I’ve never been all that good at the long haul.  I’m the offensive lineman on the football team who could hang with anyone for the first 5-10 yards off the ball, but faded in the 40.  My attention span lends itself to the sprint - to moving really quickly and in short bursts.

I spent many of my 29 years overloading myself with multiple passions and activities to the detriment of my health: relationally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.  I’ve been quoted as saying such wise, forward-thinking nuggets as “sleep is overrated,” “I can deal with anything for 6 months,” and “I’ll sleep when I’m dead.”

That’s making this church planting thing even more of a struggle for me at times.  God didn’t call me to spend a couple of years doing this Iron City Church experiment and then move on.  This is my life’s calling and I intend to start, persevere, and finish well – in such a way that God is honored, the name of Jesus is made more famous, and people’s lives are transformed radically with His Gospel.

That being said, the routine thing is going pretty well thus far.  My weekly schedule (for now) looks like this:

• Sunday: Setup/Worship Service/Breakdown/BFSAN (Big, Fat, Sunday Afternoon Nap)
• Monday: Study Day #1 (recharge from Sunday, work on sermon prep for next Sunday, read, listen to podcasts, etc.) & Date Night with the finest woman in America
• Tuesday: Meeting Day #1 (most of the day for ICC peeps/potential ICC peeps/community leaders/general & staff meeting in the evening)
• Wednesday: Study Day #2 (work to finalize this Sunday’s message, begin prep for next week and early study for future messages/series)
• Thursday: Meeting Day #2 (available for meetings part of the day and then work on various ICC tasks in afternoon)
• Friday: OFF (recharge/God time/family time/Tommy time)
• Saturday: Final preps for Sunday, College Football

In addition, I’m going to the gym at least 3 times a week in the mornings and trying to sleep regularly.  This is my current plan for sustainability in ministry.  I’m thinking it’s a start.  I’ll keep you posted . . .