From the Pastor's Desk

Guard the Good Deposit that was Entrusted to You

The fact that I am getting older is undeniable. I qualify for discounts at restaurants. Next year, I can get into the Fresno Fair for free. I received an invitation to join AARP in the mail. There is an irresistible temptation to talk to my friends about my physical challenges. But the most entertaining sign is the spectacle of Diana and I getting out of the car after a couple hour drive to Bakersfield to visit her mom, who lives in an assisted living center. We both exit hunched over, our legs move, but our upper halves are still at the angle of the car seat! I think I could park in the “Future Resident” space and get away with it now.

I recently went to a Social Security informational seminar. The presenter said retirement is like climbing a mountain. There is an ascent as you approach the summit and then there is a descent that follows. You make money and save while you are working and you protect assets when you stop. You gather and then you guard. Makes sense to me. 

Guardian and protecting resources are very important. One of the most profound insights I experienced at our 150th celebration was the realization of what a tremendous gift we have received from God and all those that have gone before us.

We did not invent Sunday morning worship. We were received into fellowship. The legacy of service has been passed forward to us. Our investment in the kingdom of God never stops. We need a combination of both stocks and bonds. This year, as an emphasis, I am reminded by the Apostle Paul to “Guard the Good Deposit”. 

We have, in a sense, a corporate, sacred portfolio to manage. We give to see growth. And we give to ensure that what we have, we will not forfeit.  May God bless our giving and sustain us for the future.