3 Years ago today was my last day at the last job I held.
June 30, 2006 I was officially done being a youth pastor at First Baptist Church.
It has been 3 years.
That is fitting. Today, June 30, 2009 I was offered my next job.
I'll be working with the young adults group at Grace Fellowship Church. I start next week.
The first two years went by quick for me. The last year has taken some patience to get through as the ebb of life has been lower than higher at many times.
I'm excited to rejoin the consistently employed world after my 3 years, to-the-day, hiatus from it.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Monday, June 29, 2009
The Man in Charge
This is still not a vacation update, but that is because i'm too lazy to load any pictures right now.
Instead, I'll update the job search.
After teaching the group a week an a half ago, the would be supervisor of the position told me he would be in contact while I was on vacation.
He called last Wednesday to tell me how people had received my teaching and the things they discussed after.
All signs were positive and he was ready to hire me, but unable because that isn't how churches work.
He lined up a meeting for me with the senior pastor that takes place approximately 12 hours from now. He thinks this might be the last hoop to jump through and is confident that it won't be a difficult one.
He hopes I can start next week, but we'll see what other hoops may appear.
We're getting pretty excited about it.
Instead, I'll update the job search.
After teaching the group a week an a half ago, the would be supervisor of the position told me he would be in contact while I was on vacation.
He called last Wednesday to tell me how people had received my teaching and the things they discussed after.
All signs were positive and he was ready to hire me, but unable because that isn't how churches work.
He lined up a meeting for me with the senior pastor that takes place approximately 12 hours from now. He thinks this might be the last hoop to jump through and is confident that it won't be a difficult one.
He hopes I can start next week, but we'll see what other hoops may appear.
We're getting pretty excited about it.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Vacation Theory
I would normally be blogging about our relaxing vacation to Florida right now, but vacation theory given by Jenny says that our vacation doesn't end until she goes back to work in 10 hours.
Thus, I'm not allowed to blog like vacation is over.
That is all.
Thus, I'm not allowed to blog like vacation is over.
That is all.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
And We're Off
People always ask me how a teaching time, message, sermon, preaching event, whatever you want to call it, went in my opinion.
It always takes me a day or two to accurately answer what my opinion truly is. So I can't give a highly informed response to how it went tonight. I know some people cried, and not because of horror. I know some people laughed, and not because I embarrassed myself in some junior highish way. I know someone told me that it was the kind of teaching he thinks that particular group needs more of, so at least one person was happy to have had me.
Jenny and I were whisked out of the room just after i finished so the group at large could have an opportunity to discuss my potential in being paid staff for their group.
I also found out, while I was being introduced, that I was 1 of 26 people interviewed, one of just a few names brought to the committee after an interview, the only one officially brought before the committee and then obviously, the only one brought before the entire group. That was a pressure filled introduction. Hopefully I lived up to it.
That being said, Jenny and I are going on vacation. We leave on Saturday morning and will be gone for a week.
I won't be updating while we are gone, computers and water don't mix well and I plan on spending lots of time by water.
So, for a week or so, I'm off.
It always takes me a day or two to accurately answer what my opinion truly is. So I can't give a highly informed response to how it went tonight. I know some people cried, and not because of horror. I know some people laughed, and not because I embarrassed myself in some junior highish way. I know someone told me that it was the kind of teaching he thinks that particular group needs more of, so at least one person was happy to have had me.
Jenny and I were whisked out of the room just after i finished so the group at large could have an opportunity to discuss my potential in being paid staff for their group.
I also found out, while I was being introduced, that I was 1 of 26 people interviewed, one of just a few names brought to the committee after an interview, the only one officially brought before the committee and then obviously, the only one brought before the entire group. That was a pressure filled introduction. Hopefully I lived up to it.
That being said, Jenny and I are going on vacation. We leave on Saturday morning and will be gone for a week.
I won't be updating while we are gone, computers and water don't mix well and I plan on spending lots of time by water.
So, for a week or so, I'm off.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Things To Pray For
If you are looking for something to pray about today, I'll be teaching the young adults service at Grace Fellowship Church in Brooklyn Park tonight.
A major reason they are having me teach is as part of the interview process for their new young adults pastor, and while I'd appreciate prayers about that process, i'm more concerned as I plan that those listening actually hear from God.
Thanks for any prayers you send up.
If you are doubly curious, you can read Mark 14:3-9 as that is what I will be using as my text.
