John Vandervelde - Program Director   

It's been a busy start to the spring season this year.  Ten days in China, a long road trip to Holland, MI, to see family, and now preparing for a full summer here at HoneyRock has left me feeling a bit disconnected, slightly overwhelmed, and overly busy. 

I really hate the feeling of having too much to do and not enough time to do it.  I think we all do.  Despite telling ourselves we can multitask or that we perform well under pressure, let's be honest--no one really handles pressure all that well.  The frantic pace of our lives is hard; hard on our bodies and hard on our souls. 

As I look outside my window today and see new life bursting forth, as the grass begins to green and the trees bloom, and as I reflect on the resurrection of Christ, I am reminded of the new life and new hope Christ's resurrection brings.  I'm reminded not just to slow down and focus on people rather than tasks, but to care about real ministry rather than staff meetings.  But what is really cutting to my heart is a conviction to give my whole life, all I have, and all I am, and all I hope to be to Christ and His Kingdom.  Christ's kingdom is not about death, despair, and destruction but about life, hope, and creation.  I'm talking about being totally committed to Christ and being an agent for his Kingdom here on earth.  I want my life to be centered on Christ and the new life, hope, and purpose he brings through his resurrection.  As an agent for his Kingdom I want my life to be about bringing healing, hope, reconciliation, love, life, and joy to the places I go and the people I meet.  Being a Christian is not just about going to heaven when we die--it's about being agents of Christ's Kingdom while we are here on this earth!  Today, I'm not only convicted of my short-comings; I'm inspired through Christ to become more.  

So in the midst of our busyness let's not only try to be less busy, let's do the hard work of really giving our lives to Christ for his purposes and living as agents of the Kingdom of God today!  New life and new hope is bursting forth all around us, let's be a part of it!