God’s greatest gift
By Steve Nailor
The gifts of Easter are the most precious gifts any person could ever receive because they cost God so much to give. God’s greatest gift of all––his act of love for us all––was sending Jesus into our world.
Just before the Easter season, the National Association of Conference Presidents held its annual meeting in Nashville. There was a good turn out and several new conference presidents attended. Out of 56 conferences, 38 of them are actively engaged in men’s work. Gil Hanke, general secretary of the commission, and Bishop James Swanson, president of the commission, have been working on a “restart program” in the other 18 conferences and have made some good progress.
During the Easter season, we think about what we have received and what we have given––to God, our families, our churches, and our friends, our most precious relationships.
In one of the daily devotions of the Upper Room Disciplines the Rev. Dan Dick, assistant to the bishop of the Wisconsin Episcopal Area, told about two churches in the same community. One church had 3,000 church members and the other 300 members. In the larger of the two churches, the lead pastor proudly proclaimed: “Let us celebrate together all the good and wonderful work we are doing for God!” The lay leader of the smaller church framed it a little differently. She said, “Let us celebrate together all the amazing things that God is doing through us!”
How is it with you this Lenten season? What are all the amazing things you are doing for God? And there is a second question: “What are the amazing things God is doing through you?”
Steve Nailor, president
National Association of Conference Presidents