Hi,

     Happy New Year! I hope your holiday was special for you and your fam. Our clan had a good one. Kelly, my daughter graduated from Sam Houston State University on December 20th. (I know what you are thinking; No way Steve is old enough to have two kids out of college.) Let me just say that I married a lot older woman. (More than three whole months!)

     After Kelly's big day, we came home and had a nice lunch with the whole fam and then got ready for the annual college open house at our place. It has become a great tradition for our college types each year as they come home for Christmas to come and re-connect with our staff and each other. This year we had over eighty-five college kids here eating and having fun. We invite our seniors and it is fun for them to be here, too. It was great and we even had food left over.

     Christmas Eve at the church is always special. Christmas was a great day with my whole family at my parent's home. It was a nice holiday time.

     If you are like me, you were about ready for the holidays to end. Don't get me wrong, I love Christmas and all it means but I am now ready to get back in the swing of things. Of course, I would not presume to tell you what you need to resolve to do this year. Who am I kidding? Of course I am going to tell you what you need to do in 2009.

     Parker, my son encouraged me on New Year's Day to say to everyone I encountered the following greeting: "Have a fine 2009".

     Now this is cute and repeatable if your son is five. Parker is twenty-five and a high school English teacher. I guess I should be happy that it does rhyme. So to keep him happy, here are some ways that you can "have a fine 2009" and get back in the swing of things.

1. Do what you need to do to feel better about yourself. For me, I am back on my diet. I might write a book about how it sure is easier to gain weight than lose weight. Anyway, I am back in the swing of things and watching what I eat. I already feel better. Decide what it is for you. It might be to lose weight, or to stop smoking, (I guess you know that statistics prove that most children of smokers smoke.), it might be to exercise more, or whatever. You get the point. I know that when I feel better about myself, I am a better husband and parent.
2. Get back in the swing of church. Make Sunday a priority for your family. I have another stat for you. Parents who go to church on Sundays and make their kids go to church on Sundays have kids who go to church on Sundays. Go to worship. Get involved in an adult Sunday School class. Check out the JOURNEY at 11:01 in Wesley Hall. Mark Bogart leads the music and Daniel Irving does the preaching. They are a great combo. No one is better at music than Mark, and Daniel is a gifted speaker who knows how to bring the Word. You and your kids will like it, I promise, or you can get your money back.
3. Speaking of money. It takes all of us to be the church. In order to be the church we have to support the church. We do this is a zillion ways of course, but an important way is with our financial gifts. Be a cheerful giver in 2009. Now I know the economy is scary, but isn't it scarier to imagine life without Memorial Drive Church?
4. Finally, resolve to be the best parent that you can be in 2009. Let your kids know daily that you love them. Be the parent every day too. Show them how to love God and love their neighbor.

     Finally, let me remind you of the four things that Memorial Drive Church is encouraging you to do each week. The first of the year is a great time to do this. Why don't you write these four things down and put them on your refrigerator door so you will remember them? (If you are trying to lose weight just do a drive-by the fridge instead of going inside.) Here they are.

                            See you Sunday,


                            Steve

p.s. - Have a fine 2009. (I wish you could see the smile on Parker's face every time I say it.)