Young At Heart?

My Birthday is fast approaching, in about 8 days. I find my self, as I often do taking inventory of my life. Sort of like the church is doing... my own personal little Review, Re-organize, Resurge. Am I where I want to be? Am I doing as much as I can to be? What can I be doing better?

When I first read those questions I might interpret it with more of a materialistic point of view. Do I make the money I want? Am I driving the car I want? Am I as successful in love, work, life, or friendships as I should be? And a few years ago that is how I might have gauged my success. But now these questions mean something different to me. Don't get me wrong, 10 years ago at 18, I don't think I would have imagined my life as it is in any way shape or form. What I mean, now is, am I who I want to be? Do I reflect Christ? Are my habits good exemplary habits? Am I a good steward of my money? Am I a good friend? Will a stranger look at me and admire what they see? Or look at me and think of me as a hypocrite?

I honestly don't know the answers to these questions. I hope they are mostly yeses. Except for the hypocrite one. But I feel like how I feel and think is a lot different than how people might see me.

Some people have noticed that it has been a while since my last blog (some of which are also hypocrites...I think he will be in agreance with this). I have started to write blogs but have not put them up. I haven't felt too inspired. There are multiple reasons for this. Harry Potter is partly to blame. Spent 2 1/2 days doing nothing but reading the final Harry Potter book, and going to work. But other things have gone on in the last month that I am having a hard time finding much joy in.

So I post this blog now. I hope to set some goals for my 28th year. Goals that are different than the normal materialistic goals I might have set in the past.

1. Read!!! Study my Bible more. Press through it.

2. Humble myself! Ask the questions on things I don't understand.

3. Be Kinder. Control my tongue better.

4. Be Positive. I admire that trait in other people, but I never thought I would have it.

5. Be a Good Steward! I have gifts and am always provided for. I need to use it properly.

6. Trust God!!! I definately trust God in hindsight. But I need to trust in the here and now.

7. Be selfless!!

8. Be in constant prayer!

9. Be an example.

10. To truly be able to forgive others. .

I know one would read this, as I do, and think, yeah that is what we all strive for. And perhaps it is. Perhaps this is my goals for every birthday for the rest of my life. But I am truly going to work on it.

I went to Portland last weekend and had a blast. A couple of my best friends from college live there now. I had a blast. I felt truly young at heart. I hope to find that joy in everthing I do. I have attached a couple pictures they sent me from the weekend. The top one is taken at Powells Books (the coolest book store ever) and the other two are taken at an asian store called Cargo.