Update Tues - Fresh Start

I am not really one for making New Year's resolutions.  To be honest I am not sure if it is a philosophical decision to not make them, or just laziness.  It could very well be either, or both.  There is something, however, about new beginnings or fresh starts that can help spur on the imagination and help one to think ahead that can be both healthy and invigorating.  I think that I am probably at this place as I write this first post of 2013.  I have actually taken some time away from cleaning my office space to write this morning.  As many of you know the last six to eight months have been a bit of a roller coaster ride for my family, and the last month in particular, has been down right chaotic.  My office has mirrored this chaos and was almost unusable.  Today, however, I am happy to report that things for our family have shifted to what will hopefully be a new normal with everyone safe, happy and on the road to healing.  We found a residential facility for our oldest son who has been struggling with mental health issues this past year.  It seems to be a great place with a great program and both he and we are really excited for him.  We have also been able to bring our other children home after being apart for almost four weeks.  So today is the first day of a new beginning, a fresh start.  Now that family things have started to even out, it was time that my office be cleaned out in preparation for the fresh start to carry over to life and work.
As I look to 2013, I anticipate it being another busy year with a lot of positive things personally and for the ministry.  After finishing a one year bible reading plan, I am a little over a week into a new chronological reading plan that will lead me through the bible once again, but this time organized around the chronological order of events found within scripture.  I am excited to see what God may reveal this time through.
We are also beginning the year with a friend who will be living with us for the semester.  Graham, a friend from camp, has started a co-op placement within Hamilton and so has come to live with us.  He seems very interested in learning about what and how we do ministry and so I am looking forward to the opportunity to share and pour into him over the next few months.    One near future goal is to be able to house interns here in Hamilton and this will give me a great opportunity to experiment and do a dry run, and hopefully it will be fruitful for Graham as well.
Similarly, I am hoping to spend more time this year with current leaders and with some new ones as well, pouring into them and mentoring them along.  If our goal is to start a growing network of fellowships, and not just one small group, then leadership development will be key.  I am looking forward to continuing on and growing this part of my role in 2013.
I think that this year will also bring with it the need to grow an administrative framework that will facilitate the a growing network of small fellowships including leadership structure and, most importantly, financial services.  Be praying about this one because I hate administrative stuff! 
These are just a few of the thoughts that I see leading us into this new year.  I am looking forward to 2013 bringing new leaders, new fellowships and new experiences of which we would never have even dreamed!