I like to write about spirituality, and I like to share what encouragement I find in
scripture with others. But Church newsletters have always been hard for me.
Invariably the end of the month comes, and I know I must produce an article for
you all, but I sometimes don’t know what to write about, and I wonder who reads
these and if it is really worthwhile. I sometimes ask others what they’d like to read
if they were in the mood to read a church newsletter. Sometimes, they tell me they
are never in the mood. Ouch! Sometimes they aren’t in the mood for a sermon
either. But they get it anyway.

Isaiah 55:11 says that God’s word doesn’t return void, but “it shall accomplish that
which I purpose, and succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” I believe that the
extent that I speak the words God gives me, that they mean something, but it
doesn’t make the task of sitting down to write a newsletter article easy. So, usually
I end up sitting back and asking myself, what is it that Homestead Methodist
Church needs to hear right now? And I wait.

God is with us as a congregation, and we that God cares for us. I know church, and
our church along with many others, is facing challenges right now. Whether we like
to admit it or not, we are an aging congregation, and post Covid-19, some of the
folks that regularly warmed the pew next to you are not in worship anymore. This is
not unusual, a year of not going to church regularly and other times of restriction
broke the worship habit many people had. All you need to do to affirm this is look
around you while sitting in your pew. Those of us who remain after the covid years
are increasingly called upon to keep the ship sailing.

As your pastor, I am keenly aware of the challenges of keeping things running.
When there is a lull in congregational giving, I feel it. In this post pandemic world, I
don’t take it personally. The fact that giving is down is more to do with sheer
numbers and expenses. But here is the thing, I don’t think that God is done with us
yet.

I am grateful for the way that Homestead Methodist Church inhabits our
community. It is so surprising each month to see the sheer numbers of people in
our community and surrounding communities who are served by our Homestead
Community Food Pantry. In a post-covid world, I am excited to see all the ways that
HMC meets our neighbors with the love of Jesus. I am extremely grateful for those
of you who sacrificially give so that the ministries of this church can continue to
fund that.

The question that stays with me as a pastor is this: What kind of differences does
our church make for the community at large? I believe that God still has a plan for
us and that our church can make a real impact in the life of our community. Do you
believe this? We have reached a new season in the life of the church at large, that
requires imagination, discernment and awareness as we seek to meet the needs of
our church AND community. And I FIRMLY believe that God is with us as we step
out in faith!

As you know, we’ve been studying from ”The Greatest Chapter in the Bible”, Romans 8, the past several weeks. As I’ve pondered each week over the past week’s sermon and looked forward to the next week’s sermon, it got me to thinking that I should share just a few Bible verses, that have been meaningful to me, during my personal studies for this September newsletter.

The coming of Autumn (this year, the actual date is Monday, September 22^nd), for me, always seems to bring a time of reflection on the past summer and even the entire year.  So, here goes.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any^]trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.-2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NKJV)

This verse assures me that whatever hard things I’m facing, God will use it. Sometimes this happens even as I’m still in the difficult season. To know that the God of the universe is redeeming my situation and working through me to help others is very encouraging.

The next verse is a wonderful reminder to us all of God’s power in our lives. For with God nothing will be impossible.”. -Luke 1:37

The angel Gabriel spoke this message to Mary as he delivered the news, she would carry Jesus in her womb. What reassurance to have as we move forward in faith with fear nipping at our heels!

Lastly, for this month, here are some verses from Romans 8 beginning at verse 26—a great reminder of the power of God’s love.

Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”

Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. As we entire the season of Autumn 2025, may we be more and more aware of God’s grace, power, and peace through Jesus Christ.

It has been a busy summer around Homestead and Dorton, hasn’t it? But, as we grow older, aren’t we thankful that God gives us the strength and ability to stay busy as we serve Him together? By the time you receive this August newsletter, it will be time for school to start. Teachers, students, and school employees will be busy getting ready for the big day.  So, now that we are almost ready for school to start back, let’s look back at a few of the ways we have served him this summer.

