One of the top resolutions was to make more money.  Another was to save more money.  A third was to take more time off work in order to spend more time with family and friends.  Another was to live a more slower pace in life and to enjoy life more.  And the top answer, the number one answer was, you may have already guessed it: "To lose weight and take better care of oneself!"  That would certainly help me!

Those are pretty big goals and resolutions to make and, if followed, they can make our lives and relationships better and healthier.  The notice that, while good and important as they are, none of them have to do with the inner life or the spiritual life.

As I said, none of those are bad or wrong.  But I do wonder if any of us take the time at the start of a new year to consider our spiritual lives?  How many of us take time and give honest reflection and commitment to making and living out some resolutions to do things in life that are better for God?

Think back over the past year: How did your life shine for Christ in this past year?  Did people in any way see Jesus shining out of your life?  Did you, out of your life – your actions, your words, your commitment – point anyone toward Christ?  Did you help a person grow closer or deeper in their own faith commitment this past year?  As the old question puts it: "If you were arrested and put on trial for being a Christian (in this past year), would there be enough evidence to convict you?"

Now, I believe deeply in God's grace and mercy, and we do not live out a life that honors God in order to earn God's love and grace.  That is a gift, and a gift that you and I could never repay, even on our best days.  But God's grace is no crutch to let us off the hook of considering how we live our lives, how our lives honor Christ, and how our lives express our love for God.

So, let me ask you: How will 2012 be a growing and deepening year for you in your faith?  Perhaps it is time for you to start reading the Bible and attending Sunday school or a Bible study?  To spend time in prayer.  To be more faithful and deliberate in your worship attendance.  To find those ways you can get involved in the life of Unity Chapel that not only serve to deepen your faith, but felt the church to be a light of Christ in this community.  To help with Sunday school for the children.  To sing in the choir.  To get involved in the mission of service such as the upcoming Soup Kitchen, Habitat for Humanity, or any number of ways that we can serve Christ out in the community.

Jesus says the most important commitments in our lives are to love God with all of our life and to love one another as we love ourselves.  How would that change your life if you were to seek to live that out in your everyday life in 2012?  Think of how different 2012 would be for you if you took that commitment seriously?  Think of how 2012 might be different for someone else if you took that commitment heart and talk to live out those words of Jesus in this new year!

Resolutions are important.  They help us to take stock of life and of what truly matters in our lives.  That is true in our relationships with family and friends, our work ethic, the way we handle our money (or the way our money handles us!), and the quality of our lives physically.

It is also true when it comes to our faith.  We don't grow just sitting there and watching life pass us by.  We have to make choices and be willing to put in the time and work.  The good news is that as we open our hearts more and more to Christ, we find the He is there working within us to lead us into life in more abundant and healthy ways than we could ever imagine on our own.  And what a difference it makes in our own lives, our families, our work, our school, our church, our community, and in the lives of others!

So, what faith resolutions will YOU make in 2012?

Happy New Year and Peace be with you in Jesus Christ.
Jeff

I am not the only one to say such things. I have heard parent after parent utter the same words as their children headed off to kindergarten, high school, got their driver's license, and graduated from high school. Time marches on, and as parents, our window of influence changes from year to year.

That is why I want to once again encourage you to bring your children to Sunday school and to participate in our various children's ministries and activities. Cindy Fleace serves as our Children's Minister and she has done a very good job of planning creative, fun, and learning activities for the children of our church and community. How else will our children learn the great stories of the Bible and hear the wonderful news of God's love and care for them in Jesus Christ? I appreciate the ministry of Cindy and others who help. I encourage you to get involved in helping and to especially be sure and bring your children (and friends) to Sunday school and the monthly children's activities.

Tom Shriver is doing a wonderful job as well with our youth ministry. In just his first year, I have seen significant growth among our youth in numbers as well as in their spiritual growth. Tom is very committed to youth ministry has given much time and energy and love to reaching out to the youth of the church and of the community. I hope you will encourage and bring your Middle school and High school youth to Sunday school and weekly youth activities. They too need to hear the stories of our faith and be reminded and reminded of God's love for them in Jesus Christ and how God can use them in many great ways to help and serve others.

