A New Year’s Solution
Ephesians 2:8-10
By Harold Dinsmore
© 2006 Harold Dinsmore

 Ever make a New Year’s Resolution?  I think most all of us have from time to time.  I have found that resolutions, for the individual are filled with the fruits from the road of good intentions.  We really mean well, but in the back of our mind we know we don’t have anyone to answer to if we don’t do what we resolve to do in the coming year.  I read recently what the number one resolution in America was…..can you guess it?  Losing weight!  I think everyone has tried that one.  Following my Masters level work at seminary, I was a field supervisor for a few years for that program.  At that time each student had to develop a covenant of learning with his or her supervisor.  In that document they had to design some things to accomplish in the area of field education.  If they were a pastor it had to deal with their ministry.  If they were a youth leader it had to focus on that ministry and so on.  Near the end of the covenant of learning they had to list a couple of personal goals.  But we band the most popular goal…..you guessed it, losing weight.  Students had a hard time achieving that goal.  Plus everything had to be dated, and measurable.  They had to know where they were going, and how they were going to get there and then have a plan on how to determine if they got there or not.