For Ron McMann (not his real name) this particular day would go down as a “Red Letter Day”. Sales and stock for his company had never been higher. His employees were productive and prospering. He had peace and hope for the first time in months – perhaps years. But this red-letter day was not due to his business or financial success. But it was due to the fact that for the first time in months, or actually years, he looked forward to getting home to be with his wife.

It’s been said that a picture is worth a thousand words. To many people, Christmas is a portrait of peace. We send and receive Christmas cards with serene nativity scenes of contented animals in a cozy stable. The picture of a white Christmas with a sleigh riding through a winter wonderland with happy, singing carolers fills our minds. Strains of “silent Night” bring a calm nostalgic glow to our hearts. “Silent night! Holy night! All is calm, all is bright, ‘Round yon virgin mother and child, Holy infant so tender and mild, sleep in heavenly peace, sleep in heavenly peace.”

I love a new year. Perhaps it’s the opportunity for a clean slate, a new start, a time to reflect on life, a time to refocus. But if good intentions alone could change the world, the New Year’s Day would usher us into a utopia. As it is, most New Year’s resolutions are stillborn. Resolutions can be the essential first steps to change and a higher level of excellence – but they are only first steps. Resolutions must be followed by revolution. Just as works cannot separate faith, our resolutions must have an inner power for our goals to be realized.

Former Beatle George Harrison said in an interview, “There is nothing more important than finding out what is after death. What happens to us after we die?” A million years from now, where will you be? What about 150 years from now, where will you be? Believers in Christ know what happens to them after they die. II Corinthians 5:8 says, “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.” When a believer dies, their soul and spirit goes directly into the presence of the Lord to await the resurrection. (I Corinthians 15)

There is an insidious assault on marriage. The devil hates holy matrimony because God instituted marriage. God created and brought Adam and Eve together. In the beginning of His creation, “The Lord God said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a companion who will help him’” (Genesis 2:18). There was no companion in all the animal kingdom that was suitable for Adam. “So the Lord God caused Adam to fall into a deep sleep. He took one of Adam’s ribs . . . then the Lord God made a woman from the rib and brought her to Adam” (Genesis 2:15-22 NLT).

“Mary” was harried and hurried when I met her that cold and wet December morning. “Have a Merry Christmas!” I exclaimed as I held the door open for her as she exited the store. “What’s so merry about it?” she sighed. “My husband is laid off, we have very little money for Christmas, and I just locked my keys in the car.” “Marvin’s” face lit up as we sang Christmas Carols at the nursing home where he lives in a tiny, dimly lit room with a roommate who is hard of hearing and on oxygen. Marvin seldom has visitors.

Over the years I’ve received many of them, phone calls that jar you awake at night. It’s even more unsettling when the call concerns your own children and loved ones. It happened a few evenings ago. Once again I was reminded of how fragile and precious life is. The phone call was concerning my son and his family. On their way to Rebekah’s family for Thanksgiving, on Interstate 90 near Chicago, a truck rear-ended them. Thank God they were not seriously injured. Cars and possessions can be replaced, but people cannot. Fortunately my two grandchildren were strapped securely in their car seats.

We all need to celebrate the significant milestones in our lives. On August 28th my wife and I will celebrate 35 years of marriage. Some asked me what the key to a lasting and loving marriage is. I don’t want to give the impression that our marriage is perfect or that we have arrived after 35 years – on the contrary. It’s not always been smooth sailing. There have been many trials and struggles. Even roses have thorns to contend with. Pure gold must go through the refiner’s fire.

Grandpa Os had several businesses and did some farming. He was the first person to question the existence of God to me. One day he asked me, “How do you know that there is a God?” I was just a young boy but the answer immediately popped into my mind, “Because I talked to Him this morning and He talked to me.” Grandpa Os had no reply. Personal experience can’t be argued with. Grandpa Os died of a heart attack sometime later. But before he died he asked my grandmother to pray with him.

Fishermen are known for their fantastic fish stories. Many times it’s about the fish that got away. The national television news recently reported the story of the fisherman who caught a fierce flesh eating piranha. In parts of Florida there are flying fish that actually jump into the boat. Many people have been injured by flying fish. My grandson Noah wants me to take him fishing. We should do well together as neither of us are very patient, but I’m looking forward to a good fish story.

After several years on a job, in a business, in a ministry, or just living life, one would hope to have learned something. It’s been said that you learn from your mistakes. That is not necessarily true. If we continue to make the same mistakes, have we really learned from them? Once, while visiting my wife’s parents in California, I noticed a humming bird that repeatedly flew into the sliding glass door. Evidently the bird could see its reflection in the glass and thought it was protecting its turf. Fortunately, as humans, we can decide to learn from our mistakes as well as from the mistakes and successes of others. Consider seven lessons in life and leadership.

Do you delight to obey God and live under His authority? How do you relate to God’s delegated authority? How we submit to authority will determine if we are filled with the joy of the Lord or suffer the judgment of God on our life. As we draw nearer to election time, the more venomous partisan politics become.

People malign and slander those in authority seemingly without qualm. Sadly this spirit is sometimes found in the church among Christians. Those who truly have the authority of God are often fought against the most because people wrestle with divine authority.

Two of the most honored and revered men in American history are not known nor remembered as much for their statesmanship or great intellect as for their staunch character. As Americans to name two of the greatest Presidents in American history and the majority would undoubtedly name Presidents George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.

While in College, my history professor, like many professors, delighted in trying to blemish the character of Lincoln and Washington.