Pastor Dan - January 2016

 You won't believe all the things that I have envisioned to accomplish in 2016. This New Year of 2016 will be the year of accomplishment! I'm going eat healthier snacks, smaller portions and more broccoli. I am going to revive my artistic talents and create new art pieces in a variety of mediums. Less television, more date nights, more writing, etc. The dreams and visions for 2016 are so close to becoming reality, so almost reality that I am filled with a million possibilities. I remain excited and energized to accomplish all the newness birthed out as I find myself celebrating the New Year of 2016.

 But then January 3 rolls up on me and there is not one change in my life or living. I am still eating terrible, watching every sports game there is on TV, including the biathlon event from Lycksele, Sweden, and the art supplies are still boxed up, dust thicker than ever, somewhere in the garage. I still hold on to my dreams and visions. I am not defeated yet! There's still 362 days in this New Year, and I'll really get this New Year rolling by next week. Which then turns into, I'll get this New Year rolling by February. OK, I'll get this New Year rolling as soon as we celebrate Easter. By now, my dreams and visions are but a fleeting fog and it seems that 2016 is just like 2015 and 2014. I seem to be trapped in a routine and a cycle of life and living which has no means to escape.

 I wish I had a way and a power that will break into the routine and empower me to a new way of life and living. I wish there was something that would stimulate within me a new way of seeing and being. If there was only something that could bring about a change of mind; a new mindset; a new way of seeing life and seeing myself and seeing the people around me. Oh, if only there were such a thing.

The bad news is that there isn't such a thing. The good news is that there is such a person. Yes, that One is the Lord. We do indeed have the Holy Spirit of the One who brings into humanity and into our lives and into our living a power to repent. Repentance is more about a new way of seeing and being. Repentance leads to new life and new living. It's a change in our thinking. Repentance is a gift of God.

 We gather at Mount Zion as a people who have been touched, claimed and empowered through the new life of God's eternal Spirit. You are a part of a community that is willing to help move toward making our dreams and visions a reality. Much can be accomplished in and through community. Our visions and dreams for a better me are the same visions Christ has for each one of us. And a faith community is a place in which we can find accountability and support and non-judging and encouragement and love; all of which are necessary in helping make visions and dreams become reality.

This New Year of 2016, I pray you know that you never go at life and living alone. The Lord is with you and so are an entire people of faith. Happy New Year to you and to yours.

In Christ's love and service,

Pastor Dan