The Pastor’s Blog – BUCKET LIST

I hate to admit it but I did not know what a bucket list was until I saw the 2007 movie with Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman called “The Bucket List.” Now, I hear the expression all over the place. I guess I simply was not listening too well before!

So people keep trying to guess what my bucket list might include – what are the things I would like to accomplish before the Lord calls me home. I have never written out a list that someone might find tucked in a drawer somewhere. In fact, I doubt I have spent too much time thinking about it. I am too busy living today…

That said, I confess I have for years looked at convertible cars, especially little sports cars, and wished I could take one for a spin. And that knowing this, some dear friends would have pitched in to pay for a day of renting a red Mustang convertible. I hope I get around to doing that some day…

And then my dear friend David Rose drove into the church parking lot with his beautiful black convertible, and I could not help asking if I could take it for a spin. Graciously he handed me the keys and said, “Let’s go!” What fun to drive down by the oceanfront in this awesome little car.

But like most things that end up on people’s bucket lists, the anticipation was somewhat greater than the event. It turns out that a car is a car; whether it has a solid top or a removable top – they all drive the same! Okay, some perform better but in the end, it is still just a car. So I guess I will not get too excited about driving a Tesla some day …

But if a bucket list is about accomplishing certain things before you die, then I would say my unwritten bucket list is short. First, I want to really know God. 2 Peter 3:18 says, “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.” That is on my bucket list. Secondly, I want to see all my family have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as well. My heart beats with the passion of the Apostle Paul: “Paul replied, “Short time or long—I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am …” And what was Paul? What am I? A follower of Jesus. Then the third item in my bucket list is to include all my friends and neighbours, yes, even all the people in my city in that desire to see them as followers of Jesus.

Well, I do not know how many more years, months or days God will give me to walk this earth so I guess I had better get working on that bucket list. What things do you want to do or accomplish before you say goodbye to this world?

– Pastor Gary

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