If you want good luck in the new year<\/a>, consider these new year\u2019s traditions:<\/p>\n Speaking of dropping things to bring in the new year: Manhattan, Kansas, dropped<\/a> a giant apple last night. Not to be outdone, St. George\u2019s, Bermuda, dropped a giant onion, while Boise, Idaho, dropped a giant illuminated potato (of course).<\/p>\n If you step back and look at such strange practices objectively, you\u2019ll admit that they are indeed strange. Why would presumably sane people do such bizarre things?<\/p>\n One answer is that New Year\u2019s traditions give us a way to feel more in control<\/a> of what is ultimately uncontrollable\u2014the future. When we do what we know to do, we hope, however naively, that we are doing something to influence the unknowable.<\/p>\n And, of course, millions are making resolutions to begin 2025 as well. Here we<\/a> believe we are acting in a more practical way, choosing behaviors we can influence to improve our lives and our world. However, only 9 percent<\/a> of those who make such resolutions keep them through the year.<\/p>\n In this context, an Atlantic<\/em> headline caught my eye: \u201cA Diet Writer\u2019s Regrets<\/a>.\u201d The author has written on diet and health for thirty years and struggled mightily with her weight before finally taking weight-loss drugs. Her story shows that resolutions and good intentions often are not enough.<\/p>\n I\u2019m reminded of the story of Baron Munchausen, who tried<\/a> to pull himself out of a swamp by his own hair. Without solid ground on which to stand, no amount of such effort is enough.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s the good news: \u201cground\u201d for living our best lives this year is available to each of us. We just have to know where\u2014or to Whom\u2014to look.<\/p>\n St. Hippolytus of Rome (died AD 236) said regarding the incarnation of Jesus:<\/p>\n We know that his manhood was of the same clay as our own; if this were not so, he would hardly have been a teacher who could expect to be imitated. If he were of a different substance from me, he would surely not have ordered me to do as he did, when by my very nature I am so weak. Such a demand could not be reconciled with his goodness and justice.<\/p>\n No. He wanted us to consider him as no different from ourselves, and so he worked, he was hungry and thirsty, he slept. Without protest he endured his passion, he submitted to death and revealed his resurrection. In all these ways he offered his own manhood as the first fruits of our race to keep us from losing heart when suffering comes our way, and to make us look forward to receiving the same reward as he did, since we know that we possess the same humanity.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Consider the fact that your body is no more flawed and fallen than was the body of Jesus of Nazareth. Your temptations are no different from his (Hebrews 4:15). And the same Spirit who empowered and enabled him to defeat temptation and fulfill his earthly calling resides in us (1 Corinthians 3:16) and can do the same in us.<\/p>\n The difference is that Jesus knew he needed the power of the Spirit (cf. Matthew 12:28; Luke 4:18; Acts 10:38). This is why he so often began his days in prayer (Mark 1:35) and concluded them the same way (cf. Luke 6:12\u201313). It\u2019s why he spent so much time alone with his Father (Luke 5:16) and why he turned to his word first when temptation struck (cf. Matthew 4:1\u201311).<\/p>\n It\u2019s why he called on his Father when facing the cross, trusting his will even when it meant his crucified death (Matthew 26:36\u201346). It\u2019s why his last words before he died were, \u201cFather, into your hands I commit my spirit!\u201d (Luke 23:46).<\/p>\n It\u2019s why he taught us to \u201cask and keep on asking, and it will be given to you; seek and keep on seeking, and you will find; knock and keep on knocking, and it will be opened to you\u201d (Matthew 7:7, my literal translation from the Greek). It\u2019s why we are told to \u201cpray without ceasing\u201d (1 Thessalonians 5:17), staying connected with our Lord as we walk in his presence each day.<\/p>\n I am convinced that cultural Christianity is the greatest threat to the abundant, victorious life Jesus intends for us (cf. Romans 8:37). It is the amputated \u201cfaith\u201d that separates Sunday from Monday and the spiritual from the secular, the pridefulness that makes God a means to our ends, the self-reliance that calls on him only when we have nowhere else to turn.<\/p>\n In response, I pray these words from the Anglican Book of Prayer each morning because I need their reminder:<\/p>\n To my humble supplication I know of no better way to begin this day and this year than with such \u201chumble supplication\u201d before our omnipotent Lord.<\/p>\n Do you?<\/p>\n *Denison Forum does not necessarily endorse the views expressed in these stories.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cGod is not just one thing we add to the mix called life. He wants an invitation from us to permeate everything in every part of us.\u201d \u2014Francis Chan<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" If you want good luck in the new year, consider these new year’s traditions: Speaking of dropping things to bring in the new year: Manhattan, Kansas, dropped a giant apple last night. Not to be outdone, St. George\u2019s, Bermuda, dropped…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4396,"featured_media":6784,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6781","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n\n
\u201cA Diet Writer\u2019s Regrets\u201d<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\u201cHis manhood was of the same clay as our own\u201d<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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The best way to begin the year<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Lord, give ear and acceptation.
Save thy servant, that hath none<\/em>
Help nor hope but thee alone <\/em>(my emphasis).<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\nWednesday news to know:<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Quote for the day:<\/strong><\/h2>\n