It's been two months now since I lost my job. Still no firm offer of full-time work. But in many ways I feel more hopeful about the situation than ever. That feeling has little to do with my new job opportunities, which frankly don't always seem that promising. It comes rather from the overwhelming kindness of strangers, friends and family.
Like the great Ben Harper sings, "You can be rich, and not have a dime."
This feeling comes from the countless job leads and prayers from those who know my situation.
It comes from cards in the mail from anonymous senders that contain gift cards for groceries.
It comes from a brother who loads up a Panera gift card for me because he knows I'll be spending a lot of time there.
It comes from my parents who tell me not to worry if I can't make my mortgage.
It comes from a Sunday School class full of people who spring into action the moment I sent an email saying I needed help.
It comes from my brotherhood of basketballers, who help me clear my mind on the court, and lift me up off of it.
It comes from one of my sisters, who is working two jobs as a single mom and still sends me a gift card for groceries.
It comes from my other sister who did the exact same thing.
It comes from a good friend, who's only discernible character flaw is his love of the Florida Gators. He and his wife not only gave us a gift card for groceries, but a portion of their tax refund.
Did I mention that he was a Florida Gator? And it's not Tim Tebow.
When you have a die-hard Gator lifting up a die-hard Vol like myself, why wouldn't I feel good about this whole thing working out?
God bless you all.
Friday, April 23, 2010
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Resurrection: Rob Bell
Happy and blessed Easter to you and yours. Rob Bell's latest work was released for free today on his Facebook page. Do take a moment to check it out when you can.
Friday, April 2, 2010
Building Through Breaking
Is it ever cool to be openly crying in a Panera?
I can speak from experience that the answer is no.
But there I was, tears streaming down my face. Feeling like my entire world was crumbling all around me. Feeling like the mayor of Loserville.
Let me set this up. Since my last post, my world has been and endless stream of frantic calls, interviews and frustrating run-arounds in trying to find a new job. The weight of my responsibility to my kids, my wife and my father-in-law who lives with us now, seemed heavier with each dead end. The knot in my stomach grew with each person who looked at my resume and said some variation of, "This looks great, but we just don't have anything right now..."
In my search, I adopted various Paneras around time as my temporary office. It's good for decent coffee, free wi-fi, and to meet with my connections and (soon to be!) employers. But after 3 weeks on the job hunt trail, even the staff at Panera seemed to wonder why I kept showing up.
So there I found myself, at Panera on the strip. It was Friday at 5:00. I was literally one of 2 or 3 customers in the place. I was waiting on a phone call where I was quite certain, I was going to be offered a job. I had finished a week's worth of interviews with the company. Everything in my gut told me I had it. I had every prayer warrior I know throwing up prayers on my behalf to the Big Guy.
But when the call came, the job offer didn't.
Ouch.
$$@#$&*$!!!!!
As I hung up the phone, the weight of 3 week's worth of frustration over my situation came crashing down on me. Outside, it was pouring rain. Which was perfect, because inside I sat with tears streaming down my face. In a Panera for crying out loud!
I felt like a loser. I couldn't understand why God would forget me now. I didn't feel like I did anything wrong to lose my last job, the agency where I worked just closed up shop. So why wouldn't God help me out now? Was there really something valuable to be gained from me sitting in a Panera sobbing like a baby?
Apparently so.
I gazed out the window. Outside, a hospital is going through a major renovation. An entire new wing is being added, so the place is covered with scaffolding, construction equipment and debris. You can start to see what it will look like once complete. A beautiful glass facade at the entrance is just starting to come together.
But at the moment I looked, crying in Panera and feeling hurt and hopeless, the hospital looked like a big ugly mess.
And it was at that precise moment, I felt God speak to me.
Not in the big, booming, Voice-of God kind of way you see in the movies. It was a quiet message that I felt tug at my heart. And what he said was:
I am building through breaking.
To build that hospital I was looking at requires a lot of breaking. Rocks get blasted. Metal gets bent. Concrete gets jackhammered. But through all these violent, painful actions, something beautiful is built. The architect's dream is realized.
