You have heard the expression that your past can come back to haunt you. There certainly has been enough in our community to haunt us if we dwell on it.

Philippians 3:13 encourages us to; “Forget what is behind and reach forward to what is ahead“

Our lives are not defined by what happened in the past. Let that sink in for a moment. We have a bright future. A future that is being defined at this moment, and in all the moments ahead of us.

Let me give you some examples. As I pick up my cell phone and consume my daily dose of Facebook, I see notices of brothers and sisters in our clubs that have gotten together for a ride or for fellowship. I see men and women that just purchased new bikes. I see Companero Bobby has almost finished the ground up rebuild of his sporty. The weekly bike nights are doing well, and I can’t remember the last time I heard of someone in our community that got into a fight. Ok, It may happen, and I may not hear about it, but I know for a fact that we have something very special here in UCOA. I have heard many people talk about how they went to a meeting in another area, and came away thinking UCOA is way better than those other areas because of what we have. What do we have that is so special? That’s easy, we have mutual; Respect, Integrity, Fellowship, Cooperation, Brotherhood, and Participation, to name just a few. These are all characteristics of our community, and they are also characteristics that bring other clubs to join us.

Earlier I said that what we have is easy. But, It is not always easy to maintain. It takes effort, especially when someone gets on our nerves. But the effort is worthwhile, both for our reputation and for the satisfaction and joy we get from being part of a group that can work together to accomplish a goal and then play together when it is achieved. Our future is bright, and I look forward to even better days ahead.

In Jeremiah 29:11 God said; ”For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

God does truly desire a good life for each of us, if we will just seek Him.

Jeremiah 29:13 says; “You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“and I will restore your fortunes”

God is true to His Word, so we can be certain that He will complete the work He has started. I for one want to be around to see Him finish His work in our community, how about you?

As is our custom on the morning of the 4th of July, we wandered down to watch our neighborhood Independence Day Parade, and this year was certainly good!