New Job

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I report to work at The Daily Advocate at 8 am Monday morning.

In a lot of ways this feels like my first REAL job. I have always had a previous relationship with the manager/owner prior to interviewing, some to greater degrees some to lesser degrees. Monday morning, however, I'm a stranger walking into a brand new world. I'm EXTREMELY excited at the possibilities and potential!

While the first week is considered a 'trial' week, I anticipate a fulfilling career with Brown Publishing and The Daily Advocate. As with any new position, I'm sure there will be many things which play out differently than I currently presume, but I don't expect any of these surprises to be much more than logistical. During this first week both they and I will get the opportunity to 'become acquainted'; they with me and my personality, I with them and their career opportunity. If on, or before, Friday some alarm or discomfort is realized, then neither they nor I have any further committment.

The specifics of the position (as I understand them) are really exciting to me. The position I fill will be responsible to design and format the special sections (fair book, readers choice awards, mature times, homes mag, etc). This will be done in partnership with my direct superior. I will also be responsible for securing 100% of the revenue needed to support these projects. This revenue will be received exclusively through advertisements. Simply put, I will sell advertisement spots in these special sections. I will further be responsible to get the projects prepared for print on (or before) print deadline, and establish distribution points.

Alongside the print advertisements in the special sections/projects, I will be responsible to sell advertising spots on the various pages of the Advocate website.

There is one more thing that gives this job an exciting edge that few other possibilities offered. We currently school, church, shop, live in the greater Darke County area. Now I also work in that same community! While I never thought of this as significant in our age of communication and travel, I am finding myself very, very excited to see my entire 'life' becoming intimately connected to my home community.

I guess all these little details point to one thing, our Father is a)watching, b)caring and c)in control of EVERYTHING!

Lord, thank you for another expression of your faithfulness and provision.
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Praise HIM in the Storm

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This morning I was spending some time with the Father asking Him about the what's and why's of my current situation. I was confessing how much easier it was to talk about faith and believing Him to provide in every situation than to actually believe Him when the bills pile up and no one calls offering a viable occupational option. I was admitting to Him that I felt like I was 'at my end' and wondering if He really cared when He reminded me of this song:

PRAISE YOU IN THIS STORM
Casting Crowns
I was sure by now that You would have reached down
wiped our tears away,
stepped in and saved the day.
But once again, I say amen
and it's still raining
as the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain,
"I'm with you"
and as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise
the God who gives and takes away.

And I'll praise you in this storm
and I will lift my hands
for You are who You are
no matter where I am
and every tear I've cried
You hold in your hand
You never left my side
and though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

I remember when I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry to You
and raised me up again
my strength is almost gone how can I carry on
if I can't find You
and as the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
and as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise
the God who gives and takes away

I lift my eyes onto the hills
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth
I lift my eyes onto the hills
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth

And I'll praise you in this storm
and I will lift my hands
for You are who You are
no matter where I am
and every tear I've cried
You hold in your hand
You never left my side
and though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

So I will, I'll praise Him, right in the middle of THIS storm. I'll raise my hands and PRAISE the God who gives, and takes away; because my help comes from the LORD. Even though I barely hear Him whisper through the rain, 'I'm with you', I will not doubt! I CHOOSE to believe Him and worship Him for His majesty, in spite of my circumstances!!
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Should They Be......?

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Jeffrey Dahmer killed people and then ate them.
Timothy McVey bombed a building housing a day care center.
OJ Simpson killed his ex-wife and her 'new' boyfriend and then lied about it and walked free.

Suppose any (or all) of these men were to be saved. How would you honestly feel about it?
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COR22 Events

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We at COR22 Ministries have taken a bit of a hiatus; howbeit, not of our own decision. We have been want for event's. During this break we have began (again) recording our first album (we debuted 5 yrs ago and still no release, shameful!). However, with the 2009 spring/summer season on us and a couple events on the schedule we're beginning to get the fever again!

Consider this a bit of an advertisement!

Would your church, youth group, outreach, social club, etc like to have COR22 present an evening of song and testimony focused on our LORD JESUS CHRIST?

Since we have freely received we freely give our gifts and talents back to our Father in worship! We will also entertain out of state engagements! Please contact our booking office at 937.423.3258 to schedule an event!
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Explanation

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Due to some recent communications (phone calls, emails, personal conversations) I feel somewhat compelled to explain my current situation.

As many of you know (all 3 of you who actually read this blog) I have been unemployed for the last 2 months. During this time I have been able to find temporary odd jobs to generate a small amount of income; however it has been substantially less than the necessary amount to fulfill our monthly obligations. Nevertheless, God is faithful!

Also during this time I have turned down 2 job offers. This concerns some people. Perhaps you have even been concerned about, or confused by, these decisions. While I understand I am under no obligation to defend my decisions, I'm compelled to explain them. About one month after MulchPlus of Ohio, Inc laid me off as office manager they called me wondering if I would be willing to come back to work for them in a new position. This position would be outside sales. Upon investigation, though, I found that they still had full intention of closing the company down through liquidation or by selling out no later than September 2009. It seemed extremely irresponsible for me to jump on a sinking ship in hopes of a successful rescue. Consequently I declined the offer. Some criticized this decision. Renita and I, however had mutual peace with the decision and we moved forward!

A short time later I received a call for an interview with Health Markets. The first interview was more of an information session, but when I left I had more questions than answers. Nevertheless I was excited by what I viewed as opportunities! Shortly thereafter I received a second, follow-up interview. During this interview I was sold on all the benefits and perks of becoming their 'agent' and asked when I would like to start. Any reference to the 'over 100 products and services' was vague and non-specific. I probed deeper into the details, finding the details hard to uncover. Then one day Renita specifically prayed (unbeknownst to me) that we would be clearly shown whether this was a right decision. In a matter of a few short hours I uncovered a myriad of 'red flags' through some online searches and again, I declined the offer.

Still I'm unemployed. Still I have monthly payments, mortgages, bills, and children who need fed. God is still faithful! I trust my 'prayer requests' aren't seen as complaints, but as what they are. I hope my declining of two offers aren't viewed as me being unreasonable but as following what I believe to be the Holy Spirit's lead. I beg each of you (all 3) to join me in praying for the right opportunity; one in which my needs will be supplied WHILE I bring God ultimate glory! I know you are praying and I thank you already!

If, however, you happen to see obvious blind-spots in my job search I trust you will care for me enough to pull me aside and point them out!
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Decisions

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The job I was offered yesterday was with HealthMarkets. HealthMarkets is affilliated with and offers benefits through NASE (National Association for the Self-Employed). Coupled with the 'membership' benefits is access to health/life insurance through Mega Life and Health and Mid-West National Life Insurance Company of Tennessee.

Everything seems/seemed legitimate, but then I stumbled across this today.......
Ripoff Report - HealthMarkets
Ripoff Report - NASE

How does a person know what's truth and what's fiction? How am I supposed to sort through the racket when NOTHING else has surfaced on the occupational horizon?
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Job Opportunity

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Please pray for me as I make an occupational decision. I received a call back today making me a solid offer, a 'how soon can you start training' kind of offer. It would be outside sales in the Richmond/Muncie, Indiana area out of a Fishers, Indiana office. The catch is the 100% commission based salary. While the opportunities are endless the risk seems as equally great with my family and monthly monetary needs. The product/service being sold is membership into a buying network offering small businesses the buying opportunities of larger corporations, along with affordable life/health/dental insurance.

Quite frankly, I'm scared; but if this is the opportunity the Lord wants me to accept, I welcome the challenge! Please pray that I will make an educated, responsible and Spirit-led decision! I also have two other (local) possible opportunities.
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