All Dogs Go To Heaven

Running the Store

Hi everybody.

Sorry I have not been writing much as of late. Stuff at work has me too tired at night to have any original thoughts...

My store manager is out on disability and they have assigned me the task of running the store until she gets back. I will be working 45-50 hours a week for the next few weeks (maybe more). It is a big job and when I get home at night I can't seem to find the energy to author new blog posts.

I will try to be more diligent in the future, but until then, say a prayer for my friend Shellan. She is dealing with a lot of pain and uncertainty right now.

Thanks!

What's Next?

Well, Luann and I had dinner with her parents today and talked about our future in ministry. I have been looking at a new possibility for ministry but have been reluctant to post anything about it until I was able to talk with all my different sets of parents about it. Now that they have all been let in on the gig, I thought I might post something about it here and get your opinions.

It is no secret to my readers that a new opportunity at a church has been less than forthcoming. I have pursued many different lines within the church: youth ministry, music ministry, lead pastoring, and starting a new church. But each of these avenues has led to a dead end or at least a clear feeling that it is not a right fit for us.

About three months ago I was searching job postings on a ministry site and came across a posting for the Army Chaplaincy Corps. The possibility had never really occurred to me while I was pastoring, but now that I am searching for a place to minister, chaplaincy seems to be a good fit. I have the needed education and experience, and the position offers a great deal of opportunity to minister to young men and women who are dealing with many eternal issues.

I am considering entering the Army Chaplaincy Candidate program, where I will have the opportunity to evaluate the chaplaincy through drill weekends and internships while I complete some additional schooling and complete the endorsement process through the Church of the Nazarene.

I am not sure if reserve chaplaincy or active duty would be the best fit for us, but I am definitely considering the possibilities.

So what are your thoughts on me going into the chaplaincy?

Headaches

I have had a headache all day and don't feel like going in to work... Anybody want to go deliver pizzas for me tonight?

Fan Vote

Tonight the NASCAR All-Star Race had a segment that allowed the fans to vote in a driver into the All-Star race. So I thought, hey, that is a neat idea for my blog. I thought I'd give my fans a vote too.

After 19 months I have yet to find a church to pastor and I guess it is time to make some permanent or semi-permanent career decision. So, how would you vote on this question:

If I am not able to pastor any longer, what should I do for a career?

1) Become a pizza store manager
2) Be a professional dog walker
3) Go back to school and become a lawyer
4) Flip houses
5) Start another lawn/landscape business
6) Other (please elaborate.)

Have fun with this! I need some good ideas so feel free to help a brother out!

Blog Privacy

Well, I decided that today was the day that I was going to make my blog private... But when I did, I was not happy with Google's method of privacy. There was no way for people to request permission to view the blog. I had to know who wanted access and invite them... and I know I have a lot of readers who I do not have email information for.

Plus, it made hcountryman.blogspot.com private, but allowed anyone access to heathcountryman.com. Some great privacy feature that is! So I have decided to leave my blog open to the public until I can find a better way to control access without just blocking out everyone.

So lieu of privacy, I have decided to place a disclaimer at the top of my blog. I doubt this will accomplish what I want it to, but maybe it will give people a moment of pause before the think they know all about me simply because they have read a collection of my thoughts.

I have given serious consideration to just deleting my blog altogether. But blogging is something I truly enjoy, and I guess I am just not ready to give it up. Besides, I have no direct proof that my blog has cost me any specific employment (suspicions are not proof), so I might be making a big deal out of nothing.

So for now, keep on enjoying my blog!

Going Private

I am considering making my blog private for a while. I am concerned that it might be part of what is making it so difficult for me to find a place to pastor, as others who do not know me might not be willing to give me the benefit of the doubt when reading my blog... So look for this to change in the days to come. When it does, I will have to ok those who wish to read and comment on the blog.

I am not too sure if I like this option, but it might be necessary for now.

Frustrations and Waiting

I am worn out today.

Worn out with waiting.

I have been looking for a place in ministry for exactly 19 months now and I found out today that an avenue I was exploring may take an additional year before I would know anything. Meanwhile, I am looking daily at church job postings and practically begging people in positions of authority for any kind of ministry assignment. All I have gotten for over a year and a half is rejection and I just can't take much more of it. It makes a guy want to cry!

Speeking of which, I actually broke down and cried about it today... Me, the guy with iron nerves who never cries! Can you believe that? Ok, I should probably delete this paragraph so no one has proof. :)

Why is this taking so long? Why isn't there anything available for me? Why do I feel like such an outcast?

I was reading Lamentations today... not a great book to read when you are already frustrated with life! But I found a verse that helped me today and I am going to hold on to it until I see some changes come.

"I say to myself, 'The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.'" -Lam 3:24

A Telling Video

Offered without comment:

The Moral Delima of Every Dog