2025 Year Review & 2026 Goals

Recap of 2025: (Black text is from last year, red text is outcome)

1. READ THE BIBLE EVERY DAY. I still feel compelled to keep this going, one in the Old Testament and one in the New Testament, but I’ll be MUCH more intentional about reading the two chapters in the morning rather than at night before I go to bed. Well, the morning strategy wasn’t successful, but I did read a chapter from the Old and New Testaments every day in 2025. I can’t say how important and refining this practice has been. It takes so little time in the grand scheme of things, and yet adds so much clarity to one’s walk with Christ and understanding of the world in general.

2. MEMORIZE ROMANS CHAPTER ONE: I can’t walk away from this desire, and I’m hopeful that I’ll be able to carve out intentional time for this in the coming year. Nope. Yet again I have failed in this category. “Once more into the breach, dear friends, once more”!

3. PRAYER: Again, still convicted to keep this going, at least 10 minutes a day on my knees, but will attempt to do more in the morning this year than I did in 2024. While I was able to do the 10 minutes on my knees every day in 2025, I didn’t achieve the switch in practice to the morning.

4. SERVING MY WIFE: What I continue to learn in life is that this responsibility is not a static one. It looks different in different seasons of life. Ashlee’s needs and desires five years ago aren’t necessarily the same needs and desires she has today. So, yes, there is a lot of cooking and doing of dishes and installation of shelves that will continue to be addressed, but there are also new circumstances that come with age and changing family dynamics that I’ll continue to assess in the coming months and years. I’m also trying to get better at finding that balance between listening and fixing. I know one thing for sure, and that’s that I’m a uniquely blessed man, and serving my wife for as long as we’re both alive is one of the greatest privileges God has given me. Always a mixed bag of failure and success. My selfishness definitely came out at times this past year, but I also made some strides in considering my wife’s day to day needs and desires in ways I had not in the past. To be a better servant leader to my wife is to grow in my relationship with Christ. That’s the primary purpose of marriage. Those Christians who don’t understand that are missing a great opportunity to grow in Christ.

5. SERVING MY DAUGHTERS: This too is in a season of change, as scheduling individual time with adults with their own initiatives and communities of friends isn’t an easy task. It will look different for me to support Emeri from afar, as she lives and studies down in North Carolina in the coming year. I’m sure it will include a few trips down to Wake Forest and more telephone conversations than I’m used to engaging in. It will look different for me to help Tyne wrap up her undergrad studies and figure out what her next chapter will look like. It has already begun to look different for me to help Gareth navigate college life and adulthood. Thankfully we still have one girl still in a very familiar place in life. Thanks for still being young, Cardin 😉 I’m hoping that budget allows for at least a few dates with each of the girls still in town, but we’ll see. Serving the girls has also included things like obtaining driver’s licenses, insurance, car maintenance, and vocational advice, among other things. I’m sure there will be a good bit of that in 2025. More than anything, I just want to be an example of a godly man for them to look to. This went much as expected, as I did have more telephone calls with Emeri and few trips down to Wake Forest. It meant more constructive conversations with Gareth on the way to and from Liberty. It meant conversations with Cardin to and from coop and basketball and youth group. But what was the most unexpected was helping Tyne navigate a romantic relationship that then progressed into an engagement and wedding planning. That wasn’t necessarily on my radar for 2025…but a welcomed development. The addition of Stephen was certainly an addition of responsibility, but it was a light one, as Stephen is truly a very mature young man who, in general, has my trust. Couldn’t have asked for a better match for Tyne. All that to say, there were new relational dynamics to take into consideration this past year among my girls. No, I didn’t get enough dates with them, but I believe I invested in their lives to a degree that they know that I love them and am seeking their good in the day to day.

6. HEALTH-WEIGHT LOSS-WORKING OUT: The goal, as it was last year, is to get down to 200 and stay down there. I also have the goal of running under an 8 minute mile, 2 miles under 16.5 minutes, and 3 miles under 26 minutes. While becoming a power-lifter will never by my goal, I do want to reach a bench press max of 255, as I obtained when I was in high school. Finally, I’m upping my daily consecutive push-up goal to 30 a day. Yes….I did lose weight. No, I didn’t keep it off . I didn’t even get below 210 this year. I’m actually back up to 221 pounds, which is a little discouraging…but I know how to bring it down…just takes discipline. But, I did increase my general strength and was benching over 225 pounds earlier this year. And I did perform my 30 push-ups a day this year….which is something that keeps my fitness somewhat in check when all else is struggling. Half way through the year I switched from running to walking at an incline of 12% to take it a bit easier on my knees for a season and see what that strategy accomplished for me. While I’m sure there were some benefits, I don’t think it helped my fitness holistically. I also started taking REDMOND Re-Lyte Hydration Electrolyte Powder Mix. It significantly helped in my general energy level. And my time in the dry sauna at the YMCA was a gift, as usual. My norm was to stay in there for 15 to 20 minutes…2 to 3 times a week. I accomplished that for 8 months this year. It’s just hard to jump back into a routine after getting back from Europe in September.

