Saturday Ramblings….

Some quick hit thoughts that have rolling around in my head….

1. Why is it that every time I take a ’sick day’ at work when I’m not really sick (although I’d like to think that I am), I end up getting sick and not being able to take sick days because of some upcoming deadlines? Do you think the Lord is trying to tell me something?

2. Did you read the story and see the pictures about the uncontacted tribe in Brazil? Here’s the story: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24895872/
Absolutely fascinating. How amazing it is that I can’t get away from the ever-changing and always-advancing technological world I’m surrounded by and yet just a few thousand miles away, there’s a group of people shooting arrows at the ‘biggest and noisiest bird they’ve ever seen in their entire life’. What an amazing world.

3. I woke up early this morning and began thinking about ‘how early is too early’ when it comes to mowing the yard. In that moment I realized that I have become that which I despised so much when I was a teenager: The ‘Saturday morning lawnmowing guy’. Oh well, darn kids need to get out of bed anyway…it’s amost 9 o’clock for goodness sake!

4. Finally, it breaks my heart to hear about a friend whose marriage is in trouble. It is also humbling to recognize the blessing that the Lord has given me in my wife. Thank you Lord for Catrina…

Enjoy your Saturday. I’m going to go mow the yard…

Saturday Mornings….

I do love my Saturday mornings…especially after a somewhat long and trying week. I usually wake up before Catrina and have about an hour or so before she gets up. My morning ritual currently involves a hot cup of coffee and getting all caught up on the news, my email, and any new and interesting blog posts that come across my Google Reader. Today the sun is out and it’s going to be a very nice day. What a blessing these quiet and lazy mornings are. Time for another cup of joe…

The End of a Long but Good Week…

Last week turned out to be exactly what I thought it would be…a very long but good week.  When it was all over with, I had spent over 30 hours at the church between Monday and Friday working on getting the speakers up….in addition to the 36 hours I spent at my ‘real’ job at GSA.  By Friday night (late) everything was up and running, which was a relief and meant I didn’t need to go to the church on Saturday as well.

The speakers sound so much better than our previous system and will only get better as we fine tune everything over the next couple of weeks.  Well worth the investment, that’s for sure.  It was stressful at times and my patience was tried on numerous occasions, but all in all it went fairly smoothly considering the circumstances.  I can say that I’ve had my fill of standing in a manlift.

Now that the week is over and another has begun, I long for the day when I don’t have to work two jobs and split my time and energy and emotion and resources between the thing that I love and the thing that pays the bills.  Of course at this point, there’s nothing much I can do to change things…and there’s no saying how long that I’ll continue in this ‘two job’ lifestyle. 

What is humbling is that I need to depend upon Christ for my strength and the grace I so desperately need, even during the weeks that may not be as long and may not be as rewarding as this week will probably be.  And at the end of the day, it’s not new speakers that make it a good week, it’s the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus as Lord that makes my weeks good, my life worthwhile, and even my ’regular job’ seem like the blessing that it really is.

A Long but Good week….

Today is the beginning of what is going to be a very long but hopefully very good week. We’re finally upgrading the the speakers in the sanctuary at church, which we’ve needed to do since 1995. However, it’s going to make for a long day today (my day off), and that’s just the beginning. It’ll probably take up tomorrow night as well. I’m preaching at youth group on Wednesday (on tithing….which should be fun) and Thursday is worship practice and of course The Office Season Finale. Friday and Saturday I’ll probably be back at the church getting the sound system completed before the service on Sunday.  All these things I will be doing outside of my regular job at GSA. Like I said, a long but good week….

It’s in weeks and seasons of life like this where I am so grateful for God’s word…

Isaiah 40:28-31
Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

Lord, in the busyness of this week and this season of our lives, help me to wait upon you; to depend upon you, to find my strength in you…

The Day Job

I have a day job.  That being what I spend most of my days doing outside of all of my other responsibilities (husband, soon to be father, pastor, friend) that I’ve noted on this blog.  I am a civil servant….an employee of the Federal Government, specifically the General Services Administration (don’t worry, you’re not the only one who has never heard of that agency…most people haven’t).  God has blessed me with this wonderful job that pays for our home and our food.  The hours are limited to 40 per week, the schedule is flexible and includes the possibility of working at home, and the stress level is at a minimum.  This allows me to serve as much as I do at the church without going insane and means I don’t have to be a financial burden on the church. 

While it seems like the perfect job, there are some drawbacks, including but not limited to:  a grey walled cubicle, staring at a computer all day, trying not to get carpal tunnel syndrome, a never ending stream of work that most would consider to be boring, and dealing with difficult people both inside and outside of the office. 

Every once in awhile, a lucky employee gets picked to go ‘promote’ GSA at a convention in a decent locale.  This year, I was the lucky one…and all I had to do was stand around for awhile and try and get people to talk to me about GSA and give a couple of presentations.   A small price to pay for a week in Anaheim including a free flight, hotel, and per diem (money for food).  Even better that my wife was able to come with me and we were able to hang out with friends and go to Disneyland after the convention was over (see Disneyland post below). 

I’m sure by now you’re wondering:  “I sure wish Paul had pictures of him standing around and giving presentations, especially if he was required to wear an ugly shirt while doing so.”  Your wish is my command:

Two final comments….as you can tell, the presentation wasn’t well attended.  I’m blaming that on the irresistible draw of Disneyland more the content of the presentation which could be considered a bit drab.  Second, it was a surreal experience wearing a shirt that looked like a flag.  The good thing was, Those Colors Don’t Run…

 

Vote for McCain….

(tongue firmly in cheek) Why? Because the Bible says so…

Ecclesiastes 10:2 The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of the fool to the left (NIV)

Saddleback’s Ten Commandments

One of the things I’m extremely wary about in my ‘ministry’ is making sure there isn’t even a hint of sexual immorality (Eph. 5:3). One of the practical ways that I’ve been trying to do this is by incorporating very strict rules regarding my association with women that are not my wife. Found this online today…thought it was good information, not just for me as a pastor, but also for me as a man and a husband to my wife.

Saddleback’s Ten Commandments:
1. Thou shalt not go to lunch alone with the opposite sex.

2. Thou shalt not have the opposite sex pick you up or drive you places when it is just the two of you.

3. Thou shalt not kiss any attender of the opposite sex or show affection that could be questioned.

4. Thou shalt not visit the opposite sex alone at home.

5. Thou shalt not counsel the opposite sex alone at the office, and thou shalt not counsel the opposite sex more than once without that person’s mate. Refer them.

6. Thou shalt not discuss detailed sexual problems with the opposite sex in counseling. Refer them.

7. Thou shalt not discuss your marriage problems with an attender of the opposite sex.

8. Thou shalt be careful in answering emails, instant messages, chatrooms, cards or letters from the opposite sex.

9. Thou shalt make your co-worker your protective ally.

10. Thou shalt pray for the integrity of other staff members.

(The first four do not apply to unmarried staff.)

HT: Ed Stetzer