“I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:14)

And so, one chapter ends and another begins. For nine years we've been family. We've laughed and cried, fought and forgiven. Through it all, day by day, we’ve come to know Jesus and each other. Together, we've learned to walk humbly in Christ’s Way of Love.

By God’s grace poured out through so many of you, we’ve gone from being a divided, fractured family to one that is united and hopeful about God’s future. Jesus Christ is, in very real ways, our heart and soul, our glue and our lifeblood.

As we’ve walked together over these last weeks, I have rejoiced in each of you. What Satan might have used for evil, God has, THROUGH YOU, used for good. We’ve not divided. We’ve not gossiped. We may have griped a bit (!) but not much. Thank you!

In the days to come we will, even though on different parts of Christ’s path, continue to press on for the prize. There is work to be done. There are lives to touch, eternities to impact. The next chapter, if we’ll let it, will be greater by far than the last. Let’s let it.

On behalf of Joni and our children, THANK YOU for loving us these last years. You have “marked” us forever in good and eternal ways. You are branded on our hearts. We will carry you with us always. We are prepared—and so are you—for what lies ahead.

For a few weeks, we’ll probably be pretty silent. We need time (and you do too) to rest and decompress a bit. That’s not bad. It’s life and (to borrow from Pastor Paul) “it’s all good.” As God points the way, I’ll begin to share again. I’m excited to see what’s next.

And now, may the goodness of God the father, the presence of Jesus Christ and the peace of His Holy Spirit be and abide with you always. May we, together or apart, never stop humbly asking, for the sake of Christ and others, “What is Jesus’ love...HERE?”

The Simple Truth: God has it all in His hands and His hands always work for our good.

The Question is: What wonderful things will Jesus do for and through us in the years to come?

Scripture Meditation: Psalm 37:3-7 and Matthew 28:18-20

“But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead….” (Philippians 3:13)

I’ll probably always be a bit of a “stick in the mud.” After all, I’m just learning to laugh, and I’ll probably always tend to take myself too seriously. But . . . I am learning. One thing I do have figured out is this, to move forward I can’t live my life “stuck in the mud.”

There are lots of ways to get stuck. One way to get stuck is to refuse to forget.  Do you know a person who suffered a great disappointment and then let that disappointment define them? They let their grief become their identity. That person is stuck in the mud.

Or, how about a person who falls badly and then never gets up? Perhaps they made a big mistake or did something totally wrong. They know it. Everyone does. But, they buy the lie their life is over, that they’ll never “smile” again. That person is stuck in the mud.

One more . . . Have you met a person who refuses to forgive? They may think they have. They may even say, “I forgive you.”  But they never move on. Again and again, they rehearse the sin, even while claiming all is well. That person is stuck in the mud.

I know these people. I've been these people. And yet, while I may fight hard for a while against the fact that I’m stuck, once I see it I refuse to stay there. How thankful I am that so many of you helped me see the mud I'm stuck in and then, in Christ, get free of it.

The Simple Truth: If you’re not moving forward, you ARE stuck and need to find out how.

The Question is: Will you allow others to help you see the mud you’re stuck in?

“Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.” (Philippians 3:12)

I’ll never forget the first time I pulled into Waterloo after becoming pastor. It was late on a Sunday night. My car was packed with boxes of books (surprise!). I was exhausted and ready to catch my breath. And yet, instead of calling it a night, I drove to the church.

Stepping inside, the church was dark, in my mind, midnight dark, and the silence heavy. It took me a little time but in fairly short order I carted my books into my office, into MY office. The feelings, culminating 10 years of preparation, were intense.

Catching my breath a bit, I decided to walk through the building. It was eerie and exciting at the same time. As I walked through the building I felt my heart pounding. I had no idea what the next years would hold. But I knew this--Jesus had called me.

In the months to come, I’d learn two seemingly contradictory truths. On one hand, I was perfectly prepared for Christ’s call to cvCc. All my experience as an attorney, a student of Christ, an executive pastor and a father and husband would be put to good use.

On the other hand, I had no idea what I’d gotten myself into, no clue what it really meant to lead—to shepherd—God’s flock. I had entered a new realm, a new way of life unlike any I’d ever known. But together with Jesus, we’d slowly “walk” our way forward.

But isn't that like God? Everything in life prepares us for the task or the challenge ahead. At the same time, because we live by faith and not by sight, by grace and not by merit, every day is utterly new. Each step is similar and yet uniquely its own.

The Simple Truth: Through it all—the good, the bad and the ugly—Jesus has used these years to make us His own, to make us like himself.

The Question is: Will we pull back in fear or press ahead in faith to God’s next new day?

“…that by any means possible I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.” (Philippians 3:11)

Our Asbury years flew by. We found a great church, established a new rhythm of life and welcomed Laurel and Graham to the family. I studied hard (surprise!!) and learned much, including much about myself and the “me” Jesus had created me to be.

But beyond any test or Bible study or paper, Jesus used people to work most deeply in my life. Through people, all kinds of people and the circumstances of our lives, Christ used others for my good, to open my eyes, stir my heart and teach me the way of love.

Through Professor Pohl I experienced the gift of mercy. Bill and Faye Wenger believed in me and helped me learn humility. Pastor Cook modeled a pastor’s heart of strength and kindness. Through precious neighbors, I discovered the reality of Christian community.

The Simple Truth: From Day First to Day Last, Jesus longs to use everything and everyone for our good.

The Question is: Are we paying attention to the lessons Jesus daily offers to teach us?

Scripture Meditation: Zechariah 7:8-12 and Matthew 13:14-16