Putting Our Behinds in the Past

Most of you already know that one of my all time favorite movies is the Lion King. You may also know that my two favorite characters in the movie are Timon and Pumba. When Timon and Pumba found young Simba exhausted in the desert and nearly dead, they tried to cheer him up. They told him, in essence, that the best way to face life in the present is to forget the bad things of the past. Pumba, perhaps not the brightest bulb on the string, told Simba, and I quote, “put your behind in the past”. The quick-witted Timon corrected Pumba and told Simba he should “put the past behind him”.  I don’t think that simply saying “Hakuna Matada” is going to solve America’s problems.  I do hope, however, that Americans can take the advice of a wart hog and a meerkat and put the past behind us.  The election is over and the people have spoken. Even more comforting is the fact that “God has spoken”.

 Whatever your political persuasion, it is time to remember that we are all Americans, and more importantly, we are believers. No matter how you feel about the results of the election, the encouraging truth for us should be that God is still in control. Let us commit to pray for our leaders and cooperate in making America the best country on the planet. If you want to have an impact going forward, and you are a registered voter, get out and vote at the next opportunity. If you are not registered, you should make it a priority to become a registered voter. Either way, you should encourage your friends and acquaintances to do likewise. It is the American way.

On a different note, we are deeply immersed in the process of evaluating the viability of the Hillcrest purchase. As you might expect from a project this large, there are challenges, and some of the challenges are daunting. Our study on the book of Joshua is particularly timely considering our effort to acquire the Hillcrest property. Yes, it is a good land. It is a land flowing with “milk and honey”. But there are giants in the land. God told Joshua, “No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you.” (Joshua 1:5 NASB) These words are resonating in my spirit. No matter what happens, God is with us. We don’t have to fear men. We will not overcome without struggle,  but the outcome is determined and the victory is assured. We just have to be careful not to look to the left or to the right.

As I celebrate another “birthday month”, I want to thank all of you who remembered. Perhaps you sent a card or perhaps you gave a gift or perhaps you just said “Happy Birthday”. Whatever you did, I am grateful.  I feel privileged to have been called to serve you, and with God’s grace I will continue to serve until God releases me to do something else.  May God richly bless you and yours over this Thanksgiving season.

NDCBF Home Page