A major reason they are having me teach is as part of the interview process for their new young adults pastor, and while I'd appreciate prayers about that process, i'm more concerned as I plan that those listening actually hear from God.
Thanks for any prayers you send up.
If you are doubly curious, you can read Mark 14:3-9 as that is what I will be using as my text.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
I need to Barf
I've been listening to a lot of sermons lately.
Two of them made me want to barf, but for very different reasons.
The first, simply because they called it a sermon. It wasn't a sermon. They admitted from the start that they wouldn't be using the Bible and would instead just be giving good principles to live by, and that if you didn't even want to apply those principles to the church, you could apply them to whatever else you wanted.
They were good principles, a church would be doing a service to offer them in a class or seminar format, but to pretend it is a sermon, or a time of worship, or a time to hear from God, I thought was absurd.
The second is the reason I feel the need to blog today in the middle of the afternoon. I want to barf.
I'm not the greatest preacher, nor will I ever be. I'm not the greatest theologian, nor will I ever be. But at least I take both of those things seriously.
I really don't care if someone is polished as a communicator when offering a sermon. I think it helps, but should be secondary to actually discussing and applying the Scriptures. I also don't think someone has to be on the same wave length as me theologically, or interpretively over every Scripture to offer me things of value from God's word. I routinely listen to people who would vehemently disagree over certain theological and doctrinal positions.
BUT, at least they come to their conclusions with a reasonable sense of interpreting the things the scriptures actually say.
It is people who twist, ignore, or simply abuse Scripture that get me so frustrated.
I wasted 37 minutes this afternoon listening to one of those "sermons" and now I want to barf.
Please, if you are ever going to give a sermon, don't read 2 verses out of a 14 verse story and never discuss the actual story. Don't take those verses and pretend that they allegorically apply today in a way that makes zero scriptural sense.
Today's example:
Joshua 10:24-25
"When they had brought these kings to Joshua, he summoned all the men of Israel and said to the army commanders who had come with him, 'come here and put your feet on the neck of these kings.' So they came forward and placed their feet on their necks. Joshua said to them, 'Do not e afraid; do not be discouraged. Be strong and courageous. This is what the LORD will do to all the enemies you are going to fight.''
If these are the only two verses you read (not recommended) please don't proceed to tell me what THE FIVE KINGS of today are. I could've let you off the hook if you gave a message about what is needed to fight enemies with God's help. But you didn't go there.
You proceeded to think that in today's society, the five senses are the five kings we need to overcome (something I also think is preposterous). 37 minutes about putting my foot on the neck of smell, or taste, or touch, or sight, or sound. I want to barf.
I understand that some images in scripture often lead to allegorical use. I've hear numerous and may someday myself talk about the "storms of life" when preaching on the calming of the storm story in the gospels. I hope not to run to that first, as it isn't the point of that narrative, but my application time lends nicely to that image running again.
Where do the five kings become five senses? Can you even pretend that you are giving a biblical message? Does scripture actually mean anything?
Sorry for venting. It is just that i take the public proclomation of God's word very seriously. I hope that those of you who regularly hear sermons, online, or live, also spend enough time thinking for yourself about scripture, reading scripture, and talking to God that you can quickly realize when someone with a microphone is abusing their privelige of proclaiming God's word in a way that is doing more damage than good.
Bluahggheahhhhh!!! Now to wipe my mouth off and drink something far more refreshing.
Two of them made me want to barf, but for very different reasons.
The first, simply because they called it a sermon. It wasn't a sermon. They admitted from the start that they wouldn't be using the Bible and would instead just be giving good principles to live by, and that if you didn't even want to apply those principles to the church, you could apply them to whatever else you wanted.
They were good principles, a church would be doing a service to offer them in a class or seminar format, but to pretend it is a sermon, or a time of worship, or a time to hear from God, I thought was absurd.
The second is the reason I feel the need to blog today in the middle of the afternoon. I want to barf.
I'm not the greatest preacher, nor will I ever be. I'm not the greatest theologian, nor will I ever be. But at least I take both of those things seriously.
I really don't care if someone is polished as a communicator when offering a sermon. I think it helps, but should be secondary to actually discussing and applying the Scriptures. I also don't think someone has to be on the same wave length as me theologically, or interpretively over every Scripture to offer me things of value from God's word. I routinely listen to people who would vehemently disagree over certain theological and doctrinal positions.
BUT, at least they come to their conclusions with a reasonable sense of interpreting the things the scriptures actually say.
