jxgomez.com

Q & A

May 12, 2009 — Leave a comment

Welcome to Monday evening, Carlisle Wesleyan (and other friends)–

Those of you from CWC already know that a week ago, during our local church conference, I resigned as pastor at Carlisle Wesleyan. This week’s Pastor’s Posting will try to answer some of the questions you may have in all of this. The idea here is to help foster dialogue and discussion, so feel free to CONTACT ME — again, it’s worth the reminder that your comments here will be visible to everyone, so you may wish to e-mail or call me directly using the link just given. Before going any further it may be best for you to start by accessing a copy of my letter of resignation as a PDF file here: Resignation Letter.

Now, for some of your questions:

WHEN is your resignation effective?
Let me say, first of all, that both Sarah and I are committed to ‘finishing well.’ We promise to ‘be present’ as long as we’re your pastoral family–that means no checking out or hoping just to coast by until we exit. My role from here on out will be different than in the past as my focus won’t be much on long-term future and goals for CWC, but helping to prepare for and enable transition.

Our ‘”exit date” is to be determined by the District Superintendent and our Local Board of Administration. The Discipline, which is our denomination’s book of polity and procedure, uses a sixty-day time frame for the effective date of a resignation or the natural time of pastoral transition following the annual District Conference. So, look for our last official Sunday at CWC to be around either the last week of June or first week of July– but that’s an unofficial estimate on my part. I hope to know more about this soon–and when I know, you’ll know.

WHY are you leaving?
Take a look at the resignation letter–everything is summed up pretty well there. If you’d like more insight or discussion, feel free to contact and/or meet with me.

WHERE are you going?
Short answer: We have no idea.
Longer answer: My resignation wasn’t given because we have ‘someplace better’ to go to. It’s really a step of faith for Sarah and I–we felt very clearly that our time here was done and it would have been disobedient for us to remain in service at Carlisle Wesleyan. Our experience on this end has been described as “jumping off a cliff:” it’s exciting when it isn’t terrifying.

WHAT is CWC’s ‘next step?’
Our District Superintendent, Randy Swink, will be meeting with the church’s local leaders (Deemer Morrow, Denver Tuckey, and Kenn Tuckey) at the end of this month to work through some of those next steps. Part of this process will inevitably involve identifying the type of pastoral candidate needed by the church inluding the kind of person who will most fit the temperment, focus, and desire of CWC. This also involves getting an accurate picture of where Carlisle Wesleyan currently is in her journey.

The possibilities and intricacies of what Carlisle Wesleyan’s “next steps” could look like are virtually endless. The two best things you can be doing right now are: 1) praying for everyone to heed the leading of God’s Spirit throughout the process, and, 2) communicating openly and honestly with those in leadership regarding what you sense is needed. I know our leaders: they want to make sure your voice is heard and understood.

As we intercede for you, I ask that you please pray for Sarah and me–this is not an easy transition for any of us and this is a prime opportunity for each of us to be found supporting one another in focused prayer.

Be sure to let me know how you’re doing.

Loving…Learning…Living…,
Pastor Jeremiah

In Uncategorized

Pastor's Posting 04.21.09

April 21, 2009 — Leave a comment

Did you know…

…that the number of un-churched Americans is increasing by the rate of 1,000,000 people every year (Church Leaders Intelligence Report 04.01.09)? Scripture is clear that just as Jesus was sent by his Father to offer the incredible hope of Heaven, those of us who are followers of Christ have been sent by Jesus to offer the same hope. It’s worth noting our goal isn’t simply to have more people in church, but to have more followers of Christ, with new life given, and individuals, families, communities & nations transformed. What can you do to demonstrate the love of Christ and hope of Heaven to those around you? How can you live in a such a way that the people you already know (and the ones you don’t know are watching) will be made thirsty for the living water of Christ this week?

Some more you might want to know…

…The second week of our current message series, *Real* Last Words is online now HERE. How have you been enjoying our exposure to the final words of Jesus both as he died on the cross and before his ascension into heaven? I really do believe that by being confronted with these living words, we will find ourselves changed and our lives enriched.

