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“My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me” (Ps. 63:8, NASB).

An item on my bucket list is to climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge in Australia. Adventurers who cross the structure for a 360-degree view of the waterfront city must wear a special suit that straps them to a railing. Gale winds at the summit can reach 55 miles per hour, enough force to rip a roof off a building.

Securing people to a structure for safety harkens back to ancient Greek literature. In Homer’s epic Odyssey, the hero Odysseus’ ship passes by Sirens, monsters disguised as beautiful women who sing enchanting melodies and lure sailors to their deaths. Odysseus demands to be strapped to the mast so he can hear the music but not be enticed by the Sirens.

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“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6, NKJV).

Growing up in a loving Muslim home—led by my generous, strong, industrious mother—was a tremendous blessing to me. A commitment to the five pillars of Islam provided a foundation upon which I developed a reverence for an omnipresent, omniscient and omnipotent God.

However, that foundation also left me seeking more. In spite of my questions and misgivings, I persisted in my desire to walk with God unreservedly. I wanted to know truth—even if it made me uncomfortable. One day, while at my university campus job, I lowered my head onto the desk and prayed, “God, please show me truth. No matter how you direct me, I just want to know truth.”

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“One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed” (Prov. 11:24–25, NIV).

For me, Christmas has always been a time of immense gratitude for all that God has done in my life. However, amid the wonderful festivities and excitement—glimmering lights, delicious food and gifts wrapped with bows—it’s easy to forget that for some, these displays are a further reminder of what they don’t have.

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“I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living” (Ps. 27:13, NKJV).

Have you noticed that in the difficult times we’re living in, there have also been many miracles? For example, during the coronavirus pandemic, a young husband and father from New Jersey was on a ventilator, and doctors prepared his family for the worst. His sister sent out a desperate plea for prayer, people everywhere interceded for him, and, against all odds, he recovered. “God defies science!” she later testified, “He performed a miracle for my brother!”

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“Then he said to them, ‘Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength’” (Neh. 8:10, NKJV).

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“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths” (Prov. 3:5–6, NKJV).

The book was How People Grow, by Drs. Henry Cloud and John Townsend. I had been courageously absorbing its wisdom for several weeks. Eventually, though, I had to stop and address a painful realization: I’m nowhere near the emotionally healthy adult I should be.

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Want to grow closer to God in 2022? Here are some tips that can help, from Ricardo Bacchus, features editor of the Columbia Union Visitor.

1. Schedule a regular check-in time with a prayer partner.

2. Listen to Christian music or a daily audio Bible at work, as you exercise or travel.

3. Plan a date with God, then keep it.

4. Find a distraction-free environment for worship time.

5. Prayer walk during your lunch or break times.

6. Participate in the Columbia Union 2022 Scripture Memorization plan, found on our Columbia Union Conference app, that invites members to learn Bible verses that are centered around praise.

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“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 2:5, KJV).

What is the mind of Christ? How does God think? If we continue with this passage in Philippians, we learn that even though Jesus was God, He humbled Himself to become a man. But He didn’t stop there. He didn’t come as a king or some wealthy person; He became a servant.

He didn’t stop there either. He humbled Himself to be subject to death on a cross—the worst and most humiliating form of punishment any human could endure. Accordingly, the mind of Christ is complete and utter selflessness and humility.

Because of His selfless sacrifice, we learn that Christ was exalted above every name. And “that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow” (Phil. 2:10, KJV).

Historia de Visitor Personal

El Comité Ejecutivo de la Unión votó a Greg Iverson para que se desempeñe como director de Servicios de Tecnología de la Información (IT) a partir de febrero del 2022, luego de la jubilación de Harold Greene, actual director de IT. Iverson ha trabajado en la unión desde el 2001, sirviendo como asistente y director asociado, con una cartera que incluye administrador de redes y sistemas.

Christopher Araujo fue ascendido de asistente a director asociado de IT. Durante los últimos 15 años ha dirigido la red que apoya las oficinas de la unión, de las conferencias y de las escuelas.

En la misma reunión, Ricardo Bacchus y V. Michelle Bernard, ambos subdirectores de Servicios de Comunicación, fueron promovidos a directores asociados.

Historia de Visitor Personal

En su reunión final del 2021, el Comité Ejecutivo de la unión nombró a Celeste Ryan Blyden como secretaria ejecutiva. Es la primera mujer en ocupar el puesto en los 114 años de historia de la unión.

Blyden se ha desempeñado como vicepresidenta de Comunicación Estratégica y Relaciones Públicas desde el 2014, cuando hizo historia como la primera vicepresidenta mujer en la unión. Fue reelegida en las sesiones de constituyentes en el 2016 y en el 2021.

"Celeste ha demostrado una verdadera pasión por la misión y el liderazgo eficaz y ha sido pastora y animadora de quienes la rodean", dice el presidente Dave Weigley.