You Say You Want a Resolution Part II
OK, I am going to stick to this "Resolution" theme like the Rocky movies (I, II, III, etc.). As in the case of Rocky, I intend this round of blogs to become increasingly more untenable. Hmm, I didn't realize that there were six of them. That might stretch my Blog to the breaking point. I did think it cool that Stallone salvaged the last Rocky flick (Rocky Balboa) by returning to the roots of Rocky...South Philly, down and out, the memories and loss of Adrian.
In hopefully the final film, Stallone redeemed the Rocky story, even though the plot was probably the most unlikely of all (a nearly 60 year old man going in the ring against the virile and violent Heavyweight boxing champ of the world). By the age 60, George Foreman had been out of the ring for 12 years and selling his grills--a substantially more lucrative and less dangerous activity than getting your brains beat in by a young buck. His "punchers chance" became the equivalent of winning Powerball (known in some circles as the "Stupid Tax.")
I was reading another blogger this morning about his take on resolutions. He basically was saying that the tradition of making New Year's resolutions did not work for him. Seemingly, it would make sense for him to then resolve to make no more resolutions. He has unofficially made a resolution about not making a resolution. Now, he is actually keeping it. Quite paradoxical.
Why do resolutions fail? One reason, I believe, is that they are unrealistic. People aim too high. How about a resolution to gain weight (the blogger cited a Mad Magazine joke along these lines), smoke, drink, and eat more, and being mean to old ladies and children? Now, these are resolutions that human nature can do.
Another reason resolutions fail are the underlying motivations for them. Do we want to get a better job to make more money so that we can become even more consumerist and narcissistic; lose weight so that we can attract partners for fornication or adulterous dalliances; or develop more friendships while imbibing more booze at the tavern?
Our consciences are often in conflict by what we know are wrong motives centering on self-aggrandizing pride and pleasure. But if we want a better job to make more money so that we can tithe more, or lose weight because we are better able to be healthy and serve God and people better, or enhance relationships and friendship through acts of service, then our motivations will provide support for the same external goals.
Another reason that resolutions fail is that change is hard. We all fight the inner slacker.
In John 15:5 Jesus said, "For without me, you can do nothing." If we are trying to get in the ring against our sin nature and beat it on our own, we are in for a world of hurt. Sin met its match, and Satan lost, only at Calvary. Although the Devil knocked Jesus down, He got back up. That GOD became the triumphant UnderDOG is perhaps the oddest and most wonderful miracle of all. Only God could have a plot like this. Stallone is not even close.
In hopefully the final film, Stallone redeemed the Rocky story, even though the plot was probably the most unlikely of all (a nearly 60 year old man going in the ring against the virile and violent Heavyweight boxing champ of the world). By the age 60, George Foreman had been out of the ring for 12 years and selling his grills--a substantially more lucrative and less dangerous activity than getting your brains beat in by a young buck. His "punchers chance" became the equivalent of winning Powerball (known in some circles as the "Stupid Tax.")
I was reading another blogger this morning about his take on resolutions. He basically was saying that the tradition of making New Year's resolutions did not work for him. Seemingly, it would make sense for him to then resolve to make no more resolutions. He has unofficially made a resolution about not making a resolution. Now, he is actually keeping it. Quite paradoxical.
Why do resolutions fail? One reason, I believe, is that they are unrealistic. People aim too high. How about a resolution to gain weight (the blogger cited a Mad Magazine joke along these lines), smoke, drink, and eat more, and being mean to old ladies and children? Now, these are resolutions that human nature can do.
Another reason resolutions fail are the underlying motivations for them. Do we want to get a better job to make more money so that we can become even more consumerist and narcissistic; lose weight so that we can attract partners for fornication or adulterous dalliances; or develop more friendships while imbibing more booze at the tavern?
Our consciences are often in conflict by what we know are wrong motives centering on self-aggrandizing pride and pleasure. But if we want a better job to make more money so that we can tithe more, or lose weight because we are better able to be healthy and serve God and people better, or enhance relationships and friendship through acts of service, then our motivations will provide support for the same external goals.
Another reason that resolutions fail is that change is hard. We all fight the inner slacker.
In John 15:5 Jesus said, "For without me, you can do nothing." If we are trying to get in the ring against our sin nature and beat it on our own, we are in for a world of hurt. Sin met its match, and Satan lost, only at Calvary. Although the Devil knocked Jesus down, He got back up. That GOD became the triumphant UnderDOG is perhaps the oddest and most wonderful miracle of all. Only God could have a plot like this. Stallone is not even close.
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