Forrest Gump Moments

I will resume my normal blog posting soon. Meanwhile I have to share a couple of Forrest Gump Moments with you. By that, I mean times where God puts us in a picture and, as improbable as it seems, it really happens. Since my decision to move into church consulting, some wonderful confirmations and encouragements have come my way. The following are off-the-chart Forrest Gump Moments.

Moment #1 – Dinner at Applebee’s with Gary McIntosh. The weekend after my last blog posting, our church brought in Gary McIntosh (see Reading List) for a weekend. We wanted some fresh eyes on Constance and Gary is an outstanding national consultant. We made Gary aware of my transition before he came. While he was here, I did not want to presume that he would have time for my personal situation because he was here to help Constance. However, he was very gracious and invited me out to dinner, let me pick his brain about consulting, and gave me feedback on my book summary. In the course of that conversation, I shared with him my intention to join the Society for Church Consulting (SCC) to enhance my professional association. He got an interesting look on his face and said, “You know, I happen to know that they are looking for a part time Executive Director and I think you would be a fit. They want an active consultant.” (I found out later he is on their board!).

Moment #2 – Riding to the Louisville Airport with Tom Harper. In the next couple of weeks (which included riding out the Nashville flood with my son and his family), Tom, the president of SCC, and I went back and forth by phone and email and he then flew me down for an all day interview. On the way back to the airport, he offered me the position and I accepted. I will be able to conduct much of what I do from home but will have travel. My role will include growing the organization's membership, developing a broader social media presence, and expanding training venues throughout the U.S. So this means that my new plate will include BridgeLink, SCC, and consulting. As part of my SCC relationship, I am on a consulting training and certification path. Check us out at this link http://www.churchconsultation.org/.

My wife has been quoting Eph. 3:20 to me “Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think…” I am not smart enough to have thought about these things before they happened. I am not bold enough to have asked for them. But God has poured this all out for me because He is amazing and worthy of being glorified forever and ever. Amen. (Eph 3:21).

Forrest Gump moments are like that. I hope you can remember one or have a new one happen in your life soon. As for me, I’m considering having a T-shirt made that says, “I am the Gump!”