It is people who twist, ignore, or simply abuse Scripture that get me so frustrated.
I wasted 37 minutes this afternoon listening to one of those "sermons" and now I want to barf.
Please, if you are ever going to give a sermon, don't read 2 verses out of a 14 verse story and never discuss the actual story. Don't take those verses and pretend that they allegorically apply today in a way that makes zero scriptural sense.
Today's example:
Joshua 10:24-25
"When they had brought these kings to Joshua, he summoned all the men of Israel and said to the army commanders who had come with him, 'come here and put your feet on the neck of these kings.' So they came forward and placed their feet on their necks. Joshua said to them, 'Do not e afraid; do not be discouraged. Be strong and courageous. This is what the LORD will do to all the enemies you are going to fight.''
If these are the only two verses you read (not recommended) please don't proceed to tell me what THE FIVE KINGS of today are. I could've let you off the hook if you gave a message about what is needed to fight enemies with God's help. But you didn't go there.
You proceeded to think that in today's society, the five senses are the five kings we need to overcome (something I also think is preposterous). 37 minutes about putting my foot on the neck of smell, or taste, or touch, or sight, or sound. I want to barf.
I understand that some images in scripture often lead to allegorical use. I've hear numerous and may someday myself talk about the "storms of life" when preaching on the calming of the storm story in the gospels. I hope not to run to that first, as it isn't the point of that narrative, but my application time lends nicely to that image running again.
Where do the five kings become five senses? Can you even pretend that you are giving a biblical message? Does scripture actually mean anything?
Sorry for venting. It is just that i take the public proclomation of God's word very seriously. I hope that those of you who regularly hear sermons, online, or live, also spend enough time thinking for yourself about scripture, reading scripture, and talking to God that you can quickly realize when someone with a microphone is abusing their privelige of proclaiming God's word in a way that is doing more damage than good.
Bluahggheahhhhh!!! Now to wipe my mouth off and drink something far more refreshing.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Turvy
I used the phrase "topsey-turvy" tonight and spawned the thought, what does "turvy" mean.
I'm taking other peoples votes. I haven't found it in any dictionaries and have only found the meaning of "turvy" as it is referenced in the slang term already mentioned.
Someone give me a meaning for the word turvy.
I'm taking other peoples votes. I haven't found it in any dictionaries and have only found the meaning of "turvy" as it is referenced in the slang term already mentioned.
Someone give me a meaning for the word turvy.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Roster Woes
22 people on our soccer teams roster.
Another game where we started short (10 men this time).
Due to two injuries at different times, we played most of the game with 9.
Frustrating. I'm not in good enough shape for that.
Another game where we started short (10 men this time).
Due to two injuries at different times, we played most of the game with 9.
Frustrating. I'm not in good enough shape for that.
Friday, June 12, 2009
I Think Its Progress
The 9:30 at night interview went well. It was with the pastor of the church (The Discipleship Pastor) that directly supervises the Young Adult Pastor's position, and the volunteer leadership team of that ministry.
A firing squad interview, but no surprise questions.
I left encouraged and will find out what is next sometime early next week.
A firing squad interview, but no surprise questions.
I left encouraged and will find out what is next sometime early next week.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Forgetful Nate
I don't know how i didn't think about blogging last night. It is weird to be blogging at 2:00 in the afternoon instead of 200 in the morning. I guess I was getting my hopes high instead of thinking about blogging.
The job Jenny and I are most excited about is having me back for the next process of interviewing tonight.
Hoping it goes well.
The job Jenny and I are most excited about is having me back for the next process of interviewing tonight.
Hoping it goes well.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Weird Ultimatums
I have two choices for Wednesday evening, given to me as an ultimatum.
1. Work alone in the attic.
2. Play with nephew and watch t.v. with wife.
Doesn't seem like a hard choice. Jenny must really want to spend time with me.
That makes me feel good.
1. Work alone in the attic.
2. Play with nephew and watch t.v. with wife.
Doesn't seem like a hard choice. Jenny must really want to spend time with me.
That makes me feel good.
Tuesday, June 09, 2009
Vacation Is Coming
Just a couple short weeks until vacation is here.
Jenny deserves it.
I'm excited for it.
Jenny deserves it.
I'm excited for it.
Sunday, June 07, 2009
Busy Day
Drive from house to church. Church to sister-in-law's house for nephews b-day party. Across the twin cities to a graduation open house. Back across and further south to soccer game. Back north to home.