Did you know that our Homestead ladies have been meeting to make crafts for our upcoming sale? This will occur during the famous 127 Yard Sale. Many of you have already purchased crafts for use in your homes. Talk to Jackie if you’d like to check out what they’ve been making.

We’ve also been getting really serious about Operation Christmas Child. You may be thinking Christmas is a long way off. Yes, it is. But the time to pack these gift boxes will be here before you know it.

We have several new attenders who may not know much about this great cause. Operation Christmas Child is a project of Samaritan’s Purse which is an international relief organization.  For this project Samaritan’s Purse partners with churches and other local organizations that work with children in areas of the world impacted by poverty, war, famine, natural disaster, or disease.  These organizations can then use these shoeboxes as a way to reach out to these communities with the good news of Jesus as they use the shoeboxes to bless the children who receive them.  All told, Samaritan’s Purse has partners in 170 different countries that they work with!

While, by this time, you have missed the state sales tax holiday, and maybe even some of the back-to-school sales, it is never too late to help out with this project. Shoeboxes are packed based on age category. We are doing ages 5-9 and are packed for either a boy or a girl.   There is a lot that can go into a shoebox.  Some possible items include: Clothing items such as socks, sunglasses, personal care items that are non-perishable such as a brush, washcloths, fun band-aids, and toothbrushes (but not toothpaste); School supplies and craft items such as coloring pencils, crayons, scissors, pencil cases, stickers, and glue sticks.  Of course, since these go to children, small toys are also good options, such as dolls, musical instruments, stuffed animals, and other small toys or figures are all popular options.

The Naomi group, our new widows and widowers group, have begun feeling their way through the beginning of meeting as another ministry of our church.  If you would like to be a part of that group, or help in some way, please see Margaret Hamby or Martha Hale.

Finally, have you noticed the parking lot being full of cars on Thursday evenings. That is the new AA group (Alcoholics Anonymous) that has just been formed.  This group came from another church whose group had grown too large and needed to be split.  We are so proud and thankful that God allows us to make our building available for this vital ministry.

Dorton has been busy, too. Beginning with the First Sunday in June meal at Pastor Tim and Mrs. Preachers, and continuing through the after-school cookout, singings, and fellowships, our wonderful Dorton partners have worked hard this summer to make it a sweet time to serve the Lord.

In closing, please let me remind you that your faithful attendance and giving is what keeps our churches sustained. We are reminded “not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together as the manner of some is but rather exhorting one another.” That comes from Hebrews 10. The writer is urging us to encourage one another. And one of the great ways to do that is to maintain regular church attendance. Realizing that there are times of sickness, difficulties, and activities for which we cannot miss, we really should put forth the effort to make sure we are in attendance at our church, thereby encouraging one another.

So, you see, it has not been a lazy summer around Homestead and Dorton! I am excited to see what Autumn 2025 holds in store for our two churches. But, most of all, I pray that God’s Spirit continues to influence our every move.

The United States of America, this month, celebrates another birthday. She is 249 years old! You know what that means. Next year, 2026, we will celebrate 250 years. Now, we know what a 100 year anniversary is called. It is a centennial. Cumberland County itself celebrated one of those in 1956. Anyone here that was around back then? I think we have a few native Cumberland Countians who would have been alive then. Charles and Ella? Gordon? John? That year, 1956, was even before my time. But I’ve seen pictures of the great celebration that took place on Main Street that year here in the county. Some of you may have participated in those festivities.

However, I do remember the year 1976 when America celebrated it’s 200^th birthday, known as the Bi-Centennial. I’m sure more of you remember that special time. I remember the great celebration that took place on Main Street to celebrate America’s birthday.

But that brings us to this time next year, July 4, 2026. Know what that anniversary is called? How about Semi quincentennial? Yes, that’s really what a 250^th anniversary is called.

All of this reminds me that we really ought to be praying for our country. With all the uncertainly in this world, it reminds us that prayer and God’s presence in our lives is one of the few steadfasts we have. We’ve been hearing about such manmade catastrophes as nuclear blasts for nearly 80 years. And here it is 2025, and we still haven’t solved this problem. Without trying to be too negative, it behooves us to always be prayed up and ready. No matter what comes our way.