Time goes by way too quickly and we lose those opportunities not only to shape our children in regards to their education, their friends, their sports, but also their spiritual development which will stay with them their entire lives. We are challenged in Deuteronomy to be faithful as parents and as a church to teach our children of God and God's truth and love and goodness. What better way than by participating in our many children and youth ministries here at Unity Chapel?

We are more than blessed here to have Cindy and Tom serving and guiding us as we seek to help our children and youth grow in the knowledge and love of God. You need to do your part as well. You can volunteer (just ask Cindy or Tom what you can do!) and you can be sure that your children are actively involved in these opportunities for them to learn, to grow, and to be with other young people.

By the way, we have several opportunities for adults as well with Sunday school, Bible studies, and other opportunities to learn and grow in your life. Just ask me, and I will be glad to point you in the right direction. Remember though, when it comes to our children: Time marches on and moves by much too quickly. Let us be wise with the time we are given and do our part to guide and shape their spiritual lives as that will guide and shape their future as well.

Grace and Peace in Christ,
Jeff

He jumped out of the car, grabbed the kid with a buzz cut, wearing tattered cargo pants and pushed him up against a parked car, shouting, "What was that all about and who are you? Just what the heck are you doing?" Building up a head of steam, he shouted, "That's a new car and that brick you through is going to cost a lot of money. Why did you do it?"

"Please, Mister. I'm sorry. I didn't know what else to do," pleaded the youngster. "I threw the brick because no one else would stop." Tears were dripping down the boys chin as he pointed around the parked car. "It's my brother," he said. "He rolled off the curb and fell out of his wheelchair, and I can't lift him up." Sobbing, the boy asked the executive, "Would you please help me get him back into his wheelchair? He's hurt and he's too heavy for me."

Deeply moved, the driver tried to swallow the rapidly swelling lump in his throat. He lifted the young man back into the wheelchair and took out his handkerchief and wiped the scrapes and cuts, checking to see that everything was going to be okay. "Thank you," the grateful child said to him.

The man then watched the little boy push his brother down the sidewalk toward their home. It was a long walk back to his Jaguar – a long, slow walk. He never did repair the side door. He kept the dent to remind him not to go through life so fast that someone has to throw a brick at you to get your attention.

Isn't that true with most of us as well? We get so busy with our work, our hobbies, our sports, watching television or reading a book, or caught up with all those things we think we have to have done right now, that we fail to hear the voices that speak to our hearts. Whether it is a spouse, a child, a grandchild, a student, a co-worker, a friend, or just someone in need, we sometimes miss the moment because we are too busy rushing through life. We fail to pay attention to the life around us and the people of our lives.

Sometimes it takes a brick called cancer or heart attack or some other illness before we stop and realize the importance of paying attention to life. Sometimes it takes an unexpected twist in life to remind us to be sure that we are not just rushing through life without taking the time to help others, to love others, to bless others, to serve others, and to reach out and listen and care about the people of our lives.

I suspect that it is also true for many of us when it comes to paying attention to God. We get so busy that we don't learn to listen daily for that voice that calls out to us into deeper places of our souls. Until something happens that hits us like a brick and, like our relationships with family and friends, we realize that we have taken our faith in God for granted as well.

Perhaps that is what the Psalmist meant when he wrote in Psalm 46: "Be still. Be still and know that I am God." That word "still" would be translated in our language today to mean "Be silent." Be quiet in your heart and soul and listen. Listen for the voice of God that calls out to you to remind you of God's presence, God's grace and love, and God's calling for you to live in ways that honor and serve who you are called to be in Jesus Christ.

Be careful. Don't live life so fast that you miss the whisper of God in your soul. Sometimes, when you don't have time, I wonder if God doesn't toss a brick our way to get our attention and remind us of what really matters in life. The choice is ours each and every day: Learn to be silent were still and listen for the whisper of God in our hearts – or wait for the brick. What will it be for you?

