Well, I have just submitted my first library job application in 7 years.
I haven't applied for a non-ministry job in a long time and it was interesting organizing my resume. How do you make 6 years church ministry look like you should be employed as a Library Assistant? What areas do you think can translate across?
I my pre-ministry life I was a Library Technician and this job looks like a good way to get my feet back in the water whilst seeing how things work out at church. It is only a casual position at the moment, but I will start applying for full - time positions in a little while. If I get this job it means I will have library experience I can use in applications which is less than 6 years old. yikes!
I believe God is in control of the situation but am getting close to wanting God to show what he has in store, not long term, just until the end of the year. I am trying to figure out why my call to church based ministry, my training, my work and life have been in so strong if it's just going to melt away over the next 12 months.
On a more positive note I am healthy again and am actually looking forward to working in libraries once more. I really enjoy watching people learn how to learn and discover new things.
Stay tuned to see where this little chook ends up
Em
Friday, May 26, 2006
Thursday, May 25, 2006
Thank you
Thank you for the prayers and thoughts that you have sent out, I have really appreciated it.
My body being the wonderful thing that it is, is also taking care of me. It gives me a couple of hints over a few days to slow down and chill and if I don't pay attention it just wipes me out over a 24 hour period, or until I take notice, if I am being particularly pig headed.
So over the last day or so I have been sick, high temps, chills, sweats, and other not so nice stuff, which once I paid attention, took a cold tablet and went to bed early and allowed myself to sleep for 13 hours I was fine.
It always fascinates me how everything, every aspect of me, is in tune with each other. Mind, spirit, emotion, body and when one of these isn't going so well, the other's go out in sympathy. It shouldn't amaze me, but it does. Just another reminder of how absolutely amazing our Creator is.
The human body is probably the thing that links me with God the most. Seeing and learning how we work, what we are made up of, how we are made, watching my boys grow and change almost in front of me, seeing the body repair itself just astounds me, what an amazing creation the human body is.
Praise God
Emma
My body being the wonderful thing that it is, is also taking care of me. It gives me a couple of hints over a few days to slow down and chill and if I don't pay attention it just wipes me out over a 24 hour period, or until I take notice, if I am being particularly pig headed.
So over the last day or so I have been sick, high temps, chills, sweats, and other not so nice stuff, which once I paid attention, took a cold tablet and went to bed early and allowed myself to sleep for 13 hours I was fine.
It always fascinates me how everything, every aspect of me, is in tune with each other. Mind, spirit, emotion, body and when one of these isn't going so well, the other's go out in sympathy. It shouldn't amaze me, but it does. Just another reminder of how absolutely amazing our Creator is.
The human body is probably the thing that links me with God the most. Seeing and learning how we work, what we are made up of, how we are made, watching my boys grow and change almost in front of me, seeing the body repair itself just astounds me, what an amazing creation the human body is.
Praise God
Emma
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
Roller coaster of Life
Hi everyone
I have been laying low over the last week because it has taken all I have just to hold on for the ride.
Friday - Funeral
Last Wednesday I found out that a close friend of mine from theo college had died from a brain haemorage, she was 38 and 20 weeks pregnant with their baby girl. This absolutely rocked me. I cried on and off until the funeral on Friday morning which was a very healing service it was up near Gosford (2 hours north) and the Memorial Gardens were beautiful very much a Bev service, although I am still really mad at God. Still very sad and now crying while writing the blog almost a week later. Bev was an amazing woman and made and will continue to make a difference in the world simply by the person she was, I can't understand why God would allow this to happen. Or why you would have someone conceive only to have them die before the precious new life could be born. As you can tell I am still reeling form this. Bev and Makayla you will always be loved and missed.
Saturday - Wedding
From there I went back home only to get back in the car and drive to Orange (4 hours west for the rehearsal of a wedding I was involved in running on the Saturday. On the Friday night we ended up jumping the fence to have the rehearsal as the gates to the park were closed by the time we got there.
