New Life eBulletin 01.06.09

New Years used to be a wonderful time of cherished bowl games and optimistic resolutions. Now it has become a time of complaining about the Bowl Championship Series computer rankings and joking about the lack of follow through on New Year's resolutions. Unfortunately, I can't solve the BCS problems in this short lifeblog, but I can share some encouraging thoughts when it comes to New Year's resolutions, or more preferably, a New Year's revolution.

In regards to change, a resolution is a want, desire, or idea one has whereas revolution is the actual change. Many times we set a resolution at the beginning of the year and then at the end of the year we look back, many times with disappointment, to see if our resolution produced a revolution. There is a fundamental problem with that because we start by saying "I want to change" and then we look back to see what happened. What if we started with a revolution and say, "I am changed." The struggle with change is that often times we try to do it half way. True change or revolution involves putting off an old way or habit and then putting on a new lifestyle. Hebrews 12:1-2 exhorts believers, "1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Look at the phrases that begins with "Let us". Revolution is putting off and then putting on.

Every Christian should have a New Year's Revolution. I hope that we can all remember 2009 as a year that we changed and grew closer to God. The good news is that this Biblical truth is also applicable to our natural lifestyle changes that we would like to see happen. If your goal is to get out of debt, start by understanding that you are changed. Don't just put off wasteful spending, but put on saving and paying off debt. If you New Year's resolution was to lose weight then it is missing the "putting on". Why not make it a revolution. I am changed because Christ lives in me so I am putting off unhealthy foods and taking the elevator, and I am putting on exercise, salad, and taking the stairs.