It has been eight months since my divorce and next Tuesday it will be the same amount of time since I finished my studies at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, IN. 

I did not receive a call this year because of a mandatory rule at the seminary which will not allow a divorced man to receive a call until 2 years after his divorce is final.  Some of the people I have told this too think it is rather harsh of the seminary, but I defend the Seminary because it is the authority that God has placed over me in this situation at this time.  The rule is not to punish me for allowing my marriage to end a failure, but to safeguard both me and the potential congregation I will serve.  They want to make sure that I am fit emotionally, spiritually and physically so that I will be able to serve as Pastor of one of Christ's flocks. 

While I may feel fairly well at the moment, there may be things I haven't experienced yet in mourning the end of the union that God put together and the both of us tore apart.  I can tell you that I am ready to move on in my life and see what the next chapter brings. 

I love my children dearly and look forward to the times when we are all together.  On July 8, I will be driving up to Grand Rapids, MI where they live with their mother.  I will bring them back to my apartment and spend the weekend around town preparing for another drive to Minnesota next Monday.  We will make a two day stop in Milwaukee, WI to visit their aunt, my Sister and her two boys. 

I am hoping our time in Minnesota will be very relaxing and enjoyable as it will be a whole year before they will get to see any of their relatives again. 

When we return to Fort Wayne at the end of July, the girls will be with me for two more weeks.  Hopefully we will have a chance to further work on the Father/daughter relationships that suffered during my divorce with their mother.  I give thanks to the Lord for He is good and his mercy endures forever. 

We trust in him because of his gracious love for us in that he sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to take on our sins and be crucified with them and in turn giving to us his righteousness.

Keep us in your prayers
Amen