This weekend is the last time I will stand in the pulpit of Heritage Christian Church as the Lead Pastor of this great congregation on the beautiful shores of Cape Cod. I wish I could tell you that I have a polished grouping of thoughts that are flooding through my mind right now. I don’t. There are so many things that I wish I could say, do, and redo; but the fact is that this chapter in my life is coming to a close, and God is beginning to draft some new chapters for me to live out. Through all of the good-byes, packing, and doing a bucket list of closing things around Cape Cod, I find 3 things that will leave with me as I start my new journey in Cedar Falls, IA.
- God Loves You, and so do I… That statement is funny…like the love from a human could even be measured in comparison to the love of our eternal Father. Not even close! Yet the friendships, memories, growth, and experience of living life with you on the Cape are things I will cherish for the rest of my life. I am a better Christ-Follower, Husband, Dad, Pastor, and Coach because of the people that have loved me and that I have loved here in the last 3 years and 8 months of my life! God, through the people I have lived life with have marked me and made me better! I am so grateful for all of those relationships, strong and no so strong, for making me better! God does love you, and so do I!
- God Loves You, So Love Each Other… The mistruth about New England is that people aren’t very friendly. I am so glad that isn’t true. We have built some relationships that will last a lifetime. I am thankful for the transparency, the accountability, and the love that many have shown our family! I remember back in my high school basketball days. Our motto my Junior year was “The strength of the wolf––is the pack!” If the church is the pack, love each and every person, as though the “wolf’s” life depended on it! I take forward with me what Coach Doug Woodard tried to instill in me at the age of 16. “Love those around you as if their life depended on it!” I am not perfect at this and I have a long way to go, but remember, “Love is the greatest of all things!”
- God Loves You, (really the most important thing)… I have read and quoted Romans 8:38 so many times. Please indulge me once more. “And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels or demons, neither fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow – not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.” All we have to do is walk in it! If you are reading this for the first time, or the 1,000th time, take a moment and spend a couple of minutes with God whose loves you so much! Cape Cod, thank you for teaching me the power of the love of God for people!
The next time I write this blog, I will be in the middle of loading a truck and moving west! To the people of Cape Cod; yes the beaches are beautiful, the ice cream is incredible, and the weather amazing; but know this––the people are what make Cape Cod such a incredible place! I will always remember you, pray for you, and will for sure miss you! Never forget that God loves you so much that He sent Jesus, His Son, to die for you! That is how much HE LOVES YOU!
Much Love, Many Thanks,
Dan