The master architect was telling me the same thing was going on in my life. Through these hurtful, broken episodes, he was building something beautiful. So my job really wasn't to question why I didn't get the job offer. My job was to trust that it was still part of God's blueprints for my life. To trust that he was building something amazing for me. But to do that it means that certain things have to be broken.
Some things also apparently have to be wired with TNT and blasted into oblivion.
So the Monday after my little "episode" at Panera the place that told me "no" called back offered me a 2-3 month contract gig. In many ways, it's a better situation. No I can see how much I like them as much as they can see how much they like me, while continuing my search for a full time gig.
God has a plan. While I often have no idea what He's doing, I really can't wait to see what he will build out of my brokenness.
I can speak from experience that the answer is no.
But there I was, tears streaming down my face. Feeling like my entire world was crumbling all around me. Feeling like the mayor of Loserville.
Let me set this up. Since my last post, my world has been and endless stream of frantic calls, interviews and frustrating run-arounds in trying to find a new job. The weight of my responsibility to my kids, my wife and my father-in-law who lives with us now, seemed heavier with each dead end. The knot in my stomach grew with each person who looked at my resume and said some variation of, "This looks great, but we just don't have anything right now..."
In my search, I adopted various Paneras around time as my temporary office. It's good for decent coffee, free wi-fi, and to meet with my connections and (soon to be!) employers. But after 3 weeks on the job hunt trail, even the staff at Panera seemed to wonder why I kept showing up.
So there I found myself, at Panera on the strip. It was Friday at 5:00. I was literally one of 2 or 3 customers in the place. I was waiting on a phone call where I was quite certain, I was going to be offered a job. I had finished a week's worth of interviews with the company. Everything in my gut told me I had it. I had every prayer warrior I know throwing up prayers on my behalf to the Big Guy.
But when the call came, the job offer didn't.
Ouch.
$$@#$&*$!!!!!
As I hung up the phone, the weight of 3 week's worth of frustration over my situation came crashing down on me. Outside, it was pouring rain. Which was perfect, because inside I sat with tears streaming down my face. In a Panera for crying out loud!
I felt like a loser. I couldn't understand why God would forget me now. I didn't feel like I did anything wrong to lose my last job, the agency where I worked just closed up shop. So why wouldn't God help me out now? Was there really something valuable to be gained from me sitting in a Panera sobbing like a baby?
Apparently so.
I gazed out the window. Outside, a hospital is going through a major renovation. An entire new wing is being added, so the place is covered with scaffolding, construction equipment and debris. You can start to see what it will look like once complete. A beautiful glass facade at the entrance is just starting to come together.
But at the moment I looked, crying in Panera and feeling hurt and hopeless, the hospital looked like a big ugly mess.
And it was at that precise moment, I felt God speak to me.
Not in the big, booming, Voice-of God kind of way you see in the movies. It was a quiet message that I felt tug at my heart. And what he said was:
I am building through breaking.
To build that hospital I was looking at requires a lot of breaking. Rocks get blasted. Metal gets bent. Concrete gets jackhammered. But through all these violent, painful actions, something beautiful is built. The architect's dream is realized.
The master architect was telling me the same thing was going on in my life. Through these hurtful, broken episodes, he was building something beautiful. So my job really wasn't to question why I didn't get the job offer. My job was to trust that it was still part of God's blueprints for my life. To trust that he was building something amazing for me. But to do that it means that certain things have to be broken.
Some things also apparently have to be wired with TNT and blasted into oblivion.
So the Monday after my little "episode" at Panera the place that told me "no" called back offered me a 2-3 month contract gig. In many ways, it's a better situation. No I can see how much I like them as much as they can see how much they like me, while continuing my search for a full time gig.
God has a plan. While I often have no idea what He's doing, I really can't wait to see what he will build out of my brokenness.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Job Search
Last week, I lost my job.
Actually, everyone in our agency lost his or her job.
So many lives put into a tailspin.
I was faced with joblessness about 3 years ago. Thanks to good friends and help from above, I landed on my feet.
For a time, anyway.
The feeling of not knowing where your next paycheck will come from is scary. Especially when there are kids and wives and other family at home depending on you.
But since this bomb went off in my world, just six days ago, the overwhelming support from friends and business colleagues has been incredible.
