So…it’s Tuesday…
I haven’t preached in five weeks…not at NewSpring…in fact, not anywhere really…
I really wrestled with this several months back. I’ve never taken five weeks off from teaching—EVER (not even when I almost died in 2005!) BUT…I felt like during this season God wanted me to take some time for…
REST - I’ve been going pretty hard for 10 years. AND…people tell me all of the time, “You need to slow down.” The only problem is that I don’t really know how. I only have one speed…WIDE OPEN…and the only way I can truly rest is break out of my routine. It’s been nice to sleep in a little, play some basketball and spend lots of time with ‘Cretia and Charisse.
REFLECTION - I think sometimes leaders can get so busy working IN the church that we spend zero time working ON it. Being away from preaching the past five weeks has allowed me to do a LOT of reflecting…which has been both EXCITING and INTIMIDATING!
I’m excited about the possibilities that are ahead of us…I think all we’ve really been doing during these first 10 years is establishing a foundation for what God wants to do for the next 10 years! I refuse to speculate as to what He is going to do! Heck…back in 2000 a group of leaders from our church did a “retreat” and established the goal of having 1,000 people attending by 2010…we thought that was HUGE but soon learned the reality of Ephesians 3:20…what we call a “challenge” God calls an “opportunity!”
AND…I’m intimidated! Seriously…I cannot believe I get to be a part of this. It overwhelms me at times because I STILL REMEMBER WHERE I WAS WHEN HE FOUND ME…WHEN HE CLEANED ME UP…WHEN HE CALLED ME…and I know that on my BEST day I still suck without Him! I am proof that He uses the foolish things of the world to confound the wise…and when I begin to think about all He wants to do over the next 10 years it literally DRIVES me to DESPERATION for HIS WORK…because without HIM we will SO screw this thing up!!!
So…saying all of this…I can’t WAIT for Sunday! We will be launching a new series entitled, “In Rhythm” in which we explore what it is like to walk step by step with God as an individual AND as a church. Can’t wait…hope to see you there…and, as always, BRING SOMEBODY WITH YOU!