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it's just me... |
It's been way too long since we've taken a family photo, over 3 years. In fact, at the time of our last family photo we were just a family of four. We've been planning, searching, and today we made it happen. It's great to have Cherish a part of our family and now it's time to get this photo on the wall for all to see. Which one do you like best?
Which one do you like best?
Just a few of the latest pics of our house. We are gradually moving our stuff from the apartment to the house. Some guys from the church are going to help us move the heavy stuff on Monday. The moving truck is loaded and headed to KY from OK. It should be here the first part of the week.
We're ready to get warmer clothes and I'm missing my leaf blower. Ha!
Here's a few pics of my latest project at our new home. I built knee walls for the shower in the master bath with built in shelves for shampoo and the rest of Sara's stuff. It's all ready for the tile to be laid next Tuesday.
Another project complete and one step closer!
If you haven't already heard I have resigned from Henderson Hills to assume the position of Associate Pastor of Leadership and Equipping at Severns Valley Baptist Church in Elizabethtown, KY. My last day at Henderson Hills will be June 16th. My first day at Severns Valley will be July 3rd.
So how did this all happen? All I have to say is...God did it.
About 9 months ago Sara and I felt like God was preparing us for something new. At different times in our lives we have experienced this before. We began praying and asking God to show us what He wanted us to do. At the same time we also began talking about turning 50 and how we wanted to do as we told our sons many times before, "finish strong." God seemed to be saying to us that we were to prepare for a position like an Executive Pastor.
We prayed for many weeks trying to discern if this was what God was saying and finally came to the point of saying to God, "If you want this to happen, then we are willing. If it's not to happen, then we are excited to stay at Henderson Hills." We committed to leaving this in God's hands. If it was to happen, then He was going to have to make it happen. I committed to pray and do nothing more. No resumes, no calls to friends, no networking, just prayer.
Two days later, I received a call from a former pastor, Bill Langley. We hadn't spoken for a couple of years and quickly caught up on life. He was specifically calling to get ideas for people to call for a position that they were trying to fill at Severns Valley. I asked a number of questions, trying to determine if I might know someone to recommend. After about 30 min, Bill asked if I knew of some men that would be good for him to call. I thought for a while and then said something like, "Bill I think this position would be good for the church, but it might be better to think bigger picture and try to find someone to build your team, a coach, instead of finding the players on the team first." He then asked if I could come and consult with the search team. I said that would be fun, and we scheduled a time for me to come.
I had a great time with the team, answering questions, exploring, dreaming, and after two days with the team and various staff members left E-town thanking God for the experience and also for rekindling my relationship with Bill.
A few days later Bill called and said the team really felt led to take a different path and were now looking for a "coach" instead of a "player". Then he said, "Would you be open to discussing this position?" My response was, "Let me tell you what God's been doing in my life".
After many telephone calls, a phone interview with the team, a quick trip with Sara to do a formal interview with the team, we were then invited to come for a vote to see if the church sensed God calling us to Severns Valley. Last weekend we meet various leadership groups, the staff and then I preached both services, had a reception and then we left as the church went into a business meeting. While at the airport Bill called to say the church voted 97% in favor of calling me for the position.
We then began informing those at Henderson Hills beginning on Monday concluding this weekend by telling the church at all the services.
We put a For Sale By Owner sign in the yard Wednesday night at 9pm and signed a contract to sell the house Saturday night at 4:30pm.
Now we're ready to find our new home and begin our new ministry in E-town, KY. What an amazing few months. God is so good!
I'm a believer, a husband, a father of two GREAT sons, and a Pastor of Leadership and Equipping on this journey called life.
