My Friend Jill

Well...I finally have a night when there are no meetings to attend or emails to answer or phone calls to return so I decided it would be a good idea to spend some time updating my blog which I have neglected horribly over the last few months.

I have settled into my new position as the Interim Pastor for our church as we go through some transition. It keeps me extremely busy but I love what I'm doing. God certainly has a way of keeping the job interesting. I continue to work with the Youth and Family of the church and maintain my duties as the Executive Pastor. It is a full plate but I have a great team I work with.

A short time ago I found out that a dear friend of mine from high school learned that she had cancer. It was devastating news for her and her family. Frankly I was pretty upset too. She is one of the nicest people you'll ever meet and it just didn't make sense. Why Jill? I suppose we all wrestle with that "Why" question but this time it made me mad. She is a great mom and wife and had a awesome love for God. It just didn't make sense.

We have talked and written several times over the last number of weeks after losing touch for almost 20 years. I believe God reunited us for a reason. Jill has an incredible husband who loves her more than anything and they both have an unshakable faith. Together they have leaned on God through this terribly trying time and they have held onto the promises of His Word. I'm so thankful for their friendship and for the example they set with their faith.

Please pray for my friend Jill and for her family. Our God is good and is love endures forever.

Spring-The Good-The Bad-The I Just Don't Know

This spring has been rather difficult. Usually for me spring is a time of new beginnings and all things new. I'm excited about Easter and the fact that summer trips are just around the corner. I got to do a wedding for a really great couple last weekend and see them off to a fresh start. It's usually a really happy time of great expectation. This year things have been a little different. We have had at least 6 or 7 funerals this spring already. I learned that a few of the people I am close to have cancer and others are being deployed overseas. It's been a troubling time. But I guess that's kind of how life goes...there's the good, the bad and the I just don't know kind of days.

A New Hobby

So I picked up a new hobby over the last month. I got together with some of my good friends and accountability buddies and they took me out shooting at the range. I decided to get a handgun and they helped me pick out a Glock 45. It is pretty sweet if I do say so myself. We then added a Ruger SR9 to the collection. My personal favorite. We have a great time hanging out at the range and doing some target shooting. It allows us some great time to enjoy God's creation, talk and catch up with one another. I really missed shooting since I left the Army those many years ago. We are starting a Sportsmen's ministry at the church in a month or so to help teach Gun Safety and as an outreach to some of our unchurched friends who like to hunt and shoot. We'll see where God leads this new ministry.