Ring in the New Year with Auld Lang Syne

by Donovan Dobbs

During the New Year, most of us will either hear or sing the song "Auld Lang Syne" (For Times Gone By). Do you know where the song came from or have you really looked at the verses? I bet you didn't know that the song has its roots in Scottish folk songs from the 1500s and that it was first written down around 1790 by Scotsman Robert Burns. You might need this information if you ever find yourself on Jeopardy. I will gladly accept part of the winnings!

The song recalls the days gone by and says we will always remember them. So how was 2007 for you? Did you have a good year or bad year? What difference does it make what happened last year? The year is over and a new one is beginning. I do not mean to be crass but you really cannot change what happened last year. Time has passed and the event whether good or bad has been swallowed into time. The only thing that you have to look forward to is today and tomorrow. Is that not what happens as we follow Christ?

Once we surrender to Christ, we should not concern ourselves with our past lifestyle but look forward to what he will create through us. 1 Peter 4:1–3 and Romans 7:6. As it says in Romans, "Therefore we were buried with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in a new way of life" (Roma. 6:4 HCSB). With Christ we are a new person who is completely and forever changed (2 Cor. 5:17). We are renewed in body, mind and spirit (Eph. 4:23–24).

As we begin the new year let us be a new person. Do not worry what you did or didn't do last year. Forget what you should or shouldn't have done. 2008 is a new year with new adventures and new challenges from God. Have you surrendered to Jesus? If not, why wait let today be the day you surrender to Him. If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, you are a new person who is continually growing to be what he wants you to be. Let 2008 be the year that he works through you in ways that you never expected nor imagined!

Pride Before the Fall

by Heather Myer

Skiing for the first time is a quick way to break someone of pride and bring a fast return to humility. My experiences shall be presented in the manner of a Batman and Robin episode circa the 1970s. Nothing brings about true humility like Batman and Robin. A few years ago, some friends went to Colorado on a ski trip. My trainer and I drove through the night while the others soundly dozed through the plains of Kansas. Neither of us had eaten or slept before attempting to ski. Standing at the bottom of the slopes, I timidly peered at the course. All my meters ran on empty. Loopy from lack of sleep and an overabundance of coffee, I clumsily clicked my boots into the skis. *WHAM!* I fell to the ground. Embarrassed, I tried to scramble to my feet. *SMACK!* I flailed a bit and my skis popped off from the force of my fall. The ground was a sheet of ice, packed solid from thousands of vacationers. My trainer helped me to my feet.

“Let’s try a slope!,” he cheerfully suggested. My eyes widened. I couldn’t yet support myself standing still! Nervously, I nodded. He led the way to the ski lifts. “Now, Heather, you must time this just right. The lifts will come behind you and you need to sit down as they come to you.” *BANG!* The lifts never had a chance. I fell on a patch of ice before it could catch me. My pride, as well as my bottom, were sufficiently bruised. I clamored into the cold metal seat. Squirming uncomfortably, I peered over the side. The world below was in miniature. Pine trees and lodges were scattered in the distance. Tiny figures wound their way down snowy hillsides. “Okay, get ready!“ Gracefully, he hopped off the lift. *OUCH!* Unable to stand, my body slammed to the ground. Scrambling away, I approached my friend. *KA-BLAM!*. The force of our collision echoed off the distant peaks.

My trainer looked nervous. He was now trapped on a high slope with girl who spent more time floundering on the ground than standing upright. Glancing down, over the rolling ice, I could not even see the end of the course. “Ready?” he asked. “Un-hunh…” I chattered, my teeth rattling from the cold and my belly growling with hunger. Everything inside me said that this was a very bad idea. We didn’t get far. *POW!* Both of us were on the ground and stared disgruntled at each other. Stubbornly, I crossed my arms and wondered if I could roll down the hill. “Now, Heather, you’re stuck up here! You can’t give up! You need to try.” Rubbing my throbbing side, I attempted to stand. *CRASH!* Dazed, I laid on my back and stared hopelessly at the blue sky. Tears of pain stung in my eyes. My trainer sighed in frustration. Small children, not old enough to know cursive or long division sped past us.

*SPLAT!* Feeling like road kill, I realized that every ounce of pride and dignity had been stripped from me. A grade school kid who could not yet multiply whizzed past us. Sore, bruised, embarrassed, and naked in humility, I rose to face the slope. A tree was in front of us. “Turn left! Heather! Left!” Wildly, I twisted and turned, but nothing happened. I could only turn right, not left. My eyes widened as I neared the pine. A morning of falling had taught me a few lessons. *THUD!* If only Sonny Bono had been able to fall half as well as I, he and Cher might still be doing reunion tours. After nearly 2 hours of brief stints of skiing followed by falls, we successfully made it to the bottom of the course.

