Progress on my goals January 15-21, 2012

	Target	Actually Done
Leadership Bible	35 pages a week	35 pages
Faith in Action Bible	42 pages a week	42 pages
Message Read Through	7 Days youversion program	On track
Running	15 miles a week	15 miles
Crunches	1000 a week	1000
Floss	7 times a week	7 Days
Face Cleaning/Lotions	7 times a week	7 Times
I Like Book	7 times a week	7
Modules	2 a week	2
Guy Time	1 a week	1
Self Exam	7 a week	6
Book Reading	1 Book a week	2 Books read
Evening Prayer Meeting	26 times a year	1
Date with Cara	1 a month	1
Date with Rachel	1 a quarter	0

This is the first week this year that I have really felt the pain of this personal challange.  So much coming at me from my little ordinary life.  Some things that God is showing me is that really I am insignificant apart from Him.  God can do little or big things with me and all I can do is be obedient in the daily tasks.  The books I read this week.  Run by Dean Karnazes reignited my passion for ultra distance running.  The second book by Smith Wigglesworth called Ever Increasing Faith is really pushing me to seek more of God.  I added to my list of self examinations this week the Resolution from Courageous.  This is one that I will do every week.  I read the Resolution daily and remind myself to love and serve God, my family, my friends and yes even my enemies on a regular basis. 
I have big dreams and I see that my progress on these small tasks make those dreams more likely to come true.

Hero Quest Chapter 1 Part 1

This is the draft of the first section of the fictional portion of the Personal Development Legend of Hero Quest.  Each of the first 7 chapters include a section that spells out the moment when a hero must be a hero.  A majority of each chapter shows God preparing the hero through everyday real life.  Join the adventure here every Wednesday to see what happens.

Chapter 1 

The moment

    “Is that it?  A lousy $500?  That’s an insult!   I’m worth much more than that.”  John Hero laughed silently with a mischievous smile sneaking out.  “No worries,” he thought.  But then almost as if a voice was speaking to him, giving him orders as a drill sergeant, he leapt into action.

 “Honey, you and the kids should go stay with your parents for awhile.”

 Corrina looked up from her quilting with a perplexed look on her face, “Why?”

 “There might be trouble with hornets.” 

“What?”  John showed her the email. 

“500?”

 “Yeah.” 

“Let’s get packed.”

“Actually I’ll stay here.”  He braced himself for her to disagree and argue with him.  Everything within him hated to fight with this woman that he loved from the bottom of his heart.  “I think God wants me to poke the nest a bit.  It might get hairy.  You guys need to get somewhere safe.”  Corina paused.  She had seen that look before.  Hero continued, “A reporter will be here in a couple of hours.  It would be great if you were already out of town before that.” 

Corina knew that it was an impossible moment.  She began to cry. “John, I …” She lost her ability to speak for a moment. 

John delicately hugged her.  “You’re probably right, But I am convinced  that this is what God would have me to do.  I can’t leave town because of $500.  At the same time I must protect my family.  This would not be something that I would want them to experience and many years from now have to share with a counselor.  For me life must appear to be normal.  I know that you’re afraid.  I am too.  If I run over $500 this will never end.”  He smiled at her.  She sobbed.  “Besides how do I know you won’t take the $500?”

Corrina allowed a little laugh to sneak out.  “Ok, we’ll go but I don’t like it.  Kids!  We’re going to grandma and grandpa’s house. Pack a bag to last a few days.”  Screams of delight echoed throughout the house and three packed bags suddenly appeared in the kitchen.  “Did you remember underwear?”

“Yeah.” Long pause, “I’ll check” All three faces were smiling.  Hero helped carry all of the bags to the minivan.  Corina became silent.  “I’ll call you after the reporter leaves.”  They kissed as a couple who would never see each other again. Strangely the kids never asked why daddy wasn’t going with them.  The ecstasy and innocence of childhood clouded their minds from the seriousness of the moment. “Honey, its $500.  They can’t be that  serious.  I can handle this, but I can’t if I need to worry about you and the kids.  This too will blow over.  Corina pulled herself together and climbed into the van, started it up and pulled out of the driveway.  The kids waved goodbye happily, Corina and John looked at each other deeply, gazing into each other’s eyes and then turning away; the van casually moved away from home.   Life was about to get interesting.

