Due to icy conditions, all church activities canceled Jan 25.
Pastor's Corner 5, 4, 3, 2, 1…..
My wife will tell you that I like to talk about things from the past. When my five brothers and I get together any time, memory lane is open for business and before you know it. Carol is at a loss for she surely was not around my family in the 1960’s and 70’s, but she likes to hear the stories and see the eyes opened up wide with excitement of the nostalgia of years gone by. One thing Carol is amazed at is the different versions of the same story. But usually, if four of the six brothers’ recollection of the story are close in agreement, then that’s how we will choose to remember the event!
I remember when we were very young, like 4 or 5 years old, my brother Arnold and I tried our hardest to stay awake for the New Year to roll into existence. I think we would make it to 9 or 9:30 at night but would fall asleep after eating our traditional Dutch Oliebollen New Year delight. Fast forward to 1972, and Dick Clark’s New York Time Square Ball Drop came into being. I was 13 years old and was bound and determined to make it to midnight…my first eyewitness of the New Year to be ushered in. I was ever watchful of the time, watching the two wall clocks in our house with great anticipation. 12:00 a.m.….a full hour after the ball drop because of the time zone difference… and all of us brothers and Mom and Dad shouted “5,4,3,2,1….Gelukkig nieuwjaar!” (Dutch for Happy New Year) and at 12:00:03 a.m., it was over. “That’s it?” I thought in my mind. “What’s the big deal?” New Year’s celebrations have been anticlimactic ever since and I generally sleep through the “celebrations.”
We are watchful of many events and wait with anticipation. Birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, a newborn or even retirement dates. I have seen some even mark their calendars with count off dates giving them a great milestone to look forward to. 5,4, 3, 2, 1... finally the day of anticipation is here!
As a pastor, I need to tell you all, be watchful of another day. Jesus even told us to in Luke 21:36 where it reads “Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.” Matter of fact, Luke 21:5-36 gives us a detailed “countdown” of what to look for as the clock ticks by. One day, we all will stand before the Son of Man, Jesus our Lord, and I for one want to be found worthy to be in His presence (Matthew 7:21-23).
The day is coming when all of us will stand before the Lord and give account of our lives. 5, 4, 3, 2, 1…. My prayer is that in 2026 will find all of us getting ready for the glorious day when we stand before Jesus and be found worthy!
Blessings to All in 2026!
Pastor Paul