IT has always been the same with me, every time the new year ushers in, I tend to make a number of resolutions. I always intend to adhere to them but distractions of this world seem to always lure me away from fulfilling the goals.

I recall that about this time last year, I made a promise that I will press my unworn suits and start attending church religiously. I decided I will devotedly attend service to the liking of the church elders that they might induct me into the "kerkraad' and maybe become the official PR of my congregation, such was my goal. Clever ne!

But if only I knew. I found myself starring more into the silver plated burglar doors of my neighbour Shinanas Pinks Shebeen, now renamed New System Bar more often than opening those solid oak double doors of the worship house.

Like I said, the temptations of this world can be too harsh and too cruel if you allow them.

Determined to start the year on a good footing, and adamant that a few blessings in the form of prayers and sacraments from the Almighty Himself administered to me on his behalf by a pastor does not sound like a bad idea at all.

As such on the first Sunday of the year I made way to a church service. The last time I sat on the benches of my hometown church was when Pastor Kaulinge had a sizzling public address voice and the energy of an energiser bunny to conduct the church sermon, and holy sacrament in five different languages, Oshiwambo, Damara Nama, Afrikaans English and Namlish - alles mumwe. This was actually part of the reason I minimised my church going habits, because of the long sermons. Every time I attended service meant that I lose out on my starting 11 at social league Sunday matches, and boy once you are on the bench coming back into the first 11 was a struggle.

Now Pastor Kaulinge, is a partially blind well grey haired old man, so now you see my dilemma has been long

The day of reckoning arrives, and I am with a "Kandara pak style nogaal- jy ken tog mos hoe baainaars aantrek".

Well, the service was packed and everybody, especially ladies, seemed to have heard the call to start the year on a clean slate, or whether it was the figment of my imagination, that the church was full because of the presence of the newly appointed young thirty something unmarried pastor.

My sister has told me stories on how the clergyman seems to cause quite a consternation in the coastal community among the church going females as they cannot stop talking about the poor reverend.

To think that I once toyed with the idea of becoming a man of the cloth myself. The attention I could be commanding now - eish too late to regret.

Anyway, knowing that it is January and the all too familiar situation, of being broke. I made the distinct error of not changing my N$100 note into small change. Towards offering, I had to reluctantly chuck my bill into the nicely looking offering basket adorned with notes of all sizes and values. How I wanted to take out change from that basket

"Surely my N$100 note won't make any difference seeing that there is already so many in the basket, why don't I just keep the money," I thought to myself. No such luck

At the end of the service my friend remarked, "don't worry, the N$100 note includes your interest and late fees for your absence from the church, welcome to 2009 during the month of being broke".

I guess after all the verse that goes "surrender all your earthly possessions you have to the Lord" takes the meaning from there. So in essence, lets make 2009 a blissful year.

This is not a call for divine worshipper and "bekeer stories", but rather a call-cum-resolution to remind ourselves of our moral ethos for 2009. Let us pray that Namibia remains a blessed nation this year. Now that is a way to start the year - minus my N$100, but hey it went to the one who daily blesses me in abundance.

Sorry Ngo!