7. VOCATION: Unless my dream job comes along, I’m going to be content with the flexibility that my online teaching position for Liberty affords me. But I’m keeping my eyes on the prize of hopefully getting back into the classroom someday. Status quo. Teaching online for Liberty has been a gift, as it offers provision and flexibility. Yes, the grading has slowed me down in my dissertation writing, but I’m not sure there’s a more advantageous option at this point.

8. WRITING & PODCAST: Probably won’t do any blog writing, as my dissertation has to be the priority, but I may produce another season of my podcast, touching on some meaningful topics I’ve had in mind for a while. While I said this, I did end up speaking on several podcasts on shame for a few buddies and I also ended up writing an opinion piece on shame for Southeastern Seminary’s L. Rus Bush Center for Faith and Culture. These were unexpected opportunities that allowed me to keep my attention on my dissertation topic while also investing in some other communities with my knowledge.

9. EDUCATION: The goal, again, is to get the first two chapters of my dissertation written, but also to get all of Chapter 3 and at least some of Chapter 4 written as well. Thankfully, I’m well on my way to finishing up Chapters 1 & 2. Well, the minimum was completed, with the rough drafts of Chapters 1 & 2 completed. I also have some content written for Chapter 3 written, but my desire to finish it before the New Year didn’t happen. But considering all the responsibilities I’m juggling, I’m not upset with my progress.

10. SACRA DOMUS: This one’s on hold for now. Nothing.

11. TRAVEL: Again, unless a war or pandemic gets in the way, I’ll be headed back to Belgium in September again. The plan is for me to go alone this time around. I don’t see any traveling outside of that trip, as budget restrictions and time limitations weigh very heavy in planning this year. This was a beautiful trip. My time at the Colloquium in Belgium was a blessing, as usual. While I didn’t see any extra traveling, the Lord saw fit to fund a trip over to Germany to visit with one of my former students and his family. This was truly a gift, and it also empowered me to visit with one of my fellow PhD classmates and his family in the same region of Germany. It was my first time visiting Germany, so definitely grateful for this surprise opportunity in 2025. I was able to visit some cool locations (Heidelberg and Worms) connected to Martin Luther and the Reformation, which had been on my bucket list. Very thankful for that opportunity.

On the domestic front, soon after I got back from Europe I drove Ashlee up to Philly for a photography workshop with a famous photographer. This was the first time for me to visit Philly, so it was something to check off the bucket list. Didn’t get to visit as many landmarks as I wanted to, but it was a fun little trip.

12. COMMUNITY & CHURCH INVOLVEMENT: Once again, not a ton of time for much outside of serving the family, grading, and working on my dissertation, but the hope is to prioritize getting plugged into a small group this year. I’m certainly open to contributing in some capacity in our congregation, but nothing specific on the horizon as of yet. This is more of confession, as we simply didn’t get involved in a small group for various reasons. We know that there’s value in it, but it’s simply been difficult to schedule everything in. I was able to help with some sermon prep with an elder at our church a few times this past year, but even that was sparse. I also went to one men’s prayer breakfast event.

13. RENOVATION: While the built-in bookshelves in my office and the refinishing of our hardwood floors will probably have to wait for another season of life, Ashlee is still asking for mor shelves for the butler’s pantry she’s attempting to wrap up, so the goal is to make that happen in the coming months.  Another shelf was NOT installed this year. Other than fixing toilets and electrical outlets, and doing a little touch-up painting, I don’t think anything substantive was accomplished.

GOALS FOR 2026!

1. READ THE BIBLE EVERY DAY. Reading one chapter each from the Old and New Testaments is still on the list. And, yes, I’ll still try to shift to more morning reading.

2. MEMORIZE ROMANS CHAPTER ONE: Again, not walking away from this goal. It’s too important. While I often reflect on already memorized scripture, I need to memorize more. I need more of it in my heart and heard…word for word. In our day and time you never know when books will be burned, or digital devices taken away or made useless.

3. PRAYER: While the praying on my knees for 10 minutes every day has been of great benefit to me in general, I feel like it’s time to shift to a different approach. Ashlee has agreed to commit to praying with me 3 times a week on our knees for at least 10 minutes. So that will be OUR goal rather than just mine. We have so little down time together, so this will hopefully serve to draw us closer to the Lord while also drawing us closer together.

