It has been a long time since I have published a "Bradley Bulletin," and much has happened: some good, some difficult to bear. All in God's hands, and always has been.
Perhaps a bit of self-serving recapitulation:
I was born in 1948, in Southern California, grew up in San Diego in the Fifties and Sixties with my older brother, Steven, and my two parents. My dad worked for Naval civil service most of his life. At the time of his retirement, he was the facilities manager for the entire 11th Naval District. I had a happy childhood, my parents were good parents, and it was a simpler, safer time than today. I went to high school, college, and seminary in the San Diego area -- working my way through school by driving a truck for WTC Airfreight and G.I. Trucking Company. I met and married my wife Arlene in a little non-denominational church called Mission Valley Chapel in San Diego. I pastored a small church in Dulzura, California and was ordained as a minister in the Presbyterian Church in America. My first child, my daughter Amy, was also born in San Diego---but soon after things began to happen that moved me all the way to the other side of the United States . . .
I pastored a church on the San Bernardino-Riverside County border, in a little town called Yucaipa---after only two years I was almost destitute and my heart felt torn out. I took a job in Los Angeles, moving there with my family---it was there my second child was born, my son Carsten. While there, I also had an associate pastorate as a minister of evangelism for a large Presbyterian Church, and became a field representative for Children's Ministry International (CMI), headquartered in Tucker, Georgia (slightly north of Atlanta), and a pastor again at a small church in the San Fernando Valley.
As God would have it, I ended up moving to Atlanta, close to the headquarters for CMI, and there also worked full-time for the Keebler Company as an elf. When I went through some serious health and marital problems, I was "disowned" by CMI, and I have never worked in the conventional ministry again, but I never lost my certain faith in God, or the confidence that He really is in charge, bolstered by my faith in God's Word, where we read "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28)
In 1996, the Keebler Company was purchased in a leveraged buyout that eliminated all of its plants and facilities: only the name remains. Around 13,000 people lost their jobs, including me. Because of my age, I found it difficult to find work--I finally found a retail job at the Home Depot, and then at Lowe's (where they treated their employees better.) That same year my mother died (she was still living in San Diego at that time.), and I also lost my best friend in Georgia, "Wild Bill" O'Myer.
During this time in Georgia my kids grew up; my daughter Amy went to college and became an art teacher, my son Carsten became a graphic artist and Photoshop expert (and still is.) Amy is now married and has gone on to become a youth pastor; now she is the regional director for Child Evangelism Fellowship. The whole time we lived in Georgia my wife and I also ran a child care business out of our home, which was quite interesting, in and of itself!
During these tumultuous times, my marriage fell apart; I was certainly guilty as any for the mess, but it kind of culminated with my wife filing for divorce from me in 2004, and ordering me out of my own house (the only house I had ever been able to buy.) However, she still wanted me to fix stuff on the house---so I moved . . . .(Continued paying the mortgage, insurance, and taxes until she moved out and the house sold early in 2015)
I moved over 400 miles south of Atlanta, to Citrus County, Florida, working first at what turned out to be a rather unethical plumbing supply store, and then back to Lowe's, where I still am today
However, although better, all is not easy here in Florida, I have lost many friends; people who either grew old, or lost their battle with cancer or heart disease. I was not immune either; while here I had a bout with cancer, and while still recovering from surgery, my father in San Diego died, and I was unable to even attend his funeral.
My best friend here in Florida, Sherry Collier, has now lost her own fight for life; after nine heart attacks, she had less than 10% of her heart function left, and was in danger of dying at any time. I took a leave of absence from my job at Lowes to be at her side. After much suffering, she died in the evening, on December 9th---I miss her so very much. She left me heartbroken and lonely. Together we had traveled to many placing, taking pictures, doing paintings, visiting flea markets and nearby architecture.
