Text Box: The big news story of the past few days has been the blizzard that dumped over two feet of drifting snow in our area on Sunday. It is not hard to find people who’s lives were disrupted by the storm. I found it interesting that some people had a good attitude about the snow, while others were very angry about the lack of snow removal. Our attitudes make all the difference in the world. I suggest to you today that your quality of life in 2011 will be deeply impacted by your attitude and the way you think. Rev. Charles Swindoll has a well know quote on attitude that bears repeating. He said, The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness, or skill. It will make or break a company ... a church ... a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past. We cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude ... I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me, and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with you ... we are in charge of our Attitudes. We cannot stop the snow from falling but Text Box: we have a choice regarding our attitude as we shovel our way through the beautiful white stuff. The one thing we can be sure of is that life will bring us blessings and troubles in the new year. Our enjoyment of life will have less to do with circumstances, and more to do with our attitudes. Attitudes are closely associated with how we think about issues. The New Testament is filled with verses about the mind. Some examples are as follows, You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. (Eph 4:22-24) Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. (Col 3:2) The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. (Rom 8:6) We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. (II Cor 10:5) My prayer for you and your loved ones is that life may treat you well in the New Year. When the blessings come may you have the mind of Christ. I also pray that when things are tough, you will have the mind of Christ to process the events with a healthy attitude. Some of you may have great difficulties to face in the new year. I trust that God will give you the grace to see things with a mind shaped by your faith. -Pastor Rick Text Box: A Healthy Attitude and the Mind of Christ Text Box: January 2011 Text Box: Fort Lee Gospel Church 1625 Palisade Ave. Fort Lee, NJ 07024 (201)947-1465 Pastor: Rev. Rick Spenst Web site: www.fortleegospel.org E-mail: fortleegospel@juno.com

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