Once again the news stories are ominous. There are those who want to hurt, maim and kill innocents to make their terroristic political points. IUD's in Afghanistan and Iraq have become commonplace, but two attempts at taking planes down in the U.S. and over the Christmas celebration are not coincidental. There is evil in the world and there are those who would point out that the hands of the governments of the U.S. have not been free of blood. Darkness seems to be the common denominator of humanity.
The greater danger is that we, Christians, will begin to follow the lead of those who seek only to destroy. Christianity has a specific message for us to live. Our message is that Light has come into the world; that righteousness, mercy and justice are the wave of the future. Our message is that the love of God is more powerful than the chaos of evil. We believe history has an end point; that history is the story of God searching for and finding God's lost children.
And in the now of everyday? As we struggle with an economy that simply refuses to recover, as we deal with the realities of war over seas as well as those who would attack us at home and as we anticipate a New Year that will be more of the same, how shall we live?
Resolutions for the New Year of 2010
1. Let us redouble our lives of prayer. Let us truly pray for our nation, for our enemies and for wisom for the leaders of the world.
2. Let us treat those around us with mercy, righteousness and jsutice.
3. Let us see individuals as children of God and refuse to paint everyone with the same brush.
4. Let us do acts of kindness.
5. Let us determine that the year 2010 will find us at worship celebrating the new life God is ushering into our lives.
Peace and Joy