Only got text message updates about Tiger's victory I had hoped to watch, but i've looked up all the highlights online now.
It's supposed to rain tomorrow, and I bought a book I want to read last Friday. Been awhile since I got to pick a book I wanted to read just for fun. I had to leave the bookstore before I had spent way too much money. Should be another good one tomorrow, but with much less driving.
Only got text message updates about Tiger's victory I had hoped to watch, but i've looked up all the highlights online now.
It's supposed to rain tomorrow, and I bought a book I want to read last Friday. Been awhile since I got to pick a book I wanted to read just for fun. I had to leave the bookstore before I had spent way too much money. Should be another good one tomorrow, but with much less driving.
Friday, June 05, 2009
It's Just True
Golf is just more interesting to watch when Tiger is playing.
I've watched parts of almost every tournament this year, but even my excitement level raises when he is in the field.
Feel free to watch this weekend, he probably won't be playing next weekend.
I've watched parts of almost every tournament this year, but even my excitement level raises when he is in the field.
Feel free to watch this weekend, he probably won't be playing next weekend.
Thursday, June 04, 2009
Blind Encouragement
I was encouraged with an interview/meeting I had with one of the churches this morning.
It is kind of a blind encouragement, because for all I know, it didn't go well and I shouldn't be encouraged.
Nonetheless, I'm smiling.
It is kind of a blind encouragement, because for all I know, it didn't go well and I shouldn't be encouraged.
Nonetheless, I'm smiling.
Wednesday, June 03, 2009
Starting Somewhere (Again)
Three years ago I started a blog. Its initial post was titled "Starting Somewhere."
Here it is...
I don't know where i'm starting yet, but it's somewhere.
I am currently a youth pastor at a church in Minneapolis, but in 30 days, i am resigning from that job to start down a path of preparation. I'm excited to see how God molds me and what the process will look like, but slightly unsettled with the obscurity of process and control that are out of my hands.
Ultimately i want my life to be one of teaching and writing. I want to challenge and encourage people to grow further in their discipleship process with Christ.
I can't say exactly what any of it will look like, but the process is beginning. I am starting somewhere.
This blog will cover more than just a professional, or spiritual journey, though both of those things are deeply rooted in everything that is important to me, i would be neglecting the rest of the good of my life if i didn't also get to talk about my family and my bride.
No one may read this blog, but i'll enjoy remembering and thinking out loud with anyone who might find me.
Nathan.Kemper
It is time to again reflect on the professional and spiritual journey, as neither are where I hoped they would be at this point.
The professional journey is at this point, where I hoped it would be 5 months ago. I'm in talks with three churches about four different positions. Some of them full time, some of them part time, some of them completely volunteer. Two different young adult ministries, two different youth ministries. I thought I would be at this place 5 months ago, weighing options, dreaming of opportunities and ministry contexts in different places, praying for guidance in making decisions. I feel 5 months behind. It was a deeply discouraging 5 months.
I've spent 5 months questioning myself. Questioning my devotion to the discipline of ministry, questioning my obedience to a calling I feel placed on my life, and questioning those things as I balance out my obedience to marriage vows, and my calling to be a loving and providing husband. I'm still questioning. It would be nice if these professional things worked out in a way which met all of those needs, though my faith in believing for such a thing has seen both the peaks and the valleys in the last 5 months. Fortunately for my attitude, it is on the rise again.
Spiritually is another issue. I certainly don't feel like I've taken steps backwards in terms of faith, knowledge, or discipline. I've grown in many areas, been encouraged in many areas, been used in many areas, and stretched myself in many areas. I find strength and encouragement in that, not because it is what helps me gain favor, or is what gives me value, but because my own conscious demands satisfaction in using the things I've been given.
However, in some negative ways, my faith has "grown up." I don't know if faith is supposed to do that. I know Christ is the "perfecter" of our faith, and that I want a "mature" faith, but I don't want to leave the child-like faith i'm also supposed to have. This, I feel I've done too often.
3 years ago, the two people who were most vocal about me resigning from my job in a deterrent way were my wife and mentor. It was challenging for me. I found my strength then in the arms of God to do things I hoped I'd never have to do, convince them that they were wrong. There are few things in life I have ever been so sure about, and fewer that I would have argued tooth and nail against these opinions with. I was encouraged through that process that I may continue to be a person willing to step out in faith, not abstractly or randomly to prove myself, but in obedience to the things God has placed inside of me. These things are less frequent.
