And we continue on...

The job search continues. Several interviews this week. All have been really good and helpful. I don't know where any of them will lead, but that first interview is always the most important.

It's getting colder here (only in the 30's tomorrow and snow this weekend) so I'm glad to see a new season coming in.

I was rejected this week by one of the churches which interviewed me two weeks ago. I would never have gone to that church in a million years, and if they had called for a second interview I would have declined, but it still stings a little to be rejected. I also rejected a church today. I felt bad, especially since I had even met with the PNC and we had a good interview, but I couldn't shake the feeling that, while we were compatible, we were both headed in different directions. I guess rejection hurts all around. I have to call two churches tomorrow and "thanks but no thanks" them as well. Who would have thought, too many jobs?

Advent is now looming large. It is hard to believe that Christmas will be here so soon. It is also hard to believe just how much planning goes into getting ready for Advent and Christmas. I don't think I would have guessed. So the season of expectation is just that, but it is anything but peaceful.

Peace out (ironic isn't it?)

Thought o' the day: Saviour of the nations come...

Bizarre Questions

seem to be the theme of my life, at least in terms of job interviews. I had two phone interviews this week with prospective churches, neither in Ohio, both about the size I'm interested in, and both fairly conservative theologically.

Both of them bombed (at least in my estimation).

The first one was particularly painful. PNCs are not supposed to ask certain questions so they often find creative ways to get around that prohibition by asking related questions that are legal or making statements which can only be responded to in one way. My first, particularly painful phone interview was about a 25 minutes and consisted of the PNC chair introducing himself and then the other committee members saying their name. The chair then asked me to open the meeting with prayer. Not a bad idea for a church meeting certainly, but I was on the phone! I couldn't see them, nor they me. I was a little put off.

Then the interview began in earnest. The chairman asked a question (actually he asked every single question from the committee), to which I responded. After my response (every single response) he would say "ok" pause and then ask the next question. There was no interplay, no exchange of ideas, and certainly no humor on their part. At the very end he asked if I had any questions and while I wanted to ask "If I start running now will you promise to never call me again?" but I didn't. I did manage to ask a few questions but by then it was obvious (to me at least) that this probably was not going to be a good fit so my heart wasn't in it. Oh well.

The second interview seemed to be the more promising to me initially. I had been in contact the the committee secretary and she seemed really quite lovely. But then the appointed hour came and went and my phone did not ring. The call was about 10 minutes late, not a huge deal but not exactly courteous.

After the obligatory introductions, prayer (by the chairman!) and figuring out where exactly Warsaw is in Ohio (that is not near Dayton and only a little west of BFE) the interview began. The very first question completely threw me. It threw me so much I think I ended up lying to the committee, which is not a good thing. The chair (who asked almost all of the questions) asked "Do you believe in the Virgin Birth and Creation?"

Really? This is your first question to a prospective candidate? You don't want to know a little something about me, about my sense of call, something a little less dogmatic to start off with? After a rather uncomfortable pause on my end (during which I was thinking "If I give the wrong answer I might as well hang up because they're not going to hear a word I say after this.") So I replied "I do believe Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary and I do believe God created the world and everything in it."

So, not exactly a lie, but also not exactly a completely fair representation of my views. For a long while I didn't believe in the Virgin Birth, but now I can honestly say that I do. I also believe that God created the world and what is in it, but certainly not in 6 days 6,000 years ago. I'm not exactly sure what the PNC was aiming for with these questions (actually I do - they clearly don't want a theological liberal) but what a doozy!

They then proceeded to ask even more inappropriate questions, like "Would you be able to come to our church and meet the people at a covered dish dinner?" My response (dead-panning): "Is this after a face to face interview?" PNC: "Well, yes I suppose so." Me: "Well as long as the presbytery doesn't have a problem with it, then no I suppose I wouldn't have a problem with that" (thinking in the back of my head "as long as you pay for my trip.")

So needless to say I have no idea where I've landed after these two interviews. I want to run away from the first church as quickly as possible, and the second church I'm still intrigued by.

If forgot to tell you all I think that God is trying to tell me something. I had a call from (of all places) Wisconsin over the weekend. So I looked at the CIF and decided it wasn't a good fit, plus who wants to live that close to Canada (the churches were 75 miles north of Green Bay). So I called the lady back who had contacted me and said that I didn't think it would be a good fit. She sounded mad, but I let it go and got off the phone as quickly as possible. And I swear not more than a half hour later my phone rang again and it was a woman from a church in Texas. Texas! Judas priest! Out of the frying pan and into the fire. I told her I'd read the CIF and get back to her later. While the church looks good, I'm thinking that might just be a negative.

Tomorrow = day off (yay!)

Thought o' the day: We had snrain today (snow and rain mixed together) that means winter's almost here!!!

The housing crisis...

has negatively affected many people who have adjustable rate mortgages in this country, it has also impacted ouor economy, and now it has also negatively affected me. Why? Because of dumb commercials like this one, which play over and over on t.v.

Stupid, catchy theme songs, which get stuck in my head.

My interview went well this weekend, but I am discouraged about a number of things that were said about the church and its mission. I've not completely ruled them out, but it would take some serious change on their part for me to consider. We're supposed to talk later this week, and while I don't really want them to reject me, I don't want to have to reject them either. So we'll see.

Two more phone interviews this week, so maybe something promising there.

Thought o' the day: Did you thank a Veteran yesterday?

Again with the blog!

Sometimes I honestly don't realize that I let this thing go so long without an update. And then I think about my life and I realize that there is really very little exciting going on and that an update would be fruitless.

Life is pretty good. My work is really fulfilling (or at least a lot of people tell me that it is) so that is really helpful. I'm just not very busy though, so I have a TON of free time on my hands, which isn't necessarily a bad thing but I have very few friends who still live around here and with gas at or about $3/gallon I don't really want to drive very far afield. Oh well.

This weekend I am driving to Louisville, KY to meet with a PNC and do a preliminary interview. The church is not in KY, but Louisville is kind of half-way (a little more half way for me). I'm looking forward to just meeting these people and having a real interview. I don't know what will come of it, I would not be inclined to take a call there, but who knows? - Oh, right - God knows.

Two Sunday's ago my church celebrated Pastor Appreciation Month (they waited till the end of October). I was quite surprised with the rather large gift they gave me. I don't know if it is bait to get me to stay, but either way I felt appreciated!

This past Sunday we celebrated All Saints' at Fredericksburg by honoring 50+ year members. We have 16 of 23 present (most of whom are still active in the church) and they represented a combined membership of over 1200 years. It was a truly awesome experience.

Jenny (from Princeton, well really CA) writes that she is coming to Pittsburgh this weekend. Pittsburgh is a neat city. I almost went to seminary there, but it is a little close to home. First Pres. in downtown Pittsburgh is a beautiful church, I went there one Sunday and was really impressed.

Tomorrow is a work day and I have a sermon to write and probably a hospital call to make, so I had better sign off.

Thought o' the day: Our microwave went on the fritz yesterday. I didn't think I used it all that much, but you would really be surprised how much I rely on that thing. Amazing!