While the title of this article may look a little strange, it is a perfectly logical and predictable title for a January edition of the Connections. Without too much thought, we all recognize that 2008 has ended and 2009 has begun. The only difference that I have noticed in this annual pattern is the frequency of the occurrence. I do know that this only takes place once per year (but are the years getting shorter or just faster?).

The ending of a year is a good time to do some accounting and to take an inventory. Basically, we need to consider what we have accomplished during the past year. Do those accomplishments have any lasting value? Our human nature is such that we all tend to repeat things of the past because it saves on planning and greatly reduces the learning curve. Have you ever wondered why a certain recipe will be liked by your family the second time when they all spit it out the first time? Or have you ever considered that the project that split the church last year might not be the best of ideas to repeat this next year? Evaluation of the past allows us to discard the disliked recipes and the less-than-successful ideas.

The other half this process takes us into the beginning of a new year. This part requires careful planning as we consider how we use the 8760 hours that are given to us in 2009. Whether we are planning our individual lives or planning the work and ministry of the local church, we should see a fresh, clean year before us.

We can repeat some really good things of the past – but we don’t have to! We can approach this year with a refocused purpose that takes us in a whole different direction. It might mean in a family that instead of planning the 20th annual vacation to the mountains, the family plans a trip to the beach instead. For a church it may be far more monumental. A church may focus on a previously unnoticed neighborhood or people group; or may move from considering what does this do for us to considering what does this do for the community or for the Kingdom.

Making suggestions for others can result in a great loss of favor. Unwilling to take that risk, here are some thoughts that I have for myself and for Denton Baptist Association (if you decide to adopt mine for yourself or your church, do so only after removing my name and making them your own!).

• Schedule meetings that have a purpose
• Eliminate events or projects that drain resources and accomplish nothing
• Involve the right people in planning and doing
• Listen to others realizing that our combined wisdom and insight is better than any one of us alone
• Do what we say we are going to do
• Be flexible enough to respond to God’s open doors
  

This Year of 2009 will probably go faster than 2008. There are some national and world issues that will present a challenge for us all in this New Year. But there is nothing like a challenge to cause our eyes to focus on the Lord and allow Him to lead us in evaluating, planning, and doing. A new, fresh year awaits us. Let’s embrace each day that the Lord has given us.