From the President’s Desk:
A Season of Content
“You know most people live ninety percent in the past, seven per cent in the present, and that only
leaves them three per cent for the future.” – John Steinbeck, The Winter Of Our Discontent
It’s January now and as you read this message, we have celebrated Thanksgiving and Christmas and
we have rejoiced at the entrance of a new year. Hopefully, you have experienced the joy of fellowship
with family and friends, and have enjoyed good food and health. You’ve watched the small children
frantically tearing at the paper wrappings, small fingers assaulting the beautiful bows and exquisite
wrappings then discarding them with abandon as the next gift is selected. Good stuff! Right?
Hopefully, we remembered the true meaning of these holidays, especially Christmas. We have
experienced the Spirit of giving and in Christ’s case giving of Himself, even to the point of His death.
We have received through that act the greatest gift of all -- redemption and salvation. May we never
forget the price He paid and by our gratitude serve the greater community of mankind.
We need to vow to ourselves to recognize the efforts of others and show appreciation to them. We
do so now especially to our advertisers and their commitment to be a witness to the world, the
amazing staff, writers, and editors who produce the magazine, and to the reader. May you be blessed
in the coming year.
Let us be on guard against the possibility of depression attacking us in the dark doldrums of winter.
May we suggest we look beyond the cold winter days to the prospect of a new year embellished with
the coming of spring and all the hope it brings. Let us strive to reverse Steinbeck’s quote. We need
to think positively, act responsibly, show compassion and hold fast to our faith, believing God is in
control. All is well.
Joe Hale
The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old,
but on building the new. --Socrates
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