Perhaps a bit of self-serving recapitulation:
I was born in 1948, in Southern California, grew up in San Diego in the Fifties and Sixties with my older brother, Steven, and my two parents. My dad worked for Naval civil service most of his life. At the time of his retirement, he was the facilities manager for the entire 11th Naval District. I had a happy childhood, my parents were good parents, and it was a simpler, safer time than today. I went to high school, college, and seminary in the San Diego area -- working my way through school by driving a truck for WTC Airfreight and G.I. Trucking Company. I met and married my wife Arlene in a little non-denominational church called Mission Valley Chapel in San Diego. I pastored a small church in Dulzura, California and was ordained as a minister in the Presbyterian Church in America. My first child, my daughter Amy, was also born in San Diego---but soon after things began to happen that moved me all the way to the other side of the United States . . .
I pastored a church on the San Bernardino-Riverside County border, in a little town called Yucaipa---after only two years I was almost destitute and my heart felt torn out. I took a job in Los Angeles, moving there with my family---it was there my second child was born, my son Carsten. While there, I also had an associate pastorate as a minister of evangelism for a large Presbyterian Church, and became a field representative for Children's Ministry International (CMI), headquartered in Tucker, Georgia (slightly north of Atlanta), and a pastor again at a small church in the San Fernando Valley.
As God would have it, I ended up moving to Atlanta, close to the headquarters for CMI, and there also worked full-time for the Keebler Company as an elf. When I went through some serious health and marital problems, I was "disowned" by CMI, and I have never worked in the conventional ministry again, but I never lost my certain faith in God, or the confidence that He really is in charge, bolstered by my faith in God's Word, where we read "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28)
In 1996, the Keebler Company was purchased in a leveraged buyout that eliminated all of its plants and facilities: only the name remains. Around 13,000 people lost their jobs, including me. Because of my age, I found it difficult to find work--I finally found a retail job at the Home Depot, and then at Lowe's (where they treated their employees better.) That same year my mother died (she was still living in San Diego at that time.), and I also lost my best friend in Georgia, "Wild Bill" O'Myer.
During this time in Georgia my kids grew up; my daughter Amy went to college and became an art teacher, my son Carsten became a graphic artist and Photoshop expert (and still is.) Amy is now married and has gone on to become a youth pastor; now she is the regional director for Child Evangelism Fellowship. The whole time we lived in Georgia my wife and I also ran a child care business out of our home, which was quite interesting, in and of itself!
During these tumultuous times, my marriage fell apart; I was certainly guilty as any for the mess, but it kind of culminated with my wife filing for divorce from me in 2004, and ordering me out of my own house (the only house I had ever been able to buy.) However, she still wanted me to fix stuff on the house---so I moved . . . .(Continued paying the mortgage, insurance, and taxes until she moved out and the house sold early in 2015)
I moved over 400 miles south of Atlanta, to Citrus County, Florida, working first at what turned out to be a rather unethical plumbing supply store, and then back to Lowe's, where I still am today
However, although better, all is not easy here in Florida, I have lost many friends; people who either grew old, or lost their battle with cancer or heart disease. I was not immune either; while here I had a bout with cancer, and while still recovering from surgery, my father in San Diego died, and I was unable to even attend his funeral.
My best friend here in Florida, Sherry Collier, has now lost her own fight for life; after nine heart attacks, she had less than 10% of her heart function left, and was in danger of dying at any time. I took a leave of absence from my job at Lowes to be at her side. After much suffering, she died in the evening, on December 9th---I miss her so very much. She left me heartbroken and lonely. Together we had traveled to many placing, taking pictures, doing paintings, visiting flea markets and nearby architecture.
Meanwhile, back in Georgia, my ex-wife went through bouts of cancer, with surgery and chemotherapy. Sadly, the cancer returned, and she became quite ill and weak in 2016, and passed away in her sleep in 2017.
