Happy New Year!

I'm a little behind in wishing ya'll a Happy New Year! A new year brings with it all kinds of new opportunities. It is a time to reflect on the past and to look toward the future. We review the good and the bad of the previous year and are afforded a fresh start, a clean slate. This is an occasion for some of us to resolve to do things differently this year than we did in the past. What was the best thing and worst thing about 2007? What is your New Year’s resolution? If you are the type of “special” person who doesn’t make resolutions, let us know why?

As we move into a new year it is a great time to remember our identity and mission. The reality is that as Christ-followers “who we are” (identity) and “what we do” (mission) are wrapped up together. Jesus sums it all up in Mark 12:28-34.

28One of the religion scholars came up. Hearing the lively exchanges of question and answer and seeing how sharp Jesus was in his answers, he put in his question: "Which is most important of all the commandments?"

29-31Jesus said, "The first in importance is, 'Listen, Israel: The Lord your God is one; so love the Lord God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence and energy.' And here is the second: 'Love others as well as you love yourself.' There is no other commandment that ranks with these."

32-33The religion scholar said, "A wonderful answer, Teacher! So lucid and accurate—that God is one and there is no other. And loving him with all passion and intelligence and energy, and loving others as well as you love yourself. Why, that's better than all offerings and sacrifices put together!"

34When Jesus realized how insightful he was, he said, "You're almost there, right on the border of God's kingdom."

After that, no one else dared ask a question.

May we begin 2008 remembering who we are as Christ-followers, with a new resolve to participate in His mission to redeem the world.