Off the radar screen

I have to admit that for most of 2005 I dropped off the radar screens of the circles I'd been traveling. This was a hugely formational year for me, one of the biggest of my life. Yet, I'd expect 2006 to be even more so. If you track this blog and go back to June you'll see the decisions Marcia and I made were indicative of entering a new world: Selling our home; Getting out of financial shackles; releasing our mission funding; and buying into a wood renewal business.

I've had the opportunity to share the story of our family decisions over and over. The financial soundness part of it has been intriguing to many - especially those who find themselves with unhealth ratios of credit card debt. This is a huge problem in the U.S. It really must be dealt with. I'm learning that planning and restraint are huge. I realize now that I was not in a position to empower my children with thier own finances because my house was so out of whack. The second piece that draws attention is the wood renewal business. Some wonder why I'm not a pastor any more. That is actually not true. I'm really not paid to be a pastor, but I find myself continuing to exercise the role of coming alongside folkes in their faith journies. Why do we tie so much of identity into what we're paid for anyway? If anything, I am more commited to the cause than I was a year ago. Mainly, becuase we've taken a hard look in the mirror and set things right. We were holding on to our house, but it was holding us back. I've been practicing the thought of holding on loosely to things.

One thing to note is that I've observed pastor cut back on "ministry" in three ways: 1) they go bi-vocational because thier churches can pay them what they need to live. 2) Some burn out with thier ministries so they "take a break" with a "secular" job. 3) Others have to get out of ministry becuase they loose thier way morally. None of these cases describes my scenario. The truth is I'm living my faith everday. I seek to connect my life in all things to everything I do. Oh, duty is calling in the household. Sorry to cut it short. Peace!