One Good Year
 
Becky and I passed our first anniversary in Langhorne and at LPC this past week and give great thanks for all that God has done.  I'll save ministry outcomes and strategic planning for annual reports and session meetings.  For now, blessing counting will do.  In no particular order, we give thanks to God for these first 365 days in Langhorne and at LPC during which we were blessed in many ways:

• Wonderful friends in the LPC congregation.  We often talk about the kind of friendships where you pick up right where you left off no matter how long you've been apart.  With so many of you there is a sense that we've known you for a long time even though it's been a short time.  Thanks for opening yourselves to us.
• A year ago we were anxious about selling our house in Beaver and finding a new place to live here in Bucks County.  A gracious offer of temporary lodging provided exactly enough time for God to find a buyer for our old house and the perfect Langhorne house for this new season of life. 
• Becky wasn't sure what God had in mind as far as her employment went, but within the same ten days that the Beaver house sold and we made an offer on our Langhorne house, doors opened at a local alternative energy company and it's now been over ten months of challenging and satisfying work at Fibrowatt.
• We enjoyed running through Tyler State Park, paddle boating at Core Creek and walking along the towpath along the Raritan Canal.
• The incredible privilege of seeing and hearing how God has been at work in so many of your lives.  You've shared some tough times and some joyous times.  You've described moments of grace and episodes of challenge.  In and through it all you see God at work and are willing to tell others about it.  We have gotten to know God just a little better for one year in this part of the Body of Christ known as LPC

Yes, the markets are down and anxiety has grown.  2008 seems to have raised many more questions than answers.  But here is an answer that is always true and which we have heard shouted and displayed throughout the past 365 days:  God is very good!!!
 

Goodbye As an Act of Grace
 
The Apostle Paul knew the people Ephesus as well as he knew any of the people in the towns and cities of Greece and Asia Minor where he had been used by God to plant and nurture churches.  For over two years in the early 50’s A.D. he had lived and ministered to and with the Ephesians.  Towards the end of the decade Paul passed close by Ephesus as he sailed towards Jerusalem on his last great missionary journey.  Having stopped at the port of Miletus, he sent for the elders of the Ephesian church that he might talk with them one last time. Luke tells the story Acts 20.  It ends this way:   When (Paul had finished speaking), he knelt down with all of them and prayed. They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him. What grieved them most was his statement that they would never see his face again. Then they accompanied him to the ship. Continue reading →

King's Dream, Gene's Nightmare and Prayer on Flight 1549
 
Monday is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and Tuesday is Inauguration Day.  Much has been made of the two days and their connectedness and for good cause.  Americans of every race and political persuasion have reason to celebrate.   
 
King ended his famous "I Have a Dream" speech (why not take some time this weekend to listen to the entire oration) with these lines: Continue reading →

Staying Connected
 
We're still getting Christmas cards and it's our fault.  We didn't send ours until late in the season and so some of those who did not yet have our new address have been kind enough to include us in a late mailing. 
 
I love Christmas cards.  Actually, it's not the cards, it's the letters.  Some are personal. Most, like ours, are photocopies of an annual update sent far and wide. 
 
Yesterday we received two Christmas letters of the photocopy variety and one very personal note.  The personal note was from one of Becky's best friends during our eight years in Oregon and it is a precious gift. Continue reading →

Auld Lang Syne
 
Guy Lombardo made the tune a New Year's tradition for two generations. 
 
The old Robert Burns poem asks the question rhetorically, "Should auld acquaintance be forgot, and never brought to mind?"  The answer is "no."  We should remember old acquaintances and bring them to mind from time to time. 
 
What and who made your acquaintance in 2008?  This past Sunday Psalm 126 and some of you helped us take stock of our old-year acquaintances.  We heard about how some of us made the acquaintance of new family members (babies born and brides or grooms welcomed).  Some got to know success and opportunity while others met job loss and discouragement.  Some became familiar with new places and others rediscovered old loves.  Continue reading →