Fun at Home

Party of Four?

Perhaps what's weirdest about sending our oldest son off to college is that we will be living, travelling, and eating out as a party of four. We've been the five of us for so long! Appreciate your prayers. We are so excited for Chris. He is definitely ready and we are so proud of him. But it's still really tough.

Sabbatical in Review

Also see Some random things I did over Sabbatical.

This summer has been a great break from day-to-day ministry. Although it was busy, I was truly able to disengage from the daily load of ministry and think big thoughts about God, His church, our church, and my calling.

As I reflect on my summer experience, I relate to the words of John Steinbeck. As Steinbeck prepared to journey across the United States he said, "We find after years of struggle that we do not take a trip; the trip takes us." In the same way, as I consider all the ways God worked in my life during this time, I feel as though I didn't take a sabbatical; the sabbatical took me.

What has the Lord done with me over this sabbatical?

• Gave me great times in His Word
  


• Took me through the death of my father.
  
  


• Gave me a lifetime experience with my family in Europe.
  


• Gave me fresh perspective on my strengths and areas of greatest effectiveness through the Pastors on Point Process.
  


• Allowed me to read several great books and visit several churches.
  

How would I define my "point" in ministry?

• God has made me a unique pastor. The themes of my life show that He put me together so that I was made to LEARN, DREAM, INVESTIGATE, EVALUATE, CREATE, ORGANIZE, PLAN, DEVELOP, OVERSEE, INFLUENCE, and COMMUNICATE.
  

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  I like to minister with and through GOD'S WORD, VALUES; RELATIONAL TEAMS, KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE, NEW GROWTH, SHAPE, PEOPLE ON THE FRINGE OF FAITH.
  
  
  

  
  



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  I work best in ministry environments that are NEW OPPORTUNITIES, UNIQUE, CHALLENGING, CONTAINED, WITH TEAMS, AFFIRMING, WITH MEASURABLE IMPACT, and WITH KEY RESPONSIBILITY FOR RESULTS.
  
  
  

  
  



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  I am at my best when I play a role of a CATALIZING PRIME MOVER, INFLUENCER, at the FRONT END OF A NEW MOVEMENT.
  
  
  

  
  



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  So that I can TOGETHER WITH OTHERS, PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN DOING SOMETHING NEW, UNIQUE, AND CREATIVE, WHICH WILL HAVE AN ETERNAL IMPACT.
  
  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

What do I most look forward to in the days ahead with our church?

• Reinforcing our missional mandate (grounded in Scripture).
  


• Solidifying our values (which never change)
  


• Refining our strategy (the map we will follow to fulfill our mission).
  


• Developing our measurements (the way we know we are doing what we planned to do)
  


• And seeing God show up in amazing ways as His compelling cause for us uniquely as a church is unleashed.
  

Some of the random things I got to do over sabbatical

• Read an entire book in one sitting beside a High Sierra river
  
• Took my daughter on a date to a Broadway production of Phantom
  
• Got my motorcycle license
  
• Sputtered around Poway on a borrowed Vespa
  
• Began doing our own yard work
  
• Ate outside a lot
  
• Drove historic Highway 395 with the top off our 1973 Porsche
  
• Drove historic Highway 101 with the top off our 1973 Porsche
  
• Went to a charming Bed and Breakfast in La Jolla with my wife
  
• Got to be "customer of the week" at Peet's Tea House
  
• Drank a lot of tea
  
• Hiked the Torrey Pines cliffs
  
• Touched a 12 foot Python (on purpose)
  
• And a bunch of other stuff