I can’t take credit for the title; it was on a church sign.  You gotta love those church signs!  It made me chuckle. Then it made me think.

Usually that type of phrase is associated with negativity.  Like new day, same old stuff. We have a new year, but we’re stuck with the same old God.  I know that’s not how the church meant it.

They anticipate the New Year to bring change, both good and bad.  They foresee trouble on a global scale.  Unrest, hatred, ugliness.  But, thank God, he never changes.  His promises are sure.  He never goes back on his word. When he makes a resolution, he keeps it.

I do find comfort in the fact that God is somewhat predictable, as best as we can determine.  I mean, nobody wants God to go postal on us.  When those around us become untrustworthy, he remains faithful and true.

But may I be so bold as to say that I might just advocate a new year, different God?

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I can’t keep them.

Wow, that was easy!  Now, what do I do with the rest of the article?

It’s true; I can’t keep them.  I never could figure out resolutions anyway.  If you could keep them, you wouldn’t need them.  Your self-discipline would help you to order your life and ensure that you do the right things daily.

Resolutions are really promises that you hope to keep.  Promises, however, can be difficult if circumstances change.  I promise that I will love and honor you forever. Then she (or he) gets fat, or worse, begins to treat you horribly. They don’t understand you, but, strangely enough, the co-worker does.  And he (or she) smells better, or looks better, and you can imagine what life would be like with them.

The Bible puts heavy duty responsibility on promises, especially promises to God.  Failing to keep your promise to God brings a curse.  Bad things will happen to you.  So, just don’t promise, right?  But then you might be accused of being apathetic.

A resolution usually involves a life-changing decision, like losing weight, don’t bite your nails, don’t waste so much time playing computer games or watching TV.  The list is endless.

New Years resolutions fail for two reasons.

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Matthew 3:15  Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.

John was confused.  Why did his soon-to-be-famous cousin feel the need to be baptized?  John had a special connection with Jesus as far back as he could remember, even getting excited to learn that Jesus was in the womb next to him.  At some point he learned that it was his mission to announce the coming of the perfect Lamb of God.

John prepared the people by performing a type of Mikvah, a Jewish ritual of symbolically cleansing from sin.  They were to cast off (or repent of) the unclean things that soiled them, so that they would be ready to meet God’s one and only son, their own King of Kings.  Now he was here, standing before John, asking to be baptized.

Even though John was a confirmed Nazarite (no drinking, no haircuts, etc), he failed to see why Jesus shouldn’t be baptizing him, not the other way round. The scholars tell us that Jesus planned the event in order to kick off his ministry (dove comes down, God speaking).  They also say that this was a way for Jesus to identify with the human condition, feeling the burden of sin, yet sinless in himself.

Church leaders tell us that Jesus’ baptism was set as an example for us, that we might follow in the practice, as we do with Communion, or with healing (for our spirit-filled brethren).  From the beginning the church would struggle over reasons and modes, even splintering into cells formed on individual interpretation of scripture.

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On November 1st several of my neighbors deflated their over-sized Halloween figures, then inflated their over-sized Christmas figures.  Santa and manger songs popped up on the radio, and the shopping malls began to transform into winter wonderlands.  While thousands of turkeys wished it would be so easy to forget, we still managed to squeeze in another time-worn holiday.

Many of us relished our 4-day weekend, but Thanksgiving came and went all too fast.  I always enjoy seeing my daughters, son-in-laws, and grandsons.  I missed seeing a close friend of mine who was away at his sisters this year, but I delighted in being with a Russian girl that my daughter is caring for.  We only had three carnivores at a table set for nine, so a partial bird was prepared.  I prayed over the meal, actually giving thanks for taste buds.  That’s why we gathered, right?

The food was delicious, as expected, right down to the marshmallow-topped sweet potatoes that had set the oven on fire a little earlier.  I didn’t fall asleep after the meal, which was a miracle, and I made a conscious effort to engage everyone in the room.  Another daughter, son-in-law and grandson joined us for desert, having shared their meal with other relatives. I truly was, and am, thankful for those that are in my life.

The Bible says to give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (I Thessalonians 5:18)  It’s easy to give thanks when things are going well, but how do you give thanks when life is, well, lifeless?  I remember in several previous Thanksgiving prayers preaching (how many prayers have you heard that are nothing more than sermons?) that we shouldn’t relegate giving thanks to just one day of the year, that we should always be thankful.

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My pastor called last night. Funny, I called her my pastor; I never joined her church. My wife and I attended that church off an on for quite a number of months, worship services only. No Sunday school, no church dinners or Bible studies. The timing of her call couldn’t have been better because we had decided almost that very day that we wouldn’t be going back.

That sure made for a somewhat uncomfortable conversation. She was pleasant and gracious; I made small talk. She countered with small talk. Even though I wasn’t prompted, I readily confessed that we had missed last Sunday because of a family reunion, which was true. Then I thought, “What do I say next —

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