It’s Been a Few Years
 

Hello brothers!

I never got truly established here before some significant work/life changes occurred. I see the last post I made was in May 2015. At that time I had just enrolled full time in seminary (graduated with a M.Div in August 2018). I figured with evenings free and a full day of instruction on Mondays, I could knock it out in a few years. What I didn’t anticipate was the church where I was an executive pastor also asked me to reach back into my far past and take on the youth group too. For a few years I had both roles (full time), school (full time), and a family and all the events that occur with that. Needless to say, I had very thin margins.

Overtime I was able to move a considerable amount off my plate as my church didn’t want me to burnout. In a show of generosity, the leadership gave me a paid sabbatical starting this October and the church whole heartedly approved.

Over the years I’ve been absent, I’ve had opportunity to reach into my tupperdor and light up a cigar provided in an embarrassingly generous newb bomb I received here. When I have, I thought of this place fondly.

I’ll be around going forward. I’m still astonished by the crazy amount of information around here!

Geoff

Re: It’s Been a Few Years
 

Hi Geoff! Welcome back. Where are you in Oregon? I’m Beaverton.

Re: It’s Been a Few Years
 

Not too far from you. I live in Salem.

Re: It’s Been a Few Years
 

Welcome back Geoff! if you don't mind me asking what kind of church? My best friend is our youth pastor at my church. I attend and evangelical free church but i lean reformed in many matters. Anyways, i hope you have fun here and find it a place where you can hang and relax! God bless you!

Re: It’s Been a Few Years
 

I don’t mind at all! It’s a nondenominational church but formerly part of a Baptist association.

I finally shed the majority of my former exec role (aside from being a brain to pick) in Jan and I am now the youth pastor. One thing I’ve learned this second go around as a yp… 47 feels a lot different than 41!

Re: It’s Been a Few Years
 

Welcome Back, Geoff!:D:tu

Re: It’s Been a Few Years
 

Welcome back, Geoff. Pull up a pew and sit a spell.

Re: It’s Been a Few Years
 

Sounds like lots has happened since you were here last, Geoff, congrats on all the good. It's great to have you back in the Asylum.

Re: It’s Been a Few Years
 

Welcome back!

Re: It’s Been a Few Years
 

Welcome back!!

Re: It’s Been a Few Years
 

Welcome Back!!!!

Re: It’s Been a Few Years
 

Welcome back. Your church sounds like they appreciate you, not all organizations do.

Re: It’s Been a Few Years
 

For sure. I know of a few organizations around here that do offer some form of sabbatical. One nearby requires a sabbatical (paid) after seven years.

There are a lot of reasons a church may not be able to offer a paid sabbatical to express appreciation. I’m certainly glad they can!

Re: It’s Been a Few Years
 

Thanks for the warm welcome back everyone.

Plenty of hard things happened too with a couple we are living through right now. This sabbatical is well timed as we address and adjust to some of these difficult changes.

Re: It’s Been a Few Years
 

Welcome back Geoff.

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Welcome back!

Re: It’s Been a Few Years
 

Welcome, brother. Prayers for a blessed and merry Christmas. Enjoy some nice smokes! :ss

Re: It’s Been a Few Years
 

Geoff...PM sent

Re: It’s Been a Few Years
 

Welcome back!

God's blessings on the sabbatical.

I know there are people here that would love for me to be able to have one, but serving three parishes means things are just very financially tight. I understand, and appreciate their love. They do allow me regular continued education type opportunities being gone for a week at a time to do it and not counting it as vacation time. Maybe not a sabbatical, but certainly refreshing, renewing, and a time to reinvigorate to return back to the parish.

Peace of the Lord be with you!

Re: It’s Been a Few Years
 

Thank you Rev. Educational opportunities are reinvigorating! I’ve appreciated those when I have had them. During this time I’ve been reading a fair amount that have been on my stack for years. Not all are ministry related and some deal with a particular family situation.
I’ve been in ministry since 1996, and this is the first time I’ve been given a sabbatical. I’m truly grateful.

Re: It’s Been a Few Years
 

I fear for my mailbox.

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you should its our favorite pastime destroying them. they're evil. its in the bible i'm sure of it!

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On a mid December day I responded to a simple question in my dms, “What is your address? You need to be welcomed back properly.” Thinking at most I might receive a fiver I responded with my address.

Twice. My mistake.

My mailbox and modestly size tupperdor were obliterated by these two anonymous brothers. I had to buy more supplies for another tupperdor to contain the insanity. As for the mailbox? USPS will get right on it!

It started innocently enough:
https://i.imgur.com/K4XxITn.jpg

But there was nothing innocent about this. This was gleeful destruction.
https://i.imgur.com/dggNzrc.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/SeWBSFZ.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/2Pb7d4t.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/nIUWkv5.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/ICPjmOT.jpg

I’ve done my best to catalog the destruction:

• AJ Fernandez Bellas Artes
• Alec Bradley Fine and Rare JRS-10
• The American
• Arturo Fuente Rosado Sungrown Magnum
• Arturo Fuente Rosado Sungrown Magnum R Super Sixty
• Arturo Fuente Hemingway
• Arturo Fuente Hemingway ShortStory
• La Aurora 100 Anos
• 12 x Crowned Heads Four Kicks Capa Especial Aguilas LE (A box! I’ve never had a box and now my first is a gift!)

At this point my dear wife was giving me the side eye. “I am certain I didn’t order anything!”

• Diesel Double Perfecto
• 2 x Famous Nicaraguan Selection 6000
• La Gloria Cubana Serie R Maduro No. 5
• The Griffin's
• HVC 500 Years Anniversary Limited Edition
• Montecristo Pepe Mendez Pilotico
• My Father Limited (2015 I think)
• Padron 1964 Anniversary Principe Natural
• Privada Champagne Series No 1
• 3 x Quorum Shade
• Southern Draw Rose of Sharon
• Warped La Colmena Unico Especial
• Xhaxhi Bobi Halloween

I have thanked both of these brothers privately. I wanted to share this with the rest of you while keeping this somewhat private (and it also keeps everyone else on their toes). When I entered my sabbatical, I was exhausted. During my sabbatical we were working through some difficult stuff with my kids (we still are). These random acts of destruction were of great encouragement to me and I couldn’t stop looking at these cigars.

This community truly is special.

Re: It’s Been a Few Years
 

Woohoo, nice hit lads!

Re: It’s Been a Few Years
 

People do not understand how hard a Pastors life really is. it truly is a labor of love what you do Geoff and a true calling. Unless you're a Joel Osteen you don't get into this because it's easy to get rich. You deserve it brother! Great hit! :) God bless you!

Re: It’s Been a Few Years
 

This one made me smile big time....congrats Geoff, and kudos to the bombers.