My Personal Priorities with My Comments

My Personal Priorities

with My Comments

January 13, 2018

INTRODUCTION

This list of priorities is the fruit of having prayed and requested prayers for this.

Also I had done many exercises related to purpose, passion and core values.

The first version was written on April 25, 1997.

I have made minor revisions.

This list helps me to remember and focus on what is most important to me.

These are presented in the order of their significance to me.

This has been shared with family and friends.

Also it has been shared with supporters.

Those supporters include intercessors, advisers and donors.

Every person will have a unique list of personal priorities.

Some of them may change over time.

These are based on work I had done related to finding my passions and values.

Note that I am single and never married.

So there is no mention of spouse, children or grandchildren.

I have zero interest in dating, courtship or related social activities.

The core of my intention is on moving forward on my many plans.

During the coming years I intend to both launch a business and nonprofit.

They will be expressions of what lives deep inside my soul.

The following will start with just a list of my personal priorities.

Then I will expand some on each one.

I request your best prayers related to these.

May God grant me strength and courage to actually follow through on them.

May these be improved as needed.

I have put this on this blog post.

There I welcome your comments and questions.

You are challenged to write your own list of priorities or adapt these.

LIST

#1 Take excellent care of my health.

#2 Take appropriate care of my safety.

#3 Pay all of my bills in full and on time.

#4 Make my home office and future offices into effective

productivity centers.

#5 Stay on a personal and professional budget.

#6 Make consistent progress toward fulfilling my vision

of developing and enjoying a well-balanced life.

#7 Gain the skills, resources, knowledge, assistance,

support, advice, connections, etc. that can help me

in achieving all these priorities.

#8 Work on projects that I enjoy.

#9 Work with people that I enjoy.

#10 Nurture a few close friendships.

#11 Save an appropriate amount of money.

#12 Acquire a balanced and growing investment portfolio.

The following priorities were not mentioned previously.

They are already a major and balanced part of my life.

#A Develop and enjoy my personal relationship with God.

#B Practice charity in thoughtful and gracious ways.

#C Continue my lifelong learning.

COMMENTS

#1 Take excellent care of my health.

My health is necessary to both address and enjoy the following priorities. In this context my health includes physical, mental, emotional, spiritual and more. I need to use the knowledge and skills I have related to my health in all these areas in optimal ways. Plus I intend to acquire additional inputs as needed.

#2 Take appropriate care of my safety.

My safety includes protecting myself from all kinds of harms. This includes the safety of my body, data, possessions, finances, identity and more. There are real risks and threats for every human. I need to understand how safety applies to me and take suitable measures.

#3 Pay all of my bills in full and on time.

My relative freedom, flexibility and peace of mind depend on keeping my bills paid. I will make a significant purchase or add to my monthly bills only when I can afford to do that. I intend to keep each of my financial commitments and to be prudent about all my expenditures. I need to both keep short term cash flow a top priority while also dealing with long term goals.

#4 Make my home office and future offices into effective

productivity centers.

There are many changes I can make to improve the organization, layout, equipment, furniture, supplies and other properties of my home office. My aim is to maximize the quality and quantity of the throughputs. That in turn will improve and enhance the outputs. When I invest time, energy and money into making modifications to my work environment, then those investments will pay off in the long term.

(Note that for years I have spent most of my waking hours at my desk in my home office and I interact online nearly all the time. So my home office is like my workbench, studio or creativity center.)

#5 Stay on a personal and professional budget.

While making money is important, it is true that wisely allocating those funds is perhaps more important. It is possible to steadily accomplish various financial goals through the wise use of a budget. It is necessary to be aware where the money has gone in the past and will go in the future. Monitoring and controlling money to achieve both personal and professional goals is done by using the tool of a budget plus associated financial reports.

(Budgeting has been a personal weakness all my life. I appreciate how it needs to be a high priority. I place this near the top of the list to remind and challenge me. I intend to hire the right people to help me excel at this skill.)

#6 Make consistent progress toward fulfilling my vision

of developing and enjoying a well-balanced life.

Three arenas

Blog link

#7 Gain the skills, resources, knowledge, assistance,

support, advice, connections, etc. that can help me

in achieving all these priorities.

