Ok time to finish the update of our journey. Let’s start in June 2010. I’m in the middle of my layoff, Angela is working full time first time since we have been married and we are 440 miles away from our family. A friend runs the rental division of a local realty company. I am cleaning out houses and cleaning up yards when renters move out. Let’s just say that people can be really, really nasty. I’m looking for a job as hard as I can. Finally in August or early September I find a post for an estimator position at John Deere Landscapes. I apply. I have a friend that works there. So I go talk to Jon-Mike and tell him that I would love to get my foot in the door there. Thanks to Jon-Mike I got an interview. The position is under my normal pay scale, way below my training and skill level. When I went for an interview, they never asked me if I could do the job. I spent an hour convincing them that I would stay more than 6 months to a year. Cliff later told me that there was a bet and his money was on me leaving in 6-9 months. I absolutely loved the majority of people that I worked with at Deere. Our office was a fun, productive place. Work got done but we also had fun! If you left the room, you had to be prepared for some kind of prank when you came back. Everything from stealing wheels off your chair to pull string firecrackers taped to your door. There were lots of changes in corporate level structure. I was there for 3 years and I had 3 different bosses. All of my direct supervisors were great, above them not always the case. I had plenty of time on my hands. My schedule was very flexible and I had almost no responsibilities.

God used that time to mold and shape myself and my family into what he needed us to be. I could devote large blocks of time to the men’s ministry at Seacoast Summerville and to my family. Skip came to me and a few other guys in March or April of 2010 and said that he wanted to start a Men’s Adventure Group, focused on hiking, kayaking and all outdoor activities. It would be an opportunity to get guys together and involve them in a community of solid guys that love God. We met on Thursday night at the church. It slowly began to grow. We started with a kayak trip down the Edisto River. The event went very well! God was at work in this group of guys! I had always been one that never thought I needed a bunch of friends. I always had a couple close friends growing up. Clint and Dennis were always there and had my back. I had many “acquaintances” but very few friends. The guys in the group have become lifelong friends to me. Larry, Chris, Mark-Peanut, Mark-not Peanut, Lou, their families and many more have all played a part in who I am now and my ability to serve my family and the God that loves me and saved me! This group of 8-10 has grown to a Tuesday night service that draws a group of 25-35 guys weekly!

God has also knit people into my life from outside the group that are equally as influential in my life. Seth, Phil, Wilt, Harry, to name just a few, has played a huge role in my life and have helped God direct and guide me. Of course we can’t leave out Jon-Mike! God has put us together for periods of time that no person should endure with me. We worked together, went and served the Church together while I was at Deere.

Angela and the kids have developed the same types of friends! We have a strong, Christ centered community. They all serve the Church in various ways and all have a close personal relationship with Jesus! The way God has grown my family is amazing. That is not to say we don’t have our issues but we are grounded in Him. Angela has changed employers. She went to work a few years ago for a different orthodontist. He is a really great Christian guy who takes care of his staff, patients and his community. My daughter is in the 9^th grade, struggling with the remnants of a concussion (see my last post). My son is in 7^th grade and wrapped up in being a typical 12 yr old boy. That leaves me. I took a full time ministry position with Seacoast Church back in October. This week will be my 6 month anniversary. Seth now gets to put up with me during the commute, at the office and during the weekend services! I am challenged and overwhelmed at times, that God has called me. I know that I can do this because of my experiences, my support system and my faith in knowing that He loves me and through Him anything is possible.

1 Thessalonians 5:12-28