Twenty7:7Teen

Sometimes it’s time to move on. It doesn’t mean it’s a bad thing. Often it is just God’s way of changing seasons. That’s what happened to Tina and me and Living Stones Church. I had been going there for about 11 years, led a ministry and served as an Elder, and Tina was the leader of the Intercessor Prayer Team. So this was a bit of a shock. But not a bad one. We were tired of watching church being done on Facebook Live. We needed some physical touch from our brothers and sisters in Christ. And so…………

I started looking for churches who were preparing to meet live and in person. It just happened that a church not far from where we went already was meeting that week. I was given the task of going first-by myself. It was wonderful!! People were shaking hands, greeting one another with hugs and just happy to be there. Everything that morning was great. I gave a full report to Tina and we came together the next week. And the next and the next. Now what? It was appearing we were going to have to make a decision. I don’t think it ever started out to go this far, but it did. It felt like it was where we were suppose to be. We looked for red flags. But there weren’t any. We looked for odd preaching. Nothing, it was all Scriptural. After a month of going and praying we made our decision……our time at Living Stones was over. I had a meeting with Pastor Pat and told him we were moving on. We didn’t tell him where but that our season was over at LSC. There was no sadness. There was no regret. There was peace. There was excitement.

So now we are going to Christian Center Church. Who would’ve thought? It wasn’t on the radar screen at all. Who knew? Only God. We are meeting some great folks. I’m not sure how God plans to use us at CCC, but I’m sure He has a plan. He always does. I can’t wait to see how that plan is put forward. I’ll try to keep you up to date. But keep well. That stupid virus is still around. Be mindful but not fearful. We are still children of the King!

Once the decision to retire is made, you can’t undo it. The reason is because mentally you are already gone;you’ve already checked out. You have lost the fight; the daily battles you face in getting new business, new accounts and maintaining current business don’t seem to matter. The problem that causes is as a commission salesman is you have put your income in jeopardy. You have lost your edge. And really, that is foreign to you. Before the decision, I’d get up early with a battle plan, so to speak, ready to take on all my competition, eager to solve problems and build relationships. But after the decision, not so much. So now what?

Coming out of church the next Sunday my friend Bill walked past me. Out of nowhere came from my mouth, “Hey Bill, how does someone become a school bus driver? A little shocked, he said, “its not too hard. You go to the school administration office and apply. They’ll teach you, you take a test and bingo, you’re a driver.” So Monday I went down to the South Bend Community School Corporation transportation department and was hired pretty much on the spot. They really did wonder why I wanted to be a driver. I told them I was a product of the SBCSC and it was time to give back. I wanted to be able to, as the first person from the school system they’d see in the morning, make sure they got off the bus with a smile, ready to take on he day. I really did. And so the lady set me up with a trainer who would work with me at a time that was convenient for me and my work schedule. I was about to find out that the time between “they’ll teach you, you’ll take a test, and bingo” is about 75 days. Oh my, what have i done?

I soon found out what that all looked like. The training is mostly about you getting ready for your test. While the driving part is important, that’s really the easy part. Just remember that you have to be very aware of where the backend of the bus is at all times. The difficult part was the memorizing of the important parts under the hood, the different lights and their functions on and around the bus, the parts under the bus, axles, rims, tires drive shaft as well as the gages, fire extinguishers, triangles and the ever important air brake system, which if you made one mistake in the explanation, it was an automatic failure. No pressure. Keep in mind this is a retiree changing careers. And retire I did on the last day of September. On November 23rd this nervously optimistic, crazy old man at 8:30 AM, took the test and became a proud member of the SBCSC Transportation Department. I couldn’t believe it! As a matter of fact I still chuckle every time I climb into that big yellow bus, do my pre-trip inspection and take off to pick up or deliver the kids to school or home. What an honor and a blast it is. Wow!

So no, I never believed I’d be doing this, but I am. It’s been a crazy end to the school year. COVID 19 put an end to driving my students. I really miss them. I had a special relationship with them. I was a sub for most of my time. Getting a different route each day is VERY hard. It’s dark in the morning and the street signs are tough to see. You’re always late and that makes kids nervous; and loud; and it unsettles them. But my last bus I had for a couple of weeks. Then the bus driver didn’t come back. I was finally able to tell my new little buddies that yes, I was going to be their bus driver permanently. The kids and their parents alike were happy. But, I don’t think they were as happy as this old man was. I took “never too old” and nailed it. I took “why do you want to do this?” and lived it. What a way this is to go out. I’m so looking forward to August because there are more kids to love on and to make sure they get off to a great start in the morning. There are more teachers to encourage that they have an partner who is working to do what he can to put their students in the right frame of mind. I still shake my head because really, I never thought I’d be doing this.