It's friends listening and passing along job leads.
It's my son's principal waving our fees for his tuition for two months without being asked.
It's a friend dropping off a 12 pack of Stella Artois and hiding at $75 gift card for groceries.
It's friends from my Sunday School class leaving voice messages of support along with reassuring Bible verses, like this one.
It's neighbor's adding my situation to their church's prayer lists.
It's business colleagues finding time to grab a coffee and brainstorm options.
It's all this and so much more. Many things, that I might not even been aware of.
As me and my family go through this stormy time, I ask that you keep us in your prayers. I truly believe God will provide a beautiful opportunity...I just at this point have no idea what (or where that will be).
And that's both exciting and frightening.
I prolly won't post here for a while. At least until I land in a new gig. But whenever that is, I'm sure there will be great stories to tell about the journey.
Thanks for reading...and God Bless!
:)lance
Actually, everyone in our agency lost his or her job.
So many lives put into a tailspin.
I was faced with joblessness about 3 years ago. Thanks to good friends and help from above, I landed on my feet.
For a time, anyway.
The feeling of not knowing where your next paycheck will come from is scary. Especially when there are kids and wives and other family at home depending on you.
But since this bomb went off in my world, just six days ago, the overwhelming support from friends and business colleagues has been incredible.
It's friends listening and passing along job leads.
It's my son's principal waving our fees for his tuition for two months without being asked.
It's a friend dropping off a 12 pack of Stella Artois and hiding at $75 gift card for groceries.
It's friends from my Sunday School class leaving voice messages of support along with reassuring Bible verses, like this one.
It's neighbor's adding my situation to their church's prayer lists.
It's business colleagues finding time to grab a coffee and brainstorm options.
It's all this and so much more. Many things, that I might not even been aware of.
As me and my family go through this stormy time, I ask that you keep us in your prayers. I truly believe God will provide a beautiful opportunity...I just at this point have no idea what (or where that will be).
And that's both exciting and frightening.
I prolly won't post here for a while. At least until I land in a new gig. But whenever that is, I'm sure there will be great stories to tell about the journey.
Thanks for reading...and God Bless!
:)lance
Monday, February 22, 2010
Haiti (The Day Before)
My talented friend Josiah Morgan was in Haiti just 24 hours before the tragic earthquake. Read his amazing story and see some of his incredible photos like these on his blog.
And let us all continue to pray for the people of Haiti.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
KARM Jubilee
Sometimes work is just work.
But sometimes it is something much, much more.
Such was the case for me recently. My agency was blessed (and I do mean blessed) with the opportunity to help Knox Area Rescue Ministries develop a campaign to celebrate their 50th Anniversary.
Day after day, heroes at KARM do incredible work for the hurting and lost in the Knox Area. Consider these facts:
• KARM serves up to 1,400 meals a day to the poor and homeless.
• Over 400 men, women and children call KARM home each night.
• 139,479 spent the night at KARM last year.
So it was an incredible opportunity for me - both creatively and spiritually - to come up with a campaign for such a vital organization.
The concept came straight from the Good Book.
“Sound the trumpet throughout your land. Consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty to everyone. For it is a jubilee and is to be holy for you.”
Leviticus 25: 9 -12
The Old Testament teaches of Jubilee—a special time of celebration that occurs every fifty years. It was a time where sins and debts are forgiven, slaves and prisoners are freed, and the gift of new life from God rejoiced.
Perfect!
2010 is a Jubilee year for Knoxville Area Rescue Mission. A time to celebrate 50 years of helping the poor and needy of the Knox Area. It’s a celebration of thousands of nourishing meals provided to the hungry. A time to rejoice how those addicted to drugs and alcohol have been given shelter and help for their addiction. And a time to honor how KARM has helped those in search of their own personal jubilee a way to find new life through Jesus Christ.
This served as the cornerstone message through all the materials we created - - including the KARM Jubilee Logo, microsite (that you can check out at www.karmjubilee.org,)various print materials and campaign videos.
Check out the site to see some of these elements and to learn more about the Jubilee year-long celebration. The videos we filmed should be added to the site soon. (I'll be sure to share them right here when they make it to the YouTubes, as well.)
