Tag Archive - Lubbock

Observations from West Texas

May 5, 2007 in Personal with 1 Comment

  • Believe it or not, it really is pretty out here. It’s a different kind of natural beauty, for sure; but the skies are so gigantic!
  • The wind blows almost constantly. I don’t know if it’s because there are no trees or because we are over 3k feet above sea level.
  • Apparently trash is picked up behind my house in the alley. After letting bags pile in the garage for 6 days waiting to see when my neighbors put their garbage by the street; I finally figured there might be something different going on.
  • I’ve been in Lubbock for 10 days total in my entire life, and it’s rained for almost 5 days of my time here. The locals tell me this is unusual.
  • Prairie dog towns are interesting for about 5 minutes. For 4 year olds it tops off at 3 minutes.
  • It’s been a long time since I’ve lived somewhere that is so easy to get around in. For those friends in Dallas, they will understand.
  • When they don’t have your size at Old Navy, don’t ask where the next closest store is. Because it’s not within 250 miles. Man, I got spoiled living in the DFW metroplex!
  • It’s really dusty here in Lubbock. I’m gonna be buying q-tips on a much more frequent basis, if you know what I mean…
  • And finally, the water. The water is BAD! I mean really bad. My kids cry if I try and make them drink tap water. I can’t even sneak it past them!

First

May 2, 2007 in Personal with 0 Comments

During this job and moving transition, I’ve most looked forward to all the ‘first’ I would get to experience here in Lubbock. I’ve been in Christian ministry for about 10 years, and this is the first time I’ve ever been this excited about what lays ahead.

For the first time I have a secretary. I real-life secretary that makes copies, prepares camp packets, takes phone calls, and generally makes my life easier. As a person who has always been their own secretary, or forced duties on my wife, I’m thrilled at this development.

For the first time, I’ve started a new job and have been met with enthusiasm by those that will be working along side me. At other jobs, I’ve been told things like, “Wow, I’m so glad you’re here Pastor, because I’m so burned out and have been waiting to quit until you arrived. See you later!” Now I’m greeted with, “Pastor, will you still let me teach and be involved with the children?” Maybe my pastoral friends will be the only ones to appreciate this, but this is HUGE!

For the first time in years, it now only takes me 5 minutes to get to the church where I work. Being a DFW driving veteran, this is also incredible. Seriously, you country folks don’t know how good you have it.

I’m sure there will be many more first, and some of them will not be positive. But, bring them on!

If God Be For Me

April 27, 2007 in Personal with 0 Comments

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!

The Last Time

April 25, 2007 in Personal with 0 Comments

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.

One Week Countdown

April 19, 2007 in Personal with 0 Comments

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.)

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