Hello all,
First let me apologise for the length of time between my posts. Although there really is no excuse I have not planned my time out properly and this has caught up with me. My internship at the Reading Hospital has ended until September I can't believe how busy I have been. Please know that as busy as I have been I believe that God is directly involved with every area of my life and I just want to make sure that I am walking on the path He put down and not one that I have created in my own mind.
God has been so good, I was able to preach on Saturday night last month. I did all the announcements this Saturday AND Sunday!! I know that won't mean a lot to some of you but it puts me in front of the congregation and allows more practice in presentation and public speaking.
The family is doing well, the two youngest girls are with Cindy's mom and should be home by the end of the week.
I trust all who are reading this is doing well. Leave me a comment if you would like I would appreciate hearing what is on your mind.
Blessings.
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Happy father's day
WOW, how awesome it is to be a dad!!! I am blessed to have 4 incredible but different children all whom challenge me everyday in some way or another. As they age these challenges become more important and difficult. I remember the first time a glass of milk was spilled verses today we have to deal with the world issues that are brought against our kids everyday. I really appreciate the statement, "the good old days" , even for me, 10 years ago was easier then now.
I do know this though, I would not change a single thing! I have learned what being a man, a husband, a father and most importantly a man who walks with God as his leader is all about. Have I got it conquered? Of course not! If anyone who reads this think that they have PLEASE respond so we can meet. :)
I am so grateful for the blessings we as a family have received even the blessings that maybe did not look like blessings at the time. Lessons are sometimes difficult to learn and can not always be taught with soft hands. We serve a great God who never abandons us or forsakes us and for that we need to keep walking with our God with confidence and appreciation.
To all the dads, have a great day on Sunday, give those who love you love in return and take a moment to think and thank God for all that we have through His blessings and all that we effect with each word that comes out of our mouths and each hug we give.
Blessings to all.
I do know this though, I would not change a single thing! I have learned what being a man, a husband, a father and most importantly a man who walks with God as his leader is all about. Have I got it conquered? Of course not! If anyone who reads this think that they have PLEASE respond so we can meet. :)
I am so grateful for the blessings we as a family have received even the blessings that maybe did not look like blessings at the time. Lessons are sometimes difficult to learn and can not always be taught with soft hands. We serve a great God who never abandons us or forsakes us and for that we need to keep walking with our God with confidence and appreciation.
To all the dads, have a great day on Sunday, give those who love you love in return and take a moment to think and thank God for all that we have through His blessings and all that we effect with each word that comes out of our mouths and each hug we give.
Blessings to all.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Just checking in...
Hello all,
I wanted to make sure I touched base with you. It has been awhile since my last post. It has been a good month, I finished this semester of school, the next one starts in September and goes non-stop for 10 months. It will be a tough run but well worth the effort. Cindy had Carpal Tunnel surgery two weeks ago and is doing well. Although she does not know the instruction on rest and found out just how injured her wrist is. She is recovering well and will return to work in a few weeks. I have to admit I am enjoying being out of school for this little break. I still do night coverage (2 a month) just to make sure I don't loose my "edge".
Not a lot to pass on at this time but know that if you have responded to any of my posts I have you on my prayer list and pray for you often.
Thank you for taking the time to read this and if you have not left a comment please do so I can start praying for you as well.
Blessings to all.
Pastor Mike
I wanted to make sure I touched base with you. It has been awhile since my last post. It has been a good month, I finished this semester of school, the next one starts in September and goes non-stop for 10 months. It will be a tough run but well worth the effort. Cindy had Carpal Tunnel surgery two weeks ago and is doing well. Although she does not know the instruction on rest and found out just how injured her wrist is. She is recovering well and will return to work in a few weeks. I have to admit I am enjoying being out of school for this little break. I still do night coverage (2 a month) just to make sure I don't loose my "edge".
Not a lot to pass on at this time but know that if you have responded to any of my posts I have you on my prayer list and pray for you often.
Thank you for taking the time to read this and if you have not left a comment please do so I can start praying for you as well.
Blessings to all.
Pastor Mike
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Saying Good-Bye....
Don't freak out, I am not going anywhere. It has been one interesting month that had a lot of different good byes and I thought it might be worth sharing them.
If you read my last Blog, you read about one type of good bye, the mourning, grieving extreme loss good bye but I also said good bye to my classmates in the intern program at the hospital. This was a different type of good bye and one that I was not and still are not comfortable with. This good bye required me to think that once again a person or a group of people that I have become close to will be out of my life. Like I said, I don't handle this type of good bye well.
