New. I like that word. I prefer new to old in many things, although I do love history and certain things that would be called “vintage.” But “new” conjures thoughts of freshness, of surprises, of excitement. We soon turn the page to a new year. One can make more friends. One can earn more money. But when this day is gone, one cannot recover it. One cannot make more time. A new year stands for something different, something more fundamental, than a new dollar, or even a new car, both of which will grow old soon enough.

The year 2007—the year of new. This year marks the 30th anniversary of my high school graduation—not so new. But 2007 offers many new events for our family: –Josh graduates from high school and moves to college. New for sure. –This moves us halfway to empty nesting, certainly new, and a new thought Michelle likes not to talk about so much. –Josh will travel to Europe, his first trip out of this hemisphere. A new adventure. –Hannah moves into high school (gulp!); again, new. –Hannah will take drivers ed. Suddenly I like old ?. –I will have a new group of students. Every semester is new in that way, a fact which I love since I get bored so easily. Each semester I think I taught the best group of students ever, and then a—new—class comes along and surprises me. –I launch a new website. I am so excited about this I am about to slam dunk my laptop….better not. Still alvinreid.com, this one will include my blog, many frequent updates, and the new venue of podcasting. –That’s right, I am entering the world of podcasting. Not sure how many people will care that I have podcasts, but if it encourages one student on the backside of the earth in some hidden country, or a youth pastor I have never met to keep raising the bar for his students, I will be satisfied.

Before we entered the new year of 2007, my family got something new. We have begun the move from PC to Mac (I still have a dinosaur laptop). PC-Mac. Sounds like a rapper’s name. It has been a couple of days and I have fully embraced the revolution with a new IMac. No forbidden fruit this Apple represents!

I have a theory that part of the reason younger people love Apple computers over Windows driven units is the latter seems patently text-driven, whereas Apple sails with a more artistic wind (that and the fact that it is faster, easier to use, etc). I love the little icons, the way they swoosh across the screen (okay it takes little to humor me). Josh loves Garage Band, as does Michelle. Hannah loves IPhoto. I love the fact that it is paid for! We sold three guns we owned and never used to have the money to purchase the IMac. I essentially traded three weapons I never use (no worries, I still have plenty, so don’t mess with my house) for a weapon I will use almost daily in the warfare I wage against powers and principalities and the enemy we believers battle. With words and images, text and video, I anticipate a new manner of communication, particularly with the college and youth crowds to whom I speak. The Word of God will continue to be the unchanging bedrock of the message I preach, for the GOSPEL is still the power of God to salvation, and the WORD of GOD is the living, active sword. But I will increasingly use the wonder of media to help speak that unchanging truth into this culture.

So here’s to 2007. The year of new. No list of resolutions, although I will be resolved. No attempt to reorganize my life in a manner beyond my ability to change in a short period of time. But I will resolve, and I will change. I will embrace “new” before it arrives. I leave you with the one question I ask of myself as I turn the page to the new chapter of life that is 2007: What is the ONE THING that keeps you from totally, completely, gloriously following Jesus no matter the cost? Fixing that might be just the one “new” we all need. “He has put a new song in our hearts.” Psalm 40:3

About Alvin Reid

Hi and welcome! I am Alvin Reid, a follower of Jesus Christ, husband to Michelle, father of Josh and Hannah, and minister of the gospel. I teach at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and Southeastern College at Wake Forest in NC. I love people and have been blessed to meet a lot. I live to equip a generation of young men and women to change the world, to advance the great movement of God in our time.For the Christ follower, life is a mission trip-take it!