Happy New Year to me!

Another birthday come and gone. I have been forced the past couple of days "celebrating" the fact that I have finished my 48th year and into the 49th to look at my life head on. Where did the time go and what the hell am I doing now? God has blessed me more than I can put on these pages. God has allowed me to flourish in every endeavor I have taken on with Him on my side. (yes....I did say HIM). Today I put behind me the pronouns of progressive Christianity, of which I am a huge follower, to testify to the FATHER that has directed my paths for almost a half of a century.

The biggest lesson I have learned this far is that is possible to "defy gravity" at 48. I am finding more and more that as I leap...God provides a net, not only to catch me, but also a net to buoyantly toss me round like a chicken leg being tossed in a bag of shake-n-bake. The richness of the "batter" seeps into the very pores of my being and enhances the "flavor" that I have to offer God's world. (shaken-n-bake chicken sounds so good right now.)

In this place called Holy Hill, I am discovering that my age and life experience are actually a help to me in discovering and accepting the mysteries of the Bible. Just last night, I went to party in one of the "kids" rooms. I look at them at 22-26 or so and thank God that he brought me through those years unscathed and quite honestly still alive. Thank you God for watching after this slightly off center man.

So I see this "new year" as a time to reset and enhance the goals that I feel in my heart will take into this year. Part of those goals is that I will write more regularly in this blog. Yeah, it is fun to keep up with all of you...but this is becoming a way that I can commune with God. I find that as I have a spiritual intent in everything I do that I have more real chances to listen to God, ponder his leadings and gain the Holy Spirit's power to act. I am becoming more and more convinced that the Sermon on the Mount is not only a wonderful collection of Jesus' sayings...it is indeed the way he wants us to respond to each other...and that, my friends, is the only thing that I actually have control of in this life, HOW I RESPOND TO OTHERS. I pray this year is one where I can have a more immediate response to all those in need, whether it is in their spiritual, physical, or mental life. In stepping out, I will be able to spread that flavor of Jesus that they might not experience any where else. What a gift...What a responsibility!