I wanted to let you all know of our upcoming travel plans. If you’ve been following my blog, you’ll know that we set out from Colorado in early May and traveled through the eastern U.S. until late August. We’ve been hanging out in central Florida as Darlene heals from a leg infection. You can read about those travels here.

We are preparing to set out again on December 13. Our initial travel plan is shown below.

We plan to be in Colorado in time to spend Christmas with our son, Sean. After that, who knows? We’ve thought about traveling south back to warmer climates, possibly to southern New Mexico or west Texas. However, our travel plans are very tentative at this point. I mentioned a little about this in my latest Chronological Bible blog post here. The apostle Paul mentions several trip plans in his epistles (and Luke describes some in Acts 16:6-10), but they don’t always work out the way he thinks because God has other plans for him.

That’s kind of where we are right now. Our travel plans have been interrupted and changed since we initially set out and we’re seeking God’s leadership to help us know where and what He wants us to do next. I launched Watchmaker’s Pulse nearly two years ago (in February) with the idea that it could be a ministry area for us as we traveled during retirement. Since that time and initial planning took place, we’ve had some unexpected expenses arise (medical and from the sale/purchase of property) which have caused our financial situation to change. In all honesty, our extra resources are running low and we need to make some changes.

I’m looking for some employment opportunities (temporary, seasonal, or longer-term). We’d still like to be RV nomads as much as we can, so I’m looking for short-term college teaching positions across the country, park ranger positions, online teaching positions, or some other type of “work or earn from the road” situations. However, it may be that God is going to ask us to settle down again somewhere and we are willing to do what He desires.

Here’s what we ask from you:

Pray

This is the most important thing you can do. I don’t say that lightly, and I want to be perfectly clear what I mean. I recently saw a woman on TV (after the terrible dance floor shooting in California in November) who said, “Don’t send me your thoughts and prayers. I want gun control.” She was rightfully responding to a tragedy with the desire for justice and a desire for laws to be enacted to prevent such things. Unfortunately, this phrase of “thoughts and prayers” is ridiculed today as meaningless, and I’ll admit that sometimes it is. Jesus warns about empty prayers in Matthew 6:5-15.

And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Jesus gave us an example of how to pray, not so that we should repeat it over and over, but as an example for the heart of our prayers. Our prayer should seek first God’s glory and our own right attitudes. Yes, we seek things from God (needs and forgiveness) but only so far as these reflect our desire to become more like Him – holy and righteous – because that is His greatest desire for us.

So, yes, please pray for us. Pray that we will continue to seek God’s glory and that whatever we do will result in Him receiving glory. Ask God to continue to provide for our needs and to direct us to the resources he has for us. Pray for continued healing and health for us. Also, pray from a clean heart. We need your prayers, but more importantly, you need to be in right relation with God. Jesus also said (Matthew 5:23-24), “So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” It’s not that God won’t hear or honor your prayer if your heart is not right, but it is more important for your heart and attitude to be right than whatever gift or request you bring to him.

Refer

I’ve mentioned the types of jobs that I’m looking for. For those who don’t know me very well, I taught high school science for thirty years, primarily Geology and Advanced Placement Physics. I also worked an additional five (almost) years for an oil/gas software provider as a lead trainer of software use in oilfield analytics. I have a Bachelor’s degree in secondary science education, a Master’s in Geology, and a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership. That being said, my skills lie more in teaching and computer work than in hand-on labor. I also LOVE teaching and writing about the Bible, but have no formal seminary training. I am fairly creative, but quite unskilled in craftmanship. I am actively searching job postings, but if someone reading this has a referral or short-term job position anywhere in the U.S., we’re willing to consider it. You can comment on this blog post or email me (watchmakerspulse “at” gmail.com).

Advise

It is difficult soliciting advice over the internet because you can receive all kinds of “interesting” comments. Also, while advice may be good and potentially useful, you run the risk of offending someone if you choose not to take their advice. I’m reminded again of Paul in Acts 20:17-38, Acts 21:3-4, and Acts 21:11-14. He was heading to Jerusalem to deliver the monetary gifts he’d collected in Macedonia and Achaia for the church there. He then had plans to go to Rome and on to Spain to continue his missionary work. He repeatedly told people as he journeyed toward Jerusalem that he didn’t know what God had planned for him there, but he was willing to face whatever God had in store for him. People urged him not to go to Jerusalem because God had revealed to them that Paul would be imprisoned there. I wish I could say that we’ve been faithful to do everything God has directed us as we’ve traveled. However, I am unworthy to make that claim.

Support

Last of all, I will give you the opportunity to support us financially here. I’m not going to make a long plea here. DO NOT give us anything unless you specifically feel led by God to do so.

I’ll restart my weekly blog posts about our travels once we get on the road again. We’re looking forward to seeing friends and family back in Colorado.