NEW THINGS

There are many things going on in our lives at this time.

On the positive side I've obtained my Realtor's license and am attempting with God's help to establish a business in this field. Things are quite slow however and so far I only have two listings that are on the market and no buyers. Also our church, Koinonia has brought me on board for a small stipend to assist with pastoral care and administer our small group program.

There have been some strained relationships regarding Micah. He has moved out and purchased his own home (since December 2013) and has connected with a single mom who seems to be opinionated and distant. We are praying for resolution. He is planning to wed.

I am ready to take it easy quite honestly, but that remains to be seen. We've been able to renegotiate our second mortgage down which should help financially. Our first was renegotiated un HARP at the beginning of 2013.

I continue to look to Jesus, the author and finisher of my faith. (Hebrews 12:2)

Turning New Pages

Time has swiftly passed by and I haven’t blogged much. I think it is now time to write something about the events that have transpired recently.

In December I was laid-off from my job after five and one half years. The explanation was shortage of funding in the agency. I believe that to be a half truth since my position was entirely funded by a grant for my salary and benefits. The opportunity to “bump” another position was my original decisions but after much consideration I determined it best for me to take the lay-off and draw unemployment on a higher salary. The position I was offered was substantially lower pay with more pressure than I cared to deal with.

I am preparing myself to work in another field and have completed the necessary courses and have been accepted by a company to work for them once I have my state license. This is currently what I am waiting for. Micah is also pursuing the same endeavor. We have a great mentor source to guide us and a great company to work with.

The family situation for Carolyn remains a puzzling matter. Apparently those family members have heard and gossiped error.

While waiting my other pursuit I have connected with our church and am making a small stipend for Pastoral Care duties and Administration of small groups. I’ve already done hospital visitation and two funerals and conducted a leadership meeting for small groups. It is a good feeling to be active in ministry albeit quite different than previously.

Micah is enjoying living in his own home that he purchased in December. He is tiring of the games played by his current employer so he is working hard to complete courses to improve his future. It will be certainly less physical work. We will work as a team along with Carolyn as our assistant.

Taxes are filed. They just are too high!

Titus, our dog, is grumpy. He is 13 years old.

And so that is it in a nutshell. I will disclose more when I have time.

It's Already 2014

It has been a rather trying few months for me. December came with a real shot of shock. I was told my position had been eliminated and lay-off would occur December 31, 2013. This was alleged to be related to shortage of agency funding. It is difficult for me to wrap my head around this allegation because my position was a specific grant for my job as the Family Self Sufficiency Coordinator and any other use of the funds would constitute misappropriation.

I was given opportunity to bump a person of lower seniority and was intent on doing so until I searched my heart and decided that would not be the best choice. I requested the agency confirm my eligibility to file for unemployment without contesting such and they assured me they would not. ( I got it in writing). The management is not trustworthy.

I am pursuing another career with additional course studies. At this time I will not disclose the details but hope to make it a family business with Micah and Carolyn. It is also possible that I will consider a part-time position with our church as Care Pastor. Time will tell.

I am excited about the possibility that faces my family and look forward to disclosing the success we are going to have.

It's Already December

Wow! It is already December and 2013 is coming to a finale.

Last month we spent Thanksgiving with my family in LB and visited my mother-in-law in Mo town. Time with everyone was really good and relaxing. My niece did an awesome job with all the food.

This month we are taking one last fling with our annual passes and visiting the "Happiest place on earth." Going to spend the weekend and Monday. We get to use our friend's RV so it is less expensive than a hotel. Our plan is to take it slow and easy, we have been there so many times so hope we can really do that.

Work has been real busy. We have one caseworker out on medical leave until after the first of the year and this week the other worker was also out. Thank God for a temporary that the agency has hired for three days a week.

Our son is in the process of purchasing a home and is sort of excited. I think it is a good step for him at this time in life. The closing of escrow is scheduled for December 19 which is his birthday. How awesome is that!?  We've had a great friend assist us in the whole process which has been up and down with emotions because of various factors involved in monthly payment amount, but as of now it looks like a go!

Christmas time will probably find us back a LB and visiting Mo town again.

See ya later!

Blogging

What is the inspiration to take to blogging?

Possible answer:  You are driven by some unseen force to put written words expressing your emotions, experience or other attribute of the moment. It is an exuding of the mind for self and possibly others who can benefit from the composition. Or maybe there is absolutely no benefit at all.

I am not always moved to write long compositions. It may be a brief essay on a totally off-the-wall subject that has materialized within my brain and must be expressed through writing it out.

On this particular occasion I am resigned to allowing my thoughts to wonder, hoping that eventually there will be coherency to the page. Only time will tell. And it may be a long time…………….

Happy Birthday to Me

Well, today is my birthday. The body tells me I am getting older but my mind wants to return to my youth. I have been blessed to live for 68 years on this planet earth. Yes, I have had challenges with some failures but also successes. As the sole surviving sibling of six, I am challenged to live my life span to God’s limit, be it 92 years or longer. My disappointment is in the times that I now live--- so much disruption. But technology has expanded exponentially during my lifetime, and that is a good thing.

I would love to retire, but I continue to work fulltime at the present, with some uncertainty about next year. My financial commitments hold me down at this time; I pray for a breakthrough soon.

The test of essential tremor haunts my daily life. The skill of penmanship continues to deteriorate. But I thank God for the technology of computers and “siri” that eases my written communication ability.

Participation in ministry is never an option that I opt out on. Sources may degrade and ignore me but they cannot take the spirit of God from me. I refuse to surrender to the will of human decisions that interfere with what God has called me to do. This interference only motivates me to achieve clear direction and passion for that which was implanted in me long ago. You can disown me and defeat me in your own realm; however, I refuse to succumb to that attitude.

So as I conclude this brief document, it is apparent that age has tempered my being. Although there is a weakening in the physical there is strength of thought processes. Residuals of stubbornness may resonate in my life but it serves as a catalyst for expressing the truth.

Reflections

Sometimes it is necessary to come to a stop in our activities and assess our life and progress. It's a time of reflection. This is my recent reflection:

I’ve had a tough few hands dealt my way in the last few years, like most humans at points in their life. I am thankful for the lessons all of them have taught me. My focus is to use the lessons in avoiding going around the same mountain again.

When I entered fulltime ministry in 1998 I had big dreams of leading a large congregation as a senior pastor, with staff and all the accoutrements adjoined thereto. This was in spite of the tiny congregation I was appointed to serve. Well, because of organization structure that pipe dream was mostly nightmares.  Yes, there were good things that happened but there were so many bad things that seemed to overpower the good. I will fault myself for not adhering to the rightful guidance of Scripture in performance of my vocation, but I refuse to take all the blame. Traditions of men and rules of organization usurped so much of God’s plan that it was impossible to keep ends together. Ministry moves on in a different perspective now for me. I leave the politics of such to those aspiring to make names for themselves.

My personal life has been healthy in the physical with the exception of the essential tremor that worsens. My spiritual man was often very sick; I suffered from abandonment by my peers, criticism from the congregation, and many side effects like bitterness tried to grip my very person. But  through time healing and wholeness has come and I am secure in who I am as never before. At times I become opinionated and irritated. But, I know my redeemer lives!

All of my siblings have now passed and I remain on earth to do as God sees fit. I was blessed to have them all as part of my natural family.  I know my days are numbered by God and my trust rests in him. My youth is gone, but I want my wisdom blessed of God to assist me in doing His work. I know I have much to give to others when opportunity arises.

May I always see more than me. The mirror reflects our image. I want to reflect the image of my God. I choose joy in all that confronts me and the reflection reveals the Christ in me.