When I was a child, my parents worked very hard to teach me good manners.  I learned the proper way to address adults and was carefully instructed on how to respond to their questions and inquiries.  Even simple questions like, “How are you today” were to be answered with a polite, “Fine, thank you.  And yourself?”

As we grew into our teen-age years we continued to address the adults around us in the expected way.  But when it came to our peers, all formalities were off!  Polite inquires as to the state of our health were replaced with: “What’s happening?"  As for the answers – they ranged from ridiculous to regale!  

Now that we are older, most of us have almost gone full circle.  While the, "How are you today," more often than not comes out as, “What’s happening”, the expected answer is still a rather non-committal:  “Not much.  How ‘bout you?”

I wonder how others would respond if, in the New Year, Christians would summon the courage to answer the traditional “What’s happening’” with a non-traditional:  “What’s happening’?  Jesus is happening!  His good news is all around us! " Then I can’t help but wonder what happen if we actually lived like we believed it!

What’s happening?  Jesus is happening!  In him we are new people, forgiven and renewed each day.