Who knows whether any of us will see the Semi-quincentennial on July 4, 2026! Our lives are precarious, according to James the brother of Jesus in his epistle. He goes as far as to say our lives are “even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.”  Some might say that’s a morbid thought. But it’s only morbid if we’re not ready to meet the Lord. We’ve lost several of our church members and church friends in the last year or so. We never know “when our number is up” as the old saying goes.

What’s more, Jesus may come before July 4, 2026! If He does, then we’ll all go flying up through the air to meet Him. Won’t that be glorious! In the meantime, we can pray and be about our Father’s business. If we are around to celebrate the Semi-quincentennial, great! If not, we’ll celebrate in Heaven. Either way, SEE YOU THERE!

June is the month summer begins. These dreary rainy days we’ve been experiencing sure give us cause to long for the warmth and sunshine of summer. The wet, wet, wet May we experienced hopefully gives way to the sunshine of the month of June.

But I’ve been thinking about Christmas! What, you say? Christmas? Yes, the traditional Christmas carol “O, Come All Ye Faithful” has been on my mind of late. I have no idea why exactly. Maybe instead, I should have such songs as “In the Good Old Summertime” or “Summer in the City” on my mind. But instead, it’s “O, Come All Ye Faithful.” I think our good friend Kyle would agree with me that there is absolutely nothing wrong with thinking of, even singing, Christmas songs year-round.

Have you ever really thought about and listened to the words of “O, Come All Ye Faithful”? In particular, have you listened to the words of the second and third verses? Are those words describing us as we enter the sanctuary for worship service?

Obviously, we’re not angels, but we do sing together as a “choir” even though we’re not all gathered together in a choir setting. The second verse says “Sing, choirs of angels…sing in exaltation.” Do we sing when we gather to worship with “exaltation”? Do we really feel it down in our soul and spirit? “Glory to God…All glory in the highest!”  Or do the words just come out kind of draggy and forced? Just a Sunday or two back, one of new attendees remarked as she was going out the door, “I sure do love the singing at Homestead!” That’s what I’m talking about. Let’s sing with exuberance! Le’s enjoy the worship through singing as much as our Lord enjoys hearing it.

Also, we should come to church on Sunday morning ready to worship! One of the most important ways we worship is with our singing. The Psalmist frequently used singing as a means of praising God and expressing joy in his presence. Singing is presented as a joyful expression of worship, a way to declare God’s glory, and a form of thanksgiving. Psalm 96:1 encourages singing to the Lord, while Psalm 100:1 calls for making a joyful noise to the Lord. The Psalms also mention singing as a response to God’s actions, such as in Psalm 40:3 where a new song is given after deliverance. 

What about verse three? “Yea Lord, we greet thee.”  Every day, including worship days, should begin by greeting our wonderful Savior. And to this wonderful savior, we say “to thee, be all glory given.”

O, Come let us adore Him! Yes, Lord, we adore thee! We adore thee in winter, at Christmas time. We adore thee in summer! We adore thee 365 days a year!

Revelation 4:11 says “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.”

Our God is worthy of our adoration all the time!

Jackie Gleason, the famous comic of the 1960s and 1970s, used to begin his Saturday evening television program with the phrase, “And away we go!”  It reminds me of the hecticness (is there such a word?) of our lives.  Busy, busy, busy! There seems to be no easing down through life anymore. It’s always go, go, go!  I talk to so many folks as pastor whose complaint is, “I don’t have time for anything these days!”  And I whole-heartedly agree. It seems to be the same at the parsonage.

I remember when I was just a lad, and I thought that time surely did pass slowly. My next older brother Nelson, who passed away four years ago this past February, was over seven years older than me.  I can distinctly remember when he was getting ready to graduate eighth grade at Bondecroft Elementary School. Back then, they made a big “to-do” about the eighth grade graduation. Graduates were expected to really “dress up” in the best suits, ties, dresses and formal wear for the graduation ceremony itself. So that has always been a fond remembrance for me, as by the time I got a little older, the powers-that-be had moved the seventh and eighth grades to town to the new middle school. So, our ”graduation”, if you could even call it that, was from the sixth grade. We didn’t even have a graduation ceremony, much less a big “to-do”.

