October Vision Column

Rev. Jeffrey T. Howard
Vision Column
Eagle Rock Presbyterian Church
October 2009

From the Pastor’s Desk

When David's time to die drew near, he charged his son Solomon, saying: "I am about to go the way of all the earth. Be strong, be courageous, and keep the charge of the LORD your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, his commandments, his ordinances, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, so that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn. Then the LORD will establish his word that he spoke concerning me: 'If your heirs take heed to their way, to walk before me in faithfulness with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail you a successor on the throne of Israel.' (1 Kings 2:1-4)

David knew that it was time for him to move on. He was ready to die and to move to the next stage of life in the arms of the God he loved so much. He remembered all that God has promised, an everlasting kingdom, and he wanted his son, Solomon, to continue following God just as he had done. So he called Solomon to his bedside and handed him the Law of Moses, the first five books of our Old Testament, and told him to obey what God had commanded just as he, David, had done. He urged his son not only to obey God fully, but to meditate on the law so that it filled his heart and soul with God’s love.

This is the model for all biblical transitions. We move from generation to generation, pastor to pastor, phase of life to phase of life, by passing on the Bible and teaching those who follow us to follow God in our footsteps and meditate on God’s Word as we have done.

Eagle Rock Presbyterian Church is approaching its own transition. All Saints Day, November 1, will be my last Sunday with you as your pastor. God is calling all of us to new ministries. And we need to follow God as these changes occur. The only way to do this is by meditating on the scripture every day. This will imprint God’s law on our hearts and souls. That way we can be assured that wherever God is calling us, we will be following in the footsteps of David.

When I leave, Rev. Dr. Kyle Burch, of the Filipino Community Presbyterian Church, will become your pastor. This means that you will have the joy of children joining with you in the morning worship. And Rev. Burch is committed to continuing what I started at 5:30. The ministries here at Eagle Rock will continue to thrive and grow only if you keep yourselves following God by meditating of scripture every day. This will prepare you for the glorious future God has for you.

Blessings,
Pastor Jeff