Bye Bye 2020!

Many of us are tempted to think Good Riddance, 2020! But let's not be so fast. Consider,

I Thess 5:16-18, "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." 

     Much good has come from this bad virus. Our ability to communicate virtually is MUCH superior to what it was a year ago. One of my dear colleagues with Cru in Guatemala, Chris C, just sent an email describing all the virtual ministries he has going and how his overall ministry has grown. In the same way, I (Phil) have been able to speak at many venues in Guatemala, Brazil, Wisconsin, Georgia, Minnesota, Clemson, and other places I wouldn't have been able to visit except for Zoom and Streamyard.
     Likewise, all of us in ministry are being forced to consider NEW strategies, and some of these will forever change the ways we do ministry. Even our APPRECIATION for face-to-face meeting has likely increased for many of us, and giving gratitude to G^d for this "assembling ourselves together" will increase substantially, whereas most of us took that for granted before.
     We are grateful for a great many things, including our friends. I pray that our gratitude for so many things we take for granted will last for many years to come. Our own appreciation for simple things has grown a great deal. Thanksgiving Day was absolutely beautiful here in Alabama. 

      For whatever reason, we expected the 2020 fall colors to be a bit drab, perhaps in keeping with many other aspects of the year. But, once again we were wrong. Instead the colors here were marvelous. One of our favorite verses is Romans 1:19-20, "For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made."
     Think about this, the dying deciduous leaves at the end of summer could have simply turned brown and fallen off, as they do some autumns. But G^d, in His grace and mercy gives us absolute beauty. 
     Enough talk. Take a look.



We hope you enjoy G^d's beautiful gift to us all, at least in the SE USA. Let's thank our L^rd for 2020. He can use even a deadly virus for His glory. He can change us more in trials than in smooth times. G^d is good regardless of circumstance. And we can be thankful that...2021 has simply GOT to be BETTER.
     We thank G^d for you in season and out. Pls keep praying for us and let us know how we can pray for you. And let's welcome 2021 with great expectations.