Coming soon in the summer of 2008. I will be there!
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Week 2 in the books.
Week 2 in my new ministry position is done. It was another very busy week… lots of driving around the Chicagoland area. I drove 42 miles one day and 34 the next day. I am thankful for my 2 GB iPod and my trusty iPod radio transmitter.
Early in the week, I got to play on a clay tennis court for the first time ever. It was very different… the ball kicks up much higher… and it’s harder to find traction. I prefer playing on hard courts… but there is a certain ambiance to playing on clay. Next up on my wish list: Grass courts.
Two different people in the last month have told me that my early days in a new position will be very important for a specific reason. I will need to find a healthy balance between work and home quickly… I was told that the work habits that I develop early are very hard to get away from later. I want to make sure that my family is receiving the attention they need from me.
Yesterday was a fun day for me. I had a number of projects to do around the house and Emily decided she wanted to help me. So we broke down boxes and took them to the church dumpster together. I helped fix a problem with her little bike. She helped me take some stuff to the basement. I love it when I can spend times like this with her. She comes over and hangs out in my office from time to time. I don’t get anything done, really… but I wouldn’t trade it for the world.
Tuesday night was my first board meeting. It went fairly smooth. My biggest challenge will be trying to learn when the discussion is starting to get repetitive and to call for a vote or a motion… My tendency is to let people talk until they are done talking… even if they had run out of things to say about a half hour ago. There really wasn’t a situation like this at the board meeting this week… but it’s something I’ll be watching.
I continued to visit people in their homes and schedule lunches with various persons. I am starting to get a picture of the current landscape at this church. I’m starting to identify ‘hot button’ issues and ‘sacred cow’ type things. There are certain people in every church that have a DEEP passion for a specific cause. Those people tend to make decisions and judgments based on whether or not their ‘cause’ is being developed or addressed. It is interesting to watch.
I prayed for a dead person this week. Seriously. I was praying from a prayer list and there was a person listed there with the word ‘cancer’ by her name… so I prayed a prayer of healing for her. Two people interrupted me at the same time and said that she had passed away. Evidently, the prayer list hadn’t been updated for awhile. Ooops. Does that make me Catholic now?
Quick hits: Emily has started a two week class of swim lessons. Our house is pretty much in order now except for hanging some blinds. Big relief. Preached my first sermon this morning… seemed to go well, but I don’t know. The kids’ big wooden swingset arrives tomorrow. I think my brother will help me build it on his next visit next weekend. Sherlock is still alive for those of you interested in him. Cardinals stink.
Early in the week, I got to play on a clay tennis court for the first time ever. It was very different… the ball kicks up much higher… and it’s harder to find traction. I prefer playing on hard courts… but there is a certain ambiance to playing on clay. Next up on my wish list: Grass courts.
Two different people in the last month have told me that my early days in a new position will be very important for a specific reason. I will need to find a healthy balance between work and home quickly… I was told that the work habits that I develop early are very hard to get away from later. I want to make sure that my family is receiving the attention they need from me.
Yesterday was a fun day for me. I had a number of projects to do around the house and Emily decided she wanted to help me. So we broke down boxes and took them to the church dumpster together. I helped fix a problem with her little bike. She helped me take some stuff to the basement. I love it when I can spend times like this with her. She comes over and hangs out in my office from time to time. I don’t get anything done, really… but I wouldn’t trade it for the world.
Tuesday night was my first board meeting. It went fairly smooth. My biggest challenge will be trying to learn when the discussion is starting to get repetitive and to call for a vote or a motion… My tendency is to let people talk until they are done talking… even if they had run out of things to say about a half hour ago. There really wasn’t a situation like this at the board meeting this week… but it’s something I’ll be watching.
I continued to visit people in their homes and schedule lunches with various persons. I am starting to get a picture of the current landscape at this church. I’m starting to identify ‘hot button’ issues and ‘sacred cow’ type things. There are certain people in every church that have a DEEP passion for a specific cause. Those people tend to make decisions and judgments based on whether or not their ‘cause’ is being developed or addressed. It is interesting to watch.
I prayed for a dead person this week. Seriously. I was praying from a prayer list and there was a person listed there with the word ‘cancer’ by her name… so I prayed a prayer of healing for her. Two people interrupted me at the same time and said that she had passed away. Evidently, the prayer list hadn’t been updated for awhile. Ooops. Does that make me Catholic now?
Quick hits: Emily has started a two week class of swim lessons. Our house is pretty much in order now except for hanging some blinds. Big relief. Preached my first sermon this morning… seemed to go well, but I don’t know. The kids’ big wooden swingset arrives tomorrow. I think my brother will help me build it on his next visit next weekend. Sherlock is still alive for those of you interested in him. Cardinals stink.