4. SERVING MY WIFE: As with last year, my wife, especially, is in a season of change, and it’s critical for me to listen, watch, wait, and respond to her needs in this season. I’ve already started to add practices in our relationship to empower her and our family in this crazy time of life. Some of things probably should have been added a long time ago, but life is about growth…and I’m still alive.

5. SERVING MY DAUGHTERS: They aren’t getting any younger, and it’s a joy to watch them excel into their next chapters of life. But it’s also coming at us so fast…and it’s hard to feel like I’m meeting their growth with adequate attention and encouragement. But, the goal is to pay attention, listen, and patiently and proactively invest in their lives.

Cardin will enter her high school years this year, and she has a growing love for basketball, so I’m attempting to empower her in that as best I can while keeping her spiritual and educational growth the priorities.

Gareth is going through fruitful but challenging growth in her music education and skill development, and I’m seeking to be a wise counselor as she advances through a formative process that is foreign to me.

Tyne is growing in her business and creative skills as an adult and is heading towards marriage this year. The goal is to celebrate with her and be there for advice and emotional support as the weight of planning and stretching presses in. We have no idea what level of involvement will be necessary of us in relation to her wedding, but we’re excited to be proactively available in this season.

Emeri continues to progress in her graduate degree, taking some of the exact same professors and classes that I had 20 years ago. It’s a unique opportunity to be a very informed sounding board for her, while recognizing that I’m not a single woman and didn’t experience seminary the exact same way she’s experiencing it.

It’s easy to champion all these young woman as they pursue Christ and excel in their interests and vocations. I need to continue to be diligent with prayer for them, coffee/food dates, and being available by phone.

6. SERVING MY MOM: 2025 presented a new opportunity for me….and that was to live next to my mother for the first time since high school. It’s been a beautiful opportunity to get to know her more thoroughly as an adult and to serve her in this season of her life. It’s a great gift to finally be able to have such access to her, ministering to her and being blessed by her in my adult years. My goal in 2026 is to continue to bless her with my receptive presences and to encourage her to enjoy these senior years of her life.

6. HEALTH-WEIGHT LOSS-WORKING OUT: As I stated in my recap…I didn’t reach my goals this past year for weight loss….not even close…but I did make strides in my general health. I plan on building on that foundation in 2026. I need to jump back into treadmill running and working out with the weights. My goals will consist of the following:

– Get my weight down to 210 by June, and keep it under that for the reminder of the year

– Running under an 8 minute mile, 2 miles under 16.5 minutes, and 3 miles under 26 minutes.

– Bench maxing at 235, 3 reps at 225, 10 reps at 185.

– 5 pullups with no weighted assist

– 1 set of 35 continuous pushups every day of the year

– Minus times of travel, to spend 20 continuous minutes in the dry sauna at least 2 times a week.

7. VOCATION: Again, unless my dream job comes along, I’m going to be content with the flexibility that my online teaching position for Liberty affords me, with the goal of getting back in the physical classroom once I finish up with PhD.

8. WRITING & PODCAST: While I didn’t expect to do anything last year on this end, I actually ended up guest speaking on a couple of podcasts and writing one scholastic blog article. So, while I don’t plan on furthering any platforms of my own, I suspect I may have similar opportunities as last year that arise.

9. EDUCATION: The extravagant goal this year is to complete a full rough draft of my dissertation. With big life experiences expected this year, that seems like a tall order, but I’m going to push forward with that goal. At a minimum, I need to finish up chapters 3 through 5.  

10. TRAVEL: As usual, unless a war or pandemic gets in the way, I’ll be headed back to Belgium in September. The plan is to try and take Ashlee with me again this year and to look for an opportunity to possibly spend some limited constructive time in Europe after my colloquium is over. We may have some domestic traveling on the schedule as well, but that’s up in the air.

11. COMMUNITY & CHURCH INVOLVEMENT: The goal is to get plugged into a small group this year, and to continue to invest in the sermon prep team that I had limited involvement with last year. I also want to up my game in the men’s ministry/college ministry opportunities if time allows.  

12. RENOVATION: Not much planned on this line item for 2026, but I may end up installing that second shelf in the butler’s pantry. We’ll probably repaint the floors of a few rooms as well as the front porch. But we have enough other major events this year to keep us busy.   

I think this is enough to keep me busy this year. As crazy and encouraging as 2025 was, 2026 could actually turn out to raise the levels on both ends. The key, as always, is to “seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness,” submitting every aspect of my life to His guidance. Blessings and Happy New Year!

Alfred Lord Tennyson’s 1850 poem, “Ring Out, Wild Bells”