2003 was quite a year, wasn't it?  A lot has happened in those twelve months.  If you look at just some of the major things that happened, it's no wonder we feel tired and a bit older than before.  A major TV network listed the top news events of 2003:  (1) Capture of the Washington DC snipers,  (2) Appearance of a new disease called SARS,  (3) Beatification of Mother Teresa,  (4) Power blackout on the east coast which left 50 million people in the dark,  (5) Heat wave in France which caused the deaths of over 2,000,  (6) Operation Iraqi Freedom which resulted in the capture of Saddam Hussein,  (7) Ongoing threat of terrorism,  (8) Recall of the California Governor resulting in the election of a movie actor to succeed him,  (9) Loss of the Columbia space shuttle and its crew,  (10) Criminal cases involving Kobe Bryant, Michael Jackson and Laci Peterson,  (11) Earthquake in Iran which took nearly 30,000 lives, and most recently,  (12) Mad Cow disease which has so many in a panic.

          In addition to this list, each of us could add our own list of personal events which took place, some of them happy ones and some of them sad.  Looking back over the past year is always good to do, but looking ahead is probably better.  Whatever is past is now quite beyond our control, so the most important thing for us now is to prepare for each day as it's given us in the coming year.  And in order to do that, St. Paul has given us a list of things to practice.  It's his list of "whatevers" guaranteed to make the new year better.

          First of all, let's be clear about one thing:  When Paul uses the world "whatever", he doesn't use it in the way we often do.  Today when we're exasperated or disgusted with someone, we'll say, "Oh, whatever!"  It's an expression of resignation, a way of saying, "Have it your way, but I really don't agree with you."  That's not how Paul intends us to understand the word.  He uses the term in a non-sarcastic sense, in the normal sense, as one choice from another.  Listen to his words once more:

          Finally, brothers, WHATEVER is true, WHATEVER is noble, WHATEVER is right, WHATEVER is pure, WHATEVER is lovely, WHATEVER is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.  WHATEVER you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me--put it into practice.  And the God of peace will be with you.

          Have you made any New Year's resolutions?  You and I often may try a resolution or two, but more often than not we think they're superficial, a good idea, but something we have no real intention of putting into practice.  But despite our frequent lack at doing things better, Paul urges us to look ahead, and as we do, to resolve to make some changes in our lives.  The point he is making is simple: "Put these things into practice in your lives."  Whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy - think about these things."  And then put them into practice!

          In the Spotlight section of Rocky Mountain News for December 30, a writer urged that we practice twelve things during the coming year, one for each month.  This was the writer's list of resolutions:  January - quit smoking;  February - exercise more;  March - change our diet;  April - spend more time with the kids;  May - plant something;  June - reinvent yourself (i.e. get a tattoo, grow a beard, dye your hair, etc.);  July - learn to listen better;  August - visit some place new;  September - get an attitude adjustment (i.e. react more positively to someone you can't stand);  October - read a new book;  November - plan next year's vacation;  December - forgive someone, starting with yourself.

          Those are fairly specific, but did you notice they're all about self?  They're not about helping others or being kinder to others or visiting the sick.  They focus on self.  Yes, it can be a fine thing to try making ourselves a good person, but it's better to focus on others.  St. Paul's suggestion is to think on the finer things of life during the coming year.  Whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy - think about these things."  And then put them into practice.

          This year I have three resolutions I hope to live up to:  (1) to preach shorter sermons, so say more with fewer words.  I mentioned this to some ladies Friday and one of them said, "Don't make your sermons shorter - we don't want you to become 'Ten Minute Tasler'."  Well the way I talk, I don't think there's a danger in that.  (2) I want to eat less - I just don't need all the food I cram into my body.  (3) I want to take a full day off each week, away from work, with no phone calls.  A person needs that to get renewed.  So, preach less, eat less and take a full day off.  Paul would probably agree those are admirable goals, maybe even excellent.

          Look at Paul's list again:  "Whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy - think about these things."  And then put them into practice!  Just one of those "whatevers" would be enough to keep us busy all year.  For example, "Whatever is true."  In today's world of instant information, how can we sort out truth from untruth?  Often on the same issue there are persuasive and impassioned voices on either side of the question.  We can understand full well how Pontius Pilate asked, "What is the truth here?"  Who can really know?

          Determining truth today can be overwhelming, but it wasn't easy for Paul, either.  He had to sort out one religion and philosophy from another.  He had converted from Judaism to Christianity and had to deal with his own questions as well as those who opposed him publicly.  He had to sort out what it meant to believe that Jesus was the promised Messiah, the truth in human form, "The Way, the Truth and the Life." (John 14:6)

          As St. Paul thought about these things, the Holy Spirit led him to see the truth.  He came to believe with his whole heart that Jesus Christ is the Son of God; that He lived under the Law of God and kept it perfectly; that He suffered and died for us and for our sins; that He rose again after three days; and that He fulfilled all the Old Testament prophesies about who and what the Christ would be.  And Paul the super legalist came to see it was the grace of God that's important, not just following rules.  Rules are helpful, but without God's grace, rules ring hollow.  It's grace by which we stand before God, and also before each other.

          Sometimes life comes at us so fast we can't make out what to do or say, but we must do something, make a choice, or take a stand.  That's when we need the Lord's help.

          A rookie umpire was calling his first game in the majors against Nolan Ryan, one of the fastest pitchers of all times.  The second pitch came so fast the ump didn't even see it and after hesitating, said, "Strike!"  The batter turned around and said, "That's okay, ump - I didn't see it, either."  Remember Casey Stengel?  He won big with the Yankees, then lost big with the Mets.  He was also one of the great manglers of the English language.  One day we was quoted as saying, "The secret of managing is to keep the guys who hate you away from the guys who are undecided."

          I'm not sure what the secret to managing your life is, but whatever you do in this new year, do it with the Lord in mind and think on His things.  Whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy - think about these things."  And then put them into practice.  And as you do, may God of peace be with you and help you keep all those good resolutions.  Amen

Copyright © 2004 by Pastor Bob Tasler.  All rights reserved.