It’s Been a Few Years

gravel · 12-11-2021, 11:07 AM

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

markem · 12-11-2021, 11:11 AM

Hi Geoff! Welcome back. Where are you in Oregon? I’m Beaverton.

gravel · 12-11-2021, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markem

Hi Geoff! Welcome back. Where are you in Oregon? I’m Beaverton.

Not too far from you. I live in Salem.

bruceolee · 12-11-2021, 11:17 AM

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!

gravel · 12-11-2021, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bruceolee

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!

longknocker · 12-11-2021, 11:41 AM

Welcome Back, Geoff!

The Poet · 12-11-2021, 11:42 AM

Welcome back, Geoff. Pull up a pew and sit a spell.

icehog3 · 12-11-2021, 03:59 PM

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.

shark · 12-11-2021, 04:24 PM

Welcome back!

Remo · 12-11-2021, 05:24 PM

Welcome back!!

G G · 12-11-2021, 05:46 PM

Welcome Back!!!!

Brian D. · 12-12-2021, 06:48 AM

Welcome back. Your church sounds like they appreciate you, not all organizations do.

gravel · 12-12-2021, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian D.

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!

gravel · 12-12-2021, 11:02 AM

Thanks for the warm welcome back everyone.

Quote:

Originally Posted by icehog3

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.

Chainsaw13 · 12-12-2021, 12:10 PM

Welcome back Geoff.

Havanaaddict · 12-12-2021, 12:23 PM

Welcome back!

SmokeyJoe · 12-13-2021, 12:26 PM

Welcome, brother. Prayers for a blessed and merry Christmas. Enjoy some nice smokes!

sigsauer · 12-13-2021, 04:54 PM

Geoff...PM sent

RevSmoke · 12-13-2021, 06:44 PM

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!

gravel · 12-14-2021, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RevSmoke

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.

12-11-2021, 11:07 AM	#1
gravel Still Washing My Back Join Date: Mar 2014 First Name: Geoff Location: Oregon Posts: 262 Trading: (3)	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

12-11-2021, 11:11 AM	#2
markem Bunion Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Mark Location: Second Star on the Right Posts: 22,647 Trading: (47)	Re: It’s Been a Few Years Hi Geoff! Welcome back. Where are you in Oregon? I’m Beaverton. __________________ I refuse to belong to any organization that would have me as a member. ~ Groucho Marx

12-11-2021, 11:17 AM	#4
bruceolee King of Rants Join Date: Aug 2009 First Name: Jason Location: South Florida Posts: 1,227 Trading: (1)	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! __________________ “When I have found intense pain relieved, a weary brain soothed, and calm, refreshing sleep obtained by a cigar, I have felt grateful to God, and have blessed His name.” Spurgeon

12-11-2021, 11:41 AM	#6
longknocker Postwhore Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Greg Location: Mobile, Alabama Posts: 11,217 Trading: (82)	Re: It’s Been a Few Years Welcome Back, Geoff!

12-11-2021, 11:42 AM	#7
The Poet Il megglior fabbro Join Date: Jun 2009 First Name: Thomas Location: Hickory, NC Posts: 8,420 Trading: (2)	Re: It’s Been a Few Years Welcome back, Geoff. Pull up a pew and sit a spell. __________________ Ninety percent of everything is crap - Theodore Sturgeon.

12-11-2021, 03:59 PM	#8
icehog3 Admiral Douchebag Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Tom Location: Clermont, Kentucky Posts: 71,776 Trading: (60)	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. __________________ Thanks Dave, Julian, James, Kelly, Peter, Gerry, Dave, Mo, Frank, Týr and Mr. Mark!

12-11-2021, 04:24 PM	#9
shark Cigar Smokin' Patriot Join Date: Sep 2009 First Name: Ron Location: Michigan Posts: 3,616 Trading: (0)	Re: It’s Been a Few Years Welcome back! __________________ Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery None but ourselves can free our minds

12-11-2021, 05:24 PM	#10
Remo C.I.A Join Date: Feb 2011 First Name: Mike Location: Palm Harbor, Florida Posts: 12,597 Trading: (122)	Re: It’s Been a Few Years Welcome back!! __________________

12-11-2021, 05:46 PM	#11
G G BR549 Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Greg Location: Taylor, FL. Posts: 12,737 Trading: (10)	Re: It’s Been a Few Years Welcome Back!!!!

12-12-2021, 06:48 AM	#12
Brian D. Have My Own Room Join Date: Jan 2009 First Name: Brian Location: SW Ohio Posts: 1,643 Trading: (1)	Re: It’s Been a Few Years Welcome back. Your church sounds like they appreciate you, not all organizations do. __________________ Any gathering that includes Elderboy02 is "NKA"-- --No Ketchup Allowed.

12-12-2021, 12:10 PM	#15
Chainsaw13 Møøse bites can be nasty Join Date: Jan 2010 First Name: Bob Location: The Enchanted Mitten Posts: 7,229 Trading: (96)	Re: It’s Been a Few Years Welcome back Geoff. __________________ My neighbor came by my house this morning at 2AM, pounding on the door. Good thing I was still up playing the drums.

12-12-2021, 12:23 PM	#16
Havanaaddict Man in Black!!! Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: V.I.P Room Partagas Factory Posts: 3,512 Trading: (1)	Re: It’s Been a Few Years Welcome back! __________________ "If my answers frighten you then you should cease asking scary questions." "Hav-a-na nice day"

12-13-2021, 12:26 PM	#17
SmokeyJoe Chief Wannastogie Lounge Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Joe Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 3,163 Trading: (28)	Re: It’s Been a Few Years Welcome, brother. Prayers for a blessed and merry Christmas. Enjoy some nice smokes! __________________ "I intend to smoke a good cigar to the glory of God..." ~ Charles H. Spurgeon, British Baptist preacher

12-13-2021, 04:54 PM	#18
sigsauer Have My Own Room Join Date: Dec 2008 First Name: Tom Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 1,374 Trading: (63)	Re: It’s Been a Few Years Geoff...PM sent

12-13-2021, 06:44 PM	#19
RevSmoke Ain't Never Gonna Leave Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Todd Location: Northcentral woods of Wisconsin Posts: 6,875 Trading: (51)	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! __________________ Todd__ "Smoke what you like, and enjoy it!"