Tag Archives: New Year

discipleship, Finding Answers to Stuff Churches Don't Discuss, Uncategorized

New & Renewed Beginnings

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Recently, I reposted an ‘untold’ Christmas story—a behind-the-scenes look at God’s peace and redemption Jesus set into motion with His arrival on earth. Because the new year begins a week after Christmas, I thought we should revisit new and renewed beginnings. Here are a few examples of New Year celebrations and why we use them to make resolutions.

American/European: January 1st. We often gather the evening before and bring in the new year with shouts, parties, countdowns, and resolutions. And some of those parties bring regrets and spawn resolutions of their own.

Chinese (Also known as the Spring Festival): The 23rd day of the 12th lunar month of the Chinese calendar. The idea is like that of the American and European New Year celebrations.

Jewish, Religious – Pesach (Passover): The 1st Jewish month, when the time of the covenant between God and His ‘bride’ Israel began. It was a new beginning for her.

Jewish, Agricultural – Rosh Hashanah: The 7th month of the Jewish calendar. Interestingly, this is the official State New Year, but it also closely relates to God’s covenant. This New Year begins with the Feast of Trumpets and introduces a time of repentance, forgiveness, and rest.

Because we know of the good and bad things we’ve done or that the current year has brought, the thought of a ‘better’ new year can bring anticipation of good things to come! We want to change what we don’t like; this is where ‘repentance’ (even for the non-religious) comes into play. We’re sorry for the behaviors we don’t like and, therefore, vow to change. It’s more complicated than it seems! Here are three guidelines for helping you achieve your dreams and goals.

First, you must set goals for yourself. Follow the SMART principle:

Specific. Be clear about what you would like to accomplish!

Measurable. How will you know whether you’re succeeding?

Attainable. You probably won’t be a millionaire by the age of 50 – especially if you’re, well, 60.

Relevant. Why try to be a better poker player if your goal is to overcome gambling addiction?

Timely. When should you achieve your goals?

Second, if you intend to have a new beginning in Christ or embrace a lifestyle change, you must PLAN to achieve your goals! To quote some silly movie line: “Those who fail to plan, plan to fail!”

Third, we can rarely accomplish large tasks independently, especially when dealing with weaknesses or temptations. God’s Spirit can provide strength and guidance, and accountability partners give us direction, wisdom, strength, and discipline to be successful.

In summary, it’s never too late to begin again if our heart still beats! Make goals and be accountable for success. Next, let’s find out what King Solomon says matters most at the end of the day.  In the meantime, keep your ‘love, honor, and cherish’ vows to God.

Blessings and peace,

Dr. Ron Braley, MDiv, DMin.

discipleship, Finding Answers to Stuff Churches Don't Discuss, Uncategorized

Renewed Beginnings

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Last week, I retold an ‘untold’ Christmas story—kind of a behind-the-scenes look at God’s peace and redemption Jesus set into motion with His arrival on earth. Because the new year began a week after Christmas, I thought we should now look at new beginnings. Here are a few examples of New Year celebrations and why we use them to make resolutions.

American/European: January 1st. We tend to gather the evening before and bring in the new year with shouts, parties, countdowns, and resolutions. And some of those parties bring regrets and spawn resolutions of their own.

Chinese (Also known as the Spring Festival): 23rd day of the 12th lunar month of the Chinese calendar. The idea is like that of the American and European New Year celebrations.

Jewish, Religious – Pesach (Passover): The 1st Jewish month, when the time of the covenant between God and His ‘bride’ Israel began. It was a new beginning for her.

Jewish, Agricultural – Rosh Hashanah: The 7th month of the Jewish calendar. Interestingly, while this is the official State New Year, it also closely relates to God’s covenant. This New Year begins with the Feast of Trumpets and introduces a time of repentance, forgiveness, and rest.

Because we know of the good and bad things we’ve done or that the current year has brought, the thought of a ‘better’ new year can bring anticipation of good things to come! We want to change what we don’t like; this is where ‘repentance’ (even for the non-religious) comes into play. We’re sorry for the behaviors we don’t like and, therefore, vow to change. It’s harder than it seems! Here are three guidelines for helping you achieve your dreams and goals.

First, you must set goals for yourself. Follow the SMART principle:

Specific. Be clear about what you would like to accomplish!

Measurable. How will you know whether you’re succeeding?

Attainable. You probably won’t be a millionaire by the age of 50 – especially if you’re, well, 60.

Relevant. Why try to be a better poker player if your goal is to overcome gambling addiction?

Timely. When should you achieve your goals?

Second, if you intend to have a new beginning in Christ or embrace a lifestyle change, you must PLAN to achieve your goals! To quote some silly movie line: “Those who fail to plan, plan to fail!”

Third, we can rarely accomplish large tasks independently, especially when dealing with weaknesses or temptations. The Spirit of God can provide strength and guidance, and accountability partners give us direction, wisdom, strength, and discipline to be successful.

Join me next week to explore whether God should be known as the “I Am” or “I Will Be.”

