It is a trope, really, that as we age, time seems to pass more quickly. That has certainly been my experience. As I have taken a few days off from work, I have some time to reflect upon this past year and other matters. A few musings follow:

1. We are thrilled at our daughter’s wedding coming soon. I think CJ and I are at least as excited–probably more–than our daughter. We already view her soon-to-be hubs as our son, and so … let’s do this.
2. Bring on the grandbabies! We long to be wonderful grandparents. My bride and I had stellar grandparents. Their imprints upon our lives remain upon us, and we talk of our grandparents still. I know of few people who influenced us both as powerfully as our wonderful grandparents. And we long to pay that track record of godly loving wise care on to our own grandchildren.
3. I was able to serve another year in military ministry and serve on a mission field that I love. The military is formidably secular, and so I am ever grateful that the Lord has sustained me on a field where I can try to break through the empty walls of secularism and try to reach fellow soldiers with the truth of redemption that is found in Christ alone and the saving gospel.
4. I was able to watch our son continue to pursue his passion for music and continue to develop. Our family is steeped in music, and I think our boy may make his mark in the musical world.
5. My family and I continue to be blessed by way of our Sunday school class and what the Lord has done in and through them. I have been in ministry a great many years now, and there is nothing quite like the fellowship of brothers and sisters in Christ, and being able to be a small part of God’s work upon a flock of God that you love.
6. I was able to baptize another soldier after he graduated from Ranger school. I have a special affection for him because he is among the most remarkable young men I have ever had the opportunity to serve in military ministry. He is physically strong, intellectually strong, but most of all, he is a man who is spiritually strong, and I think he will continue to make his mark upon soldiers and civilians because of the plans God has for him.
7. I was able to baptize a couple from our Sunday school class, too, at our church. I continue to see God grip people and call them to obedience to his revealed will. Friendships are formed; roots grow deeper; and the truth spreads, just as God says it will.
8. I was able to read and/or re-read scores of books this year while on my travels. Among my favorites were Dostoyevsky’s The Brothers Karamazov (again), several biographies of Spurgeon, lots of church history volumes by Robert Godfrey, John Frame, and Tom Nettles, Jonathan Edwards, Jonathan Franzen’s books, more Dickens (I never tire of Dickens’ works); Shakespeare’s plays, The Master and Margarita, Gettysburg, and more.
9. We lost our old German shepherd Brewster after his many years with us. He lived a long, long life. I have had dogs my entire life. I do not remember ever not having dogs. And I have loved every one of them, but Brewster, old buddy, you had a piece of my heart that I cannot put into words. We hiked many a mile together, and you chased many deer, and you were as loyal and faithful as one could ever long for, and I love and miss you at a visceral level. Thank you for your love.
10. I would be remiss were I not to pay homage to the one who allows me to do what I love, and somehow keeps us all on the straight path–my Carrie Jane. For any successes I may have, I do not think they would happen unless she were right there with me. She prays for me; she loves me despite all my sins and shortfalls; she endures much separation from me due to my career in the military; and yet she pulls it all off like a champ.

I could go on with the list, of course, but 10 seems like a good place to stop for now. Bring on 2025. Merry Christmas.