<div>It's Thanksgiving day and the aroma of roast turkey fills Charlie Brown's house. Snoopy, who is outside lying on top of his dog house, smells that aroma, and he is thinking, "It's Thanksgiving Day. Everybody eats turkey on Thanksgiving Day!"</div> <div> </div> <div>So he lies there, watching the back door, eagerly awaiting his Thanksgiving feast. Finally, the door opens and here comes Charlie Brown with a bowl of dog food, and he puts it on the ground in front of his faithful pet. Snoopy gets off his house and stares at the dog food with a disappointed look on his face. He thinks, "Just because I'm a dog, I have to eat dog food on Thanksgiving Day."</div> <div> </div> <div>Then the next square of the comic strips shows him looking at the dog food more intently, and he is thinking, "It could be worse. I could be the turkey!"</div> <div> </div> <div>Indeed. Even in the difficult times many of us have faced the past few years, we all have much to be thankful for, even when we don't think things are going our way. I received an email last year about this time that reminded me how blessed we are, and encourages us to keep an "attitude of gratitude" all the year, but especially in this season of giving thanks. It said....</div> <div> </div> <div>If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75% of this world. If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish someplace, you are among the top 8% of the world's wealthy. If you woke up this morning with more health than illness, you are more blessed than the million who will not survive this week. If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation, you are ahead of 500 million people in the world. If you can attend church meetings without fear of harassment, arrest, torture, or death, you are more blessed than three billion in the world.</div> <div> </div> <div>And, I will add, if you have heard the gospel, have been introduced to God's grace, and have experienced a personal relationship with His Son Jesus, you are blessed for time and eternity! Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, His love endures forever. (Psalm 107:1)</div> <div> </div> <div>In this final ePistle before Thanksgiving, let me also express my thanks to God (and to you my church family) for the blessed privilege of serving as your pastor. I do count it such a joy to serve you, and serve with you, and, and I'm so grateful that the Lord has sovereignly led us together in this fellowship we call Shelby Crossings.</div> <div> </div> <div>Have a blessed Thanksgiving!</p> <p>--Pastor Ken</p></div> <p>]]</p>