I will need to acquire the education, experiences, contacts and other aids in order to complete the huge and complex vision that I believe God put on my heart and into my mind.

Along the way I will realize much more of my full potential. I will be able to be of greater service to others. And I will lead many people by my examples.

I admit that I have both strengths and weaknesses just like every human. So my ongoing challenges are to address my weakness while also developing my strengths. That will involve enrolling appropriate individuals, groups, organizations, companies, products, services, etc. along this adventurous journey.

This priority reminds me I am not alone. My long term success is not ultimately up to just me as an unaided soloist. I will learn to work with teams of advisers, employees, volunteers, intercessors and donors.

I have had very little leadership experience. But I have had hints that leadership style is collaborative, open and participatory. That relates to this priority as well as a desire to gracefully grow healthy communities of mutual support online and offline.

#8 Work on projects that I enjoy.

Work is a necessity of life. The income from profitable work provides the capacity for other priorities.

At various intervals I will get to choose the kinds of projects and the specific projects I will do. This priority reminds me that it is possible and desirable to choose projects that are intrinsically enjoyable for me. Thus I can have payoff both during and after my work. Also I will work harder and better on what I am enjoying.

My highest ambition is not to retire as soon as possible and putter around or party hearty until I die.

I admit that I am a recovering workaholic. I do not work to live but instead I live to work.

What motivates me deeply is to have a sense of accomplishment. I live to leave a lasting legacy of leaders, lessons and libraries.

I have no interest in competitive sports or competition in business. My ideas are far too innovative and interdisciplinary to ever have a direct competitor. My only real competition is with my own mortality. Some day will be my last day.

On my death bed I want to honestly tell God I believe I had completed my divine assignment.

I have a deep sense that I am destined to serve as a change agent in several fields. This will be possible because of the following factors: uses of synergistic systems, highly talented employees, an abundance of volunteers, plenty of intercessors, generous donors, taking smart risks then quickly learning from our failures, harnessing communication technologies while combining online and offline best practices and the anointing of God.

So if I am going to be working hard until my last day then this reminds me to select those ways to interact with my work that I like most. And where possible hire others to do what I dislike.

#9 Work with people that I enjoy.

This priority is related to the previous one yet comes after it. The enjoyment of my work comes from doing the tasks related to the job at hand AND enjoying the relationships that happen along the way. There are some people that I enjoy working with more than others. It is nothing personal. It just seems to be the quality of the rapport that happens naturally. This priority reminds me to choose those I enjoy working with when it is possible and appropriate. This invisible chemistry seems to be mutual. Holding to this priority will populate my career with relationships that will bring more rather than less emotional satisfaction. Also burn out and depression will be less likely.

#10 Nurture a few close friendships.

As a workaholic I need to be careful to cultivate my social life. I have learned from many pleasant experiences in the past that some quality friendships can be very rewarding. And like most of life, quality is better than quantity. It takes much time and energy to create, maintain and develop high quality friendships. Chapter Six of a book titled The Charge by Brendon Burchard provides me with challenging guidelines related to this priority. This priority reminds me that there is more to life than career, money, things, solitude and pleasures.

#11 Save an appropriate amount of money.

All the books and websites on money management recommend developing the habit of saving. At each stage of my life the amount that I save and the purposes for saving will change. This priority reminds me to be aware of how much I need to have in savings during that stage and why. And then to take action steps to make it happen.

#12 Acquire a balanced and growing investment portfolio.

It is possible for my investments to accurately reflect my personality, values and interests. I will educate myself about investing.  I will work closely with a few advisers that I trust. This priority reminds me that it is important to have my money working for me while I am working to make more money.

The following priorities were not mentioned previously.

They are already a major and balanced part of my life.

#A Develop and enjoy my personal relationship with God.

My Christian faith is THE central element of my whole life. I am always seeking better ways to understand the person of God and apply bilibcal principles to my life. This priority reminds me that I am accountable to God and it is He that leads me, guides me, strengthens me, helps, protects me, etc.

#B Practice charity in thoughtful and gracious ways.

