Searching for a pastor

Finding a  pastor involves letting the Association and Seminaries know you are looking. They then send you resumes which meet whatever requirements you have listed...age/education/speciliaty/etc....we then go through these as a group and individually, meet and discuss pros and cons, cull some, save some, then as we narrow the list down we begin to contact them to be sure they are not dealing with another church, their resume is current and they are interested..ie: not in school full time.

We now have 3 meetings tentatively set up between now and January with 3 different pastors seeking a new church field. We will meet with them at a resturant and interview them and their wives. Then we go from there. This is my first time on a search committee so I am learning as I go.

Some pastors are in churches but seeking a new church for various reasons--some for the location, some feel they have done all they can do where they are, some are having difficulties with the people in the congregation, others simply want more money--sad but very true. Some church members are hard to deal with. I know, we have some of them at our church. You can never satisfy them.

Some of the specialties I have noticed have been  with an emphasis on youth ministry or counseling or one resume I remember stated that the pastor's main focus was on teaching the flock, some list soul winning as their focus.

I will try to remember to share what we do as we do it.

One thing so far that has been really intriguing to me because it allows me to observe the main character in our search committee...she is an older woman, been involved in church all her life, has run the nursery for years, if you want to know something just ask her.

Being without a pastor, it's the deacon's job to find a pastor to fill the pulpit on Sunday and Wednesday night. One Wednesday nights we've had this 30 year old pastor from a church south of town, with a wife and 2 young daughters leading us. He is no longer at the church he pastored, choosing to leave in the midst of controversy. He is quite impressive with the way he teaches the Bible and expresses himself as well as his insight into human nature. He has a wonderful delivery and and a great sense of humor.

We had his resume, but shechose to not include it in the ones we copied for each of us to have one. We asked about it and begrudgingly she had copies made of his resume. We were setting up a time we could meet with him, much against her preferences obviously and the main reason she didn't want to even consider was because a couple members whom she dislikes really liked him. Now she didn't say that--but she kept bringing up their comments. She also was concerned about why he left his previous church and all we can find out is that some of the little old ladies at the church thought his wife was too fat and didn't fit their ideal for a pastor's wife.

I don't know.

However, the problem was solved when he and his wife decided they were not interested in serving in our county or even in a county nearby due to the close proximity of all our churches. They prefer to move out of state if possible.

Church politics are funny.

She even led a mutual friend of ours to believe that I didn't want this pastor considered even though I had stated several times how much I enjoyed his teaching. She's a handful!

It is my experience that most any time you put more than 2 people on a committee, there will be tension at some point in time. We are all human, we none think alike and we all want something different.
It isn't an easy job because, right or wrong, the congregation blames the search committee if something goes wrong. There are 2 on this committee that served on the last search committee. One, a younger man thought the sun rose and set in the pastor while Lyndora didn't after she got to know him. She says there was a lot that wasn't evident when they interviewed Bro. Stacy. I say the church was desperate and voted on him just to say they had a pastor.

At this point in our church life I feel we need teachers and youth oriented leaders in our church. When I say youth I am not just thinking of 13-18 either, I am thinking of the younger marrieds, ages 20-30 also. We need some serious leadership in that area in our church as older members are stepping down and there are no young ones willing to step up.

The pastor's wife does play a huge part in how the church relates to the pastor. The last one we had, his wife ruled the roost and she had mental problems. The one before him had a wife who was reclusive, seldom spoke, wouldn't teach, never really participated in anything and was a horrid housekeeper..OMG. I took something to the parsonage one evening and there was no place to put a matchstick on the counter it was so filled with stuff.

We don't care if the pastor's wife is musically inclined or where her speciality lies as much as we want her personality to be friendly. It helps if she teaches, plays an instrument or enjoys working with the youth, but we don't not call a pastor based on his wife.

Who would play Her? I don't watch enough movies to answer that, Pam.

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Character is what we are, not what others think we are.

spit

I asked annad yesterday morning was Friday her last day at school or would she stay to finish the semester. She said Friday was her last day; immediately got on the bus and told Ana and Casey that yesterday was her last day. Robby stopped by the greenhouse and spoke to me, then drove right to the school and picked her up. If he knew he never said a word.

So, when I come in last night and they are not home I am concerned about where she is. I walk up to Stacie's and am told she was checked out and is in La. with Robby and ms. thang.

Oh well, it can't last much longer.

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Character is what we are, not what others think we are.

News, good I think

Hmmm, Saturday morning Bob came in to break the cardinal rule he has of not passing on gossip. He came in to tell me that TA mentioned they --she, Robby and AnnaD may be moving back to Tickfaw where her home is. He wanted me to know so that when Robby came in I wouldn't jump the gun with my *she does nothing, got to do something or move* conversation.

