It’s hard to believe, but yet another year is coming to a close.  The year has been full of the Lord working in amazing ways, and 2009 is certain to continue in ways we can’t imagine.  The coming year holds quite a lot of uncertainty with the shifting cultural trends, economical twists and turns and the exchange of power in Washington.  It can be downright depressing to consider everything that is at stake, but we look to Christ.  The results of moral decay affect us, but we need to hold firmly to Christ… the only hope for certainty and joy in this world.  He is everything.

     As is customary this time of year, Americans tend to make New Year’s resolutions.  They’re easy to create, but more difficult to keep.  We don’t need to make these sorts of commitments just at the beginning of the year, but is a good opportunity for evaluation.  The real question for us is, “What can I do this coming year that will bring more glory to God?”  Maybe it’s giving up a bad habit, reading the Bible or praying more, sharing the Gospel more regularly, you fill in the blank.  Determining the necessary changes in our lives isn’t the main task, being determined to follow through is.  Take a moment right now to jot just one thing on a piece of paper that needs to change for you.  Keep it in your wallet, sticky note it to your desk at work, or just throw it in the trash.  Writing it out makes it all the more memorable.  Then put the necessary steps in place for the process to change.  Mark your calendar 2 months from now to check on how you’re doing. 

     The late Bill Bright, founder of Campus Crusade for Christ, has said that 2% of Christians actively share their faith.  This is something that is changing, and needs to continue until it hits 100%.  This is one of the primary focuses of the Truth Tank ministry.  While our main goal is to be effective, consistent witnesses for Jesus, it is extremely important to us to see Christians empowered to share the Gospel more regularly.  It’s easy to get in a mode of going on a mission trip once every year or two, and using that to appease our conscience for sharing with others.  I don’t want to discourage anyone from going on such trips, but do encourage you to use those times to fan the fire for evangelistic fervor when you get back into your environment.  The vast majority of Americans have heard a form of the Gospel, but many have never truly understood it.  Even in Grand Rapids, a place one should expect a higher level of understanding, there is a lot of work to be done (or undone).  I have said, and hold to this number, that of the people I have witnessed to right here in West Michigan in street ministry, a safe number of those that don’t have an understanding of the Gospel is easily 90%.  Does that mean that 10% or less are saved here in G Rap?  Probably not, but it is in the very least a sad display of the lack of teaching we have done.

     While there is much shifting and changing, there also really is a whole lot that hasn’t changed at all.  Life, struggles, joys, pains, sin, salvation… and a people waiting with anticipation for the return of Jesus.  Let’s be more determined than ever to let the things go that don’t matter, and press on toward the goal.  Change doesn’t just happen.  We need to surrender our wills and become more and more like Jesus.  We also can’t change ourselves, He needs to be the One manifesting the change within us.  I have heard from quite a few people over the years that sharing the Gospel the way we do isn’t the way that they are wired.  It’s not my way either.  I don’t approach strangers to share the Gospel because it is natural to me but because God has changed my heart, and He’s not done with me yet either.  I am encouraged by the ways God is using many of you.  I pray that 2009 reaps an incredible harvest of change and boldness for Jesus Christ in His people.

I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, because I hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints. I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ. Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints.

NIV

     We are excited to announce the birth of Elliana Noelle Akers!  Elliana (pronounced EL EE ANNA) means, “The Lord has responded” and Ella (what we will likely call her) was Sara’s grandma’s name too, so there is added significance.  Noelle is a name that Sara has always liked (she wanted to add to her name when she was younger), and it is December after all.  She was born on Sunday, December 7 (she shares a birthday with Sara) at 4:31 pm.  At birth, she weighed in at 7 lbs 5 oz, was 20.5” and has a ton of dark brown hair.  Baby and mommy are both doing quite well.  We are very thankful for this new little miracle...

     I feel like a bit of a broken record (those are those large, circular, black vinyl things people used to listen to music from), but I do want to encourage people to make it out with our group for an outreach event in 2009.  The redundant part is that I don’t in any way feel like everyone needs to be out with us even frequently, but that God would use these times (even once) to encourage you to be more bold in sharing your faith regularly.  It is a bit of a terrifying thought to approach people with the intent to share the Gospel.  It doesn’t have to be.  I would ask you to consider coming out for one event and just pray and stand next to us as we meet people.  That’s really not hard at all.  We have the schedule pretty well set all through February (www.truthtank.com/Events.html).  Pick a date, and come out and see what happens.  One exciting event in particular is coming on February 13th – Motley Crue is coming to the VanAndel.  Contact me (tom@truthtank.com) to let me know you are coming for any… you will be blessed.