3 John 1:2-8   ² Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, just as it is well with your soul.  ³ I was overjoyed when some of the friends arrived and testified to your faithfulness to the truth, namely how you walk in the truth.  ⁴ I have no greater joy than this, to hear that my children are walking in the truth.  ⁵ Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the friends, even though they are strangers to you;  ⁶ they have testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on in a manner worthy of God;  ⁷ for they began their journey for the sake of Christ, accepting no support from non-believers.   ⁸ Therefore we ought to support such people, so that we may become co-workers with the truth.

“It’s all about the journey – mine and yours – and the lives we can touch, the legacy we can leave, and the world we can change for the better.”

- Tony Dungy, former coach of the Indianapolis

Colts and Super Bowl winners

            I did a word search of the Bible and found over 100 references to the word “journey.”  Sitting at home watching the Super Bowl yesterday, I thought about the journey that each team had been on in order to get to the last game of the season.  That journey started many years ago.  Many of the players starting playing in junior high or in middle school.  Then they played in high school, then college, and then into the NFL.  For them, it has been a lifelong journey.  The coaches started out small as well, and worked their way up to head coach.  No one was able to just walk on the field, play the game, and win without working hard to get there.

            This journey that we are on is about to reach a very important milestone.  Next month we celebrate 10 years.  It has been hard at times and easy at times.  But we have still made it.  And I know our journey will continue also.  For this next month, I would like each of you to pray about the next ten years that this congregation will have.  Pray that the legacy we leave is one in which others will be able to pick up and carry on.  Pray that we can indeed change the world.  Pray that we do not go through this journey together, but instead are led by the Spirit.  And let us pray that we bear the fruit necessary so that God’s grace can indeed reign in our hearts, congregation, and community.

In our prayers this week:  Jane and Norm, Ann, and Scott.

God’s Peace,