A good year.

I survived my first year as a pastor!

My church surprised me with a cake and a card and a gift!  Since my birthday was so close, the decided to throw that into the mix as well.

I don't know how much my church has gotten out of me being there, but I have learned so much from my studies... but not just the studies.  That is normally what I would have said, but as I write this, I have learned more than just what I have studied.

I am learning things about these people that are here. I am learning about their joys and their sorrows.  I feel connected with them in their struggles of life.  I want to spend more time with them, getting to know them, but I am trapped in my own cycle of "trying to make it" (in other words: work).

I am truly thankful for this year.I am thankful for the lady who gives everyone in the church a hug.  I am thankful for the guy who greets everyone every week, and when he is sick, he makes sure there is someone who will be at that door.  I am thankful for the guy who has recently come back to church.  I am thankful for the new people who are coming, just because they heard there was a new preacher in town.  I am thankful for the older gentleman whose wife can't get out, but he is faithful to make it.  I am thankful for his encouragement each week as he makes a comment about something that he has learned from the Bible that goes right along with what I was talking about.  There are more, but I just wanted to say that I am thankful for this family.