How will you say farewell to 2013?
2013 is almost over. Another year is coming to an end. That is 365 days of the rising and setting of the sun that are soon to be a memory. I feel the need to be like Zack Morris from Saved by the Bell and call time out. Can we at-least hit pause? I need to step back and remember the year that was, before I can move on to new goals and resolutions for 2014. I don't want to waste the moments. I don't want to forget the memories. I don't want to miss the joy or the sadness.
I'm sure you have heard the old adage, "Haste makes waste." So why are we always so hasty to party and move on? The tortoise always beats the hare. The tortoise always wins. I've read the ending a million times. This year, I don't want to be in a hurry to move on. I want to slow down. I want to pause. I need time to reflect to not waste the moments. I'm growing tired of being young and arrogant. It's time to number my days and realize that life is short. 365 more days. 365 more days of my short life are gone. What did I do with them?
What did you do with yours?
12 Moments I Will NOT Waste (and one resolution):
1. Reninca Hill came to visit. I have a special spot in my heart for missionaries; specifically young missionaries who walk away from comfortable living to pursue missions. I met Reninca from the Haiti Hospital Appeal in 2011 and was honored to have her come and visit with our faith community. She has been instrumental in the formation of the Peace and Joy Project as well. Look for more details on this in 2014!
2. I turned 30 and the loving people of The Bridge made me a gift! Let's just say that time flies when you are having fun with the people you love. I do finally feel old and "experienced" enough to actually be a lead pastor of a church.
3. The Kaleo Project. I have had the privilege to be a part of training potential church planters and pastors for the past year in the Kaleo Project. I have been blessed to partner with Parkland Chapel and see men like Brian Dunlap, Mike Minghi, Ezra Valencia, Jerrod Tune, Ronnie Buckingham, Marcus Archer, Zack Mills, Randall Turnbough, and Lance Calvert grow. I am increasingly convinced that all churches must be actively in pursuit of raising up and sending out pastors, missionaries, and church planters.
4. I said goodbye to Parallax View. For over a decade I led worship at various youth events with my band before putting a period at the end of our sentence together in April. You can read about this transition in my life here. I miss these guys. The photos below are from our last show together.
5. Relentless - Easter 2013. I'm still blown away by the grace of God that I experienced within the context of community on this day. I remember your goodness, oh Lord.
6. My family laughed, cried, argued, and prayed together. I am greatly blessed. My favorite family moment of 2013 was celebrating 10 years of marriage to my wonderful wife Becky! But, there were so many other tremendous memories with my family that I can't capture them all. Here are a few below. The videos crack me up every time.
7. The 48 baptisms at The Bridge-Leadington. May this never get old. God thank you for letting us participate in YOUR salvation of men and women!
8. Camp Elevate. We hosted our first ever church camp in 2013 with over 130 kids in participation! I can't wait for July 10-12!!! The water-slide was fantastic!
9. The Night of Worship Concerts at The Bridge. I always enjoy the special nights of worship at our faith community, but this was the first year that I sat in the crowd and was able to just experience them. Our musicians are phenomenal and I was very blessed by the high level of worship and participation in the crowd. My two favorites were the acoustic and Christmas nights of worship. See below.
10. Preaching. I love preaching the eternal word of God. This year I was blessed with the opportunity to preach: the entire book of Acts, the Church Summer School Series on Sunday nights, Christmas is For-Giving (Matthew 1 &2 for Christmas), a mini-series called Restored-How the Gospel makes us Whole, and a two week vision series called GROW to start the year. I don't ever want to stop talking about Jesus. I am thankful that the Lord has entrusted me to preach, proclaim, and entrust the message of the Gospel to others!
11. The Smith Family. We sent our first long-term missionaries to Bangkok, Thailand this past summer. I am honored to know them. I am thankful for them. I miss them like crazy. Pastor Lance was a staff pastor with me at The Bridge-Leadington before embarking on global missions. He is the disciple maker I hope to be one day. Would you join me in praying for them? This photo is from their send-off celebration.
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12. Miss Betty met Jesus. Becky and I recently watched one of our first celebrations as church plant in Elizabeth Hall, and there was Betty on the front row praising Jesus. I'll forever remember her serving our kids in BK. I'll forever remember her always bringing me gifts. I'll forever remember her story. I will not waste the moments that I had with her. She loved Jesus and today she got to meet Him.
Meet Betty from Roger Durbin on Vimeo.
FINALLY-My new year's resolution for 2014.
2013 was special. I pray that this new year the Holy Spirit will continue to teach me to number my days. With that in the forefront of my mind, here is my resolution:
I want the people closest to me to be able to say, that day-by-day, "He was increasingly driven by the fame of His Father's name."
Happy New Years. Farewell 2013.