I love to give. Throughout the year I give my time, money, things, books, links, online articles, food, etc. I give to individuals, nonprofits, church and libraries. My life is much richer because I have given so much for decades. My deepest motivation for me to prosper in my career is so I can give more. This priority reminds me to think of those who will benefit as the other priorities are maintained.

#C Continue my lifelong learning.

Every day I enjoy learning something new. I watch several educational videos online and I share the best in various collections online. I read self-help books. I enjoy watching documentaries and biographies. I have interest in several fields and before the Internet I often went to the library for many hours a week. Plus I would take home many books.

RELATED

On a related note here are my health care priorities

Here are my priorities for my health care:

1. Eat the most healthy foods that I can afford.
2. Take nutritional supplements as needed.
3. Engage in moderate exercise regularly.
4. Request prayers and expect healing or guidance to next steps.

(Note I have been healed in my body due to prayers dozens of times.

5 Consider alternative medicine like therapeutic massage and acupressure.

6 Take prescription medicine as directed.

7 Reserve surgery as a last alternative.

CONCLUSION

God is Answering Prayers about My Health

I have not been suddenly healed, yet.

Instead, God has sent me information and education through various people.

I still deal with the uncertainty about the cause of my chest pains. I do not yet know how serious it might be. I need to keep requesting prayers and take action steps one day at a time.

I have learned that there are Christian health share plans. But the cheapest health share plans are about 160 a month. Yet I can afford about 30 a month these days.

I talked with an independent insurance agent that comes by monthly to help people like me in this apartment complex. He said that I am eligible for Medicare the month I turn 65. So that will be April 1, 2018. He will then guide me through the many options. The federal government will pick up most of the cost. My premiums could from 109 to 138.

So I need to stay alive and reasonably well until then. Plus I need to make progress in making and marketing online ecourses and online communities so that I can increase my income streams to afford those premiums through Christian health share plans or the Medicare subsidized one.

Meanwhile, I set an appointment at Hope Clinic for Wednesday, January 3 at 130.

They will give me an indication as to the cause of the minor pains in my upper right chest that have recently included the lower right shoulder.

They will have lists of referrals to experts in nearby and in Dallas. The insurance agent said that there is a Baylor facility that is a 10-minute drive from here in Waxahachie. He has a client that goes there for heart treatments.

WAIT

So I back to that four letter Bible word W-A-I-T.

Waiting is not pleasant but God uses it to develop my faith.

There are several lanes of waiting for me including the following.

I wait until the appointment in a few days. Then they will say what they guess are the issues.

They will likely want to take a sample of my blood and test it. So I will need to wait for those results.

I wait until April first to qualify to get subsidized insurance through Medicare.

I wait until I have the income to afford those premiums.

I wait until I go to a cardio appointment and get those results.

Note that my father had major heart bypass surgery many years ago.

NATURAL

A friend gave me some Turmeric today. I had not heard of it before. But many on the internet say that it is very helpful. I have already put in on some steamed mixed vegetables. I will add it to my morning smoothie.  And I will continue to use it long after the symptoms have passed because evidently, those in India have been using it medicinally for centuries. That is the kind of direction I choose to follow.

God created the human body with an amazing immune system to fight off all kinds of troubles. Then our modern society brings air pollution, lots of stress, and processed foods that are not the best for us. The Bible says that God gave us herbs for healing.

I would far rather intake natural substances to gradually achieve complete healing than to take some pharmaceuticals that will quickly relieve the symptoms yet impact other systems in my body that I could not measure.

Note that I am unwilling to take prescription drugs as needed. But those artificial chemicals will impact organs in ways the experts do not fully understand. And there may be traces that remain until my last day that could disturb the natural balances of the interactive systems for wellness.

THEOLOGY

I live in the constant awareness that God knows every choice I make and the most intimate intentions of my heart. I seek to live out my faith in Jesus Christ by first turning to Him in prayer and prayer requests. Then to turn to natural things I can change like my diet and exercise. Then to herbs that He provided. And finally to man-made drugs and surgery.

Jesus is my Lord. I am not my own. I was bought at the price of His precious blood. I have the stewardship of this physical body that the Bible says is the temple of the Holy Spirit.

So my theology informs my priorities and my prayer requests.

