Over the next few months we are going to take special days for the leadership to express themselves. Hopefully you will get to know those who serve you at Journey a little better. I get to start since, well, it is my birthday. Today I turn 36 years old and hopefully you just said, "I thought you were much older than that because you are soooo wise!" or "I thought you were much younger than that cause you are sooo young looking!" However, my guess is you said "That's it!" or "You certainly don't act your age!"

However you see it I can't believe I am 36. Not because I feel like I am really old or anything like that. After all, I am now exactly half the age of our oldest elder R.L. Brown (sorry to throw you under the bus friend)!

I am pensive about my age today because it marks a milestone for me. You see I started following God when I was 18 years old. That means my life is now exactly split in half. I have lived half my life with Christ and half my life without Him, although he has certainly been near me all my days.

I can't imagine where I would be without Christ or what my life would be like. I am so grateful for His grace in my life to cover my sin! I am so grateful for His generosity in my life to bless me with an awesome wife, great kids, and a wonderful church! I am so grateful for His purpose in my life to give me a chance to live for Him these last 18 years!

As I look back I begin to look forward and ask, "What does the next 18 years hold?" Since I do not know what tomorrow holds for I am but grass, here today and gone tomorrow, I offer this prayer:

"God as long as I have breath in my lungs may I declare of your mercy! God as long as I have strength in my bones may I work hard for your glory! God as long as I have feeling in my soul may I love deeply those you place in my path! Amen."

Joe