Nine New Years Resolutions for 2009

1. Be a better christian
I really hope this always stays on my new years resolutions because this is what its all about.  If I can't be a christian (in the Biblical sense) then being a preacher doesn't matter. 
2. Be a better teacher
I work a lot on being a better preacher and better at other parts of my ministry.  But honestly, I don't work hard enough on being a teacher, and that is really important because it is what I do most often.  If I put as much effort into my science class as I do into a sunday school lesson, l would be a much better teacher. 
3. Improve my posture (more)
This was on my list last year.  When I was in college and then throughout my time in New Hampshire I let my posture go to pot.  Lately it's been getting much better though, and on my last trip home many people commented positively on my posture, but I need to keep working on it.
4. Stop biting my fingernails (for good)
I actually managed to quit biting my fingernails this year.  I bought some Don't Bite It, a kind of clear nail polish that tastes as nasty as anything I have ever put in my mouth and it really worked, but what guy wants to wear nail polish, so I stopped using it and eventually started biting again, this year I do want to stop though and really stop.
5. Gain weight
I haven't gained a pound since I was in high school.  When I was in college they called me Auswich because I was so skinny, its time to start changing that.
6. Be more of a people person
I am really good with a computer and can hold my own with a group of people, but one on one I need some work.  I am really going to try to open up this year, smooth out a few more of my New England rough edges and be more social.
7. Read my Bible more
I actually opened Explore the Book the other day for the first time since college and I loved it.  I want to try to study a New Testament book and Old Testament book every month this year, I did this in December and November and I loved it.
8. Learn patience
I am probably the most impatient person I know and I really need to change that.
9. Be less cranky
Enough said I bite off more heads than the people who work at the peeps factory and it is not good.

Chillin (literally) with my family in NH

I am currently doing something that I am not good at . . . I am taking a vacation and spending time with my family.  Amanda and I decided to rent a car and drive up to New Hampshire for Christmas this year and spend some time with our family and our old church.

For those of you who don't know, I come from a large family, I have four brothers and three sisters, most of which are in college right now (poor mom).  Because we are all grown up, most of the time its hard for us to get together, so coming home is something special.

We drove up through the teeth of a snowstorm, from Connecticut to New Hampshire, we didn't drive faster than 40 miles per hour.  As soon as we got here, it started snowing even more, and I have spent at least four hours shoveling snow with my brothers in the two days since we have been here. 

I am so grateful to come from a Christian family.  I have two brothers and a sister preparing for the ministry, and my parents are busy with church work all of the time.  We really are a close family.

Well, currently I am in Panera bread and need to get back to the fam, so I am snapping a picture of me in full "vacation mode" and going back to catchin up.

My Latest Site

Over Thanksgiving break, I finally got around to changing and updating our school's web site over at www.fairviewchristianacademy.org.  I did it using something that would have been anathema to me when I was doing this sort of thing all the time.  I used wordpress.  I have to say, the program has come a long way since the last time that I used it.  I love the new gallery function, and several people are developing themes now that are more than just themes or style sheets, they are high powered frameworks that make the web site work.  

After using these new themes, particularly Justin Tadlock's excellent and highly customizable options theme (which will soon power both our school and camp website but you'll never know) I can't in good faith go back to modx or textpattern, and I have a mind to go back to my old websites and redo them in wordpress.