• /
    • Archives / April 2007

Archives For April 2007

If God Be For Me

April 27, 2007 — Leave a comment

In almost 9 years of marriage, Starr and I have now moved over 6 times. Twice we’ve moved over 250 miles away, but mostly within the same city. Because of this, I hate moving. I really hate moving. Part of me always hopes that a natural disaster comes and just wipes away all my belongings so that I don’t have to pack them. I could then get a nice check from Allstate and be on my merry way. I know, I know… that is a ridiculous plan, but I really, really hate moving.

Yesterday I sent my wife and kids off to Lubbock, and I watched the movers put my life into a semi-trailer. Starr had gone to Lubbock early to secure our ‘sight unseen’ apartment, and to reserve some storage space. Then it all came crashing down. I’ve learned in my 31 years to try and be patient when things so terribly wrong, but yesterday was very hard.

When the movers had packed everything in the trailer, I was told that there was still a balance on the moving costs, and it would need to be paid upon arrival in Lubbock; and that it needed to be cash! I called the church in Lubbock, and through about 2 hours of calls we determined that it was too late in the day to secure that much cash, and it wouldn’t be available until 8am Friday. This meant that my belongings would not be given back to me until the movers received their money. No biggie, I guess. Until I get a call that my wife has checked into the marijuana capital of Lubbock, TX; also known as the Metropolitan Apartments. (The website doesn’t do this place justice.) So I’m left with finding another place to live, and wherever it is I must get in before 8am Friday, since my movers want to be on their way after getting paid.

Long story, made short. If God be for me, who can be against me. It Happened! It’s not a nice house, but a local realtor is letting me lease a house on a 12-month lease that I can break at any time if I use her to purchase a house in the area; which I most definently will do.

It’s been amazing to watch how this church in Lubbock has responded to our situation. I’ve never felt so much concern for my family from a congregation in my life. Seriously…I’m a blessed individual. God has been good to me and mine!

In Personal , , , ,
 permalink

The Last Time

April 25, 2007 — Leave a comment
A continued report on the Cliff Family trek from Dallas, TX to Lubbock, TX.

This week has been a week of ‘LAST’ for me. My last Wednesday night service, my last Sunday morning service, my last day at the office, my last time to see so many great friends, my last time to call this ‘my’ church, and many, many more last things. Sunday morning the pastor at ‘this‘ church prayed for Starr and I, and we had well over 100 people come up and speak words of encouragement to us. I’ve been prepared for the tears of those that will miss us, but I wasn’t quite prepared for so many tears. I have never had so many nice things said about me in such a short period of time. At times I feel like I’m observing my own funeral, and to these people that I’m leaving it might seem like a funeral of sorts.

Next week will my week of ‘FIRST’. I’m so excited about my first Sunday morning service, my first day at the office, my first time to meet new friends, and my first night in Lubbock with my family.

This experience has been nerve-wracking at times and we are still praying for this house in Dallas to sell ASAP. I’ve had a few dozen lunches with friends in the area that know I’m moving, and that has been nice. I’ve crammed in some ‘Dallas’ things: I took the boys to a Texas Rangers game, and took them on the TRE train to Ft. Worth, and I bought those $3 cupcakes for my wife. I’ll miss this wonderful town, and all it has to offer, but the movers come tomorrow and I can finally put Dallas in my rear view window!

The weird thing about this past 6 weeks, is that after 6 weeks I’m still only 1/2 way through this transition! I still have to arrive and get situated in a new town.

In Personal , , ,
 permalink

One Week Countdown

April 19, 2007 — Leave a comment

This time next week the movers will have taken over my humble 1000 square foot house, and my life will officially be in “transit.” I’m in the ambiguous place where it’s too early to start packing, but too late to make many other arrangements. I’ve not sold my house yet, and my faith is really being tested in this process. How I’ll make a mortgage payment in Dallas, and apartment rent in Lubbock is beyond me at this point.

Last night was my last Wednesday Night service at the church here in Dallas, and my last Sunday is fast approaching. I’ve had such nice things said to me by parents and others here in Dallas. It’s kind of sad that it’s taken me leaving to hear about my impact in the lives of some of these families. I’ve been trying to cram in as many lunches and dinners as I can with friends before I leave Dallas, and my schedule is pretty tight at this point. Tonight is a rescheduled soccer game for the ‘Cool Cats’, my next to last game to coach, Friday I have a HOT date, Saturday morning is the last game for the Cool Cats, and then Saturday afternoon some families from the church are hosting an outdoor picnic. Sunday is my last Sunday at the church, and there are some special things planned… I think. Sunday afternoon my wife is having a little ‘packing party’ with some friends, and Sunday night I have dinner with another friend. And so on and so forth…

It’s weird because I can’t honestly say I’ll be back in Dallas. I don’t have any family in this area, with the exception of some family way up in Plano. I believe that if I was ever in Dallas I’d just be driving through. I really hope I can keep in touch with these people after I leave, but I really think I won’t see many of them ever again. (Of course with the exception of a few special people.)

In Personal , , , , ,
 permalink

Dallas Living

April 19, 2007 — Leave a comment


There are so many different things wrong with this store. Most of which involve me buying a $3 cupcake this weekend.

In Links, Personal
 permalink

I’m Leaving

April 17, 2007 — 1 Comment

I’ve always appreciated that children I work with tell me how they feel without beating around the bush. If I plan something and they don’t think its fun, they’ll tell me, “Pastor Jonathan, this Stinks!” It’s honesty like that that makes my job so much fun.

Well, this Sunday I finally told all the kids at the church that my family and I would be leaving Dallas, and therefore they would not being seeing me ever again after next Sunday. I was more nervous about telling the kids I was leaving, than telling anyone else. I was mostly afraid of what they would say to me about it. Here were some of the reactions:

  • “I hope you’re cursed for this!”
  • “I don’t want to come to this church if you’re not here!”
  • “Why? Why would you do this to us?”

Mostly the group of 100 kids sat with their mouths open, not knowing what to say. I really do feel for them, and I understand that things like this are hard for kids to understand. I told them that I’ve taught them to listen to God and be quick to do what he says; and that it was my turn to listen to what God was telling me to do. Most of them understood, and just wanted hugs. I even had a kid return with a camera to get a picture taken with me. It’s funny how it’s not till you leave a place that you’re told how important you are to so many people. Not that it would have influenced my decision, but it would have been nice to know months and years ago. I’ve heard some of the nicest things ever said about me from parents and others in the church this week. Don’t worry in the spirit of humility I will not post those comments.

Of course knowing kids as well as I do, they will all forget who I am after about 2 weeks and their lives will move on.

In Ministry, Personal , , ,
 permalink