New Year’s resolutions have always been something I have avoided. Mainly because they have always been a reminder of my failure to keep them, and I don’t need that type of discouragement. Now with this disclaimer out of the way, I believe I have come up with the best New Year’s resolution possible.

• I resolve to just do it this year.

Whatever it is, I will commit to just do it. I will not wait until I am perfect. I will not wait until I have it all figured out. I will just move forward with faith.

How Does Not Doing It Hinder Your Walk With Jesus?

This can be in prayer. Many people are stuck from moving forward with consistent prayer because they feel they do not know how to do it. What about praying with your children? Praying with your spouse? Praying with a friend who is in need? They need to hear your heart of love for them and your dependence on Jesus. You can always grow in prayer, but do not let your level of growth limit your willingness to step out in faith. It is easier for God to steer a moving ship then one that is still in the harbor.

When I used to work with college students, this was an excuse for sharing their faith, leading Bible studies, investing a summer for missions, etc. I’m not ready. I have never done it before. I do not know what to say. I don’t have all the answers. If you let your inexperience limit your willingness to try, you will always be inexperienced.

What Are Some Biblical Examples of Those Who Just Did It?

We as a community of believers have bought into a lie that we have to be perfect before we do anything for the Lord. Look at Jesus. Yes, He was perfect, but the people He surrounded Himself with were not. Peter, the one He decided to head the church, was notorious with sticking His foot in His mouth. None of the other disciples had Jesus refer to their comments as being from Satan. But also none of the others had a comment attributed to God.

Peter walked on water, he made gutsy statements, he stood up to Jesus, he defended Jesus by attacking an army of soldiers,… he was a man of action. And, Jesus did not condemn him for it. Rather Peter was rewarded.

John, the disciple whom Jesus loved, and his brother James were no less brash. They asked to be Jesus’ top men in the coming kingdom. They were nicknamed the sons of thunder. John was the lone disciple at the cross being willing to be identified with the One on the cross. James was the first disciple to be martyred. Their mistakes may not be as widely known, but they were obviously willing to step out with the outcome unclear.

What Will I Plan To Just Do This Year?

For me personally, the area I feel God leading me to move forward in faith is in singing. I actually like to sing. I am one of the loudest singers you will ever meet. Unfortunately, I lack rhythm and have a hard time remembering words. This is not a good combination for someone who can be heard by everyone. A worship leader of a several hundred member congregation told my wife that she could always tell when Kevin is here. Kids frequently turn around and stare at me.

You may be saying what is the dilemma? My dilemma every week is should I sing with the potential of throwing off others by being off key or by using the wrong words, or should I just let it blare as I enter into God’s presence? Should I be silent that others minght enjoy the worship more, or should I trust God to either allow my voice to enhance the worship or allow the others to tune out my mistakes? As with the life of following God’s leading, there is no set answer besides asking God each week what He wants.

But, with this said, I can improve my singing. This is something that I have never pursued. I can take lessons to know how to better keep in key and follow rhythm. God has given us each gifts, but He also wants us to grow in those gifts. Practice is the best way to grow, but instruction is also great. You cannot divorce the two. My just do decision is to pursue lessons.

image courtesy of The Nativity Story

Have you ever thought how Joseph must have felt through the Christmas story (Matthew 1:18-25)? Here he is engaged to be married to a teenage girl, and she turns up pregnant. A virgin birth was no more believable to him than it would be now. He may not have had the wonders of modern science, but he must have known how babies were created. How devastating this must have been for him. The Bible says Joseph was a righteous man, so he wanted to do what is right, but there was also a disgrace that went with his fiance being pregnant. We get a hint of this shame as the Jews slap the remark to Jesus insinuating that he was an illegitimate child (John 8:41).

In God's mercy He sends Joseph an angel to encourage him that Mary was telling the truth and she was carrying the Christ-child. We need to remember this. In our own wisdom the things of God will not make sense to us. We need to go to Him to allow Jesus to interpret our life circumstances. Only then will we have the wisdom to make it through life.

This Christmas, whatever circumstance you are going through, take it to Jesus. Allow Him to interpret it for you. The truth of any circumstance is only what Jesus says is true about it. We walk by faith not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7).

Last night at 1am the Democratic Senators quickly moved forward with their 60 votes to pass the long-discussed health care bill. The bill now most face two more votes before a final passing on Christmas Eve. I was burdened about this bill last night and early this morning after hearing that the 60 votes had been obtained. I have also been burdened as I have thought about Jonah. Jonah was called to speak out against the wickedness of Nineveh, but Jonah disobeyed God because of lack of love for the Ninevites. He wanted to see them perish (Jonah 3:10 - 4:2). I am becoming convicted that when I stay silent I am running to my own Nineveh's.

I do not hint at knowing God's intentions about pending judgment, but I do know that God is the father to the fatherless. He comes to the aid of those who cannot help themselves. And, if our country passes a bill that federally funds the disposal for those considered a burden on society, I believe we are asking God for His judgment. We, like Jonah, must speak out. We must speak in love and compassion, but we also must defend those who cannot defend themselves (Psalm 82: 3-4).

