As a recent member of the Berlin SDB church (since late 2013) I have been so impressed with the pervasive love that we all experience, that I have dubbed it “Almost Heaven.”  (Do the “I agrees” outweigh the “Are you kiddings"?) 

Granted, West Virginia -- which claims the same name -- has some problems (strip mines, recently polluted water, smoggy cities, and cattle with short legs on the uphill side), but it’s still Wild, Wonderful West Virginia!

And granted there’s a lot of evidence of pain and sadness, grief and sorrows in our church, but in spite of that -- or because of that -- Christ’s love spread among us covers it all, with exceedingly abundant healing and comfort.

Doctor Victor Burdick

A few weeks ago I was saddled with a situation that, in the not-so-distant-past, would have been my undoing. Through God's grace, however, I made my way through with joy and an overwhelming feeling of being blessed.

Being asked to make changes within a project you oversee might not seem like a big deal to others, but to my old self it would have been "proof" of my worthlessness and would have sent me into a complete tailspin. Thankfully, through my relationship with Christ, I now have an understanding of who I am; because of this I was able to face the requests with a clear mind, one that was thankful for others' interest in the project and acutely aware that God's presence was the reason for that thankfulness (what a blessing!).

Yet to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. -John 1:12-13