I hope you’re planning on attending our Local Church Conference on Sunday, May 3rd. We’ll be having the business session at 4PM during that time, we’ll be discussing significant adjustments to our operating budget and some of our ministry structure as well as receiving our regular reports. We’ll also be sharing in supper following that business session as we celebrate God’s faithfulness and our expectation of good things to come.

I’ll be ‘roaming’ this week–Tuesday afternoon (today) at Casa Mani (High and Pitt Streets downtown–click HERE for map) and Wednesday morning at Carlisle Coffee (Nell’s shopping center on Walnut Bottom Road–map can be found HERE). You’re always welcome to drop in and enjoy some coffee and conversation with Yours Truly :-).

Sarah will also be ‘roaming’ this week–she’ll be heading to Indiana on Thursday to attend BOOST, a children’s ministry conference sponsored by The Wesleyan Church. She’ll be there through Saturday, investing a good deal of time in CWC’s ministry to children and I’ll be bachin’ it at the end of the week. Your prayers that God would use this time to create a fresh spark for The Lagoon and help equip our children’s workers would be greatly appreciated.

Please note: the office will be closed next Tuesday morning as I’ll be attending a meeting with some of the other area pastors from The Wesleyan Church. I should still be found ‘roaming’ that afternoon, though.

I’d like to conclude this week’s Posting with a few thank-you’s regarding some of what’s listed above:
Members of the Local Board of Administration
Sue Fisher
Deemer Morrow
Denver Tuckey
Kenn Tuckey
Our board members serve very well by representing the needs of CWC and helping us to move forward. This time of year can tend to be especially busy as we work to prepare for the Local Church Conference. Be sure to express your gratitude to them and keep our leaders in prayer.

Children’s Ministry
Sarah Gomez
Larry Snyder
Both Larry and Sarah give freely of their time and energy to help make a vibrant children’s ministry a reality. There’s still a lot of work to be done, but I’m proud of them for hanging in there and doing whatever they can to present the truth and power of Jesus in relevant and engaging ways to the youngest among us–all in the name of the King and for the expansion of his Kingdom! Way to go, guys! Keep it up–you’re making a difference!

There are, of course, other individuals who serve God by serving others through the ministry of CWC–I’ll be sure to thank them by name as well during the next few Pastor’s Postings–but for now, to all who serve suffice it to say I’m thankful for all of you, what you do, and how freely you give! Thanks for your willing hearts!

Don’t forget: we are in the season of the Resurrection. New life is ours because of the work of Jesus and the powerful truth that death could not hold the Author of Life. In what arena of your life are you in need of new life? The spirit of Christ beckons you to come, lay your burden down, and experience the power of the resurrection. Of course, if you need to talk, I’m here for you.

Have a great week; I’m in your corner.

Loving…Learning…Living…,
Pastor Jeremiah

In Pastor's Postings Pastor's Postings

Yup. Pretty Important.

April 17, 2009 — 1 Comment

“One hundred religious persons knit into a unity by careful organizations do not constitute a church any more than eleven dead men make a football team. The first requisite is life, always.”

~ A. W. Tozer

In Quotes Quotes

Moooo-ve.

April 15, 2009 — Leave a comment

Used by permission. From 'skinnyde' on Flickr.

Seat position? Check.

Mirrors? Check.

Hands at ten-and-two? Check.

Pedals from left-to-right: clutch, brake, gas. Check.

Herd of cattle in the middle of the road? Check. Check. Check. Check. Check. Check. Check. Check. Check. Check. Check. Check. Check. Check. Check. Check. Check. Check. Check. Check. Check. Check. Check. Check. (There were
quite a few cows present.)

I was at the very beginning of my adventure of being a driver. I don’t even know that I had a Learner’s Permit yet, but our family friend, Albert, was going to spend a few minutes with me while I played my hand at driving his aged and well- loved Chevy S-10 pickup. We were on a quiet dirt road behind my grandparents’ place and it was time to test my standard-transmission-driving mettle. It was a perfect day for a drive.

Except, of course, for the dozens of cattle lazily staring at the white half-ton truck and its occupants.

I would begin to move forward and then stop. Start. Stop. Start. Stop. The cycle repeated itself as I tried to intimidate our cud-chewing companions.