Anyway, getting back to the story, I remember when Nelson was graduating from the eighth grade. I was just coming out of the first grade. And, yes, I do remember that, even though it has been many years ago. I remember thinking, “I’ll never get to eighth grade graduation. Of course, at that time, I never even thought about there not even being a graduation. It seemed so far away…so many years away. And then, next thing I knew, he was graduating from high school in the Class of 1970.  I was coming out of fifth grade by then. And again, I’m thinking, “high school graduation is so far away”.  Out of the six brothers, I was now the only one still in school. And I’d be there another seven years. Of course, little did I know, that six more years of college and grad school lay out there in the future, too.

Fast forward to today!  Wow, time sure doesn’t poke along now, does it?  It seems like only yesterday I was still in school, still at home with Mom and Dad, and still enjoying the innocence of youth. I look in the mirror, and sometimes I’m shocked! Who is that old guy? Where did the time go?  How has time flown by so quickly?

The Bible advises us to use our time wisely because God knows that there are many things in life that can distract us from what truly matters. We shouldn’t waste our time so that we look back with regret – we don’t know what tomorrow holds, but as the old beloved hymn says, “I know who holds tomorrow!” The psalmist wrote in Psalm 31:15, “My times are in Your hands”.  Our best course of action moving forward, be it moving fast or moving slow, is to remember that God’s got everything under control.  And He definitely holds tomorrow.

We are now in the middle of an incredibly special and important part of our church year – the Season of Lent which runs from Ash Wednesday through Holy Week leading us to the annual Easter celebration. In many ways, this season of the year has become increasingly commercialized and secularized – much like the annual Advent and Christmas season. Even among those who are believers in Jesus as Savior and Lord, there are trends away from the sacred message of the Season of Lent and Easter and more emphasis on commercialized and secularized observances of this season.

This season of the year is one in which we recall and prayerfully consider the passion and crucifixion of Jesus Christ on the “Old Rugged Cross” at Golgotha – and then the celebration of the Good News that the tomb was empty – and that Jesus Christ arose from the dead! Let us never forget the message of the Cross and the Resurrection as the foundation of our Christian faith. Without the Cross, there is no Resurrection. Without the Resurrection, the Cross is nothing more than the story of the death of one among many enemies of the Roman state and a would-be Messiah of the Jews.

Let’s be reminded of how we’ll wind up the season of Lent. Please note that we will have our annual Seder Meal one week earlier than normal due to the busyness of Holy Week. It will be held Thursday evening, April 10^th at 6:00 at Homestead Church.

This year, Holy Week begins on April 13th with Palm Sunday. We will be waving our palm branches in the morning services. It marks the beginning of Holy Week and all that unfolds in the story of the suffering, death, and resurrection of Christ. For all the kiddies, there will be an Egg Hunt for Dorton, Homestead, and First Church (at Dorton) on Palm Sunday afternoon beginning at 3:00 pm.

We’ll begin worship on Easter Sunday with our annual Easter Sunrise Service and Breakfast. This year, it will take place at Dorton Church. Let’s all support this early morning celebration by attending and participating. He is Risen! Easter service at Dorton will take place at 9:00 am. Another Egg Hunt will take place after this service for all the kiddies. The Homestead Easter service will take place at 11:00 am. Our Homestead kiddies are invited to participate in an Egg Hunt immediately after the service.

In addition, we’ll have several “special” Sundays throughout the month celebrating our churches and our people. Such events as “Friends and Family Day”, Easter “Hat Day”, and others should be lots of fun and a wonderful encouragement.

That’s a busy week and a busy month! 

I like to spend the days of Holy Week preparing for the worship services that come on Easter Sunday. When I say prepare, it’s so much more than just finalizing plans for the services, it’s preparing ME for what is to come. How will the suffering, death, and resurrection stir my soul this year? Will I hear something different? Will it affect me in new ways? How will this move from a story to a journey within me? May God bless our Holy Week – Sunday to Sunday. God be with us in our prayers, God be with us in our work, God be with us in our rest, God be with us as we prepare to be transformed.

