Most people don’t make New Year’s resolutions. Hopefully we are learning every day of our lives. Perhaps the silliest thing we can do with our lives is to allow the days to pass without change, without putting the things that we have learned into the practice of life. So I remain resolved. If you are thinking about making some resolutions for 2003, let me share my list with you. Maybe you could get an idea that you could use!

• Seek out three people who would like to walk with you in your spiritual life, with whom you can pray, read scripture, and share life (and coffee) on a daily or weekly basis. At some point in the year encourage these three to find three others.
• Live with more faith in God and His people. Discipline yourself to “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7). Work hard and trust God.
• Begin the day with this confession (which I learned from Randy Harris): I will be incompetent (not intentionally, but inevitably). I will be fully present in every endeavor and with every person. I will be the Christ, following him in character, ethic, and mission. In every person, I will see the face of Christ, whom I love.
• I will be devoted to CPR. I will Cultivate relationships with people that I do not know. Into those relationships I will Plant the seeds of faith. When the time is right, I will invite people into a covenant relationship with the God who loves them (Reap).
• I will bless my co-workers by helping them be successful. See the good that they are and that they do and acknowledge that goodness often.
• Pray with as many people who will allow it, even on the phone. Instead of telling people that I will be praying for them, pray with them right then.
• Give yourself away, with joy. You have this one life to live and the truest life is the unselfish life. Be an unselfish husband, father, worker, and friend. Do not exploit any blessing selfishly. Pass it along.
• Do battle with sin in your life. Find your satisfaction in God and be thankful for what you have (which is much!). Every time you step in the wrong direction, catch yourself before you damage a relationship. Do not give the devil a foothold.
• Seek to be a non-anxious presence for those who are in the middle of the storms of life. Be with them, fully involved but unafraid.
• Live full of the grace of God. Forgive other people just as God in Christ has forgiven you, which means before they deserve it!

Give yourself away, with joy.

• Choose your battles. Fight the ones that are important. Fight fair, with love and wisdom.
• Bless the children by listening to them, learning from them, and making time for them.
• Send more personal mail (both e-mail and regular mail). Communicate your love to your friends.
• Make happy memories at home. Reserve enough energy for my wife and for my children. Come home with joy and happiness.
• Be a good student. Read the newspaper. Read as many books as possible.
• Spend at least a half hour a day in some physical exercise. Walk in the neighborhood. Play basketball or softball with my children.
• Take one day off a week (a Sabbath!). God can manage the world everyday without any help from you.
• Make friends of your neighbors. Invite them into your home and your life.
• Give up all soft drinks and candy.
• Do not eat until you are hungry and quit eating at the first sign of fullness.
• Be daring! Take holy risks in work and in relationships. Use your talents with passion and determination.
• Look for the opportunities that God is providing for you to love your friends and your enemies. Do some act of kindness for those you don’t like, and for those you know who don’t like you.
• Be available, vulnerable, helpful, truthful, and creative.
• Preach with passion, but for 25 minutes or less.
• Lean into life and be excellent.