I Heard The Bells...

Today I had the rare privilege of simply going to church. It's a rare privilege for me, because usually, when I am at church, I am "on" for the sermon. But today was a vacation day. My friend Jim was preaching back home and Karen and I got sit together (another rare privilege!) and listen to Jay Kesler preach at my in-law's church. He was wrapping up his latest sermon series on Habakkuk (!), which is a great book to study at the end of a tumultous year. I was greatly encouraged by the simple reminders that: 1) there is a God who rules from heaven; 2) His ways are past finding out; 3) that even if there seems to be little evidence of God's goodness and rule, He is still good and still sovereign.

Appropriately, we sang what has become one of my favorite Christmas carols, I Heard The Bells on Christmas Day. I love the words of the last stanza:

God is not dead, nor doth He sleep. The wrong will fail, the right prevail, with peace on earth, good will to men.

Happy New Year y'all. Please join me in bidding "Good Day" to 2008.