Half Past

It is hard to believe that today marks the end of the first six months of 2009.

God has been GOOD!

I really have to say that I feel incredibly blessed to be living the life that He has granted me. I have a top notch family and we get along great (when we're not annoying each other!). I love my church family, as well. It is so exciting to look to the wonders that God has in store for us as a church. We continue to see people reaching out to others and new believers coming into the family.

I continue to get calls for preaching revivals and have a pretty full fall calendar (I need to update that part of this page). The camps and revivals that I've been a part of this spring have been wonderful experiences. The calls and events are affirmation that full-time ministry is definitely in the future.

In spite of the work place politics and dysfunctional management of the FAA, I have a great job. It is something that I have enjoyed doing and it has provided well for my family. I'm glad to be able to do it for another 2 years, 6 months and 7 days.

While the dismal economy has had its effect on our family, we have been dealing with it and are very prosperous compared to most of the world. The areas that we've cut back in (and still need to trim some more) would be considered luxuries in many households. I know that my kids think that we live in the Dark Ages with only basic cable service and cell phones that are just cell phones and not the "smart phone" variety with full internet capabilities. We have a couple of aging laptops that serve as our computers and are obsolete by computer standards of 5 years ago! No satellite radio, no HD television, no big screen, flat screen or even digital TV. We barely have a working DVD player!

We have decent shelter, more than enough food to eat (you don't get to be this size with an empty 'fridge), four--count 'em--four cars, and enough money to blow on dinner out (too often), an occasional trip to the frozen custard stand, a baseball game or two and the ever popular overpriced Starbuck's coffee. We are blessed with good health and good health care coverage.

As much as I look forward to the day when I get to see my Jesus in heaven, I am looking forward to seeing what the second half of 2009 holds for me and my family. July will host a family reunion for the Hill family (in Indianapolis), a night at a kid's camp (Waynesville MO), another week long kid's camp (Potosi, MO) and a trip to St. Louis for a Cardinal baseball game with my son (his Christmas present to me)! Of course no Cardinal baseball game is complete without a ball park dog and a post game trip to Ted Drewe's...and that's just in July!

I hope that your world--your life--is as full of hope as mine is. I hope that you are looking forward to meeting with Jesus face to face one day, but committed to enjoying this life and walking with Him until that day! If you want some really good news (for a change), check this out: God loves you!

How do I know that? The Bible says that God demonstrates His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Jesus died for us!

Now that's GOOD NEWS!

John <><