Happy New Year to Everyone!

Happy New Year to everyone! 2009 passed by very swiftly. It doesn't seem like it's hardly been yesterday since 2009 began. Today is the beginning of not only a brand new year but a new decade as well. Where did the first decade of the 2000's go? I remember all the events surrounding the debut of the year 2000. I remember December 31, 1999. I was working late that evening. There'd been reports that we might be experiencing Y2K. Supposedly all the world's computers would malfunction at the dawn of 2000 because the computers weren't coded for the first two digits of the new millennium to change. Thankfully that wasn't the case. Everything proceeded as smoothly as ever. There were computer programmers working on that very problem. I know our elected elite makes some very asinine decisions but I wouldn't expect them to not work out the potential computer glitch that could take place at the dawn of the new millennium. Life as we know it would've been drastically altered for the whole world if that computer glitch wasn't taken care of. It would be very difficult to function as a civilization. Even though the elected elite don't care for the average person, they do care about themselves and their own comforts. Many changes took place last decade. We had a dispute in the presidential election of 2000 between George W. Bush and Al Gore. There were obscure ballots in Florida with hanging chads. There was a recount conducted and the final outcome wasn't determined until around December 14, 2000 with Bush being the winner. 9/11 changed the entire fabric of America and the world. The war on terrorism was waged to fight the Al-Qaeda terrorists. America engaged itself in both the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Also Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005 which flooded New Orleans and many cities along the Gulf Coast. Gas prices shot up to around $4 dollars a gallon. The financial mortgage meltdown took place which placed America in a deep recession last year. Last year the United States inaugurated the first black president ever in the United States. President Obama also appointed the first Latina Supreme Court justice as well.

Every new year brings new opportunities and new possibilities. I believe in 2010 there will be a number of great opportunities we can participate in. Even though our country is in a recession and our world is experiencing difficult times with the possibility of nuclear war being waged by Iran, for example, I believe we're living in some of the greatest times we could ever be living in. Those that are saved have great opportunities to find way ways to serve the Lord and make a mark in this world. There isn't a greater time in which to live. With all the latest breakthroughs in technology, we can spread the gospel of the Lord in ways in which we've never done before. If there's ever a time to be serious when it comes to life and the things of God it's today. Even though things aren't great in this country, we can still make a mark in this life. We don't have to allow the depressing situation we find in our country and in the world to prevent us from serving the Lord.

I'm not into predictions that much but I'm going to quickly give you just a few predictions. The first prediction I have is I believe the Republican Party will sweep both houses of Congress in November. I know that many of the conservative political pundits are very excited about this year's Congressional elections if for no other reason because many Americans are disgusted with the direction the Democratic Party is taking this nation which is to socialism. However, you can't take comfort if the Republicans win control because they won't reverse any of the damage that's been committed this past year so far. Republicans swept both houses of Congress in 1994 and how did that improve our country? It didn't. One party plays the evil guy and the other party plays the part of being a little less evil. In other words, it's the lesser of two evils. The Republican Party isn't going to save this country nor will they improve the financial, political, moral, and social problems in this country. This world becomes more evil regardless who wrests power. The Bible said it would get worse in order for the antichrist to be revealed in that dreadful day. Another prediction I have is I do believe our economy will improve to a point, but I don't expect the kind of recovery that many people are looking for. The stock prices will probably improve for Wall Street, but many of the jobs that have been lost probably won't be recovered. We've lost much of our manufacturing base in America and it would be difficult to have a complete economic recovery unless we can recover our manufacturing base. I don't see that happening. I also predict Iran is going to continue giving us problems. Whenever they complete making all the bombs they need, I believe they will strike somewhere with their weapons; possibly Israel. I'm no expert in making predictions, but I do believe the first point I made will come to pass.

Romans 12:1-2 says, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." We've just started 2010. Not only have we begun a new year, but another new decade. If there's ever a time we need to be accomplishing something for the Lord, we need to do that this year. Romans says we are to present our bodies as a living sacrifice unto the Lord. The greatest thing we can do this year is to daily present our bodies unto the Lord and use the gifts that God has given us to serve Him. I'm a stickler when it comes to using the talents God has given us. Whatever talent God has endowed us with, we need to use it for his honor and glory. It's a privilege to be given abilities by the Lord to use for his glory. Time is short. If there's ever a day we need to be vigorously developing our talents and using them, it's today. We don't want to stand before the Lord being ashamed of not using what He's endowed us with. There's a lot of people that possess numerous potential that aren't using what they have to accomplish great things for the Lord. I'm not a talented man by no stretch, but I'll have to say I've failed miserably in using what the Lord's given to me.

Let's purpose in our hearts that this will be the year we'll give ourselves to the Lord. Let's use our talents in a great way this year. There's much that needs to be done in the work of God. We should purpose in our hearts to make 2010 the greatest year ever in living for the Lord. Life's too short to allow things to hinder us in being what God desires for us to be. We need to cast aside all envying, strife, and jealousies and allow our lives to be spent for God. Happy New Year!