Hold on to Your Hat!

A brief pause

2009-06-23T12:06:00.002-04:00

I'm taking a few days with family to enjoy calm, quiet rest at the beach. No frills...no glamour...no hustle and bustle. Simply relaxing and enjoying the change of scenery, sounds, and smells of the beach life.

Be back in a couple of days...

People are...

2009-06-18T14:38:00.003-04:00

A couple of weeks into my new gig and things are starting to ramp up. The big job for the first few (summer) months is 1. not to blow anything up, and 2. begin getting to know folks and building key relationships.

So far, so good on both counts. While purposefully, yet carefully, testing the waters, I'm maintaining most of what's been gone on before and making small, decisive changes. The change thus far is largely coming by way of taking a fairly traditional, yet nice, Wednesday night prayer meeting and using it for a focused time of prayer/care and leadership development/vision casting/"discovering our purpose" time with the core of the church. Two weeks in, and we're all still speaking to each other.

That's divine progress, baby.

I've begun meetings in earnest...casual care visits "just to say 'hi' and get to know you" as well as very intentional, focused "how can you best get in the game?" meetings.

One thing that's jumped out at me is the realization that people are unique. Each and every one. I *know* this, but I've come face to face with it in a bit more of a real way the past couple of weeks. Even in a relatively small group like the one I'm pastoring, no two people are even remotely alike. Different likes and dislikes. Different stories. Different habits. Sizes, shapes and dispositions...all different. I have to be cognizant of that as I begin to do life with these folks individually and collectively. The burden is on me to relate to them in a way that best communicates to them. I've got to be true to me and how I'm wired, and (not "but") I have to work to get to know each one so that I can have the greatest opportunity of really *hearing* them and they can have the greatest opportunity of understanding me.

Takes work.

Takes time.

It will be worth it.

Hope - Love - New

2009-06-16T19:58:00.003-04:00

Lamentations 3:21-23 (MSG)
...there's one other thing I remember, and remembering, I keep a grip on HOPE: God's loyal love couldn't have run out, His merciful LOVE couldn't have dried up. They're created NEW every morning...

Candy's keen insight

2009-06-15T21:16:00.004-04:00

My lovely wife Candy took me out to dinner tonight for my birthday. Forty-one is here and gone, and now I'm working on forty-two. Not a bad way to start.

Anyhoo...somehow during our dinner conversation, "The Gaithers" came up (if you don't know who they are, turn on Trinity Broadcasting Network just once...only once...and you'll see/hear them). Not sure what we were talking about for those well-worn songsters to be mentioned over salmon and fillet, but what was quickly dialed into was the questionable hairstyles of both the gents and gals.

I use the term "hair"styles loosely and charitably.

Candy, very delicately, questioned their use of "follicle enhancements" (OK...I'll just say it...WIGS). She wondered why they obviously wore them, then declared "It's not like you can take them with you. Toupees don't go to heaven!"

I laughed so hard, I spit chunks of baked potato and Mignon.

My friends, I have found the title of my book. "Toupees Don't Go to Heaven." Look for it in a dollar-store near you.

I hope I don't get sued.

The Hornblower Shelf

2009-06-12T15:55:00.002-04:00

Just thought I'd share...

Proud father

2009-06-10T12:16:00.004-04:00

My oldest turns 19 in 3 days. Wow. Time sure flies...

He just graduated High School, is working hard at a job he enjoys, he's dating a nice girl, and he has plans for school the next 2 years. I'm *way* proud of him.

My wife and I got him what, I think, is a great gift. Can't spill the beans just yet, but I think it will serve him well at this stage in his life...both at work and at play.

Great job, Ian! I'm very proud of you, and I love you, son!

Beat to Quarters!

2009-06-09T21:08:00.003-04:00

In the midst of one journey just beginning, another journey came to a close today.

After almost ten years of patience, persistence, perusing, and pennies (quite a few pennies), I've finally completed my collection of C. S. Forester's Horatio Hornblower novels in their original hardback. I found the last one, "Hornblower and the Atropos," on ebay a couple of weeks ago, and it arrived in the mail today. I promptly placed it in perfect position 'tween it's brothers and sisters on the bookshelf and proudly stood back to take it all in. Ahhh...

One of these days I'll share the lessons on life and leadership (particularly leadership) that I've learned in my years with the noble sailor Hornblower. But not today. Today I simply bask in the glow of my favorite series of books and their slightly musty, slightly dusty smell, gently yellowed pages, the odd crease or two and even a few penciled-in notes from days gone by thrown in for good measure.

(In case you are interested in learning more about the honorable Hornblower, check out this article in wikipedia. In case you are *really* interested, "Beat to Quarters!" is the title of the 1st Hornblower novel and is the cry for all hands to prepare for action.)

Lots to do

2009-06-08T20:33:00.000-04:00

Day 1 has been reasonably successful, all things considered. Several meaningful conversations, a few ideas, a couple of words written, and several meetings booked. Nothing "Acts 2" worthy just yet, but I'll take it.

I've got a lot of cleanup to do over the next few days. I feel extremely disorganized, so I need to put some attention to just going through stuff...tossing, filing, and so on...so that I can have a place to begin. Clean slate sort of stuff.

On to day 2...

A new journey has begun

2009-06-08T13:06:00.000-04:00

Today marks day 1 in the job of head pastor.

New role.

New church.

New opportunities.

Stay tuned.