HERE WE GO

I have decided on a new adventure. With my wife and kids on Facebook and blogging, I have been the hold out on the new communication tools. I have tried to keep my nose clean and my mouth shut. I could not imagine how anyone over 40 could have so much to say on Facebook. And forget Twitter. There is no need for anyone to know what I am normally doing in short sound bites. Not that I am into anything I shouldn't be. Its just that most people are not interesting 24 hours a day. I can't think of anyone I know who would be worth following 24/7. However, I have had a change of mind. It is now my turn. I have a lot of answers and nobody is asking questions. So it is time for me to speak up anyway.

Expectation of posts: The answers found in the posts may be theological, practical, or whimsical. But they will hopefully not be boring. Where do thoughts come from? They just kinda happen. Sometimes they are relevant to more people than me.

I am currently under-employed. I have been seeking another job for several months. How can someone be "under-employed" and "over-qualified" at the same time? My salary this year will be less than half of what it has been in previous years. That is, excluding the last three in which I had a period of unemployment. That makes me under-employed. But the result of the last job I interviewed for I was being passed over because I was over-qualified. If I am will to work and that willingness is apparent because I applied for the job, how can someone else determine that I am not employable because I have too much experience? I find an opportunity that is appealing to me and get told, "I'm sorry, we are looking for someone less qualified, someone that does not have the knowledge and experience that you do." How does that make sense? Reminds me of Wade Phillips on the Dallas Cowboys sideline shouting, "Are you kidding me?"

I am used to being recruited. Over the past 15 years, I have usually found jobs when I wasn't looking. The job found me. I have had several recent good opportunities that soured after a short time. Being unemployed really sucks, but being under-employed is frustrating too. With all the experience I have, why is it that I am having so much trouble finding a job.

I have a BA, MDiv and have done DMin work. I have a broad base of experience, including 15 years as pastor, youth pastor, worship leader; 12 years in hospice work, as chaplain, bereavement, marketing rep, and administrator; 1 year as hospital chaplain in the cardiology units of The Methodist Hospital in Houston, TX; assisted in start of 2 churches; Camp pastor, Youth camp planning, and leading mission trips to Laredo, TX; started a hospice and served as administrator in Austin, TX; computer literate, working at IBM 5 years and selling computer networks; taught 7 semesters of seminary extension courses in Gulf Coast Baptist Association; started and led home Bible studies; certified Red Cross instructor in HIV/AIDS; Disaster Relief in Texas and Louisiana after hurricanes; successfully raised 3 kids; remodeled and sold 4 homes; I can grow food in a garden and catch fish; I have driven cars, trucks, motorcycles, and a school bus. With all of that, and I am still under-employed.

Maybe the problem is not with your set. Maybe I simply have no ambition. Maybe I just haven't figured out what I want to be when I grow up. Whatever the case, I choose to look at my current situation as being on the brink of my next great adventure. Stay tuned. There's no telling where this goes from here.