Seconds

Written by cycleguy on April 27th, 2014

No, this is not a call for “Seconds” on a meal.

I have  been the recipient of second chances…and third…and fourth. My wife has given me second  chances to atone for arrogant mistakes. My girls have given me second chances by giving me a “new start” when I have said, “I’m sorry.” And, of course, God has been the biggest giver of Second Chances.

What do you do when you feel washed up, kicked to the curb? That was how I felt after a 13 year ministry ended unceremoniously. I found myself out of a job; moving in to live with my mother-in-law; and attending a church where “OUTDATED” was spelled across it. In fact, the week I thought was going to be our last there, was soon to be the first of many. The pastor was leaving and I was asked to stay and possibly be considered for the position. I did and was and spent 5 years there, but that is not my Second Chance story.

Not. by. a. long. shot.

My second chance came at the end of five years there when I found myself moving to Spencer, IN to pastor a year old church. I once told Jo I needed to move. “I’m not dead yet. I have too much to give still.” (I loved the people but it was time). Along came the chance to move to OVCF, a chance which almost didn’t happen. Jo found the ad by Googling it. She told me to check it out, but I hesitated. With her persistence, I proceeded and the rest, as they say, is history.

We moved here in November of 2005 and hit the ground running. We have had our share of ups and downs to be sure. Being displaced by flood waters. Being told we could use the school only for them to change their mind. Several missteps in 2009. Moving to a new facility. Financial misstep. Renovation of the facility. Hiring a full-time youth pastor.

I have never enjoyed being a pastor more than I have here. I feel like I have been given a Second Chance by God to do some of the things I never had the chance to do before, to learn things I have never learned before, to pass along things worth passing along. And forever how long this ministry lasts, I will always consider it my favorite, most fulfilling, and most exciting.

Over the next several weeks I will be highlighting some guest posts on Second Chances. Please tune in to hear how God works in different lives and in different ways.

 

19 Comments so far ↓

  1. Daniel says:

    It’s amazing to look back over the journey and to see how things that were uncertain or worrisome worked themselves out.

  2. Zee says:

    Looking forward to reading the guest posts (not that I don’t like yours:)

  3. Bill, it shows that you’re happy at OVCF.

  4. Jeff says:

    I think we have all found ourselves on the short end of fate at one time or another. I don’t think there is a God that sits around picking winners and losers. I guess there are some people that you would believe God didn’t give a second chance to or that God somehow favors some people over others. It sure seems to me like no matter what religion or God one chooses to believe in fate works the same for everyone.
    If Christians somehow enjoyed a fate different than others then there might be something to the theory of God pulling strings.
    I see no evidence of God doing anything for believers that doesn’t happen equally to the unreligious.
    I guess it is just a way to try to give a reason for why random things happen. I prefer to think the good and bad is just life. There are no invisible string pullers in my world.

    • cycleguy says:

      I wanted to take some time to respond Jeff since it needed some thought. First, I don’t believe in fate. I do believe in God’s hand working in events. I don’t believe He pulls strings, but do believe He can take what happens and use it for a good purpose. Yes, even His purpose. While what happened to me was not a good thing, it did put me in a place where I was already living in Ohio and eventually at a place where I was ready to move to Indiana again. I hadn’t been at the church in Ohio but 3 months when a church heard me speak and asked my best friend if I would be interested in moving to their town and consider being their pastor. He told them No (which I also would have). I may have not been ready to even hear about Spencer if the time had not been right. Meanwhile moving to Ohio also gave Jo a chance to take care of her mom until her death. All in all our views of events are different because our worldview is different. I have a biblical worldview and you have one that is more “secular.” That is not a criticism but a fact. I also believe we do experience a “fate” different than others, because I believe in an eternal heaven (and hell). I do respect your opinion though and wouldn’t want you to stop giving it. (Not that you would anyway). 🙂 Thanks for expressing your thoughts.

  5. Kari Scare says:

    We all need to be reminded about our own second chances. It’s also helpful to hear about the second chances of others. All remind us of His grace and mercy.

  6. Betty Draper says:

    None of what you experience in the 13 years and the five years is a waste. I would daresay those years have made you the good pastor you are now. Every change God brings is but a stepping stone to grow us into His image. Without those kind of times you would not be able to understand second chances. Ace and I would have never been ready for foreign mission service without those early steps of disappointments, feeling washed up, kicked to the curb as you say.

    We were ready to die on the field. So having to come home for our health was a huge blow to us. At our age we did not see God using us in the role our mission ask us to fill. Yet this God who hangs the earth on nothing is never though with us. It took us a while to get into what we do now but we can see how suited we are for this ministry. So very glad you did not allow those hard times stop you from being open to change.

    • cycleguy says:

      I don’t feel it is a waste either Betty. I am convinced God had His hand in the lessons I learned. Knowing your heart from your posting on your blog and here, I bet it about did you and Ace to have to return to America. Just like me, you have allowed this new venture to be a time for God to still use you. 🙂

  7. floyd says:

    That’s a great story, Bill. Funny how the voice of the Lord often comes in the sound of our wife’s voice! Nothing better than real life stories to drive home a point. I’m looking forward to them.

    • cycleguy says:

      Yeah. Jo doesn’t speak very loud most times, but when she does…look out! LOL I can’t wait for the stories to be told.

  8. Linda says:

    I know my family and myself have been blessed by your “seconds”. We have been blessed to have friends through all our highs and lows. As far as “seconds” I am grateful for the “seconds” God has given me by never giving up on me.

    • cycleguy says:

      You have no idea how much that means to hear Linda. I also know your friends have stuck by you and you know who your friends really are. 🙂 And you are right: He never gives up on you…me…or anyone else. Thanks for your comment.

  9. Roxie says:

    I have found in my life that most of the time it is difficult to see how God is working or what His plans are at the time an event is happening. Hindsight, though, reveals all. 🙂 Who would have imagined having my home destroyed by a flood was a good thing?! But it was. God had His hand in it. All I had to do was trust Him. So much happened. People were given opportunities to be “Jesus with skin”. We were given opportunities to share our faith and trust. And in the end, we ended up with a much nicer home than the one we had to start with.

    One of my favorite experiences of God’s intervention in my life happened nearly 30 years ago. My young son (about 7 at the time) and I were visiting with my grandparents. My grandma was the most humble, calm, loving person of faith I have ever known. Grandma never got riled up about anything, and she never moved faster than “easy-going”. But on this particular visit, as my son and I prepared to go home (a two hour drive), my grandmother suddenly looked like she had been struck by lightening. She declared we couldn’t leave yet. She tried to find excuses to make me stay. She insisted on sending food from her freezer home with us (grandma was a avid gardener and canner). She rushed around in a nervous frenzy putting together two bags of food. Just as suddenly as it started, it stopped. Grandma stopped in her tracks, smiled, and said, “Okay, you can go now.” It was so extremely puzzling. The entire thing lasted about 10 minutes. As we got down the highway, the traffic was at a standstill. A massive accident involving a semi-truck and several cars had just happened…..10 minutes before. Some can call that a coincidence. But I know my grandma. She was touched, and we were saved.

    BTW, Bill, we love having you and Jo at OVCF, too. You are both precious members of the family.