It’s surreal getting hard, unexpected medical news. Dreams of living to a ripe old age seem instantly compromised. Internet medical research yield articles of comfort and hope—and grim realities.

Not all believers respond the same way, but I was immediately blessed with a calm assurance that God has this. He knows the path forward and will walk it with me. We have a Savior who experienced the worst suffering imaginable, firsthand…for us.

We know the Apostle Paul dealt with a very wide range of challenging circumstances, including shipwrecks and imprisonment. He wasn’t a fearful man, afraid of change. He certainly didn’t use contentment as an excuse for not moving forward…it was quite the opposite. Contentment helped him adapt to whatever came his way.

With the end in clearer sight, we sense greater urgency in making the rest of our lives count for the kingdom.

DL Moody shared a great thought: “Our greatest fear should not be of failure, but of succeeding at something that doesn't really matter.”

We’re not always faithful in giving something up for Lent, but this time around we both felt compelled to give up something that could easily translate to success in nonessential matters.

May we make room in our hearts for the miraculous. God has done it countless times, and He can do it again.

As He leads, let’s be open to going against the grain of diminished, later-life, ‘that’s the way it is’ expectations, knowing when Jesus is in the room...anything is possible.

Another new year with early reminders that we live in uncertain, turbulent times.

Our local hardships paled in comparison to the fires that ravaged Southern California. Over and over, we heard people talking about the scale of these fires and how surreal it is to lose everything: homes, schools, churches, businesses.

Their tragedy, along with several others already in 2025, challenge us once again to value and prioritize what’s important.

As we encourage flourishing in life’s later years, we realize not everyone flourishes right up to the very end. Lots of pain, misery and disability often accompany the final weeks, months and sometimes years of physical and mental decline.

May we all hang on tightly to the promise of Psalm 92:14 (NKJV):

They shall still bear fruit in old age; they shall be fresh and flourishing.

We’re sure there were plenty of rule-followers there the day Jesus delivered his Sermon on the Mount, with the Pharisees being chief among them.

But Jesus challenges those determined to color inside the lines and paints a very different picture of what following after God means.

We’re called not to just follow principles or rules but to follow hard after God, attentive to His voice and open to taking the harder path.

Both Judy and I had dads who ran successful businesses, Judy’s in residential painting and mine in home building.

When their respective careers in these trades ended, they closed up shop. Their highly respected businesses did not have successors, but they certainly continued to touch many lives in their ensuing decades.

When it comes time for us to step down from the executive leadership of YES!, we too want to continue touching many lives, with or without job titles.

And we’re extremely grateful that the ministry of YES! will continue, under the capable leadership of Dan & Shani Parotti.

We’re not startled when college students show an interest in children’s ministry or youth ministry. Why should an interest in life’s later stages be off limits?

We’re convinced that pastors and older adult leaders have not been deliberate enough in seeking after young leaders.

When tragedy strikes or the world appears to be beyond repair, we marvel at God's steadfastness. As we approach a new election and are bombarded with hyped campaign advertisements and urgent emails about the state of our nation, it can create added anxiety.

But when we walk outside and take a deep breath, we are reminded that the God who created the universe is still providing air for our lungs, trees for the birds, and rain for the earth. It is truly a marvel. His ways are not our ways.