It's my birthday too and in a few hours time, I'll be preaching a message about a new beginning in the children's church. How do I feel ? Well I don't quite feel like a new beginning though I know it will be. Actually I feel like I'm one year closer to Jesus, so I'm just as excited.

When I was a teenager I signed up for the Kuala Lumpur International Marathon and a week before the run, I got injured during the training and wasn't able to participate in the actual race. I was so happy as I knew I wasn't ready for it. I was happy with the T-shirt and goodies that came with the registration. On the day of the race, I slept in and didn't even run a single step.

I recall that in this life God has called us to run a marathon. As we run that, we should not get carried away with little races. The problem with little races is that you either do well or you don't. If you don't do well you'll get discouraged. If you do well, the next time you don't match up (which is most likely), you will eventually get discouraged too. So the problem is not really if we win or lose but is our over-engagement in little races that we forget about the marathon. Short cuts usually thrill us for a while. It gives us that satisfaction or rush of adrenalin that usually over-promises and leaves you tired, weary and with lots of false hope than anything else.

This new year, we ought to becareful. Run the little races if we need to but don't count on it to give us happiness. (We'll get that at the end of the marathon) Learn from little races to keep focus on the real race and I wish you what you need in the best that the Holy Spirit can bring.

Having said that, some of you are like me when I was a teenager, you have collected your t-shirts and goodies but haven't started to run. (Jesus is infact much more than 'goodies') Why not start to run this year ? There are certain areas in my life that I haven't either and I'm making a point in my resolution to do it. As I do it, just want to wish everyone my season's greetings and may God bless you not with a car, a house or a wife, but with the joy of having nothing but yet having everything. It's a strange thing running a marathon but it makes perfect sense at the finishing line.. Happy New Year