(ill) Farmer Jack watched as 2 men pulled up in a county truck on the side of the road. One man got out, dug a hole, moved a few feet , and dug another. The other man followed, fillig in each of the holes.

"What's going on here?" shouted Farmer Kack.

"We work for the county," one of the men replied.

"I see that," Farmer Jack said. "But one of you is digging holes, and the other is filling them in. You're wasting my tax money."

"No, we're not," the worker replied. "Normally there's three of us: me, Rodney and Mike. I dig the holes, Rodney sticks in the tree, and Mike puts the dirt back."

"yep," piped in Mike, "And just because Rodney's sick, doesn't mean that we shouldn't earn out keep."

T/S: There are a lot of people working really hard - spinning their wheels - and getting nowhere in life. They've just flipped the page on the calender to start a new year, but they don't really have high expectations for 2003. They'll just keep plugging along - hoping that things will work out better.

Hoping their relationships will be meaningful and strong.

Hoping their kids will turn out OK.

Hoping their jobs are successful withoout taking up all of their time.

Hoping they can lose a little weight.

Hoping they can lose a lot of stress.

Hoping they won't worry as much.

And if you are a church person, you can add: Hoping that you're going to be a better Christian this year.

Problem is: most of us don't have a clue how to have a better year, so we'll go at it like those two county workers: digging holes and filling them up.

(ill) Do you know what the definition of insanity is? Doing the same things over and over and expecting different results.

T/S: This morning I want to suggest a change in direction - a plan of commitments you can make to be all that you can be this year. Here's the neat thing about being in God's family: all that you can be is a product of God working in your life. God has a plan for you - He designed you and created you with a purpose - and as you work out your purpose in life, you'll find those things that you've been looking for:

• loving relationships with your mate and children
• a sense of peace and conteentment at the end of the day
• deep feelings of joy that transcend the day's circumstances
• a feeling of fulfillment and accomplishment.

How do I know that? Because God promised it.

Jesus Himself said "I am the Good Shepherd ?I have come so that you may have life, and have it more abundantly." John 10:10 NKJV

(ill) Bilionaire Warren Buffet when he hears his wealthy friends complaining about poor people dependent on the government, is known to complain about wealthy kids who are dependent on the parents' trust fund. He acknowledges that his own kids stated out way ahead in the race of life. "I believe in leaving them enough [money] so they can do anything, " Bufet says. "But not enough so they can do nothing."

T/S: Our Heavenly Father has promised us a victorious life - success that is eternal and not just temporary - and Jesus Christ has given us the head start we need. At Calvary, when He died on the cross, He provided forgiveness for our sins. He took care of our guilt and shame. When He rose from the dead, He offered us new life, full of power and promise. He redeeemed our past and energized our future. Just like Warren Buffet's kids, we have our father's resources to help us this year ? but we can't sit back and do nothing.

You have a choice: keep on digging holes that produce nothing - keep doing the same old things you've always done; OR, commit to discovering and living out God's plan for your life. You can decide to follow the Lord's direction, use the Lord's resources and trust the Lord with the outcome.

That's why I have included this resolution for you to agree with;

Before you sign that, let me tell you what you are agreeing to .

You'll notice that a better 2003 doesn't start out with marital advice or parenting helps or financial tips. It starts out with something much more important: your relationship with the Heavenly Father. Jesus summed up all of the wisdom and counsel and principles of the Law, when He said

Our first priority in life is to know and love God. It is why he made us! He has all the wisdom we need to make our relationships strong, to help raise our kids and to teach us how to handle money and people and life. But if we don't know Him - His nature and His character - if we don't know His will and His ways ? we're lost when it comes to trying to apply His wisdom to our lives.

(ill) Imagine you were trying to do your job - seperated from your boss. You never listened to your employer's expectations for your work, never heard your supervisor's suggestions on how to do your job better, never received praise for a job well done. Imagine the stress - not exactly sure if you're working in the right direction, working in the right way - always fearful that the boss will show up unexpectedly and find you doing things the wrong way.

T/S: God has the right to be our boss. The Bible says he created us, and we belong to Him.

This is even more true if you call yourself a Christian, because it means you have accepted Christ'' payment on the cross for your sin-debt. You were literally bought with a price, and belong to God. He's your Boss, and He has the blueprints for how to build your life. It seeems silly, in that light, to imagine trying to live a day without first getting directtion from Him.

