It is time to move forward...

It has been a good while since I have written here, much less logged in to make a post or update. In fact, when I got on the site today, I realized that there were several of you who have signed up to receive updates to his blog. The bad part is that much of what I wrote in the past was back in 2016. If I read things right, one of you subscribed to this site and it had been 2,141 days since you did that ~ with no updates in between.

I apologize for my inconsistency, and I humbly thank you for subscribing. The truth of the matter is that when I started this blog, I wanted to do it because so many others were doing it. Other people were getting in the business and helping the world to know what they were thinking. I thought ~ I should do this, too. Why not? And so, I started the site, but that is where I went wrong.

Over the last several years, there have been some changes in me. Yes, I have grown older (not sure about wise?). Yes, I and my family have endured a world-wide pandemic known as COVID. Yes, we even moved (right before the pandemic) to a new state and ministry area. My hair continues to want to change color, my bones creak that much more and my muscles hurt when I haven't done anything to them. Change has happened.

The change, though, that I'm really referring to is a mindset that God is bringing to the front of my mind. Just a couple years ago, our oldest son graduated from his university and began a ministry assignment. It didn't take long to realize that I had hit a point in my professional career as a pastor where I would soon be passing the torch to a new generation.

I do not claim to have lots of wisdom (though I have endured my share of hardships). I do not claim to know lots of answers or even know what your strategy ought to be in moving forward with life. However, there is a growing sense that I must find a way to share what I have learned for the sake of pastors, their families, and the churches they serve.

I have thought on this for the last several months. The last couple of months have caused me to sleep a little less at night with the thought of what I should be sharing. I have lots of thoughts right now on what I would like to share, avenues to share it and even opportunities I look forward to offering in the future.

I do intend, however, to learn from my past mistake(s). I will be starting with this medium and allowing people to do some quick reading (this means I will try and keep it short), commenting and allow some dialogue to happen. I will be working through on this blog what I know best ~ my roles in life, and how it can (I hope it will) help you as I continue to learn from mistakes and successes.

There is one thing I would ask of you, besides reading, responding and the dialogue that I hope happens. That is to share my blog space with your friends. True, I will come at this from my perspective as a pastor. However, ultimately the leading of yourself, your family, your peers, your colleagues and even your organization will evident. We are all called to be leaders (influencers) at some level, and this means these writings will cover those things.

Some of my colleagues in ministry just gulped and said, “we are called to be shepherds, not leaders,” and yet, isn’t that what a shepherd does? A shepherd leads the sheep to green pastures and beside the still waters. He protects them from the dangers ~ perceived and unnoticed. A shepherd influences the sheep, by where and how they lead them so the sheep will experience the best that life has to offer.

So, share this with a friend or two ~ or even a hundred. The journey that we are beginning is great, and there is nothing like traveling together. The memories, the laughter, the encouragement, and inspiration ~ they are all part of the journey. So, share this, and know that I will be back next week ~ because it’s time to move forward!