Mondays are for New Year’s Ramblings and 2009 Predictions

The Christmas tree is packed away, the candy is all eaten or thrown out in a desperate attempt to bring some discipline back into life, resolutions have been made and broken, and I got to go home and see my people. That must mean it is time for some thoughts and predictions for this year.

Editors Note *** I just updated my podcast with yesterday’s sermon***

2009 is the year of What If?

Each year, instead of a resolution, I try to come up with a theme for the year. Last year my theme was Keeping it Real. And you know what, I think I lived into that well. I had to in order to keep my sanity in the midst of a crazy year. This year the theme for my life and the theme for our church is What If? When I was in Michigan last January the church I visited was in the midst of a year of What If? It really stuck with me. I have been resonating for a year on the possibilities of our lives if they are fully given to discipleship and Christ’s Lordship. What if this is the year it all starts to make sense? What if we run out of excuses this year? What if we really forgive this year? What if we rediscover hope?

So this year I am going to dream, hope, and seek God by looking at all the areas of my life where my own lack of faithfulness, imagination or effort has affected my responsiveness to God’s call. This is also a theme I am going to preach on all year. Each series we do this year will be based on this simple question. Duneland Community Church needs to start dreaming again and this is the year to do it.

2008 Reflections

Looking back on 2008 I am amazed at all that took place in my life and in our world. My general reflections on 2008 are that it was a year of seismic shifts. You could feel the world changing in 2008. As with all change some of it seemed for the better, some of it seemed for the worse and a lot of the changes won’t actually change anything.

2008 for me was a year of putting my money where my mouth is. As a preacher I talk all the time of about our willingness to follow the path God carves out for us and our submission of our plans to his will. Well it seems like God wanted to see if I really meant it. As Gretchen and I have talked about all the events of 2008 it has become clear to both of us that a couple of years ago we wouldn’t have had the faithfulness or maturity to make the decisions we had to make this year. That makes me smile to see how we have grown. It has also reinforced strongly how much growth is left to do.

So as the world had to face itself in the mirror this year. As we were all forced to look at how we live, how we spend and where we put our faith 2008 became a time to stop and take stock of where our lives are. I had a professor in college who once asked us a hard question. He said, “We keep praying for revival and change in our country, but are we willing to pay the price to see it take place. What if the only way for God to break through in our country was economic collapse? Would you still be willing? Would you still pray for revival?”

If change will come about in our country, if change will come about in the church, there will be a price to pay for so many years of neglect and excess. May we lead the way in making whatever sacrifices are necessary for real change to take place.

2009 Predictions

There are of course all guaranteed to be horribly inaccurate.

The economy will recover just enough for people to start living beyond their means again and then it will really bottom out.

Within 6 weeks  or each other I will pay $1.50 and $3.75 for a gallon of gas

Tiger Woods will once again be Tiger Woods

The term emerging church will begin to make a rapid departure from the most important conversations taking place, just as another 1/3 of the church starts to ask, what is the emerging church thing?

There will be big changes in the Church of the Nazarene this year at General Assembly. There will be leadership changes, serious talk of restructuring, and a new generational voice beginning to be heard in large numbers.

President Obama will be celebrated for the first two months, ridiculed for something that was totally out of his control for the next two and then will settle into the unenviable task of trying to make a difference.

President Bush will do a lot of bush hogging on his Texas ranch.

President Clinton will keep asking his wife, “Hey dear can I come on your trip to ……, I am kind of bored.”

There will be at least 15 books published about Obama’s role as the anitchrist.

I will publish something this year, not a book, but an article somewhere. I am looking for opportunities.

At some point this year my Wii Fit will stop telling me I am obese. I am getting a little angry at it!