Dealing with disapointment

Have you ever had one of those days where everything you were hoping for went down the drain? Today is one of those days for me. I am dealing with a personal loss of something that I was really looking forward to, and today I found out that it was not to be. (won't mention what because of a personal nature)



I am now looking forward to getting started on what I need to do to secure my dreams. I am looking at starting a new church in Nacogdoches, TX called "Impact Church of Nacogdoches" Our slogan is "Impacting people at the point of their needs". I am now presently trying to recruit staff members and people that will be glad to serve the community that they live in and believe in. I have found that when dealing with people that you want to pour into or serve, sometimes they can and will let you down.



I am ex military and so I believe in a feeling of team work and a sense of pride in supporting those who you have served and those who have served you. It is hard to expect people to be loyal to you if you have not been loyal to them. That is the way I live my life. For those I serve I do so with extinction. The Army Rangers have a credo that say's that they will leave no one behind dead or alive it makes no difference. I feel that you should never have to worry about where I stand if I am serving you or your command I will "stick".



Today I talked to a friend who was serving as a replacement pastor for a large denomination who did not give him the support that he should have been given and was eventually asked to live his church after uprooting his whole family to take over this church that was being run by one family that was related to everyone in the town. So when he got there to relieve the old pastor the church got up and walked out and staged a protest by walking out after worship was over every sunday. Thing started changing for them and they began having 3-4 families attend and was beginning to turn things around. I have seen a change happen in my friend that broke my heart. He is ex military as well and needed the support of his chain of command and they walked out on him and asked him to leave so they could bring back the old pastor who they were not happy with in the first place. Jodi was a complete company man for this denomination if you would like to call it like that. When people serve you remember they are usually trying to do the very best they can to do at what you want them to do without the benefit of your support or experience.



So as I look for people to help me in my new venture, it is important that to find people who will "stick" in the hard times. I call them "peanut butter" type people. I know that is a crude way to look at people but take a spoon and put it in a jar of peanut butter and get a big spoonful. When you pull it out turn it upside down and watch what happens. Nothing, if it is good peanut butter it will not move it will "stick" to the spoon. I am not looking for jello type people who are always wiggling around and don't stick to anything except the pan that they were made in.

I know that is a strange analogy but it is fitting. Please look around at your work, and family enviroment and take notice of the people who "stick" and support them with all your heart because they don't run from a fight and they try to do what is best. Who knows it may be you that needs someone to come along side of you and say's don't worry I don't leave any body behind.

I know it is a strange post but just some thoughts I have been thinking about. Please leave any comments

Family time in a time of transition.

Sorry it has been so long since I blogged, but I have been in some serious transitions in my family life. This picture is of me and my wife at deer camp on Christmas of 2004. This was before the birth of our Son Jonathan. On April 11, 2006 He was born and boy let me tell you that is when life got turned upside down and inside out. He came into this world weighing 9lbs 14oz, which is bigger than the average baby. When he came into our lives so many things changed for good never to go back to the same ever again. In this picture Caye and I look so happy but it can't compare to the happiness we have today because of our son.

Well just as the change came by adding him into the family we have made some more drastic changes that will forever change our lives and how we live. Three weeks ago I went into the hospital and discovered that I have diabetes and it I had probably have had it for a while. I was lucky to find it when I did. As a result I have to change my life style and how I live and eat. I have lost twenty lbs since I have had to change my diet. It is hard and frustrating but I am getting through it. My wife has been a rock for me because she started taking the diabetic diet with me so that I would not have to do it myself. Having a support staff or group means everything to me because she is showing me that she loves me and wants me to be around so we can share our old age together. She has even lost six lbs since we have been on it so she even take advantage of a strange situation.

Last Sunday we wrapped up our last week at the the church were I was on staff as associate pastor. I have been a part of that family for over eight years and have seen a lot of ups and downs, good times and bad times, but I would not trade them for anything. The reason we are leaving is so we can go start a church plant in Nacogdoches, TX. We are excited about it and yet scared as well. I was taking to a friend here recently and he asked how I was so sure that God was calling me to do it? You see he went to start a church plant and it did not work out and he lost faith in what he was doing and he stopped trying. Well when it was boiled down I told him that what was left was an unchangeable or unshakable hunch of what I am supposed to do. Well I have been thinking about that here recently. My wife turned in her notice at her school where she is a teacher and she gets paid through August and since I am no longer on staff I no longer receive a pay check. I will admit that right now I am scared to think about the possibilities of what is happening with us. We are trying to sell our house and let me tell you it is a time of severe change. I am a man and I don't handle change well and through it all God reminds me in Psalms 68 it say's Let God arise and his enemies scatter. I know that I am a man of God who get's scared but it not fear that disqualifies you but how you handle the fear. In war and on battle graound through out the world we have had men that have sucked up the fear and performed great acts of heroism and we have had great men lock up in fear and just give up.

This is a time of gut checking and asking myself will I let my fear for my family out wiegh the fear of the Lord. I stand strong in nowing that "As for me and my family we shall serve the LORD." Please keep checking in for updates on our church planting and my upcoming deer season hunting stories.