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One man's journey to find the way home |
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I am an American Baptist ordained minister. I began my life journey in Massachusetts, where I was called to help people understand what it meant to know a loving God. The call came during a time when I was wrestling with how to help my brother Kurt, who was diagnosed with Schizophrenia during my high school years. I was a new Christian by my senior year following trying to understand what it meant for me to care about a person like my brother who others tended to stay away from. After twenty three years in Massachusetts, God sent me to the land of Kansas City where I spent about 35 years of my life. I was a pastor, a resident chaplain, a supervisor in training and most recently a caregiver and security. Everything I have done vocationally has been with God in mind. That does not mean that I am totally comfortable with all the movings of the Spirit. I am now in Erie where I do not know very many people. I came here because of my wife. She is from Erie and coming here was the right thing to do. It just plain made sense. My kids had grown up. I did not like Kansas city in terms of climate and was looking forward to a change. I had become very frustrated vocationally and longed to come to Erie to get a second opinion, because I honestly believed that was what God had wanted for me. I left behind kids and grandkids who I loved!!!! I had two jobs that I enjoyed. They were both very appreciative of my skills and I was making more money with the two jobs than I ever had. I heard more than once. ARE YOU CRAZY? Well I can only say that I am in love with God's leading. I am starting all over again. It has not been easy. Maybe some of you can offer me some words of support. I am lonely despite the fact my wife is with me. She battles depression and has two siblings that are having similar battles. When it is all said I am in a depressed community with a depressed wife and her family. So I begin the conversation.... WELCOME!! |
| This is my next sermon and reflects how we see God putting us to the test. Who is God after all. A family reunion is in order and with a sense of looking forward to reconnecting the obvious need to overcome what is disconnecting the people from God and each other. The book of Malachi is about returning the message of God. They have heard there cries heard in Egypt and are no longer slaves. They know what it is like to enter the promised Land and then become disobedient. The hope is that they will return to the blessing and blesser who is God. Give the tithe out of remembering the messenger who gave life in the first place and discover what it means to be family so others around can join. I celebrate family reunion. In a few weeks I will be with my brothers and sisters for the first time since their death. My sister who is setting this up is the same one I sent flying down the stairs in a refrigerator box. I go back celebrating how God answered my own prayer. I had just got written up after a wonderful journey of going back to work at a place where I was loved. I feared rejection until I in faith took a tithe of money earned and did indeed see full blessing. The extreme debt we were under is gone and I find myself celebrating God's work through the church out of my willingness to give. How could I not want this for you. Malachi speaks in other parts of this book about a messenger who will let others know of the Messiah Jesus. So I offer the challenge to give of your life and see how God will reward you and in the same sense reconnect you. Sing hallelujah to the Lord. |
| I am working, which begs the question what it means to be at work rather than in state of disrepair or ready to be thrown out. Aging is the issue that will not go away. Along comes a nineteen year old woman with a girlfriend and baby who does enough to get by. I guess I would much rather stay old. |
| I do not know if I will feel more sleepy. I am on fumes after getting out late from my therapy appointment. It went real well and yet I admit to being real sleepy. Be with me God. Enjoyed listening to pulpit supply, now I am faced with fighting thru the next three or four hours. |
| Sox are done and yet it is hard to let go of my team even as they burst into flames as the season comes to an end. God give me grace to let go and discover who God really is. |
| Surviving my time with Jim was precious and now here I am on the midst of a ten hour shift. Almost half and not sleepy!. My Sox are about to sift into Oblivion. It is painful to watch and are the Patriots headed to the end of their Destiny. Time will tell beginning tonight. I can tell Ben Rothlesburger is hungry to win. Brady? |
| Going forward, what are my expectations? I am getting closer to 34 thousand dollars which is a lot for me. The year is fast coming to a close. God gift me with strength and wisdom 🙏 in the days ahead. |
| I am tired. Make no mistake about it. Yet I still stand with two more overnights to go. I look forward to class tonight. What will I learn? The critique as to setting forth goals in critique is admirable. |
| I am in an overnight binge and I really must be kidding myself at the age of 64. I have three more overnights and a trip planned to Pittsburgh. Am I serious? I pray God is with me. I need to take my pulse. I am headed to the magic 33,000 dollar mark. I am hardly into the month of September. God give me strength and wisdom in the days ahead. |
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