Dear Friends:

Year End

Not sure just how it got here so fast but here we are putting the finishing touches on 2014 and gazing into the future of what 2015 might bring. I often mention that there are several things that nobody can know of a certainty. One is what is going on in the mind of the person sitting next to you and the other is what the future will bring into your life even in the next few minutes. One thing is for sure, life is an adventure, we only get one shot at it, and it just seems to go by so fast!! While it is not a good practice to spend too much time gazing at the rear view mirror of one’s life, there are some blessings to be experienced by an occasional glance and review. 2014 was a stressful year in many ways, reminding me of the Bible verse that says the last days will be times of great stress. I sometimes notice that if I stay up too late to watch some of the recorded news shows on TV, I dream about some of those chaotic and violent scenes that parade across the screen of my subconscious mind! Perhaps it is better to watch fishing videos or read the Psalms before going to sleep!

In my own personal life, 2014 saw some fulfilling milestones. It brought the 29th anniversary of CFM thanks to the prayers and support of many of you. I have some old newsletters dating back to 1985 and a look back at those and a scanning of the opportunities I had to do different kinds of seminars and counsel with probably several thousand people during the rough times in their lives causes me to be blessed clear down to the bottom of my soul for the goodness, mercy and faithfulness of God. Having lost a fair number of close friends who departed earth for heaven I am daily thankful for ONE more day to serve the Lord in the ministries He has given me. In 2014 I turned 68 years-old. I have my blood sugar levels in control and am in good health (still have both feet) and would love to have another 20 years or more to wear out the gifts the Lord has blessed me with. My role model in the realm of longevity is my great, great grandpa, Frederick Messer (on my dad’s mother’s side) who lived to be 114! I have a picture of him taken at the 109 mark. Pretty amazing. I began my first ministry assignment in 1966 as a youth pastor at Redmond (WA) Assembly of God at the age of 20, and although I never was very good at math story problems, I believe that means I have been either pastoring, teaching seminars or doing counseling for 48 years. Oh my, I sure hope the Lord gives all those people who have had to listen to my “homey” sermons some extra credit when they get to heaven! This year also marked our 10th year here at North Kenai Chapel and this summer I was able to attend my high school class’ 50th reunion. What a hoot that was to see all those old people! When I saw the pictures that Marveen took of some of the activities, it was a shocker to see that I looked just as old as the rest of the guys I hung out with in the fifties and sixties! What amazed me was when I’d meet someone I knew way back then, hear their name and search their current facial features for a hint of recognition, it wasn’t until some them smiled that the light went on and “ahh, yes…l remember you! What’cha been up to for the last fifty years?”

2015 – Here it comes, ready or not!!

The good old days of the fifties and sixties are indeed way, way back in the rear view mirror and life today barely resembles life back then. However, there are a

few things that remain constant. There are still 24 hours in everyone’s day and God is faithful to WORK with us and be with us “even to the end of the age.” He is the creator of opportunities, the opener of doors and the Master whom we serve and will continue to serve until we have finished our course or we are interrupted in mid-sentence by a piercing trumpet blast and gravity suddenly loses its hold on us and we rise to meet Jesus in the air! Until Then, the signature song of a great warrior for God, Dick Benjamin, rings true. ”…but until then, my heart will go on singing, until then, with joy I’ll carry on…” I do hope that in 2015 I will be able to finish the sequel to my book and get it into print. And, here in Nikiski, our church is finalizing the deal to purchase two-plus acres so we can move forward with plans to build a larger auditorium.

A message for my fellow Baby Boomers

There were over 70 million of us born between 1946 and 1964. The first tiers of that generation are now retiring. That would be us. While I have no issue at all with retirement, it may mean that we may not continue to pursue the same employment that we did for the past forty years or so. But I want to encourage you that if you are still suckin’ air (breathing) and your name hasn’t yet appeared in the obit column of the newspaper, God still has work for you to do! Let me recommend a very good book to you entitled Amazing Grays by Richard and Leona Bergstrom. It will challenge you to live the second half of your life for God doing things of eternal value! You can find the book on Amazon.

I heard an instrumental version of an old song I vaguely remember from years ago, so I looked up the lyrics. The song is “Keep on the firing line.” The first verse goes like this:

If you’re in the battle for the Lord and right
Keep on the firing line
If you win my brother, surely you must fight
Keep on the firing line
There are many dangers that we all must face
If we die still fighting it is no disgrace
Cowards in the service will not find a place
So, keep on the firing line!

If you wonder just what that firing line is and where it is located….tomorrow morning when you wake up and your feet hit the ground, make yourself available to God to do whatever He would want you to do that day and you will find it.

Oh yes, if you feel led to contribute to CFM, and desire that giving to go apply toward your 2014 taxes, it needs to be postmarked by Dec. 31, 2014.

Thank you and God bless you with an exciting and fulfilling year ahead.

Merry Christmas!

Wayne and Marveen Coggins