Very true.
Brad
At 01:39 PM 11/26/2005 -0500, you wrote:
>Brad,
>A second thought!
>You had mentioned that Greg's congregational responsibilities may lie
>beyond the four walls of our church. So may it be said of all of
>us! That's our main message!
>Kathy
>
>
>
>At 11:04 AM 11/26/2005, you wrote:
> >Kathy,
> >
> >Years ago, in our roofing business we hired a man probably in his early
> >30's. A nice clean cut younger man, who just happened to have a
> >congregation. Of course it was quite challenging for him in the
> >construction field as not only was it hard work, but I think there is a
> >major run offf between sailors and construction guys in the International
> >Cuss Off Competition and etc. if you get my meaning. The worse we were, the
> >better we were, in the eyes of those who took part in such backwards
> >mentality. Anyway, another younger man who I'll call the captain, was
> >probably the captain of the cuss off team as well as the bar brawling team,
> >local motorcycle gang team and etc., who also worked with us, really
> >clashed with this young pastor. However one day the captain showed up in
> >the pastor's congregation one day. Now I won't say he was responsible for
> >bringing the captain to salvation, but even in their daily clashing, there
> >was enough affect to bring the captain to church that Sunday, and who
> >really knows what that meant to the captin that day. So perhaps Greg's
> >congregation responsibilities do not just lie in the four walls of the
> >church. Paul still earned his keep for the most part I believe. I think
> >there is a great benefit of a pastor being intimate with the daily
> >struggles and successes in the community. I'm not saying that the
> >congregation is not to supply sustanance for the shepherd, but I'm not
> >sure pastor's are meant to be removed from the rubbing against the sheep
> >and carry the scent of the sheep as well the flock the scent of the
> >shepherd. I know some tend to think you aren't a real pastor of a real
> >church if you don't have a full salary to sustain your needs, but I think
> >those who are not in touch with the common man's way of living and etc. and
> >protected from housing and household maintenances and etc. lose the ability
> >to have compassion, and concerted efforts are needed to keep that fire
> >alive. Faith to me would be acting with or without agreeing with what God
> >is directing, guts to me is the same thing minus God. But I do know what
> >you are saying. God will reveal what to do when the time is ripe.
> >
> >Brad
> >
> >
> >At 07:49 AM 11/26/2005 -0500, you wrote:
> > >Brad,
> > >Warning, Warning!! Incoming chunks of pumpkin pie, straight at
> > >ya! Duck now and you lose!
> > >
> > > I'm with you on the car thing. I'd rather get something
> > >else too. The question is, will the bank let us? We had been trying
> > >to crunch numbers so that, maybe Greg could stop working for the post
> > >office within a year. This job, while it is nice, and part time, can
> > >still end up robbing the ministry of valuable time. We have started
> > >saying, "you know, we weren't called to Maine to work for the post
> > >office, but to do ministry." Well, at this point, we can't see
> > >quitting. Financially, we couldn't do it, but buying a different
> > >car, or even getting the old one fixed, pushes back the ending date
> > >at the post office even more., God knows what He is doing, of that
> > >I'm sure. I just pray that we are quiet enough to listen and brave
> > >enough to follow, whatever. Maybe you guys should pray that we will have
> > >guts.
> > >Kathy
> > >
> > >
> > >At 01:54 PM 11/25/2005, you wrote:
> > > >Kathy,
> > > >
> > > >Cool story. See? Romans 8:28 in live performance here. For what it is
> > > >worth, I'm thinking if it were me with the van issue? I'd also be
> thinking
> > > >if I'm going to continue to put money in a car? I'd rather put it in a
> > > >payment for a reliable one than continually repairing an older
> > one. I'm all
> > > >for keeping the old ones running, I have one myself, but when the scale
> > > >begins to tip towards a money pit, it is time to move on. Lordy Kate! I
> > > >thought you were going to say you were going to adopt a troubled
> child or
> > > >something. Kate? Yikes probably have to duck the incoming chunks
> > of pumpkin
> > > >pie. Oh well I'll just open my mouth, my big mouth even more, no sense
> > > >letting that good pie go to waste, w a s t e. But I know it will
> > show up on
> > > >my waist, w a i s t.
> > > >
> > > >Brad
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >Brad
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >At 01:10 PM 11/25/2005 -0500, you wrote:
> > > > >Hi Guys,
> > > > > You know that old saying, "every cloud has a silver
> > > > lining?" Well,
> > > > >I thought that you might like to hear the story of the silver lining
> > > > >of our car problems. It's kind of cool.
> > > > > Our church has begun attempting to connect with kids who have
> > > grown
> > > > >up in the foster care system, but have now turned 18 and are being
> > > > >turned out, so to speak. I didn't know very much about this problem
> > > > >before this summer. One of our deacons saw a news story about these
> > > > >kids right before a deaconate meeting and he came in and told
> > > > >everybody about what he had seen and then asked, "Can't we do
> > > > >something?" So, we've been learning what the need is and what we can
> > > > >do in response to his question.
