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Recently I was given a copy of “The Seven Minute Difference“, along with a soon-to-be-released companion daily planner.  I smiled, automatically relegating these things into the “won’t really impact me, but I’m forced to write something about ’em so I’ll give it a go” category.  I was somewhat wrong.

Turns out, the “7 Minute Difference” is simply using a few short moments a day to make sure what you’re doing with your day is connected to what you ultimately hope to do in life…both short and long term.  The planner itself is organized in such a way as to remind you to be taking those small steps on a daily basis, and staying on task with them on your mind.  Being honest, the planner was too much for my ADD.  Anytime you need 11 pages to explain HOW to use a planner, you’re over my head.  Turns out, it’s easy to use…if you use planners.   Maybe there will be an app for it someday…I might try that.  For more information, I encourage you to check out the Seven Minute Life System yourself.

One of the things that frustrated my wife over the past several years, is my lack of “dreaming” when it comes to our home.  Sure, I would agree when she asked me, I want a house where our girls can have closets.  I would like a house with sidewalks so we can teach them how to ride a bicycle.  I’d love a street with less traffic…etc.

But none of my actions/words ever conveyed that I intended to do anything other than live where we were for the rest of our lives.

This book pointed out to me, I may be doing the exact same thing in other areas of my life.  Allyson Lewis points out the importance of putting our “Life Purpose” into words, and then making lists of Goals and Micro-goals that move toward that purpose.  Although I will confess, I had a hard time coming up with a “Life Purpose”.  Mainly I think I was trying to see through her lens, which seemed optimistically too much about the vague notions of “success”, “security”, and “growth”…all business-oriented phrases that I’m not really motivated much by.

My “Life Purpose” would probably sound something like “My purpose in life is New Creation.  To experience being made new by God, & to be involved in His making all things new in Christ.  Desiring the same for my wife, our marriage, my children, my family, my relationships with those I love, and those I need to be reminded to love.  I pray the ministry God allows me to be a part of to be actively growing New disciples of Christ, and connecting believers in relationship across families and generations…toward the coming of God’s Kingdom.”

Now…that’s always been there in the background.  But not really in words.  And even now that it’s in words, I find myself critiquing and wanting to reword it.  Yet, there is a solid beginning.  A purpose that my daily actions, large and small, should be united by and part of.

I love the ministry God allows me to be a part of.   But I’ll be honest – I would probably be just fine if it looked very similar 10 years down the road.  Just as I’d be just fine if I lived in the same house.  But “just fine” doesn’t imply that’s what I want.  I want stronger relationships with my volunteers.  I want to be more connected with the families, and see teenagers deeper connected to the discipleship happening at home.

I think that often because I fight the mentality seen throughout this book of professional “success”, “growth”, and “security”, I forget that “content” doesn’t necessarily mean things have to remain the same.  I am thoroughly content, and thankful for where I am in so many areas of my life.  But I desire what can be…

And so it begins. We’ve kicked off the last bit of off-season dust, and have begun the journey toward awarding the 2011 Stanley Cup. Maybe you’re new to this fanatical experience of the NHL. Perhaps you’re a long-time fan with records of every Gordie Howe Hat Trick ever made. And possibly, you think a “hat trick” is probably something the goalie does involving taking off his protective head gear.

But what you all may have in common? Fantasy Hockey.

Personally, I’ve grown up watching hockey as far back as I can remember. I love it. So did most of the people I grew up around. But then I moved to the middle of Illinois. Now I find myself surrounded by basketball, football, and even a few baseball fans, many of whom have never watched a full NHL game, unless you count Chicago’s win last season.

So what do I do? I trick as many local guys as I can to put their ego’s to the test in the realm of Fantasy Hockey. Sure, sometimes I do alright. But overall, my “win” comes in the form of having a group of guys I can talk hockey with…both online, and in person.

And what a season it’s already turning out to be.

