At about 4:30 a.m. on December 9, I woke up rather dizzy. I don't remember much else. I remember walking (sorta) to the traiblazer, Laura taking me into the ER, and them taking a spinal tap to rule out spinal meningitis. it has been 6 months since that day. 6 months since I had the beginning stages of my stroke. 6 months since my world changed. 6 months since I became officially disabled. Of course, it has also been 6 months of driving like nothing ever happened; 6 months of preaching, teaching, riding a bike. 6 months of going to concerts, games and AWANA. 6 months of watching the Doctors scratch their heads to try to figure out a medical reason for my recovery. Overall, it has been a good 6 months. It is 6 months I would never have chosen on my own, but since I am not God, I will not try to figure it all out. All I can do is try to serve Him with all that I am and let Him decide what happens next. It is a little overwhelming at times, but I just have to do my best not to let my situation dictate my life; allow myself to live my life and if I find I can't do something, then sobeit. But, it really has been a good 6 months.
A few years ago I was presented with the opportunity to come back to Stratford, Iowa, to First Baptist church, as their pastor; for those of you who have followed this blog for some time, FBC in Stratford was my first pastorate. Let's just say I prayed about it as I was jumping at the opportunity. The church has a parsonage, so I could live there and not have to worry about a houe payment; and I needed to slow down, and this was a part time position (which, as a side note, allowed for me to get a greater disability from the VA than when I was working full time with St. Croix Hospice...) We love Stratford, and absolutely love the church; the people are wonderful and accepted us, again, with open arms. This was, for me, the perfect position: I get to pastor a church I LOVE, I get to do life with people I LOVE, and I have already had the opportunity to do weddings and baptism services for kids (adults now) that I have known their entire lives. IT IS GREAT. The longer I have been here,
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