Merry Christmas and Happy New Year faithful blog readers! A tasty holiday treat in the form of statistics (you know you love ‘em) for you in today's blog. I got an e-mail from a Web site called www.mygoals.com where people surf over and indicate what they want out of life—specifically some New Year's resolutions, which for 2007 are shaping up to be more about personal growth than physical fitness.
Resolutions to quit smoking, exercise more, diet and the like appear to be down for 2007, bested by more personal growth promises. Among them: improving one's attitude, motivation and state of mind (a three percent increase in recreation-and-leisure-related resolutions may correlate to this); improving appearance (apparently without diet and exercise); working on social skills (Americans are lonely people); writing; hobbies, activities and interests; reading; spirituality; and community (remember that lonely characteristic?)
Of course, spirituality is a broad category, in which only about two percent of this site's resolution makers chose to make oaths. However, when taken together with other interests that may also be met within a church, such as community (two percent); hobbies, activities, and interests (11 percent); improving one's attitude (like that of Christ maybe? (29 percent)); spending more time with family and friends (46 percent) and social skills (14 percent), a case could be made that Americans are resolved to become involved in your church during 2007.
According to Greg Helmstetter, CEO of myGoals.com, in 2007 people will be " … seeking ways to make themselves feel fulfilled and happy."
Does the Church appeal to this human desire? Does your church? Or should it even try?
Whatever your answer, perhaps the next question is: What sorts of goals should Christians set for themselves in 2007? Perhaps we should strive for further discipleship, learning, prayer and serving. What about a goal to read the Bible through in 2007? Or to dedicate a certain amount of time to prayer each day?
I have a feeling I'm not the only one who would appreciate some encouragement from my church in challenging me to think more spiritually for 2007. Like everyone else, I want to lose weight, get out of debt and get organized. But the bigger goal of fulfillment and happiness I already know is accomplished each day I spend in the pursuit of Christ.
As the New Year approaches, what are your plans for making resolutions this year? Do they revolve around making disciples?
