Back In The Saddle

I am pumped to teach tomorrow. This is my second year in a row that I have taken a teaching sabbatical in July. It’s good to get a break…good to gain some perspective. I love teaching, but I also love pulling back. It gives me a chance to rest and a chance to focus on some other things. Six plus years into this journey has taught me that teaching can be a grind…how do you stay on top of your game? How do you stay creative? How do you keep it fresh week after week? Someone once told me that teaching is a lot like cooking. If you think about it, we eat mainly beef, chicken, or fish (my apologies to you veggie people out there). What makes it special is “how” it is prepared. I love it when Michelle tries new recipes. Even if it doesn’t get added to our favorites, it is fun to try new things. That is why creativity is so important when it comes to communicating God’s Word. Breaks help me with my creativity and my passion.

Breaks also help us develop our teaching team. Props to Ryan, Gus, and Lee, for the great job they did. Ryan has big-time potential (can you tell I have been reading about the Eagles training camp today). We had Ryan and Jess over last night with their cute boys Matthew and Tyler. Great family…Hoping that God keeps them with us for the long haul. What can I say about Gus? Nobody has been through the fire with me more than Gus. No one has sacrificed more for the vision of Fellowship than he and his wife Laurie (I’m a big Laurie fan). Gus probably has forgotten more about the Bible than I know…he has been teaching for a long time, but God has taken him to a whole new level over the last couple years. Friend, colleague, blood brother, encourager, entrepreneur, mighty warrior, mentor…these are the things I think of when I think of Gus. No way Fellowship is where it is today, and no way I’m still here if it isn’t for Gus. Lee is off the charts. Sent here by God a little over a year ago, he and Jean (Jean makes the best salsa I have ever had)have been God’s favor to me…and to Fellowship. He has been a great Home Group leader to Michelle and I. He came from a large church and sees the potential for what God is doing at Fellowship. He gets it. God is all over Lee and to hear him teach about “living water” was a huge blessing. Last Sunday was Lee’s first time to “preach”. You never forget that first one…it’s a scary deal…lot’s of second guessing (dude, you did great!). Teaching more than anything else I have done has driven home the Biblical truth that God is strong when we are weak…I see so much Kingdom potential in Lee…It’s up to God, but I would love to see him hang up his UPS “cleats” and come work with us some day…

I am blessed to have these guys in my life. We are blessed to have the kind of teaching depth God has brought our way. Thanks God for the break…can’t wait for tomorrow!