That night, I slept soundly and ate well in the lodge. My sore limbs thawed by the fireplace. Refreshed, I refocusing my attentions and tackled the slopes. Miraculously I did not fall the next day. My pride was replaced by a spirit of humility. Rather than focusing on my failure, I was awed by God’s creation. The bright intensity of the powdery snow, the distant forest, and the brisk breeze all captivated my attention. For one brief weekend, I was able to enjoy the mountains richly draped in splendor.

Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world from everlasting to everlasting you are God. —Isaiah 52:7

Corteo—Cirque Du Soleil

by Heather Myer

Corteo by Cirque Du Soleil is a portrayal of a clown dreaming of his own death. The audience is treated to French operas, unusual instrumentals, and acrobatic feats. Full of charm and magic, Corteo highlights the clown’s past. Angels guide the clown through the delicate dance of life with loved ones. Past memories spin and twirl in chandeliers above the clown’s death bed. Children leap on beds, displaying endless and unceasing back hand springs, flips, twists, and turns. Men seven feet tall fold themselves up and dive through small 3x3 hoops suspended in the air. A tight rope walker hoo-la-hoops with 20+ hoops on her tiptoes suspended in midair. Human marionettes, dwarfs, and giants display amazing flexibility and acrobatic talents through catapults, summersaults, leaps, and bounds 20 feet above the ground. During one act, men effortlessly tossed ladies simultaneously and without ceasing through the air. The timing was perfect. The performers revolved within seconds and mere inches of each other, yet avoided painful collisions. In another scene, a petite woman was suspended by only her ankle in mid air and a strong man held onto her pony tail to support himself in the air. Ouch. The audience followed the clown through his past and applauded as he eventually earned a set of angel wings ascended through fluffy white clouds into heaven. Nice touch, but this is not an accurate picture of eternity. Rather, Corteo is a humorous glimpse of a funeral procession with scant hope of an everlasting life.

Revelation has a glimpse of what our everlasting will include. Jesus will be at the center of a throne encircled by an emerald rainbow. He will have the appearance of both jasper and carnelian. From the throne will come lightning and thunder. Seven lamps will blaze. Twenty four elders will be seated around the throne and four living creatures, each with six wings and covered in eyes, will be before the throne. Without ceasing, the living creatures will give glory and honor to God by saying, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.” The elders will fall before the throne and worship God,

You are worthy, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things by your will they were created and have their being (Rev 4:1-11).

All angels will fall down on their faces before the throne and worship, “Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!” People from every tribe, nation, and language will wear white robes and hold palm branches before the throne and cry out, “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” They will have survived great tribulation and have washed their robes white in the blood of the Lamb. We will serve him day and night and God will house us. We will not hunger, thirst, hurt, or even become sunburned. God will personally wipe away our every tear. Our self-consumed thoughts will be changed only to focus on praising and worshiping our holy Lord. We will join an eternal celebration with those who have gone on before us. He will be our shepherd and lead us to the springs of living water (Rev. 7.9–17). This is our promise. May our robes be washed white in the blood of the lamb so that we too may join in the promise of an everlasting life. Salvation belongs to him alone.

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http://www.cirquedusoleil.com

Whom Do You Serve?

by Donovan Dobbs

Jesus said, "Then the King will say to those on his right hand, 'Come, you blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world for I was hungry and you gave me food; I was thirsty and you gave me drink; I was a stranger and you took me in; I was naked and you clothed me; I was sick and you visited me; I was in prison and you came to me.' Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and take you in, or naked and clothe you? Or when did we see you sick, or in prison, and come to you?' And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.'" —Matthew 25: 34–40

God has really been challenging me with this verse for about three months. It all began in the fall issue of Leadership Journal (published by Christianity Today). The entire issue was on churches and ministries that are reaching the "least of these." These churches were not serving the people as a "people group" to be reached nor as "souls to be saved" but as people created by God who needed to be ministered to for no other reason than serving Christ. The articles were filled with just ministries. No programs. No how to make your church grow. No fluff but only serving Christ!

