Ray is PCC’s Senior Pastor. 

Friends,

Please. No applause, gifts or platitudes necessary or expected, but this month I, once again, celebrate the passing of yet another year. How many have I successfully navigated, you ask? Let me put it this way. The year I was born, the biggest news in pop culture was the dance sensation, The Twist. It was huge, primarily because any uncoordinated numskull could do it. Still today people at wedding receptions respond positively to The Twist for this specific reason. It was also the year Hollywood gave us Psycho, the movie most noted for boosting deodorant sales. Rumor has it b.o. was epidemic, caused by people refusing to take showers.

Anyway, the anticipated arrival of my birthday has made me pause in reflection. What have I to show for all these years? What tidbits of wisdom have I gained? What have I learned over time? Well, just off the top of my shiny cold head, the following truths have come to mind:

• Death comes to all living things…except crabgrass.
• At least once a day, my computer, like every computer I have ever owned, has some kind of emotional breakdown and shuts off – often when I’m not even touching it.
• The badness of a movie is directly proportional to the number of helicopter gunships in it or its length of time [anything over 90 miutes is questionable].
• You will never find anyone who can give a clear and compelling reason why we observe “daylight saving time.”
• One of the things that unites all human beings, regardless of age, gender, religion, socio-economic status or ethnicity, is that we all believe we are better than average drivers.
• People who want to share their religious views with you almost never want you to share yours with them.
• We’re all responsible for what we do – even if you’re a celebrity.
• Nobody is normal.
• At least once per year, some group of brilliant scientists will get all torked-up and excited and announce via CNN that:
  • The universe is much bigger than they thought.
  • Women and men are very different creatures.There are more subatomic particles than they thought.
  • Whatever they declared last year about global warming is wrong.
• If there is one word in the English language the provides an explanation why the human race has not achieved it’s full potential [and never will] – the word is “meetings.”
• No matter what funny thing happens, somebody will find a way to take it too seriously.
• You should never confuse your career with your life.
• True friends are loyal and love you no matter what…God even more so.
• Hope is a firm conviction that something good and better is coming.
• Family is our greatest human gift.
• “Man is like a breath; his days are like a fleeting shadow.” – Ps 144:4
• “Be careful how you live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” – Eph 5:16