Grace and Peace,
Jeff

The city was Washington DC. The musician was Joshua Bell, who can earn upwards of $50,000 for an average evening's performance. The instrument was a 300-year-old Stradivarius valued at $3.5 million. The music included the works of Bach and other masters. The experiment was captured on hidden camera. So, what happened? How did people respond?

During Mr. Bell's 45-minute performance, 1097 people passed by. 27 dropped spare change into his open violin case, for a total of $35. And seven of them stopped what they were doing to listen for at least 1 minute. The other 1070 people hurried past, oblivious, uninterested, unmoved.

Before we criticize others for missing out on the beauty of God's world, we must ask ourselves: how many times a day does something like this happen to you or me? How many times do we encounter truth, beauty, and excellence, without giving it a second look? How many messages of hope do we ignore? How many demonstrations of grace do we disregard? How many divine appointments do we overlook? How many times a day do we miss God's presence and blessings upon our lives? Simply because we are not paying attention!

The prophet Ezra wrote these words: "But now for a brief moment grace has been shown us from the Lord our God, leaving us a remnant and to give us a firm place in His holy place, and so the Lord God gives life to our eyes and a little relief in our bondage." (Ezra 9:8)

Let's make an effort to recognize – and fully experience and appreciate – those brief moments of grace God sends our way. There will be a least a few today. Will you see them? Or will you walk right past them and be unaware? Be sure you are looking and listening for the moment grace in your life. Perhaps a good prayer for us each morning is: "God, help me to be aware of Your presence as I go through this day. Tell me to pay attention for You."

Peace be with you.
Jeff

Time marches on and changes in life happen whether we are prepared or not, like it or not, want it or not, or appreciate them or not. Change – both good and not so good – happen throughout our lives. Change really is a part of life as is the passage of time. In all honesty, I am not all that wild about change. Sometimes I get so comfortable in life and with the way things are or are going, that I don't want anything or anyone to change. That change happens anyway!

Thomas Obadiah Chisholm was born in a log cabin in Franklin, Kentucky. At the age of 16, without benefit of an advanced education, he began teaching school. He would later go on to become a Methodist pastor. Shortly before his death in 1960, Thomas Chisholm wrote:

"My income has never been large at any time due to impaired health in the earlier years which is followed me until now. But I must not fail to record here the unfailing faithfulness of a covenant keeping God and that He has given me many wonderful displays of His providing care which it filled me with astonishing gratefulness."

One of the passages of Scripture that was especially meaningful for him during many changing times in his life due to health issues with from the third chapter of Lamentations (I know, who would have thought that!). Here's what it reads: "His compassions fail not. They are new every morning. Great is Your faithfulness." (verses 22-23).

Thomas Chisholm would write more than 1200 sacred poems and hymns in his long and changing life. For me, none is more meaningful than one of my favorites which is "Great Is Thy Faithfulness."

"Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father! There is no shadow of turning with Thee; Thou changest; Thy compassions, they fail not; As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.

"Summer and winter, and spring time and harvest; Sun, moon and stars in their courses above, join with all major in manifold witness, to Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

"Pardon for sin and a piece that endureth; Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide. Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow – blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside."

And then that great chorus: "Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see; all I have needed Thy hand hath provided – Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me."

And in the midst of all the changes in my life and yours, this is a great passage of Scripture and a great hymn to hold dear in our hearts. In the midst of all the changes of my life, I am indeed thankful for the unchanging grace and love of God.

Blessings in Christ,
Jeff

However, Duke University and a lending program where people could check out library books by mail. J. B. began sending off for books on radio and communication, business, finance, and banking. He read everything he could get his hands on, and taught himself everything he possibly could about the radio business at that time.

With this knowledge, J. B. was able to get started in the radio business and opened his own station in Augusta, Georgia. Soon, he added a second station. He began investing his money and he eventually developed a major corporation known as Fuqua Industries. He also served in the Georgia House of Representatives. By 1970, Fuqua Industries was recognized as a Fortune 500 company.

