Laura's Summer goals

Ryan formulated his goals a couple weeks ago, so I figured now it is my turn.

1. Continue following the radical experiment: http://www.radicalexperiment.org/

a. reading the word everyday

b. praying for the entire world (I want to become more consistent and intentionally with this)

c. commit our lives to a multiplying community (you know i love my small group)

d. sacrifice our money for a specific purpose (limiting eating out, movies, so on)

e. give our time in another context (Peru June 17-26)

2. Read at least 2 novels and 3 Christian non-fiction works. Most likely reading list includes "Peace like a River" by Leif Enger, "Gilead" by Marilynne Robinson, "When Helping Hurts" by Brian Fikker, and "Serving with Eyes Wide Open" by David Livermore (which i hope to read before our trip to Peru).

3. No soft drinks (stole this one from Ryan.. really good idea. I have done it once before and you really don't miss them!)

4. Do P90X 5 times a week.

5. Hang out with a couples dentists in private practice when I have free day.

6. Go spend time with my Grandmother and sister in Hattiesburg, MS.

7. Go visit my dad while he is working in Palm Beach, FL and hang out with my mom.

8. Spend more time outside! (school keeps me trapped in doors all the time!)

a celebration of small group

Yesterday, I headed to Auburn for a quick trip to speak with pre-health students about my experiences as a biomedical science major at Auburn and as a dental student at UAB. I got to drive down with one of my best friends from dental school which was so much fun and the meeting went great. I always enjoy telling people about how much I love what I do. All of that said, there was one thing that I missed because I was in Auburn on a Tuesday night, small group.

Ryan and I have been a part of a small group of married couples for several months now and we honestly look forward for Tuesday evenings every week. Our time with our small group is so precious to us. It is a time where we eat together, spend time together, discuss the Word, and pray together. Every week I am so ready to see my new friends and hear about what is going on in their lives. My prayer for our small group is that we would be glorifying to God every week when we meet. I pray that we will be true to God's word as we uplift one another to go out and make disciples of Christ.

If you are not in a small group or Sunday school class of some kind, I would encourage you to take a chance and join a group. I think you will be surprised how much you learn about the Lord when you are sharing your life with others.

Water of the Word

I highly encourage any man who has a deep passion for his wife and desires to pray for her in a more consistent and biblical way to pick up Water of the Word by Andrew Case. It is a book filled with prayers that are based on Scripture that you can pray for you wife. They are both biblically solid and beautifully written. Here is one that I just read:

O Lord,
Grant my wife help against the foe, for vain is the salvation of man! With You she shall do valiantly. O God my Lord, deal on her behalf for Your Name's sake; because Your steadfast love is good, deliver her! With her mouth let her give great thanks to You, praising You in the midst of sorrow. For You stand at the right hand of the needy, to save her from those who condemn her soul to death.
Praise be to You, Lord! I will give thanks to You with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation. Great are Your works, studied by all who delight in them. Therefore help me to study my wife diligently, for she is Your wonderful handiwork. Her beauty exalts You and proves true Your word, for she is full of splendor and majesty.
Show her the power of Your works - that they are faithful and just; all Your precepts are trustworthy; they are established forever and ever, to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness.
O beloved, fear the Lord, for it is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice this fear have a good understanding. His praise endures forever! (Psalm 108, 109, 111).

Summer Goals

Most people make New Year's Resolutions, looking forward to a blank slate in which they can essentially start over. I for one am actually a fan of New Year's Resolutions. I've heard all the arguments against them, from arguing that they encourage poor behavior in the days and weeks leading up to New Years, to arguing that they are almost never actually carried out, to an argument that they are unbiblical (though that was a big stretch!). For us in school, New Years does not really seem like the new year. Sure you move on to new classes and all, but it's not the big shift that some see it as. Ah, but summer, that glorious time when the weather gets sweltering hot, grilling out becomes more than an occasional celebration, and school is out, that is the beginning of my new year! So, I give you my Summer Resolutions for 2010:
1. Continue spending time daily in Bible reading and prayer.
2. Do an in-depth study of one New Testament book and one Old Testament book.
3. Work out at least three times a week (preferably five).
4. No softdrinks
5. Find all the information I need to become licensed to teach Bible and math.
6. Read all of the ACSI required books for their philosophy of education requirement (found here).
7. Read at least a chapter a day in a book (as you can see, I love and value reading).
8. Serve in Fairfield at Restoration Academy however I can.
9. Spend as much time with Laura as possible, especially during her break from school.

Well, that is all that I have for now. I'm sure I will add to and amend those as we draw closer, but that looks like a healthy start.

Blessings,
Ryan