Go ahead '2018' make my day!

Happy New Year wishes from The Back Pew! I hope your holiday season was merry and bright, AND.. I pray you live in a warmer state than Minnesota. - Amen!

​Since around 9pm on Friday December 29th through 7am January 2nd I am writing this we have had one hour where the air temperature was above zero at a sweltering ONE DEGREE. 
​

But I digress.. because today is not about the 'new' Ice Age, it is about Resolutions!

---

So without further adieu let me present the all new '2018 Jeff Larson Resolutions'.  Oh they may resemble last year's resolutions.. but these 2018 Resolutions aspire to at least to never run out of gas ..aka broken resolutions.  

1. Diet - My four year old granddaughter asked me the other week why my stomach was round.  I considered the comeback "Shut up.. your'e short and you spell like a preschooler." but.. i restrained myself as I know exactly why it is round, and she is adorable.

---

2. Exercise - My once trim athletic physique now resembles a butter sculpture.. in the sun.  Nuff said on the 'E' word.
3. Budget - My wife and I have plans to move this year looking for possibly a town-home..  and rumor has it moving costs money.
4. Time for God - The chaos of this world (much of it void of God) as reported on the 24/7 News 'SHOWS' affect me adversely. So it goes without saying more time focusing on God in his word, and in prayer is so much better time spent in front of the aptly named boob tube where brain cells fall to the wayside with every moment in front of my HD TV.

Then again if you ask my wife Mary, she would be happy just to add her Honey-Do list to my 2018 Resolutions, but she fears that would doom her list to certain failure. ​

But all smirking aside, no matter if I lose weight, get fit, win the lottery in 2018, and find the fountain of youth, or even fountain of middle age..  what matters most is my heart and attitude towards God.  Love God care for others.. the rest is by comparison trivial pursuit.

At church on Sunday I heard a great New Year Resolution sermon from Colossians 3. A call to 'Put on the New Self' . 
3:2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. ... 3:5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: 
... take time to read the whole chapter as it is so simple yet so complete in the call to a better way. Dare I say, A Happy New Year.

So I do pray that I would love God in word and deed, and my heart be sensitive to others in need like never before. I pray my mind is on things above and not stuck in the muck of the evening news, and my below zero Minnesota.

---

So 2018, I am as ready as I will ever be.  To God be the glory in all things.

​May God bless and use each of you in 2018 and beyond in ways that are BEYOND YOUR DREAMS.

​Jeff

ps : Of course no New Year Resolution list would be complete without a list from my dog Cooper.  Just like his master, he is a work in progress.

---