Chera asked:
Hey, I have a question for you, if you don't mind me asking. You are a pastor dude now, how come you aren't searching for church jobs yet? Or are you already working with a church, and now you are just trying to get a supplemental income?

Wow, what a question! There's so many things going on in my brain in regards to that. Here are a few of them:

Why didn't I go directly into the ministry after graduation?

• Very interesting story there. Starting out in the fall I was convinced that I should stay in Eugene for another year after my Senior Year. My friends were here and I was comfortable in my church and enjoying life. Then, around the end of February, and beginning of March I started thinking "Well, maybe I should start sending letters out." Then my friend Josh got a youth pastor job and moved. That woke me up, made me think about my future and that all my friends weren't always going to be around. I was going to send some letters out, but never did so. As graduation approached, I was constantly thinking and praying about my future and what I should do. The leading I got from God was to stay in Eugene, rooming with my brother, and get a job. While doing that, help out at Christ Fellowship (my church).

What happened during the summer?

• It took a very long time to get a job, but God provided a part time retail position in the end of July.
  
• Right before starting that job, I went up north to Washington. I visited Josh and his wife at their church. That was so cool, getting to talk ministry and see what God has been doing in their lives. It really made me think about the fact that I really wanted to be able to do that. I want to minister, preach, and teach. I left Washington with the feeling that if I didn't get those opportunities at Christ Fellowship, I needed to reconsider staying in Eugene.
• Then Pastor Tony called me and asked me to lead the communion blessing. Later on, I got to do the end of service blessing. I met with him last week and he is planning on giving me more things to do and more practice. That is definitely a factor in why I'm staying here.
• Jack and Lisa lead the college group and we've talked off and on about me taking some leadership in the group this fall. That has been confirmed now and we are meeting for a planning meeting next week.
• Thus, I'm committed to Christ Fellowship. Probably up to the end of June, but if God leads, maybe longer.

You have a job, why look for another one?

• Retail part time job. Not a very high paying job and they have only given me 25 hours or so a week. While I'm succeeding at this job, it's barely making the bills.
• The position I just interviewed for is a part time teller. Tellers make much more money than retail. And there is the possibility for advancement.
• Besides, I think I'd enjoy that better than retail.
• Oh, one other reason is that I haven't had contact with non-Christians in a very long time. Working with them, I have the opportunity to live my faith and talk to them if they want to talk.
  

What's in store for the future?

• My long term goal is to go to Regent University in either spring 2008 or fall 2008. I am looking at two possible master of arts degrees there.
  
• If God opens the door for more ministry at Christ Fellowship, then I'll probably stay here longer than just this next school year.
• It also depends on the job situation. I have to start paying off student loans in December and if I'm still working a minimum wage job, that's not going to work out well. If by June I don't have a better job, then I may be looking elsewhere.

Chera, I hope that answered your questions. Oh and all my plans are dependent on God. If He changes things, then everything I do may change.