New Year - New You?

Another year has come and gone. We survived the Black Friday onslaught of ads screaming at us that we absolutely needed more, more, and more. We survived the ensuing weeks of ads and emails reminding us of the ever-waning number of shopping days until Christmas. I'm currently in the process of surviving the hordes of emails letting me know that if I didn't get what I really wanted, they have the solution.

Consequently, in a day or so (if it hasn't already started) we'll be barraged with emails and ads for fitness, healthy eating, gym memberships. "New Year, New You!" they'll promise us.

But as a nation we're suffering from more than just a physical health and fitness problem - we're plagued by spiritual unhealthiness.


The myriad problems that stem from that spiritual darkness is a greater subject than we can tackle here. So what can we do?

We may not be able to change society, or our nation - but we can start with changing ourselves.  I can't change the culture - but I can change me.

I imagine that there are not too many people who reflect on 2016 and say, "You know, I'm pretty happy with myself, with how the year went. I've got nothing I really need to fix." Most of us, if we're honest, realize there's a massive laundry list of ways we need to improve.

This week at our weekly Bible study at the juvenile detention center, we're going to tackle this subject - getting off to a better start in 2017. The very first thing we're going to look at is forgiveness. If we want to even begin to work towards spiritual growth, we've got to be able to forgive.

Hebrews 12:15 likens bitterness to a root. If you've ever tried to get dandelions out of your yard, you know how hard and how vital it is to get to the root of the problem (yes, pun totally intended!). Roots run deep. Roots hold the plant in.

If we can't forgive, if we can't let go, we run the risk of that grudge or anger becoming a stubborn root that keeps poking its head out.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said this about forgiveness:

"Forgiveness is not an occasional act - it is a constant attitude...Forgiveness does not mean ignoring what has been done or putting a false label on an evil act. It means, rather, that the evil act no longer remains as a barrier to the relationship. Forgiveness is a catalyst creating the atmosphere necessary for a fresh start and a new beginning.”

I love that idea - that forgiveness is a constant attitude. Paul reminds us in Ephesians 4:32 that we are to forgive as Christ has forgiven us. When we take stock of our lives and think about what He has forgiven us of, it is an amazing thing.

Forgiveness does not mean that there aren't scars. Nor does it mean we pretend nothing ever happened. Rather, it means we are free from the chains of bondage that take hold when we refuse to forgive.

In Part 2, I want tackle an idea that might be controversial - do we really "Forgive & Forget?" In the meantime, don't forget to renew that gym membership and pick up some kale on the way home! Great deals await you - my email told me so.