2010-2011

I haven't posted on here in a loooong time. So I apologize for my absence. I'm glad that Stephanie has been better than me with electronically updating our family and friends about the happenings of our family.

But as she and Caleb take a nap, I wanted to take a moment to think back on 2010 and look forward to 2011. The Christian faith is one that is constantly looking back (to the cross) and constantly looking forward (to the return of Christ and to the new earth, where He will reign with His people). So it's natural for us to evaluate where we've been and to anticipate what is to come. It's at the very core of who we are.

2010 has been a difficult and stretching year for us. God moved us on from our first full-time ministry position--at a time when we were not expecting to move. When we started the year, we would never have imagined that the following New Year's Day we'd be living here in an apartment in Warsaw. We really miss our friends and the people of BBC, but God has blessed us with a tremendous church family here at Christ's Covenant. Even though moving was difficult and painful at times, we can certainly see God's hand all over it. Our experiences have given us a deeper trust in Him as we continue to face mortgage payment after mortgage payment until our house sells. This is a wonderful place of ministry, and we look forward to serving here for a long time.

2011 should be an exciting year for our family as we continue to extend our roots here in the Warsaw area and in our church. We look forward to continuing to bring unity and excitement to the student ministries of CCC and to work with parents in the discipling of their teenagers..We are also starting a life group with other adults beginning next week, which will be of enormous benefit to us as we walk side by side with brothers and sisters in Christ week by week. As a family, we will continue to check out the local happenings of Warsaw, Winona Lake, and surrounding areas--hopefully becoming experts by this time next year. Much sooner than that, however, we hope to be free of the burden of our home in Ohio so that we can be more generous with our finances to our church and to those in need. Please continue to pray for us to that end.

I'm sure in 2011 that there will be many wonderful experiences for us as a family--and probably our fair share of pains and struggles as well. That's the reality of our human experience, isn't it? But no matter what 2011 brings, I know that wherever I am sitting next year on January 1st (even if for some reason it is in heaven), I will still be a great sinner, and Christ will still be a great Savior. My hope is that through the experiences of the upcoming twelve months that Stephanie, Caleb, and I can each be more in love with Christ and more obedient to Him January 1st of 2011 than we are today.