Christianity teaches that "we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." (Paul of Tarsus, Ephesians 6:12 New Testament KJV) And: "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal (physical) but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds; casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." (Paul of Tarsus, 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 New Testament KJV)

As human beings, however, we love to wage war on the wrong front. We want to make our battles and our enemies "outer" instead of "inner" -- physical instead of spiritual, mental, and emotional. We want to fight against individual people, groups of people, or nations; rather than against fear, resentment, prejudice, hopelessness, depression, pride, and other inner enemies.

But what difference does it make if we defeat an "outward enemy" and yet remain in bondage to "inward enemies"? Alexander the Great is said to have conquered the entire known world, but he couldn't conquer depression and died young and miserable. What good did Alexander's outward victories do him when he wasn't strong enough or brave enough to win his inward battle?

Often those who fight the loudest outwardly are running away in fear from their inward battles! This is true both for individuals and nations. Nations frequently use warfare to redirect the attention of their citizens away from domestic problems by putting it on an "enemy". Individuals argue, blame, and bicker with other people to avoid facing their own, fierce inner enemies.

Physical violence is a sign of great insecurity; whether that violence be by an individual or by a nation. Even retaliatory violence shows insecurity -- a fear of physical harm, a self-righteous lack of trust in God's supernatural protection; a disbelief in the power of inner weapons.

In the past 60 years Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr. (and their millions of committed followers) have clearly demonstrated the power of love through non-violent direct action to change nations and overcome oppressors. Yet we stubbornly ignore the awesome accomplishments of non-violence and cling to our physical weapons, ever increasing their horror, their terror, and their power to "surgically" kill our so-called enemies. Lord, have mercy on us!

How do you effectively deal with a bully? Surrender and politely give him your lunch money? Of course not. That only makes him worse. If you surrender you will be under the bully's power every day.

Victory over bully thoughts, bully cravings, and bully compulsions requires fierce resistance, passionate persistence, and uncommon courage. Thus, many people simply give in to their bully thoughts, bully cravings, and bully compulsions.

They live their lives in submissive obedience to their impulses and desires offering no resistance, no persistence, no courage. They attempt to excuse their bondage to their inner bullies with slogans like: "I can't help myself," "That's just the way I am," "If it feels good do it," "Don't judge me," "Everybody does it," "Mind your own business," "I was born that way," "We all sin everyday," and other verbal drivel. Meanwhile, they passively, silently follow the path of self-inflicted misery.

It is no fun to be in bondage to inner bullies -- even if all your friends are reveling in the same slavery. Sure, the group may act like their self-destruction is a party; but everybody knows (deep inside) that there has got to be a better way to live!

It is called personal freedom -- the ability to do right; no matter how you feel -- no matter what others say or do! And it is worth fighting for -- even more than political freedom. Personal freedom is the ability to defeat bully thoughts, bully cravings, and bully compulsions; and to live a positive, productive, purposeful life.

Personal freedom is very costly, but it pays wonderful dividends in self-respect, joy, and peace. Why not declare war on your inner bullies today? Stand up to bully thoughts, bully cravings, and bully compulsions. Resist them with persistence and courage. And if you fall into their control again -- immediately get up and continue to fight them. Never surrender again to those inner bullies! Be an inner winner! You can, if you will train yourself spiritually with the same effort and determination that an athlete trains for the Olympics. Will you?

A guy once bragged at a company meeting; "I have 25 years of experience." His boss overheard and whispered to his wife: "That guy maybe has one year of experience that he has repeated 25 times."

Does each year of your life bring you new, improved experiences -- increased levels of peace and joy? Or are you just repeating the same ole pattern over and over again?

Why not make 2007 a break-out year for you? Break-out of discouragement. Break-out of boredom. Break-out of self-destructive behaviors. Break-out of negativity. Break-out of guilt and shame. Break-out of the fear of what other people think about you. Break-out of depression. Break-out of passivity!

Get aggressive and make 2007 a wonderful, new year for yourself! You deserve it! Make it happen! Settle for nothing less than a victorious year in 2007.

In the United States . . .

No one has been murdered in 2007!

No one has driven drunk in 2007!

No child has been abused in 2007!

No one has lied, stolen, or cheated in 2007!

There have been no unwanted pregnancies or abortions in 2007!

No one has caught or spread HIV or other STDs in 2007.

There has been no warfare in 2007!

No one has been hungry in 2007!

No one has been looked down on because of their skin color in 2007!

Wouldn't it be great if we were willing to keep it that way for all of 2007? Why don't we keep 2007 as good as it is now? It won't get messed up if we don't mess it up!

Ok, maybe we can't control the mess other people will make of 2007, but we don't have to make our own mess of it! Your 2007 will be great if you are willing to make it that way!

May your personal 2007 be as good on Dec. 31, 2007 as it is on Dec.31, 2006 at 9:40ish Central Time.

2007 will be good for those who make it good! Do, think, say, read, hear, watch, and listen to the things that will make your year wonderful.

Avoid doing, thinking, saying, reading, hearing, watching, and listening to the things that will cause you pain, problems, and self-destruction. Ask God to forgive you if you slip up and immediately get back on track doing, thinking, . . . good things.

Leave all bitterness, unforgiveness, discouragement, and other negative emotions in 2006. Let the past be the past, it is beyond your control.

Your future, your 2007, is in your hands. Why not make it your best year yet? Will you have a happy New Year? It all depends on what you do, think, say, read, hear watch, and listen to.

2007 is another opportunity for you to create a wonderful life for yourself. Choose well, my friends!