Sunday after church, Robby and TA came in from Tickfaw, where they had spent the night, TA having picked Robby up from there the day before. He had to be in for a court date Monday on an old charge.

He mentioned that they were thinking of moving. I said I thought it was a wonderful idea and we moved on in the conversation.

Yesterday he spent the day in court and getting his license reinstated and during the day his boss called. He is to go to work on Monday in New Orleans driving a truck on the yard and will need to drive into work each day. So they are in the process of getting utilities turned on and bare necessities moved to Tickfaw.

Yes! Yes! Yes!
Doing happy dance


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Character is what we are, not what others think we are.

Reply from FGH

Copy of the letter I received on 9/19/11 in reply to my letter/email to FGH dated 9/12/11

Dear Mrs. Reid:
We are in receipt of your email of September 12, regarding the filling for services you received at our hospital on April 27, 2011. The concerns you expressed have been referred to the Director of Patient Accounts. I want to thank you for taking the time to notify us of your concerns. Our mission at FGH is to provide the very best care for each and every one of the patients we serve. This pertains to after discharge as well. We apologize for not meeting your expectations.

Please be assured that your comments have been taken very seriously. Your concerns are currently being reviewed and we anticipate that we should be able to provede you with a written response within the next 30 days.

Again, thank you for contacting us. We appreciate your patience while we investigate your concerns. If you wish to call me, I can be reached at ***-***-****

In the meantime I have received a reimbursement check for 497.00 from FGH for overpayment to my account in an envelope with FGH clearly visible on the return address. The letter I copied above also came in an envelope with FGH's return address and was written on paper with the FGH letterhead.

Sometimes even if the squeaky wheel doesn't get the grease they do get attention.

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Character is what we are, not what others think we are.

UTI, TA and other vowels

Ok, folks, I went to the ER today, got some cipro and am hopefully on the road to recovery. Mark that off the list of things to do.

Got a situation......but then don't I always these days?

Several months ago I discovered that TA allows AnnaD to smoke. TA smokes, and so she lets AnnaD smoke. I found out when the girls came back from the river one day saying that AnnaD had offered to sell one of her cigs to a kid at the river. I spoke to TA about it, she assured me she would not willingly allow AnnaD to smoke and life went on until one evening in the house TA mentioned AnnaD's smoking and I got firm about it. I told her I didn't approve of what she was allowing the child to do--she is 15, maybe 16 since she just had a birthday, yes, her sweet 16th birthday. I told TA that I knew she couldn't stop AnnaD from sneaking and smoking but she could put her foot down and not give them to her. She agreed. But the child still smokes.

Friday I learn that TA had bought AnnaD a frozen daiquiri and AnnaD had taken it up to Stacie's and left it. Then last night as I was reading FB comments AnnaD had written as her status "sitting here drinking beer and wasting bullets" to which I commented "I sure hope you are joking" and she commented back that she was.

When I came in from church I heard TA and AnnaD coming out of the truck from feeding the horse so I stopped and asked TA if she was going to town in the morning so I could send my prescrip. No, she will go tomorrow evening.
Then I asked about the daiquiri. Yes she bought it for AnnaD, yes she made a mistake, no, she won't do it again.

To which I said, You weren't going to let her smoke but I bet you do. You should know if I don't approve of the child smoking I don't approve of her drinking and you do know that you and she can get in trouble for that.....that is contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Yes, yes, she knew all that, she made a mistake, she was listening, she wouldn't do it again.

I asked why do it in the first place? Was she so concerned about her child liking living up here that she would allow her to act as an adult; was she so afraid her daughter wouldn't love her? Was she wanting to just throw her child to the wolves? The answer to those questions was no of course.

Terry is very upset about her buying AnnaD the alcohol. I am too and plan to remind her tomorrow that if she continues to do such illegal things that she will be reported and will have to move because while I can't control what adults do on property that even though it's mine, they pay their bills, I can and do have a say when a minor is involved and I won't knowingly allow any adult, parent or otherwise to buy and give beer/alcohol or cigarettes to a minor.


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Character is what we are, not what others think we are.

Friday findings 1

So the doctor said TA had a cyst or cysts on her ovary/ovaries. This is from AnnaD since TA was still asleep.

Here is what I found on ovarian cysts

The most common types of ovarian cysts are the following:

• Follicular cyst: This type of simple cyst can form when ovulation does not occur or when a mature follicle involutes (collapses on itself). A follicular cyst  usually forms at the time of ovulation and can grow to about 2.3 inches in diameter. The rupture of this type of cyst can create sharp severe pain on the side of the ovary on which the cyst appears. This sharp pain (sometimes called mittelschmerz) occurs in the middle of the menstrual cycle, during ovulation. About one-fourth of women with this type of cyst experience pain. Usually, these cysts produce no symptoms and disappear by themselves within a few months.
  
