It's that time of year again when we make resolutions. We look over the past year and see some things that we would like to now accomplish or some things that need to be changed. So we decide to give these some effort, some priority by voicing a resolution. By resolving, we put forth a purposeful effort on our part to make something happen. We give this effort first place above other happenings. It becomes our focus. This focus is necessary to accomplish or change what we see needs done because life has too much in it that demands our attention. If we don't make a special effort, these things will never come to pass. We will go numbly on through life, never giving them much more consideration.

Many people make exercise a resolve for the year. In a recently read novel the author tells the story of a convict in Victorian England who was tortured in prison by the dreaded treadmill. We can believe easily that this devise had that effect! During the winter months our exercise consists mainly of walking on this devise. The activity is only tolerated by watching a video for distraction. And then only 20 minutes with this distraction is possible. What monotony!

Another resolve that is common is the effort to lose weight. The convict in the novel lost weight easily due to the restricted prison diet. This diet along with the extra treadmill exercise caused the poor man in the story to become emaciated. He began to feel hopeless. Life lost its meaning. If not for his faith, he would have lost all hope.

And isn't that what New Year's resolutions are all about? Hope. We hope that we will be able to accomplish or make changes that we have resolved. Resolutions give us a chance, or maybe even a second chance at making life what we want. Sure they are easy to break. But they are also a hopeful way to improve our lives and give us purpose.

So go ahead, resolve. And have a Happy New Year!

Million Dollar Fudge

You can smell fudge making at our house. This is a standard Christmas gift that we give to our neighbors, pastors, mailmen, paper deliverers, garbage man, office help, and anyone who we would like to thank for their help during the past year. Though we really shouldn't indulge, just the smell of making the fudge satisfies that craving. And of course licking the emptied bowl is also a treat! No calories there!

The recipe comes from Bess Truman. During the war she started women making fudge to sell in helping the war effort. This fudge was called "Million Dollar Fudge" because through their efforts over a million dollars was contributed to the war effort. Imagine what good could come if this effort was put forth for peace. Just a thought.

It's an easy recipe, already memorized. Put 2 cups of semi-sweet chocolate chips in a heat proof bowl. Add 1 cup marshmallow fluff or creme and stir together. In a medium sauce pan combine 2 cups sugar, 2/3 cup evaporated milk and 2 tablespoons butter. Heat on medium heat until it starts to come to a rolling boil, stirring constantly. Take a pastry brush and some cold water and clean the sides of the pan. Let the mixture boil for 5 minutes, keep stirring without touching the sides of the pan. Pour this into the chips and marshmallow fluff mixture, and stir some more. After it has combined somewhat add 1 teaspoon vanilla and 1/8 teaspoon salt, then stir until it is smooth. Add 1 cup of chopped walnuts and combine by stirring again. Pour this into a pan (or containers to give away.) It makes over 2 pounds of some of the most delicious fudge you will ever taste!

Enjoy!

This evening, as we began to prepare our Christmas cards for giving, it was almost sad to realize that some loved ones that were on our list last year are no longer with us this year. Some new friends and family have been added now to our list and that cheered us. We also noted that this past year seemed to just fly by. Is time really going faster? Is that possible?

Since we no longer have TV connections we thought that the passing of time would slow. However, we have discovered that, if anything, the passing of time has sped up even more.

We both do really enjoy reading good books. Our latest discovery is the author Charlene Ann Baumbich and her Dear Dorothy series. It is possible to start on one of her books and hours pass before you think about setting the book down. Perhaps that is why time flies.

We can recall one of our father's saying that it seemed to him that as he got older time seemed to speed up also. The older we get the more we can understand the idea that God has no beginning and no ending. For Him a thousand years is like a day. Sometimes we need to wait for an answer to prayer. We think that it is taking an awfully long time for God to answer. His time table is unfathomable. So we must wait. That just might slow us down a little!

Last evening our Transitional Transparency Meeting was divided into three parts. First, we looked at a family story that was really a history of our church. Next, we read through a time line of the events leading to our having a woman as associate pastor. And finally, we went over some of the points of how to resolve the problem of the disconnect between our leadership and the people in the pews. Then we broke into small groups and discussed and prioritized these points.

While these meetings are rather interesting, we are starting to question their effectiveness. It seems like we are not really addressing the problems that may help stop the downward turn in our attendance. Supposedly looking back, as well as dealing with some of the current problems, will get us all headed in the right direction to address the future and how we can grow. If nothing else, it is helping us as a congregation to better understand each other and perhaps also understand God's calling for us as a group trying to serve him.