A Look at the Horizon

It’s a new year. It’s a new day. There’s always a sense of adventure, when you look ahead, with God. Yes, yes, there may be some tall mountains to climb on the horizon—and there may be some deep valleys on the road ahead—but, honestly, as long as God is on the throne, there’s always something bright and wonderful to which you can look forward.

Our threads publication schedule (which also feeds our blog) requires me to deliver copy with a one week lead—sometimes (as over the Christmas holidays) two weeks in advance. That forces me to look ahead as I write. As I type this in my kitchen, I ponder where I will be one week from tonight.

Well, as you read this, I’ll be traveling to India. I have been invited to speak at a convention of the Church of God in Shillong, a city of 500,000 sandwiched between Bangladesh, China, and Myanmar (Burma). The largest Church of God population in the world lives in this relatively small region; 30,000 people are expected to attend the meetings this month. It is a privilege to stand with our Christian family there; thank you for your prayers along the way.

While in India, I will also visit Salem in the far south of the subcontinent, surrounded by mountains, several hundred kilometers west of Madras (where, interestingly, Thomas, the doubting disciple, is thought to be buried). It is at Salem where the Madison Park Church (over the last 15 years) has played a key role in the development of a 50-bed hospital that serves an indigent population of 5,000,000, always in Jesus’ name.

This is not my first visit to India, of course; I am always inspired and refreshed by a visit there. To see the Gospel at work in a world of 800,000,000 Hindus and 185,000,000 Muslims is, well, astonishing. A visit to India is, for me, at least, a kind of scrub that puts life into perspective, that strips away the veneer of my comfort zone, and that clarifies for me what really matters and what does not. I’m looking forward to it.

I’m also looking forward to coming home, though. I love my home. My family. Our church. This country. The chance to make a difference for the good, right here, right now.

I’m even looking forward to the Annual Business Meeting on Sunday evening, January 27 (beginning at 6:00p). Oh c’mon, you say, the Annual Business Meeting? You can’t be serious.

Well, I am serious. Because this year’s Annual Business Meeting will be filled with exciting news, as we think about the year ahead. It’s not about boring reports, columns of numbers, and tedious debate. Nope. This meeting will be about how God has blessed us and dreaming about what He’s still going to do with us and through us.

At the Annual Meeting, we’ll announce the totals of our Dreams Work campaign. I know many of you have been wondering, what happened to the total? When will we find out? Well, tune in to the Annual Meeting and you’ll hear all the good news. It’s been hard to get a final tally, because so many commitments and gifts have poured in as the year ended. I can tell you that over 400 families have stepped up to participate. I can tell you that millions have been pledged. I can tell you that offerings in December were the largest ever in our church’s history (totaling over $750,000)—even a more astonishing feat, when you remember that we had to cancel Sunday services on December 16.

At the Annual Meeting, you’ll hear all about the Dreams Work totals, about how God is providing, and what we still need to fulfill dreams in 2008. There’s much to celebrate—but, there’s much to pray about, as well. We still have some tall mountains to climb—but we are much encouraged as we continue the ascent.

You’ll also hear about exciting developments in our staff. The appointment of our new Senior Associate by the Board of Elders, for instance. You’ll have a chance to hear about what’s up ahead. And ask questions, too. We’ll appoint two new elders. We’ll talk about the future of Scatterfield. And more. I’m looking forward to it.

From India to Madison Park, God is at work in amazing ways. Don’t stand on the sidelines, don’t let the world pass you by. Don’t look backward—press ahead. You may not get to India this year, but you can find adventure in God’s purposes, even at the Annual Business Meeting. C’mon. Give it a try. Be fun. Be a part.

Be encouraged, dear friends. Have some curry and think about me. See you soon.