Books Everywhere

 Hello Friends

   My mother was a librarian and taught me to love books. Growing up we were not allowed to watch TV during the week if it were a school night. When homework was done and you complained of being bored, she would also say go find a book or look up stuff in World Book Encyclopedia.

   My Doctor of Ministry program told us to keep our books, so that when it came time to defend our dissertation, we would have access to all the original sources for that. So in 47 years of ministry I have gained quite a library of books. Now that I am retired, I need to find good homes for my books. Any pastors out there who would love to begin their library for practically no cost, should get in touch with me. I'll be glad to help supply you with books.

   I'm trying to go through my collection now and get rid of books. Online research makes it easier and cheaper, but a book will be there for you. If I type in a question on Google, I'll get 28,900 answers, but before, I would know which book it was going to be in and find it. But, books are heavy, they grow out of date, ideas change and improve, and I can't keep lugging books around me any more. So I am giving them away, sorting through to keep the autographed ones, and trying to decide if I'll ever need what's in there again. But it's so sad, it's like pushing away friends, it's thinking I'll never have that connection to that book again. 

   Most of my books are work related. And, since I am not sure what comes next, it's hard to decide which books will be needed, if at all. So I grieve the loss of my books, I dropped off 13 boxes of books to a used book seller yesterday. My wife was glad I wasn't bringing them home, but it felt really weird to drive away from them. Lord have mercy.

   I have a crazy idea about a book lending giving away concept. I could rent a storage facility in a good location and invite all my pastor buddies, no matter what flavor of denomination, and arrange to meet them so they can have a chance to take away some books. Any ideas on how this might work? A library for pastors, where you don't have to bring them back. Maybe others would like to donate to the pile?

   Just a thought, thanks for reading this far in a reminiscing moment about books.

Until later

Pastor Jeff 

I Retire

hello followers of this occasional blog

   I retired on Jan 1, 2021, as a way to help my congregation weather the effects of the Pandemic on it's finances. The generosity of my Pension and Social Security, for reaching such a ripe old age, made it possible to cut my salary way back and help the church. The Bishop granted me six months following my retirement as a special arrangement to help the church come through this Pandemic we know as Covid. A new pastor starts there on July 1.

   I am not ready to stop being a pastor yet, and I have asked for an appointment of some kind going forward. I haven't heard anything yet, so I explore other options just to see what I could do while I wait. It is amazing how the church landscape has been changed by this one year and a half away from our business as usual. God is doing something new for sure. I am waiting to see what God is going to do with me and through me going forward. But waiting is teaching me patience.

   I'm going to post this and I promise I'll get back to you with some of the thoughts going through my head as I go through these last couple of months of winding down, packing up and getting ready for what God has in store for me yet.

   Blessings to you all, I'll be back soon.

Jeff (promising to Blog more)