The question uses the word "treasured". It does not ask what is your favorite, or most important, or dearest, or expensive but asks "treasured". It is asking, "what is held as precious and of great value?" What do you hold as the most precious, cherished possession in your life? To be completely honest, if I were asked this by someone on the street, I probably would respond with family, or health. To possess a wife or a child probably isn't the healthiest way to view relationship and to possess health is something that is tenuous, at best. The response that Dave Brubeck gave is one we should all consider as holding a great truth. To the question, "What is your most treasured possession?" Dave Brubeck responded, "FAITH".

The question, "What is your most treasured gift?" when answered in honesty, says much about who we are as individuals. To know and understand FAITH as the most treasured gift is to have that FAITH influence and impact all that we say and do. It is that which shapes our ideals, our dreams, our relationships, our very lives. To know and understand FAITH is to begin to know the grace of God in Christ Jesus. We are justified by grace through faith. FAITH is a most treasured gift.

The other thing we can keep in the forefront of our understanding is that not only is FAITH a most treasured gift for us as individuals, it is also the most treasured gift that we possess as a community. This is what we contain and are. We are not about a new building, or numbers, or size, or age, or agendas. We are a people, a community of faith. We are a community that emphasizes faith development and walking each and every day by, in and through faith.

As the months unfold throughout 2006, may we never forget who we are and what we treasure most. And always remember, "You are most treasured too". Thanks be to God.