The past year of being without a job played a major role into where I am today and where God is leading our church. In February of last year when I found myself without a job, I thought it couldn't be too difficult to find another place of employment. Boy! Was that ever a false assumption!! After being turned down by numerous churches, several colleges, and not even given a second glance at several secular vocations, it became increasingly clear (and frustrating and discouraging) that I was going to be jobless for some time. It was also very clear that ONLY the Lord would open the door to my next place of employment. (My Ph.D. did not swing wide the doors as I had been accustomed to think!)

Well praise the Lord-He did open the door, and like always when He moves, He opened the perfect, best door for us! A long year of waiting for us! A great year of being taught by God, and unknown to me at the time, prepared by God for what is to be my first duty as pastor of First Baptist, Paintsville, KY!

Let me explain.

I now know what it means to be without a job, not able to find employment, and entirely trusting in the Lord to provide for me and my family! And He did numerous times THROUGH HIS PEOPLE!

The Lord led me to preach through the book of Philippians to begin my ministry at First Baptist. It was not until I was preparing my first sermon of the book that the Lord cleared away the clouds and revealed to me why He led me to Philippians and why He had allowed me to live 12 months without a job.

Remember the famous (or infamous depending on your perspective) line of President Clinton's first campaign: It's the economy ______! The economic recession is THE issue of our day. 1000s have lost their jobs, lost their homes, and are losing and/or have lost their retirement funds. Many, many more will find themselves among these before this is over! People are hurting, and everyone will feel this somehow before the end.

Here is where Philippians is a tremendous asset for the Church today! I preached an overview of Philippians in which I made 2 points in light of the recession. (1) The most visible theme in the letter is that believers can have a sure, unshakable joy that transcends ALL circumstances! (2) Difficult, trying circumstances are the most opportune times for the Church to step up and live out the Gospel in big, sacrificial ways for the glory of God!

Do you see what I see? WOW! Philippians is exactly what we need to hear today!

Back to God's preparation for me to pastor. Now I am ready to pastor people who have lost their job and are not having much success in finding other employment. Now I can lead the Church to care for brothers and sisters in Christ who need our help. I am ready now because I have been without a job, and I have been cared for by the Church during that time.