I believe that God is all knowing and all powerful. I want to be seen by Him at primarily leaning on Jesus to guide, provide and heal. I want God to know that deep in my heart I fully trust Him to take care of me at every level.

Jesus is my Healer. If God wants me healed then that will happen in His time.

My ongoing assignment is to trust and obey the guidance of my Good Shepherd daily. Amen?

PRAYER

Please pray for God to use this season of waiting to improve my faith in Him.

Pray for God to raise up and inspire more than enough intercessors for this season.

Pray for me to know the truth about what is happening in my body.

Pray for me to be given wise and clear guidance about actions to take that might include alerting my diet, improving my exercise, taking targeted nutritional supplements, taking the right prescriptions, and finally undergoing suitable surgery if needed.

THANKS again for your prayers.

Shalom

John

Possible Heart Trouble -- No Health Insurance -- Pray for My Health and Safety

SUMMARY

I went to the Obamacare website and learned that I cannot afford health care. The monthly premium was 908 a month with 7350 deductible. I only make 683 a month from my social security retirement. Even if I could magically afford that, then I would pay 20 for my Rx that costs 25. I could save 5 a month by paying 908.

I learned that the State of Texas will not subsidize my health care. I was given a special code to put on my taxes so I do not pay the penalty. See the attachment.

Description of my possible heart troubles follows.

So I request your best prayers for my health and safety.

HIGHLIGHTS

I do my best to eat healthy foods and I take a walk daily.

I rarely get sick. I may get the flu for a few days every few years.

I cannot control drunk drivers or others hitting cars when I am riding.

I trust the Lord Jesus Christ to keep me healthy and safe.

The medicine that I take daily is for my prostate. It is normal for men of my age to have BPH. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benign_prostatic_hyperplasia

When I am taking the medicine I do not need to urinate frequently.

When I was at the homeless shelter I went to Parkland. My clinic visits and medicine was free to me.

That perspiration expired and those in Ennis pointed me to Hope Clinic. http://call4hope.org/ They use a sliding scale based on income.

All of that is simple enough. I go to the clinic and get a new prescription. BUT there is a huge compilation.

I have been having MINOR pains in my chest on the upper right side. At first, I thought I had just pulled a muscle. But this has gone on for more than 3 weeks. The MINOR pains come and go.

DETAILS

I have stayed in the hospital one time back in 1996. That was after a hit and run accident that nearly killed me. Thus I request prayers for me as on the road.

Also, most injuries happen in the home. So please pray for my safety at home too.

Normally I have been very healthy all my life. I went 30 years and only saw a doctor 5 times.

Here are my concerns. I need to pay for ANY doctor visits, medicine, and tests out of pocket. I do not have any savings. I get by from month to month.

There are people I can contact on to help me financially. I am willing to do that like I did to afford my dentures.

I have faith in God that there will be enough money for me right on time.

BUT the medical establishment is a complex and costly system.

I have not hurt enough to go to an Emergency Room. If I did then they would send me a bill that is not small.

Basically, I have a moderate tolerance for pain. If I learned from reputable sources that I just need to live with it, then I could.

If these are warning signs of a possible heart attack or stroke then, OK. I am willing to take any tests, anywhere and anytime. BUT where is the best place to do that? Shall I seek those tests in Dallas or here in Ennis?

If and when I go to get tests related to my heart, then what? We are in a culture where doctors order some unnecessary tests. They want to cover themselves in case there are lawsuits later.

I understand and accept that, but I do not have health insurance. So where I go to get tests is a big question.

I do not want to foolishly minimize or maximize such tests. I do not want to just go with the cheapest option. I do not want to work with a doctor I cannot stand.

Here are my priorities for my health care:

1. Eat the most healthy foods that I can afford.
2. Take nutritional supplements as needed.
3. Engage in moderate exercise regularly.
4. Request prayers and expect healing or guidance to next steps.

(Note I have been healed in my body due to prayers dozens of times.)

5. Consider alternative medicine like therapeutic massage and acupressure.
6. Take prescription medicine as directed.
7. Reserve surgery as a last alternative.

CONCLUSION

I will soon call Hope Clinic for an appointment.

May God grant them wisdom and understanding about my condition.

