THIS YEAR I RESOLVE TO... (6/6)

By Jeff Knight on 2008

Do something emotional?

Get over it.
There is a lot of wasted days, months and years in all of our lives where we have held on to offense, hurt, pain and rejection for too long. This is the year to get over it, to move on with life and expect better times ahead.

Mend a broken fence.
Face it. You’ve totally made a wreck of something, it's not repaired. I know I have. When I know in my heart I have judged, criticized unfairly, hurt, offended, acted hastily, or anything else causing discord in those I love the most and my own heart I have to mend the fence. Reconciliation is the greatest of gifts to give someone else. I know I need it.

Forgive yourself.
Stop living in the past. There is nothing that can be done about yesterday. The choices, actions and deeds of a yesterday will only continue if you allow them. Forgive yourself already. It’s over and done with.

Laugh.
There is nothing like laughing your head off at something worthwhile. Choose to laugh more this year.

Scream.
I’m talking about the adrenaline roll-a-coaster kind of scream where you’re having amazing fun and scared at the same moment!

Love.
Your God, spouse, kids, church, family, work, ministry, vacation, the weather, hope, to help others, give, wonder, amazement. JUST LOVE IT!

Be angry.
At something worthwhile. Get angry about people going to hell because they do not know Christ. Be angry about things like kids on drugs and do something about it! Stop being angry at stupid stuff like traffic, bills, or the HOA. Use your anger to change the world.

Jeff Personally.
This is a big one for me this year. Last year there were 4 situations where I was hurt by people. Mostly I was unfairly judged and criticized, even in public forums, but in the end it made me a lot stronger in the short run. In the long run I’ve learned I can have a tendency to remember the pain and remind myself of what “they” did. I just can’t live like that. I’m not wired for resentment. The only way I know to live is to forgive those who’ve wronged, offended and hurt me. On the other hand, I need to mend some fences I broke down still. I’m waiting for the right timing. Timing is everything in reconciliation and when the time is right I’ll be received.

I’m guaranteed to laugh, scream, love and be angry if I live for God! Go ahead, live for God this year and see; emotionally you’ll never be better.

THIS YEAR I RESOLVE TO... (5/6)

By Jeff Knight on 2008

Do something social?
Proverbs 18:1, “A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire;” I think it is important to set scheduled times to be intentionally involved with people. If I don’t set it up on the calendar then it can get lost in the tasks and to-do’s of life.

Birthdays.
The one day a year to make someone feel special.

Company Picnic.
Will you go this year? What better reason than to tell the world that you’re a Christ follower who is interested in what they are doing.

Friends.
Make some new ones. There are so many people coming into our lives everyday whom we can befriend.

Dinner Party.
Go ahead, get a group of 16 together and go out to dinner. Sure the gratuity will be higher because of the number of guest, but so what. Go to dinner and try to listen to more than one conversation at a time, you’ll be amazed at how much you can learn from the other 15 people talking it up.

Family.
Call more often. Fly to see them. Send a card. Forward them a funny email.

Church.
There is no substitute for fellowship in church.

Spouse.
Date night! The most trusted, most important human in our earthly lives. We spend a bunch of time together in the same room, but are we in the same conversation? Change that NOW!

Jeff Personally.
I’m going to Alaska to see my family this year. I have one uncle and aunt, cousins and Grandma who live on the Kenai Peninsula. I’m going to tell people how much I appreciate their friendship more often. I’m going to take Melinda on date nights more often. I’m taking a sled-trip with 12 men in February to Cle Ellum. I’d like to raft the Snake River in Idaho if there were some crazy men to do it with. I’d love to fish in Alaska with some fishermen. And I will definitely be at the race track with a bunch of race fans on Saturdays this year.

THIS YEAR I RESOLVE TO (4/6)

By Jeff Knight on 2008

Do something financial?

Require Less.
If your monthly needs are 3k, then do something to make them $250 less. Pay off something; focus living 30 days on as little as possible, even when you have more than enough. It’ll free you up to do more of what you “want” to do instead of what you “have” to do.

Part with Something Expensive.
Did you know you can hold onto something longer than necessary? It could be a house, property, car, hobby or anything frankly. I’ve done it before and there is nothing like the feeling of being released.