Real Life at the Crisis Shelter January 9-15, 2012

Weekly highlights

Monday January 9:   Near crisis at the shelter tonight when it became apparent that there was no hot water.  An alert staff and good worker looked around and found out that one of the washers was stuck and was taking all of the hot water.  Once the washer water was turned off, everyone had hot water again.  One of our guests is struggling because she realizes that her boyfriend is no good for her right now.  Staff prayed with her.

Tuesday January 10:   Staff worked with a guest who was giving another some advice in a very aggressive manner.  One of our guests donated all of her clothing except the items on her back.  Staff are trying to help her gather up at least one more outfit that she can use while she does laundry.  Spokane police dropped off a woman who had some outlandish stories to share with staff.  She is in overflow and seems content with staying in overflow for some reason.  One of the other overflow guests said that she knows her and that she is dangerous.  What staff have observed beyond the stories is safe behavior.             

Wednesday January 11:   With all of the basement cleaning we are beginning to recognize that we will have garbage issues.  I have arranged for an extra dumpster pick up.  One of our guests chose to go to chapel and miss her Wednesday evening chapel.  This was her last chance to make that particular module so she was given an outdate.  The more interesting piece is that last Friday she had been hiding to avoid chapel at Mount Spokane.

Thursday January 12:   One of our guests spent the night at Respite Care.  When she got back on Friday she seemed much better.  Talking with some of our moms about leaving their kids in the rooms, this is unsafe since we don’t screen our guests.  The reasons was explained to the moms.        

Friday January 13:   Today Anne gave a fantastic tour to some girls from an alternative school.  There was much interest in what we provide and do here at the Crisis Shelter.  The girls then helped us maneuver some of our items that are not yet able to be stored due to the basement remodel.

Weekend:  Two moms are in conflict over the amount of sugar one of the kids have been getting.  On Saturday morning a man came into the shelter with heart trouble.  911 was called and staff sat with him until help arrived.  One of our overflow guests complained about another overflow guest.  However, the stories from other overflow guests contradicted her story so we will continue to work with them all.     

General comments:  We are looking forward to the basement work to get done so that we can get some of our materials moved back down there.  We plan on using only half of the space and are dreaming of what we might do with the other half.

My personal progress January 8-14, 2012

	Target	Actually Done
Leadership Bible	35 pages a week	35 pages
Faith in Action Bible	42 pages a week	42 pages
Message Read Through	7 Days youversion program	On track
Running	15 miles a week	15 miles
Crunches	1000 a week	1000
Floss	7 times a week	7 Days
Face Cleaning/Lotions	7 times a week	6 Days
I Like Book	7 times a week	6 times
Modules	2 a week	2
Guy Time	1 a week	1
Self Exam	7 a week	4
Book Reading	1 Book a week	1 book complete
Evening Prayer Meeting	26 times a year	1
Date with Cara	1 a month	1
Date with Rachel	1 a quarter	0

I realized this week just how much that I have bitten off in this quest to develop to my full potential.  The book for this week was based on the movie Courageous.  This first two weeks of the year has required alot from me professionally which has robbed my wife and children of some of the precious time that I have with them.  This book called me back to focus on them.  They give me life.  I look forward to seeing the movie.  I also am dedicating myself to attend the weekly prayer meeting at least half of the times that it is offered this year.  I found this time to me comforting in the midst of a stressful week.  In establishing the self- exam habit I fell a little short but I am making progress.  With my runs going so well, and if the weather holds I intend to push out to 20 or more miles this week.

Introduction to the book Hero Quest

On Wednesdays I will include a draft version from the book that I am working on.  Today is the introduction.

Hero Quest Introduction

    Heroic moments do not create heroes, they only reveal them.  Nearly every man that I know longs to be a hero.  He imagines saving a damsel in distress, winning the big game or even saving the nation.  These might include battle scenes or leading a peace protest but in the end the man rises up against all odds and is the hero.  This vision is strong and can be overpowering.  If one thing is clear in this world, we live in the present.  Our dreams can not come true without work.  Grand trees of heroism do not rise unless the man has taken time to prepare the soil and plant the seeds.  Preparing the soil can be thankless, difficult and in a word, boring.  But if the man has any hope of turning these seeds of desire into more than just a dream than he must learn to love the smell of the good earth.   The hero wannabe must become familiar with fertilizer, soil composition, good dates for planting, timing for watering, how to protect the delicate roots from a wide array of enemies.  It is his role to do this work, to be ready to become the hero. Ultimately it will be God who will give the increase.   But if the soil is not ready He will choose another in that moment to lead, to be a hero, to fulfill the dream.

