Happy New Year! By now I am probably among the last to wish a great new year to everyone, but that is what happens when I greet the new year at 0700 the next morning. I didn't even pretend to make an attempt to stay up last night. That's right, didn't even pretend to make an attempt. And... I'm about to throw one or both cats into a snow bank outside. I'm not sure what started the latest dust-up, but that is no way to greet the new year! There, quiet reigns in the house once more. Did you get to see some good bowl games yesterday? The snow and cold made it a good day for inside activities. What's that? No, the cats are inside; their little tiff ended before I had to go out there. Tossing the ornery felines into a snowbank was only a passing temptation. On a nice day I often separate the little pugilists by putting one outside for a spell, but never on a day like this. We did receive a nice surprise this morning though - the predicted low of negative and oh so cold was muted by a layer of clouds. The temp was 12 above zero when I looked this morning. Still, that wind chill is something to be mindful of when going out this morning.
Last night on Family Life Today, I heard an interesting resolution. Not the usual ones about losing weight, finishing my novels, or doing good to my fellow man, but one that got me to thinking. Instead of resolving to do all that other stuff, none of which has worked by the way, Bob Lepine suggested that we resolve to re-believe the Gospel every morning. Like Bob: you, me, and just about everyone else has gone through the resolutions that somehow just didn't make it through January, much less the entire year. We resolve this or that, and then the reality meets us in life and especially at work where we cannot keep that resolution. Jesus called those realities the thorns in his parable of the seeds. Stress at work, duties, responsibilities, time or lack thereof, relationships, and many other things weigh on us each day. All of this chokes out our desire to improve ourselves through these resolutions. Why not make a resolution you can keep?
You won't be able to keep this resolution in your own strength. How often has that worked before? The resolution to believe and re-believe the Gospel Scriptures will require the strength and guidance of God's Holy Spirit. Start by believing that Jesus died and rose again. Simple to write it, simple to read, and so very powerful when you start thinking on it. Have you ever tried to raise someone from the dead? Any of us can run over to our local cemetery and try. I suspect that all of our prayer and dancing wouldn't even raise the grass; God has made that wall solid for us. Scientific methods? We might in some strange way succeed in raising a zombie of sorts, but who would want that? Even if God answered your prayer with a yes; that wouldn't be your power doing the raising. Jesus did it for himself. Stone dead, buried in a tomb, sealed by the might of Rome and guarded to prevent mischief, the corpse of Jesus wasn't going anywhere but into the usual decay. Except that didn't happen
One morning, Mary, Peter, and John went to the tomb and couldn't find Jesus' body. The head cloth was folded and lying to one side. I love the picture of Jesus, in no hurry, taking a moment to fold the cloth and laying it to one side. One of the cares that weighs heavily upon us in this life is time - Jesus was in no rush. Jesus, after just performing a unique event in all of history, took the time to fold up that cloth, almost like he didn't want to disappoint his mother by tossing it on the floor. That little cloth became one of the details that Peter took note of and John would remember many years later.
The intellect of the world cries out against believing the gospels; too much mythology and wild stories for our smart brains to believe. That is where the strength of the Holy Spirit reminds us that Jesus has overcome the world. Believing the gospels every day will not be easy, even your flesh will have trouble with it and seek to distract you in this great purpose. Trust in God, commit to believing, and re-believe each day of 2011.
Have a great New Year!
Bucky
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