Instead, as I get "crazy" ideas now I rarely share them with others. I assume that people will disagree, assume that people will say no, assume that I can't get people to keep investing in the dreams I have, assume that I've used up all the good will I have with the network around me, assumed that my "grown up" faith needs to find more responsible ways of accomplishing dreams that God has placed inside me.
I wish my "grown up" faith could be mature, but still child-like, instead of leaving behind all the blind following, courage building, faith stretching obedience that it once had.
I'm starting somewhere again.
Here it is...
I don't know where i'm starting yet, but it's somewhere.
I am currently a youth pastor at a church in Minneapolis, but in 30 days, i am resigning from that job to start down a path of preparation. I'm excited to see how God molds me and what the process will look like, but slightly unsettled with the obscurity of process and control that are out of my hands.
Ultimately i want my life to be one of teaching and writing. I want to challenge and encourage people to grow further in their discipleship process with Christ.
I can't say exactly what any of it will look like, but the process is beginning. I am starting somewhere.
This blog will cover more than just a professional, or spiritual journey, though both of those things are deeply rooted in everything that is important to me, i would be neglecting the rest of the good of my life if i didn't also get to talk about my family and my bride.
No one may read this blog, but i'll enjoy remembering and thinking out loud with anyone who might find me.
Nathan.Kemper
It is time to again reflect on the professional and spiritual journey, as neither are where I hoped they would be at this point.
The professional journey is at this point, where I hoped it would be 5 months ago. I'm in talks with three churches about four different positions. Some of them full time, some of them part time, some of them completely volunteer. Two different young adult ministries, two different youth ministries. I thought I would be at this place 5 months ago, weighing options, dreaming of opportunities and ministry contexts in different places, praying for guidance in making decisions. I feel 5 months behind. It was a deeply discouraging 5 months.
I've spent 5 months questioning myself. Questioning my devotion to the discipline of ministry, questioning my obedience to a calling I feel placed on my life, and questioning those things as I balance out my obedience to marriage vows, and my calling to be a loving and providing husband. I'm still questioning. It would be nice if these professional things worked out in a way which met all of those needs, though my faith in believing for such a thing has seen both the peaks and the valleys in the last 5 months. Fortunately for my attitude, it is on the rise again.
Spiritually is another issue. I certainly don't feel like I've taken steps backwards in terms of faith, knowledge, or discipline. I've grown in many areas, been encouraged in many areas, been used in many areas, and stretched myself in many areas. I find strength and encouragement in that, not because it is what helps me gain favor, or is what gives me value, but because my own conscious demands satisfaction in using the things I've been given.
However, in some negative ways, my faith has "grown up." I don't know if faith is supposed to do that. I know Christ is the "perfecter" of our faith, and that I want a "mature" faith, but I don't want to leave the child-like faith i'm also supposed to have. This, I feel I've done too often.
3 years ago, the two people who were most vocal about me resigning from my job in a deterrent way were my wife and mentor. It was challenging for me. I found my strength then in the arms of God to do things I hoped I'd never have to do, convince them that they were wrong. There are few things in life I have ever been so sure about, and fewer that I would have argued tooth and nail against these opinions with. I was encouraged through that process that I may continue to be a person willing to step out in faith, not abstractly or randomly to prove myself, but in obedience to the things God has placed inside of me. These things are less frequent.
Instead, as I get "crazy" ideas now I rarely share them with others. I assume that people will disagree, assume that people will say no, assume that I can't get people to keep investing in the dreams I have, assume that I've used up all the good will I have with the network around me, assumed that my "grown up" faith needs to find more responsible ways of accomplishing dreams that God has placed inside me.
I wish my "grown up" faith could be mature, but still child-like, instead of leaving behind all the blind following, courage building, faith stretching obedience that it once had.
I'm starting somewhere again.
Monday, June 01, 2009
Coupon Comfort
When it comes to using paper coupons, i'm uncomfortable. Give me the promo code i need to enter and I'm fine, but something about a paper coupon gives me the heebie-jeebies.
Jenny made me use on tonight. Jenny stretches my comfort zone considerably. She has even made me return things, something I had never done before her.
Comfort zone expansion means my heebie-jeebie sense is going haywire.
Jenny made me use on tonight. Jenny stretches my comfort zone considerably. She has even made me return things, something I had never done before her.
Comfort zone expansion means my heebie-jeebie sense is going haywire.
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