The past...to many that is a scary phrase. The year in review brings back guilt anew. The sorrows, sins and silly slip-ups get in your face and haunt you like re-occurring nightmare. So looking back over 2009 would be about as fun as being dragged over wounded scorpions. Yet I would still encourage you to do so for this reason: grace. If you peer hard enough into your accumulated memories, you will find the fingerprints of God over all your botches and blunders- and the finger that left the prints is pointing towards forgiveness and restoration. Remember that Jesus is the God of second chances (and third, fourth, fifth etc.).

Learn from your mistakes and move on- that's what the Apostle Paul did:

Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us up to heaven. (Philippians 3:13-14)

Paul was a lot like us. He looked back and saw things he was proud of, and things he was ashamed of. Yet rather than revel and grovel in obsessive observations, he made a decision to employ a wonderful technique for dealing with the past: forgetting.

Remember the other face? It looks towards the future. Not in a ridiculous and useless resolution sort of way, but in a dedicated and determined fashion that takes seriously the high calling of being a believer left on this planet to advance God's Kingdom one day and one life at a time- because each day is a gift.

What impact does the attitude of 'each day being a gift' have on a person? Perhaps it differs with each individual- dare to share ministries

Looking forward: Both High School and Jr. High are going to Acquirer The Fire at Michigan State University May 01 and 02 * The Cost will be $42.00

We say good-bye to Ruben Nakano as he completes his exchange semester with the Evans' in Ubly and wish him God's blessings on his life as he returns to Brazil. We welcome Kai Loon Wong, Darren, as he joins us for the next semester. Make sure you say hello to him when you see him in church!