Every two years or so, Kathy and I attend the Great Commission Conference (aka the Prayer Conference) at Jefferson Baptist Church, in Oregon. We’ve written about it before:

• Project 365 — JBC
• Project 365 — Chips Ahoy
• Prayer Conference
• The Tyranny of the Urgent
• You Are What You Read

I would have to say, this conference has probably been the single most impact-full training I have received in my life as a Christian. It was this seminar that really awakened in me a desire to be a Champion — that is, a Christian who is truly devoted to growing and excelling as a disciple of Jesus Christ.

Sometimes you have to use special ‘persuasion’ to get people to set goals.

Two years ago, we brought Joshua with us, as a sort of ‘rite of passage’ for him as a rather mature 15-year-old. This year, we brought Rachel as well, since she had recently turned 15. I asked each of the kids to invite friends, and Kathy and I invited some others; in all, there were 14 in our party, and more than 20 from our church.

One major focus of the conference is the desirability of using goals as a way to promote growth. As Dee Duke says, a goal (or a commitment, if you prefer that word) is not a goal unless it is:

• Written down
• Specific
• Measurable
• Achievable (at least somewhat difficult, but not impossible)
• Accountable

Today was Family Day, so it seemed a good day to have a Family Meeting. I told the kids:

“At 3:30, we’ll meet and discuss our Goals for 2011. Bring a copy of your goals with you to the meeting.”

One of David’s goals was to get onto the ‘B’ level of swim team.

There was much scurrying around, because some of the kids hadn’t written their goals at all. Kathy posted a few possible categories on the whiteboard:

• Spiritual
• Educational
• Physical
• Fun
• Ministry

We all passed our goals around, and read some of them out loud. This is the week that we will take our goals out for a test drive, seek advice, and adjust as necessary. I’ll post my goals at the bottom of this post, hoping for recommendations and comments.

We all agreed that Daniel’s goal to be six feet tall this year, while specific and measurable, is out of his control, and therefore not a good, achievable goal.

I’m sort of a slow learner, when it comes to goals. This year is the first time that I have agreed with the need to write my goals down AND review them daily, to insure that I keep them in the forefront of my mind.

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My Goals for 2011

Spiritual Growth & Maintenance
Pray for my ‘flock’ 5x/week
Read at least 2 chapters from my Bible daily
Pray at least 10 minutes (for that ministry) when preparing for AWANA or Sunday School
Write an encouraging note, card or e-mail to someone in my ‘flock’ every week
Visit someone in the hospital (1 visit/month)
Pray about anger, full-time calling to Missions, and wisdom daily

Marriage
Pray with Kathy 2x/week
Go out on a date with Kathy at least 1x/month
Have a ‘home date’ with Kathy 1x/week

Parenting
Resume special days in some form (at least one child per week)
Read some kind of devotional to my kids 4x/week

Personal
Write one blog post each week
Exercise 5x/week, 15 minutes minimum

Administrative
Review my goals daily
Report (email) on my goals to the elders & my ‘prayer boys’ weekly
Report (email) on my daily tasks to my boss each work day (5x/week)

Learn or Do Something New
Take some kind of a class with Kathy this year

Fun with the Family
Find at least 1 geocache each week
Play at least 1 board game/week with my family
Go camping as a family twice before September 30

Big, Hairy, Audacious Goals (BHAGs)
Increase our tithes & offerings by $50/week
Pray 30 times about my calling into full-time Missions work
Complete the Wycliffe application
Meet with the Wycliffe IT recruiter

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I’m not trying to boast, or make anyone uncomfortable — indeed, for some of you, these goals may seem pretty pathetic. I just want to accomplish something with 2011, and I think that these goals will help to keep me on that track.

Tim

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