We also must speak out to hopefully spare people from judgment. I have usually hesitated speaking out because of the belief that people are going to do what they want. But out of a deep love for people, I must speak out so to maybe win some away from judgment. Below is a letter to my senators. I encourage you to also contact your congress representative.

The bill seems very likely done, but nothing is impossible for God. There are still two more votes. Please write to your Senators and Representatives and pray that something will change. If we do not believe God can do the impossible, then we do not believe He raised Jesus from the dead.

image courtesy of ScenicPlaces.com

December 21, 2009

Dear Senator,

This coming Christmas Eve the Health Care bill may be passed. Please vote no, so this does not happen. I do appreciate the desire of Congress and the President to provide health care coverage to those in need, but there is a provision in the bill that provides federal funding for abortion which works against the purpose of this bill.

A strong majority of abortions in the US is used as a last result form of birth control. When we as a country provide for the killing of unwanted children then even the ones that we have are seen and treated as an inconvenience at best. This is a disgrace. Children are a blessing from God and the hope of our future. Who are we to have the right to determine which child has a future without hope?

You have done and will surely do many great things as senator, but none will outweigh this decision. Providing for those who cannot provide for themselves is at the heart of universal health care. Babies are in the most need of care. Abortion moves in the exact opposite direction by providing for the death of the innocent.

The final vote for this bill appears to be Christmas Eve, a time where millions celebrate the birth of baby Jesus. I encourage you to celebrate this season by refusing to vote for a bill that makes a mockery of what Christmas celebrates by providing federal funding for abortion. Any God that would send His son as a baby will surely judge a nation that provides for the killing of babies. I ask you not to defame the religious holiday of a majority of your constituents by signing a bill that goes against the very thing they celebrate. This Thursday, please vote no.

Sincerely,

Kevin Shorter

Gary Thomas is becoming a quick favorite in the Christian community with his series of books. I just recently finished leading a group at my church through a study of the his Sacred Marriage book and would encourage it to you. In a society that views life from the filter of what is in it for me, Thomas lays out a thesis in the Sacred Marriage that marriage is about making you holy. This book should challenge your thinking and redouble your efforts to work on your marriage. There is a choosing to follow God with your marriage; you cannot just let it come on its own.

Marriage is meant to be hard because it is two incomplete people trying to make life work together. The glory of this union is that as you succeed in making it work, you also learn how to make that same type of union work with God. That to me is one of the greatests gifts of marriage is the insight it provides to our relationship with God. Your marriage to your spouse is intended to represent Christ's love for the Church (Ephesians 5:31-32). That means that every aspect of marriage will teach us more about God's love for us. This is the angle I took on the study questions for Sacred Marriage (PDF) I put together our class. Each lesson looks at Thomas' teachings and than goes through a Bible study related to that topic.

I recommend this book as it will encourage you in your marriage, and it is easy to read. This make it great for group discussions. I was able to do more than one chapter per week, and even though my crowd was parents of preschoolers, they were able to find time to read the chapters.

It is so easy to become complacent in our marriages, so this book would be a good reminder to value and love your spouse - God's perfect gift for you. While you are at, let this book re-ignite your love for God. Marriage is meant to remind us of His love afterall.

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Kids Prayers from Granger Community.

These are prayers from real children at Granger Community Church in Granger, Indiana. It is amazing what you find out by just asking kids. There is a lot of pain being carried by our children as they come into church. Will we help them?

My favorite Christmas album comes from pulling together songs from a variety of artists and albums that I have collected over the years. I love Christmas, and I love Christmas music. Below I have put the songs in order of how they are on my collection. I did not know how to do this with Amazon's playlist.  Three of my favorites were not on Amazon, so I have put some alternatives with references below in red. 

If you do not like all the work in getting separate songs, then I would highly recommend Russ Taff's A Christmas Song album. This has been my favorite complete Christmas album for a long time. Please let me know if you feel I missed anything. But if you add one, tell me which you would remove. Enjoy.

The Christmas Song - Marvin Gaye
White Christmas - Russ Taff
Away in the Manager - Derri Daughterty / Julie Miller
O Holy Night - Mylon LeFevre (Harry Connick Jr.)
Carol of the Bells / What Child is This? - Yolanda Adams
Babe in the Straw - Caedmon's Call
Winter Wonderland - Steve Taylor
Zat You, Santa Claus? - Louis Armstrong
Sleigh Ride - Ella Fitzgerald
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - Kim Hill / Phil Keaggy
A Cradle Prayer - Rebecca St. James
I'll Be Home for Christmas - Russ Taff
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas - Brian McKnight
It Came Upon a Midnight Clear / O Little Town of Bethlehem - Amy Grant / Sandi Patty
        O Little Town of Bethlehem - Sarah McLachlan
Christmastime - BNL
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! - Russ Taff
Christmas Dreaming - Frank Sinatra
Merry Christmas Baby - B.B. King
Little Drummer Warners - Animaniacs (no alternative, see video below)
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen / We Three Kings - BNL / Sarah McLachlan
Baby, It's Cold Outside - Betty Carter / Ray Charles
Manager Throne - Derri Daughterty / Julie Miller