I know you've already seen it. But, ...

What Are Your New Year's Resolutions?

Here are some things you may wish to do in the new year.

- Read the Bible Using a Plan. Justin Taylor offers various ways of going through the Bible in a year.
- Commit to Fasting. John Piper gives advice on how to fast and offers six good reasons to commit to doing it in 2009.
- Pray. Piper dives into the Desiring God archives and offers up good suggestions on how to pray for other people (this year or any year).
- Look Back and Look Forward. Ray Ortlund models this in a reflective blog post.
- Make Resolutions. The Point blog quotes David Jeremiah and gives seven great resolutions you could make for 2009.
- Keep Your Resolutions. Matt Perman gives advice on actually keeping your resolutions.

[from "Culture Shift" by Dr. Albert Mohler]

Questions For The New Year

For the last several years I have used the last week of the year and the first week of the new year to evaluate who I am; who does God want me to be and how I am doing. The process has continued to evolve over the years, but much of it revolves around prayerfully working through six questions. These six questions help me discern the God-given possibilities for my life.

There is just something powerful about writing down (or typing on your computer) your goals and having an intention about who you want to become! I can now look back and remember writing down that I wanted to plant a church; write a book and start a church planting network. Would those things have happened if I had not written them down? I don't know for sure. I do know that writing these down and reviewing them periodically keeps me moving in the direction that I feel God is calling me. I personally think everyone should do it.

So, I would encourage you to get some time alone and prayerfully work through these six questions:

1. What is my PURPOSE? It starts with a purpose statement. Just write something down. Don't let this question intimidate you. You can always edit your answer later. Here is how I answer that question now: "To be a Spirit-led leader at home, church, and in new ventures resulting in a movement of people finding their way back to God." It has taken me a few years of revisions to get that down. It's a little long, but it includes everything that it is important to me. So take a shot and write down a purpose statement for your life.

2. What is my PASSION? Next you should list the things about which you are passionate. There are four things about which I'm passionate: Jesus, family, church and new ventures. So, what are you passionate about? List them.

3. What are the POSITIONS I hold? Next I list all the positions I hold in relationship to the things about which I'm passionate. For example, in relationship to my family I have two positions: husband and father. Another example, in relationship to to my church I have at least four positions: visionary, Lead Pastor, teacher/motivator and intercessor. List all the positions you hold in relationship to the things about which you are passionate. You get the idea.

4. What are the POSSIBILITIES for my future? This is my favorite part - dreaming with God about who He wants me to be in the positions He has put me in. This is where I begin to dream about all the possibilities for my life. This is the long view and it answers the question of who I will have been after I have lived on this planet for 75 years. (I'm planning on living to 75 and if I get more time that will be bonus!)

5. What is the PATH for making that future possible? Now that you have a list of all the possibilities for your life you need to figure out the path to get you there. I have a path that I break into 5 years chunks of time. There are markers that I need to meet every five years if I am going to see those possibilities for my life ever happen. So take a look at your list of God-given possibilities and create a path with markers along the way that show you are progressing towards those possibilities.

6. What is my PLAN for this coming year? The last question you will want to answer has to do with 2009. This year is the next step on the path to your future. So, write down your plan for this year and make sure that it is taking you towards the next markers on your path to your God-given possibilities.

[from daveferguson.org by Dave Ferguson]

21 Day Fast; January 1-21

Corporately fasting in January is much the same precept as praying in the morning to establish the will of God for the entire day. I believe that, if we will pray and seek God and give Him our best at the first of the year, He will bless our ENTIRE year!

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you" (Matthew 6:33).

Today's Prayer

"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).

O dear Father, you know the tribulations I have faced and will face. Thank you for giving me hope in the face of these trials and temptations!

Please bring this Scripture to my mind whenever I am feeling down due to whatever may come. I am so happy and thankful that you have overcome the world and given me hope and a future. Because of your power and love and sacrifice, I too can overcome the world!

