Like the rushing, rolling waters of the mighty Niagara, time pushes on. Moses describes life as "a tale that is told," and James as "a vapor that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away." More than thirty years have passed since the day many of you helped our family move into the parsonage. In these years, some of you have advanced from youth into middle age and many of us are moving toward or have reached old age. We have wached many grow from infanccy into adult hood, and have had the privilige of performing weddings for those whose parents we also joined in marriage.  Usually, we are too busy to notice time as it is passing. When we pause in retrospection, however, we wonder where the time has gone and what has happened to the once promising prospects of the future.

    How we need to grasp Moses' prayer, "Teach us to number our days, that we might apply our hearts unto wisdom!" Too often we spend our time on the trivial, rather than investing our time in the important values of life. There is just too much to do and too much going on. Sometimes, I feel like the fellow who said, "The hurrieder I go, the behinder I get!" Like you, I frequently succumb to the circumstances of activity. We need to remember that what we do is far more important than how much we do. In this year of 1994, may God help us weigh the value of our activities. May we choose those which will give us joy in eternity!

    Let us resolve to "press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." May we seek to live in sweet, fulfilling, intimate fellowship with Jesus Christ. Let's set the goal to "know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings." Setting the goal, however, is not enough. We must take steps to reach that goal. Rather than being "careful and troubled about many things" as was Martha, let us pursue that "good part" as did Mary, who "sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word."

    God is gracious and caring, yet His holiness does not allow Him to be lenient toward evil. He considers our frame and remembers that we are dust, but never will God condone sin. His instruction to us is, "Be ye holy; for I am holy." May the reality of this truth seize our hearts. In this new year may we labor to "live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world." Only as we are willing to pay the price for holiness will God's blessing fully rest on us.

    Fellowship with Christ and developing in holiness cannot occur without knowledge of and submission to the Word of God. We are to, "desire the sincere milk of the word," and to "let the word of Christ dwell" in us. It is the Word of God "which effectually worketh also in you that believe." We are sanctified by His Word. Let us make this year  the Year of the Bible in our lives. If you have not already done so, pick up a reading chart at church and read through the Bible in this new year. But let's not be satisfied with reading it. Let us meet with Jesus daily in His Word and allow the Holy Spirit to use it to conform us to Christ.

    Another new year brings with it opportunities for which we will be accountable to God. We must grasp the solemn responsibility of being stewards of the Gospel of God's grace. The commission Jesus gave us nearly 2,000 years ago is still in effect. I dare not expect someone else to give the gospel to my friends, relatives, associates or neighbors. That is a responsibility the Lord has given me. "And ye shall be witnesses unto me," Jesus told the apostles. Likewise, you have that responsibility and accountability before God.

    These goals are as old as the Bible, but there are none better. Should Jesus tarry beyond today, may we be closer to reaching these goals than we are now.