January 30, 2004
Welcome,

Next week I will mail off our family’s annual Ground Hog’s Day Letter. This has been a tradition ever since we were so late with our Christmas letter that we had to rename it. It’s an event that keeps all my friends wondering. One half wonder why they remain on my mailing list and the other half wonder why they’re off.

The reason I bring this up is that very difficult to consolidate 365 days (multiplied by 4 people) into two concise pages. That’s 2,102.400 minutes. Even after subtracting long weeks spent in bed, our collective eyelids were open 1,314,000 minutes.
Now for a teenager this isn’t much of a problem. “What happened this year you’d like to write about?”

“Nothing.”

“Come on. What’s the most rewarding part of your life?”

“Sleeping.”

But for an adult 46% of the way towards 100, days begin to fly by and being able to account for one’s time is much more important. Just remembering why I sat down to this computer is a challenging. So I try to memorialize my life with a creative memory and off-center wit.

Don’t get me wrong. I really do value reflection. After all, what do I call these weekly messages? But the part of my life that has true power and dynamic relevance is right now.

Paul’s words to his family in Christ continue to give me courage. “The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.” Romans 13:11 “I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation. “ 2 Corinthians 6:2

And John testifies, “Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: ‘Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down.’” Revelation 12:10

You see, not only is the present most relevant for our activity. It is most relevant for God’s as well.

Under His Wings,
Pastor Steve