This post will likely ramble a bit, but gettings things “down on paper” often helps me evaluate more completely. It would be a bit severe to say that I have been overwhelmed lately. I have not been, thankfully. But I have been caught in a whirlwind of activities and thoughts that will undoubtedly continue for some time.

The blessings lately (beyond the “normal” blessings of three awesome children, an incredible wife, vehicles that run, and good health, to name a very few) have been two specific jobs that have come, post-”9-to-5,” that may prove to be validation of future involvement in additional development and consulting work (or not). They come at a time during which Lindsey’s school has started again, and various semi-annual bills become due. A few weeks ago I officially registered with the state as a business, and received my “you better pay us quarterly” welcome letter from Olympia, so I am official.

I have worked recently in a renewed effort on the pedal car I started two years ago for the kids. I expect to have it completed to a point that it can be driven in the next week or two. It still needs a lot of work, including paint and tons of finish work, and including the way-cool, obnoxiously loud brass taxi horn that will adorn its side. MG-TC pedal car

We had a missions revival at church this week. Ignoring the fact that the Holy Spirit is really the only one who can “schedule” a revival (I fully understand the point/intent, however), the effect of such a series of meetings on an individual is undoubtedly related to the individual’s willingness to be affected. Combine this with recent reading I have done from Spurgeon, MacArthur, and Dan Phillips, recent email conversations with two great missionary friends, posting interactions on Slice, and general messages from John Piper, and the result is, ultimately, a bit of a frustration related to the limited amount of time I have to devote any time to “extra” study of topics that interest me. And closely intertwined with that, perhaps a bit of frustration related to how much time I should devote to study of particular topics.

As with most things, it comes down to priorities. I have always struggled with this, since my areas of interest cover so many topics (magic, movies/movie-making/video production, RC models, model trains, woodworking, tinkering/building/creating, software development, photography, music, apologetics, etc.). It is not possible to maintain so many different interests and really be any good at any of them, while making any effort at becoming a better father, husband, and Christian, and all that those entail. Folks like Tim Challis amaze me in that they can make such an impact on so many people, while seeming to have it all together all the time!

I would love to complete the “series” I started on Bible translations. I would love to post regarding my recent (superficial) reading on the doctrine of grace and related discussions. I would love to post and study on reaching Mormons with the true Gospel of salvation by faith alone. I would love to be able to read Romans in a single sitting with no interruptions, and learn how to read/teach expositionally. I would love to have a weekly cup of coffee with a couple of brothers to pray and really talk about life. And I would love to get this ugly site redesigned!

And so this post ends. No real answers. No pearls of wisdom. Perhaps nothing more than a baring of my thoughts to the benefit of someone with similar wrestlings. Refocus on what matters. Set priorities and stick to them. Say “no” more often to men, “yes” more often to God.

Sleep is necessary, and I am off to see how much I can find. Soli Deo Gloria!