A New Year

2022

Wow! A new year.

I’ve experienced my first full year of retirement.

I use a simple evaluation for any project on which I’m working. What worked? What didn’t work? And, what do I do next time?

What worked in 2021? 

First, a School of Ministry was started at Church Alive here in Albuquerque, New Mexico. I direct the school as a volunteer. We have about 20 students. There has been an ebb and flow with the number of attendees. Dr. Leon van Rooyen, founder of the Schools of Ministry, about 3,000 worldwide, has visited us twice. Remarkable in his ability to connect and develop leaders. I am pleased to count him as a mentor and friend.

Dr. Leon finally got me to publish my first two books. 

During Spring 2021, Jason Kimberly, Executive Pastor for Church Alive, asked me to speak on goal setting. I thought, “OK, this is something I’ve taught to salespersons in insurance, mortgage brokers, and for many years to college students.”

My thinking turned to, “What are the goals for those in their Christian walk?”

I started going through my files, looking for anything that I used in the past to teach goal setting. I researched my teaching outlines, scanned articles, books, and many notes. I came across the quote, “Because it’s there.” The immortal words of George Mallory, in answer to the question, “Why did you want to climb Mount Everest?”

I never thought Pastor Jason’s suggestion would lead to my first book. But, it did, and now I’ve published two. The third one in this series will be launched by the end of January, Lord willing.

Many years ago, Lance Wallnau told me to “Write the book” God had given me. It took over twenty years. Now finally launched!

Another product from this project is a website my sister-in-law, Melanie Cole, designed. Check it out, spiritual-wanderings.com (don’t forget the dash). Her daughter, my niece, Jessica Cole, designed the covers for the books. The books are on Amazon. Titles are Climbing Mount Everest, To Accomplish Your Spiritual Goals, Parts One and Two.

Tanya and I are doing well. She had a mild case of Covid about Thanksgiving time in 2020. I think our Governor still has the state in a form of lockdown. I’m not sure. I got wary of the “Covid” news. So, don’t pay much attention to it. I keep a mask close at hand when asked to wear one. 

We had a couple of trips. Several times we visited family and friends in Texas. We finally stayed with our family in their cabin in Alaska. Awesome trip! We’ll go back again in 2022.

A friend wrote us, “You make it look like a dance, dips and dives just a part of the dance. The Lord God is a good dance partner.” 

The secret is to keep on dancing to the music that God provides. Sometimes slow, sometimes fast. And sometimes, there is an intermission. Just keep listening for the music.

Will we dance? Or will we choose to sit on the sidelines?

For me and my house, we choose to dance to the Lord’s music.

There is an expression, “May you live in interesting times.” These past couple of years have been very interesting. My guiding verse for a while now has been Matthew 7:7, Ask, seek, and knock.

Patience is a virtue. When learned, a hard lesson makes a person possess a valuable quality in their approach to life. I know the Lord has a plan for us, Tanya and me, Jeremiah 29:11. So, we continue to ask the Lord, “What’s next,” seek out every opportunity that may be a possibility and knock on all available doors. The most exciting aspect of our journey is God always has been faithful to show us the next open door. Thank you, Lord.

Open doors are set before us. The Lord will direct our paths.

May the Lord bless you, really good!