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I hope this newsletter finds you doing well and soaking up the warmth of God's love in spite of the cold weather we are experiencing!  For us, winter is a very slow time and I have a lot of flexibility in my work schedule, sometimes only peeking into the office several times a week to see if the dust has gotten any thicker...yes, it has, but I promise we will vacuum it up before you come visit this spring!

One of the best parts of my winter flexibility, however, is that I can take on additional Bible studies and spend more time learning about God and, hopefully, allowing Him to refine me and make me a better servant, husband, father, employer and steward of all He has given. 

This winter I am doing the study of Isaiah in Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) and taking a course called Perspectives on the World Christian Movement.  I am absolutely loving both studies and they are forcing me to spend 15-20 hours per week reading my Bible, a multitude of commentaries, and even taking a test each week to evaluate my progress.  Although I feel a bit overwhelmed at times, I can't imagine a better way to spend my time than learning more about God!

With all that said, I wanted to mention something I heard a woman say about two months ago and I have pondered since the moment the words touched my ears.  It is helpful to know that the woman does not believe in God, she is an atheist or agnostic and perhaps both.   Her comment was this, "why do Christians always try to spread their beliefs to others?  Why can't they just leave everyone else alone?"

Since hearing those words, I have been searching out an answer, sometimes wrestling with God and I seek to know His answer to those questions so that I can follow Him in obedience, aligning my heart and mind with His, rather than seeking to conform Him to me.

In next month's greeting, I will share my humble opinion of what I think God is saying to me...

Until then, May God Bless you and your family and may He use you mightily to be His voice of salvation to the nations!

With his love,

Mark D. Halla

Steward