The Whirlwind Principle

The Whirlwind Principle

Tom Pousche

The Whirlwind Principle

Copyright © 2013 by Dr. Tom R. Pousche. All rights reserved.

First Smashwords Edition: November 2013

Published by Primedia eLaunch at Smashwords

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Dedication

To my wonderful wife, Kathy, and my children, Scott and Pamela, with loyal-love.

On a good day, enjoy yourself; on a bad day, examine your conscience. God arranges for both kinds of days so that we won’t take anything for granted.

(Eccl. 7:14 MSG)

Acknowledgments

My special thanks to:

Kathy Pousche—your positive inspiration as a wife, mother, piano teacher and Realtor kept me moving forward with this book. Without your words of encouragement, the book would never have been possible.

Nick Harrison—who took time out of his busy schedule to meet with me at Starbucks in Eugene, Oregon in 2012. His direction and words of wisdom during that first meeting lit the match that got me fired up to write this book.

Jean Mom Weaver—whose motherly inspiration was only a phone call away. She was our best cheerleader as we ministered to long-distance truckers and busy travelers with Big Rig Celebrates. Now she is in Heaven rooting us onward with the heavenly host.

Beverly Beem—who could ask for a more loyal-loving friend? She was a total delight as a member of our Christian Servicemen’s Center while I was serving in the US Navy in Guam (1968-1970). She continues to inspire me as a first reader and faithful friend.

Hazel Stein—a dear friend who has been an inspiration to my family and me. She is a godly lady who gives her time for the Lord. She has been a great listening ear over the years. What a pleasure to live with her and her late husband while I was youth pastor at the Evergreen Bible Church in Vancouver, Washington back in 1976.

John Baldwin—played a vital role in my life. He not only gave me my first job as his flagger as he crop dusted farming fields in Idaho, but he gave me my first flying lesson and eventually led me to the Lord. Thanks for your encouragement over the years. Friends forever!

Dad Weaver—gave his generous support and love, allowing me to camp out on the hills of the Weaver Farm in Touchet, Washington to write many of my articles and this book.

To all—from my early training and education years at Montana Institute of the Bible in Billings, Montana to my doctoral program at Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon—a big thank you!

Foreword

The sky is blue on a sunny day. When you look into the sun you must squint your eyes. If you stand in the rain you will get wet. These are simple and obvious statements. The Whirlwind Principle states the obvious about one’s emotional, spiritual and psychological self. We don’t always make safe or healthy decisions. Driving in the dark with no lights on is not safe.

The Whirlwind Principle will help turn on the lights in dark emotional areas and bring hope. Problems are more easily seen than solved. Dr. Tom Pousche points the reader to biblical and practical answers for overcoming destructive life dilemmas.

This is a must read for those desiring to discover a clear and healthy way of dealing with recurring emotional cycles that lead to harmful decision making. Its principles come from the truths of the Bible and are sure footing for the slippery slopes of today’s fast-paced life. The Whirlwind Principle has real answers that not only relieve the pain of the moment but give hope of a better tomorrow.

One of the many strengths of this book is the obvious and clear application of God’s Word in ways that bring understanding and motivation into our day-to-day lives. This is not merely the story of one chaplain’s many life experiences, rather it is the repeated application of God’s Word into specific real life dramas.

The Whirlwind Principle presents truth about unhealthy decisions clearly and lovingly, but it also comforts those in the midst of their painful failures. It does not condemn; rather it points readers to a God who loves them and cares about their pain. Its powerful and practical teachings will bring healing and hope when embraced by faith.

This is not a book of theory only. Unchangeable biblical principles are illustrated from the real world of everyday life. Colorful true-life experiences jump from the pages. Tom Pousche has the heart of a shepherd and every page demonstrates that he cares about people. Read it reflectively with pen and paper. As you are then empowered and become a more confident and healthier person, you can have the joy of being able to help others.

When writers are transparent, their stories ring true and give readers the desire to emulate their teaching. Dr. Tom Pousche’s authentic storytelling will draw the reader into the experiences of his life—not only to empathize with the story of his personal journey, but to walk in his footsteps. You will not want to put the book down until you have finished every page. So don’t wait another second, begin your journey of discovering The Whirlwind Principle right now.

Dr. Timothy L. Robnett

January 2013

Introduction

This book came about as a direct result of my days as a chaplain with the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU), Division 757 in Portland, Oregon where I served for fifteen years as the marry-er, bury-er and counselor.

The last thing on my mind after being hired as a full-time transit operator in the summer of 1982 was becoming a part-time chaplain. In February of 1988, the ATU posted a notice for anyone interested in being a transit union chaplain to apply for this ministerial position. My station manager approached me one morning asking if I was going to apply. He knew that I just graduated from Western Conservative Baptist Theological Seminary with a master of divinity degree.

My response was simple: I’ll think and pray about it! As the station manager walked away, I laughed. My training and emphasis in ministry was more directed for the local church—not a chaplaincy program. Also, I was leaving the next morning for Petersburg, Alaska to speak in a church as a candidate for senior pastor. After arriving on that small island, it became clear that I did not belong there. I stood by the water watching a barge float out on the horizon and thought, It rains more here than in Portland, Oregon.

So, I returned to the transit district, and revisited the idea of the chaplaincy job posting. I wasn’t laughing anymore! After consulting my wife, I applied and became one of the five chaplains to be chosen to serve in that capacity.

The chaplain’s program seemed unorganized and lacked passion in its purpose. I did not have much of the training needed to deal with the trauma cases that popped up from time to time and neither did any of the other chaplains. So I approached the union to see if we could get better organized, and get up-to-date training skills for dealing with employees and the caseloads we would be encountering.

Within a short period of time, the union appointed me to head up the program and do what was necessary to equip myself with training and education to make the program work successfully. I followed through by enrolling in several programs that specialized in facilitating the needs of our revised chaplaincy program. The training consisted of: certification in crisis intervention in Tacoma, WA (1993); certification in post-trauma/peer counseling in Post Falls, ID (1993), and a doctor of ministry degree from Western Baptist Seminary in Portland, OR