Well, tax season is officially over. April 30th was the deadline to file your tax return and have your taxes paid. If you’re like me, you struggle each year to put some money away in RRSP’s. If I were to retire today I’d barely have enough to buy myself a fast wheelchair and a sidecar for my wife. Then again I guess I have a few years yet to work on my investments.

 

This summer will make it 9 years that I’ve been a pastor at SouthSide. I’ve reflected a lot lately on that time, and on the many great memories. This might be a surprise to some of you, but being a pastor isn’t always easy. There have been times when I’ve wondered if it was worth it. There have been times when I’ve been ready to walk away. But when I’ve taken the time to remember my reasons for being a pastor, I’ve always decided to keep on going. You see, at the age of 35 I still know that there’s nothing that compares to knowing God, and I’ll always be interested in helping people find that out.

I wondered to myself the other day if there was any better way I could have spent my last 9 years. I’ve had the opportunity to get to know so many great people. Whether it was youth, youth leaders, volunteers, or the staff at our church, I’ve established a lot of great friendships. And I’ve had the chance to be a part of some huge spiritual landmarks in people’s lives. Deciding to invest my life in SouthSide Church over the last 9 years has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

I wonder about you? Where do you invest the gifts and abilities that God has given you? If you think you don’t have any gifts and abilities, you’re wrong. Just ask the people around you and they’ll point them out to you. Without a doubt you have something to offer at SouthSide Church (or at the church where you attend). All it takes is one phone call or one visit to a pastor at your church, and you can start to make an investment that will last a lifetime.

I’m proud of the investment I’ve made at SouthSide Church, and I’m thankful to God for the many returns he’s brought. I hope that over the next 9 years I’ll be able to keep investing my life in the things that God brings my way. And I hope that you too will be able to look back on the investments you’ve made with fond memories.