Balancing Ministry N' Work

May 26, 2010 I was in the operating room for just under 11 hours. Recovery was a bear, especially with the extended stay at Michigan University Hospital due to a CSF Leak. Those first few weeks at home I slept more than I was awake. At 8 weeks post op, I returned to work, today I wish I had taken another week or two as I barely made it through each day. I had to step down from the church I was serving as I did not have the energy to work and pastor. A Lot has changed in 9 years. Today, I continue to work and run the Materials Team for a $300M business. God has opened the door for me to Pastor at Littleby Baptist Church. I serve our town as an Alderman. I continue to write and plan on self publishing my second book this year and have plans for a third in 2020. There was a time that I honestly thought I would have been on disability by now. Having a severed vestibular (balance) nerve was causing significant issues and I was struggling with walking down the hall, let alone driving a...

Jesus had just finished teaching and feeding the five thousand. He had sent His disciples on a boat ahead of Him and then walked on water to meet up with them. Then this happens: “When the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum looking for Jesus” – John 6:24 CSB When the crowd did not find Jesus they went looking for Him. I hear people talk about looking for a better job, looking for that perfect someone, or looking for a good deal on something they want to buy. It is rare that I hear someone saying they are looking for Jesus. People will say they have found Jesus, are born again, state they are believers, and more. It is almost like people believe once they found Jesus they are done. Is there some truth to that? Absolutely! We do not need to be saved over and over again, but just because we have found Jesus once does not mean we stop looking for Him. The people who were looking for Jesus in verse 24 abov...

Here is the complete email interview with the Fireside Guard published on March 29, 2017.  1.  Discuss the qualifications you offer to the citizens and staff of the city of Centralia.  Example: your educational background, previous community service, work experience, etc. I graduated with honors on both a Bachelors degree (2004) and a Masters in Business Administration (2010). I have over 25 years of progressive professional experience in Materials Management. I have led teams, reduced costs, and drove overall improvements. Currently I oversee more than $90 Million in purchases and negotiate multi-million dollar contracts. As a Pastor, I have led church revitalization projects that brought new life to the church and outreach to the community. In 2016 I was part of the City of Centralia Comprehensive Plan team focused on Economic Development and want to be part of the future of our great city. 2.  What ideas do you see as being important to the continue...

Those that know me well, know that I love celebrating Christmas and everything it really stands for. They also know that I don't start celebrating it until the day after Thanksgiving.  Don't get me wrong, I love my Savior, I love that His birth was the beginning of so many great things that changed me and saved my life. But for the past 40 plus years I wanted to celebrate one holiday at a time and Thanksgiving is one of my favorite. Good food, family, and friends and I did not want to skip over it, I want to enjoy every minute of Thanksgiving.  That being said, I think the world needs more Christmas.  Turn on the news and you will hear about people being shot, police officers being targeting, crime on the rise, and so much more. The hatred that is being spewed by one group of people because you don't agree with them, and the hatred that is being shot back. The tension is high due to race, violence, sexual orientation, religion, politics, and just about anythi...

Bethel Music sings a song titled ‘Pieces’. The chorus is “You don’t give Your heart in pieces, You don’t hide Yourself to tease us.” What it is telling us is that God gave us everything He has. His love knows no boundaries. His love has paved the way to eternity in Glory. When He created us He gave us His entire heart. Not bits and pieces, but the WHOLE thing! “He did not even spare His own Son but offered Him up for us all; how will He not also with Him grant us everything?” – Romans 8:32 HCSB God gave us His only Son. What more could we ever need? Jesus died for us to pay the price of our sin. As I wrote a couple of weeks ago, He paid our debt in full . Not some partial payment where we have to earn the rest. He paid all of it. He did not give us a piece; He gave us everything. If we look back in Genesis humankind was created to rule over the world. He gave us everything our eyes can see and even the stuff we cannot see. He has not held anything back; God did n...

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord and whose trust is the Lord” – Jeremiah 17:7 HCSB Six years ago today I was laying on an operating table so the doctors could cut into my skull and remove that pesky Acoustic Neuroma brain tumor. I knew my life would change, but had no idea what that change would look like. While I do have lingering issues I know that God has been good to me and I continue to trust in Him. After the removal of their tumors, some have facial paralysis, debilitating headaches, and constant vertigo. I have an eye that waters now and again, occasional minor headaches, and balance issues. In 2013, 3 years post OP, I developed some issues that most likely stem from my tumor removal but the doctors cannot figure out the exact cause. I had to stop exercising, my driving range is limited, and I do get tired easier than I used to. I visited 4 hospitals, 8 doctors, 2 physical therapist, and tried a dozen or so different medications. I went on a full bl...

Sometimes it seems like the sky is falling. It feels like different problems are lined up one after another waiting to hit you. They say trouble comes in 3, but there are times when it is 3 x 3 or even more. The Hudson house was hit with one of those strings of troubles. House issues, one after another. Car problems, stacking on top of each other. We have been wondering if it is ever going to stop. One day as we were wondering how we could afford it all, we remembered that we are not alone. We remembered that God’s Got This! We were getting kicked in the gut, but remembered that He’s Got This! I don’t know what in this world is kicking you in the gut right now, but I am here to tell you that, He’s Got This! Isaiah 41:10 “ Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with My righteous right hand.” You are not alone. Jesus is with you. He does not want you to be afraid. He will ...