Treat yourself to special.
In our family we carve out special times and build special accounts around them to finance them. As an example, I have a special racing account that I put a little in all the time so I can enjoy it through the summer.

Give.
No better yet, tithe (10%). It’s time to set some giving goals for our money, 10% should be the absolute minimum. God has built his Kingdom with widow’s mites and rich men’s millions. It does not matter the size of your income, giving is a spiritual matter.

Receive.
Jesus tells us, "It is better to give than to receive." Jesus also told us, "You can pray for anything, and if you have faith, you will receive it." So here's the deal in my opinion, good givers are also good receivers. They receive ALL that God has for them because they realize they can give again. Decide you will pray high octane prayers prayers. Pray this, Psalms 115:14-15, "May the Lord richly bless both you and your children. 15 May you be blessed by the Lord,
who made heaven and earth."

Work.
I like was Ecc 9:10 says, "Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might." Work this year as if you are working for Jesus: harder, smarter and with more purpose.

Jeff Personally.
Last year Melinda and I sold our dream home. It was a major decision--I cried the last time I looked at the water--and probably the best financial decision we’ve ever made. We came to a place in our lives where we “just didn’t need that much anymore.” I’m looking for a similar financial breakthrough in 2008. I’m setting a course to keep all credit cards paid down. Did you know having your ending balances below 40% of available credit improves your credit scores substantially, qualifying you for better interest rates on things like homes and cars? I didn’t know that until last year, so my goal is to live with my credit cards paid down or off every month.

Also, I’m giving everything extra that I can to see our church reach its goal of purchasing the building in May of 2008. All my giving this year will focus on The Rock Church. More than any other year I have to be intentional with giving to TRC because the vision is so gigantic.

PSALMS 20: A CHAPTER FOR TRC DECADE

By Jeff Knight on 2008

I was reading Psalms 20 this morning and something jumped off the page...the Lord whispered in my ear, so to speak, and said, "Look here, a verse for the years of this decade for The Rock Church." I began to meditate on it, so check this out. Read the verse then read the element that relates to TRC. What a process and what a promise!!!

Psalms 20:01, "May the Lord answer you when you are in distress; may the name of the God of Jacob protect you."
In 2001, we were recovering from the death of my mom and dad, our pastors, spiritual leaders and good friends. It was a season of distress for certain and the protection of God was on our church.

20:02, "May he send you help from the sanctuary and grant you support from Zion."
TRC became a part Ministers Fellowship International in Fall of 2001. Wendell and Gini Smith became our pastors and helped us greatly develop vision. God sent us tremendous help in 2002.

20:03, "May he remember all your sacrifices and accept your burnt offerings. Selah"
2003 was the year of Campaign Generous Measure, the sacrifices and extra offerings taken. 187 people contributed and gave $520,000 in offerings specifically for Generous Measure.

20:04, "May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed." March 7th, 2004 we move into our new worship center and facility! Our plans succeeded because of the amazingly generous people who honored God with their giving! God gave us the desire of our heart; men and women saved, contributing and changing our region.

20:05, "We will shout for joy when you are victorious and will lift up our banners in the name of our God. May the Lord grant all your requests."
We began to gain our stride in the new place God planted TRC and victory was present in so many lives and throughout our community and city. God continues to grant our requests!

20:06, "Now I know that the Lord saves his anointed; he answers him from his holy heaven with the saving power of his right hand."
The people of TRC continued the momentum from the earlier years with the building of GRID2911 and continued Connecting People to LIFE!!!!

20:07, "Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God."
This was our scripture last year and it was tested to the core when we added Regional Reach Teams and ended our 23 year Wednesday night service. AT TRC trusting God is the key to everything!

20:08, "They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm.
The word for 2008 for every person connected to Life! This year we will RISE UP and STAND FIRM!

20:09, "O Lord, save the king!"
Next year is not far off...

I'm pretty fired up for tomorrow morning!!! See ya then...

THIS YEAR I RESOLVE TO (3/6)

By Jeff Knight on 2008

Do something physical?
I got Melinda one of those YOU books by the Dr. OZ who comes on Oprah often. It’s all about aging and he makes a statement that fired me up. I hope it does the same for you when you read it. He wrote, “When it comes to your body, here’s what we know, primarily through studies of identical twins: Your longevity is based one-quarter on genetics and three-quarters on your behaviors and lifestyle choices.” Basically we don’t have to get old and wore down like those in our family before us; we have the power to extend our youth! WOW, turning 38 this year, I needed that!

