Seriously - Thank God!

What a year 2008 has been.

Along with the normal challenges of life and ministry this has been a year where we voted in a new president, banks have been bailed out, auto manufacturers are in trouble and to put the icing on the cake, according to a report released today, Toledo has the highest unemployment rate in all of the urban centers in Ohio at 10.9% - which means roughly one out of 10 people in Toledo who are able to work are without a job.

However, lately I've been warming myself with Jeremiah's writings in chapter 17, and the way David describes his own challenges and his responses to them, in Psalm 131. Can I tell you something you already know - God's view of us, our problems and our environment are so vastly different because His vantage point is different. I'm glad I can ask Him whenever I want, what He thinks based on His advantage of things.

And so, I thank God.

While I'm thanking Him I'm reminded of the outlandishly generous community we live in. I can tell you with a first hand account of the countless times when things have gotten tough around the many ministries of Cherry Street - the wonderful men, women and families, of whom you may be one, rise to offer assistance, love, support, or a shoulder.

Time and again thousands of families, churches, corporations and businesses stand in the gap and make the difference to someone else - THANK YOU!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Dan