We thank Pastor Les Crawford for the good news this week. It is a new year but it's already starting to get old! Pastor Les gives us a few tips as we start to work through the gears and girt our loins for what is to come. His experience is evident in the way he can share God's word as the seasons turn.

New Years resolutions are a tradition in Western culture. Many are broken in just a few moments after we commit to them. Pastor Les reminds us that that there are commitments we can make that are more serious, more deep, more fulfilling than those. When we make a commitment and are serious about it, it can be done. The strength seems to come from nowhere but Christians praise God because we realise that there is something higher than us looking, feeling, caring.

Committing to something involves challenge, otherwise we'd already be doing it. Committing to live as Jesus is a huge challenge. Adam and Eve struggled. So will we but the Lord has blessed us with the Bible to guide us. Why even bother? Goals govern our choices, give purpose to our being and inspire us when we are able to achieve them.

Pastor Les encourages us to set goals that align us with God's will:

• Try to be a child of God. The instructions are there in the Bible.
• Try to be a good family member. "God has given you to each other".
• Try to be a good employee or employer.
• Try to be an active member of Church.
• Try to be a decent citizen in our society.

What is the point of struggle with no purpose? We wish you the good fight this week, struggle with purpose.