In Need of Retreat

Today was a long day for many reasons.  I began the day early in order to get ahead of the proverbial curve.  Education Board for the conference in scheduled for tomorrow afternoon and there was still a lot to be completed in preparation.  I had already worked for close to two hours before it was time for worship.

I spent an hour after office morning worship talking shop with the conference treasurer.  It was a productive meeting, but I left feeling as if there were some challenging days ahead for the school system.  Funds are tight all around.  The task is formidable but the risk of surrender is worse.

I met with a new colleague in Family Ministries.  She brings a great skill set and lots of great ideas and even more energy.  It was a great meeting.  I sense a lot of things will be happening in the Family Ministries Department.

I had two teleconferences and a meeting at TAA.  It was not an easy meeting.  I need to decompress….

Big Week Lining Up

Yesterday was a great day!  I preached two times at the Glendale Church—once at 8:30 and the other at 11:15 a.m.  The second went a lot better than the first, although it was after the first service that someone approached me to let me know that the message was exactly what she needed on that day.  It’s humbling.

The afternoon was spent restfully with Penny—which is a rare occasion.  We heard messages from various speakers on the Internet and listened to some good music.  We even found time to take a short walk around campus in the afternoon after it had cooled down.  It’s still nice around here since it actually cools down in the evening.  In the heat of the summer (pun intended) it does not cool down enough to make a difference.  A fan alone will not suffice, although surprisingly so people lived here long before the arrival any electric fan or swamp cooler.

Today was supposed to be a day of office work—catching up, if you wish.  I have been here a considerable amount of time with little progress.  I still have the afternoon.  The week will be anchored by K-12 Education Board on Tuesday and AZ Executive Committee on Wednesday.  The Education Board agenda will include the usual reports by TAA and Holbrook, and introductions of their new principals—one which will be attending.  A number of out-of-state trips will be considered in addition to personnel decisions and school budgets.  It will be a full docket.  I ask for your prayers as the committee wrestles with the momentous decisions that face our system.

Back In Scottsdale

I am back in Scottsdale, for a while anyway, after a whirlwind trip to Sacramento for an Educational Leadership Committee followed by an Education Code Revision Committee.  It may not sound like much, but they were very productive and stimulating meetings.

I confess that I am not one for meetings.  I consider them necessary evils—the price I must pay (together with paperwork) to participate in the areas of my work that are most rewarding.  I am learning that meetings are as productive as I choose for them to be.  A lot depends on the person who is in charge of the committee or meeting.  These were under the able leadership of our Pacific Union Conference Superintendent—and it makes a difference.  These were meetings that were driven by visioning and matters of consequence.  I enjoyed the process.  I even enjoyed the policy revision committee, even if the items for discussion will directly impact our AZ school system in a less favorable way—at least to begin with.

Yesterday I was in Tucson to interview a potential teacher.  There is not much to report at this moment, but it seems to be a promising scenario.  Glenview is also facing some staffing challenges which will require some creative staffing and realignment.  I was on the phone most of the morning and midafternoon.  As you may know, TAA is facing a second major transition in its administration in two years.  This one will be a bit less traumatic since it has been a slow and deliberate process.  The transition will have some ripples, but I am hopeful it will be for the best.

My wife in coming into town today—I will be leaving in a few minutes to pick her up from the airport.  I certainly look forward to the summer when things seem a bit more normal on the home front.  Penny will be in town for the summer, and perhaps at long last, for the coming school year.  For now I must content myself with having her around two or three times a month, and reciprocating on the other weekends.

It will soon be Sabbath.  I am preaching at the Glendale SDA Church tomorrow.  It should be a great day.  Mom will be in Prescott with her new daughter and son.  I will be in the Valley of the Sun with my sweetheart!  Happy Sabbath to all of you!

Change is in the Air

The day began with a flurry of paperwork and emails.  I had high hopes for the day.  My work day ended early, but before the day was done I had participated in two personnel committees in two schools that were making some tough choices regarding their futures. 

As those schools go through the process of re-hiring or striking a new direction, other events continue to move forward.  The flight program at TAA is slowly taking shape.  Contracts are being formulated that will concede the actual flight program to AWA (Adventist World Aviation), while the ground school would be the responsibility of the school.  This dichotomy is intended to shield the school from the risks of running a flight program.  AWA is in a much better position to provide the necessary insurance and maintenance for the aircrafts.  In any case, it will be a job for the lawyers to sift through  the contracts and make all parties happy.  It is exciting to think that flight program will return to TAA after an over twenty year absence.

That will be all for today.  My media fast is still going strong.  My weight has inched upward.  I need to get back into my routine.  California is not good for my routine.  (232.8)

The Pace Quickens

Wow!  The pace is picking up on the events surrounding the Arizona Conference Office of Education.  I am excited and anxious at the same time.  Some would suggest that I should be worried about everything that is going on, but even my anxiousness is more related to anticipation than to dread.  I still believe God is doing something special, but His ways are not always predictable.  That’s the exciting part.

On the other hand, there is a deep level of trust that travels in both directions.  I have no doubt that God’s trust in us to follow His leading is certainly more generous that our measly ability to trust in His leading.  That’s the rub.  That’s where my growing needs to take place.  In any case, here are some updates on the happenings around the conference….

TAA has a new principal for the coming year!  That’s big news, especially this early in the spring.  The benefit of having a viable and qualified individual ready, willing, and able to take the helm of the school next year is great.  The fact that he has been designated by this juncture is a blessing on a much greater scale.  The selection comes at the end of a significant interview and vetting process by AAF and the AZ Conference Office of Education.  Mr. Richard Maloon will be officially introduced to the TAA faithful on Alumni Weekend (April 13-14).  I hope and pray the TAA family will rally around Mr. Maloon.  He is a capable and spiritual administrator.  Keep him in your prayers.

As you may know, Holbrook Indian School is also going through some transitions.  Janet Claymore-Ross, who has provided exemplary leadership to that school for the last six years, is retiring at the end of the school year.  The Holbrook Board of Trustees also has selected an individual to lead the school into the future.  Mr. Pedro Ojeda will be endeavoring to fill the void left by Dr. Claymore’s departure.  He brings a wealth of experience in administration and business, not to mention life experience, to the position.  He possesses a passion for Adventist Education and deep commitment to impacting the Native American community in Arizona and beyond.  Keep Mr. Ojeda in your prayers.

Finally, the last week of the conference-wide Arizona Tax Credit initiative is here.  It is apparently one of the best kept secrets in the Arizona Conference.  But April 17 is next Tuesday.  We are still hoping for great things from the conference members who have yet to submit their tax returns to the IRS or the State of Arizona.  One major development is that the Tax Credit donation can be made on-line.  The prompts are on the conference website.  We are hoping many people will take advantage of the website option.  We are looking for 1000 new tax credit participants.  We have a way to go, but nothing is impossible for God.  Work beckons…good night!