Searching for Meaning and Purpose...

http://www.youversion.com/bible/nlt/matt/1/1 If nothing else, Matthew 1 shows us that God could care less what someone has done!  In the genealogy of Jesus there are several names worth noting: Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba/Solomon/David.  Yeah, we know that David was "a man after God's own heart" and can forgive his adulterous murder to conceive Solomon, but Rahab?  She was a hooker from the city of Jericho who hitched up with the Israelites when they came in and killed/destroyed everyone else.  She wasn't even part of the family of Abraham, how come she makes the cut here? Ruth was a widow who wasn't even an Israelite, but a Moaabite!  Again, not even part of Abrahma's family and outside of who an Israelite should marry or even associate with!  yet she is part of Jesus' family tree? If nothing else, notice that God could care less who your momma or pappa was (or if they were a band!) but more about who YOU are.  Ruth gave up everything to ...

Well, it's that time of year again: 2011 is over and on to 2012!  But, each year we commence thinking back and evaluating what we have done well, badly, and otherwise.  In fact, many industries capitalize greatly on this with our resolutions: gyms, health food stores, etc. see their greatest volume between January 1 and March on average.  But, why do we want to change yet not change?  I mean, if I know I'm overweight (which yes, I am!) why won't I do what it takes (healthy diet + exercise regularly) to make that change?  Is there something greater holding me back?  I mean, if I want to change and I'll "try" to make it work, why doesn't it? In my case, the simple answer is that I am a slave to my flesh.  I enjoy food (which isn't a bad thing by itself) but I enjoy it to excess.  In biblical terms, I am a slave to an idol.  I am, instead of Christian hedonist, a simple hedonist living to please my flesh.  Not the title I like to carry, b...