Now, before anybody starts to worry or hope, we have no intentions of going anywhere for the time being. But, we have learned of a few opportunities that we weren't expecting.
In a conversation with Ronda Myers we learned that Hanfield's Worship Arts Pastor resigned. I don't know the situation, but we've had a few email exchanges with friends where they've let us know they'd love for us to consider staying when we come back for Rachel's wedding in a few weeks. Obviously, we are flattered and we would love to serve alongside our friends and Hanfield family again, but I don't sense any strong move in that direction.
Another interesting thing came up this week. We had applied for a job in Hastings, Nebraska two summers ago and were only about two weeks away from making a trip there for an interview weekend when I sensed the Lord telling us that we weren't supposed to go. Now, whether the Lord was saying, "No" or "Not at this time" I am not sure, but I had a call from Randy, the Senior Pastor, the other night asking if we would consider discussing and praying about the position again.
The situation is that the church is running about 500-600 in attendance and needs someone to lead the existing worship ministry (primarily a blended style) as well as helping to found and facilitate an alternative worship service. They never did call anyone to that position as they really want to find someone with the right mix of gifts and experience. Again, we're flattered that our conversations with Randy and other staff nearly 18 months ago left enough of an impression that they would still be thinking about us, but we're not sensing a strong pull away from Sioux Falls at this time.
At the same time, I did tell Randy that we would discuss it and pray about it. When we were called from Hanfield, I was very clear through prayer that I was willing to go anywhere God wanted me to go and do anything He wanted me to do. At the time, that was fueled by a great deal of restlessness and a desire for change. If I still believe that I would go anywhere and do anything the Lord asks then I need to be open to His leading when I am comfortable and settled as well.
Randy and I agreed to speak again after the first of the year to see whether to continue the conversation or not.
Again, nobody freak out. We're not planning on going anywhere for the time being, but want to continue to practice listening to the leading of God rather than simply making gut level, hasty decisions without talking to Him about it. We love Sioux Falls and proximity to family. Amy's home and USF studios are doing well. Xander loves his school and is making friends. I'm enjoying my job (most days). We love our home. We love our church (as challenging and hard as it is sometimes). There are a lot of things pointing to us staying, but we need to see what God has to say about it.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
A New (Used) Trainer
I am happy to announce the retirement of the late '80's model Supergo wind trainer that I have used as my bike trainer for the better part of 20 years. I had the chance to upgrade to a CycleOps Fluid 2 trainer that I bought from Bryan at work. Bryan upgraded to a spin bike that Mike, our store manager, upgraded from after one year of use.
My Supergo was great for me, but was way too loud to use in the house that we're in now. Before I could always put it in the basement, but here I was stuck putting it in the garage which is about the last place that I want to spend time riding a bike both aesthetically and from a comfort/temperature standpoint.
I rode the new trainer yesterday morning in the family room right next to the bedroom and Amy said that it didn't bother her. The nice thing was that I was able to watch tv while on the trainer for the first time since Colorado. I selected the 2005 Tour for my viewing pleasure and spun for a half hour or so. Not a huge effort, but it has given me hope that it will be a better off season on the bike than I've probably ever had.
As for the outdoor scene, I ordered some studded tires for the mountain bike for riding in the snow and ice when other weather permits. I'll need to wait to pick them up for awhile yet, but hope that if the forecast looks good I might even be able to take a bike to Indiana with me when we go for Rachel's wedding in a few weeks. I'm crossing my fingers as I would love to ride some while we're back.
My Supergo was great for me, but was way too loud to use in the house that we're in now. Before I could always put it in the basement, but here I was stuck putting it in the garage which is about the last place that I want to spend time riding a bike both aesthetically and from a comfort/temperature standpoint.
I rode the new trainer yesterday morning in the family room right next to the bedroom and Amy said that it didn't bother her. The nice thing was that I was able to watch tv while on the trainer for the first time since Colorado. I selected the 2005 Tour for my viewing pleasure and spun for a half hour or so. Not a huge effort, but it has given me hope that it will be a better off season on the bike than I've probably ever had.
As for the outdoor scene, I ordered some studded tires for the mountain bike for riding in the snow and ice when other weather permits. I'll need to wait to pick them up for awhile yet, but hope that if the forecast looks good I might even be able to take a bike to Indiana with me when we go for Rachel's wedding in a few weeks. I'm crossing my fingers as I would love to ride some while we're back.
