MY GOALS FOR 2025!!

     Last year I wrote a blog stating that I had one specific goal for 2024. It was to flex my creative muscle. I wanted to use my creative gifts through my writing and my videos. Last year I was able to begin the process of writing a book as well as a screenplay. Both these projects will take years to complete but I do love the challenge of working on them! I was also able to create a few new puppet characters. One I was able to use throughout the year, Red Heartly, obviously a heart puppet who comes out of a black bag. The other was Pete the Talking Pizza who I was hoping to debut last fall but that had to be put on hold. For 2025, I would like to share with you five personal goals I have set which I hope to accomplish for this coming year.

1. ADJUST TO LIFE IN SOUTH CAROLINA

     As I am writing this, I have only lived in South Carolina for 22 days. I realize it is going to take some time to adjust. The mentality and the culture is very different "down here" than up north. I used to have issues with door dashers at my job in NY. Here in South Carolina, they have actually said "Thank you" to me when I hand them their delivery! Also, living in the "Bible Belt" I have seen a difference in the Christian lifestyle. It seems the majority here do go to church. I am really not sure how much they are committed in their faith. I will have to find out for myself. I have also noticed how many young teens here are very respectful to us older folks. Men are called "Sir" and ladies are called "Ma'am." Very polite! My attitude is to take it one day at a time and for all of you wondering, I refuse to say "Y'all" or "I'm fixin' to go!" I'll have my "New Yawk" accent until I die!

2. GROW IN THE LORD

     This is my goal every year! Every single day I strive to do my best and grow in the Lord. I have grown to realize that whenever I face a trial or discouragement, it is not happening for me to be harassed or to become angry, it is happening so that I will trust in the Lord as well as to grow in my faith. In trying to move, I did face some obstacles both with moving my items as well as personally. Through it all I continued to put my trust in God! I would much rather be striving to grow in God than to sit at a bar all alone drinking myself to death!

3. DEVELOP NEW FRIENDSHIPS

     I always joke with Laure and tell her "I don't have any friends" which is obviously not true. Here in South Carolina, I only know a few people including Laure's daughter and son in law, the people I work with and a few at a church I have attended. That's it! I do appreciate the friendships I continue to have with those in New York and around the country. I do miss them! I would love to develop new friendships here, of course with people close to my age. I certainly hope they would accept a 60-year-old guy who loves God, loves kids and "talks to his hand!"

4. TO SEE BROKEN RELATIONSHIPS HEALED

       This has been yet another goal I have had for many years. I do not want to get into specifics of the who, what, where, why and how. All I will say is that it has been my prayer that several damaged relationships would get healed. I realize these things take time but after many years of striving for this, I would love to see this happen! I pray that on December 31, 2025, I would love to write a blog entitled "IT HAS HAPPENED!" Stay tuned!

5. GET BACK INTO FULL TIME MINISTRY 

     I loved being a children's pastor for 22 years! I loved my time being an assistant pastor at Lift Jesus Higher Fellowship for a little over 2 years. I love thinking of new ideas and coming up with new sermons. Ministry has been in my blood for many years. It is truly who I am. Working at Chick Fil-A is a job to me. Being in full time ministry is what I desire to do full time. Right now, I have an application in at a church here in Columbia, SC as a Children's Ministry Director position. The position is part time, but I figured I need to start somewhere. I have been praying about what God's will is in all this. Is it for me to start in this church? Another church? Is it for me to start my own ministry? I realize although there are many churches here, they do not know me or what my gifts are. Certainly not like the Christian schools in NY who had me visit their chapels several times. I know God is in control and He knows what is best for me. All I can do is pray and follow His will for my life!  

HAPPY NEW YEAR FRIENDS! I PRAY 2025 IS AN AMAZING YEAR FOR EVERYONE!!