LifeUpdate: Back In The Saddle
WOW… It’s been a long time! The good news is I’m still ticking! I really hope to get back to the normal writing, but it’s been a wild few months. I’ll try to give you the long story short below!
Health Update: The Long/Short, I’m still trending upward! We’ve had a few glitches here and there, but overall it’s upward! In November 2025 - Thanksgiving Week - I spend that week in the hospital with an infection that got into my blood. After a heave round of IV antibiotics, I was released after 6 days. Then in February of this year, I spent another week in the hospital with a smaller infection and then decided to test positive for FLU B. Another round of fluids and antibiotics later, I was released yet again. There have been a couple tests in the meantime, but all have come back negative. The Lord has been gracious and kind!
This fall I'll return to Sarah Cannon to see my oncologist. It will be just shy of a whole year since I had an official oncology appointment - which means, I’m gaining ground. Dr. Battiwalla doesn’t anticipate any cancer return or side effect from the Stem Cell Transplant. This fall will be 4 YEARS! Can you believe that? It still seems like yesterday sometimes when I first hear the word CANCER! The entire recovery phase is 5 years before they can officially call me “cured” or at least 99.9% cured. TO GOD BE ALL THE GLORY!
Life Update I: Last Spring we had some crazy storms come through our area, one of which wreaked havoc on our roof. In February - almost a year - later, insurance finally approved our total rood replacement and they turned in around in a day! It looks so good.
Speaking of the house. On Christmas Day, we had flood occur in our home. YIKES! After being displaced for close to 4 months, we finally moved back into our house 3 weeks ago with all new flooring on the main floor and patch work through out. TO GOD BE THE GLORY! We did lose some items that insurance didn’t worthy to cover (we tried, but we grew tired of the back and forth so we gave up). Overall, we’re happy with the work that has been done. It was a hard process, but all that’s left is continuing to put our house back together unpacking a ton of boxes and finding furniture and other items that insurance didn’t recover.
LifeUpdate II: Things have certainly changed in the last couple months. One of which, I’m very excited and humbled about. In February, a good friend of mine that I met at a Smyrna Pastor’s Breakfast (we meet every month - 10-20 pastors who live in the area), informed me that he is leaving his church. He just felt he served the season he was supposed to and that he needed to move on. I’ve never seen a church and pastor “breakup” go so well. They love him and he loves the church. Long story short, is that without really looking, the church approached me with interest in becoming their next Pastor. One thing led to another, and after about 2 months of meeting, I have officially become the Interim Lead Pastor of Christ Life Community Church in Smyrna… less that 10 minutes from our house (no interstates, and with only 3 side roads to get there). In so many ways, Christ Life Church has check so many boxes that Rena and I have been praying about — one of which is finding a church that is a local church where most of the people life close by — truly a “community church.” I’ve been there about a month and we’re excited about the days to come.
You may be asking, “Why Interim?” It’s really a blessings. There’s two reasons behind it. One, it gives me the opportunity to get back in the saddle slowly — to make sure that after these last 3 years, I can pastor again. I get tired easily, but I’ve been more on the go in the last 2 months that I have been in 3 years and while it’s an adjustment, I holding up well physically, mentally, and spiritually. The second reason is due that fact that everything has happened so quickly for the church - God has certainly orchestrated this and have merged our paths together. I’m so unworthy of such great grace, but I’m grateful for the opportunity. There is so much to learn, but the people have been great and the team of Elder’s have been so good to me. Please pray for me and the church as we continue to transition. TO GOD BE THE GLORY!
Life Update III: MY BABY IS GRADUATION HIGH SCHOOL! How can this be? This dad is an emotional wreck! My Jovie - my first-born, my red-head, my extremely talented and creative baby girl is graduating next week from Stewart’s Creek High School. LIFE MOVES TO FAST! Pray for her (and her mom and dad) as she embarks in this new phase of life. As for the other two crazies, Mia is completing her Sophomore Year of High School and leaves in less than a month for her first Mission Trip. Then there’s Seth, who’s growing like a weed and excelling in his Karate disciple. Last night he went to his Middle School Orientation… again, HOW CAN THIS BE? I’m so in love with my crazies (kids) and this dad wishes sometimes that life would just slow down a little bit.
There’s so much more to say, but I’ll leave it as it is right now, Perhaps, I’ll write more later! TO GOD BE THE GLORY!
YOU ARE LOVED MY FRIENDS,
PastorPusch
Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness! - Psalm 115:1
