From the Pastor's Desk

If you've spent any time around children, you would know that during October there is one thing on their minds: "Halloween"! Ask any teacher, Sunday School teacher or parent.

As November comes, what is one of the first things that comes to mind for you? My guess would be that "Thanksgiving" would be right up there. Of all the holidays and seasons of the year, "Thanksgiving" has a unique character. It's not wild and noisy like the 4th of July, it doesn't mark the beginning or end of the summer season like Memorial Day or Labor Day, (although it does kind of mark the beginning of "the holidays"), and it doesn't have the religious significance of Christmas or Easter. It is simply a time to reflect on our blessings, usually with family and friends, and be thankful. By it's very nature Thanksgiving is a reminder that "It's not about me." To truly be thankful, as a nation or as an individual, means to look outside of ourselves, to THE source of our blessings, God our heavenly Father.

One can't be truly thankful, or have a thankful heart if ones attitude is "It's all about me!" That kind of "turned inwardness" sees blessings only as something earned or received because of some kind of entitlement. But to be truly thankful is to recognize "It's not about me", but rather it's about a gracious God who gives us more than we desire or deserve. For that reason, it seems fitting to bring our Stewardship emphasis, “It’s Not About Me” to a conclusion in November. The weekend of November 7-8 we are asking that we all bring our plans for giving for 2010 to worship, as a way of saying "thanks to God", and recognizing that all we are and have are gifts from God. As we make that important shift from "It's all about me" to "It's NOT about me", I can almost hear Jesus say, "You are not far from the kingdom of heaven."

May God give us the kind of thankful hearts that truly know "it's not about me", and which find joy and satisfaction in giving thanks and in living out an attitude of gratitude everyday.

Gratefully,
+Pastor Jack Diehl