5 Things That Impacted Me In 2011

Like most people, my previous year has been complex, with many ups and many downs. Many things have had significant impacts on my life – my thinking and overall general state of mind. Of course the greatest and most dominate impact in my life continues to be Jesus Christ. The Lord has been very kind to answer my prayer that His name be hallowed – set apart – in my life. All other impacts in my life come to rest on this one big main foundation – the glory of God as specially seen in the person of Jesus Christ, and Jesus Christ becoming the greatest treasure in my life.

After Christ comes my family. Where would I be without them? In the gutters I’m sure. My family, specially my wife and children, are the second greatest impact in my life. I cannot believe the Lord has granted me the opportunity to lead them. It is such a great honor and sometimes an overwhelming task – not because their difficult, quiet the contrary, they are wonderful and not difficult at all, and I’m sure the best wife, son and daughter any man has had – no it’s sometimes an overwhelming task because I feel so unqualified. My wife Tina continues to impact me deeply with her continued choice to love me unconditionally and her long suffering of my sin and imperfections.

So, now that I have paved the first main foundation in my life – Jesus Christ – and then placed my second main impact on that foundation – my family – here are the next 5 greatest things (and 9 sub-things) that have impacted me in 2011.


1. The Bible
I set out in early 2011 to commit to read through the Bible in one year, and although I had some rough patches during the year – getting ahead and then falling depressingly behind – I was able with the Lord’s grace to accomplish this goal. Keeping a steady flow of God’s word in my life has helped me stay rooted through the tough and easy times of 2011. The consistent consumption of God’s word – The Scriptures – has had the single largest significant impact in my life this previous year.

2. Nothing Major Medical
After watching helplessly from the sidelines my new born daughter go through 2 major open heart surgeries in 2010, being able in 2011 to rest from the anxieties of any major medical needs have impacted my life infinitely. This can be hard to understand if you have never experienced a very sick child, but any amount of pro-longed health with a sick child is very therapeutic to the soul. With a third surgery and increased medical services on the 2012 horizon, this previous year of peace from my Master will be a deep well of grace to re-visit and drink from. This was the 2nd greatest impact of 2011 for me.

3. Relocation
Relocating my family in 2011 was not far – we stayed in Spartanburg – but it was paramount. Vacating our previous home, which is located only 15’ of a major Highway, into our new renovated home secluded nicely in an older development in Spartanburg, has had implications that might not ever fully be realized. Having now a large backyard (equipped with a fire pit and tree house), a house that needs no major repairs or updates, and the semi quiet streets for nice strolls have brought a sense of peace and joy to our usually hectic lives. It was large undertaking to buy and renovate the Wexford house (which would have been impossible without the help of my father and father-in-law), but one that has paid huge dividends so far in 2011.

4. Books
I have never really had a desire to read, but reading over the past 5 years has become just a stable part of my daily life. I read mostly theology books. I have a strange desire to read and learn about God and His word from other people. Of course this reading is filtered through the Bible, but I believe much is to be learned through godly men who put their pens to paper. Here are just a few books I’ve read this year that has impacted me, for the good of course:

- Kings Cross by Timothy Keller
- God is the Gospel by John Piper
- Gospel Wakefulness by Jared Wilson
- In Light of Eternity, The Life of Leonard Ravenhill by Mack Tomlinson
- Notes From The Tilt-a-Whirl: Wide-Eyed Wonder in God’s Spoken World by
N.D.Wilson (also available in DVD)

5. Music
Like reading, I never really had a desire for music. Don’t get me wrong though, I like music, but really enjoying music just never did anything for me. My artistic taste buds must have changed when God broke in 5 years ago and awakened me to the glory of Christ. Ever since music just sounds different, like a tickling of my ear taste buds. I guess now I understand the music is just an echo from the real Musician. So, here are just a couple of artist who have impacted me in 2011, helping strengthen my faith in God, and reconfirming He is most wonderfully creative:

- Josh Garrels (All his music is amazing, especially his older stuff, but you can pick up his new album for free here www.joshgarrels.bandcamp.com – on a side note his new album won the Christianity Today Album of the Year 2011)
- Zach Williams & The Bellow (He only has one album out now called Story Time but is close to having his second wrapped up - www.zachwilliams.com)
- Shai Linne (Anything by Shai Linne is an amazing testimony to the glory of God, but his new album which just released this month The Attributes of God is true piece of art - http://lyricaltheology.blogspot.com/ )
- Ascend The Hill (Their music can be downloaded for free here - http://ascendthehillband.com/ )


So there you have it, the 5 big things (and 9 sub things) that has had an impact in my life in 2011. What has impacted you this previous year – good or bad? What are you looking for to impact you in the coming year 2012?