May God guide and provide for the next step.

May I become totally healed soon.

Shalom

John

Star Wars has Theology, Doctrines and an Online Temple of Jedi Order

Star Wars is not just a hugely popular group of movies but it is more.

I came on the following materials that opened my eyes to the deeper levels of this.

While I enjoy the movies, I do not obsess over the matters between viewings. Yet there are millions of passionate fans all over the world that have the posters, action figures, and costumes a part of their life.

There are untold numbers of fan-based websites that track every detail. Here is an example http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Wookieepedia:Welcome,_newcomers

Disney bought the franchise and will likely produce a movie each year for a very long time. They will also sell products that will appeal to children. So this will be deeply in the thinking of many millions of people for decades.

Note that there is no such marketing machine as Disney behind Star Trek, the Matrix or Downton Abbey.

I am not saying that all this is bad, evil or wrong. It is a cultural matter that crosses generations and countries. As Christians, we need to be alert to the messages that are indirectly being communicated in a very appealing way. It addressed religious themes using storytelling.

These next few videos made me aware of the worldview or theology and doctrines that are suggested by dialogue, the key moments in the movies and the repeated themes.

Notice what is said during the very first of the Lessons from Toda video. It says that people are converting to Jedi as their religion. And on census data in many countries that is a growing trend. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jedi_census_phenomenon

Star Wars Symbolism: Lessons from Yoda

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPpsoFO8u6U  

According to the Temple of the Jedi Order here are the key doctrines defined and some text sermons.

https://www.templeofthejediorder.org/doctrine-of-the-order

46 text sermons

https://www.templeofthejediorder.org/sermons

What comes to my attention is that Scientology began in 1954 and it is based on science fiction kinds of themes. They claim to be a church and are in many countries.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientology

Mormonism began in the 1820 and is growing still. It came out of nowhere. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mormonism

I am not advocating a boycott or sermons against Star Wars.

I am asking you as an individual and especially as a parent to be alert to the indirect messages.

One of the many roles that I find myself in as a writer is that of a watchman on the wall. I have the opportunity as a retired person to do more research and reflection than before retirement.

I seek to be a good steward of my time and talents for the glory of God.

I have many other kinds of messages to offer. My intention is to always communicate the truth in love. I trust that the truth will set people free. I must wrap any truth that I share in love.

Please pray for God to grant me wisdom and discernment about this and related matters. May the Lord grant me eyes to see and ears to hear. May He use me to communicate truth-filled messages in loving ways to the Body of Christ. May He prepare them to receive and respond in timely ways.

That is the core of my message this time. Now for your bonuses.

BONUSES

Carrie Fisher played Princess Leia first in 1977 at 20 years old.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Princess_Leia

She died in 2016, yet boys and girls that are not yet born will fall in love with her.

A Tribute To Carrie Fisher

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sE99le5FBrY

Note in this video that her mother, Debbie Reynolds, died the very next day. But future generations will not fall in love with Debbie and wear costumes like her in the coming years.

The Untold Truth Of Carrie Fisher

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OyErr6-qqmc

Did you know that the color of the lightsaber has meaning?

Star Wars Symbolism: Lightsabers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UwaTozOwyQ

It is said that the first Star Wars movie was saved in editing.

How Star Wars was saved in the edit

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFMyMxMYDNk

What George Lucas says about the background, deep themes and his motives.

George Lucas talks good and evil, mythology, religion, creativity

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DByPy8aEPw

GEORGE LUCAS ON GOD

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHGXWGbtNsU

In these and other interviews I have seen George Lucas says he asked the question as a child that if there is one God then why are there so many religions. He pondered this for many years. And came to be mentored by Joseph Campbell who compared and drew out the common themes of the myths of all centries and all peoples. He wanted to bring the core concepts of those many myths to this modern generation. So consider that many generations ago people quoted the Greek plays and Shakespeare. These days they quote popular lines on Star Wars. This informs their worldview and how they see their place in life.

Lucas says that he believes there is a God and the many religions are different containers for faith. That is not a Christian message. But it is a welcomed relief from the loud mouth atheists.

Shalom

Brother John

P. S. I invite your comments.