The wedding was beautiful, it was in Cook Park at Orange, the park was full of autumn trees, just magnificent. The wedding was a biker wedding for a member of one of the outlaw bike clubs, WM is a member of God's Squad a Christian Bike Club, which is the connection for those who were wondering how I ended up involved. The secretary of Squad performed the ceremony and I helped with the legal stuff and some of the behind the scenes stuff. It was great to see 2 people so in love with each other, they have been together for 14 years and decided they finally would get married. A joyous event, reception out on a property, spit roast, bonfire, fun and friends just the was a wedding should be.
Sunday - Church Meeting
We then left the reception at about 10 pm and got home by 2 am Sunday morning fell into bed in order to get up and be alert for a church meeting where the amount of days our church paid myself and the other pastor was to be discussed and decided.
We didn't make the morning service but got there by 11 am for the meeting. In a nutshell church has decided to cut the number of pastoral days for myself and the other pastor from 7.5 combined to 3.5, 2 from 5 for the other pastor and 1.5 from 2.5 for me. The decision was between 4, 3.5 or 3 days a week
The other pastor is ok with the decision in relation to his hours as he is wanting to move back into a bivocational role. For me on the other hand it is a bit more complicated and I am now looking for another job and/ or other options as 1.5 days isn't enough for me. Anyone know of a church looking for a female Australian Baptist minister?
I am upset by the outcome but not because I need to now look for work but because church took the logical, sensible, financially viable option which didn't require a overly large step of faith, although I recognize that for some even this outcome required them to take a step of faith.
So it's now Tuesday and I am still recovering from a week end which was like no other at any other time in my life, throw into the mix, house hunting and I'm just about at my limit.
Please pray for Bev's family, especially her husband and 2 year old son, for the couple who were married, for church as they continue to struggle with some difficult decisions and for myself and my family that we may continue to keep our head or at least our noses above the water.
Blessings
Emma
I have been laying low over the last week because it has taken all I have just to hold on for the ride.
Friday - Funeral
Last Wednesday I found out that a close friend of mine from theo college had died from a brain haemorage, she was 38 and 20 weeks pregnant with their baby girl. This absolutely rocked me. I cried on and off until the funeral on Friday morning which was a very healing service it was up near Gosford (2 hours north) and the Memorial Gardens were beautiful very much a Bev service, although I am still really mad at God. Still very sad and now crying while writing the blog almost a week later. Bev was an amazing woman and made and will continue to make a difference in the world simply by the person she was, I can't understand why God would allow this to happen. Or why you would have someone conceive only to have them die before the precious new life could be born. As you can tell I am still reeling form this. Bev and Makayla you will always be loved and missed.
Saturday - Wedding
From there I went back home only to get back in the car and drive to Orange (4 hours west for the rehearsal of a wedding I was involved in running on the Saturday. On the Friday night we ended up jumping the fence to have the rehearsal as the gates to the park were closed by the time we got there.
The wedding was beautiful, it was in Cook Park at Orange, the park was full of autumn trees, just magnificent. The wedding was a biker wedding for a member of one of the outlaw bike clubs, WM is a member of God's Squad a Christian Bike Club, which is the connection for those who were wondering how I ended up involved. The secretary of Squad performed the ceremony and I helped with the legal stuff and some of the behind the scenes stuff. It was great to see 2 people so in love with each other, they have been together for 14 years and decided they finally would get married. A joyous event, reception out on a property, spit roast, bonfire, fun and friends just the was a wedding should be.
Sunday - Church Meeting
We then left the reception at about 10 pm and got home by 2 am Sunday morning fell into bed in order to get up and be alert for a church meeting where the amount of days our church paid myself and the other pastor was to be discussed and decided.
We didn't make the morning service but got there by 11 am for the meeting. In a nutshell church has decided to cut the number of pastoral days for myself and the other pastor from 7.5 combined to 3.5, 2 from 5 for the other pastor and 1.5 from 2.5 for me. The decision was between 4, 3.5 or 3 days a week
The other pastor is ok with the decision in relation to his hours as he is wanting to move back into a bivocational role. For me on the other hand it is a bit more complicated and I am now looking for another job and/ or other options as 1.5 days isn't enough for me. Anyone know of a church looking for a female Australian Baptist minister?