How will you do that? Three diciplines in your life that need to be a part of your quiet time with God.

• Bible Study

It is our

• job description
• manual for life
• inspiration and motivation
• repair guide (for correction & training)

The Bible is God's power to improve your relationships, decrease your stress and and show you how to experience peace and joy.

• Meditation

If you want to increase your wisdom and undersstanding, you need to turn God's Word over and over in your mind. Let it soak in, ferment.

How do you do that? Listen to me, if you know how to worry, you know how to meditate! Same thing, different subject. Worry thinks about bad stuff, meditation thinks about good stuff.

• Prayer.

Remember, what we are talking about is trying to bring your life in line with God's design and plan. Which is, what the Bible calls ?wisdom.' If you are having a hard time grasping what is wise, or applying what is wise, ASK! Prayer is the channel we have to communicate with the Boss. Literally, it is the power of God brouoght to bear on our lives. That's Jesus's words, not mine.

T/S: Let me share what really excites me about this: worship. That's right, our worship flows out of these three activities in my life. Why do I say that? Worship is about expressing love , honor, glory and adoration for God. Prroblem is, too many people are trying to express feelings about a God they DO NOT KNOW! Worship is stale and meaningless when it doesn't flowe from a heart connected to God - through the Word and through prayer.

That's why Jesus said to "Worship the Lord God in spirit and in truth." The truth part means worshipping the true God, as He reveals Himself in Scripture. And we must worship the True God in our spirit - that is, genuinely and sincerely from the heart.. Aand that kind of worship places us in the very real, life-changing presence of Aalmighty God.

That's what you have to gain.

But, if you'll remember Jesus' words, He said that the whole duty of man was to love God AAND to love others as you love yourself. If we are going to live out everything God wants us to be this year, we need to love other people.

God describes our relationship as a family. He's our Father, and we who share a belief in Jesus Christ are brothers and sisters. God's plan for redeeming the world rvolves around His family. Why? Because God is a God of relationships: He created you and me to be in relatioship with Him, and to practice and learn how to love, by being in relationship with each other.

People are the most important thing in the world! Our logo says "Because people matter to God." That's because we recognize that the top prioroty on God's agenda of love is people ? so it should be our top priority as well.

(ill) in 7 years of full time ministry, I have conducted over 75 funerals. I lost count of how many times I have been at someone's bedside near death. You know what? Not one of those people ever said "Will you show me my trophies one more time/" Not one of those people on a deathbed ever asked to se the balance in their checknbook again. I've never heard a dying person ask that therir diplomas be put where they can see them.

Because people who are dying know that stuff is temporary ?. People and relationships are forever.

T/S; God formed you to be a part of His loving family. In that family relationship we call the church, you can experience unconditional love, frienship and the encouragement that comesa from being surrounded and saturated by people who want to suport you, strengthen you and help you succeed. And while these benefitsa are out of this wworld, there are some responsiblitites that come along with membership, as well.

• Attend worship with the family.

• Participate in a small group.

Sunday School class, Wednesdau night bible study ? it doesn't matter.

Life change occurs in small groups.. Power and energy come from the time we spend together as the Body, but change happns in a more intimate setting, when we can be real, and authentic and vulnerable.

Ex: That's how Jesus operated - preaached to multitudes of thousands ? but then took 12 disciples aside to train them for life.

• Support the family with your treasure.

• nothing makes us bond and come together more than sharing the load.
• Giving will be an outlet for your gratitude and make you feel like you belong

• Support the family with your time.

Commit to one hour a week in service. (Tonight we'll talk about where you can do that.)

This chapter really paints the picture of what a family looks like - every member doing there part!

Transition:` We are not supposed to love ONLY those in the family ?but others, period! You cannot follow God's design and plan for your life without sharing Jesus' love with others.

But what's in it for me?

Fulfillment. Purpose. Being a part of something bigge than yourself. Something that gives meaning to your life and endures beyond your life. Not to mention the incredible feeeling that you get when you lead someone into a relationship with Jesus.

• Live in purity.

• Pray for opportunities to share Christ's love.

In your heart, set apart Jesus Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. 1 Peter 3:15 (NIV)

What do you want in 2003? You wouldn't make the resolution to LOSE WEIGHT and then eat chips and donuts! If you want peace, contentment, joy, love and hope .. you ned to make the choices that bring those things into your life.

You will be as close to God as you choose to be.