Wednesday, January 06, 2010
I’m not sure how I feel about New Year’s resolutions. Perhaps I need to resolve to be more decisive. I suppose my struggle is with the fact that change should be a regular part of our life, not a once a year part. We should strive to repent and move ahead throughout the year, not just once a year. I read an article by Steve Shaw (I don’t really know who this guy is), that listed his top ten New Year’s resolutions for men. I thought some his resolutions were really comical and many of them were temporal. I won’t comment on his entire list but for some I will offer a more eternal resolution.#10 – Build a shelf. Huh? My first response was, “Do I have to?” Shaw’s point was that men should tackle a project, do something yourself. Build a shelf? That’s the best thing we can do? What am I supposed to put on the shelf? Men tend to shelf to many things as it is.
Here’s a more eternal resolution – Build a relationship with another godly man. Why not join the 12 men 12 weeks program at EVC?
#9 – Read a big book. I suppose Shaw believes that men only read little books – like a pocket book. His idea was to resolve to read, “War and Peace” or “Moby Dick”. He writes that this would improve our vocabulary.
A more eternal resolution – Read the Bible. It’s a really BIG BOOK and it will improve your life!
#8 – Make an appointment for a checkup. This is pretty solid advice. Why men don’t like to go the doctor is a real mystery.
#7- Go to a career conference. – Shaw points out that this is a great way to network with people and at many of these conferences you get great career advice.
A more eternal resolution – Bring your family to church every Sunday.
#6 – Devote some time to hobbies. I can’t really afford to play golf every day, can you?
A more eternal resolution – Devote some time to God every day. Like talking to Him (prayer), letting Him talk to you (Bible), and obeying what He tells you.
#5 – Do P90X. Yes you read that correctly. I have no idea. Is this code for put new tires on your truck?
#4 – Open a savings account. Maybe he should have wrote, “Get out of debt”. If you need help with money I’ve got two words for you – Dave Ramsey http://www.daveramsey.com/
#3 – Conquer a fear. This is a pretty solid resolution. A more eternal resolution – help someone find Christ as their Savior. I think most of us are a fearful to share our faith, but it’s one of the things the Bible asks us to do (Read Psalm 126: 5-6).
#2 – Help someone else. This was Shaw’s best resolution the one with the most eternal value to it. Like Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give, than to receive” (Acts 20:35).
#1 – Visit a new destination. I like to travel so this resolution that Shaw offered is pretty appealing. A more eternal resolution – “but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14). Is there a better destination than this prize? Is there a better resolution than pressing on for God? I don’t think so.
Happy New Year,
Pastor Tim
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