In case you wondered, my vintage 1997 Jeep Cherokee is still going strong. After a few small repairs, the Red Sled is up and running again.

As a kid, I never thought I’d actually say this but — they don’t make ’em like they used to. It’s true. I very much doubt I’ll ever have another vehicle that will last this long.

I guess I’ll just keep driving the ol’ Jeep until the wheels fall off.

I read somewhere that today was the Mondayest Thursday ever. It’s true. It was a Friday Eve that felt completely like a Monday, down to the dreary grey rainy sky.

Not every day will be sunshine and roses. If it were, we’d all complain and wish for something different. The fact that those perfect days come so rarely makes us appreciate them more.

Maybe in 2020, we can all learn to appreciate the little things more. Maybe learn to step out of what’s comfortable and routine into something new and exciting. Maybe even step off that paved road of normality and take the road less traveled.

Take a risk. Do something that scares you a little. Embrace your passions and find time every day to do what you love. Don’t let your job title define you. If you don’t love what you do for a living, be brave enough to try something new and maybe discover something you do love.

“To be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else – means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting” (e. e. cummings).

“Wait on the Lord, wait quietly, wait trustingly. He holds every minute of every hour of every day of every week of every month of every year in His hands. Thank Him in advance for what the future holds, for He is already there” (Elisabeth Elliot).

So far, so good. I woke up today, which is good. I still counted all ten fingers and ten toes. I’m still alive and well and loved by God.

Honestly, I don’t know what’s ahead in 2020, but I still know who holds the future, including all my future, in His hands.

My goal in 2020 is to see more of God and less of me. I think that’s a good place to start.

“With every power for good to stay and guide me,
comforted and inspired beyond all fear,
I’ll live these days with you in thought beside me,
and pass, with you, into the coming year.

While all the powers of Good aid and attend us,
boldly we’ll face the future, be it what may.
At even, and at morn, God will befriend us,
and oh, most surely on each new year’s day

The old year still torments our hearts, unhastening:
the long days of our sorrow still endure.
Father, grant to the soul thou hast been chastening
that Thou hast promised—the healing and the cure.

Should it be ours to drain the cup of grieving
even to the dregs of pain, at thy command,
we will not falter, thankfully receiving
all that is given by thy loving hand.

But, should it be thy will once more to release us
to life’s enjoyment and its good sunshine,
that we’ve learned from sorrow shall increase us
and all our life be dedicate as thine.

To-day, let candles shed their radiant greeting:
lo, on our darkness are they not thy light,
leading us haply to our longed-for meeting?
Thou canst illumine e’en our darkest night.

When now the silence deepens for our harkening,
grant we may hear thy children’s voices raise
from all the unseen world around us darkening
their universal paean, in thy praise.

While all the powers of Good aid and attend us,
boldy we’ll face the future, be it what way.
At even, and at morn, God will befriend us,
And oh, most surely on each new year’s day!” (Dietrich Bonhoeffer, 1945)

While Bonhoeffer penned these words 75 years ago, they still ring true. May this truly be your and my prayer for the new year.

In case you were wondering, yeah, I do like my feline a little bit. Just a little.

What are your 2020 goals? What do you want to see happen in the coming year?

I was convicted in a sermon today that my goals are too often inward focused. They start and end with me.

But in Acts 2, the early church was committed to community. Each person made it his or her goal to make the lives of their brothers and sisters in the faith better. They abounded with generosity and sacrificial giving. They invested in each other not just once a week for an hour but on a daily basis.

Every time I see Acts 2:42-47 I see the standard and I see how far the average American church is from living it out. I see that too many people, especially believers, are living out lonely disconnected lives with little to no meaningful interaction. Having 5,000 Facebook friends can’t replace having a handful of real friends who will encourage and challenge you, who will ask how you are and won’t accept a trite Fine as an answer.

A lot of us, me included, need to step out in bold faith. We need to turn away from what’s comfortable and convenient to chase after God’s dreams for us. We can never take hold of God’s best for us when we’re still holding on to the good.

What am I doing next week? I don’t have 2020 vision (I can use that for a couple more days). I do know that God will be there and I can’t wait to see what He has in store for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.

I’ve been enjoying Disney Plus so far, having seen all the Santa Claus movies as well as the first three episodes of The Mandalorian. Currently, I’m in nostalgia heaven watching an 80’s movie called One Magic Christmas.

In the movie, one of the characters says something to the effect that if you’re a good person when you die, you go to heaven and become an angel.

That seems to be the prevalent belief about what it takes to make it to heaven, but it also begs a couple of questions: 1) Who defines good? and 2) How good is good enough?

Who defines good? Do you mean like good as in being nice to people or do you mean good as in religious activities, i.e. reading my Bible, praying, going to church, etc.? Is it about following rules? Is it about how many hours of community service you have?

Also, how good is good enough? Are we talking about being slightly better than your neighbor or judging yourself against the likes of Adolph Hitler and Joseph Stalin? Is it about keeping all ten commandments?

If you take Jesus’ words seriously, the standard is perfection. Jesus said for us to be perfect as God in heaven is perfect. That is what God considers good enough. That is also impossible.

Jesus didn’t come to show us the way to heaven but to BE our way to heaven. Jesus was the one who lived in perfect obedience to God the Father and kept every one of God’s commandments. By His death, He took our sins and gave us that perfection so that we could be acceptable to God.

The true gift of Christmas is the gift of salvation. It is the gift of us owning up to our sins, trusting Jesus and His finished work on the cross, and receiving Him as Lord and Savior. If you truly believe, you can pray the following prayer that Billy Graham always used at His crusades:

“Dear God,
I know I’m a sinner, and I ask for your forgiveness.
I believe Jesus Christ is Your Son. I believe that He died
for my sin and that you raised Him to life.
I want to trust Him as my Savior and follow Him as Lord,
from this day forward. Guide my life and help me to do your will.
I pray this in the name of Jesus. Amen.”

In case you’re stuck for something to work on in 2020, here are a few suggestions. Some of them are obviously more useful than others but all of them can at least bring a little levity into your life in this sometimes stressful existence.

I hope you enjoy all 12 resolutions.

I’d add one more: give grace to all, especially yourself, remembering how much grace you have received from God. At this moment, your lungs are full of grace and the same grace runs through all of your arteries.

Choose to give thanks and pay it forward. Choose to be better instead of bitter. Seek after God’s wisdom because He never gives sparingly to those who ask.

“Let the just rejoice,
for their justifier is born.
Let the sick and infirm rejoice,
For their saviour is born.
Let the captives rejoice,
For their Redeemer is born.
Let slaves rejoice,
for their Master is born.
Let free men rejoice,
For their Liberator is born.
Let All Christians rejoice,
For Jesus Christ is born.
St. Augustine of Hippo (AD 354-440)”

“There were sheepherders camping in the neighborhood. They had set night watches over their sheep. Suddenly, God’s angel stood among them and God’s glory blazed around them. They were terrified. The angel said, ‘Don’t be afraid. I’m here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David’s town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you’re to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger'” (Luke 2:8-12, The Message).