Nonconformist Chronicles

An Uncle Again and Blogging Again

Some of you may recall a prayer request I made several months ago. My sister and her husband were expecting their second child, twenty years after the birth of their first one. Their second one was a total surprise after having been told that they would never have children again.

Well, my niece, Emma, was born on December 7, 2007. Her mom turned 40 on the 24th, but this was not on her list of forty things to do before turning forty. In fact, some of those things have been postponed. While little Emma was being born, her sister, Amber, was taking a college final.

So thank you to everyone who prayed. Things went well and Emma is healthy and happy.

On another note, I appreciate all who read this and I apologize for not always responding to comments and for the long hiatuses between some posts over the last six or eight months. I'm still learning the ropes of a new ministry, new place, new everything. We're gaining on the transitional business, but don't quite have it all done yet. And now it's getting to be tax time. ARRGGGH! We also have some personal challenges that have been frustrating, but I'm optimistic.

So from here on I do intend to blog more. Can that be a New Year's resolution or with most people is blogging one of the addictions they want to cut back on? But here are some of my good intentions:

• Post at least once a week, if not more often
• Respond to comments more frequently
• Keep up with my reading of others' blogs and post occasional comments
• Intersperse some lighter and more personal posts with the other stuff

In addition to blogging, I hope to settle back into some other regimens now that the holidays are behind us and we've been in Ohio for six months. My reading has been very sporadic over the past year, so I hope to make it through more books in 2008. I usually try to balance my reading among topics that will help me to grow personally, professionally, and intellectually. I'll share what I'm currently reading in a near future post.

In congregational ministry, my mission for 2008 is to get connected, with the priority being connection with the congregation. Not that I haven't done any of that and I've done more than most of our members could know since no one sees me all the time. But in addition to my reading regimen, I'll be getting back to a visiting regime that kind of fell by the wayside over the holidays. Not many want visits between Thanksgiving and New Years. Since some are so busy, formal visits aren't always possible with everyone. So I'll have to be creative about how to connect with young and busy families.

But for the record, I am very happy to be in my current location. It has not been a disappointment by any means. This is a rare kind of loving and accepting congregation that few ministers (or members) ever manage to find. Gretchen and I were just talking today about what this congregation has to offer:

• When we come away from worship we feel like we've really worshiped enthusiastically as a body.
• We are confident that newcomers to this congregation will be accepted and not needlessly offended.
• We have no doubt that we are loved.

We are blessed.

My Sister's Ulcer

My sister, Vicki M., recently called to say she was going to the doctor for tests. The symptoms of her ailment indicated that she might have ulcers. The medical experts agreed. My Mom had also called me expressing concern about this health condition.

Well, my sister called again, with conclusive test results. It wasn't an ulcer at all. She and her husband are going to have a baby.

Here is where it gets interesting. This couple was told, maybe fifteen years ago, that my sister was unable to conceive again. They already had one daughter, so they resigned themselves to her being the only child.

Well my niece has been the only child for 19 years now. She is a freshman at a local university while still living at home. Her parents only thought that the nest was about empty.

The medical experts are saying that my sister is nevertheless at a bit higher risk than some due to past health issues (Don't ask me about all that because I don't understand it all). Right now she is only a couple of months along. So when you read this, if you would, just take a moment and send up a prayer on my sister's baby's behalf. That would be great.  I am looking forward to being an uncle again. My kids are 9 and 7, but all their cousins are teenagers. A younger cousin would be fun.

My sister is 39-years-old and had recently made a "Forty Things to do Before I am 40" list. I asked if this was on her list. She said "no."