I recently re-read Wayne Cordeiro's wise and helpful book Leading on Empty: Refilling Your Tank and Renewing Your Passion. In chapter ten, Cordeiro discusses how airline pilots must constantly watch their instruments when flying, and how this pictures the twelve dials on the dashboard of his life that "meter vital systems essential to [his] health and success" (p. 175).

I have adapted his list into categories, or "dials," to watch in my own life, and they are divided into three broader categories of personal (1-4), relational (5-8), and professional (9-12). I've also included a sampling of questions for periodic self-examination. I hope you will find these helpful.

1. Spiritual. How is my prayer life? Am I meditating on Scripture? Am I communing with God? Where am I struggling with sinful emotions, desires, actions, or responses? How is my repentance? Am I preaching the gospel to myself and using the gospel on my heart?

2. Intellectual. How is my "life of the mind"? Am I reading regularly? Am I exposing myself to quality literature, art, and media? Am I stimulating my mind and imagination?

3. Physical. Am I caring for my body with appropriate exercise, good nutrition, and sufficient sleep? Do I take enough time off from work? Am I active in a genuinely re-creational sport?

4. Organizational. Is my life ordered? Are my schedule, office, desk, and inbox free from clutter? How well am I managing my time?

5. Marriage. How is my relationship with my wife? Are we spending enough time together, talking regularly, meeting each other's needs? Are we having fun together? Are we managing conflict in healthy ways?

6. Children. How are my kids? Do they see enough of me? Am I discipling them? How consistent are our family devotions? Do I discipline consistently, without anger and frustration? Are we having enough fun together as a family?

7. Stewardship. How well am I managing my finances and maintaining my house and vehicles? Am I keeping good records? How is my giving?

8. Extended family and friends. Am I staying in contact with extended family and friends? Are our conversations and visits mutually encouraging and helpful?

9. Preaching. How much time do I spend preparing sermons? Am I starting to work on sermons early enough in the week? Am I planning ahead? Do I sense God's smile? Am I being faithful to the text, remaining true to the gospel, and staying relevant to the diversity of people in my congregation? Are my sermons practical? Are they intelligible to unbelievers?

10. Pastoring. Am I giving good pastoral care to people? Am I leading teams well? Am I mentoring leaders? Am I planning ahead? How much time am I giving to counseling? How are the ministries of worship, education, small groups, children, and youth going? Am I casting vision?

11. Writing. Am I progressing in my book? Am I planning future books? Am I meeting deadlines? How effective is my blogging?

12. Outside ministry. How is my ministry outside of my church? Am I giving too much or too little time to missions trips or outside speaking engagements? What should my decision-making grids be? Am I content with the opportunities God has given me?