Pastor Dan - May 2019

I was listening to a song the other night as I drove home and I share a stanza with just a little freedom in paraphrasing:

“And the world's got me dizzy again
You think after 41 years I'd be used to the spin
And it only feels worse when I stay in one place
So I'm always pacing around or walking away.”

For 41 years of my life, it seems that every three or four years, I was moving or pacing around and living a life of walking away. Along the journey in those first 41 years, I found myself to be blessed with a wife and family and they too joined in the three to four year moving ritual. We moved so much that my wife and I made a commitment to our son and that commitment was that we would not move until he finished High School. We felt it was important that he stay in one place for four years. That promise became difficult because at an early point in my son’s High School career, the bishop informed me that I was looking for a new call.

In May of 1999 my family and I were blessed to start that new call here at Mount Zion. The world was still “dizzying” but it didn’t feel as if it were “worse” if I were stay in one place. As a matter of fact, to stay in one place, this place, continues to bring peace among the dizzying world as you, the people of Mount Zion, have become an anchor in a spinning and broken world. The community of faithful who gather at Mount Zion have also become an anchor to the community around us as we continue to be a source of hope, grace and assistance in assuring the hope of fullness of life in Christ to many, many people in our neighborhoods.

I thank the Lord for all the Lord has done through His faithful people and His ministries at Mount Zion. In many ways, Mount Zion has transformed over the last 20 years living in change and newness. In other ways, some important qualities and core beliefs have remained constant and strong within Mount Zion. And over the last 20 years, much has changed and transformed in my home life and faith life. The events and relationships have waxed and waned, confused and blessed, drained and sustained, strengthened and convicted all seemingly at a dizzying pace. I would not be the man, nor the pastor I am without all of you daring to care, pray, teach, share, listen, encourage and dream with me and my family and with others as to maintaining Godly activity in our dizzying world.

In our culture and society, the month of May is a month of transitioning for many. For our young people, it is a time of transitioning to summer and to new grade levels. It is time for graduations and the beginning of new life styles for many. Our membership transitions to summer homes and a summer living. The month of May will always be a month of transitioning and newness and I will always remember this month, the month of May, as the month in which I settled down in my life and in my living that I grow in faith, love and hope with an incredible body of faithful people: the congregation of Mount Zion. Thank you one and all.

In Christ’s love and service,

Pastor Dan