Patty and I are at Seaside for the annual meetings of the Conservative Baptist churches in the Northwest, now called Church Venture instead of Conservative Baptists. Our association of churches includes about 300 churches. For three days, we have meetings, good preaching, and marvelous worship times. In addition, we are staying in a nice motel and eating great seafood. Today, I was awarded a book for being the pastor here who has been in ministry for the longest time, 50 years. The guest speakers are chosen to preach to Pastors and are outstanding. It feels good to learn and be challenged when I am supposed to do that to others every week. One of my personal purpose statements is to be a lifelong learner and never to become a know-it-all. It is very easy to let happen, and I see so many who have let it happen. When I see professional pride in others, I am very nervous that it could be in me, and I don’t see it. At these kinds of events, I do a lot of reflecting on the past as a pastor in ministry, and I thank the Lord for the incredible privilege that He has given me. I want Him to keep using me and blessing me, and I remind myself of 1 Peter 5:5, “God gives grace to the humble, but is opposed to the proud.”