We are still tallying some of the 2008 service numbers but know they will surpass 2007, when we served eighteen client service organizations with 7,155 direct contacts and 29,155 community subsidiary contacts. We'll let you know in the next letter the final 2008 count.

Everyone has their themes for the new year, great in 2008 and fine in 2009 is what I've heard a lot of people saying. For us at USECC our theme is ...”Be a Part of It”. We've got several plans in the works and we'll share a few here.

USECC will be a part of the re-grand opening of the Little Sioux Boy Scout Camp where four scouts were killed last year in a deadly tornado. As an Eagle Scout myself it was hard to hear the news of the loss in the scouting family, yet we have plans to be a part of the re opening and re building of the camp.

I would love to find out just how many Eagle Scouts we have out there that read this newsletter. If you are an Eagle, or were part of the Boy Scouts let me know. Find out how you can be a part of our efforts this summer with the camp. Oh, just one quick request right now, does anyone have a Tee Pee or willing to lend us one? No, you should know by now I'm not kidding when I ask for these things.

Other events for 2009 will be participation in the National Law Enforcement Week in Washington DC. Last year I had the privilege to be a part of the inaugural Christian Memorial and will be assisting again this year.

There is also an invitation to assist with an outreach at the Sturgis Bike Week in Sturgis, South Dakota. A friend of mine has a house on the main street in Sturgis and has a stage set up with Christian musicians for evening entertainment. He also serves breakfast each day. Yes, there are actually people awake in the morning to eat breakfast.

To cap the summer off we will have our 911 outreach this year at the Little Sioux Boy Scout camp for several rebuilding projects. We are still very much in the planning stage but looking to help with an altar and/or chapel.

These are just a few of the events USECC will be involved in as 2009 rolls on, and that is just what I know of right now. There are always incidents and events that God presents to us as each year unfolds. We can honestly say that we need your help and that fits with our theme........Be a Part of It. Be a Part of It by prayer, by resources and talents, by giving and by encouragement.

I would also like to address another issue at this time. Our spiritual side. I know there are lots of resolutions everyone is fighting to keep but let our spiritual side take center stage. I took a weekend and went to Kansas City for some prayer and reflection at the International House of Prayer and feel all the better for doing so.

We keep hearing of all the economic storms and political upheaval here and abroad. Let me speak a few words of calm to the spiritual storm. As Jesus stared down the storm at sea and commanded “peace, be still” I take those words to heart. Right after the Holiday Season of Peace and Good Will, I'm not so willing to give it up so easily.

Are our churches and ministries no less important, our businesses no less viable, our services no less needed, our skills no less professional, or our minds no less sharp than they were just a short time ago? Have we forgotten the progress we have made, and the accomplishments of our toil to so suddenly be swept up in fear?

Has our county's founding fathers history, and the sacrifices they made faded so easily? Have the heroes of our faith laid such a shallow foundation that we tremble at the news of just negative projections? It would do us well to read the 11^th and 12^th chapters of Hebrews again and see what the heroes of our Godly faith have passed on to us.

As it is said in chapter 12 and verse 12, “therefore strengthen the hands that hang down and the feeble knees and make straight paths for your feet, so that which is lame may not be dislocated but healed”. In other words, make safe, upright and happy paths that go in the right direction and may our weak limbs not be of joint but whole and strong.

Let's encourage each other as often as we can. I mentioned earlier about being a part of it. God wants us to be a part of His plans and His direction. With everyone seeming to be cutting back I wonder if it's not the time to really ramp it up a bit.

In closing let me say that I really enjoy your comments and feed back from these newsletters. I don't think there is a month that goes by that we do NOT get some of your comments back and they're always interesting. We still have a few dates open for speaking engagements and I'd love to visit your area, let us hear from you.

Blessings to one and all....................Chaplain Steve