Past and Present - Plan B

We've started a new message series at Mainstreet Church based in part on the Pete Wilson book, Plan B. Plan B is about when your life takes a different direction than you had thought. Things like divorce, an illness such as cancer, job loss, a wayward child etc. can force us to rethink our direction and change the plans we had in mind for ourselves. As I've worked through the different weeks of the series planning our church gatherings - music, drama, videos and such, it has caused me to consider my own life, and if it's gone down the path I had in mind.

I can remember as a very young child telling my mom that I was going to be a doctor; I know... just about every kid says the same thing. When we started going on vacation to Florida and I saw the ocean, I decided I was going to be a marine biologist. And in my early teens, as I got really involved with church stuff and attended Christian school, I just knew I was going to be a missionary. Of course, all of that went right out the window (including my church involvement) when I discovered the guitar; now I was going to be a rock star!

I bought my first guitar from Staff Music on Canton Rd. in Akron in about 1974 or so - a Yamaha FG75 acoustic. The first rock song I learned all the way through was Simple Man by Lynyrd Skynyrd; I was on my way. In 11th grade, I sold everything I had and bought an Ibanez Les Paul 59'r from Akron Music. I even paid the price on the hang tag (I never forgave Roger for that one) and I was really on my way. At some point in my blog I'll detail out my 15+ years in the NE Ohio band scene, but for now, suffice it to say that my "Plan A", becoming a rock star didn't pan out; I guess I'm living in Plan B.

"I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

I've certainly had some amazing adventures in my Plan B and long ago came to the realization that God's plan for me (my REAL Plan A) was to work full time in ministry, which I've done now since 1997. The really amazing part of this plan is that right now, music and playing my guitar are a main part of what I do for a living - hmmm.

God's plan is always better than anything we can dream up. I was thinking this morning that I never, ever thought I'd be a worship pastor at a church, it never crossed my mind, but I can tell you that I wouldn't change God's plan for anything.

So, tell me about your Plan A and Plan B - how has your life turned out for you? Please respond!

Change of Life 2

It was about a year ago I wrote in a post about how my life was changing due to the fact that my inlaws and nieces were moving here from Florida. Well, they have settled in nicely this past year and we are really glad to have them in our life - and yes, our life has certainly changed with their arrival. With some new things that are coming up in my life yet again, I've taken a minute to reflect back about how we go through many "changes of life" as we pass through our short time on this planet.

Think about your changes of life; like the kindergarten experience. I remember I cried like a kindergartener when my mom took me to Voris Elementary and introduced me to Mrs. Gray. That day is followed by milestones like your first crush (Joyce Houston), your first fight (Chuckie Martin) and your first really nasty school teacher (Mrs. Trustly) and even your first trip to the principal's office...my best friend Joe Scaglione and I saved our lunch money in 5th grade and snuck off the playground to buy candy at the gas station on Waterloo Road. Boy did we freak out when Mrs. Armoroid came on the loud speaker later that day "Mrs. Kinney? Will you send John Authenreith and Joe Scaglione to my office please?" How did she know? Then of course comes junior high (yuck - Rosswell Kent Jr. High) and high school (Garfield) and hopefully if you've done what your supposed to do, high school graduation. Which brings me to my current change of life.

My little boy Brandon is graduating from high school in a few weeks. Mourn, wail, sniff, sniff. I can't believe we are already at this point in our journey of life. It seems like only yesterday I was cutting his umbilical cord with a weird pair of scissors (those things are really thick), taking him to his first kindergarten class, blessing him at Confirmation, beaming over him when he graduated from 8th grade at Salem School in Tomball Texas and dropping him off for his first day of high school at Concordia.

We have so much to be proud of. He is a great kid errr...former kid. He's very smart, fun to be around and has made our life and our family a joy these past 18 years. Now he's off to his own change of life as he heads to Bowling Green State University in the fall. Way to go Brandon - your mom and I are very proud and love you tons.