Exercise.
Want to do ONE thing that would make you much better at EVERY thing?

1 Timothy 4:8, “Physical training is good…” 30-minutes of walking a day will add years to your life. 30-minutes twice a week getting your heart rate up will fire your metabolism to burn a few extra pounds. If you’re really hard core pick up some weights.

Seriously, a few sessions a week can keep the joints loosened and the heart pumping. I'm no health expert, but I’ve read a few magazines in my day and the facts are pretty overpowering; those who exercise enjoy their lives more.

First Time.
A few years ago Roger Habich took me snowmobiling for the FIRST TIME. The snow was 36 inches deep, I was stuck every 10 feet, hit a rock, a ditch and crashed into a culvert pipe wrecking the sled I was riding. It was miserable--it changed my life! I suffered, woke up sore, had bruises on my ego and my legs, but since then I’ve rode a snowmobile every winter and tried to teach others.

Many times we won’t try new things because we aren’t good at them, we’ll feel like a beginner, we don’t have the gear, or we don’t want to get hurt. Bottom line, do something this year for the first time. Your ego and legs will heal, you can rent the stuff for cheap or you know someone who owns it. So go ahead, learn to fly fish, ride a motorcycle across the state, ski, wakeboard for the first time, climb Rainier, scuba dive at Alki, do the Seattle to Portland bike ride, the Jingle Bell run on Thanksgiving. Just do something for the first time in 2008.

Jeff Personally.
A month or so ago I had a Gout flare-up. This was my second experience with this nasty ailment. My grandma had Gout, others in my family have it and I was mad beyond mad that I might possibly have a disease. Our pastors and elders were praying over me and I came through it fine, but then I started learning about Gout. What I learned has helped shape my physical goals for 2008.

To get really honest with you, I need to lose poundage. My BMI is 30, which is not bad, but borderline unhealthy. I’m six-four-250 so I carry the weight pretty well, but my goal this year is 20 pounds lighter by summer! Yes, 20 pounds. I’m not talking about doing a crash diet for 30 days so I can look good for the brochure photo shoot. I’m talking about changing my set point by 20 pounds. You know, that point where you’re not suffering on a diet, but you feel healthy. For me that was 20 lbs. ago at 230!

To do it I’m adding some unique training ideas to my repertoire as a few years ago I got really burned out on the gym running like a hamster.

~After 30 years on snow skis, I’m going to learn to snowboard.
~I’m eliminating certain foods from my world completely.
~I got a new pair of suffering (running) shoes. I’ve never passed a runner with a smile and last time I ran I suffered.
~I’m going to cut quantities of food from my world.
~I’m going to go to the gym as often as I can to lift those hard core weights.

I’ve got to be careful though because years of on-off workout regimes have left me with a few injuries and a lot of knowledge, so I’ve solicited some good friends who are totally into working out to give me advice. I’d encourage you to not go it alone, have realistic expectations and take it one day at a time.

Do something physical this year!

THIS YEAR I RESOLVE TO...(1/6)

By Jeff Knight on 2008

The beginning of 2008; a New Year is upon us. For many, the coming weeks will be zealous attempts at “goals” intended to change their lives. It is a cycle that repeats itself each year. Someone makes a New Years resolution, but three weeks later, resolution abandoned.

I know the word “resolution” is clichéd and way over used; nevertheless, I want to challenge you to call it whatever you want, but make a goal and go for it. Like the person, who loses the 100 lbs; the climber, who summits Mt. Rainier; the student, who graduates with honors; or the marriage, that invests in itself, this task will have earth shattering results.

This year I have sets some lofty goals in 5 areas of my life. These are not goals like, “I’ll go to the gym 5 days a week because I know I will not go to the gym five days a week; instead, I will go as often as I can.” These are not goals like, “I’m going to get up at 6 am every morning. There is no way on God’s green earth that would happen for me, but I am going to purpose to get up earlier often.”

Here are the 5 areas I am working on: Spiritual; Physical; Financial; Social; Emotional. In the next five posts I will let you know what I am doing in 2008 and hopefully you’ll be challenged to your best year yet.