Eight wonderful Christmas seasons.  That’s how long the LORD has afforded me and my family the opportunity to get to know the amazing people of Foxworth First:  to serve alongside, worship with, and become family.  When May arrives, Lord willing, I will have completed 8 years of service as your Lead Pastor – which will be approaching the “title” of longest-tenured pastor in the history of the church.  I am thankful to the LORD for His willingness to allow me to continue in this role, and I am thankful to you, church, for your willingness to bear with me, serve alongside me, and allow me to be your pastor.

God, in His providence, has brought us together.  Truly, I can’t fully understand all the reasons for such, but I trust He has them and that they go far beyond my understanding.  There are some things, though, that I do understand.  I have been blessed to welcome into my home a new child during my time in Foxworth (which would not have happened had the Lord not moved us, here).  I have been blessed to make new friends whom I love and value their investment in my life.  I have been blessed to celebrate with you the different milestones you’ve reached during this time.  I even count it a blessing to be able to stand beside you in the tough circumstances and difficult days.  I trust the Lord is using all of these things for our good and His glory!

As we move into 2026, I acknowledge that there have been wonderful blessings and that there are wonderful blessings yet to come – that there is much to be done (and the walking in the will of God brings wonderful blessings!).  There are ministry opportunities to accomplish, areas of our church-life which need improving, and areas for growth for us individually and collectively.  And I write this article pondering whether we will be faithful to follow the leadership of the Holy Spirit or whether we’ll resist His leadership and go our own way.  Only time will tell.

Not long before Joshua’s earthly death, he told the people of Israel that they must choose whom they would serve.  He stated, boldly, that he and his house would serve the LORD!

  • The people said they would also serve the Lord.
  • And Joshua responded:
    • Joshua 24:22-25, “Then Joshua said to the people, ‘You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen the Lord, to serve him.’ And they said, ‘We are witnesses.’ 23 He said, ‘Then put away the foreign gods that are among you, and incline your heart to the Lord, the God of Israel.’ 24 And the people said to Joshua, ‘The Lord our God we will serve, and his voice we will obey.’ 25 So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and put in place statutes and rules for them at Shechem.”

The months to come – as the LORD sees fit – offer to us the opportunity to be Friendly, Faithful, & Focused for His great glory!  May we put away the “foreign gods” & serve the LORD singularly and whole-heartedly, and...

May the LORD bless & lead us as we seek Him.

                                                              

Pastor loves you!

And I’m honored to serve HIM alongside you.