Shot a coyote should I write former minister (Full Version)

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Ironworker -> Shot a coyote should I write former minister (5/5/2008 8:09:34 AM)

Strange title of this post. When I was a teenager and young adult I went to such gand such a church and had a youth minister who has since left the ministry and now sells insurance. He use to take me hunting along with others. As far as a youth minister he only cared I feel because that was his job. He tried to start his own church,God didn't bless him. He tried to get hired at my present church they said no. 30 years ago he and I were deer hunting,we ran across a Fox I shot him and had him stuffed.That was 30 years ago.Well 2 weeks ago I shot a coyote and instantly after I shot him a thought came to me, maybe I otta send a picture to former youth pastor and share the moment and thank him for being my preacher when I was a kid. But you know he didn't do a very good job .I've struggled with painful memories from him over the years.At current church his wife ( she was very arrogent and kinda judge mental of me,)some times comes with their family but he doesn't come.( Perhaps because he was rejected by this church) I just wonder as a symbol of my forgiving him of his apathy towards me I should send a picture and my status update 30 years later???????



barbi -> RE: Shot a coyote should I write former minister (5/5/2008 8:20:42 AM)

will be praying for you to have wisdom in this on what to do



sparkleingsnow -> RE: Shot a coyote should I write former minister (5/5/2008 8:27:38 AM)

Perhaps the Lord is touching your heart to reach out to this man in kindness and love.
I guess my advice would be to search your heart. Have you forgiven him? Do you want to update him to kind of say "See how good I'm doing despite what a bad leader you were to me? Or do you want to update him to encourage and help him at a time to see he needs it?

Father guide Ironworker to do what You would have him to do. Bless him, guide him, and help him. May Your light shine through him and may he grow in his walk with You. Your will be done Father. In Jesus name. Amen



peaceofGod -> RE: Shot a coyote should I write former minister (5/5/2008 8:53:28 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: sparkleingsnow
Father guide Ironworker to do what You would have him to do. Bless him, guide him, and help him. May Your light shine through him and may he grow in his walk with You. Your will be done Father. In Jesus name. Amen

This is my prayer, too.



Ironworker -> RE: Shot a coyote should I write former minister (5/5/2008 7:11:22 PM)

No way do I want to hurt this brother. You know our redeemer is the author of our trials and hurts in life.God allowed this man in my life for his purpose.God has the right to test us,well I for sure want to pass these test! My job is to forgive and move on.But that's the question. Does God want me to glance in my rear view mirror ? The day I left for this vacation was a Sunday and his wife was sitting in church with their family but with out him.Maybe that just stuck with me in the back of my mind? I've seen her there before with out him and she looked stressed and anxiously looking for familiar faces. Once when write after he left ministry he called me wanting to sell me an insurance policy. His prices weren't competitive . Plus once I inquired about renters insurance he quoted me a yearly price of $300 buck as where others were quoting $60 bucks a year??????Heard from another brother who is also a insurance man and he said something about questionable business practices on his part. However that is 2nd hand information. This brother graduated from Dallas theological seminary.



sparkleingsnow -> RE: Shot a coyote should I write former minister (5/5/2008 7:38:45 PM)

Ironworker, I'm sorry if I offended you. I wasn't questioning your motives. You asked for advice and I know if I felt someone had harmed me, I would need to check out my own heart and motives. Anyway if I offened you please forgive me. God Bless. :)

Father, asking that You would guide Ironworker in what You would have him to do. That You would bless him and use him to Your glory. In Jesus name. Amen



ta_mosquito -> RE: Shot a coyote should I write former minister (5/5/2008 7:51:18 PM)

Moving this from Prayer & Praise to Relationships, since it seems like you want advice. Let me know if you want only prayer - if so, I can send it back.



1love1God1way -> RE: Shot a coyote should I write former minister (5/5/2008 8:25:01 PM)

I think it would be a really nice gesture.



