Cats, Israel And Stressful Changes

 Hello Church,

All is good with the world!  Dora is accepting her new home.

Cats are finicky.  We've had bad experiences with moving cats before.  We weren't sure that Dora, our part Maincoon, would be accepting of a new environment.

Truth is, we humans are not always accepting of change either.  Moving is a pain in the butt.  I don't want to do it again.  17 years until retirement..... fingers crossed.

It has made me contemplate the days of Abraham and the nomadic nation that was ancient Israel.  They were always moving and changing.  They also moaned and groaned about it too.  However, whether they learned it or not, God was constantly walking with them as change constantly happened.  God was the consistent reality in their world.  It helped them through.  

Dora is spending less time tip-toeing around the house with ears perked up, expecting the unexpected.  She is finding her favorite spots which, predictably, is exactly where Kim does NOT want her.  

As I start the process of adjusting to my major change -- new church, community, people, faces, names, ministries and challenges -- I will try to remember that God is the consistent One in all of it.  I will breathe.  It will be okay.

Whatever changes you are up against, know that it will be okay.  And once you get used to it, change will happen all over again.  But through it all is a consistent God.

God is Good,

Pastor Joe

The (Almost) Emptiness Of Life Changes

 Hello Church,

I'm sitting in a chair in the middle of a mostly empty living room.  We are down to just the piddly little things that need to be packed.  Have you ever had a moment when you realized that life was about to stop and then start over again in a very different way?

This is, by far, the hardest stop and start again that we've ever had.  Not only are we moving to live in an entirely different community with different people, but we are also downsizing, preparing for an empty nest existence.  

I've had these moments a few times in my life.  The first was actually at my high school graduation.  I genuinely felt like a part of me was dying and a new life was ahead of me.  Since then I have had a few transitions that brought on the same feelings.  

And through it all there was God.

Sometimes we forget, especially if we never have those moments when we realize that everything around us is temporary.... that change can happen on a whim and sometimes drastic change.

But God is never temporary.

Be reminded that, inevitably, it is you and God and that is the most consistent, permanent relationship that there can be.  It's a good thing because God loves you always.  

God is Good,

Pastor Joe

The WWW vs The Great I Am

 Hello Church,

Computers and I don't often have a healthy relationship.  My brother or wife will tell you that if I touch anything technical on a computer, it will never work again and I will be frustrated to the ends of the earth.  I tell people that I know just enough to be dangerous.  Truth is that I'm just dangerous regardless how much I know.

It is in this context that I share the following:  my laptop died.

Worse yet, it died while we were on vacation at Indian Lake.  It died while I was suffering from the head colds to beat all head colds.  Everyone else had fun on vacation.  I tried my best.

As I processed the death of my computer, I have always processed the number of files that I failed to backup and lost forever.  I once learned the very hard way as, years and years ago, I lost 2 years worth of church work.  Today?  It's a little different.

What I realized is the amount of work that was stored on the Cloud.  Most of you likely know what the Cloud is, but for those who are unfamiliar, it is the magical place where the internet stores all the files you have on your computer, phone, ipad and any other device you so choose to make vulnerable to the World Wide Web.

What I then realized is that I lost nearly 0 files.  It is also when I realized how vulnerable we all are to the WWW.  Think about what would happen to our world if the internet just stopped and died like my laptop.  Think about all the information that would simply be no more.  I don't think we can comprehend the result of such a catastrophe.  

Now think of God who knows all and is all.  God, who goes beyond the wealth of the WWW and includes the personal relationship that He seeks for each one of us.  Think about what would happen if He just stopped.  No more unconditional love, hope, peace and no more new life.  Certainly He has plenty of reasons to stop.  We aren't often very good at being very good.

So every time my laptop dies and I pray to God for perseverance, I will also thank God for His eternal presence and never-ending attempts to be our God.  No matter how many laptops die on me, there will always be prayer.  There will always be a wealth of information to tap into.  God was here before the WWW and He will be here after the WWW.  

God is Good,

Pastor Joe

Bippity Boppity Boo..... Ribbit

 Hello Church,

I have a problem.  It's a problem I have had each of the other 3 times I got appointed to a church(es).  My brain won't turn off.  

I am currently sitting at Indian Lake.  It's a peaceful setting.  The lake is literally in our back yard.  The family is sitting around the table eating breakfast and talking about non-stressful things.  There is every opportunity to sit and stare blankly at the lake.  But while my granddaughter runs around turning me into a frog with her imaginary wand (or is it real?... 'ribbit'), my brain won't turn off.

Between getting Emmanuel ready for a transition; meeting staff at Springboro; packing boxes; cleaning my current office; considering the vision process for the months ahead; preparing for an 'empty nest' ..... and don't forget my all-important fantasy baseball team which has had too many injuries...... my brain won't turn off.

When I got to Emmanuel 12 years ago, this problem lasted about 2 years.  That can't happen again.  My wife is already half-crazy.  I am sure I would send her over the edge this time.  I can't afford this inconvenience.

I am not entirely sure about the solution to this problem.  It is mostly created because of my excitement/anxiety about life-changes.  It's troubling because I can have my gallbladder removed and truly think nothing of it.... no anxiety or nervous energy at any time.  But move me from one house to another and I can't sit still.... and sitting still is usually one of my fortes.  

So I hope Springboro First is ready for me.  I hope Emmanuel will be okay without me.  I hope Hope does well in college.  I hope my fantasy baseball team starts winning.  I hope my wife finds half-crazy new friends.  And I hope I am not a frog indefinitely.  

If all of the above happens well, then God can tell me 'I told you so'.  Until then, I may look at God with a quizzical look while He subtly shakes His head and rolls His eyes..... sort of like how Kim will do when she reads this.

God is Good

...ribbit....

Pastor Joe