Let’s make the month of April 2025 a period in which we place emphasis upon the Cross and the Resurrection. On the Cross, Jesus paid the price of our sins. In the Resurrection, Jesus has conquered death. What a powerful and wonderful message we must share with our community and world. As I say every Sunday before you walk out the door, “SHARE JESUS”! Yes, let’s be about the business of our faith – sharing Jesus Christ with others – and ministering to the “lost and least” in the name of the Resurrected Jesus. Amen.

In my devotional the other day, I was reading about the life of Gideon in the book of Judges. You’ll find his story in chapter 6. If you need a refresher on the timeline, the book of Judges is continuing the story of the Israelites, the nation who God began to develop through leaders like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Moses. Later, Israel would have leaders in the form of kings, like Saul and David. But, in between those two seasons the nation of Israel was led by Judges.

And when you hear “Judge”, don’t think of a judge in a courtroom today, instead think of military leaders ruling over specific portions of land and people. One of those judges was named Gideon. And while Gideon is often known for his courageous and miraculous military victory, you may not know that earlier in Gideon’s story, he is hiding and afraid. In fact, in Judges 6, God, through an angel, declares two profound truths to Gideon:

1. The Lord is with you!

2. The Lord is going to use you!

And get this! Gideon disagrees with the angel on both! You see, at this point in Gideon’s life, he was experiencing real brokenness, pain, and isolation. And in his perspective, God wasn’t with him and his people. Instead, He had abandoned them. In Gideon’s perspective, God couldn’t use a broken and weak person like him. Gideon thought God needed someone else who was strong according to the world’s standards.

What we see with Gideon is often what we experience today. We tend to shape our perspective according to our circumstances instead of God’s character. We tend to measure our potential for impact according to our current predicament, instead of God’s eternal promises.

How about we make a concerted effort in our lives to remember that we serve a Big God, a God who knows our circumstances and holds the solutions to all of life’s problems. There is NOTHING too big for our God!

Way back in the year 1967, which was before many of you were even born, a well-known British rock band by the name of The Beatles recorded a song called “All You Need Is Love”.  As I sit here in the church office on this cold January morning in the year 2025, I think back on that song and all the different levels of meanings we could take from it.

What has brought this on, Pastor Tim, you may ask? Well, it’s February after all, the “month of love”.  It is the month of Valentine’s Day.  Did you know that Valentine’s Day spending is one of the highest amounts for any holiday of the year.  In the year 2023, which was the most recent year for which I could find statistics, very nearly twenty-six billion dollars was spent. That came out to an average per person spending, according to those statistics, of $274.00 per person. Wow!

Here is some info from a website called lendingtree.com. It is very interesting to say the least. This info was projected for the past year 2024.

16 Valentine’s Day Spending Statistics

• 82% of Americans in relationships — whether dating, engaged or married — planned to buy Valentine’s Day gifts for their significant others in 2024.
• These Americans in relationships planned to spend an average of $180 on their significant others for Valentine’s Day in 2024.
• That $180 average was lower than in 2023 ($187) and 2022 ($208) but higher than in 2021 ($144) and 2020 ($142).
• Men expected to spend 116% more on their valentines in 2024 than women — $248 versus $115.
• Millennials planned to spend the most on their significant others among the age groups for Valentine’s Day in 2024, shelling out an average of $262. That’s followed by Gen Z’ers ($201), Gen Xers ($138) and baby boomers ($81).
• 33% of consumers in relationships said they may take on credit card debt due to Valentine’s Day spending this year.
• 24% planned to gift their partner an experience, such as travel, tickets or a dinner out, in 2024. Experiences were also the top gift significant others hoped to receive.
• 61% of Americans expected to celebrate Valentine’s Day in 2024 — up four percentage points from 2023. That’s tied with New Year’s Eve for the biggest expected jump between 2023 and 2024.
• 11% of Americans typically prepare more than three months before Valentine’s Day. Another 17% prepare only one to two days in advance.
• Only 12% of Americans gather with friends and family for Valentine’s Day — the lowest among 14 tracked holidays. The next closest is Halloween, at 28%.
• 39% of Americans go out to eat for Valentine’s Day — the highest among those same tracked holidays. An additional 13% order food for takeout or delivery.
• 40% of Valentine’s Day celebrators planned to buy gifts at big-box stores like Walmart and Target — the highest category. They also planned to shop at grocery stores (33%), online retailers (27%) and discount or dollar stores (23%).
• Consumers were expected to spend $25.8 billion on Valentine’s Day in 2024, down from $25.9 billion in 2023.
• Consumers were expected to spend $14.2 billion on their significant others this Valentine’s Day, up from $13.5 billion in 2023.
• 58 million pounds of chocolate are purchased during Valentine’s Day week.
• About 145 million Valentine’s Day cards are exchanged every year, making it the second-largest holiday for doing so.

