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Old 12-11-2021, 11:07 AM   #1
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Default It’s Been a Few Years

Hello brothers!

I never got truly established here before some significant work/life changes occurred. I see the last post I made was in May 2015. At that time I had just enrolled full time in seminary (graduated with a M.Div in August 2018). I figured with evenings free and a full day of instruction on Mondays, I could knock it out in a few years. What I didn’t anticipate was the church where I was an executive pastor also asked me to reach back into my far past and take on the youth group too. For a few years I had both roles (full time), school (full time), and a family and all the events that occur with that. Needless to say, I had very thin margins.

Overtime I was able to move a considerable amount off my plate as my church didn’t want me to burnout. In a show of generosity, the leadership gave me a paid sabbatical starting this October and the church whole heartedly approved.

Over the years I’ve been absent, I’ve had opportunity to reach into my tupperdor and light up a cigar provided in an embarrassingly generous newb bomb I received here. When I have, I thought of this place fondly.

I’ll be around going forward. I’m still astonished by the crazy amount of information around here!

Geoff
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Old 12-11-2021, 11:11 AM   #2
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Default Re: It’s Been a Few Years

Hi Geoff! Welcome back. Where are you in Oregon? I’m Beaverton.
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Old 12-11-2021, 11:14 AM   #3
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Default Re: It’s Been a Few Years

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Hi Geoff! Welcome back. Where are you in Oregon? I’m Beaverton.
Not too far from you. I live in Salem.
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Old 12-11-2021, 11:17 AM   #4
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Default Re: It’s Been a Few Years

Welcome back Geoff! if you don't mind me asking what kind of church? My best friend is our youth pastor at my church. I attend and evangelical free church but i lean reformed in many matters. Anyways, i hope you have fun here and find it a place where you can hang and relax! God bless you!
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Old 12-11-2021, 11:32 AM   #5
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Default Re: It’s Been a Few Years

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Welcome back Geoff! if you don't mind me asking what kind of church? My best friend is our youth pastor at my church. I attend and evangelical free church but i lean reformed in many matters. Anyways, i hope you have fun here and find it a place where you can hang and relax! God bless you!
I don’t mind at all! It’s a nondenominational church but formerly part of a Baptist association.

I finally shed the majority of my former exec role (aside from being a brain to pick) in Jan and I am now the youth pastor. One thing I’ve learned this second go around as a yp… 47 feels a lot different than 41!
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Old 12-11-2021, 11:41 AM   #6
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Default Re: It’s Been a Few Years

Welcome Back, Geoff!
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Old 12-11-2021, 11:42 AM   #7
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Default Re: It’s Been a Few Years

Welcome back, Geoff. Pull up a pew and sit a spell.
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Old 12-11-2021, 03:59 PM   #8
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Default Re: It’s Been a Few Years

Sounds like lots has happened since you were here last, Geoff, congrats on all the good. It's great to have you back in the Asylum.
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Old 12-11-2021, 04:24 PM   #9
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Default Re: It’s Been a Few Years

Welcome back!
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Old 12-11-2021, 05:24 PM   #10
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Default Re: It’s Been a Few Years

Welcome back!!
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Old 12-11-2021, 05:46 PM   #11
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Welcome Back!!!!
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Old 12-12-2021, 06:48 AM   #12
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Default Re: It’s Been a Few Years

Welcome back. Your church sounds like they appreciate you, not all organizations do.
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Old 12-12-2021, 11:00 AM   #13
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Default Re: It’s Been a Few Years

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Welcome back. Your church sounds like they appreciate you, not all organizations do.
For sure. I know of a few organizations around here that do offer some form of sabbatical. One nearby requires a sabbatical (paid) after seven years.

There are a lot of reasons a church may not be able to offer a paid sabbatical to express appreciation. I’m certainly glad they can!
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Old 12-12-2021, 11:02 AM   #14
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Default Re: It’s Been a Few Years

Thanks for the warm welcome back everyone.

Quote:
Originally Posted by icehog3 View Post
Sounds like lots has happened since you were here last, Geoff, congrats on all the good. It's great to have you back in the Asylum.
Plenty of hard things happened too with a couple we are living through right now. This sabbatical is well timed as we address and adjust to some of these difficult changes.
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Old 12-12-2021, 12:10 PM   #15
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Default Re: It’s Been a Few Years

Welcome back Geoff.
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Old 12-12-2021, 12:23 PM   #16
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Default Re: It’s Been a Few Years

Welcome back!
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Old 12-13-2021, 12:26 PM   #17
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Default Re: It’s Been a Few Years

Welcome, brother. Prayers for a blessed and merry Christmas. Enjoy some nice smokes!
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Old 12-13-2021, 04:54 PM   #18
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Default Re: It’s Been a Few Years

Geoff...PM sent
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Old 12-13-2021, 06:44 PM   #19
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Default Re: It’s Been a Few Years

Welcome back!

God's blessings on the sabbatical.

I know there are people here that would love for me to be able to have one, but serving three parishes means things are just very financially tight. I understand, and appreciate their love. They do allow me regular continued education type opportunities being gone for a week at a time to do it and not counting it as vacation time. Maybe not a sabbatical, but certainly refreshing, renewing, and a time to reinvigorate to return back to the parish.

Peace of the Lord be with you!
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Old 12-14-2021, 01:56 PM   #20
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Default Re: It’s Been a Few Years

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Welcome back!

God's blessings on the sabbatical.

I know there are people here that would love for me to be able to have one, but serving three parishes means things are just very financially tight. I understand, and appreciate their love. They do allow me regular continued education type opportunities being gone for a week at a time to do it and not counting it as vacation time. Maybe not a sabbatical, but certainly refreshing, renewing, and a time to reinvigorate to return back to the parish.

Peace of the Lord be with you!
Thank you Rev. Educational opportunities are reinvigorating! I’ve appreciated those when I have had them. During this time I’ve been reading a fair amount that have been on my stack for years. Not all are ministry related and some deal with a particular family situation.
I’ve been in ministry since 1996, and this is the first time I’ve been given a sabbatical. I’m truly grateful.
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