Funkyjimmer's Blog

Thursday, March 24, 2005

ANOTHER ANNIVERSARY -- NOT MINE

This week Karon completed fourteen years working at our company. A week ago, when my 16th anniversary occurred, I remembered she was having an anniversary at work in about 10 days. Then when the time came, I forgot it! But so did she. Several people congratulating her and a card from the "Helping Hands" group at work were the reminders she received that day.

I've been traveling quite a bit for my company. So when I got home that night, she told me about her anniversary. She didn't mind that I had forgotten--she had forgotten mine, too! Those things have importance in life. But the most important things are the day-to-day experiences that two people who have become one in marriage share.

We share a lot these days! I have many opportunities throughout a day and night to serve her. Sometimes I'm not the best or the most patient server. Applying the many medications prescribed to her hands and especially her feet is not a problem. Helping her with the many activities of daily living are a part of the "....for better, for worse; in sickness and in health..." commitment that one makes in marriage.

But I'm going to confess the worst thing for me to do in helping Karon: It is putting on her socks! Yep! That may seem strange. I can't believe that it should be such a hard thing. Daily I struggle with getting the sock on so it fits properly and feels comfortable on her foot. My socks just slide right up my foot. Karon says it is because I am flat-footed and she had a high arch. That could be, I don't know. But you'd think that after over 10 months of almost daily putting on her socks I'd get the"hang" of it. But I really am not any better at it than I was 10 months ago! I still struggle to get the socks on her feet!

Tying her shoes is a bit of a problem, too. I can do it just fine if I position myself so I am facing the same direction as when I tie my shoes. Otherwise I just can't seem to get them tied. Karon says it shouldn't make any difference. But it does.

Karon goes back on the oral chemotherapy drugs this week (Friday). The doctor has reduced the dose by one-fourth, so we hope the side effects will be lessened as well. But we'll soon know.

Any suggestions on putting on someone else's socks and tying their shoes?

Jim

posted by jim 3:45 PM 0 comments

Tuesday, March 15, 2005

AN ANNIVERSARY

We have many anniversaries in our lifetime—birthday, wedding, and any other event we wish to remember and commemorate.

An anniversary I choose to remember is the anniversary of my employment at my current job. Today, March 14th, I completed 16 years and began year 17 with my current employer.

Of course there have been changes in those years. I began working for a sister company and was with that company for 11 ½ years before moving to the parent company. A much larger company purchased our parent company January, 2004.

But I am still employed and thankful for the opportunity God has given me to remain with the same basic company for so many years. This is the longest I have been with any one employer. Of course I have been in ministry for longer than that—but never at the same church for that long.

During these 16 years I have worked with several churches in various capacities. I was a deacon, an elder and Sunday school teacher (among other things) at our home church, Traders Point Christian Church. I also did supply preaching at a number of different area churches. And I served as “Interim Minister” for 8 different area churches, some of them 2 and 3 times, during these 16 years. The shortest time was one month and the longest time I was at a church as Interim Minister was 14 months.

But through it all, for 16 years, I could be employed at the same place to provide for my family. I am grateful to God and to my employer for allowing me this privilege. Perhaps I am especially grateful to God for this employment because this employment followed 13 months of unemployment. That was a difficult time but it proved to be a growing and stretching time. And God always provided for our needs.

Hum! Sixteen years! Two people at work were aware and offered congratulations. The “Helping Hands” group sent a generic card – the same card they deliver to your desk every year on your hire date. Did I celebrate? Did I congratulate myself? No. There’s just too much on my plate for such things right now. I had two meetings at church tonight. And that’s okay. I know; God knows. Now I’ve told you! That’s enough.

And this coming August we will have lived in our current house 15 years. That’s the longest I’ve ever lived in one house, too.

Jim

posted by jim 12:25 AM 1 comments

Friday, March 04, 2005

THE MISSING PIECE IN OUR CHURCH

Actually there are probably a lot of “missing pieces”. But there is one that continues to disturb me.

I have previously written in this Journal about how God is leading us to build more space on our present building. Also, He is broadening our horizons regarding missions with several opportunities for mission trips and opportunities to support those going on the trips. And the big-time challenge to provide major support for one of our young adults to go permanently to the Ukraine. And God is leading us to a greater understanding of the Biblical principles of Christian stewardship.

All this is good. But in my estimation at least, the “missing piece” is someone to minister among our youth of all ages. We have some great youth, though not a lot of them. And we have some adults who love them and are willing to work with them. But we are in need of guidance from someone dedicated and trained in this type of ministry. There is a dimension of our youth ministry missing which seems to keep a lot of our youth from bringing their friends. The youth we have are faithful and that is good. We just need to be doing a better job of getting them into the Word, and getting the Word into them. Also, we need to be directing them and their friends in the paths of righteousness so they will follow Christ.

The leaders and I have prayed for quite awhile about this perceived need. We know that God understands this need even more than do we. And our faith is that He cares about our youth and this whole situation. I am sure that what He wants for and from our youth is a lot greater and bigger than what we can envision.

But so far He has not opened doors and created opportunities for this need to be filled. There was someone whom I earnestly thought was just the person God wanted to fulfill this need. But apparently he wasn’t the one God wanted—at least not yet. So we still have a need in this area.

We must have faith in God’s timing in this matter. We must believe that He will provide the right person at the right time. He always has and He always will. We have to keep believing and trusting God. So we’ll pray and keep tuned to what God is saying and to where He is leading.

I have experienced it both ways. When I have tried to “force” things to come about by my own strength and on my timetable, it never works out well. But when it is God’s timing, it always works for the best. But this seems to be a lesson I must be taught and must learn periodically.

Jim

posted by jim 6:34 PM 0 comments

Tuesday, March 01, 2005

THE CAR

As of today I have a car to drive. For 3 weeks I had a rental. We’ve been using one car during the times without a rental.

Today I got a car. It is God-provided! A Christian brother from our former church has been a Toyota Technician for over 30 years. He purchased a really nice car. It is a 1996 Toyota Camry LE with 134,000+ miles. It is a beauty – beige with gray interior. It has been well cared for by it’s previous owner. Plus my Christian brother went over it with a “fine tooth comb”. He did everything imaginable to bring it to Class A-1 shape – and it wasn’t in bad shape before. But now all that remains is to drive it and maintain it. It shouldn’t need any major work done for---well, maybe forever? (Dream on, Jim!) But it should be a long time.

I am grateful to God for using my Christian friend to provide just the car I need at the price God wanted me to pay. I’m just praying I don’t crash it – or that no one runs into me.

Beside all that, my leg injury from the accident is finally healing!

Jim

posted by jim 11:15 PM 0 comments