  
• Corpus luteum cyst: This type of functional ovarian cyst occurs after an egg has been released from a follicle. After this happens, the follicle becomes what is known as a corpus luteum. If a pregnancy doesn't occur, the corpus luteum usually breaks down and disappears. It may, however, fill with fluid or blood and persist on the ovary. Usually, this cyst is found on only one side and produces no symptoms.
  
  
• Hemorrhagic cyst: This type of functional cyst occurs when bleeding occurs within a cyst. Symptoms such as abdominal pain on one side of the body may be present with this type of cyst.
  
  
• Dermoid cyst: This is a type of benign tumor sometimes referred to as mature cystic teratoma. It is an abnormal cyst that usually affects younger women and may grow to 6 inches in diameter. A dermoid cyst can contain other types of growths of body tissues such as fat and occasionally bone, hair, and cartilage.
  
  
  • The ultrasound image of this cyst type can vary because of the spectrum of contents, but a CT scan and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can show the presence of fat and dense calcifications.
    
    
  • These cysts can become inflamed. They can also twist around (a condition known as ovarian torsion), compromising their blood supply and causing severe abdominal pain.
  
  
• Endometriomas or endometrioid cysts: Part of the condition known as endometriosis, this type of cyst is formed when endometrial tissue (the lining tissue of the uterus) is present on the ovaries. It affects women during the reproductive years and may cause chronic pelvic pain associated with menstruation.
  
  
  • Endometriosis is the presence of endometrial glands and tissue outside the uterus.
    
    
  • Women with endometriosis may have problems with fertility.
    
    
  • Endometrioid cysts, often filled with dark, reddish-brown blood, may range in size from 0.75-8 inches.
  
  
• Polycystic-appearing ovary: Polycystic-appearing ovary is diagnosed based on its enlarged size - usually twice that of normal - with small cysts present around the outside of the ovary. This condition can be found in healthy women and in women with hormonal (endocrine) disorders. An ultrasound is used to view the ovary in diagnosing this condition.
  
  
  • Polycystic-appearing ovary is different from the polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), which includes other symptoms and physiological abnormalities in addition to the presence of ovarian cysts. Polycystic ovarian syndrome involves metabolic and cardiovascular risks linked to insulin resistance. These risks include increased glucose tolerance, type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure.
    
    
    • Polycystic ovarian syndrome is associated with infertility, abnormal bleeding, increased incidences of miscarriage, and pregnancy-related complications.
      
      
    • Polycystic ovarian syndrome is extremely common and is thought to occur in 4%-7% of women of reproductive age and is associated with an increased risk for endometrial cancer.
      
      
    • The tests other than an ultrasound alone are required to diagnose polycystic ovarian syndrome.


• Cystadenoma: A cystadenoma is a type of benign tumor that develops from ovarian tissue. They may be filled with a mucous-type fluid material. Cystadenomas can become very large and may measure 12 inches or more in diameter.

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Character is what we are, not what others think we are.

Thursday Totals

Been a full day, as always. Arise, pee for the hundredth time as I have a UTI, coffee, a bit of computer, kids off to school, garbage out; even when & pulled Stacie's can down the hill. She has her hands full right now with a broken foot and nursing Chantel.
Off to work; run the sprinklers an hour or so each row--that's 5 hours. Worked on the pepper plants, pruning, gathering peppers and on breaks fiddled on the computer with an ad for the paper. Got it done to my satisfaction and sent it off. Gathers a bag of peppers to send to a neighbor, and still have several pots to work on tomorrow.

Home at noon, washed and peeled a bucket of potatoes, took those up to Stacie as she and CJ were cooking supper, then on to the church to do the work over there. Back home, take a break for a while, shower and get ready to go to Stacie's for supper then back to the church for a meeting.

When I got out of the shower, Stacie was down and let me know TA had taken herself to the ER in McComb. She had been hurting in her stomach all week. She thinks her mesh is torn or she has a hernia or cancer or she's dying. Seriously, every time she mentions some new or old ache or pain, it's cancer or the worst of anything you can have.

I think that she had a victim attitude. She's been abused, used, beaten and otherwise taken advantage of; she's waited on younguns and a husband for years until he died. now she wants to be waited on for a change, she wants the attention, she wants to lay around and have people wait on her hand and foot.
Yes, she's up every day, usually, by 10 or 11 anyway. Yes she stays busy doing something, but she is always in pain, sick to the stomach, hurting somewhere, can't move, can't think, can't eat...............

On a more positive note, CJ is improving wonderfully considering she almost died. She still has limited use of her right side, but little by little she sees improvement.



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Character is what we are, not what others think we are.