> > > > > You just don't think about this kind of stuff. Some
> > > > foster families
> > > > >agree to take care of these kids until they graduate without
> > > > >compensation, but lots of kids just get released in to nothing. They
> > > > >have no family to go back too. They are dependent on whatever social
> > > > >agencies that they can find to tteach them how to do finances, obtain
> > > > >learners permits and drivers licenses, all those daily living skills
> > > > >that we as parents just pass on, a lot of these kids don't have
> > > > >because there isn't anyone to teach them.
> > > > > Well, our church always puts on a thanksgiving ffeed the
> Sunday
> > > > >before Thanksgiving. There's always tons of food so, our first event
> > > > >was to invite these kids and their social workers to dine with
> > > > >us. It went pretty well. We gave them gifts and so forth and I
> > > > >think that they had a good time. As they were leaving, one of the
> > > > >social workers mentioned that there was one girl who is living in a,
> > > > >kind of homeless shelter for kids, who had no place to go for
> > > > >Thanksgiving. Greg spoke up right away and said that we could
> take her.
> > > > > We also had been invited to dinner with an old retired
> > > > pastor in the
> > > > >area who has been a tremendous support to us, not the former pastor
> > > > >of this church, for any who remember my past stories. Anyway, Greg
> > > > >knew that this guy is big hearted and he knew that one more mouth to
> > > > >feed would be no problem. Greg basicly told me, "We're doing this!"
> > > > >So, what could I say. Of course, it was no problem.
> > > > > Then, our van died again while Greg was delivering mail on
> > > > >Monday. We had just gotten it back from having the transmission
> > > > >worked on, for the fourth time in three thousand miles. The van does
> > > > >have 213,000 miles on it, so I suppose it is getting near its
> > > > >end. This time, however, it looks like it may be the coolent
> > > > >system. Anyway, we ended up having the car towed to a mechanic who
> > > > >won't be able to look at it, probbly until this next Monday. Since
> > > > >we just bought our first second car, a station wagon, last summer, we
> > > > >had hoped that the van could make it through the winter, but facing
> > > > >reality, Greg decided to stop at the same dealer again to shop around
> > > > >for a replacement van. This dealer has been really good to us. His
> > > > >mother attends our church, and he, the dealer, has also on
> > > > >occasion. Unfortunately, Greg didn't get their until near closing
> time.
> > > > > You need to know that all week, I'd been wondering about
> > > > the seating
> > > > >arrangement in the station wagon with our extra passenger to attend
> > > > >Thanksgiving dinner. I wanted her to be as comfortable with our crew
> > > > >as ppossible. Well, Greg found a van, that is pretty cheap and he
> > > > >started home with it to show me. It began to snow, and I mean snow
> > > > >hard. The dealer is less than ten miles from our house, but it took
> > > > >more than a half hour for Greg to get home. When he arrived at
> > > > >our house, it was like a blizzard. We all checked over the van, and
> > > > >it will do, If we need to buy one. Greg thinks that it will work
> > > > >well for a mail vehicle, which would be its main function. Anyway, I
> > > > >suggested that he turn around and head right back or he'd never make
> > > > >it with the weather getting worse and all. Then, Greg decided to
> > > > >call and just ask if they needed the van back that night. The dealer
> > > > >said, "no. Go ahead and keep it until Friday and give it a real
> > > > >test." So, we did. We ended up with a nice, spacious van to take
> > > > >Jen with our family to Thanksgiving dinner. Oh, the snow, it cleared
> > > > >up about an hour after Greg called.
> > > > > He had already cancelled Thanksgiving Eve services as well,
> > > however
> > > > >because of the weather so we had a very nice evening at home doing
> > > > >nothing. What a gift to be thankful for.
> > > > > By the way, just in case you're wondering, Chris was
> > not with us
> > > > >yesterday. He was probably with Nicki, but we don't know. We
> > > > >brought him a plate of thanksgiving dinner, but when we got to his
> > > > >room, no one was there. Greg dropped it off to him this morning. He
> > > > >said "Thanks," but didn't say anything about how he had actually
> > > > >spent his day yesterday, so we'll just have to leave it alone and
> > > > >trust that he was in the Lord's hands.
> > > > > As far as what we are doing with the car, we still have no
> > > > >clue. Greg is going to see if a loan can be extended to a second
> > > > >car. I wish that we didn't have to go into further debt, but even if
> > > > >we get the old car running again, that will take money as well and
> > > > >then, there will always be that nagging concern while Greg is
> > > > >delivering mail that it will break down again. Plus, this is the car
> > > > >that Matt drives and he isn't an experienced driver like Greg, so he
> > > > >could really get stuck somewhere with out much clue of what to
> > > > >do. It has been towed five times since june. Hurray for tripple A
> > > > >,, but that has been used up for the year as well. Fortunately, the
> > > > >transmission repairs have been under warrantee, but new problems will
> > > > >mean more money, so it looks like, either way, we're going to pay
> > > > >somebody something. I just like how God worked things out for
> > > > >yesterday and I know he'll do it for the rest of the situation as
> > > > >well.. What an awesome God we serve.
> > > > >Kathy
> > > >
> > > >Brad
> > > >
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> >
> >Brad
> >
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Brad
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