my chazown (see previous post) and looking over my life and some thought
i came up with these values

I value…

[edit]

most important: glorifying & honoring God & loving God & following Christ - and most specifically as known thru the Bible

1.     Knowing God
intimately
  and rightly
in ALL things

That is, I want to know God, I want to see God I want to experience God – in every circumstance, everything I read, everything I watch, everything I do – and in every conversation- I want to know God better, talk about God, see what God is doing.
Most importantly, I want to have intimate knowledge of God
And secondly, I want it to be truth

2.     True Community – that is Christ-centered, Authentic Community
that develops lasting friendships
 which are both deep and fun

Friendships should be places where we can share vulnerably, openly and honestly

I want to be some one who cares, and I want others around me to care too

I want conversations to be deep

And I want to share a lot of laughs and have a lot of fun

Friendships are very important to me & I believe Community is vital to growth and knowing God

3.     God’s Glory in the Nations

4.     Surrender to the Lordship of Christ

5.     Faith

6.     Prayer & Praise

7.     Ease

Let’s be honest here: I want life to be easy.

Esp in relationships

And I will choose the easy way to do things, always.

The previous values come first… so if it goes against God, if it deters true community, if it keeps me from knowing God, then…

8.     Helping others Grow

Really, the other values include that- esp #2… but also certainly #4… and when I say grow, I mean #1…& #2-4

9.     Inclusion & Empowerment (with Freedom to Fail)

This is what I needed, and what I want to give to others
I suppose this could be in #2 or in #6

10. Fun/joy/laughter

11. Remembering/Reflecting

12. Self-discovery & self-evaluation

My chazown

While walking thru the bookstore i saw this book Cha-zown.... weired, but i took a look... and pretty interesting... actually it is stuff i love to talk about and teach on... determining your values and priorities and coming up with a mission statement... i didn't read the book, but i copied down the questions for self-reflection... then went to the website - and it's all there!

Are you trying to find your niche?
OR do you just like self-exploration?
Well, this may be pretty cool and/or fun to look at- as well as helpful

http://chazown.com

It's free

Interesting to me was the Spiritual gifts assessment... now i don't think all the gifts these tests say are gifts are Sp gifts- maybe they're talents or abilities... many are actually just position... and i don't know what to think of the supernatural gifts, but that is besides the point...


my top 5 from the test:
1. Faith
2.Wisdom
3. Missionary
4. Writing
5. Shepherding/Pastoring

I always thought shepherding, faith and then maybe exhortation/encouragment or teaching or giving or hospitality…. Nevr thought wisdom

But when I asked Soo

She said insight and exhortation…

Never would have thought wisdom…

I don’t think writing is an actual spiritual gift… and I don’t think missionary or pastor is a gift either- but a position… but that is for another time…

It also helped me think thru values as i looked over the big events of my life...

i also like strength finder, though you have to pay for that


And i've been reading the Me you want to be

And i'm asking people to help me with Johari Window
i did it a few years ago.
Help me out
http://kevan.org/johari?name=mmmmmookie

A lot of self-discovery... but hopefully not obsession with myself... Also working thru
"Doctrine" by Driscol and "For the Fame of God's Name" the recent book given to Piper...

My wish list

My birthday is coming up.
Soo keeps asking me what I want. I really don’t want anything.
What do I need? I have it.
What do I want? Nothing really...

Well, I want is this.

1. a healthy wife & kid

2. a long time to spend with God (a healthy relationship with God)

3. a long time to write… and maybe correlate some of my writing

4. food I like to eat

5. a healthy body- to lose like 20-30 lbs. And add some muscle mass

6. Purdue Men’s basketball to win the National Championship in March(April)

7. Fun time with friends

8. Support to all come in soon, so I can have my sabbatical

9. Opportunities to make friends with non-Christians here and to share the Gospel

10. Opportunities to disciple and challenge some people

11. Campus funds

12. People to read stuff I write

I guess there are a few actual things

1. Some photo frames and printed pictures

2. I guess some music
    Tenth Ave North
    Jars of Clay last CD and one coming out soon
    Sanctus Real
    Jon Foreman
    Mat Kearney

3. Tickets & time to go to some Purdue games (basketball and football)

4. A chord for our digital frame

5. Gift-cards for some resturants
    Weber Grill
    AppleBees (I guess)
    Skyline Chilli
    Outback
    Jamba juice

6. A massage - actually one of those massagers- a nice one... this may be #1

7. Some books (but I plan on buying them anyway)
     (Radical, The Me you want to be, It All goes back in the box, The hole in our Gospel, Shepherding a Child's heart, Grace-based Parenting, My wife thinks I'm an Idiot, His Needs Her Needs, A million miles in a thousand years, Coming Back Stronger)

8. Maybe the PS3 with the PS Move – but really? I don’t know

9. A King-size bed. (but we’re only here a few months and I can’t take that with me to Asia)

i used to want a ping-pong table or air hockey table, but not really anymore...

i have what i want. A wife, children on the way, a puppy, good friends, espn, a computer, books, music, dvds, games.

i guess i'm becoming like my parents who say they don't need anything. It's true what do i need?

Sure, it would be nice to own a Lexus. An i-phone, i-pad would be cool. A PS3 might be fun, but not necessary. And someday i would love to be a home-owner (but i don't know if i ever see the Lord having me in one place for a time in a place i could buy a home, so...
 You really don't need to get me something that nice or expensive. i probably don't need it, and might not use it. Some may want to get me something because they like it, but that's ok.


i guess i'd ask for more time.
i'm certainly asking for good health for my family.
And i want to know, enjoy & glorify God.
What else is there?

 
If you want to do something for my birthday... write me an encouraging note, comment on my blogs, pray for me.

And if you want to support me or buy me a massager... i guess that would be good too.