Deep Thoughts by Mr. G

Lots of people love TV shows. Several of mine: Happy Days, Six Million Dollar man in the 70s. In the 80s: Cheers, Cosby Show, and in the 90s: Early Edition, Highlander (of course Star Trek TNG) Recently I've been watching Early Edition reruns ...great show. What is your favourite TV show?

"Why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye but don't notice the log in your own eye?" Matthew 7:3 Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009) I've always been citing this verse in Matthew. In context it is from Jesus' sermon on the mount. He is talking to the people and the hyprocritical ways of being self-righteous and pointing flaws in others without looking at one's self first. For me I've always cited: "I'm too busy lumberjacking the forest in my own eye to worry about the speck in my brother's." How about you? What logs, specks, forests are you working on?

I love the Bride of Christ. So often I tend to be her biggest critic but also her biggest fan. Why is that? I've seen the worst in the Bride but also the best. The ole saying goes that "the church is the only army in the world that shoots its wounded." So why do I love the Bride of Christ? I. Because I am part of the Bride, the body of Christ Romans 12 II. Because of her mission: To go and make disciples. Matt. 28 III. Because we are to love the Groom, Jesus. Mark 12:28-34. IV. Because we are to rejoice. Phil. 4:4 V. Because we are to love one another. 1 John 4 VI. Because Jesus gave His life for the Bride. Eph.4:25-27 I may be critical of the Bride of Christ at times but I've seen the best in the church in wanting to be Jesus' hands and feet to a lost world. It is in times like those I love the Bride ...am proud that I am part of the Church and get to not "Play" church or "Goto" church but actually "BE" the church.

So I've been applying different places and finding out my own pet peeves in this and questions asked. I. How old are you? (This gets me everytime due to age discrimination - some too old for one position, or too young for another etc) II. Are you married? (I get some places want a married man etc. but still ...) III. How old are your kids? IV. Can you sign this waiver and give us consent to run a full background check? (I understand this further on in the process but upfront and you want my SS# etc and I haven't even made the first cut yet?) Any others you get?

Been blogging less lately due to several reasons: I. Wasn't interested. II. Wasn't sure people were reading. III. Was tired of it. IV. Other things took priority: job search, family. Now that I'm blogging again ...here are some reasons I'm doing it: I. Blogging what I know. II. Blogging about life. III. Blogging as a journal and therapy of sorts to get out of the funk, weird mood I'm in. IV. Blogging because of the hope I have. V. Blogging to improve my own writing skills. That;s it for now.

So I've been getting a lot of rejections from jobs, ministries etc. Here are some I've come across ... I. We feel God is leading us elsewhere. II. Though you have a lot of good qualities it isn't a right fit. III. We prayed over our decision and decided to go elsewhere. IV. God has already sent us the right person. V. Though you are a strong candidate, at this time we decided to go with someone else. VI. We at this time are going to say no to your application. VII. Our committee feels you don't have the right qualifications for what we need at this time. VIII. God is telling us to go with someone else. IX. Thank you for your application ...We are going with someone else. X. Thanks but no thanks. (I've gotten plenty of others - some amusing, some rather rude, but in all God is in this thing.) I appreciate all the places getting back to me at least ... there are some I haven't heard from at all, which I'd think is a telling sign as wel

Through the years I've encounter many different people and places inbetween ministries and it has been interesting. From a church in Southern California treating us right (Which we turned down) to the lost coorespondence of never hearing back from a church. So here are some I'd like to share from the past 18 years or so ..... (In no particular order) I. Traveling 12 hrs one way to stay overnite (No reimbursement for Gas etc) interviewed and never hear from the people again. Nothing. No rejection letter, nothing. II. Questioned at one interview one minister's wife to mine: "Do you smoke?" (We don't ...but figured out we must of had a smoke smell on our clothes due to the neighbors in the apartment below us) III. Telling a ministry I was in that I was looking for another place to serve. It wasn't long until I was gone from that ministry. Sometimes it is best not to tell until you have that next place to serve. IV. Car breaking down on the way back

Here is what I believe to be the Top Star Trek movies. I. Star Trek II. Wrath of Khan. A Classic. II. Star Trek. Abrams remake is classic. III. Star Trek: First Contact. Next Gen. At its best. IV. Star Trek: Insurrection: Data, Borg, one of the best. V. Star Trek: Generations. Kirk and Picard ...need I say more. VI. Star Trek: The Final Frontier: Kirk and more Kirk. VII. Star Trek: The Undiscovered Country. Klingons and Kirk. VIII. Star Trek IV: Voyage Home. Whales. Everyone seems to like this one but really not my fav. IX. Star Trek III: The Search for Spock. Bringing spock back was a given but too drawn out. X. Star Trek: Nemesis. Tries to be like Wrath of Khan. Cloning of picard kind of lame. XI. Star Trek: The Motion Picture. Dull for the return of the franchise ... Looking forward to the next Into Darkness movie ....

Here are some things I am learning in my search for the next job. I. Don't Rush. II. Long Term is the goal. III. Be Where God wants you to be. IV. Think of Family. V. Is it a place where you can grow? VI. Ask the tough questions. VII. Do your homework. You don't want to be looking anytime soon. VIII. Can you envision your family living there and supported there? IX. What is the process of the hire? move etc. X. Find out details of hire salary etc. (see 9)