Am I any different than any other group helping others this time of year? During the "holidays" many groups are helping the less fortunate or those in need. Everyone from bikers to the local schools. Even my community group helped a lady named Barbie with Thanksgiving dinner. There is nothing wrong with helping someone this time of year. However, the question that keeps coming to mind is "How am I serving the rest of the year?" Do I help or serve those in need January through October? Do I make the sacrifices that I so easily make during this time of year? Am I willing to buy someone shorts for the summer when I bought them a coat at winter? How would you answer these questions?

So do we just keep on doing what were doing or do we allow Christ to change us? Christ does call us to serve for the sake of serving (Matt. 6:1–4). When we serve people for his sake, we will be blessed (Luke 14:12–14). After the hype and good cheer of Christmas are gone, let us be different from the world. In January, let's bring warmth to someone. In February, share Christ's heart with someone. In March, let your actions thaw a person's heart that is cold because of this cynical wold. In April, spring to action by planting flowers in someone's yard. In May, as the sun stays out longer buy shorts for a family. In June, teach a kid to swim. In July, celebrate your independence from sin by sharing Christ over a hot dog. In August, work on providing school supplies to those in need. In September, help those in need prepare for the coming winter. In October, scare away depression by spending time with someone simply because they are there.

Even after the holidays are over and we slip into the new year, keep your heart open to serving those around you all year long.

The Weight of God's Glory

by Heather Myer

California is no stranger to tragedy. San Francisco was destroyed twice over in the great earth quakes of 1906 and 1989. In 1964, a tsunami ravaged the west coast. El Niños and La Niñas frequently pound the shores and cause flooding. Wildfires comb the hills and valleys in dry seasons, indiscriminant to wealthy or poor neighborhoods. Homes are lost due to erosions and mudslides with the least bit of precipitation. The state has been estimated to one day fall into the Pacific Ocean. California is crowded, populated by people of all nations and tongues. Crime and homicide have become common place. The conservation of animals and wildlife is placed before the sanctity of human lives. Success is measured in assets, bank statements, and investments.

Their land is full of silver and gold; there is no end to their treasures. —Isaiah 2:7–9

It is a land where human stars are admired and praised more than those of the heavens. Foreign gods are mingled with those of man. Many have turned from God, their Creator and King, and sought instead the gods of pride, lust, creation, wealth, and inner-being.

Their land is full of idols; they bow down to the work of their hands, to what their fingers have made. —Isaiah 2:8

Perhaps natural disasters are not caused by global warming but rather as nature‘s response to God‘s glory. God is holy. We were made to worship and give him praise. If we will not, then nature must. God created the earth in 6 days. The lands were made to complement his glory. If man, the Lord‘s most treasured creation, refuses to praise him and offer him glory, the land will.

The strong shall be a tinder and the work of it as a spark. Both will burn together and none shall quench it. —Isaiah 1:31

In mid-October and again in late November, Southern California caught on fire. The rocky hillsides were ablaze. The Pacific Coast Highway was barricaded in flames. Hundreds of homes were lost and thousands of lives were uprooted in fires that could not be quenched. The powerful Santa Ana winds fed and empowered the inferno. Men fled to safe havens and evacuation centers. Many joined the masses on the interstates to leave the destruction. Some ran out of gas in their attempts to flee and were stranded on roadsides. Others contributed to the chaos by looting abandoned homes.

Men will flee to caves in the rocks and to holes in the ground from dread of the Lord and the splendor of his majesty, when he rises to shake the earth. —Isaiah 2:19

Men fled to escape the suffocating smoke, the excessive heat, and the all-consuming blaze. Those who were not yet evacuated, could see flames in the horizon, breathed the thick smoke, and tasted ash in the air. A feeling of panic filled many. After the fires were tamed, the land was left in embers, blackened twigs, and incinerated hillsides. Some of the wildfires were caused by nature, others by electronic malfunctions, more still by arson. Yet all served to redirect glory to God.

People shall be brought down, each man shall be humbled, and the eyes of the lofty shall be humbled. But the Lord of hosts shall be exalted in judgment and God who is holy shall be hallowed in righteousness. —Isaiah 5:15

In the past decade, Earth has experienced global tragedies in the forms of fires, ice, rain, drought, earthquakes, tsunamis, tornadoes, and hurricanes. These have resulted in the loss of hundreds of thousands of lives and massive devastation. It is a turbulent time in which we live. If only we would soften our hard hearts and return our praise, attention, and offer glory to our Lord! Yet, we are offered hope in a promise.

If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. —2 Chronicles 7:14

May we pray and seek only him.

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www.thedailygreen.com