Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!
The boys are out swimming on a warm day in Houston, one of those beautiful days when even the breeze is warm (to think...we also considered going to Boston). I had decided to come in and get some shorts on (we had breakfast out on the patio) when I found myself sidetracked to this keyboard so that I might give another update.
Yesterday we were well fed with the Word of God. The pastor preached on John 1:1-5, 11 and did a great job. When talking about the fact that "the Word was God" he talked about the folly of many churches that try to make God "relevant" to modern people. "What do you mean by 'make God relevant'?" he said. "Our Lord never needs to be made relevant. He makes us relevant." Amen!! Without Him, we're nothing! He began his sermon, "What Do You Want From God?," with an introduction that touched on the make-up of a modern Christian bookstore, where we can see what most Christians want from God. There are loads of "self-help" books, many Christian fictions to entertain, books on marriage, finances, and health, and a very small section of bibles, most of which are oriented around the interests of readers (a bible for mothers, a bible for businessmen, a bible college students, or teen girls--let's make this relevant--even bibles designed to look like Seventeen magazine) etc. And when it comes to pure contemplation of the glory of God, the exaltation of Christ, or the understanding of His Word, there's just one small bookshelf. What do we want from God? Really made me think.
What do you want from God in 2008? I have a suggestion--The words of Paul from Philippians 3:10-11, "I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead." Be sure you desire this when you pray for it, for you do not know what a year may hold in store. I am not suggesting that God is mean or cruel, or that He will refrain from doing His work simply because we don't want it. The Lord will, however, help the hungering soul to feed upon him, and you will need to train your appetite to seek its fill at His table instead of at the trough of modern pulp.
Biz is on a temporary reprieve until Wednesday--the proton generator was shut down on Friday for maintenance. By then, Deb will have gone home (with the kids) after a month away for a two week "visit." So far there have been no side-effects, but the dosage starts low at the beginning and grows with time. Over the next 2 - 3 weeks her discomfort could grow, so please keep praying for her peace and health. We continue in prayer for you all, as well.
Happy New Year!