This group was the first group of strangers that I became close to in a long time. Through this process I learned that it requires a lot of ourselves in order to get a close relationship but it also takes a lot of ourselves to let that go and trust that all will be okay in the universe. I know that it may sound funny but this was a great revelation for me. Why? It was not my practice to show my "soft" side or put ANYTHING on my sleeve. I have learned that sometimes it is good to do that even when you know that someday you might have to say good bye to that person you trusted it is better to have had that relationship for a short time then not to have had it all. I know you have all heard that before but it is different when you actually experience the emotions involved in this experience.
My finial thoughts are this, don't limit potentially great experiences just because of the fear of that experience ending.
Thanks to Bob, Heather and Sue who were the Interns I had the pleasure of serving with. May our God bless all of you with success, health and love.
If you read my last Blog, you read about one type of good bye, the mourning, grieving extreme loss good bye but I also said good bye to my classmates in the intern program at the hospital. This was a different type of good bye and one that I was not and still are not comfortable with. This good bye required me to think that once again a person or a group of people that I have become close to will be out of my life. Like I said, I don't handle this type of good bye well.
This group was the first group of strangers that I became close to in a long time. Through this process I learned that it requires a lot of ourselves in order to get a close relationship but it also takes a lot of ourselves to let that go and trust that all will be okay in the universe. I know that it may sound funny but this was a great revelation for me. Why? It was not my practice to show my "soft" side or put ANYTHING on my sleeve. I have learned that sometimes it is good to do that even when you know that someday you might have to say good bye to that person you trusted it is better to have had that relationship for a short time then not to have had it all. I know you have all heard that before but it is different when you actually experience the emotions involved in this experience.
My finial thoughts are this, don't limit potentially great experiences just because of the fear of that experience ending.
Thanks to Bob, Heather and Sue who were the Interns I had the pleasure of serving with. May our God bless all of you with success, health and love.
Monday, April 14, 2008
wow, WOW!!!!
That is the words I heard today as a father dealt with the death of his daughter's fiancee'.
What an opening line uh? Well that was the kind of day I had today. I spent 3 hours with a family that had to say good bye to their 22 year old son, brother, fiance', father, friend.
This was to date, the most emotional experience I have had as a Pastor or Chaplain.
The lessons? The need? I don't know yet, this is what I do know. Our God is perfect in ALL things, He is always on time, He is always loving, He is all knowing. I had to remind myself of that as I watched this beautiful 2o year old draped over the body of her fiancee' trying to make sense of it all, what she was going to do with rest of her life, to see her parents helpless as they watch her cry the cry you never want to see your child cry. That cry that you can't comfort, you can't stop, you can't make better.
As she cried out to her love telling him that they had so much more to do, that the house still needed to be brought, the wedding is almost here, the honeymoon is planned. The kids they had talked about and wanted so badly weren't here yet.
As she kisses his face again and again and wondering how she is ever going to be able to love again as she so desperately tries to understand what is happening you feel as helpless as I am sure those who watched our Lord be crucified must have felt. My heart broke for her, for her family, for all the things that might have been.
As this chapter closed and the families left the hospital, the body is taken away I leave and wonder what to do. I decided to go to the other side of the hospital, far away from the Emergency Department and I get a chocolate milk shake and try to find some comfort. I am walking through the hall and I turn the corner and there it is, a nurse pushing a bassinet with a few hour old baby, beautifully pink, wrapped so tight and securely in a pink blanket. Then I think wow, WOW what a beautiful God I serve.
Blessings to all and may all of you have peace, health and love.
Pastor Mike
What an opening line uh? Well that was the kind of day I had today. I spent 3 hours with a family that had to say good bye to their 22 year old son, brother, fiance', father, friend.
This was to date, the most emotional experience I have had as a Pastor or Chaplain.
The lessons? The need? I don't know yet, this is what I do know. Our God is perfect in ALL things, He is always on time, He is always loving, He is all knowing. I had to remind myself of that as I watched this beautiful 2o year old draped over the body of her fiancee' trying to make sense of it all, what she was going to do with rest of her life, to see her parents helpless as they watch her cry the cry you never want to see your child cry. That cry that you can't comfort, you can't stop, you can't make better.
