Anyway, let me, invite you to turn in your Bibles to, Philippians chapter one. For our time of study and the word, this morning. we're gonna be looking at verses 3 through 11, and if you want to give a title to the message, we would lift these words from the text, and it's from the first day until now. Over the last 2.5 decades of my life, January 1st has always had a double meaning for me.
It represents the start of a new year and a clean slate, and it also represents the anniversary of my first day as an official pastor here at Cornerstone. which was January 1st, 1992. So last Sunday, January 1st, marked the 25 year anniversary of my first day as a pastor here at Cornerstone. But you guys all already know that I hear.
but as this 25 year, anniversary has, approached, I've spent a lot of time over the last few weeks, reflecting. on this milestone and the things that God has taught me, I even bought a journal book, hardback book to just write down the things that the Lord has taught me over the last 2.5 decades and, done a lot of reflecting and at least two things have loomed large in my mind, which I was sharing with, Kumi a couple of weeks ago. First of all, it's not every congregation. That a pastor would want to stay with for 25 years.
But this congregation is. And I suspect that whoever Cornerstone would have hired back in 1992 would still be pastoring here today because he would know a good thing when he sees it and he would be most reluctant to walk away from a congregation like you. The other thing I've been thinking about is the fact that it's not every congregation that would let a pastor stay for 25 years, but you have, and that is not lost on Donna and I. That is a miracle of grace that we give God all the glory for....