You give me joy and cheer and initiative to keep moving forward. You are my greatest inspiration and encouragement, and I love you.

In Jesus' name I come to you, amen.

Today's Prayer

"What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear, what a privilege to carry, everything to him in prayer."

I can still hear my grandmother sing that old hymn to me. What a precious, loving saint. And what a precious, loving Savior! What a friend, that would lay down his life for me!

So often we get wrapped up in the day, that we don't remain in that attitude of prayer. I know that Jesus is there, ready to intercede for me at any moment. I know that your Holy Spirit helps when I don't even have the words to say. I know that you know my heart and want to hear from my lips.

Heavenly Father, thank you for the privilege of coming to you as a child to a parent. Thank you for calming me, giving me hugs in your own sweet ways, and listening. Thank you for your understanding ways ... and even your correction. Thank you for a new year.

I pray that I will become more and more like the person you want me to be in this new year. I love you and want to please you. I come to you in the name of Jesus, amen.

Happy New Year

New Year's Resolution

"For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified." 1 Corinthians 2:2 (NIV)

Churches Are More Informal Than a Decade Ago

American churches became more informal and ethnically diverse over the past 10 years, the National Congregations Study shows. Most of the informal service changes occur in Protestant and Catholic churches that are using visual projection equipment and drums. However, black churches had the largest increase in jumping, shouting and dancing during services.

Immigration played a role in congregations' social composition. The study observed that predominantly white and non-Hispanic congregations are more ethnically diverse than a decade ago. Leaders of congregations are older and the median age of the head clergy has increased from 49 in 1998 to 53 in 2006.

Other features — such as sermons, singing, greeting time, silent prayer or meditation, reading Scripture and speaking in tongues during the service — have remained about the same.

Mark Chaves, lead researcher and sociology professor at Duke University School of Divinity, said that these changes are noteworthy because "religious traditions and organizations are widely considered to be remarkably resistant to change."

[www.christianpost.com]

Church Security Continues to Be a Serious Issue

Police were called to Good Shepard Catholic Church at 13550 Chaney Thompson Road in Huntsville, Alabama just after 8 p.m. Tuesday night.

Officers spotted a suspect inside the church.

Additional officers were called and surrounded the building.

Just after 9 p.m. the suspect fled and was apprehended after a short foot pursuit.

The suspect was identified as Lawrence Ball.

Ball was booked into the metro jail on burglary charges.

Become a Reformer

Eighteenth-century statesman Edmund Burke is credited with saying, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” It is time for “good men” -- the church -- to arise and let their voices be heard. The spirit of reformation must arise in God’s people and turn this nation back to righteousness and to God.

The media often portrays our nation as one devoid of Judeo-Christian values. A news commentator recently stated that culturally, America has reached an all-time low. Members of the body of Christ, particularly a number of prominent Christian leaders, have contributed to the nation’s decline through moral failures and carnal living. It is time for the church to embrace the lifestyle and values of God’s kingdom culture rather than those of the culture of the world.

One of the ways the enemy uses to change culture is to remove every trace of Christianity from public buildings. In recent years we have seen “Christmas” replaced with “Holiday Season” in ads, on signs and in shop windows. The Ten Commandments and nativity scenes have been removed from public areas. We have no plumb line to use as a measuring rod for right and wrong. We are living in a time when every man does what is right in his own eyes (see Judg. 21:25).

A clear definition of right and wrong must be in place for a disciplined society to protect its citizens. In the Old Testament, God made a promise to the Jews. As long as they obeyed Him, He would bless them as a nation. “Therefore know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments” (Deut. 7:9, NKJV).

God’s view of a corporate covenant with a nation has never changed. The first settlers to America believed they were a corporate people called to continue the Israelite’s covenant relationship with God and with one another. Today, in view of the moral and spiritual decay of our nation, we must rediscover our spiritual moorings. We must align ourselves with the corporate covenant this nation has with God.