For those new to this blog back in May 2010 I had an Acoustic Neuroma Brain Tumor removed. God was good and I returned to work 8 weeks later and returned to bi-vocational ministry 10 months post op. Everything was going really well. Besides the single sided deafness I had no problems unless I was really tired. I was even riding my exercise bike 70 miles a week and would ride a mountain bike 10 miles a week out on gravel roads. I had no balance issues and was losing weight. Something happened in the fall of 2013. All of a sudden the issues I had when I was tired were happening all of the time. I was stumbling when I walked down the hall and I would walk into things. I was no longer able to ride my mountain bike and the exercise bike made the balance issues worse. I have been to 4 hospitals, a dozen or so doctors, and have tried who knows how many different medications. I have even had 2 separate attempts at physical therapy designed to improve one’s balance. All to no avail. As...

A New Year Has Begun! I want to start the year off with some words on faith. Matthew 13:58 “and He did not do many miracles there because of their unbelief.” HCSB In this modern world we live in there is not much that we want for. Most of us do not worry if we are going to have clean water to drink, will the rain come to feed our crops, or do we have enough to eat. Chances are if you are reading this blog you have not missed a meal in a while and you have no concern about where you are going to sleep tonight. We do not count on God to supply the basic necessities each day. I am not saying we are not thankful for the ways He has blessed us, just that we do not need to ask God to provide for dinner tonight. I think for most of us, there is very little that we HAVE to ask God for to survive. While that is a very good thing, and I for one make sure I thank God for the blessings He has bestowed on me on a daily basis, I think it has hurt our faith. If we do not need...

So far their are 5 videos of people from Planned Parenthood (not a good name) talking about harvesting body parts of unborn children and 'selling' them to research companies. Yes, there is outrage. People who are 'ok' with others having abortions are upset over the selling of body parts. It is a start, but be angry over the right thing. The selling of baby body parts is horrific but the sheer amount of murder that is performed at these abortion clinics is mind numbing. Yes I said abortion is murder. We all need to wake up to the murder of babies that is taking place in our cities every single day. Society may not care what the Bible has to say anymore, but it speaks pretty clearly about murder. One of the Ten Commandments, that list that used to be posted pretty much everywhere, states pretty clearly 'Do not murder.' Abortion is murder, it is an abomination in God's eyes. It is one of the original rules given to the Israelites when they were rescued from...

To often in our busy lives in this modern day we think we need to come up with new and catchy way to share the message of Jesus Christ. To often we may feel like we are to busy explaining what we stand for or why we are against something. In the culture war we are battling, that may be important. To reach each new generation we may need to adjust where and how we portray the message. But the one thing that cannot change is The Message. The Message is very simple. There is one and only one way to the Father. “For God love the world in this way: He gave His one and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.” - John 3:16 “Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” - John 14:6 Buddha, Allah, being a good person, or material possessions are NOT the way to God. The only way to the Father is through Jesus Christ. His death on the cross followed by His resurrection paved th...

I am currently teaching through a series on the Book of James at church. We are only into the second chapter but one thing is certain, James is not bashful, he is not afraid of speaking the truth. James is the brother of Jesus and he did not believe his older half brother was his Savior until after Jesus' death and resurrection. Reviewing James' letter shows us that his faith was strong and he was determined that people would hear the rightful message AND how it should impact their lives. James' faithfulness in speaking the Word of God eventually led to his death. He was stoned for his faith and his determination to see the Gospel spread. Today as Christians we are faced with a new set of trials. We have seen Christians sought out and killed in Nigeria, Libya, Syria, Kenya, Somalia, and Pakistan to name just a few. Christians are been persecuted in a way that no one alive today has ever witnessed. Many of our Brothers and Sisters in Christ who have died w...

I started this blog roughly 5 years ago before a lot of things started happening in my life. Five years ago I received the call for my first Senior Pastorate, completed my MBA, was ordained with the SBC, and found out that I had a brain tumor. There was a lot going on.  As I look back I can see God at work even though my plans were being changed. I never expected to need brain surgery,  I never thought I would have left the pastorate due to that surgery, never expected my past employer to move us around so much, and never thought I would have left that employer. Life throws us curveballs. I am sure most of you would agree. Life has not turned out as I expected, but God knows best. Jeremiah 29 : 11 "11 For I know the plans I have for you”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“plans for your welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." Yes, I had a brain tumor and have some medical issues I will deal with the rest of my life.  You know what? ...

2014 was challenging and rewarding. Medically - 4 hospitals, 11 doctors, and Zero answers. Work - My work family had more than our share of people pass on. Family - Have seen my kids continue to grow and excel at whatever they put their minds to. Church - We have seen our small church grow. While 2014 was not horrible, I am glad it is behind me and am looking forward to what 2015 brings. I don't know if I will get any answers from the doctors or if I will be able to get back on my road bike. Not sure what new challenges or blessings will come, but I do know that I am not alone. My wonderful wife will be by my side every step of the way, and our Lord Jesus Christ will be with us! As I was thinking about 2015 here are some of the things I will be remembering and focusing on. “’For I know the plans I have for you’ this is the Lord’s declaration ‘plans for your welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.’” - Jeremiah 29:11 I do not kno...