J. B. never forgot Duke University's help in those early and difficult times. Over the years, he made several generous donations to the University in gratitude for what they had done for him. In 1980, he made a generous donation valued at over $40 million. He also convinced a good friend, Dave Thomas of Wendy's fame, to contribute another $4 million to the school.

Today, if you visit the campus of Duke University, you will notice their business school is named the Fuqua School of Business. (J. B. never graduated from college but was awarded an honorary doctorate from Duke.) No one at Duke University could have known all those years ago, that their decision to set up a simple lending program to help people learn and improve their education would have such an impact on someone's life. And they never would have guessed how that kind gesture on one person would ever have repaid.

J. B. Fuqua was truly grateful for Duke University. When you're genuinely thankful for something or someone, you want to do something in return to express their gratitude. A story in the Gospel of Luke tells us about Jesus healing ten people suffering from the disease of leprosy. Yet, out of the ten, only one returned back to Jesus to say "thank you" for the blessing of new life. I wonder too, if out of his gratitude, he did not do something worthwhile from that day forward with his life.

Only one of ten came back and offered any thanks. How about you and me? Are we truly grateful this day? Were we doing in return? Each of us must answer the question for ourselves: "Would I have been the one to return to give thanks?" Perhaps we can never know for sure. But there is one thing we can do. Each and every day we can lift up the simple prayer: "Of all the things I ask this day, O Lord, give to me the gift of a thankful heart." And let us live each day gratefully.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Jeff

As I have grown older and experienced some of the harsher blows of life, as well as witnessed others battle very difficult times in line, I have come to see prayer as having less to do with words and more to do with listening. I have come to see that prayer is where we learn to speak with God out of the deeper places of our lives and we listen for the sounds of God's presence and guidance in our lives. It is where we learn to listen quietly for God to speak to the very depths of our lives. As one pastor I value put it, "prayer is the quiet space in my soul in which I listen for God to speak -- perhaps not audibly from the outside in, but spiritually from the inside out -- the will of God for my life."

Jesus taught us that prayer is personal and intimate in the sixth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew. He challenges us to not turn it into some kind of showy talk with lengthy prayers full of big words and religious showboating. Where to talk quietly with God and listen for God and open our hearts to God and be real and honest before God with who we are and where we are. We are to be willing to allow God to change not only our outer circumstances, but more importantly, our inner hearts that we might grow deeper in life and in faith and trust and hope. Prayer is a gift that God has given to us so that we might grow deeper in line, in faith, in trust, and in hope.

Sometimes I find it hard to put into words all that prayer is and how to define prayer and how to pray. It is always richer and deeper than my mere words can describe. A couple of weeks ago, and the eleven o'clock praise and worship service, the van to lead us in a prayer song entitled, "Pour Out My Heart". As I listened to the words, I thought this song was pretty close to what Jesus tried to teach us about prayer. I close with some words and hope they will encourage you to grow in prayer.

"Here I am, once again. I pour out my heart, for I know that you hear every cry. You are listening, no matter what state my heart is in. You are faithful to answer with words that are true and a hope that is a real. As I feel your touch, you bring a freedom to all its within. In the safety of this place, I'm longing to pour out my heart, say that I love you; pour out my heart, say that I need you; pour out my heart, say that I'm thankful."

Perhaps prayer is simply pouring out our hearts, whether hearts of joy and thankfulness or hearts of sorrow and grief, and waiting and listening in trusting God to speak to our hearts with words that are true and hope that is real. And may all of us grow in the richness of prayer as we open our lives to God and listen for God to speak to our hearts.

Grace and Peace be with you,

Jeff

Since returning from vacation, I have been struck by how important it is to pray for one another. In two days, two people in our church family lost a parent to death, several people have battled illnesses or are taking care of loved ones who are facing serious health issues. Others are going through tough times because of job loss or family issues or some other change in life.

