Do you know the legend of the Cherokee Indian youth's rite of passage?

His father takes him into the forest, blindfolds him and leaves him alone. He is required to sit on a stump the whole night and not remove the blindfold until the rays of the morning sun shine through it.
He cannot cry out for help to anyone. Once he survives the night, he is a MAN. He cannot tell the other boys of this experience, because each lad must come into manhood on his own.
The boy is naturally terrified. He can hear all kinds of noises. Wild beasts must surely be all around him. Maybe even some human might do him harm. The wind blew the grass and earth, and shook his stump, but he sat stoically, never removing the blindfold. It would be the only way he could become a man.
Finally, after a horrific night the sun appeared and he removed his blindfold. It was then that he discovered his father sitting on the stump next to him. He had been at watch the entire night,
protecting his son from harm.
We,too, are never alone. Even when we don't know it, our Heavenly Father is watching over us, sitting on the stump beside us. When trouble comes, all we have to do is reach out to Him.

Goals for 2010

SET TWO SPIRITUAL GOALS
"But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (II Peter 3:18)._
1. Read bible daily
2. Become proficient in the Bible knowledge. Take two bible courses. Read one theology book a month.
SET TWO PHYSICAL GOALS
"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice...which is your reasonable service" (Romans 12:1).
1. Run a 5k
2. Work out four times a week.
SET TWO MENTAL GOALS
"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind..." (Romans 12:2).
1. Finish Hebrew language course.
2. Complete survival handbook.
SET TWO SOCIAL GOALS
"Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another" (Romans 12:10)
1. Use my gift of writing to encourage at least one person per week, whether through a note, email, or blog posting.
2. Attend two bible studies per month.
SET TWO STEWARDSHIP GOALS
"Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." (Luke 6:38)
1. Use my gift of administration in at least one ministry opportunity.
2. Pick one missionary to support.