Dear Rose Park,

A few weeks ago, the Reformed Church in America held their annual mission conference in Orlando, FL. The title for this year’s conference was, “Roots And Branches.” Those who gathered engaged in workshops with titles like “Reimagining the Traditional Mission Trip Experience,” “Rooted in God’s Call to Grow the Global Church,” and “Stories of Hope and Resilience from Peacebuilding in South Sudan.” The Reformed Church has a long and fruitful history of mission work. It’s my great hope we at Rose Park can participate.

Dear Rose Park,

In the month of January, I’ve been more intentional to spend time in a portion of the Bible known as Wisdom Literature. This section includes the book of Job, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, the Psalms, and Proverbs. As a pastor, husband, father, son, and friend it seems to be a good place to spend some extra time.

Dear Rose Park,

I imagine some of you have made New Years’ Resolutions. Maybe it’s to lose those pesky ten pounds that you gained around the holidays. Maybe it’s to be on your phone less and read a book more often. Maybe it’s to finally clean out the attic. Or maybe for some of you it’s to save and invest more of your money. As your pastor, I’d like to invite you to consider a different kind of investment.

Dear Rose Park,

After worship on Sunday, I needed to make a quick run to Family Fare to get a few last-minute lunch items. While I drove, I heard an interesting question on the radio. The host asked: are you a thermometer or a thermostat?

Dear Rose Park,

You might still be sweeping up the confetti from your all-night party or just waking up after sleeping in; regardless, welcome to a new day and a new year. With the coming of a new year there will undoubtedly be the question, “what’s your New Year’s resolution?” Maybe you already have one, maybe you haven’t even thought of one, or maybe you’re looking for one. If that’s the case, consider this:

Dear Rose Park,

As you celebrate the birth of Jesus with family and friends, may the words of Luke 2 from the Jesus Storybook Bible bring you comfort, hope, joy, and peace.

Dear Rose Park,

Over the past few weeks, Simon has been swimming with the West Ottawa age group swim team. He’s been having so much fun not only because he gets to swim two to three times a week, but also because he gets to do it with some of his best friends (Emma Welsch and all the Taber kids just to name a few). While Simon is swimming, Sam and I will sit in the stands and chat with other parents and Winnie typically makes a friend and plays. On Monday night though, Winnie gave us a bit of a scare.

Dear Rose Park,

Have you seen or heard of those places where you can go axe-throwing? In previous generations you went to a bar or restaurant and played darts. Now you can go to a place where you can overhand throw an axe at a dart board. I’ve never been, but I have to admit it does sound a bit of fun. As I saw an advertisement one afternoon for one of these places, I thought of my devotional earlier in the day and then I thought of you all.

Dear Rose Park,

Have you ever attended to a theater production and actually felt like you were in the play itself? Ever been transfixed by a movie, television show, or even book that you felt immersed in the context, the struggle, the character development, and the resolution? In a sense, this is exactly what the season of Advent invites us into.

Dear Rose Park,

This past Thursday, Sam and I went to visit Jim and Vonnie Boeve over the noon hour. A day prior, Jim had called me to share they had received the heartbreaking news of the death of their eighteen-year-old great-grandson, Max, in a motorcycle accident. As Sam and I sat with Jim and Vonnie in their living room, we heard stories filled with joy and memories filled with tears. As we were leaving, Vonnie made sure to give us each a hug and tell us to, “count your many blessings.”