Blessings and peace,

Dr. Ron Braley

discipleship, Finding Answers to Stuff Churches Don't Discuss, Uncategorized

New Beginnings

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Last week, I shared with you the untold Christmas story – kind of a ‘behind the scenes’ look at God’s peace and redemption Jesus set into motion with His arrival on earth. Because the new year will begin a week after Christmas, I thought we should now look at new beginnings. Here are a few examples of New Year celebrations and why we use them to make resolutions.

American/European: January 1st. We tend to gather the evening before and ‘bring in the new year’ with shouts, parties, countdowns, and resolutions. And some of those parties bring regrets and spawn resolutions of their own.

Chinese (Also known as the Spring Festival): 23rd day of the 12th lunar month of the Chinese calendar. The idea is like that of the American and European New Year celebrations.

Jewish, Religious – Pesach (Passover): The 1st Jewish month, when the time of the covenant between God and His ‘bride’ Israel began. It was a new beginning for her.

Jewish, Agricultural – Rosh Hashanah: The 7th month of the Jewish calendar. Interestingly, while this is the official state New Year, it also closely relates to God’s covenant. This New Year begins with the Feast of Trumpets and introduces a time of repentance, forgiveness, and rest.

Because we know of the good and bad things we’ve done or that the current year has brought, the thought of a ‘better’ new year can bring anticipation of good things to come! We want to change what we don’t like, which is where ‘repentance’ (even for the non-religious) comes into play. We’re sorry for the behaviors we don’t like and, therefore, vow to change. It’s harder than it seems! Here are three guidelines for helping you achieve your dreams and goals.

First, you must set goals for yourself. Follow the SMART principle:

Specific. Be clear about what you would like to accomplish!

Measurable. How will you know whether you’re succeeding?

Attainable. You probably won’t be a millionaire by the age of 50 – especially if you’re, well, 60.

Relevant. Why try to be a better poker player if your goal is to overcome gambling addiction?

Timely. When would you like to achieve your goals?

Second, if you intend to have a new beginning in Christ or embrace a lifestyle change, you must PLAN to achieve your goals! To quote some silly movie line: “Those who fail to plan, plan to fail!”

Third, we can rarely accomplish large tasks on our own, especially when they deal with weaknesses. The Spirit of God can provide strength and guidance, and accountability partners give us direction, wisdom, strength, and discipline to be successful.

Join me next week for an exciting look at 3,000 souls lost, then saved, then lost again.

Finding Answers to Stuff Churches Don't Discuss, Finding the End of the World, Uncategorized

New Beginnings

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We think about a New Year in human terms and for new human beginnings. But, there is an ultimate and true start that brings new beginnings for Jesus’ followers – and will bring an end to all else (Revelation 22:11-13).

Let the one who does wrong, still do wrong; and the one who is filthy, still be filthy; and let the one who is righteous, still practice righteousness; and the one who is holy, still keep himself holy. Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. —Revelation 22:11-13.
Examples of human New Year celebrations:
• American/European: January 1st
• Chinese (Also known as the Spring Festival): 23rd day of the 12th lunar month of the Chinese calendar
• Jewish: Religious – Pesach (Passover): The 1st Jewish month; Agricultural – Rosh Hashanah: 7th month on the Jewish calendar

Human New Year resolutions: We usually make them to bring hope of a new human beginning (perhaps that the next year will be better than the last). We also make them as ‘do overs’ – we want to change what we don’t like.

But, let’s look at a new human and spiritual beginning in Jesus. Why would we care? To move toward God and life, and away from judgment and spiritual wrath. Here’s how:
• Believe and Repent (our focus) (Mark 1:15)
• Be baptized as an outward, physical manifestation of new faith (Mark 16:16)
• Grow in faith, live right, and tell others the good news (i.e. Matthew 19-20)

Interestingly, both human and spiritual new beginnings require repentance.
• Defined: A change in heart that results in a change in behavior
• Enables forgiveness, and salvation (Luke 24:47 and Acts 11:15-18)
• It’s what God desires of everyone (2Peter 3:9-10) and often disciplines us for (Revelation 3:19)
• A beginning that leads to good habits and better health (relationship, emotional, physical, and spiritual)
• We don’t practice sin once we repent (Galatians 5:20-23, John 8:3-12, and 1John 3:2-10
• Not repenting will lead to judgment and wrath (Romans 2:5-10)

Repent, experience a new beginning, and don’t look back! The results will be spiritually, physically, emotionally, and mentally rewarding.

Keep an eye out for “Finding Answers to Stuff Churches Don’t Discuss!” scheduled for a mid-2015 publication. There, you’ll find roughly 60 topics related to daily life (such as sex, religion, finances, tattooing, and everything in between!) along with practical application of God’s guidance for navigating those difficult waters!

And, for a very comprehensive and detailed study of the very important topic of God’s judgment to come and being rescued from it, feel free to read my 2011 guide titled, “Finding the End of the World” available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and from http://www.ronbraley.com in paper and e-book formats. In the guide, you’ll find roughly 500 pages of building blocks to help you do your own complete and unbiased study based on Scripture and history!