In the West, the 2010 Stanley Cup winning Chicago Blackhawks are fighting to make a statement. What statement? “Even though we lost some great players due to salary cap issues, we are still as much a team to be reckoned with.” Watch for Marian Hossa to continue gaining productivity as the season moves forward. He may have finally won a Stanley Cup after an emotional chase, but now he’s tasted victory and has more time on the ice than last season.

But that’s not all the West has to offer. This week saw the match up between the “Old” and “New” regimes of hockey, and it was VERY close. The Detroit Redwings took on the Colorado Avelanche in Detroit. The team captains age at 40 and 39, respectively, but only one truly represents the age of the men behind him. Nicklas Lidstrom, backed by a Detroit team aged mainly 25-40, and isn’t available in your fantasy league for a reason. He’s solid.

Adam Foote on the other hand, is surrounded by so many young whipper snappers starting at age 19, you wonder if Colorado will keep him around for another season? Yet even with much less experience, the Colorado Kids gave Detroit a pummeling on Tuesday night, tallying 38 shots to the Wings total of 28.

Any team that can give a performance like that in Hockeytown USA, is worth checking into.  You might take a chance on David Jones if you’ve got a deeper league, with an open RW position. Ousted by an injury mid-season last year, it’s hard to know what he would have accomplished. But the 20 minutes a game he’s playing right now says Colorado has confidence in his ability to produce, and they were rewarded for that confidence Tuesday night.

Whether due to a busy summer, a large amount of books I’ve taken on all at once, or simply wanting to spend more time working through it….I’ve finally completed “After You Believe” by NT Wright.  I don’t think I’ll surprise my 2 readers by saying…..I enjoyed just about every page of it.

As a quick side note, I found myself wondering if people around me (because the world revolves around me, right?) notice the title of my book, and think perhaps I’ve just recently become a “believer” in whatever the topic is.  Sometimes I’d purposefully flash the book, in hopes that an energetic evangelical would strike up a conversation about how great Jesus is.  No such luck, this time at least.

I’ve already posted some thoughts while reading the book, and it’s important call to reclaim the activity of Jesus in our world as the Church.  So much of what Wright has said, is painted wonderfully in such a context that to remove it from, would be like taking a single star from “Starry Night”, and wanting you to see how beautiful it is.  I encourage you…if you’ve ever found, or find yourself in a place where you want “more” from Christianity, and church shopping isn’t quite filling what you thought it would…..or whatever method you’ve explored to bring personal revival…..allow God to use this book in your journey.

God is doing some pretty incredible things, and I want the language, song, and dance of my life to be something that I’ve practiced so often when it felt unnatural – that when moments requiring the response of someone genuinely following Jesus to bear God’s presence into the world in a transforming way….I am able, by the Spirit’s presence in my life.   That my very mind would be transformed/renewed, so that Faith, Hope, and Love would be virtues I’ve not only practiced in the grace of God…but are also becoming my very “New” nature.  That the fruit of the Spirit (all 9 aspects of it) would be obvious both as difficult decisions, as reflex actions, and as truly supernatural gifting as my life seeks the coming together of heaven and earth.

I’m thankful for Wright’s words on the work of humanity that has begun, and will continue into New Creation.  The gathering of creations’ praises to present before God, and the bearing God’s image and nature into that same creation.  I pray that God will be with me, as I desire these things not only for myself, but for my marriage, my family/children, and the church community I’ve been blessed to be called to serve God among.

Yes…it’s a bit dense at parts.  The fact that he talks about Aristotelian themes of virtue, etc…can be intimidating and discouraging to some of us who would prefer an easier-to-swallow pill.  But just as the spiritual “disciplines” can lead to some pretty amazing transformations toward New Life…..taking the time to invest in the words on these pages…can open the Word and Life that Jesus Christ has inaugurated…may you be blessed as well….and if you wanna borrow my copy – just let me know. 🙂