I found a new friend in Florida with an unusual first name: Charlemeine (almost everyone called her "Charlie.") She had an infectious laugh, and considered herself to be a "professional visitor" in her community of mostly retired folk. I took her to the hospital (Ocala Regional) in the summer of 2017 for hip replacement surgery --- the operation was successful, but she died two days later of a heart attack, still at the hospital. According to her wishes, I did a simple memorial service at her community building, and took her two little dogs (Chorkie) home to my house (I now have five dogs, my dog, Sherry's two dogs, and now Charlie's two dogs.)
I don't know if I should look for another companion --- I get very depressed thinking about all the people that I have lost in just a few years. My doctor told me that I definitely needed another female friend, but she told me "Don't tell them about the other ones who died." On the one hand, I thought that was a little humorous, but of course I always try to tell the truth so I couldn't do that.
At the prodding of my brother Steve (who finally got out of the cesspool that California has become.) and bought a" trike" so that I could ride a bike again, and he encouraged me to start a "blog" about theology and the Bible, as kind of a retired pastor's ministry So, I have done both of those things. Those two things and the house full of dogs keep me busy.
God is still my rock in this weary land, and He has kept me alive for some purpose, so I will keep on.
Having great deal of difficulty with the domains connecting to the blog. But I will get it figured out soon, I hope.
I have met another lady: she is also in Ocala, but she is older than I am---actually the same age as my brother Steve. Her name is Pat, and she is very sweet. I have been attending her church with her, and enjoying it greatly. Like me, she was widowed --- but in her case, only once to my three. And therein is one of my fears. Will I lose another?
I found a new friend in Florida with an unusual first name: Charlemeine (almost everyone called her "Charlie.") She had an infectious laugh, and considered herself to be a "professional visitor" in her community of mostly retired folk. I took her to the hospital (Ocala Regional) in the summer of 2017 for hip replacement surgery --- the operation was successful, but she died two days later of a heart attack, still at the hospital. According to her wishes, I did a simple memorial service at her community building, and took her two little dogs (Chorkie) home to my house (I now have five dogs, my dog, Sherry's two dogs, and now Charlie's two dogs.)
I don't know if I should look for another companion --- I get very depressed thinking about all the people that I have lost in just a few years. My doctor told me that I definitely needed another female friend, but she told me "Don't tell them about the other ones who died." On the one hand, I thought that was a little humorous, but of course I always try to tell the truth so I couldn't do that.
At the prodding of my brother Steve (who finally got out of the cesspool that California has become.) and bought a" trike" so that I could ride a bike again, and he encouraged me to start a "blog" about theology and the Bible, as kind of a retired pastor's ministry So, I have done both of those things. Those two things and the house full of dogs keep me busy.
God is still my rock in this weary land, and He has kept me alive for some purpose, so I will keep on.
Having great deal of difficulty with the domains connecting to the blog. But I will get it figured out soon, I hope.
I have met another lady: she is also in Ocala, but she is older than I am---actually the same age as my brother Steve. Her name is Pat, and she is very sweet. I have been attending her church with her, and enjoying it greatly. Like me, she was widowed --- but in her case, only once to my three. And therein is one of my fears. Will I lose another?
----——---------------------------------------------------------------------------------—------------------------------------------------------
Well---new news:
Pat and I were married on October 20, 2018, and everything is going well with us. I have got one of my dogs moved to her house---getting him acclimated to her dog, Isabel. Her dog is one of the reasons that I went to meet her (that, and her sweet smile). She had listed her name on the website as "Isabel my dog," and that certainly caught my eye.
We dated for a year and fell in love, I put my fears aside and asked her to marry me the week before Easter. We told her sons and my kids on Easter.
God bless you for reading all of this.
Well---new news:
Pat and I were married on October 20, 2018, and everything is going well with us. I have got one of my dogs moved to her house---getting him acclimated to her dog, Isabel. Her dog is one of the reasons that I went to meet her (that, and her sweet smile). She had listed her name on the website as "Isabel my dog," and that certainly caught my eye.
We dated for a year and fell in love, I put my fears aside and asked her to marry me the week before Easter. We told her sons and my kids on Easter.
God bless you for reading all of this.