Kat_D -> RE: Shot a coyote should I write former minister (5/5/2008 8:29:44 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Ironworker

Strange title of this post. When I was a teenager and young adult I went to such gand such a church and had a youth minister who has since left the ministry and now sells insurance. He use to take me hunting along with others. As far as a youth minister he only cared I feel because that was his job. He tried to start his own church,God didn't bless him. He tried to get hired at my present church they said no. 30 years ago he and I were deer hunting,we ran across a Fox I shot him and had him stuffed.That was 30 years ago.Well 2 weeks ago I shot a coyote and instantly after I shot him a thought came to me, maybe I otta send a picture to former youth pastor and share the moment and thank him for being my preacher when I was a kid. But you know he didn't do a very good job .I've struggled with painful memories from him over the years.At current church his wife ( she was very arrogent and kinda judge mental of me,)some times comes with their family but he doesn't come.( Perhaps because he was rejected by this church) I just wonder as a symbol of my forgiving him of his apathy towards me I should send a picture and my status update 30 years later???????

[sm=aside.gif]

Let me see if I've got this straight...You want to send a picture of a dead coyote to your youth pastor from 30 years ago in the hopes that it will somehow communicate to him that you have forgiven him for a perceived wrongdoing he likely may not even realize he did? That just strikes me as very odd.

My first thought is that if you want to express your feelings to him, you should sit down and have a face to face conversation. Something you probably should have done 30 years ago...but it's never too late!!



Ironworker -> RE: Shot a coyote should I write former minister (5/6/2008 12:32:13 AM)

Sparkling I'm not offended nor will I be with any thing you said.Thanks for sharing your thoughts.



Ironworker -> RE: Shot a coyote should I write former minister (5/6/2008 12:51:30 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Kat_D

quote:

ORIGINAL: Ironworker

Strange title of this post. When I was a teenager and young adult I went to such gand such a church and had a youth minister who has since left the ministry and now sells insurance. He use to take me hunting along with others. As far as a youth minister he only cared I feel because that was his job. He tried to start his own church,God didn't bless him. He tried to get hired at my present church they said no. 30 years ago he and I were deer hunting,we ran across a Fox I shot him and had him stuffed.That was 30 years ago.Well 2 weeks ago I shot a coyote and instantly after I shot him a thought came to me, maybe I otta send a picture to former youth pastor and share the moment and thank him for being my preacher when I was a kid. But you know he didn't do a very good job .I've struggled with painful memories from him over the years.At current church his wife ( she was very arrogent and kinda judge mental of me,)some times comes with their family but he doesn't come.( Perhaps because he was rejected by this church) I just wonder as a symbol of my forgiving him of his apathy towards me I should send a picture and my status update 30 years later???????

[sm=aside.gif]

Let me see if I've got this straight...You want to send a picture of a dead coyote to your youth pastor from 30 years ago in the hopes that it will somehow communicate to him that you have forgiven him for a perceived wrongdoing he likely may not even realize he did? That just strikes me as very odd.

My first thought is that if you want to express your feelings to him, you should sit down and have a face to face conversation. Something you probably should have done 30 years ago...but it's never too late!!

Kat_D I like the way you question what I'm doing. It certainly does seem odd. Back when I was a student in his ministry I was young and immature.I didn't know that I was in charge of my feelings.I was easily hurt,very insecure.It was my problem that I let his un perfect ministry and personality and human weaknesses get to me. He was a hunter and was with me when I shot a Grey Fox. So I felt that him seeing me 30+ years later holding a just shot coyote with a big hole in his neck along with me thanking him for the time and his ministry along with giving him an update of whats going on in my life might mean some thing to him. I figure what do I have to loose? Also seconds after I shot that coyote in the neck at 104 yards I had that thought come to mind so perhaps its our Loving redeemer impressing on me my next marching orders? Also Kat_D its a guy thing. Maybe it would nudge him to come to church with his wife. I need to figure a tact full way of wording this note.I want him to have a warm feeling in his heart you know create a little sunshine.I bet he feels bad about his past years as a minister.I feel bad about a lot of poor choices I made back then. Isn't it great our heavenly Father doesn't keep a record of our blunders????? Amazing Grace that saved a retch like me.



