Happy New Year 2009




2008 stands in the rear view mirror. It had its high points and low points. We elected a new president in a historic election. We also saw gas prices pass $4 and then fall near $1.50. The economy, already in a difficult position, collapsed. Banks closed or were bailed out. Wall Street is in tatters. The Auto industry followed the housing industry into the tank. Now we have Gaza in flames.

On a lighter note, my Giants didn't do very well, and neither did the 49ers. But the Giants show some promise -- Tim Lincecum is dynamite on the mound and Matt Cain just needs a bit of luck and run support to fulfill his promise. Fred Lewis, Emmanuel Burris, and Pablo Sandoval show signs of breaking out for the Post-Bonds era Giants. Oh, and the Ducks won their bowl game, and reached the 10 win plateau once again.

Of course I moved from sunny Southern California to Michigan to take up a new ministry that has a lot of promise. So, not all is bad!

So, 2009. What will it bring? That I don't know. I'm hoping for good things. I'm hoping that a new administration will bring competence, compassion, and foresight to the government of our nation. I know that I won't always agree with the new President. But I have high hopes for him. I'm hoping for signs of an economic turn around. I also hope that with a new administration we will pursue in a more sustained fashion, diplomatic efforts that will bring peace.

I share this prayer as a way of entering the new year in prayerful expectation:


God of all times and yet beyond time,
you call us into this new year still to be named.
Help us travel light in faith and expectation.
Guide us in this new venture of imagination.
Make us bold witnesses to the in-breaking of your future.
Let us rest our times in yours,
confident that we do not enter this new year alone.
(from Chalice Worship, p. 155).

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