The start of a new year is the time many of us tries to introduce a new discipline or good intention into our lives. BPCC wants to help you make this happen for you by offering four short Bible based Life Group experiences in term one 2012. Referred to as Wednesday Ministry Night, we’re planning to offer a Bible study on the basics of the Christian Faith [Alpha, 9 weeks]; Church History [6 weeks]; Marriage Enrichment [Love & Respect, 6 weeks]; Budgets & Finance [CAP, 3 weeks]. And of course, there’s Zumba with Alice on Monday and Wednesday evenings for those wanting to stay fit & trim! I love New Year starts! Experiences from the past allow us to reflect and realign for the New Year, so set your mind to fulfil those desire and goals that you have.

New Year resolutions can also aim us to be more effective difference-makers for Christ in our circles of influence. I have a favourite story that makes the powerful point of how you and I can do this better in 2012 too. It’s called ‘Make Me Like Joe’

A drunk was miraculously converted at a mission. Prior to his conversion, Joe had gained the reputation of being a dirty wino for which there was no hope, only a miserable existence in the ghetto he lived in. But following his conversion to a new life with God, everything changed. Joe became the most caring person that anyone associated with the mission had ever known. Joe spent his days and nights hanging out at the mission doing whatever needed to be done. There was never any task that was too lowly for Joe to take on. There was never anything that he was asked to do that he considered beneath him. Whether it was cleaning up the vomit left by some violently sick alcoholic or scrubbing the toilets after careless men left the bathroom filthy, Joe did what was asked with a soft smile on his face and with a seeming gratitude for the change to help. He could be counted on to feed feeble men, who wandered into the mission off the street, and to undress and tuck into bed men who were too out of it to take care of themselves.

One evening, when the director of the mission was delivering his evening evangelistic message to the usual crowd of still and sullen men with drooped heads, there was one man who looked up, came down the aisle to the alter and knelt to pray, crying out for God to help him to change. The repentant drunk kept shouting; “Oh God, make me like Joe! Make me like Joe! Make me like Joe! Make me like Joe!”

The director of the mission leaned over and said to the man, “Son, I think it would be better if you prayed, ‘Make me like Jesus!’”

The man looked up at the director with a quizzical expression on his face and asked, “Is he like Joe?”

Though he was God, he did not demand and cling to his rights as God. He made himself nothing; he took the humble position of a slave and appeared in human form. (Philippians 2:6-7)