Prayer Warrior -> RE: Shot a coyote should I write former minister (5/6/2008 4:54:43 AM)

Dear friend,

I just wanted to say, that ANYtime you reach out in friendship and love, it can do no wrong. I think it is awesome, and I have an intense feeling God is working through you to this pastor.

Also, who is forgiveness for? It is a great blessing to the forgiver and the forgiven.

I pray that you go ahead and write. I pray that friendship and love will grow. No matter what, God will bless your heart for trying!

As in 1 Cor. 13, it clearly states "the greatest of these is love", and you are being very loving.

hugs,
pw



buckifn -> RE: Shot a coyote should I write former minister (5/6/2008 7:15:55 AM)

How about sending the picture, a short update about it, and an invitation to meet for coffee? Maybe your reaching out to him through the picture is God's way of opening a door for you both to grow by having a long past due conversation?



sparkleingsnow -> RE: Shot a coyote should I write former minister (5/6/2008 8:28:23 AM)

Some very good advice. I like buckifn's idea to not only reach out to him in the mail, but to try to meet with him.

I think I understand what your trying to do and why better, after reading your reply to Kat_D. I wasn't sure at first as you had some negative things to say about him. I would also suggest when you see his wife at church looking uncomfortable, maybe go up and greet her too. Sounds like she could use some encouragement, too, and that may be another door for you to reach out to her husband through.

God Bless.



Kat_D -> RE: Shot a coyote should I write former minister (5/6/2008 9:04:03 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Ironworker
Also Kat_D its a guy thing.


Ah, that's probably why I don't get it...I'm of the female persuasion.[sm=silly.gif]

I'm sure God has worked through stranger things than this, and if you are really sure that sending this man a picture of your dead coyote is what the Lord is nudging you to do, I sure wouldn't want to stand in His way. It seems as though your heart is in the right place for sure.

Blessings as you seek to reach out to this man in this very unconventional way.



still4gvn -> RE: Shot a coyote should I write former minister (5/6/2008 9:07:52 PM)

Yup. This sounds like a real guy thing. Go for it, but don't show it to his wife.[:'(]



Ironworker -> RE: Shot a coyote should I write former minister (7/20/2008 10:37:47 AM)

Well it took me long enough but while I was laid off last week I wrote that letter to my former youth minister. He quickly wrote back thanking me for the encouragement . Also mentions how he will be attending my church with his family. While I was writing it I had to fight back a tear. Seriously I was asking God where did that come from. It was when I mentioned how fast time went bye. Perhaps I was wishing so badly I had it all to do again.



laura... -> RE: Shot a coyote should I write former minister (7/22/2008 10:59:19 AM)

Thanks for the update. It sounds like the letter and pic hit its target. I pray that he shows up at your church for services soon.



sunshinesoprano -> RE: Shot a coyote should I write former minister (7/22/2008 12:30:53 PM)

I think you did a great thing.

This man is probably totally broken and knows quite well that his ministry was less than great.

You reaching out to him may have given him hope that God worked through him in spite of his humanity.

Please keep us updated.



Ironworker -> RE: Shot a coyote should I write former minister (7/22/2008 8:03:40 PM)

Yes he sent me a picture of the fish he and a couple of friends caught.Asking me if I would like to go. One must ask them selves what did those little fishies ever do to us that would make us want to trick them into biting our hooks that we placed bate on. To tempt them. Ok so when they do bite on them were going to drag them to their deaths ![&o] How would we like it if we bought a hamburger and the clerk put a hook in it and starting reeling in the line when we took a bite????? That's cruel .



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