The List

I once thought that resolutions, at least for me, were a waste of time.  Then I came across a years-old list of personal resolutions that I had no memory "working on" yet, surprisingly, nearly every one of the items on the list I could now check off.  How did that happen?  I'm not sure.  However, I now no longer feel badly about making a list that will certainly have stops, starts, sputters and crashy-burns.  Someday, I know I will check off each item and wonder how in the world it happened.

This year, my "resolutions" include a list of things I want to do, not just stop, or start or be.  It's a long list that I've asked the Lord to use for His glory although not everything on the list seems "spiritual."  Let's see what happens.  I'll be blogging this year on the Missional Theophanies or "God Encounters" as I look to serve Him on this very eclectic mission field that is my life.

As things change or are accomplished, I will update the list on the blog.  I'm looking forward to seeing what this year holds or, rather, what God holds in His hands for me.

Behold the list for 2011 ... in no particular order of importance ...

1. Memorize and play 10 Piano Pieces
2. Study Isaiah with my mentor and continue being mentored
3. Lose 70 pounds
4. Take hip hop lessons
5. Sing in the choir
6. Study and teach a lesson from the Book of Ruth
7. Teach inductive Bible study methods at "Friday Dinner"
8. Learn to Sketch
9. Skate at Millennium Park
10. Learn ASL with my family
11. Climb a rock wall
12. Go kayaking
13. Get published
14. Complete a 5K
15. Cook dinner for all my kids at the same time
16. Memorize 1 Peter
17. Paint my bedroom
18. Take ballet lessons
19. Take cooking lessons and master knife skills
20. Act in a drama
21. Try Sushi
22. Go to the Shedd Acquarium
23. Prepare an entire Indian Meal
24. Get a new sari
25. Go fishing
26. Go backpacking
27. Take a silent retreat
28. Go camping
29. Plant roses
30. Plant an herb garden
31. Finish Beth's afghan
32. Play percussion at church
33. Write a blog
34. Get a makeover after 30 pounds and again at 60
35. Go swimming with the Belugas
36. Make Lobster for Dan
37. Take concrete steps to finish my degree
38. Spiritually franchise Friday Dinners
39. Learn French
40. Begin Planning a trip to India
41. Take a Spin Class with Nicole and survive
42. Remodel the house out and up
43. Build a greenhouse
44. Clean my garage
45. Write a book
46. Rent a boat and cruise down the Mississippi River
47. Renew my passport
48. Host an open house for neighbors and learn the names of every neighbor on my block
49. Plan a block party with my neighbors
50. Host a seeker's Bible study with my neighbors
51. Go on a picnic somewhere exotic
52. Go to Ravinia with Dan
53. Take Dan to the Sears Tower
54. Visit S and E
55. Visit J and J in Boston
56. Build a deck/porch to visit with my neighbors
57. Teach someone (who has already asked me) how to swim
58. Build a lifesize Nativity
59. Go to the Ann Arbor Art Fair (July 20-23, 2011)
60. Find a cello for for a friend.
61. Go to a Bed & Breakfast for the weekend with my girlfriends
62. Learn to share the Gospel confidently
63. Take singing lessons
64. Direct the Christmas musical in 2011
65. Stain my dresser to match the rest of my bedroom furniture
66. Start a writer's group
67. Knit a scarf
68. Go to a Bears/Lions Game
69. Be more like Jesus and pray God blesses me by allowing me to make an enternal difference in the life of one person.
70. Visit the Pacific Garden Mission - COMPLETED
71. Be the Agape Volunteer Coordinator for the fundraising dinner - COMPLETED
72. Go to a blues club - COMPLETED
73. See Mercy Me in concert - COMPLETED
74. Teach at Coffee Break - COMPLETED
75. Faciliate the Agape 2011 Trip - COMPLETED

Let the adventure begin.