I have been reading unChristian by David Kinnaman, and it is really helping me reflect on many of the things that I do and how what I profess to believe sometimes mismatches the way my life plays out. I have also been thinking a lot about transparency in my life so that I can be totally real with people and therefore build deeper, longer lasting relationships that have a good foundation.

So, because I want to be totally transparent, and because I am reflecting on how my life is sometimes a poor reflection of my belief, here is a laundry list of what I am struggling through and praying I can improve on this new year.

• Bible Reading – I say that it is the living word of God; His love letter written to humanity to enlighten us of our wrongdoing and to give hope for an eternal future. But, at best, I read this amazing book for short stints of time once a day. While some people might think that a short “quiet time” is enough, I am growing more and more convinced of my need to drink deeply of the Word in a way that is new, fresh, and continuous throughout the day.
• Prayer – I say that there is power in prayer and genuinely believe that God hears all of my prayers and cares about my situation. But, somehow, I find it so difficult to remember to pray continually through the day. Its not that I don’t want to pray, I just don’t remember to once the business of the day sets in. A short time of prayer each morning and each night just isn’t enough. I want to talk to my Creator all through the day. I’m working on this.
• Selflessness – This should go without saying. Being a husband, a dad, and a follower of Jesus should leave virtually no room to be selfish. And yet, I still struggle with wanting to put my own wants ahead of others all the time.
• Service – I firmly believe that Christians should serve anywhere and everywhere they are. However, for me, this often goes against my natural tendency for leadership, so I often find myself charging ahead to lead rather than kneeling down to serve. I need to slow down and take time to find opportunities to serve others. Servant leadership is a must.
• Giving – Giving is a must, and I really don’t think that a tithe really cuts it. God has called us to turn over all of our possessions to Him and then allow Him to give away whatever He wants. I give in lots of different ways, but I sense that in 2008 God will have me and my family give away far more than ever and I’m very excited about it.
• Less Legalism – Its dangerous, when giving a list like this, to think that following Jesus is about what you do, it’s not. Following Jesus is about who you are, and where you find power for living your life. Its about loving Jesus and following Him so closely that each of these areas of life I’m talking about naturally gravitates into a way of living that is more like Jesus. Living for Him is never about a check list.

There are more things to work on, and as they come to mind I might share them as well. But, until then, please share what you are working on so that the way you live your life correctly reflects what you believe. This is such a tough issue, I believe that there is a lot we can learn from one another. I hope you will take a few moments to be transparent and share here.

1. josh Says:
   January 3rd, 2008 at 12:08 pm

   great thoughts. you stole my thunder on almost every one. i’m not sure if it’s just the first of the year that’s inspiring me to move deeper and further . . . but i’ll take any motivation i can get.

2. jason b Says:
   January 4th, 2008 at 9:57 am

   congratulations! you’re human! i wish i could just stop being a christian some days and just learn to be a follower of jesus.