<p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="widows: 2; text-transform: none; text-indent: 0px; letter-spacing: normal; border-collapse: separate; font: medium 'Times New Roman'; white-space: normal; orphans: 2; color: #000000; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; font-family: verdana, lucida, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><img src="images/stories/r_joyner_85px.jpg" border="0" align="left" />Week 1, 2012<br /><br />     The New Year is always a time for hope, and hope is one of the most powerful forces. It is often a time when we resolve to fulfill certain vows like getting in shape, spending more time with family, or being faithful to certain spiritual disciplines like more prayer or Bible study. These often help people focus enough to actually accomplish them, certainly a good thing.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br /><br />     This is the year the Mayan calendar, which indicated it would be the end of the world. As the Apostle Paul wrote about the Cretan prophets, that they were right about what they were saying about the Cretans, even false prophets can be right about some things. In a way, I think the Mayan calendar is right—this year will mark the end of this world<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span style="font-style: italic;">as we know it</span>.<br /><br />     I am not prophesying that this year will be the end of the world, or the end of the age, or the second coming of Christ. I am saying radical changes are coming to the whole world this year. Whether they turn out for good or bad will depend more on the body of Christ than any other factor. This year will be the greatest opportunity we’ve had, not just in our generation, but maybe ever. Times of change are usually steered by a small number of people, and if just a small part of the body of Christ wakes up and gets engaged, the impact this year can be greater than ever.<span class="Apple-converted-space">  <a href="http://www.morningstarministries.org/Articles/1000117142/MorningStar_Ministries/Media/Word_for_the/2012/A_Year_For.aspx?utm_source=The+MorningStar+Ministries+eNewsletter&amp;utm_campaign=32280cf8fa-eNewsletter_January_05_201211_3_2011&amp;utm_medium=email">Click to Read More at Morningstar Ministries &gt;&gt;&gt;</a></span></span></span></p>