I was also thrilled to be a part of the KARM Jubilee kick off event last week. An incredibly inspiring event to see and hear first hand how KARM has changed lives - like the one of former KARM resident, gifted musician and rock n roll evangelist, Davis Mitchell.
Davis' story is incredibly inspiring and a beautiful portrait of God's grace. Meeting him and getting to learn his story - and what he's doing with his second chance - is one of the greatest blessings I experienced through this entire project.
But that's another post for another day.
In the meantime, visit www.karmjubilee.org to see how you can support this incredible organization. Whether it's your time, your talents, your money or your prayers, KARM needs your support more than ever this year.
Together, we can all help KARM accomplish so much during this special year - and for 50 more to come!
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Dead Sea Thinking
I am becoming such a fan of the thoughts on faith that Dr. Chris Stephens churns out daily. Dr. Chris has a pretty amazing story. He's the lead pastor of Faith Promise Church. And while I've never heard him preach in person, that's something I definitley want to work into my to-do list.
I've come to appreciate his thoughts and his heart through a daily email he sends out. It comes like clock work (around 10ish) and always seems to give me some good spiritual manna to chew on. Check out his blog or sign up to receive his email, if you're interested.
Below is his post from today, which was just too good not to share. Love his thoughts about that God can’t bless selfishness and that we are all blessed to be a blessing. Good stuff!
Dead Sea Thinking
Posted: 15 Feb 2010 09:01 PM PST
Hey Friends,
The Dead Sea is beautiful. I have driven around it and have gone for a swim in it. It is below sea level and NOTHING can live in it because everything flows in and nothing flows out. It is dead! It is dead because this is not how the Lord designed the world to operate.
We are all supposed to take things in and we are all supposed to give things out. This is true in the physical realm as well as the spiritual realm. Far too many people, and even some in the church today, are dead seas in their lives and in their thinking.
Life is all about them! Everything flows to them, but never away. They are like the Dead Sea and nothing can really live in them or around them. The Dead Sea is selfish and God can’t bless selfishness. I hope you caught that last sentence because it is so true.
I wonder if some of the churches today are “Dead Sea” in their thinking. If the life of God is flowing in, then the life of God should be flowing out and giving others life.
Does life flow out of you? Are you a giver of yourself? Of your money? Of your time?
Look around you – do you see life? Are the people around you flourishing, thriving, growing, and giving life to others? That is the plan of God. We are blessed to be a blessing. People are like plants; they need water to grow and we are called to water them.
Who are you blessing?
Just some thoughts…
Love you,
Pastor Chris
I've come to appreciate his thoughts and his heart through a daily email he sends out. It comes like clock work (around 10ish) and always seems to give me some good spiritual manna to chew on. Check out his blog or sign up to receive his email, if you're interested.
Below is his post from today, which was just too good not to share. Love his thoughts about that God can’t bless selfishness and that we are all blessed to be a blessing. Good stuff!
Dead Sea Thinking
Posted: 15 Feb 2010 09:01 PM PST
Hey Friends,
The Dead Sea is beautiful. I have driven around it and have gone for a swim in it. It is below sea level and NOTHING can live in it because everything flows in and nothing flows out. It is dead! It is dead because this is not how the Lord designed the world to operate.
We are all supposed to take things in and we are all supposed to give things out. This is true in the physical realm as well as the spiritual realm. Far too many people, and even some in the church today, are dead seas in their lives and in their thinking.
Life is all about them! Everything flows to them, but never away. They are like the Dead Sea and nothing can really live in them or around them. The Dead Sea is selfish and God can’t bless selfishness. I hope you caught that last sentence because it is so true.
I wonder if some of the churches today are “Dead Sea” in their thinking. If the life of God is flowing in, then the life of God should be flowing out and giving others life.
Does life flow out of you? Are you a giver of yourself? Of your money? Of your time?
Look around you – do you see life? Are the people around you flourishing, thriving, growing, and giving life to others? That is the plan of God. We are blessed to be a blessing. People are like plants; they need water to grow and we are called to water them.
Who are you blessing?
Just some thoughts…
Love you,
Pastor Chris
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