May 7, 2006

being assessed

My wife and I will be gone for the next few days being assessed for our church plant vision. The way it works is that we go through three days of intensive interviewing from a variety of angles, including lots of tests and so on.

The real catch is that they are less interested in what you know and more interested in how you handle pressure. (If you're a Star Trek fan, think Kobiyashi Maru and you'll be on track.) We already had to take several psych tests that ask us questions like, "If you could attempt any profession, would you like to be a florist" and "Do you often have trouble with constipation?" (For more on this from another guy going through it, visit Steve Thompson's blog)

Yeah... great questions, huh?

Anyway... that's where we will be the next couple of days. Pray we get a green light to do the church plant, but first and foremost please pray that God's best plan is chosen whether or not that involves us getting what we want. Because what we really want is what he wants.

Oh yeah... and pray for our boys, too, while they are away from us for a few days. We start at 8:30am tomorrow (Monday) and our first day lasts until midnight.

This is why we moved here in faith. It would be nice if this all has a happy ending, but even nicer if it has a God-sized ending. Pray that if both are the same thing we find out this week as we're being prodded and poked to see what we're capable of.

"Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize." (1 Corinthians 9:25-27, a bit out of context)

8 comments:

Bstermyster said...

Goodluck, and may the force be with you (you know, the God force)!!! I will pray for the boys. So will my mom.

Anonymous said...

The problem with a God size answer is it may be a whisper. :) I want the burning bush or maybe a voice from Heaven like thunder. Perhaps the holy spirit decending like a dove? Just ideas. He can come up with something bigger if he wants.

Praying for you all.

Darius said...

Yeah, but "Does anybody really know what the context is?" - to paraphrase a Chicago lyric out of context...

Thurman8er said...

You'll be in my prayers.

No reprogamming of the simulator.

Ian said...

Can I ask what denomination you are working with?

Jason Raitz said...

Praying for you guys! Hope it goes well.

Katie said...

exciting, and well worth the tests to watch your dream come true

tonymyles said...

Ian - Wesleyan.

Everyone - thank you for your prayers. The fact that you would lift up my wife and I during this time just blows me away. I appreciate so many of you rallying around my family during our church planting assessment.

By the way, the experience was a lot like American Idol and The Apprentice with crazy assignments, crunch timelines, and lots of people with clipboards writing it all down. We even had a few "board room" style conversations that heated things up. I don't think I'll ever watch those shows the same again.

But - by the way - it was very humbling and healthy. A lot to process... keep praying.