I get tickled every time I see a product advertised as "new and improved." If it has been out, it is not new. If it is new, how are improvements made on that which has not been before? As a popular slogan states, "inquiring minds want to know."

We are into a new year, and have no idea where the journey will take us. I like the thought of new beginnings. Starting over is a major premise of Christianity. It's nice to know that there is always an opportunity to start over. Jesus is a change agent, and He offers us unlimited opportunities to renew ourselves. It does not have to come when our calendar says January. Every moment is a new moment.

All of us make mistakes. We are sinful people who make mistakes whether we intend to or not. It is an inevitable part of the human condition. However, we do not have to wallow in our past and make it part of our future. We have the opportunity to change. We can start over at any moment in the course of the day. To get forgiveness, all we need to do is ask. Then we need to remember to grant it to those who ask it of us. Most importantly though, we need to be able to grant forgiveness to ourselves, accept God's grace, and begin anew.

Happy New Year.