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National Public Radio airs a rather innovative feature every now and then, titled 'This I Believe.' Based on the old 1950s radio program of the same name, the segment offers regular people like you and me the opportunity to say, in their own words, what they believe. I?ve heard several of the broadcasts and each one gives me pause to think.

And so, since this is my last column in these pages, I?d like to tender my own 'This I Believe' column. The luxury is: I get 800 words; they only have three minutes of airtime.

I believe that good wins out over evil, despite appearances to the contrary.

Several years ago, I ran a three-hour Contemporary Christian radio program at WTAC-AM in Flint, Mich. My show followed the Southern Gospel program, so I was forced? errr, I mean, I had the opportunity to listen to this unfamiliar style of music.

One song caught my ear, though, with a catchy refrain: 'I?ve read the back of the Book, and we win,' is how it went. That pretty much says it for me. Good wins out over evil, every day, all day, all the time.

Appearances can be otherwise - war, rumors of war, shootings, destruction, deception, lying, drugs, death - but I believe in my heart of hearts that good ultimately triumphs. I have to believe that the God who created the universe, who created you and me, desires good and not evil; is made of love, not hate. Because if God desires evil and craves hate, why bother?

I believe that diversity of opinion, people and thought is a very good thing.

One of the joys of serving in the Baltimore-Washington Conference is the diversity of opinion, people and thought you run into. Diversity is, in fact, one of the seven values the conference identified two years ago when we began the Discipleship Adventure process.

I have come to learn so much in my ministry here by working with, by and for people with whom I have very little in common - age, gender, race, ethnicity, education, theology, economic status, sexual orientation, you name it - and with whom I most likely would never have met except for my being in this position.

But it is exactly because we are a community of believers, each bringing her/his own gifts to the table and working towards the common goal of making disciples that makes the experience that much more rich, that much more wonderful, that much more God-like.

I believe that ministry is a calling, not a career.

Frankly, I?m sick and tired of hearing clergy talk about ministry as a 'career.' It?s not; it?s a calling.

If you?re in the ministry because it was a 'career choice' or a 'good career move,' you?re in the wrong profession. If you make moves because 'it?s good for my career,' or wonder how a particular stance on an issue will affect 'my career,' you?re in the wrong profession. Ministry is a calling of God on a person?s life to serve others, not yourself. Which brings me to?

I believe service is at the heart and soul of being a disciple.

Jesus came, not to be served, but to serve. ?Nuff said.

I believe that God is, as Vince Gill once sang, the God of 'one more last chance.'

Just when you think you?ve done it, when you think you?ve gone and separated yourself from God (that is, sinned), God comes back at you and says, 'One more try.' Yeah, you can hit rock-bottom, and it is not pleasant, but God doesn?t want or expect us to stay there. No, God desires us to get back on our feet, give it another try, do our best, use our talents and our gifts and put our passion to work for Him.

I believe that random acts of kindness have a mystery-like character that ripples through the universe.

I believe that God sometimes opens doors and you follow.

I mentioned above that this is my last column for this newspaper. As of Dec. 1, I will be serving as Director of Communications for the Florida Annual Conference. I didn?t seek out this position; they came after me, via a head-hunter, last June.

I simply listened, talked with the appropriate people, listened and talked some more, and pretty soon it became clear that this was where God was calling me to be next. Not that it was an easy decision, mind you. Family and friends can attest to the struggles and questions that I raised during my discernment.

I believe the Baltimore-Washington Conference should be proud of its communications staff, volunteers and team members.

I won?t name names here because I?ll leave someone out, but you know who you are - thank you for all you?ve done to make the communications ministry team here in this conference top-drawer.

The commitment, professionalism and dedication these staff people and volunteers have shown is second to none. I will miss working with and for and by you (you gotta watch those prepositions; they make all the difference).

I believe that I am proud to have not missed one deadline with this newspaper.

Despite having to move four times in four years (thanks for nothing, mold), your UMConnection faithfully showed up every issue, on time, twice a month. That may seem like a small thing to you, but trust me, it?s huge around our shop.

I believe, now that my word count is about done, that it?s time for me to slow down, shut up, pack it in and move out. Thank you for the ride, gentle reader. Without you, our ministry would be for naught. It?s been a privilege to be here. I just hope I?ve left the place in as good a shape as I found it. If it?s anywhere near that, then I?ve done my job.

Errr, I mean, ministry.