Whether you want to believe it or not, a new year is upon us.

In addition to yuletide carols being sung, folks dressing like eskimos, and ox and lamb keeping time, this is a season where we think hard about what we’re working towards in the new year.

It’s a time of reflection on 2013 and planning for 2014.

I believe this is healthy. Remember what Socrates said?

“The unexamined life is not worth living.”

An effective, productive life is a life that is intentional and thoughtful. You don’t just want to coast blindly through your days, hoping the best will happen. It’s important to think through all your different roles and make sure you are living out God’s best.

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When is the right time to take action? When is the right time to “let go and let God”?

We all want to make a difference for the Kingdom of God. We all want to be all that God designed us to be. But knowing when to “take action” and when to “wait on God” is a tension every Christian faces. And I know there are many opinions.

So let’s dive in, shall we?

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On a scale from 1 to 10, how would you rate your integrity?

Webster defines integrity as: “firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values.” I like to think of it as “who you are behind closed doors.”

Because here’s the truth: opportunities will come. Doors will open. Others may present offers. But who is looking out for you? Who is responsible for your integrity?

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Dear Older Generation – Moms, Dads, Grandmas, Grandpas, Widows:

As I was coming to church today, I was thinking about how cool it is that we can worship together.

I’ve been learning that the Kingdom of God isn’t about age, color, race, affluence, power, or who has the most money.

The Kingdom of God isn’t just for the cool, young, hip, and trendy.

The Kingdom is for all – and I believe we reflect that as we gather and we go for the glory of Christ.

Thank you for your faithfulness and commitment to this local church.

To think that some of you have been attending this church longer than I’ve been alive is mind-blowing. It makes me realize that I get bored too quickly. My friends and I tend to chase fads and hype rather than chase the presence of God through discipline, values, and commitment.

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If I took a poll and asked you whether you’d like to introduce some sort of change in your worship ministry, I doubt there would be any silence.

We all want to change something. We have friends who are doing this or that. Hillsong United is using this fresh, new instrument. Jesus Culture is leading this song and that song.

We are surrounded by change. If we were the only people attending your church, change would be easy. But how do we make changes without alienating our churches and creating a monster?

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