It’s now December and time to start thinking about New Year Resolutions for 2013. Here’s a little bit of inspiration for you to try something new next year:
What new thing are you going to try in 2013? What new things do you think I should do?
Posts Tagged ‘New Year Resolution’
Try something new!
03
Dec
Resolution Update #5
13
Sep
Time for a resolution update…
1. Read through the New Testament Twice
Ugh. Really bad. Total fail. I think I have to resign myself to the fact that I’m not going to achieve this one…
2. More dancing
You know what? I’m getting there! I’ve started going to a West Coast Swing club once a week, and last night I got my country on at InCahoots!
3. Be more gentle with people
Quite a few successes to report! The body count left in my wake is diminishing!
4. No sodas/fizzy drinks
I very nearly had a Root Beer by accident the other day, but I’m still going strong!
5. Get into the best shape of my life
Last month was pretty bad, but I’ve fought back and I’m back to 162lbs. C’mon, it’s now time to get serious and thing done!
6. Complete reading list
A few more books have been polished off: How To Listen When God Is Speaking and Godless Delusion. I’m currently working on Pope Benedict’s Jesus of Nazareth. I have the follow other books to complete by the end of the year:
Rediscover Catholicism - Matthew Kelly
The Path of Life - Cyprian Smith OSB
Jesus Among Other Gods - Ravi Zacharias
Philosophy For Dummies - Thomas Morris
This puts me just a little bit behind schedule.
7. Keep proper track of finances
It’s fallen off my radar a bit.
8. Tick something off my TODO list
Still good 
10. Fast on Wednesday and Friday
Good stuff.
11. Give up Facebook for 40 days
I gave up Facebook for Lent. It was rather refreshing. It has certainly changed my relationship with Facebook.
12. Make an effort to dress well for Mass
I’ve done pretty well here, shaving, wearing a shirt, nice shoes etc. I have certainly been more conscious of it.
Resolution Update #4
29
May
Time for a resolution update…
1. Read through the New Testament Twice
Ugh. Really bad. Total fail. I’m moving to a new apartment this week so I’m going to try and reboot my routine.
2. More dancing
I’ve been a few times, but no, fail.
3. Be more gentle with people
Actually a few successes to report! Blessed are the meek indeed! Long may it last!
4. No sodas/fizzy drinks
Still going well. My desire for them has really diminished. On a related note, I’ve managed to stick with my two-caffeinated-beverages-a-day rule too
5. Get into the best shape of my life
Finally back on track! I was weighed when I went to the doctor’s a few weeks ago and rather horrified at my weight. I am now a man on a mission. My goals is to get my weight back to 155lbs, the weight I was when I first came to America.
6. Complete reading list
I’m a little behind schedule, but I’m at least back into a regular habit. In recent months I’ve polished off I’m not being fed!, Confessions of a Mega-Church Pastor and Pillar of Fire, Pillar of Truth.
7. Keep proper track of finances
I’ve actually been doing rather well here. I’m checking my bank accounts a little bit more regularly, plus I produced a flow diagram to help me understand where my money goes each month:
8. Tick something off my TODO list
Still going strong. It’s really helping.
10. Fast on Wednesday and Friday
I’ve skipped a few Wednesdays, but replaced fasting with some other kind of penance (forgoing a cup of tea, saying a rosary etc).
11. Give up Facebook for 40 days
I gave up Facebook for Lent. It was rather refreshing. It has certainly changed my relationship with Facebook.
12. Make an effort to dress well for Mass
I’ve done pretty well here, shaving, wearing a shirt, nice shoes etc. I have certainly been more conscious of it.
All in all, not bad, but I really need to make an effort with those first two!
Jesus, Friend Of Sinners
29
Mar
My favourite band, Casting Crowns, just released a video of one of their songs, “Jesus, Friend Of Sinners”:
This is definitely one of my favourite songs from their most recent album Come To The Well. It has a few lyrics which I find devastating:
Jesus, friend of sinners, …we cut down people in your name but the sword was never ours to swing…
A plank-eyed saint with dirty hands and a heart divided…
Open our eyes to the world at the end of our pointing fingers…
…and finally…
Nobody knows what we’re for, only what we’re against, when we judge the wounded…
It is this last line which I find the most powerful. Before hearing this song I had never really considered that when I judged someone, I was judging someone injured. We’re all wounded, of course, both by the Fall and our own personal histories.
Until I heard these words I had never really considered that when someone does something which disappoints or hurts me, it might be due to a wound which that person had previously sustained. So rather than judging and condemning that person, I should instead see him as someone in need of healing.
Over the past few months I have, on occasions, remembered this song and the resolution it inspired: Be More Gentle With People. When I have done this, and managed to set aside my indigence and anger, and tried to “look for the wound”, I have been quite surprised at the results. I have found my heart softened and the reservoirs of compassion and patience which I had long thought empty, refilled.
Now, if only I could remember this resolution a bit more often…
Resolution Update #3
04
Mar
Time for a resolution update…
1. Read through the New Testament Twice
It’s been slow moving. I haven’t been doing very well… 
2. More dancing
I had been holding rehearsals for the gentlemen from Daughters Of The King and I went out Ballroom Dancing on Friday. Slowly getting back…
3. Be more gentle with people
A few big failures, but some successes too.