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Baseball Tirade
Is it bad that I think this is hilarious? Is it bad that I laugh more each time I watch it? I don't know.
Saturday, June 09, 2007
A Fresh Start
Sorry for the quiet Blog page for a long time now. It's been a very busy time!
We’ve been in Wheaton, Illinois for over a week now. I’ve officially been in my new ministry position for five days. It has been a whirlwind of a couple of days. The general consensus in my mind is that though being a Lead Pastor will be difficult and overwhelming in certain occasions… the power of a fresh start has never been so real to me.
Truth be told, I was pretty unhappy in my last job for the better part of two years. There were lots of different reasons for that… and there is no sense in revisiting them in this forum… but this change has been a ‘re-charger’ for me. I am in over my head. And that’s good. I am being stretched and challenged… and forced to lean on God’s strength.
I noticed this week that I enjoyed some of the things I thought would be uncomfortable to me… like home visits. The people have really responded to my various visits. I’ve got more scheduled for next week. Making leadership decisions is something that I’m still getting used to. There have already been a few issues pop up that need to be addressed in a decisive way. My prayer is that I decide with God’s wisdom… see each decision through to the end with firm resolve BUT also display a humble spirit to those who may disagree.
I am also really beginning to beg God to help me dream. What kind of influence can this church have in their community? How successful could we be? What ministries could we offer? What does God intend for Wheaton Wesleyan?
District Conference was yesterday. It was the most enjoyable District Conference I’ve attended… mostly because I knew so many people. I’m not going to need to work hard to network in this district.
The area is pretty neat. Wheaton will be a great area for my kids to grow up in. I will always have fond memories of the St. Peters area… it was such a great place to live… but I think Wheaton will be fantastic as well.
The parsonage is gorgeous. The church renovated it right before we got here and it turned out to be spectacular. They put in top of the line appliances… the kitchen is completely new from head to toe. The master bedroom is huge and you should just see Emily’s room! Huge! She really likes it! Emily has a very large area to play in and the church property is beautiful… there are trees everywhere. It will be fun to see what a fall looks like around here.
Anyway, all said and done, we had a great first week. My installation service happens tomorrow and I have family coming into town for it. I have the privilege to receive a member into membership tomorrow as well. My first sermon is Father’s Day. Our house still isn’t completely unpacked… but we are getting there slowly but surely. I have decided to take Monday as my day off for the time being. I will try and post pictures of the parsonage later in the week.
I’ll try to keep updating the site for those of you who are interested.
We’ve been in Wheaton, Illinois for over a week now. I’ve officially been in my new ministry position for five days. It has been a whirlwind of a couple of days. The general consensus in my mind is that though being a Lead Pastor will be difficult and overwhelming in certain occasions… the power of a fresh start has never been so real to me.
Truth be told, I was pretty unhappy in my last job for the better part of two years. There were lots of different reasons for that… and there is no sense in revisiting them in this forum… but this change has been a ‘re-charger’ for me. I am in over my head. And that’s good. I am being stretched and challenged… and forced to lean on God’s strength.
I noticed this week that I enjoyed some of the things I thought would be uncomfortable to me… like home visits. The people have really responded to my various visits. I’ve got more scheduled for next week. Making leadership decisions is something that I’m still getting used to. There have already been a few issues pop up that need to be addressed in a decisive way. My prayer is that I decide with God’s wisdom… see each decision through to the end with firm resolve BUT also display a humble spirit to those who may disagree.
I am also really beginning to beg God to help me dream. What kind of influence can this church have in their community? How successful could we be? What ministries could we offer? What does God intend for Wheaton Wesleyan?
District Conference was yesterday. It was the most enjoyable District Conference I’ve attended… mostly because I knew so many people. I’m not going to need to work hard to network in this district.
The area is pretty neat. Wheaton will be a great area for my kids to grow up in. I will always have fond memories of the St. Peters area… it was such a great place to live… but I think Wheaton will be fantastic as well.
The parsonage is gorgeous. The church renovated it right before we got here and it turned out to be spectacular. They put in top of the line appliances… the kitchen is completely new from head to toe. The master bedroom is huge and you should just see Emily’s room! Huge! She really likes it! Emily has a very large area to play in and the church property is beautiful… there are trees everywhere. It will be fun to see what a fall looks like around here.
Anyway, all said and done, we had a great first week. My installation service happens tomorrow and I have family coming into town for it. I have the privilege to receive a member into membership tomorrow as well. My first sermon is Father’s Day. Our house still isn’t completely unpacked… but we are getting there slowly but surely. I have decided to take Monday as my day off for the time being. I will try and post pictures of the parsonage later in the week.
I’ll try to keep updating the site for those of you who are interested.
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