It has been so long since the last post. Things have been going hectic and I've just not paid attention to this blog. One of the things that is coming is a trip to Haiti in January. Cheryl and I and a man from the church are going in early January. We will be visiting our son Danny who works at Pwoje Espwa in Les Cayes, Haiti. You can look it up at http://freethekids.org. Fr. Marc, the head of the orphanage, keeps a wonderful blog on this web site and it is jam full of great pictures.

A couple of very neat things happened today. One was attending a farewell party for a pastor and his wife who are retiring after thirty-five years of service in an area church. What an encouragement the pastor has been to me and he will be greatly missed. The party was a God-thing, a God-event. People from all over came - his current parishoners, former parishoners, those he had impacted - his children. It was really a family reunion of believers from this area, believers from all churches who turned out to honor the couple - and to recognize our indebtedness to God for all the wonderful things he gives to us through his Son Jesus Christ.

The other thing that happened was listening to and singing a new song - at least it is new to me. It is "In Your Presence O God" by Lynn DeShazzo. This is a terrific song that acknowledges where our strength and hope are - in the Presence of God. "That's where I belong" the songs says. That's where we all belong, in the Presence of God. As I've said over and again, it is not about religion, but relationship. It is about our relationship with God through Jesus Christ. And God's presence is so real, so compelling - so powerful!!

It is late night, September 4, and I am getting ready to go to bed. But not before I post a note on the blog. It has been too long since I've written anything here.

I am increasingly excited about what God is doing in my life and the life of the church - both the local church here in Clintondale and the church in the Mid-Hudson Valley. There is a fresh stirring of the Spirit. Praise God for his faithfulness to us, even though we so often let him down.

We are seeing God get people through some very difficult times. This year we have witnessed physical healings, emotional healings, spiritual victories, restored relatioinships... God has been at work in the lives of folks here in Clintondale.

I am being challenged as never before to pray for and witness to those who are lost. There are so many people who just don't have a relationship with God through Jesus Christ, and it is our calling to let them know of his grace and love for them. We are to be watchmen on the wall, warning our neighbors, friends, relatives - all who will listen - of God's great mercy in keeping us from the wrath that is to come. God help us all, for we are all so rebellious. Yet God, in his great mercy, has sent his Son Jesus to die for us, to take our sins on himself - to deliver us from God's judgment. God wants all to be saved - he wants all to come to him in repentance and receive his forgiveness.

It is all about a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. It isn't about religion. Religion is the problem. We need to be released from religion and brought into a fresh relationship with God. To know God is the greatest thing in the world. He has made it so possible to know him that we are all without excuse. The good news is that God loves us and in Christ died for us that we may live.