I am upset by the outcome but not because I need to now look for work but because church took the logical, sensible, financially viable option which didn't require a overly large step of faith, although I recognize that for some even this outcome required them to take a step of faith.
So it's now Tuesday and I am still recovering from a week end which was like no other at any other time in my life, throw into the mix, house hunting and I'm just about at my limit.
Please pray for Bev's family, especially her husband and 2 year old son, for the couple who were married, for church as they continue to struggle with some difficult decisions and for myself and my family that we may continue to keep our head or at least our noses above the water.
Blessings
Emma
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Haircuts
Today I had my haircut.
I now have layers, I've never had layers before, not once, not even in the late eighties when everyone had them.
For me you either had long hair or short hair you didn't have long hair with short bits.
But now I have layers, I have long hair with short bits and I think I like them.
I'm feeling a bit like a country and western singer, I always associate them with layered hair, no I don't understand why either, I just do.
There is nothing like a good hair cut to make you feel good and this one has done just that. I am involved in a wedding on the week end and needed to get my hair cut before the wedding. I figured doing it on Tuesday means that I will have had time to recover if it's a bad cut, But I had nothing to worry about because it has worked out fine.
Gotta love a good haircut
Blessings
Emma
I now have layers, I've never had layers before, not once, not even in the late eighties when everyone had them.
For me you either had long hair or short hair you didn't have long hair with short bits.
But now I have layers, I have long hair with short bits and I think I like them.
I'm feeling a bit like a country and western singer, I always associate them with layered hair, no I don't understand why either, I just do.
There is nothing like a good hair cut to make you feel good and this one has done just that. I am involved in a wedding on the week end and needed to get my hair cut before the wedding. I figured doing it on Tuesday means that I will have had time to recover if it's a bad cut, But I had nothing to worry about because it has worked out fine.
Gotta love a good haircut
Blessings
Emma
Monday, May 15, 2006
Moving
Hi
I have been following Blanket's posts about moving house. We are about to start a similar journey. The house we are renting is on the market and is looking like it has been sold. On Saturday at 8 am (yes we were up, no we weren't talkative) we had a pest inspection and a building inspection done and today we have the bank coming to do a quote for the loan application.
This means that we are going to have to move. Now I don't mind moving, yes you read right, I don't mind it I have moved about 15 times in my 31 years. I just don't have the time for inspections and putting in applications etc. And I am looking around at all the books in my study and groaning.
The process is slowly becoming more complicated with our eldest (I still don't have a blog name for him, any suggestions) now being in school and LB being settled in preschool. This means the criteria on where we go are increasing. So at the moment the criteria are:
So the hunt begins I am going to look at a place today hopefully and then some more on Thursday. Let the games begin.
I'll keep you posted
Blessings Emma
I have been following Blanket's posts about moving house. We are about to start a similar journey. The house we are renting is on the market and is looking like it has been sold. On Saturday at 8 am (yes we were up, no we weren't talkative) we had a pest inspection and a building inspection done and today we have the bank coming to do a quote for the loan application.
This means that we are going to have to move. Now I don't mind moving, yes you read right, I don't mind it I have moved about 15 times in my 31 years. I just don't have the time for inspections and putting in applications etc. And I am looking around at all the books in my study and groaning.
The process is slowly becoming more complicated with our eldest (I still don't have a blog name for him, any suggestions) now being in school and LB being settled in preschool. This means the criteria on where we go are increasing. So at the moment the criteria are:
- Pets allowed - Digit our 16 year old dog need to be able to come with us although at 16 all she does is eat and sleep
- Near preschool, school, church
- Gararge - motorbikes, motorbikes, motorbikes, need I say more
- Tiled, lino, cork floors in living spaces - 2 boys, 6 and 3 carpet is my enemy not my friend. We currently live in a full capret house the only places not carpeted are laundry, kitchen and bathroom. Arrrrrrrrgh
So the hunt begins I am going to look at a place today hopefully and then some more on Thursday. Let the games begin.
