Its New Year’s  day and I’m thinking about all of the New Year’s resolutions people will be making over the next several days and weeks to come. I think the number one goal of any given new year is to lose weight and get in shape and then coming in at a close second place is to kick some bad habit like smoking. And then there are some people who make it their goal to get out of debt and start putting some money away for a rainy day and every one of these goals are good goals and conceived with noble intentions but the fact is, by mid-February or March the number of people at the Y will be right back to normal and the credit card is still maxed out because the truth is…change is hard!!!

Because I know that old habits die hard, I have made it my policy in the past not to make promises to myself that I know I won’t keep, but this new year I think I am going to make a New Year’s resolution and set a different kind of goal for my life, this year, in 2012 I want to grow spiritually.

Many years ago John Lennon wrote the song “Imagine” and the secular world still uses it as a sort of anthem to this day. The song has an anti-religion message and in my view Lennon got the whole thing backwards…what if instead of abandoning their beliefs, followers of Christ everywhere were to begin doing exactly what the Bible tells us to do and truly begin to love, forgive and help each other? What if we were to live our lives with God at the center of it instead of ourselves?

What if I could be a better representative of the Kingdom of God and an effective ambassador for the cause of Christ? What if Christians everywhere made this same goal and pledged to come to know God in a deeper and more intimate way? We would then see people become better husbands and wives, fathers and mothers, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters. Christians would become better employees at work and would have a positive impact on the people around them.

This is something we ought to not only “Imagine”, but we should take steps to implement a process to facilitate real spiritual growth in the Christian community everywhere we can.

Then reality sets in…is this just another one of those temporary moments of inspiration that will fade away as soon as the demands of everyday living press upon me? Well…I hope not, and this time I really don’t think so. I know that many Christians struggle with conduct at times; myself included. We find that we simply don’t have the strength to be what God wants us to be and our feeble attempts more often than not fail.

This past September my friend Brad and I implemented a Bible study group with the goal of spiritual growth with the teachings of the apostle Paul at its core. After only three months or so I have seen dramatic positive results in myself as well as others who are involved the study group, and here’s the kicker…it’s easy!!! I’m not “trying” to be better, making empty promises, re-committing, re-dedicating or any of those things that doesn’t work, it’s just happening all by itself.

The Bible tells us over and over again that we need to grow in the knowledge of God and that if we do, and when we do, the change that takes place in us will be automatic and effortless; it is what the Bible refers to as “walking in the Spirit”, and it works!!!

I find it strange though that I have been a believer most of my life and have read and studied the Bible diligently for more than 20 years, but for some reason, unbeknownst to me, now I am seeing and understanding things I never have before.

Now, when I accurately interpret the Bible and follow the instructions the Bible gives me, it then produces the results it promises, and therefore, I am coming into an experiential knowledge of a life filled with grace and peace from God and a supernatural ability to be all God desires me to be…and it is my desire that everyone around me can have this same experience too.

Chuck F.

Who ever said you couldn’t teach an old dog a new trick doesn’t run with the pack that I run with. Cause this old dog has learned a few new tricks and you’re looking at it.

I’ve desired for a while to have a blog site where I could rant and rave about things that are in my heart and on my mind, but didn’t know where to start.

Well here it is thanks to one of the other old dogs in my pack. Maybe it takes an old dog to teach an old dog a new trick.

Steve Bakos, one of the wises old dogs I know amazed me with his techno knowledge and made it possible for me (a techno wanna-be) to start a blog site.

Steve has been a dear friend for many years. We have been through some exciting times together on the mission field. There have been just a handful of men (three or four maybe) that I’ve known in my lifetime that I respect and hold in such high esteem as I do Steve Bakos. Have you ever been around someone that can make a bad situation better, bringing a calming presence that gives the reassurance that everything is going to be OK, that’s Steve. If you ever go to the mission field pray that you have a Steve Bakos with you!  He is one of the wises most compassionate men and servant of God that I know. Steve makes more sacrifices in one week then most of us Christians will make in a lifetime, but to Steve it not a sacrifice it’s an invitation to be about his Heavenly Fathers business.  I better stop talking about him now because I know this is making him uncomfortable. Did I mention that he is also a very humble man and does not like very much attention?  Love you Steve!

Steve is currently serving with the Messiah Project in Nicaragua. Please keep Steve and his family in your prayers. You can follow Steve and the ministry of The Messiah Project at http://www.mpnica.org/ and also on facebook.

In God’s Wonder-full Grace

Brad