For more than three decades, I’ve watched the ministries of pastors who are ahead of me a few years, seeking to learn from their experiences. Some of them start brilliantly, reach the peak of their effectiveness early, and then begin the long coast to retirement. Others, while they may begin uneventfully, are always looking for opportunities to grow as persons and pastors. Their ministries gather strength as the years go by, and their best days are still ahead. As the book of Joshua opens, God is