Well I have woken up in Indiana for the past four days and life is moving ahead. I am exhausted, tired of not sleeping in my own bed, tired of what the financial crisis has done to the mortgage process and thankful. So here are some thoughts to get you going this week.
Overwhelming Gratitude
I haven’t had the chance yet to write about our goodbye at Christ Church. It is hard to know what to write about the most overwhelming and humbling experience of your life. My final words on that Sunday night were simply that standing in that chancel and proclaiming the word of God are the greatest privilege I have ever experienced. That about sums it up. It was such a sweet and heart wrenching send off. It was really hard to have so much attention focused on me throughout the day, but the outpouring of love was just so incredible. To anyone I didn’t get to hug or tell you how much I love you, just know how missed you will be. It was incredibly hard on Sunday to wake up and not be in Chapel Hill. I worshiped at a friends church on Sunday and when they played several songs we did frequently on Sunday nights I almost just broke down sobbing. It will take the emotion of leaving Christ Church a long time to move from the forefront of my heart and I am just fine with that. I am just lingering in it and appreciating the incredible gift every day there was.
So I am a Senior Pastor Today
It is funny the moments when the truth really hits you. For me it happened on Saturday when I changed the signature on my email. It now says,
Greg Arthur, Pastor
Duneland Community Church
That was really powerful to change. As overwhelmed as my whole family is to have left NC, I am incredibly excited about this new journey that we are beginning. I am ready to take on this role of leading a church and trying to build something new. The creative juices have been flowing for months and I am ready to hit the ground running at Usain Bolt speeds. I promise no Zeus poses or taunting however. The thought that God would allow me this opportunity and responsibility to shape a church and to point his people to Christ, there is no sense of self promotion within that, only thankfulness. I even get to lead my first board meeting this week. i am really excited about a board meeting. How cool is that.
6-2, 6-2 Baby!
Somehow both the Terps and the Skins are 6-2. No one would have predicted that going into this season. I predicted the Skins would win 6 games all season. The Terps are a roller coaster team, but they have a real shot at winning their division and that is a credit to Ralph for holding them together as they mature. The Skins on the other hand just feel like a playoff team. They have to start finishing people off better, however, if they are to be a really good team and not just a good one. No complaints from me though. They keep getting the job done.
Indiana Reflections
I have only been here for a couple of days but here are my reflections on Indiana.
The wind lives here, loudly
I like hearing trains all the time, I like trains
There is corn, but there is so much more
There are an overwhelming amount of Mid-western white people, no seriously
The people are friendly in a genuine way, but not overly fake sweet like you sometimes encounter in the South.
There is some sort of magical magnetic field in NW Indiana by which my wife who is very directionally challenged can find her way around anywhere out here. It is perplexing and I think it might be linked to the island in Lost. Maybe when they moved the island they moved it to Valparaiso Indiana.
I am glad to be here.
It is going to be a long winter. As a matter of fact I am going to add a special moment about the weather each week in my blog, just to keep you updated.
Greg’s Weather Blog
Today it was 40 degrees with 40-50 mph winds and I think it was colder than it has ever been in NC. It was 80 degrees in NC today. I am going to start donating some of my multitude of polo shirts and short sleeve button ups.
October 27, 2008 at 1:16 pm
Good luck with the first day of being a senior pastor. I can’t believe you’re looking forward to running a board meeting. I have a committee meeting in 30 minutes and I’m trying everything to avoid it. I wonder if ESPN is running highlights of Mike Singletary telling Vernon Davis to hit the showers?
Forty-to-fifth mph winds? Are you kidding me? That would make the wind chill … not cool for October. December and January are going to be fun.
October 27, 2008 at 5:59 pm
From one Greg to another, welcome to Northwest Indiana! I am a member at Duneland Community Church and am looking forward to meeting you! We (my wife and two kids) were on vacation when you had your visit in July. I have to say that I am a Seahawks fan (go figure), but I grew up with Jim Zorn at quarterback and am proud of his job with the ‘Skins.
October 27, 2008 at 10:19 pm
When you left, I left. I went to Charlotte for a week. I just got back in the office today for the first time since you left. We had staff meeting this morning and I kept looking around for you when certain comments were made for that knowing look of yours. It wasn’t there.
Rumor has it that Gretchen is coming on the mission trip.
It may sound cliche, but you are in my prayers and we miss you already.
October 28, 2008 at 3:19 am
I had my first board meeting tonight and it was a lot of fun. No doubt it is also daunting, but there are such committed people here. Time to get it on!
On a weather related update, it snowed today. Seriously, it snowed on October 27th.
October 28, 2008 at 11:03 pm
Welcome back to the mid-west!
Just an FYI, we had A LOT of snow last year, so brace yourself! The flurries were just the beginning. Yay winter!
October 29, 2008 at 2:37 am
Hey Greg!
I love your comment about Gretchen and directions! See….you’re still making me laugh, even from Indiana! Good to see nothing has changed.
We miss you.
Love to the family,
Melisa
October 31, 2008 at 12:59 pm
Hey there,
I am also a DCC person, just wanting to welcome you to Indiana.
I feel compelled to warn you ahead of time that February is the really killer weather month. There is a reason there are only 28 days, because by then you are so sick of the cold, sleet, and slush you just want it to all be over with. But then comes March and the crocuses peeping out, and it’s all good again.
FYI – if you don’t have warm boots, you will need them. Buy them soon because by the time you need them you can’t find them in the stores. Enough of that already.
We are all excited about your ministry here. We were praying for you before we even knew your name.
take care,
Pam