As a sunrise means the start of a new day, so January means the start of a new year. Our world is filled with examples of new starts. The toss of a coin on a football field is the start of a new game, a wedding is the start of a new marriage and the birth of a child is the start of a new life. Examples are all around us in every sphere of life. They can teach us a few things.
First, a new start teaches us about perseverance. Life can make you weary. It can make you feel like giving up telling yourself, “I can’t do this anymore.” However, January can be a new start. Will you give up or accept that last year is gone and renew your commitment to give your best and keep pressing onward?
Second, a new start teaches us about opportunity. January shouts saying, “Hey, it is a new year. What are you going to do with it?” You may have an opportunity to begin a new career, help someone who is in need, or fulfill a lifelong dream. Will they come and pass you by or will you seize them?
Third, a new start teaches us about the grace of God. As a New Year’s Day is the chance to begin a new and better year, so the grace of God is a chance for you to begin a new and transformed life.
Like you have done nothing to bring about a sunrise or a new year, so you have done nothing to bring about the grace of God. What is this amazing grace? It is a form of God’s love shown to us through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ that provided for the forgiveness of sins of all humankind.
As January is a start to a new year, Jesus Christ can be the start of a new life for you. Through Him, you can become a new person. Receive His grace by turning from your sin and receive your hope for today and all of 2009.
Monday, January 5, 2009
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
A Lasting Hope
Where is the hope? Between the financial crisis and multiple natural disasters, the majority of American's have been affected. Then throw in our transition to a new President, the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and disturbing events in our communities and families it is understandable why some would wonder.
I define hope as something you need when you are in a situation beyond your control. Your determination, education, passing of time, money and position do not solve your problem. You feel that if there is going to be a solution, it must come from outside yourself.
Christmas is the annual worldwide celebration of the birth of Jesus. From the time of His birth in the first century to the people of today, His birth continues to inspire hope.
His birth was marked with many supernatural events. On one occasion, a heavenly angel spoke to His earthly father, Joseph, about his soon to be wife, Mary, saying, “She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” (Matt. 1:21)
That divine mission was the hope of all humanity. It was to provide a way for people to be saved from their sin. Why is that hope? Because sin is at the root of hopelessness. The curse of sin, the sin of others and our own sin. Physical death, sickness and disease are all part of this curse. Divorce, drunkenness, lying, greed and sexual immorality may be sins that you or people in your circle of family or friends have been guilty of. It has affected all of us bringing chaos or complete destruction to our lives or to those whom we love.
Jesus birth, His eventual death and resurrection have made a way that we can have real hope. Whether the trials we go through are of our own making or from the hands of others, we do not have to carry the burden anymore. When we turn from trying to save ourselves and in faith call upon Jesus, we discover the lasting hope of Christmas. May you receive His hope this Christmas season.
I define hope as something you need when you are in a situation beyond your control. Your determination, education, passing of time, money and position do not solve your problem. You feel that if there is going to be a solution, it must come from outside yourself.
Christmas is the annual worldwide celebration of the birth of Jesus. From the time of His birth in the first century to the people of today, His birth continues to inspire hope.
His birth was marked with many supernatural events. On one occasion, a heavenly angel spoke to His earthly father, Joseph, about his soon to be wife, Mary, saying, “She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” (Matt. 1:21)
That divine mission was the hope of all humanity. It was to provide a way for people to be saved from their sin. Why is that hope? Because sin is at the root of hopelessness. The curse of sin, the sin of others and our own sin. Physical death, sickness and disease are all part of this curse. Divorce, drunkenness, lying, greed and sexual immorality may be sins that you or people in your circle of family or friends have been guilty of. It has affected all of us bringing chaos or complete destruction to our lives or to those whom we love.
Jesus birth, His eventual death and resurrection have made a way that we can have real hope. Whether the trials we go through are of our own making or from the hands of others, we do not have to carry the burden anymore. When we turn from trying to save ourselves and in faith call upon Jesus, we discover the lasting hope of Christmas. May you receive His hope this Christmas season.
Monday, November 3, 2008
The Cost of Service
In 1977, Congress passed the Community Reinvestment Act. The legislation helped minorities, low-income families and inner city residents obtain home-ownership through low-income loans. By the year 2000, banks had given out nearly one trillion dollars in loans because of the Act, which had undergone some changes.
Minorities, low-income families and inner city residents all seem to have a target on their back that only some people can see. I firmly believe among elected officials, community organizations and businesses there are some who are genuine and truly seek to serve the needs of others, but there are also some who seek to simply profit at the expense of others.
The current mortgage crisis is an example. The very people who were suppose to benefit from these “easy to get” loans are now its greatest victims. This leads me to wonder, “Are minorities and low-income families just a business opportunity to make money? Are they just a program idea to receive money from the government? Are they more than just pawns in a game of power between political parties?”
I know of a famous and powerful person in world history who spent his life serving the minorities and low-income people of His day – Jesus Christ. In His short three-year ministry career, He quickly became one of the most famous men of his day. Long before cars, marketing and sound systems people traveled miles on foot to hear him speak. Crowds would gather by the thousands in the open air to listen. Yet, He was never lured away into using His fame, power or influence to serve His own personal ambitions. Rather, He continually gave of Himself to minister to the sick, feed the hungry and offer words of hope to all who came and listened. He gave Himself so fully, that it eventually cost Him His life. Jesus once said, “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul?” (The Bible, Mark 8:36).
May Jesus be our hope for today and our model for service. May we not seek to serve ourselves at the expenses of others, but rather serve others at the expense of ourselves.
Minorities, low-income families and inner city residents all seem to have a target on their back that only some people can see. I firmly believe among elected officials, community organizations and businesses there are some who are genuine and truly seek to serve the needs of others, but there are also some who seek to simply profit at the expense of others.
The current mortgage crisis is an example. The very people who were suppose to benefit from these “easy to get” loans are now its greatest victims. This leads me to wonder, “Are minorities and low-income families just a business opportunity to make money? Are they just a program idea to receive money from the government? Are they more than just pawns in a game of power between political parties?”
I know of a famous and powerful person in world history who spent his life serving the minorities and low-income people of His day – Jesus Christ. In His short three-year ministry career, He quickly became one of the most famous men of his day. Long before cars, marketing and sound systems people traveled miles on foot to hear him speak. Crowds would gather by the thousands in the open air to listen. Yet, He was never lured away into using His fame, power or influence to serve His own personal ambitions. Rather, He continually gave of Himself to minister to the sick, feed the hungry and offer words of hope to all who came and listened. He gave Himself so fully, that it eventually cost Him His life. Jesus once said, “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul?” (The Bible, Mark 8:36).
May Jesus be our hope for today and our model for service. May we not seek to serve ourselves at the expenses of others, but rather serve others at the expense of ourselves.
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