For those that I don't speak to too often, here is an update as to my situation with ministry in Miami.
Background:
I spent most of the Fall and early part of the Spring "negotiating" terms of me possibly coming back for an additional year in Miami. It was a huge stress, to say the least, that included me flying to Jacksonville for an hour-long meeting with our state director, countless emails, phone calls, and budgeting of every aspect of the matter.
Finally, a couple months ago, I received word that the proposal, for me to stay with a pay increase, had been approved. I was told that we'd work out details later.
Fast forward to last week.
I spoke with our human resource guy at the state office about the details. He went over details about my situation with our state's executive director to get everything ironed out to best suit everyone involved. The result of this meeting was me being brought on as a "administrative-approved employee", which means I'm just one step below a "board-elected employee". This means I now get insurance, dental, and some life insurance paid for by the convention rather than out of my own pocket. I also get vacation and sick days as well as get to stay living in the BCM building without having to pay rent.
The biggest news to come from all of this is the fact that I will not have to re-up each year through stressful "negotiations" and proposals. Instead, I am a full employee on an "indefinite" timeline. If I decide to leave, for whatever reason, I can or if they want to bring someone else in my place, they can but will give me plenty of advanced warning.
So, essentially, I'll be in Miami for several more years. This is a huge relief of pressure to not have to wonder if I have a job each year. It also gives me the opportunity to plan for some future vision within BCM, since I know I'll be here for a while. I also continue to press forward with my seminary schooling. I should be done in about a year and a half. It has made me realize how much I enjoy learning about ministry and theology and hate our learning systems in America. I press on though.
As I joked with a friend the other day, this lessens my chances of finding me a good southern girl, unless they come to me. I guess that's something I'll just have to deal with. I'm sure I'll manage.
-peace
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Friday, April 15, 2011
...story of my life
For several years now I've had enough adventures, both in life and ministry, to warrant people constantly telling me I should write a book. While I would love to do so, I'm not sure it would ever get published or read by anyone other than my mom. Even with that being the case, I've jotted things down here and there should the time ever come for me to step up and make writing a book a reality. For now, I plan on using this blog to at least write some of my ideas for what would be in my book.
___________________________
Often when something odd or slightly unpleasant happens, you'll hear someone say "story of my life". I took that idea a bit further though, once I found myself saying that phrase more often than not because of all the oddity in my life. With the idea of writing in the back of my mind, i thought "instead of 'story of my life' it'd be more like 'chapters in my book'", since i feel my life is too varied and adventured to fit all it has to offer within a title that falls short. I couldn't have the title of the book about my life and ministry being something trivial like "a day late and a dollar short".
What's in a name?
It should be noted that from the initial idea to write a book, I had the title figured out. Credit for that partially goes to Jason Mills. While on a mission trip in NYC at the The Bowery, I was having a conversation with several of my students about the possibility of writing something and what it would look like. With the types of stories I would include, and knowing somewhat my tendency to not be fully clothed all the time, Jason rattled off "Various Stages of Undressed: The Matt Wofford Story". We all laughed at the idea and went on with our day. This, however, got me thinking. Maybe this did sum it all up. Perhaps my life was a tale of various stages of being undressed.
As I recall from childhood, as evidence by a recent facebook photo album, I was never one to wear clothes too often, unless I absolutely found it to be necessity. Even aging, and thus "maturing", didn't remedy the desire to forfeit clothing as my first option. Despite my on-again, off-again "heftiness" in college I gladly took the reigns of the "Naked Guys", a group of BCM guys that would paint up their chests for home football games at Arkansas State. To this day I think the phrase my sister has said to me more than any other is "Matt!....Pants!!" (of course eluding to the fact that I wasn't wearing any and thus needed to put some on to make her more comfortable)...Although I feel that if I were to wear pants around the house, when I'm home for Christmas and the occasional Summer weekend, it might throw her off and in fact be odd.
