The New Decade
As I write this tonight, we are about one week away from saying goodbye to this decade (2000-2009) and starting a new one. What are some highlights of this decade that you remember most? Is it the Y2K scare? 9-11? Perhaps it’s the advent of Facebook or Twitter.
Well as I reflect on this past decade, I can only come to the conclusion that this decade was a decade of experiencing new heights with God for me. So much can change in ten years. The world saw the end of tube TV’s and the start of flat and flatter TVs, YouTube is a sensation, TSA and security are in and pretzels/peanuts are out on air travel, Bono became known more as a human justice proponent than a singer, we went from analog to digital cameras, ieverything has become the hit in technology, video games are now controlled by motion not just a control pad, the economy went from Bull to Bear, we sadly saw the end of the 49ers dynasty and the start of the Patriots one, churches are now not talking about mega but multi-site, and we now have the first minority American President.
Ten years does not seem like a long time, but you can clearly see the amount of change that can take place in those short ten years. As I look back on the past decade, so much has changed for me personally. I got married, started full-time pastoral position at church, moved cross country twice, had three children (expecting a 4th), became Lead Pastor of a church, personally discipled over 140 people (close to 50 are currently either in or pursuing full-time ministry), own the one vehicle I said I would never own (minivan), finished seminary, started doctorate studies, He has connected me to my two spiritual mentors/fathers (Dr. Gary Cook and Rev. Daniel Park), I flew over 370,000 flight miles, gained 7 inches on my waist, 0 inches to my height, and went from dominating in sports to being dominated. A lot can change in ten years!
I am so grateful to God for the past ten years. As I reflect back, He has brought me closer to Him than ever before. God’s hands were clearly all over my life the past decade. Once I committed my life to Him, His footprints were all over my life and He has guided me and grown me so much.
As I reflect on this, I cannot imagine what the next ten years will look like. Wow! I am so excited to see all that God has in store for me, for my family and for our church. At 2020, I will be 47 years old; my oldest daughter will be 16 and learning to drive and will still be told to stay away from boys. I wonder how much more closer I will be with God then. I cannot imagine all the people God will bring my way so that I can serve and point them in God’s direction and then to see what God will do through them and our church. It seems like this will be so far away, but when I look back at the past ten years, it all went so fast.
Life moves fast! Live the moment! Repent of your wicked ways and turn back to God (2 Chronicles 7:14). Serve and love Him. Be good to your family and love God with all your heart (Matthew 22:36-38). There can be amazing and great changes for you too in ten short years. It’s already happened to me. A lot can change and so can you. Live your life to the fullest for God and for His Kingdom. Love you guys!
