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Learning the Ropes… Very, Very Quickly

Posted by Josh Boldman | Filed under Church, Life

So, it’s been just about forever and a day since I last posted. For that I am experiencing intense inner strife and anguish (actually, I’m only a little upset). In order to right this unforgivable wrong, let me give you all an update as to the happenings of the past few months…

As most of you know, the family and I packed up a truck and moved just about 1,000 miles away from Orlando (a place where I’ve lived for 5-6 years, but where Rachel basically grew up). Though the transition hasn’t been easy, it has been eventful. After packing up our tiny 2-bedroom apartment into a moving truck (that was unfotunately slightly more tiny), I drove to Missouri with the help of two of the guys from our new church. As far as the drive itself, I’ll spare you the details. Just imagine driving 1,000+ miles in 22 hours with no sleep and just a little bit too much caffeine. Now imagine that after a full day of loading up a truck from a 2nd-story apartment… yeah, you get the idea.

Upon arrival in Granby, Missouri, I have assumed the position of Senior Pastor at Granby First Church of God, which, in my estimation of things, so far has been a pretty cool thing. This has been something that I’ve been working toward for at least the past 6 years, so it’s pretty cool to see it all come into reality. Now, before I get too far ahead of myself, just because it’s been “cool to see” does not mean that it’s been easy. This week has been a particularly sobering dose of the realities of my position. It all started on Saturday…

Rachel and I had taken Zeke to a local pumpkin patch for him to see pumpkins growing on the vine (which is actually pretty cool, except he just kept pointing at them and saying the word “Ball” … he is 17 months old, after all), when I got a phone call from the local funeral home letting me know that a longtime member of the congregation had passed away. The only problem was that she had been home-ridden for years due to her inability to drive, which meant that I had no idea who she was.  All I knew was that I had a funeral to perform on Tuesday… my first funeral… for someone I had never met.

Since I probably mentioned to you that our truck was a tad too small, we had to leave a few things behind in Apopka. One of those things was (accidentally) a hamper basket that still had my dress shirt and pants in it that I had specifically bought for the last funeral that I attended (FYI, I’m really not a shirt & tie kind of guy). Any way, that meant that on Monday, I had to travel to the big city to replace my estranged Sunday best (that I would never wear on Sunday). Since it’s actually a really decent drive, I figured I’d make the best of my time there and have lunch with one of our church members that lives out that way. Lunch was great, and Bob is an incredibly encouraging person. The day was actually turning out to be a great day.

I’ve learned in my years that just when you think things are going well, it’s very possible that something will happen to turn that day right on its head. For me, that came in the form of a phone call asking if I could perform a wedding that very day at 3:00pm. Although I’m sure that most of us might vary on this opinion, I’m of the opinion that no two people who want to be legally married should be denied that priviledge, especially if they are young and “cannot resist their passions.” So of course, I said yes and rushed home to perform a wedding… my first wedding… for someone I had never met.

Are you noticing the same trend that I am? Well, now in hindsight, both the wedding and the funeral went off without a hitch, and it was a blessing to be able to take part in both. I believe that God is trying to show me that stretching is a good thing. At least, I hope that’s the case, because stretching is exactly what’s happening.

For me, I am learning to ask these questions of myself: “How might God be stretching you? What are the ways that He’s allowing you develop into the person He is calling you to be? How are you letting Him accomplish this?”

Perhaps these are questions from which we could all benefit asking of ourselves. Have a great day. I’m going to.

Tags: 6 years, anguish, bedroom apartment, cool thing, estimation, first church of god, granby missouri, little bit, longtime member, moving truck, phone call, pumpkin patch, realities, sleep, story apartment, strife, transition, vine