4. No sodas/fizzy drinks
Not touched a drop
5. Get into the best shape of my life
I didn’t get to Boot Camp in the last two weeks before Daughters Of The King, but I’ll be back on Monday. Other than that, I’ve been eating pretty well and stayed active.
6. Complete reading list
I haven’t finished my book for February, but I’m going to try and finish it this week.
7. Keep proper track of finances
I caught up with a load of paperwork the other day.
8. Tick something off my TODO list everyday
This has been going well.
10. Fast on Wednesday and Friday
I forgot one Wednesday lunchtime, but other than that, good
11. Give up Facebook for 40 days
As it was Sunday I uploaded a 200 photos from Daughters Of The King, but other than that, I’m doing okay
12. Make an effort to dress well for Mass
Still going strong.
Resolution Update #2
02
Feb
Time for a resolution update. Oh, things haven’t been going well…
1. Read through the New Testament Twice
Fail.
2. More dancing
Fail.
3. Be more gentle with people
Better.
4. No sodas/fizzy drinks
Still clean.
5. Get into the best shape of my life
Going very well. I’m on Day #9 of my ten day challenge at Boot Camp.
6. Complete reading list
On course. I’ve finished Brandon Vogt’s book and now starting on John Piper’s.
7. Keep proper track of finances
Fail.
8. Tick something off my TODO list
Very well. There’s lots to do for Daughters Of The King and Theology On Tap so there are always lots of things to cross off!
10. Fast on Wednesday and Friday
Going well.
11. Give up Facebook for 40 days
That’ll be happening next month…
12. Make an effort to dress well for Mass
Still going well.
Resolution Update
21
Jan
Okaaaaay….it’s new resolution update time…
1. Read through the New Testament Twice
My reading has been too irregular.
2. More dancing
Meh
3. Be more gentle with people
Some successes and failures
4. No sodas/fizzy drinks
21 days clean
5. Get into the best shape of my life
Boot camp still going well
6. Complete reading list
Over half way through The Church And The New Media and loving it
7. Keep proper track of finances
Mostly good
8. Tick something off my TODO list
My mirror is covered with crossed-off items!
10. Fast on Wednesday and Friday
Halo is nice and shiny
11. Give up Facebook for 40 days
Will be doing this in March.
12. Make an effort to dress well for Mass
Looking swanky
My 12 for 2012
17
Jan
I wrote earlier about my New Year’s Resolutions. One of the items was “Complete Reading List”. Here are the books I’ve selected:
I’m sure this little bundle will inspire a blog entry or two…
The Church and the New Media - Brandon Vogt
The Path of Life – Cyprian Smith OSB
I’m Not Being Fed! – Jeff Cavins
Jesus of Nazareth – Pope Benedict XVI
Rediscover Catholicism – Matthew Kelly
Godless Delusion – Patric Madrid & Kenneth Hensley
The Passion of Jesus Christ – John Piper
How To Listen When God Is Speaking – Mitch Pacwa, SJ
Father Brown of the Church of Rome – G.K Chesterton
Jesus Among Other Gods – Ravi Zacharias
The Story of Christianity – Justo Gonzalez
Philosophy For Dummies – Thomas Morris
I will be beginning with the one at the top of the pile The Church and the New Media which I recently won in a competition over at the author’s blog, The Thin Veil. Thanks Brandon!
New Resolutions
05
Jan
Okaaaaay….it’s new resolution time… Here’s what 2012 has in store for me…
1. Read through the New Testament Twice: This is actually quite a modest goal if I’m honest. I did toy with the idea of reading the entire Bible this year, but in the end I favoured this goal in the hope that I will achieve the daily prayerful Lectio Divina reading that I tried (and failed) to do in 2011.
2. More dancing: This is being carried over from last year. My goal is to be dancing weekly by the end of 2012.
3. Be more gentle with people: Later this month I’ll do a blog entry explaining exactly what I have in mind here…
4. No sodas/fizzy drinks: Sodas are the new chocolate 
5. Get into the best shape of my life: This is another resolution continued from last year. I’m aiming to complete this resolution by my next birthday in April. I’ve signed up for the Warrior Dash and I may do a half-marathon…
6. Complete reading list: I’m going to be a bit more purposeful in my reading in 2012. I have assembled a list of twelve books that I want to finish by the end of the year. I’ll do a post on these books when they’ve all arrived.
7. Keep proper track of finances: Last year I got some way towards achieving this goal. This year I’m going to be a bit more specific: I’m aiming to check my bank accounts and check my budget once a week.
8. Tick something off my TODO list: I usually have a list of TODOs up on the mirror in my apartment. I want to get into the habit of ticking off something every day, even if it’s just something simple like “Answer Joe’s email” or “Do washing up”.
10. Fast on Wednesday and Friday: Fasting twice a week was a practice of the Early Church and I’d like to integrate it into my life.
11. Give up Facebook for 40 days: Just to show I can I’ll probably do it after Daughters Of The King.
12. Make an effort to dress well for Mass: For years I was an altar server, so the only thing that mattered was that I wore black shoes since a cassock covered everything else. I’ve therefore never given much thought to what I’ve worn to the liturgy but a few months ago I decided that I should address this.