We seem to be losing our way in this world.  Without Jesus we’ve always been lost, but now we have added unfettered hate and violence.  The only antidote to this is Love.  Sacrificial Love.  The Love of Jesus Christ that says love your neighbor as yourself.  The Jesus who says don’t hate but love your enemies.  The Jesus who says forgive those who have done wrong to you….and if you don’t God your Father in Heaven won’t forgive you.  Those are tough words and difficult marching orders, but in them are the keys to a peaceful life.

So how do we get from where we are to the place we need to be?  The Apostle Paul in Galatians 5 spoke of things that will mess up your life such as sexual immorality, impurity, debauchery, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, orgies and the like and keep you from inheriting the Kingdom of God.  But in verse 22 he goes on to give the antidote: “But the Fruit of The Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.”  You see if we will give our lives over to Jesus and submit to His Lordship, the work He did on the Cross, crucifying our sinful nature with its passions and desires, will allow us to live by the Spitit and keep step with the Spirit. That’s the only way this world is ever going to be changed.  You, me and Jesus.

There’s an amazing story that’s waiting to be written.  Don’t let anyone keep you from adding your chapter.  Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self Control………..and you.

I’m growing weary of the killing of innocent life.  It doesn’t matter to me anymore who is being killed; Christians, Muslims, or babies.  It all needs to stop.  It’s one thing to yell into someone’s face, but quite different to stand in a corner of a room and pick off folks running for their lives.  It’s one thing to disagree with someone’s faith but it’s way different when you burn down their church and kill those inside.  And it’s one thing to do something with someone else that happens to set in motion the beginning of a new life and quite another to suck its little body from its mom’s womb.

You see, unless we get our acts together and begin looking for the potential goodness in people instead of ways and reasons to hate, we are doomed to live lives filled withbdepression and regret.  I can’t remember ever regretting doing a kind act to someone different than me;  I really can’t.  We all have to begin to lives filled with sacrifice; especially to those we currently think as less than ourselves.  It has to begin with someone.  Why not me?  Why not you?

I’ve been on a bit of a mission these past few weeks.  I thought it was kind of a no brainer, but I’ve since learned differently. As soon as I wrote that killing babies at any stage of their life, either in vitro or post abortion should he or she survive is murder, some church folk came out screaming, “what about the mother!!?”   I was careful to talk about forgiveness for the mom, but I guess not well enough for them.  And though I feel sorry for the physical pain they must have endured, they must realize someone died during the abortion.  Go get help.  You are going to need it.  But with all the guilt and (dare I say it) shame you are going to feel sooner or later, you will at least be able to get help; the baby? Not so much.  So I write this today to encourage others to counsel their girlfriends to take the baby to term, give it up for adoption and live life knowing you did the right thing.  Choosing life; now that’s something we can all get behind.

Don’t we all love good news?  I know I do.  I think many people go around believing God is this mean God who is ticked off at us and waiting to find a reason to whack us with a big stick.  Nothing could be further from the truth.   He actually loves us.  I mean really loves us!  Now I don’t know how well your earthly father loves or loved you.  He may have been crappy.  Well I’m here today to let you know you have a good father in Heaven who is pulling for you; cheering you on to the very end.  I have a song that might be of interest to you; especially if you have been searching.  Try clicking on this.

http://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=AwrDQ3K3UVxZrVYABaT8w8QF;_ylu=X3oDMTJkYjhsNWV2BHNlYwNjZC1hdHRyBHNsawNzb3VyY2UEdnRpZAMEcnVybANodHRwczovL3d3dy55b3V0dWJlLmNvbS93YXRjaD92PS1fbTVaV2NoaVpv/RV=2/RE=1499251255/RO=10/RU=https%3a%2f%2fwww.youtube.com%2fwatch%3fv%3d-_m5ZWchiZo/RK=1/RS=YJQX.nUgzjQG_xy20T_sscYcwsw-

Tonight, Tina started a website that will showcase her thoughts, ideas, wisdom and her life of prayer.  She has so much to offer; she’s brilliant, you know.  If I wasn’t already a follower of her, I’d certainly become one.  So, this is your invitation.  Visit her at http://www.prayersandponderings.com.  You’ll love her even more.  Believe me.  It happened to me

Man, I haven’t done this for a long time.  But there’s just something about sharing random thoughts in the context of men and their walk with God.  If I can figure out how to work this blog site, I’ll do more.  If not, well………..I’m only thinking positive thoughts.  Oh, and by the way, I actually DID marry Tina.  It wasn’t until July, 11 of 2014.  That was quite a story.  Maybe I’ll share that someday.  For now, I’m on my way to CR.

I’m not too sure about this but here goes. My mind is a little mushy trying to work through this. New blogs and new sites are a bit unsettling but I’m going to give this a try. We’ll see how it works.