Jul 27, 2007
I’ve come up with a few points to touch on about the move to Springfield. I’ve taken the past few days to plan and strategize. I’ve got a better plan for the upcoming move than the George W. Bush administration does a plan for Iraq. (Which isn’t saying much so I should have probably come up with a better comparison.)
I’m leaving August 27. That makes 31 days from now. Mark it on your calendars, my expected arrival date is August 29.
My final event here for the COGOP in Washington state is State Convention from August 17-19. I will also be staying with my friend Joel in Kennewick on the 20th. A week from then, I’ll pass right through the same area (well, 20 miles south of it) on my way East for good.
I’ll be living with my parents for the foreseeable future. There’s no shame in that, especially when I’ve worked your butt off for the last five years ensuring I can live and stand on my own. I just need to move in with them for a bit to save some money.
Crimson House Ministries is my church of choice. Like I said before in many blog posts (I’m sure you could do a search because I don’t feel like linking to five different posts), it’s a great place and I’m positive it’s one of only three COGOPs I’ve been to that has their stuff together. Love the people there and it’s gonna be good to see them all again. Or should I say, see YOU all again, considering some of you read my blog?
I’d love to get a job in TV news down there. Consider the fact that I’m a freelance photographer and editor in the #23 market in the US right now, the jump down to #77 should be pretty easy. Up here, the news is all about meth, death, destruction and high school teachers who can’t keep their lips off their students — but in Springfield it looks like the worst news down there is when Farmer John loses a blade on his grain combine and he loses a few days’ worth of work.
Now that I think about it, I’d also love to remain an employee of Apple Computer.
Before I even think about leaving, I have a bunch of furniture I need to sell off. Futon, end tables, two desks and a partridge in a pear tree. I’ll be posting it all on Craigslist within the next two weeks.
BEDTIME!!!
5 Comments, Comment or Ping
Sybil
Just wondering about the comment about you working my butt off the last 5 years. Then pray tell how come “my” butt is getting so fat!!
Just teasing you, having fun with your typo!:-)
Jul 27th, 2007
Holly
This is not coming out of my mouth negatively,so please don’t think I’m nagging (or whatever women do).There is no perfect church nor will there ever be because the devil will never stop attacking, decieving and stealing what isn’t his. I know you have strong feelings concerning the New Horizans Church and their leadership. However, I hope you do understand that the negative can be found in anyone and anyplace. Please continue to voice yourselves to those above you on the totem pole… this is a vital process that encourages growth but also leads to people becomeing offended.
I truly hope you have windows open for you in Missouri (however you spell that). Always remember that Job blog you wrote about. It hit me hard, but I know that knowing it and living it are on seperate sides of the river. Happy travels Chris… see you @ state!
Jul 29th, 2007
Chris
Of course there’s no perfect church, nor will there ever be.
However, there is one that is right for me and I didn’t choose it when I had a good chance to. Now I have that chance once again and I am not letting it pass by.
It isn’t so much a thing that folks at New Horizons are doing things wrong (it partly is), but more what is right for me, what is my spiritual vision and where do I fit in. Certainly not there.
Every time I voice my concerns to someone above me on the totem pole, someone else always hears about it. This leads to hearsay turning into gospel truth because it’s the only thing some people have heard.
Case in point, I told two people I was going to move, before I made the big announcement. I told them not to tell anyone before I had a chance to. My trust was violated.
If I can’t trust someone with something as simple as that, what makes you think I can trust them when it comes to issues with leadership? I’d be labeled as a nonconformist and someone operating outside of God’s will.
In return trips to New Horizons I have been told that the breakup with Aftan was good so I can now find someone in the church to date. I have also had my relationship with God questioned. And most recently the pastor asked someone in the church how I was doing, then that person came to visit me. I definitely appreciated my friend’s visit, but I was also perturbed — if a pastor is so concerned about how someone in his congregation is doing, he is going to take the time to talk to that person and not use someone else as a confederate.
New Horizons has everyone they want, exactly where they want them. Nearly everyone I grew up with from the Vancouver church before it merged with Camas is gone. New people have come in and taken leadership positions with no prior experience. It’s almost like George Orwell’s novel “1984″ over there.
I love the people there, they’re great people. I don’t like the way they operate. A big part of that is my vision not aligning with the church’s. The rest doesn’t need to be spoken for on this blog.
I’m sorry if this post sounds harsh but it’s not my intent. Just trying to clarify my point.
See you at state as well.
Jul 29th, 2007
Rob
Chris,
God bless.
You’ll be missed. What a tease to come back and then off you go again
Just a quick response to the pastor reference…It’s erroneous to assume the Senior Pastor has to be the one to personally attend to every need. Undershepherds are God’s idea since the time of Moses. As a pastor, I often ask others how Soandso is doing because I know they have a more developed relationship, etc.
Truth is, when we are out of place, it is common for us to perceive all the issues with others, whether individual or corporate. Continue striving to focus on you and the work God wants to do in you and try to avoid the potshots toward others that undermine your integrity, not just theirs. Keep in touch, Bro!
Jul 31st, 2007
Chris
Rob-
Thanks for the admonition. As I stated a large part of the reason I wasn’t being ministered to was simply it’s not a place where I need to be. You could say the other issues I touched on here compounded my initial issue in the first place.
I’ll see you at State Convention, yes?
Jul 31st, 2007
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