READ ENTIRE MESSAGE

The Importance of Prayer

In the 6th chapter of Ephesians in the 18th verse we read words which put the tremendous importance of prayer with startling and overwhelming force:

"Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints."

When we stop to weigh the meaning of these words, then note the connection in which they are found, the intelligent child of God is driven to say,"I must pray, pray, pray. I must put all my energy and all my heart into prayer. Whatever else I do, I must pray."

The Revised Version is, if possible, stronger than the Authorized:

"With all prayer and supplication praying at all seasons in the spirit, and watching thereunto in all perseverance and supplication for all the saints."

Note the ALLS: "with ALL prayer," "at ALL seasons," "in ALL perseverance," "for ALL the saints." Note the piling up of strong words, "prayer," "supplication," "perseverance." Note once more the strong expression, "watching thereunto," more literally, "being sleepless thereunto." Paul realized the natural slothfulness of man, and especially his natural slothfulness in prayer. How seldom we pray things through! How often the church and the individual get right up to the verge of a great blessing in prayer and just then let go, get drowsy, quit. I wish that these words "being sleepless unto prayer" might burn into our hearts. I wish the whole verse might burn into our hearts.

But why is this constant, persistent, sleepless, overcoming prayer so needful?

1. First of all, BECAUSE THERE IS A DEVIL. He is cunning, he is mighty, he never rests, he is ever plotting the downfall of the child of God; and if the child of God relaxes in prayer, the devil will succeed in ensnaring him.

This is the thought of the context. The 12th verse reads: "For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places." (R.V.) Then comes the 13th verse: "Wherefore take up the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand." (R.V.) Next follows a description of the different parts of the Christian's armor, which we are to put on if we are to stand against the devil and his mighty wiles. Then Paul brings all to a climax in the 18th verse, telling us that to all else we must add prayer -- constant, persistent, untiring, sleepless prayer in the Holy Spirit, or all else will go for nothing.

(more to follow)

[from Another day... Another opportunity... by Chris Jordan]

3 Million Africans to Receive Native Language Bible for 1st Time

Three million people in the highlands of the east African country of Tanzania will receive Scriptures in their own language for the first time by fall next year, a Bible translation ministry recently announced.

Wycliffe Associates is funding a program that is simultaneously translating ten languages for the people that live in the rugged western part of the country called Mbeya. Previously, the millions that live in the area were forced to understand the Scripture in Swahili or, even more difficult for them, in English. Although about 78 percent of the population in Mbeya is literate, they can only read Swahili at a functional level to survive in society.

The Mbeya Cluster project is an ambitious effort that combines ten language translation projects into one that will expand literacy in the languages of Bena, Bungu, Kinga, Malila, Ndali, Nyakyusa, Nyiha, Safwa, Sangu, and Wanji.

One local man who lived in a remote area 1.5 miles up in the mountains and 74.5 miles from Mbeya simply said, “This is so good,” when he heard the Scripture for the first time in his own speaking language.

For years, he and his people struggled to understand the Word of God in Swahili or English.
In Mbeya, as in other parts of Tanzania, the various distinct languages have enough characteristics in common that it’s possible to translate multiple languages at the same time.
In addition to allowing Mbeya people groups to read the Bible in their own languages, Bible translators also hope to help preserve these minority languages and ensure their survival amid the dominant language of Swahili.

“This has a huge and positive impact on a culture, both spiritually and intellectually,” said Bruce Smith, president and CEO of Wycliffe Associates.

“When a larger and nationalized language like Swahili is bearing down on a people group with a different language and identity, that group tends to have its importance in society diminished; and subsequently, their spiritual journey stunted,” he explained.

The Mbeya project will be carried out by translation teams made up of missionaries and nationals. National translators, working together with a translation advisers, are able to translate the Scripture faster because they have heard the various languages since childhood and can easily work out the nuances of the languages.