D Street House Going Back On the Market
Anybody want to buy a house? I got in touch with Sally, our realtor, in Marion to officially put the house back on the market. We had taken it off the market and looked at rent to own possibilities and the possibility of selling it ourselves to a friend, but nothing has panned out to this point.
We have rented the place since summer, but managing a property from a thousand miles away isn't something we want to do for any longer than necessary. With any luck, we'll be back on the market by the end of the month and will finally see the place sell in the new year.
We have rented the place since summer, but managing a property from a thousand miles away isn't something we want to do for any longer than necessary. With any luck, we'll be back on the market by the end of the month and will finally see the place sell in the new year.
Trek back in the pro tour
When the Discovery Channel Team's management announced that they were ending operations after the 2007 season in August, Trek bikes was left without a top level professional team and Trek dealers (myself included) began to wonder whether anyone would be riding the bikes we're selling next season.
I started to suspect that they might be a match for the Astana team after BMC Bikes dumped the team late in the summer due to the doping scandals that hit the team during and shortly following this year's Tour de France. There were very few other teams at that level that didn't already have a bike supplier and Trek's options seemed pretty slim. Shortly after that, Johan Bruyneel (former director for US Postal/Discovery Channel) took on responsibilities for Astana and the possibility of Trek becoming the official bike supplier seemed a much better prospect.
That possibility finally became reality with the announcement of the partnership last night. Astana (including last year's Tour champ Alberto Contador and podium finisher Levi Leipheimer) will be perched atop the all new Trek Madone 6.9 Pro model and Trek dealers everywhere can look forward to having the bikes represented at the biggest races in the world. Trek will also be the clothing supplier which hopefully means that their clothing line will step up in a big way after being pretty lackluster in terms of quality up to this point.
Now let's just hope that no further drug scandals crop up for the team or the sponsor...
Friday, December 07, 2007
Rest, Weariness and Worship
I actually had a full day yesterday where I didn't have any obligations. No work, no rehearsals, no product meetings... I still had coffee with Aaron, lunch with the girls and did my general "Dad" stuff, but I was happy to not have the extras. It seems like those days come less and less frequently.
On a related note, a topic of conversation with Shel in terms of worship leading is how often I express weariness during the course of congregational worship. I didn't realize how often I was exploring that theme and I think he was right to call me on it. In the past, my weariness was less frequent, so when I was tired and acknowledged it in corporate worship it was a way of not only asking for God's strength, but also to let the congregation know that it is still possible to worship powerfully out of emptiness. Because I find myself in that place more often though, it needs to be a theme worn less on my sleeve.
So, I'm working on leading with joy and energy as I seek to be the kind of leader the congregation needs at this point in time. Add to that the challenge to lead more charismatically and there's a lot that I'm learning about worship leading right now.
On the charismatic end of things, the last few Sundays that we've led have been some of the more powerful Sundays in terms of an obvious anointing of the Holy Spirit. I think that we've had a few breakthrough moments as leaders that have helped the congregation begin to understand the dynamic of worship in a way that is bringing freedom in our corporate expression. Hopefully it is a trend that continues and our best days of congregational worship are still ahead.
On a related note, a topic of conversation with Shel in terms of worship leading is how often I express weariness during the course of congregational worship. I didn't realize how often I was exploring that theme and I think he was right to call me on it. In the past, my weariness was less frequent, so when I was tired and acknowledged it in corporate worship it was a way of not only asking for God's strength, but also to let the congregation know that it is still possible to worship powerfully out of emptiness. Because I find myself in that place more often though, it needs to be a theme worn less on my sleeve.
So, I'm working on leading with joy and energy as I seek to be the kind of leader the congregation needs at this point in time. Add to that the challenge to lead more charismatically and there's a lot that I'm learning about worship leading right now.
On the charismatic end of things, the last few Sundays that we've led have been some of the more powerful Sundays in terms of an obvious anointing of the Holy Spirit. I think that we've had a few breakthrough moments as leaders that have helped the congregation begin to understand the dynamic of worship in a way that is bringing freedom in our corporate expression. Hopefully it is a trend that continues and our best days of congregational worship are still ahead.
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