In addition, I have had to place the computer facing away from the windows so that I can see the screen. What a gorgeous sight…sunshine! And, there is a smattering of clouds thrown in to make the view even more interesting!

To my right, a couple of iceicles are dripping off their spindley ends.

The covering of snow seems to be receding…at least for today. I could wish it were a sure sign of Spring…but I am a realist! It’s just too soon for our cold, snowy, icy Michigan winter to be over.

As I look out the window, everything I see reminds me of God’s faithfulness. The Psalmist says, “Great is Your faithfulness!”

AMEN!

Would it not be better to put together a short list of GOALS to reach for in the New Year?  I learned in seminary decades ago – wow, that statement makes me almost feel OLD! – that goals need to be 1) clear, 2) brief, 3) specific, and 4) reachable.

Merely stating a “resolution” just doesn’t meet these requirements, does it?  Putting together a goal using these criteria just seems to make more sense!

So…on this last day of 2010, why not take a few minutes to relfect on your life, evaluate what you would like to be different in 2011, state desirable changes in terms of goals [clear, brief, specific, reachable], and devise steps to make them become reality in the New Year!

This exercise should be applied to the typical “resolutions” like weight loss, exercise, Bible reading, involvement in new activities, and any others you decide to carry out.

HAPPY NEW YEAR….make it happen!

I LOVE Christmas! But, I have to carefully guard my mind against getting too-caught-up in all the “extras” connected to the Holiday. Can you relate to my dilemma? Maybe you focus too much on the externals…and forget what the TRUE MEANING of “Christmas” is.

I recall a cartoon I saw several years ago. It depicted two matronly ladies heavily burdened down by packages they were carrying. As they passed a storefront featuring a manger scene in the window, one said to the other, “My goodness! Why can’t someone do something about all this religion connected with Christmas?!”

While I really do wish you and your family A MERRY CHRISTMAS, I want to encourage you to keep your celebration centered in Jesus Christ, God’s PERSONAL CHRISTMAS GIFT TO YOU! Why not take some time this Christmas Season to read Luke 2…thinking carefully as you read!

On the other hand, there has to be more to the Day than the secular viewpoint!

To people of faith, “Thanksgiving” is all about expressing our thanks to God for His bountiful blessings on us. I don’t know about you, but here is a partial list for me…
1. My salvation from sin to eternal life, by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone
2. My wife, Pat; our children: Brad, Greg, Pam, and Kim – and the spouse of those who are married; our grandchildren: Ashleigh, Jordin, Dalton, and Olivia.
3. The Church Family God has blessed Pat and me with – Aetna Calvary Church, White Cloud MI – a community of faith made up of different age groups, racial backgrounds, social level…one Body in Christ!
4. God’s abundant provisions: food, shelter, vehicles, clothing [the majority of which comes from "GW Fashions].
5. The two bucks I shot on Opening Day! Probably never happen again!
6. Spiritual blessings: God’s Word, Christian radio in abundance where I live

The list could go on and on….but, you get the idea!

What are YOU thankful for this year?

This four-day retreat included four couples – along with Shepherds Care Board members.

Ed and Sara are a couple seeking God’s will for future ministry. Ed recently resigned from a church he has served an an Associate Pastor.

Rod and Tangie serve an inner-city church in Saginaw MI. They are our first African-American couple at a retreat.

Powers and Marie are serving with a recent church plant in Grandville MI. Pat and I have know Marie for a long time; she met and married Powers about seven years ago.

Ernie and Roxie are “home missionaries” working among Native Americans in WI. He is also Field Director for a mission organization working among several tribal groups.

It was a joy to work with these four couples. They were able to relax, refocus and get refreshed for their respective ministries.

Our goal for “Shepherds Care” is to assist pastors in maintaining their “staying power” for ministry.

Please let me know of pastors you are acquainted with who may need such a retreat. We hold one in June and another one in October – every year, as God provides the funds. You see, we provide these retreats FREE!

But…given the title at the top of this page, maybe we should think a moment about TESTING. I guess this is on my mind, since I’m starting to do some serious study in the Book of James [that's a Letter written by a man named "James" - for the uninitiated!]. This will be a future series of messages/sermons at the church of which I am Pastor.

Yes…testing… James makes the case in his Letter that testing ["trials" is another word for it] come and go, but a strong faith will meet them head-on. It is as we meet them head-on that we develop endurance.

A strong faith is essential for meeting trials/testing. Faith obeys God’s Word. “Faith” according to James is not some passive “belief” in something we cannot see, touch, hear.

“Faith” is ACTIVE…it takes God at His Word – and ACTS ON IT!

From my reading so far in the Letter of James, it is evident that his theme is “Faith in Action.” Check out these references: 1:21-25; 2:14-20…enough for now!

I’ll do my best to keep you updated as I make my journey through the Letter of James…and, if you are part of the Church Family at Aetna Calvary Church, I hope you’ll be looking forward to journeying through these five chapters with me…in the future! After all, I have to FINISH the Gospel of Mark!!!!

It is my intention to update this blog at least once per week. “Intention” is the operative word, you understand! It could get shelved at times, if something deemed more “Urgent” comes along.

I intend to use this blog to share my heart…for family…for our country…for the needs of the world…for ministry that is not taken up with the latest fads, but is grounded on and bounded by the Word of God.

I did not set out to be a “preacher.” You see, my father is a retired pastor. As a “PK” [Preacher's Kid, for you uninitiated!] I saw some of the hassles, troubles, trials, and attacks my Dad had to deal with.

I did, however, want to serve the Lord. I just didn’t know what…when…how.

I had been told all my life that it would be a good thing for every recent high school graduate [who knew the Lord] to attend a Bible School for at least one year. I got a stack of catalogs from a wide variety of Christian schools…then got thoroughly confused sorting through them. Which one would the Lord have me attend?

The only “Bible Institute” I had any first-hand knowledge of was a small school called “Oak Hills Bible Institute” in Bemidji MN. Never heard of it, right!?!? Not many people have!

I knew about it only because my uncle, Max Cheney, was a “Home Missionary” with it’s parent organization, Oak Hills Fellowship.

Why did God lead me to OHBI [now "Oak Hills Christian College"]? Because HE knew better than I did what I needed at that time in my life! That’s it…pure and simple!

LIFEpoint> Romans 8:28 is true! Look it up in your own
Bible!

Until next time…