Faith
“The THIS List” BY ROSS WISEMAN
“Ten, nine,” the crowd cheers as yet another year comes to an end. “Eight, seven,” some celebrate what will forever be left in the past. “Six, five,” while others celebrate with anticipation the possibilities that lie in the new year. “Four, three,” as midnight approaches, I draw my wife Amie in close and squeeze her tight. Finally, a hearty “two, one” bellows as kisses are shared between Ross Wiseman is a father couples and cheers are offered of four, the husband of one, between friends. and a pastor and friend to many. He has served as Welcome to 2014! Every year the founding and current at this time, like most, I make pastor of Momentum my annual resolutions to stop Church since 2005. this or quit that. Well, this year The joys and struggles of I have decided to be resolutely over 21 years of ministry and 19 years of marriage successful in my resolutions. I have given Ross a broad am committing to EAT MORE, perspective of the human DRINK MORE and WORK MORE! condition. With humor and Now those are some resolutions subtle depth, Ross loves I can keep. to challenge, inspire and instruct people in what Often, resolutions center on it takes for better living, what we are going to stop doing loving, and laughter. as a new year commences. Stop ross@momentumchurch.tv. eating junk food. Quit drinking in excess. Refuse some of the overtime that gets thrown our way. STOP, QUIT, END — for being such simple monosyllabic words they sure are difficult to maintain. It’s almost like the more I try to live out these resolutions, the harder it is to find success in them. Whatever your take is on the Bible and the Christian faith, please don’t miss the essence of this principle seen in Scripture. Galatians 5:16 says, “walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” In other words, don’t focus on what you struggle to stop. Focus on what you have the ability to start. Spiritually, this verse is saying focus on what God desires and 44
AROUND WOODSTOCK | January 2014
“Practically, the principle found in this scripture encourages us to place our focus on what we are starting, rather than a list of items we find difficult to quit.” everything else will begin to fall into place. Practically, the principle found in this scripture encourages us to place our focus on what we are starting, rather than a list of items we find difficult to quit. We need to make resolutions regarding the, THIS and THATS in our lives. If I do THIS, I won’t do THAT. If I’m busy with THIS, I won’t have time for THAT. If my attention is given to THIS, then THAT will lose its draw on me. Don’t worry about the THATS in your life. I want to ask you to think about some things you want to start this year rather than stop. Don’t make a wish list. Often, that’s all resolutions are, just empty wishes. Forget about the wishes this year and make a THIS LIST. For me, it’s eating more. Instead of only two or three meals a day, I will be eating multiple small meals full of healthy choices. I am a Coke Zero-holic, so I have also added “drink more water” to my THIS LIST. Keeping myself hydrated with mass quantities of water has reduced greatly my desire for Coke. Finally, I am going to work more this year than ever. Work more on my marriage, work more on building memories with my family and work more on my health. Adding these things to my THIS LIST will bring a change to all my THATS in life. I am refusing this year to make resolutions to quit, stop and end. Go make your THIS LIST now. Here’s to your new year and to all your new beginnings!