Because I did not have the opportunity to do this before my trip to Latin America, I wanted to make sure you read my January Churchwide Letter. It is here below:
Monthly columns featuring GA Vice Moderator Byron Wade and Stated Clerk Gradye Parsons
January 2010
This month's GA Moderator column is written by the Reverend Byron A. Wade, Vice Moderator of the 218th General Assembly (2008) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
Behold that star!
BY BYRON A. WADE
This time of year many people are in the midst of following up on their New Year resolutions. According to Wikipedia, a resolution is defined as "a commitment that an individual makes to a project or the reforming of a habit, often a lifestyle change that is generally interpreted as advantageous."
New Year resolutions often include commitments to lose weight, spend more time with family, or improve finances. However, according to a recent survey by Opinion Corporation of Princeton, NJ, only eight percent of people are always successful in achieving their resolution. Another nineteen percent achieve their goals every other year. Forty-nine percent have infrequent success, and twenty-four percent never have succeeded and end up failing every year in reaching their resolutions.
It seems that making and keeping resolutions is not something in which we should put our total trust!
For those who believe in Christ, we don’t put our stock in resolutions alone. We just recently celebrated Epiphany — the story from Matt. 2:1-12 where the three wise men from the East traveled to Bethlehem to see the child who had been born king of the Jews. They were not led by their own knowledge or expertise, but by a star — a sign of God’s presence.
Through the star, the magi witnessed the divine revelation of the Christ child to the world. Through this revelation of the Savior, we have the hope and promise of a new life. We have someone who will be with us in our joys and sorrows and will help us fulfill God’s purpose and direction in our lives.
Most of all, as we live into a new year we can be assured that no matter what happens, we can trust that God through Jesus Christ will never leave us.
Thomas Washington Talley, professor at Fisk University and composer of the original Jubilee carol “Behold That Star,” wrote the familiar stanza:
Behold that star!
Behold that star up yonder!
Behold that star!
It is the star of Bethlehem.
May you follow the star in 2010.
[Image:*Nina*]
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