Two things happen at the start of every New Year. Some people make predictions. (Does anyone ever go back to see how many, if any, of those predictions came true?) So let me make my predictions for 2012.

• A presidential candidate will ask if you are better off today than you were four years ago. (I think someone has already asked that.)
• Someone will predict the end of the world. (That’s already happened, too.)
• Some unpredicted things will happen.  (Everyone knows that.)

The truth is no one can predict the future. Only God knows what the future will bring. One thing we can know for sure, nothing in 2012 will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The second thing that happens at the start of the year is that some people will make New Year’s Resolutions. I don’t make resolutions because I am constantly setting new goals that I want to reach. But I know a lot of people who do make resolutions. I know that I will see more people working out at the fitness center in early January than any other time of the year. I also know it doesn’t take long for most of these people to stop working out.

But that doesn’t mean that a New Year isn’t a good time for a New Beginning. Peace is giving you the opportunity to make a new beginning in 2012.

• If you want to improve your spiritual health and take positive steps in becoming the person you want to be and God created you to be, attend the worship services beginning January 15^th. That’s when we will begin a series of messages based on John Ortberg’s book, “The Me I Want To Be.”
• If you want to learn more about the Christian faith or review the basic teachings of the Christian faith, come to the Sunday morning Adult Bible study that meets at 9:45 beginning on January 15^th.  I will be leading a series of classes called “Christianity 101.” These classes are also ideal for anyone who is thinking about joining Peace.

The Good News is that God is the one who makes all things new. He gives us His Word and Spirit and places us in a community of faith to help us become all that He intends for us to be. So even if you are like me and don’t make resolutions, I hope you will consider joining us in the New Year. Thanks for being part of the community of faith we call Peace.

God’s Peace to all of you in 2012

Larry Courson, Pastor of Peace