Pastor Craig - January 2019

 When I was a kid, my grandpa or great grandma would start a sentence like this and I would know two things. One; that it was going to be a story of sometime when something happened. Two; that I would listen politely and then go back to what I was doing. It is humbling to know that those words have come out of my mouth. Even when I hear them coming out, I think of Grandpa Jones on Hee Haw sitting on the porch in his rocking chair giving out words of wisdom to all that would listen.

 In that moment of welcoming the New Year, we are called to look back on what the old year meant. What were the significant ways that God acted in our lives? What were the ups and downs? What do we want to remember about 2018, 10 years from now?

 This year truly is the year for Suzanne and me of tremendous ups and significant change. In January, our 2nd grandchild Natalie was born. In November, Suzanne’s mom Alma died. In a nutshell there it is. The beginning of earthly life and the end of earthly life. It is the newborn baby contrasting with old father time. It is the Alpha and the Omega.

 As we become more “chronologically gifted” (old), I believe that we are able to see connections with our pasts that cause us to try and share the bits of wisdom and understanding that we have gained through our experiences to those who are younger. Trying in our small way to help them along to better understand their lives and what they are going through. More and more to know that they are not alone and there is a light at the end of their tunnel.

 In the midst of our life’s changes there is one constant and that is the love that God has for us. We all need that assurance of God’s care. I can’t tell you how many times, when people find out who I am and that I am a pastor of a church, they talk about the desire for God in their life. It happens under the strangest of circumstances. The most recent was at the DMV. A young man missed going to church. He asked what our church was like, I told him and invited him. If he comes or not it is not my job but God’s Spirit. But what I did give him was hope. Hope that there are places where God’s love and grace exist.

 I believe that it is a gift to share our knowledge. But at a point, one needs to let them live and be responsible for their own lives. For sometimes it is in making those mistakes they are able to learn that God is there even through the difficult time.

 As we enter this year of our Lord 2019, we don’t know what is going to cause us to say, “I remember when...?”. What I do know is that God is the constant. Through his love, we will again share the Good News of Christ to all who are so desperate to hear it.

Happy New Year,

Pastor Craig