* Message from the President…. Taking Control

My wife and I have an unspoken rule that whoever is first to stumble out of bed on Saturday morning that they assume the responsibility of starting the kettle and preparing the French Press with 8, yes 8 scoops of Peet’s Organic Decaf Terrena coffee.  Well this past weekend, I somehow made it out to the kitchen before my wonderful bride and, despite not quite thinking clearly, I was awake enough to move towards something that will help unscramble my thoughts and got the hot water going.  While enjoying my second cup of this freshly brewed coffee, it struck me that God performs a similar function for us when we ask Him to clear out the confusion and unscramble our thoughts.  Some people assume they don’t have time to begin their day with God… they don’t realize how much He can facilitate their lives.  God is sovereign over every aspect of our life, so I encourage us all to open up so that He can remove obstacles and clarify our thinking. Jim

The adage “let go of grudges” is so easy to say but quite difficult to accomplish.  Everyone knows people who cannot let go of the hurts they experienced.  Their bitterness shows on their faces; in their actions.  My grandfather would say,”...nurturing unresolved anger toward someone who hurt you creates infection in the victim, not the perpetrator.”  He would go on to say that making peace with the past can give you a renewed sense of purpose, a lighter step, and a healed heart.  I think that we all could appreciate having a lighter step as we go about our day.  So… I encourage you all to take off the glasses of old hurts and ask God to reveal any resentment you might be harboring.  To be more specific, think of someone who hurt you, forgive that person, and ask God to heal your hurt once and for all. Jim

As the joy and excitement of preparing for the holiday season nears, please remember to share the special gift that each and every one of us possess – Love.  Love is so important to God that it is mentioned hundreds of times in every translation of the Bible.  I remember during my early days at Sunday school that our instructors would pull the classroom in a circle and tell stories of how Christ referred to love as the greatest commandment of all, and how he spent his ministry demonstrating love to his followers. Learning to love God’s way provides the most tangible picture of him available to the world.  Nothing will draw you closer to him or to others than walking in unconditional love.   As my wife and I are raising our two beautiful and inquisitive young girls, we try to demonstrate that true love encompasses enthusiasm and passion, and it bases itself more on trust, commitment, and action. I encourage all of us to love someone today through your actions: give a gift, a loving touch, a personal note, or an act of kindness.  For it was Saint Thomas Aquinas who shared that to love is to will the good of another. Jim