Already the project is underway in Tanzania with some 30 full-time workers and another 50 part-timers all working on the multiple translations.

Wycliffe Associate partners will fund the entire project with the goal to finish by September 2009.

The ministry Wycliffe Associates has sent some 1,693 volunteers to serve in 35 countries as part of the worldwide Bible translation team in 2008 alone. The volunteers help build and renovate facilities, construct roads and airstrips, teach Vacation Bible School, help with language development and office work, oversee projects, use their computer skills in various ways, and serve in other ways.

[from The Christian Post RSS Feed by Ethan Cole]

Top 10 Books in 2008

1) Ablaze for God (Wesley Duewel)
2) It (Craig Groeschl)
3) Wild Goose Chase (Mark Batterson)
4) The Ultimate Blessing (Jo Anne Lyon)
5) Return of the Prodigal (Henri Nouwen)
6) Lumberjack Sky Pilot (Frank Reed)
7) The Way Forward (Matthew Leroy and Jeremy Summers)
8) On the Side of the Angels (D'Souza and Rogers)
9) God Size Your Church (John Jackson)
10) Wilderness Visionaries (Jim Dale Vickery)

What would you add? (Click "comments" below.)

[from Revitalize Your Church by Mark O. Wilson]

Consider At Least One New Year's Resolution

With the economy in a state of recession and major corporations needing bailouts, the financial condition of our country will trickle down to the average Joe. Yet the shopping malls are bursting with people purchasing forty-two inch plasma screen TVs with surround sound, iPods, cell phones with limitless access to the Internet and laptop computers.

What's going on? We are convinced that we are entitled. We deserve to have everything our parents have , or everything you view on TV or in a magazine. Our only problem is that we're not sure how we're going to pay for it.

We only need one New Year's Resolution: I am not entitled to everything I want. In his book 50 Rules Kids Won't Learn in School, Charles J. Sykes labels today's generation: a modern day wealth-without-responsibility aristocracy.

We have more access to food, clothing, gadgets, cars, jewelry, clothing, shopping malls and credit cards to pruchase it all than any previous generation. Are we entitled to have all of it just because we have the money or the credit limit to cover our purchases?

Today entitlement has taken on a whole new meaning. There's a major collision between our entitlement mentality and the ignorance of how money works. For example, Sykes estimates that teen spending will top $190 billion this year or next. This figure eclipses the gross domestic products of many countries where people have to go to work to earn money.

Hand-in-hand with the entitlement mentality is the lack of any motivation to go out and get a job. Most of the money spent by teenagers comes from their parents. Fifty-eight percent of teens say they get their money from Mommy and Daddy. Twenty-one percent report having part-time jobs.

What are we teaching our children with this entitlement attitude?

- Kids can have whatever they want without ever having to pay for it. Once these kids grow up and start thinking about marriage, they're in for the shock of their lives. Regardless. many parents continue to give their sons and daughters hefty sums of money and keep their children dependent on them. This is highly unhealthy since young men and women are growing up without a sense of financial responsibility.

- Kids are unable to delay their gratification. In repsonse to a lack of delayed gratification, the rising debt for college graduates is on its way upward. Young men and women expect to live the way they were raised and they refuse to wait. They want it now - the house, the cars, the lavish vacations and everything else. However, what kids today forget is that parents worked for years to get to their level of income. A college degree does not automatically hand in a standard of living that matches that of the parents. There're still many years of hard work ahead.

- Kids are enabled to be financially illiterate. Young men especially are being raised without a sense of finances - what it means to save money, invest money and not get into serious credit card debt. A lot of young men are not ready to become the financial head of their household. They're not sure how to handle a checking account, to manage credit card debt, to invest in money for a pension and to purchase a car or a home loan.

One New Year's Resolution can change a lot. Work hard to achieve success and do not expect advancement out of entitlement.

[from The John Tesh Blog by John Tesh]