Me-God
This model begins with my personal relationship with God. In order to have a growing relationship with God, I need to know and do certain things. I need to know who God is (the parts that I can know), what He expects from His friends, and I need to spend time with Him. In these ways I will learn – every day – how to come closer to Him.

Me-God-Family
Once I have begun a personal relationship with God, I need to redefine my role in my family. I begin to realize that not only am I a child of the King, but everyone else on this earth is as well, and that my family is a special God-given subset of those children of His. I know that I am to be the spiritual leader of my home, that I am to train and love my children, and that I am to partner with and be a lover to my wife. In order to do these things well, I must apply myself, connect with God regularly, and perhaps seek guidance from others who have walked this path longer than I have.

Me-God-Others
Once I have extended my personal relationship with the Lord into my family, I begin to treat others differently. I begin to act differently to everyone with whom I come in contact. I begin to realize that my actions are interpreted as being representative of Christians in general, and I hold the reputation of the church in esteem. I fellowship with other Christians regularly, and I speak with others – verbally and/or through my actions – about my relationship with God. I decide to help build God’s kingdom on earth and I give of myself to help others and to build the body of Christ.

Me-God-Life
Now that I live with the Lord, and struggle along the narrow path daily, I begin to understand that the Lord is in control of all things here on this earth and my view of this world changes dramatically. Eighty years now seems like a heartbeat, and I begin to feel as though this world offers less to me than it once did. I begin to redefine my reality here on earth in biblical terms and heavenly meaning. My purpose is no longer to be successful in earthly terms, but to first be successful in heavenly terms.

A final note on this model before we jump into the first “connection”…

These things do not each happen in neat little packages of learning, first to be applied and perfected and then set aside and moved ahead of. These things happen in a fast-paced life and in people who may have chaotic thoughts and pressure or who may already have family or church issues to handle. Also, each time we progress a step closer to an full understanding of God, that learning has a ripple effect on the other connections, and ‘round we go again, changing our approach and attitude based on that new understanding. Thus, the narrow and winding path metaphor is quite fit as we wend our way around this pyramid ever upwards to our Savior.

[ I'll end here for now... and hopefully get your thoughts? ]