I had conversations with several people while in Florida. One was a grandmother who has raised her two grandchildren because their mother (her daughter) ended up in prison. Now, the oldest of the two who will be a senior in high school is pregnant and she will probably have to raise her great-grandchild. Another person shared with me one of the struggles they are having with their son who is a college student and making some bad choices. Another shared how their son will be coming home from Afghanistan this coming week and has had ups and downs in his life and they are hoping for good things for him. Another father shared with me how hard a time he is having letting go of his youngest child who is heading off to college and leaving their home.

In all these, the most important thing I can do is lift them up in prayer. To, "carry them to Jesus" as the song puts it. Yes, I can offer words of hope and encouragement and comfort. Yes, I can offer a hug and an understanding heart. Those things matter. Nothing matters though more than remembering to lift another person in prayer.

This month, our public schools will begin another year. We all know that there are issues confronting one of our school systems and in all our school systems, these are changing and challenging times. I have done my share of griping and offering my solutions. But there is still one thing more. I can lift up our teachers, administrators, school board, support staff, students, and parents in prayer. As another school year begins, all of us can be in prayer for our schools -- teachers and students. I wonder what would happen if all of us did just that -- carried our schools to Jesus?

Paul in I Timothy 2 encourages us to lift up one another in prayer. To be faithful to pray for each other and others who may be on our hearts and in need. I encourage all of us to grow in praying for one another. Use the prayer list in the bulletin or newsletter. Use the birthday list and anniversary lists and pray for those folks on their special days. Remember those in our church family who grieve the loss of a loved one. Remember those are struggling with illnesses or caring for a loved one at home. Remember our homebound and nursing bound families. Remember in prayer those who have lost jobs, are single parents, those in the military and their families, as well as our nation's leaders.

What would happen if you and I really started "carrying people to Jesus"? I suspect it would matter more than we would know. Will you join with me in praying for one another?

Grace and Peace be with you in Jesus Christ.

Jeff

Only in America can a pizza get to your house faster than an ambulance.

Only in America do people order double cheeseburgers, a large fry, and a DIET coke.

Only in America do banks leave both doors open and then chain the pens to the counters.

Only in America do we use answering machines to screen calls and then have call waiting so we won't miss a call from someone we didn't want to talk to in the first place.

Only in America do we buy hot dogs and packages of ten and buns in packages of eight.

Only in America do we would use the word "politics" to describe the process so well: "Poli" in Latin meaning "many" and "tics" meaning "bloodsucking creatures".

Well, maybe were being a little harsh on politicians -- Well, maybe not!

Whenever I hear someone say how proud they are to be an American or proud of their children or proud of their football team or whatever we may take pride in, I am reminded of the words of Christian singer Wayne Watson. Watson says, "The older I get the less there is to be proud of and the more there is for which to be thankful. I'm more thankful for my family than I am proud of them, because I realize most of the what they are is out of my hands. Most of what has happened to me in my career is not a result of me walking the streets in Nashville with songs trying to get them cut or trying to get a record deal. Most of it has been the blessing of God. So my 'thankfulness' list is growing much longer while my 'proud' list is becoming much shorter."

Watson is right on target. I don't know about you, but I can say without a moment's hesitation that I am thankful to be a citizen of this wonderful country. I was born here, so America was a gift to me paid for by so many who sacrificed so much for this country. I can't say it's something I achieved or something I earned. Yes, I am proud to be an American, but more than being proud, I am truly thankful to be living in this wonderful country that affords the incredible freedoms that many throughout the world have yet to enjoy.

We, as Americans have so much to be thankful for as we celebrate our nation's birth on July 4. We are indeed a free people, for which we owe a tremendous debt. As Christians, as those who have been given new life in Jesus Christ, we also owe a tremendous debt that we can never fully repay. All we can do is be truly thankful. Yes, there is great freedom we enjoy as Americans, but there is an even greater freedom we enjoy because of the cross of Calvary. Once again it is not a freedom in which I take as much pride in as much as I and deeply thankful. As Isaac Watts put it so well: "God forbid that I should boast, save in the cross of Christ my God." And to that I say, "Amen!"

Peace and Grace be with you in Jesus Christ,
Jeff