Feeling Constrained?

There was so much great stuff last week at Unplugged that it was like drinking from a firehouse (this is an outside view of Ebenezer's Coffee House where we met --- and then inside, Jud Wilhite on the left and Mark Batterson on the right -- and the back of some dude's head!)

One of the nuggets we talked about was the Blessing of Living under Constraint.
Jud called it the Houdini principle . . .Houdini performed his greatest feats under the greatest pressure. He actually wanted the feats to threaten his life because under that kind of pressure he concentrated with every ounce of energy he had.

In the same way it's under great constraint that we are forced to be totally dependent on God! When we're in a situation be it with our finances, or a relationship, or job, or school, or a physical limitation, whatever - where we are at the end of our resources - the blessing is that we MUST trust God.

And constraint not only makes us dependent on God but it unleashes our God-given creativity.

So, if you're feeling constrained today, praise God for a new opportunity to trust Him!

Missed It By a Boat!

Yesterday in my trek home from D.C. and Unplugged, I think the only form of transportation I didn't use was a boat.

I started off on the Metro (DC Subway) and rode it to the end, where I caught a public trans bus to the Baltimore Airport. I flew to Houston (and in Houston I even rode one of those long escalators through the airport!) - and then flew to San Antonio. In San Antonio I caught a little tram to where my car was, and then I drove a car home from SA! Subway-Bus-Airplane-Tram-Car! And it only took 13 hours!

The exciting news for today is that the Garcia's started getting moved into their new home in Corpus! Yes!
Thanks to Nathan Lindell for leading the moving team and for all of you who helped!

Unplugging

I've been Unplugged all day . . . was an encouraging and insightful day as Mark Batterson and Jud Wyatt talked about 3 challenges of pastors . . . The Motivation Challenge, The Vision Challenge and the Personal Challenge.

Then we went down to the Mall and ate and played cornhole (if you don't know what cornhole is you can click here and check it out).

Even though I hate being away from my family (and the tourney ball game I'm missing tonight!), God's been reminding me why it's so important (NO absolutely stinkin' necessary!!) for me to get away to renew and recharge . . . If I'm going to continue to give away on a regular basis, there's got to be fresh water in the well. A couple of quick thoughts about why it's so important:

1) It Forces Me to Slow Down! - For me (like many of you), I rarely take my foot off the gas while I'm in my normal routine. Your car can only take only take 5,000 rpms for so long . . . your life can only take 5,000 rpms!
Getting away immediately releases about 70% of the rush (it usually takes several days for the other 30! :)

2) It Helps to Keep me fresh - Rhythms are great and we should fight for our spiritual rhythm - but rhythms over time can easily become ruts.

I've heard someone say that -- Change of Pace + Change of Place = Change of Perspective

How true it is, how different some things look when we just take a few steps back and take a deep breath. A new perspective - especially if you're in a rut - can change your whole life!
But that doesn't happen unless I plan for it to.

3) It Forces me to Think in New Ways - When I'm around other people I hear new ideas, I see how the creativity of God is working through others . . . in the setting I'm in now I even get to talk through stuff with other pastors. New streams of water run through my life! That's powerful!
Some of this I do through conferences like this; a lot of it I do through reading; and some through ongoing relationships with other pastors, business folks and other friends.


The bottom line is that I appreciate the opportunity to get away, and it's a win-win for all our relationships! What are your thoughts about getting away to renew and recharge?

Car-Jet-Car Lag!

I left Corpus yesterday (Tue) morn a little before 7am . . . drove to San Antonio . . . waited . . . flew to Newark (5 1/2 hour flight after the extra hour of circling waiting to land) . . . delayed, delayed, delayed . . . finally flew out of Newark at 10:30 pm, arrived in Baltimore at 11:45 where Matt & Lindsay Rerecich (Audie's daughter & son-in-law who it was great to see . . . it's always great to see couple's who you married, who are flourishing!)

We drove to their apartment just across the Potomac from DC and got their at 1am!

But hey it's a heck of a lot faster than driving! And I got to talk to a lot of people and do a lot of reading!

I'm in DC sitting in Ebenezers Coffee Shop (planted here by National Community Church) right now (Unplugged starts tomorrow) . . . gonna go running later down in the mall - that'll be kind of cool . . . thinking about going to the Nationals game tonight :)

Crazy Monday!

The worst thing about going out of town is getting ready to go out of town! Insane.

Tomorrow morning I leave for Unplugged and today has been a crazy myriad of meetings and preparation.

Tonight is our Leadership Gathering and I'm always excited about that . . . and excited about what God is going to teach me this week!

Pray for Me and Unplugged

I'm pumped about an awesome opportunity I have next week to hang out and learn from some experienced and fearless leaders.

I'm going to Unplugged in Washington, D.C. which is hosted by Mark Batterson (one of the guys who mentors me through his blog and who I met last Summer).

It's a small gathering of 20-30 leaders where I'll get to hear their hearts and passions and experience -- and learn. . . Can't wait to get there . . . I'm asking God to open my mind and heart to how He would speak to me. I so want to learn more and more how to use the leadership gifts and opportunities that He's given me!