I'll keep you posted
Blessings Emma
Monday, May 08, 2006
80's Dance films
Over the last 2 weeks there have been a number of 80's dance films on TV. First the was FAME the movie and then this week end there was Flash Dance followed by Footloose.
As an 80's child I loved watching these films. I have never had a body that would be described as "willowy, perfect for being a dancer." I tried jazz Ballet as a 7 year old and probably resembled more of a dancing baby elephant than a graceful swan.
So I would live through these movies and pretend that I was a wonderful dancer. This was fine until one day after watching Fame I decided, I can do that!
There is a scene in the opening credits of Fame where a graceful dancer runs, slow motion of course, leaps into the air, does the splits mid air and then lands without missing a step. It seemed so easy and I had a long hall way which was obviously all I needed to do exactly the same move.
So I started up near my parents bedroom, running up the hall (remember dancing baby elephant)and halfway up the hall I jumped into the air did the splits and landed. Wow you all say I was sure she would have tripped. I didn't!
I landed with an almighty thud still doing the splits. So here I am halfway up the hallway stuck doing the splits, screaming in pain for my brother to help me. But instead of helping he went to get mum to show her I could do the splits!! Oh the pain!
I found out that day what was needed to do the run, splits and land move, wasn't a long hallway. What was needed, was, dancing ability, athletic ability, flexibility, and coordination. Mmmmmm all I had was a hallway, I think I am beginning to understand what went wrong.
Maybe I'll try again (or not)
Blessings Emma
As an 80's child I loved watching these films. I have never had a body that would be described as "willowy, perfect for being a dancer." I tried jazz Ballet as a 7 year old and probably resembled more of a dancing baby elephant than a graceful swan.
So I would live through these movies and pretend that I was a wonderful dancer. This was fine until one day after watching Fame I decided, I can do that!
There is a scene in the opening credits of Fame where a graceful dancer runs, slow motion of course, leaps into the air, does the splits mid air and then lands without missing a step. It seemed so easy and I had a long hall way which was obviously all I needed to do exactly the same move.
So I started up near my parents bedroom, running up the hall (remember dancing baby elephant)and halfway up the hall I jumped into the air did the splits and landed. Wow you all say I was sure she would have tripped. I didn't!
I landed with an almighty thud still doing the splits. So here I am halfway up the hallway stuck doing the splits, screaming in pain for my brother to help me. But instead of helping he went to get mum to show her I could do the splits!! Oh the pain!
I found out that day what was needed to do the run, splits and land move, wasn't a long hallway. What was needed, was, dancing ability, athletic ability, flexibility, and coordination. Mmmmmm all I had was a hallway, I think I am beginning to understand what went wrong.
Maybe I'll try again (or not)
Blessings Emma
Thursday, May 04, 2006
Kids in detention center's
In this wonderful land called Australia we do many things I am proud of, this is not one of them!
Our Government believes it is okay to place children into Detention Centers. These are kids who with their family have fled their home and often have traveled in overcrowded boats for incredibly long trips before landing in Australia.
We are one of the few countries who still do this.
Our Government is making it's final decision about this in a couple of days time. I encourage you to go to the Get Up website and sign the petition against Kids in Detention center's.
Blessings
Emma
Our Government believes it is okay to place children into Detention Centers. These are kids who with their family have fled their home and often have traveled in overcrowded boats for incredibly long trips before landing in Australia.
We are one of the few countries who still do this.
Our Government is making it's final decision about this in a couple of days time. I encourage you to go to the Get Up website and sign the petition against Kids in Detention center's.
Blessings
Emma
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
I am still around
I am just writing a quick entry to let you know I am still alive.
At the moment things are fairly intense at church.
If you could pray that God make's his path clear for us as a faith community I would really appreciate it.
As information becomes clearer or more public I will update but you may not hear from me until Sunday or Monday
Blessings
Emma
At the moment things are fairly intense at church.
If you could pray that God make's his path clear for us as a faith community I would really appreciate it.
As information becomes clearer or more public I will update but you may not hear from me until Sunday or Monday
Blessings
Emma
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