Albert was patient.

For a while.

The cows in the road were distracting me. They were big. They were stupid. And they were in the road. One of those cows would easily be victorious in a ‘Half-ton Pickup Truck vs. Bessie the Cow’ match; forget trying to take on the entire herd before us. This wasn’t my truck and I hoped Albert would let me drive it again sometime—but if our adventure together resulted in a cow-shaped dent on the vehicle, I had a feeling no further opportunities would be coming my way.

Start. Drive a little. Get too close to cows. Stop.

What was I to do? Honking the horn didn’t work–the animals didn’t even flinch. Should I get out of the truck, wave my arms, and try to ‘shoo’ them (they outnumbered me…and maybe that’s what they were waiting for before making their ‘move’)? What about trying to identify their leader and negotiate a settlement with these bovine invaders: you move off the road and we won’t barbecue anything but chicken for the rest of the year? I hoped Albert would just drive the truck to some other cattle-free lane and I could try my hand at driving there.

But then Albert gave me some of the most important advice anybody has ever given me when it comes to life and leadership. I didn’t believe him at first. In fact, I thought it was the dumbest thing I’d ever heard. His advice was counter-intuitive and, from my perspective, possibly an invitation for an insurance claim. But he insisted, and I was amazed when I actually did what he instructed.

He told me,

“Just keep moving; they’ll get out of the way.”

Rather than stopping because I saw the obstacle, I continued to move ahead…and the cows cleared the way. They didn’t want to be hit by the little white truck any more than I wanted the little white truck to hit them.

Now, I know it’s a simple story—and probably reveals a little too much about my upbringing—but I wonder how many times we’ve stopped in our tracks or changed course in our life journey because of an obstacle that lays ahead when if we had just kept moving, we would have discovered the ‘obstacle’ wasn’t has scary or formidable as we had first thought.

No, not every difficult situation or obstacle we’re confronted with can be overcome just by continuing to blindly move forward; there are times when continuing on a chosen path can bring destruction and the obstacles mean we really do need to re-think our next step. But do me a favor and reflect about what obstacle lies in your path today when it comes to your plans for the future, your desires for your family, the activities of your job, the current state-of-affairs at your church, or even the dream God has placed deep in your heart. Maybe that obstacle is nothing more than a ‘herd of cattle,’ and you should heed Albert’s advice: Just keep moving. They’ll get out of the way.

In Encouragement, Leadership Encouragement, Leadership

Missionary Update

April 14, 2009 — Leave a comment

Good afternoon!

The following update has come our way from Dorcas Croft, the Global Partners missionary to Swaziland we support as a local church:

Dear Friends,

As the date for our return back to Swaziland draws closer we desire your prayers. We are getting closer to reaching our goal and believe that by July we will have 100% of our targeted amount. Please help us pray that we will reach this goal on time.

As we return to Swaziland we will be going back to many changes. We will be the only missionaries assigned to Emmanuel Wesleyan Bible College other than Selinda Ingalls who will be coming at a later date. The college is struggling in many areas and we desire your prayers.

Mathias is doing well. Although he is happy about returning to Swaziland, he told me the other day that he is missing Swaziland less than before. He has gotten involved in many things that he enjoys so much: swimming, piano and drum lessons. Clubhouse at church on Wednesday nights. Playing basketball at the YMCA. He is doing well with school and enjoys reading. He has grown so much I know the Swazis will be surprised how much he has grown.

Below are prayer request:
1. Pray we reach our targeted goal by July 1, 2009
2. Pray Emmanuel Wesleyan Bible College (EWBC) can find a principal and needed staff.
3. Pray for the finances of the college.
4. Pray for new students for second semester. (July)
5. Pray for students who are struggling to pay their school bills. If they are not paid by the end of May they will have to be sent home.

Thank you for your partnership whether it be through prayer or support.

God bless!

Dorcas and Mathias Croft

Following are a couple of recent pictures of Mathias Dorcas attached for us.

We also received a new Global Prayer Net from Global partners–available online HERE.

In Missions, Pastor's Postings Missions, Pastor's Postings