The Country Will Be Missed

I was thinking as I was driving home the other day about how different the populated areas of California are from rural Colorado. If we happen to move back to So Cal, there will be many things about this country that I will miss.
I will miss the early morning sunrise in the distant horizon and the orange glow of the sunset over the distant Spanish Peaks on the way home. (They say here in Colorado that God must be a Bronco fan, otherwise why did He make the sunsets orange!) I will miss the owls swooping down from the trees in the dawnlight of the mornings and the hawks gliding over the fields in the afternoons. I will miss the deer staring at me by the side of the road and then bounding over the barbed wire fence past the herd of cattle. The pronghorn (antelope) running across the fields and the red-tail fox sitting by her den. The prairie dogs standing at attention as you drive by. The birds of so many different colors that we never saw in So Cal--bright yellow, brillant blue, shades of red and orange. In the fall, the golden aspens as we drive through the mountain passes, and the Blue Spruce by the campgrounds in the summer.
If we move back to California, I won't miss the below zero temperatures! But who knows where God will move us??

Sad News

We went to visit a church today where I am acquainted with the pastor. We met this past year, and things seemed to be going well for him and his church. We found out today that he resigned last week due to a moral failure. Please pray for Dave and his church and family. Again we are reminded how active Satan is in attacking God's servants.

Fun on the Road

Well, we hope to have our truck fixed by Friday. Thanks for all your prayers for us!! Karen has been driving the motorhome to work since I needed to drive her car. But then the motorhome wouldn't start for her on Monday night, so I had to go pick her up from work. Of course, that meant taking her to work the next morning--25 miles to the west and then back home and 53 miles to the east to my school! That was a long day--Thankfully, she was able to get it fixed and back running before that evening!! So we have had a lot of fun on the road lately ;)

We are still seeking God's will about a church ministry. I have had a couple of initial phone contacts from churches this week, but they are still in the beginning stages of their pastor search. So we keep praying and waiting for the Lord's will.

Another eventful week!

Driving back and forth to Lamar can be rather boring and uneventful for the most part--that is, until your truck breaks down at night on the way home about 25 miles from town! Yes, that's what happened on Tuesday night on the way home from school. All of a sudden, no power to the wheels--the engine is racing but I'm coasting to a stop.
I called Karen (who had just pulled in the driveway at home) and she called a tow truck to come rescue me. And Karen met me out on the road about the time the tow truck got there. Turns out, something major in my transmission broke! It is in the shop being rebuilt. At times like these, again we ask God, "Okay, what are you trying to teach us now???" But we just keep trusting Him and know that He is in control!!

Meanwhile, Karen is driving our older motorhome to work and I am driving her car. Hopefully, our Toyota truck will be ready next Tuesday or Wednesday. We are thankful that we have another dependable car to drive and that our motorhome didn't sell this last fall! Thanks for your continued prayers for us!!

Snowy Morning!

Fateful phrases

Sometimes as pastors we learn the hard way what things not to say--such as these that may lead to a fast farewell!

THE TOP 10 "Last Words in Your Church"
Sometimes words have to be eaten. Other times, they turn out to have teeth that bite. From an unscientific sampling of a few contributing editors, Leadership offers here the most frequent phrases in ministry that become preludes to a fast farewell.

10. I think I've earned the right to say this.

9. Thank you for the unanimous vote of confidence.

8.We'll incorporate a seeker sensitive approach into our present worship service.

7. In ancient Israel, the people danced before the Lord.

6. Recently, I've been reading about the importance of publicly confessing your own sins, so today …

5. I'll show the church secretary who's boss around here!

4. I'm sure I can trust you to keep this confidential.

3. Then there are no hard feelings, right?

2. I'm sure Mrs. Jones will agree that she's been our organist long enough.

1. They need to realize this kitchen belongs to everyone.

Priorities?

Busy Week!

On Tuesday, I reported to Lamar High School to learn about my teaching assignment. The former teacher was there to help me with the transition. She had been wanting a replacement all last semester--she had told the principal that she would work until he found one. Well, he decided that he had better hire someone for this second semester. I found out that he had hired a fellow from Denver during Christmas break, but on Monday the teacher decided it was too far away from his daughter in Denver so he quit on Monday afternoon! That's when I got the job.

I am teaching a dual credit (high school/college) General Psychology class two periods, Government two periods, and Economics two periods. So I have 3 classes to prep for--I am just taking it basically one day at a time. At night I say, "Okay, what are we doing tomorrow?"

I am still seeking a church ministry, but this teaching position will give us the needed income until the end of school. We are trusting that something will open up for a church by then. Of course, our house still needs to sell--but the timing needs to be right so that we have a place to move to.
Thanks for your continued prayers. We praise God for giving me this full-time position for now to supply our needs! God is faithful!

Long-Term Sub

Well, I got another call from the principal of Lamar High School this afternoon. It turns out that what they had worked out last Thursday didn't work out after all--they need me to be the long-term sub for the Social Studies position. (I think they didn't want to put me on a regular contract because I just have a sub credential for Colorado.) Karen and I talked about it again this afternoon, and we feel that having the steady income is good, even though the drive is long. (53 miles each way)
And weather may be bad at times--like tomorrow! It is snowing right now with about 2 inches on the ground. (Will there be a snow day tomorrow???) I am planning on packing an overnight/emergency bag in the truck just in case I get stuck somewhere.

Karen is also disappointed that I won't be able to sub for her when she is sick--like tomorrow!! She has a bad sore throat and fever :(

So please pray for me as I travel the road each day--and as I adjust to this new teaching assignment. And keep praying for our house to sell and for a church position to open up soon!

Back Home!

We had a safe journey home from our trip to California. It was a great visit with our family! Now back to the job hunt here in Colorado.

What a joy it would be to be able to move back to California to be near family--and warmer weather! Although, right now it is quite nice weather--in the mid 50's during the day!

I found out today that I did not get the long-term sub teaching job that I interviewed for in Lamar. We have mixed feelings about it--we were looking forward to a steady source of income for the coming months, but it was a long way to drive everyday. So for right now, I will continue to sub in the districts that I have been.

We are continuing to pray for a church ministry to open up soon. I have several resumes out there, so please keep praying that God will lead us to the right position.

Counseling Challenge!