  Today, evil tyranny bleeds down on the huddled masses that are too afraid to resist the power of the day.  If they rise up, they will be crushed.  Taunts ring out against those who attempt to resist.  Hearts cry out, but only silently.  If they even breathe of an insurrection they are trampled.  Hope is only a dream reserved for the heroes.    Can the heroes continue to dream?  Will they bring back hope to the nations?   Will you take the time now to prepare the soil so that you can take your place among the pantheon of heroes who have impacted the world?

What happened at the shelter January 2-8

Monday January 2:  One of our guests took on the task to deep clean a room that we had suspected bugs.  The room has never been so clean.  It is a beautiful thing to see the ladies take ownership of the shelter.  We then moved ladies back into the room.    We had a fantastic small group at the shelter this evening that focused on who these ladies are in Christ.

Tuesday January 3:  We had a conversation with a guest who in essence was telling her roommates that she was not going to allow another guest to enter our long term program.  This made the shelter unsafe.  In the midst of the conversation it became apparent that this guest was showing no remorse for her plan.  She did acknowledge that it was wrong but was determined to ensure that this guest would not move forward with her life.  Ultimately we asked the guest to leave.  Another guest was passed out.  It took staff awhile to wake her up but when they did finally get her moving it became obvious that she was very drunk.  She denied it but did blow a .31 and was asked to leave.             

Wednesday January 4:  Across the street from the shelter someone was shot.  We did not hear whether the person shot made it or not.  Volunteers and staff continued to work toward clearing our basement so that we can make some renovations.  At this point it is still undetermined if everything needs to come out or not.

Thursday January 5:    It was officially determined that everything will need to come out of the basement for the upcoming renovations.      

Friday January 6:  We have begun pushing more of our Good Workers to work off site (Thrift Store, AOH-Program)  Some of the ladies experienced anxiety over working some place other than the shelter.  We are wrapping around this fear and using it to teach the ladies.

Weekend:   Staff, good workers and volunteers did a great job in clearing out the basement.  All will be ready for the maintenance team to start work anytime after Monday night.  Great work everyone!   

General comments:   We are working through some changes of policy where the guests are limited in how much stuff they can bring to the Crisis Shelter.  In essence all that they can have at the shelter must fit in a 30 gallon tub, food in milk crate or fridge and shoes on top of tub.  This should keep the shelter cleaner, more orderly and more presentable to new guests.         

Progress on my goals January 1-7, 2012

Below is what I accomplished toward my stated goals January 1-7, 2012.  My purpose in posting this each week will be to help hold me accountable and also to push me to accomplish more.  

	Target	Actually Done
Leadership Bible	35 pages a week	35 pages
Faith in Action Bible	42 pages a week	42 pages
Message Read Through	7 Days youversion program	On track
Running	15 miles a week	20 miles
Crunches	1000 a week	1000
Floss	7 times a week	7 Days
Face Cleaning/Lotions	7 times a week	6 Days
I Like Book	7 times a week	6 times
Modules	2 a week	2
Guy Time	1 a week	1
Self Exam	7 a week	3
Book Reading	1 Book a week	1 book complete
Date with Cara	1 a month	1
Date with Rachel	1 a quarter	0

The running this week was in my new Vibrams.  I loved every minute of it.  I read a couple of years ago that one of the secrets to running success is to run lighter.  These shoes force you to do that.
I stuggled making time for the self exam times.  The different types of self exams are listed under my 1st quarter plans.  But essentially my intension here is to fullfill 1 Corinthians 11:28.  I want to be in the practice of honestly appraising myself daily.  I obviously fell short this week.  I realized that this might be more doable if I break up some of the categories.  For example:  When I examine myself regarding the 12 scout laws, doing this in two groups of six is more doable. 
My date with Cara was not a real date so I will still need to take her out at some point.  Our recent vacation took all of our just for fun money so we sat together and watched a movie.