All well and good, I suppose.  But what about the greatest love of all (another song title, I believe)? John 3:16 says, “”For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life”. The fact that God gave to mankind the very best that he had, His only Son, speaks volumes about love. The Bible is crammed full of reminders about God’s love for us through Jesus Christ His Son.

And what about the cost? We listed all those financial statistics about the cost of Valentine’s Day in the United States. But the price of our salvation has been paid by the very blood Jesus Himself. One cannot place a monetary cost on His sacrifice!

So, during this “month of love” including Valentine’s Day, let’s remember the love of our Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus!

Ho Ho Ho! Oops, I’m a little late for that. In all seriousness, our hope and prayer is that your Christmas season was a glorious time of sharing in the blessings of God with your family and church family. With Christmas now in the rear view mirror, so to speak, remembrances and reflections indicate that we were all very busy with all the get-togethers and activities. But we know that we wouldn’t have it any other way. After all, that’s one of the things that makes it Christmas, isn’t it? That said, I hope that we continue to remember though that Jesus is and always will be the reason for the season! And speaking of Christmas, Mrs. Preacher and I want to thank you all for the many expressions of love shown to us during the season. The cards, letters, gifts, and food, were so appreciated and reminded us once again of how much we love and appreciate each of you and know that you love and appreciate us!

What do we say now? Oh! HAPPY NEW YEAR! I was thinking about where we all were 25 years ago about this time. Do you remember? Do you remember a little thing called Y2K? Some of you weren’t even around on December 31, 1999. You were born after that date. After all, 25 years? That’s a quarter of a century. Amazing, isn’t it?

Well, if you weren’t around yet, or if you’ve simply forgotten, let me remind you about Y2K. For months, and in some cases even years, we had been warned that the stroke of midnight on December 31, 1999, may be the ruination of our lives. Computers (yes, we had computers back then) were going to simply cease operating and anything digital would basically be fried. We got cash from our bank accounts because the banks would have to shut down. Many of us rushed around trying to prepare in whatever way possible, to get ready. Back home, we had and continue to have an underground well. We’ve been on “county water” for many years. But the well was still there. I even purchased a “well bucket” just in case the county water ceased flowing from the taps. Again, some of you kids probably don’t even know what a “well bucket” is. I’ll let you “google” that one. We tried our best to be ready, just in case, by doing everything we could think of to get ready. But, alas, it all seemed to be a giant waste of effort, time, and money. January 1, 2000 (Y2K) dawned with most everything working exactly as it was working the day before. As the old saying goes, “much ado about nothing”.

Were we wrong in trying to be prepared “just in case”? My answer would be no, not really. There is nothing wrong with being prepared. Even the Boy Scouts believe in being prepared, don’t they? And who knows, the day may come when all those fears about Y2K may come to pass. With the volatility in the world today, one never knows what calamity might bring about such an event.

Old Ben Franklin once said, “by failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail”. Solomon, the wise writer of the book of Proverbs, wrote the following in Chapter 6, verses 6-8, “Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.” So even the ant is prepared for the future. As we enter the new year 2025, let’s be reminded of what the Bible says in Jeremiah 29:11-13, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.”

May we all continue to seek Him with all our hearts in this new year!