HAPPY NEW YEAR
by Ben Kinchlow

       By now you have heard or said that phrase a minimum of a thousand times. You've seen it plastered on buildings and windows, greeting cards, banners, etc., etc., ad infinitum. The New Year has officially begun. 2000, which was to be a year of trauma and tragedy... a year of computer crashes and food shortages... wars... money shortages...and various and sundry other manifestations of the doom foretold by the prognosticators, false prophets, and those who "profited" by these projections... none of which took place.

       2001 is upon us, with its attendant projections and promises. Most of the people making projections for 2001 have no means of impacting the year. However, some, like powerfully placed men who review the stock market, will impact how people feel about a particular stock or group of stocks by their recommendations. The chief spokesman for the Federal Reserve System will determine whether or not many people will feel good or bad about the economy, and some businesses will rise or fall depending on whether or not people continue to pile up debt on their already maxed out credit cards. Depending on your point of view, you are rejoicing or rejecting the recently elected President of the United States

       As you read this, several days of your "New Year" have already become part of the same history that claims the other two thousand years prior to today. Which brings us to today, and an old cliché... "Today is the first day of the rest of your life". I make no claim that that is new or original. It has been around for decades simply because it is true.

       What has been has been...but what will be is yet to be. Unfortunately, much of what will be is being determined at this moment, by the fact that many will continue to do those things that have generated their present condition, or will do nothing, in which case their present condition will deteriorate. Many are still wondering whether or not they will be able to fulfill those New Year's resolutions. (Do people still make those?)

       Well, as during the game of hide and seek, "ready or not...!" Tomorrow is now today... and today will become yesterday, and we are in the midst of creating our own history and future. It has been said we cannot foretell the future, and this is true to a certain extent. But if we do nothing to change our behavior, which includes thought and action, we can look at the past and foretell the future, insofar as it rests with us.

       Good news and bad news... the good news is we can change tomorrow...the bad news is, most of us won't.

       The good news is, there's a blueprint... "...but one thing I do - it is my one aspiration; forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the [supreme and heavenly] prize to which God in Christ Jesus is calling us upward. (Philippians 3:13 AMP)

        "Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything by prayer and petition [definite request] with thanksgiving continue to make your wants known to God. (Philippians 4:6 AMP)

        " I have strength for all things in Christ who empowers me - I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him who infuses inner strength into me, [that is, I am self sufficient in Christ's sufficiency]. (Philippians 4:13 AMP)

       Oh, hey, by the way, Did I say Happy New Year!?