As she cried out to her love telling him that they had so much more to do, that the house still needed to be brought, the wedding is almost here, the honeymoon is planned. The kids they had talked about and wanted so badly weren't here yet.
As she kisses his face again and again and wondering how she is ever going to be able to love again as she so desperately tries to understand what is happening you feel as helpless as I am sure those who watched our Lord be crucified must have felt. My heart broke for her, for her family, for all the things that might have been.
As this chapter closed and the families left the hospital, the body is taken away I leave and wonder what to do. I decided to go to the other side of the hospital, far away from the Emergency Department and I get a chocolate milk shake and try to find some comfort. I am walking through the hall and I turn the corner and there it is, a nurse pushing a bassinet with a few hour old baby, beautifully pink, wrapped so tight and securely in a pink blanket. Then I think wow, WOW what a beautiful God I serve.
Blessings to all and may all of you have peace, health and love.
Pastor Mike
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
OH BOY.....
Well, it has happened.
I am officially an "old man", why?
My son, Michael just received his learners permit and is now driving!!!
I really never thought that I would get effected by this but now that it has happened it is a little odd. I never thought about getting old enough to actually be teaching one of my kids to drive.
This has not only made me think about my position as a father but also as a man old enough to have kids that drive. It also made me think that now my son is even in more of a position to get hurt or even killed as well as being in a position of responsibility and trust. I never really thought that so many different things would be going on in my head ( and heart) over something like getting a permit!!
Then I think, Jesus in a sense got His permit, when he rode into town on the donkey!! Its a stretch I know but if you think about it. That was a key time and change in Jesus' future as a leader, teacher and as Lord. I can't imagine how His family must have felt when they saw all that was happening to their "son" as I am about to watch my son change into a young man who I continually pray will learn what a man is to be and try to do all that he can to demonstrate God's love for him to all those who he loves and will come into contact with.
To all who read this, my prayers are with you and your families for health, happiness, peace and most of all love.
Blessings.
I am officially an "old man", why?
My son, Michael just received his learners permit and is now driving!!!
I really never thought that I would get effected by this but now that it has happened it is a little odd. I never thought about getting old enough to actually be teaching one of my kids to drive.
This has not only made me think about my position as a father but also as a man old enough to have kids that drive. It also made me think that now my son is even in more of a position to get hurt or even killed as well as being in a position of responsibility and trust. I never really thought that so many different things would be going on in my head ( and heart) over something like getting a permit!!
Then I think, Jesus in a sense got His permit, when he rode into town on the donkey!! Its a stretch I know but if you think about it. That was a key time and change in Jesus' future as a leader, teacher and as Lord. I can't imagine how His family must have felt when they saw all that was happening to their "son" as I am about to watch my son change into a young man who I continually pray will learn what a man is to be and try to do all that he can to demonstrate God's love for him to all those who he loves and will come into contact with.
To all who read this, my prayers are with you and your families for health, happiness, peace and most of all love.
Blessings.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Something new
Hello all,
I trust that all is well and that you are living a life that may not always be perfect but still with God's teachings as our guide.
I wanted to give you some instructions to a new element I have added to my blog.
As you can see to the left of your screen a logo "CALL ME". Well that means what it says.
If you click on the logo an area will ask for YOUR phone number that you would want to call from. Now, understand that your phone will ring and when you answer it there will be ringing on the other end and then it will connect to me. If I can't answer the call you will hear my voice mail. Leave a message and I will call or E-mail you back. This is a free call and it is safe to use. It uses my website and the internet instead of phone lines. You can call from any phone!!
It really is cool. Try it and see, be ready for my next blog, its coming soon.
Blessings to all with God's love and protection may you have a blessed day.
I trust that all is well and that you are living a life that may not always be perfect but still with God's teachings as our guide.
I wanted to give you some instructions to a new element I have added to my blog.
As you can see to the left of your screen a logo "CALL ME". Well that means what it says.
If you click on the logo an area will ask for YOUR phone number that you would want to call from. Now, understand that your phone will ring and when you answer it there will be ringing on the other end and then it will connect to me. If I can't answer the call you will hear my voice mail. Leave a message and I will call or E-mail you back. This is a free call and it is safe to use. It uses my website and the internet instead of phone lines. You can call from any phone!!
It really is cool. Try it and see, be ready for my next blog, its coming soon.
Blessings to all with God's love and protection may you have a blessed day.
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