the new year

okay, so it's not exactly the first day of the new year, but I've been busy; what can I say?

But here we are, early on in 2007. How's it going for you? What's new? Are you "off" to a good "start"?

As I sit here typing, with my 9 year old kid leaning on me, and looking over my shoulder, I'm reminded at how God uses time to bring His purposes to fruition. This coming Easter 2007, I will celebrate my 22nd "birthday" since becoming a Christian. I sit here amazed at all that God has done in and through my life in those two decades and two. When I first became a Christian, my personal life was a great challenge. Coming to faith in Christ brought an immediate kind of salvation in the form of me having hope for the first time in a long time. And while faith in Christ didn't bring an ease to the challenges and difficulties of my life, it gave me a relationship with the Most High that I was desperately wanting, and had prior to then was not even aware of the need.

That was years ago now. Today, I'm working on finishing a Masters of Theological Studies in, what else, theology. After that I hope to be admitted to a doctoral program as the means to teach at a seminary. My life is somewhat easier today than it was twenty-two years ago, but there are new challenges and difficulties. The world is not the same. I am finding that there is great disagreement among the many who consider themselves followers of Christ as to what it means to be a Christian. In some ways, it's far more exciting to be a Christian today than it ever was. The world is in as much a desperate need for Jesus Christ as it ever was.

I can only hope that through the Holy Spirit, I will live faithfully for Christ in this new year; that my life in 2007 will be a living testimony of the loving kindness of the Triune God of grace. As we move further into this new year, I hope that you, too, will discover God's call on your life afresh, and be empowered to do great things for His name. May you learn to love your neighbor, and live for the Kingdom of Heaven. God's best blessings in Christ be yours today!!!