It has been a dog's age since I've posted to the Christianforum blog, but since then I've become a pastor of a small church in Milford, MA. It's been a particular challenge to do 2 jobs at once, but I've always been a hyper-busy person, so it's do-able. Still, it would be good to have the church grow to be big enough to support my family and me. In due time.
My seminary training has been on hold for 2.5 years now - just no time to continue - plus the discovery that since transferring to a local seminary all of my previous credits (around 40 of them!!) cannot be applied. This is untenable; I'll have to do all that work over again (!?!?!). No, I won't, there's no time.
Anyway, church and professional life sometimes make me feel like Jekyll and Hyde (work life has me being Mr. Hyde of course) and during the current economic slowdown that has only gotten worse. I have thought many, many times about leaving my job as there is very little Christian witness even possible (per company rules and by-laws) yet every now and then some light shines. Still - and I think this is common now - I feel quite trapped by my need to support my family (2 kids in college, etc.). I NEVER resent them, but the situation is sometimes odious to me, producing anger and even quasi-depression.
All this makes me a better pastor though, because I bring those experiences and sentiments into the pulpit as part of my messages and it REALLY connects. One thing I know from the Lord is that I need to be super transparent and I *think* I've done pretty well at that. Anyway, I really enjoy church work much better than work in the world, even if it pays non-materialistic blessings.
There, that makes up for time away. I love Christianforums and its people; you guys are great!!
My seminary training has been on hold for 2.5 years now - just no time to continue - plus the discovery that since transferring to a local seminary all of my previous credits (around 40 of them!!) cannot be applied. This is untenable; I'll have to do all that work over again (!?!?!). No, I won't, there's no time.
Anyway, church and professional life sometimes make me feel like Jekyll and Hyde (work life has me being Mr. Hyde of course) and during the current economic slowdown that has only gotten worse. I have thought many, many times about leaving my job as there is very little Christian witness even possible (per company rules and by-laws) yet every now and then some light shines. Still - and I think this is common now - I feel quite trapped by my need to support my family (2 kids in college, etc.). I NEVER resent them, but the situation is sometimes odious to me, producing anger and even quasi-depression.
All this makes me a better pastor though, because I bring those experiences and sentiments into the pulpit as part of my messages and it REALLY connects. One thing I know from the Lord is that I need to be super transparent and I *think* I've done pretty well at that. Anyway, I really enjoy church work much better than work in the world, even if it pays non-materialistic blessings.
There, that makes up for time away. I love Christianforums and its people; you guys are great!!
