Another new year is upon us.  It is the time for prophecies, predictions, and prognostications from economists, sociologists, politicians, and others about what will happen in the coming year.  Not only is it interesting to read what they have to say about the coming year, but what they had to say about the previous year.  Often, it’s not too accurate.

Wouldn’t it be interesting to have such information about 2008 for Peace Lutheran Church?  Now that the expansion project is completed, what will we do?  Will we have a “spiritual expansion project”?  Will we reach out to bring in new members in 2008?  Will we reach in to strengthen active members and reclaim inactive members?  Will we meet the budget?  There are so many questions that we might have.

Equally present are proposed answers to these questions.  There are various ideas, plans, and strategies for making a church “grow” or for making a church “strong”.  Some of them seem good.  Some seem gimmicky.  It can all be very frustrating and confusing.

The Word of God says, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” (Colossians 3:16-17)

God does not want His people to simply have occasional contact with His Word when it is convenient for us or we have nothing better to do.  He wants His Word to “dwell in you richly”.  I pray that you “let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly” in 2008.  Be regular in worship, active in Bible Study, and faithful in personal devotions. 

When the Word of Christ dwells richly in us and we are faithful to it in our teaching, admonishing, worship and whatever we do in word or deed, we can be sure God’s will for Peace Lutheran Church will be accomplished.  Our church will grow spiritually and numerically.  That’s a prediction for 2008 that I know will come true!

In Christ, our King,

Pastor Steven R. Schlund