At any rate, beyond the fact that the title seemed to fit with my seemingly "free as a bird" lifestyle, it felt right in so many other ways. The idea of "Various Stages of Undressed" felt like it reached deep into my soul. I've always been a fan of the idea of the reverence and respect paid to royalty and who better to pay respect and reverence to than the King of kings? Whether it is in my personal devotional time, study of scripture, or even corporate prayer, I always see myself bowing at the foot of the throne of God, on my knees, and completely humbled by His glory and might. Going a step further, knowing that He knows my every thought and feeling, I realize there are no barriers between us. For that reason, I am naked before God. There is nothing that I can put up as a shield to cover up who I am, what I've done, or what I offer Him. He sees me for what I am and still loves me as if I were the only one. That amazes me and draws me closer to Him. It is that moment that I feel closer to God than any other, knowing that there is nothing separating us, and that moment that I aim for in every aspect of my life...to be naked before God.
So, with that in mind, here is my life. Journeying through various stages of undressed.
-peace
___________________________
Often when something odd or slightly unpleasant happens, you'll hear someone say "story of my life". I took that idea a bit further though, once I found myself saying that phrase more often than not because of all the oddity in my life. With the idea of writing in the back of my mind, i thought "instead of 'story of my life' it'd be more like 'chapters in my book'", since i feel my life is too varied and adventured to fit all it has to offer within a title that falls short. I couldn't have the title of the book about my life and ministry being something trivial like "a day late and a dollar short".
What's in a name?
It should be noted that from the initial idea to write a book, I had the title figured out. Credit for that partially goes to Jason Mills. While on a mission trip in NYC at the The Bowery, I was having a conversation with several of my students about the possibility of writing something and what it would look like. With the types of stories I would include, and knowing somewhat my tendency to not be fully clothed all the time, Jason rattled off "Various Stages of Undressed: The Matt Wofford Story". We all laughed at the idea and went on with our day. This, however, got me thinking. Maybe this did sum it all up. Perhaps my life was a tale of various stages of being undressed.
As I recall from childhood, as evidence by a recent facebook photo album, I was never one to wear clothes too often, unless I absolutely found it to be necessity. Even aging, and thus "maturing", didn't remedy the desire to forfeit clothing as my first option. Despite my on-again, off-again "heftiness" in college I gladly took the reigns of the "Naked Guys", a group of BCM guys that would paint up their chests for home football games at Arkansas State. To this day I think the phrase my sister has said to me more than any other is "Matt!....Pants!!" (of course eluding to the fact that I wasn't wearing any and thus needed to put some on to make her more comfortable)...Although I feel that if I were to wear pants around the house, when I'm home for Christmas and the occasional Summer weekend, it might throw her off and in fact be odd.
At any rate, beyond the fact that the title seemed to fit with my seemingly "free as a bird" lifestyle, it felt right in so many other ways. The idea of "Various Stages of Undressed" felt like it reached deep into my soul. I've always been a fan of the idea of the reverence and respect paid to royalty and who better to pay respect and reverence to than the King of kings? Whether it is in my personal devotional time, study of scripture, or even corporate prayer, I always see myself bowing at the foot of the throne of God, on my knees, and completely humbled by His glory and might. Going a step further, knowing that He knows my every thought and feeling, I realize there are no barriers between us. For that reason, I am naked before God. There is nothing that I can put up as a shield to cover up who I am, what I've done, or what I offer Him. He sees me for what I am and still loves me as if I were the only one. That amazes me and draws me closer to Him. It is that moment that I feel closer to God than any other, knowing that there is nothing separating us, and that moment that I aim for in every aspect of my life...to be naked before God.
So, with that in mind, here is my life. Journeying through various stages of undressed.
-peace
Monday, April 11, 2011
And we're back!
I guess I decided to take 2010 off from blogging. It was a crappy year anyway (save 4-5 things within it).
At any rate, for those 3 of you that happen to stumble upon this while wasting time avoiding other life responsibilities, you'll notice that I've updated the look and feel of the blog.
You will, without a doubt, also notice that I've updated the title. My next post will give details as to the story behind that. You'll just have to stay tuned until next time.
Until then...
At any rate, for those 3 of you that happen to stumble upon this while wasting time avoiding other life responsibilities, you'll notice that I've updated the look and feel of the blog.
You will, without a doubt, also notice that I've updated the title. My next post will give details as to the story behind that. You'll just have to stay tuned until next time.
Until then...
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