I Had to Get Away BUT It's Great to Be Back

My family and I just returned from vacation and sabbatical, and I must say that it's great to be home. We had a blast!

We enjoyed the beach, lots of family time, campfires, and lots of grilled food. We also listened to nearly the entire Chronicles of Narnia series on CD while we drove 3,700 miles.

But there's nothing like coming home... to your own bed and to your own church family. There's nothing like falling into my own bed, and similarly, it's the best feeling to return to our loving Lifehouse family!

Here's why I had to get away...

• to get refreshed. When we began planting Lifehouse back in '03, I knew I wouldn't get Sundays off and would rarely get a vacation day. For 3.5 years I didn't miss Sundays, which meant no extended vacation. This was a necessary sacrifice. However, if it goes on for too long, it leads to burn out. I take a few weeks in a row so that I can get refreshed from the rigors of ministry.
• to get family time. My family sacrifices for ministry along with me, most of that means they give up daddy-time. So, vacation allows for much needed time for me and the girls.
• to get perspective. We enjoy visiting other churches and ministries while we're away. We get to see what others are doing, experience being renewed by worship and preaching. And it's a great reminder of how it feels to be a guest at church. I take notes on sermons, talk with members and pastors, and try to learn as much as possible during these visits.
• to get recharged. A few years ago, a mentor challenges me to take a chunk of time off during the summer, speak less, so that I would be a better preacher. This seemed crazy, but I respected his opinion, and now, I can honestly say that I am a better pastor, leader, and communicator because I take time-off. Not preaching every weekend gives me a chance to recharge and recalibrate. Plus, I have a great charge to get back to preaching. Honestly, sitting and listening at Lifehouse yesterday, Pastor Brian did a great job, but I'm chomping at the bit to get back to preaching! Can't wait until this Sunday!
• to take a sabbatical. What's a sabbatical. Time off, but not just vacation. Time to read, pray, study, learn, and write. Last year and this, I took significant time to read leadership, inspirational, and theological books. I took time to focus in prayer and worship to God. And I had time to write. Hopefully, someday this will translate into a book!

Just a few thoughts on why I take time off and to let you know how excited I am to be back! Can't wait to speak this weekend. Also, pumped about our upcoming launch of life groups, Friend Day, kick-off of "God Exposed" and the launch of Lifehouse- Hedgesville (the New Church on the Block).

Good Times

We're enjoying the holiday season immensely!

Got a HUGE surprise for Christmas when my brothers came from all over the globe to be together for Christmas. Let's just say that 10 adults, 9 kids (between 7-10 months) is all kinds of fun sleeping under the same roof for a week! This may be the best gift I've ever gotten for Christmas.

I found it hard the entire time to tell personal stories or even talk because, I wanted to listen and take in everything my brothers, sisters-in-law, and niece, nephews, and however else was there, was saying. How do you absorb years worth of life in such a short amount of time. Plus, knowing that we won't see some of them for another 5 years makes it even more difficult- it's like a camel trying to drink enough water to last 5 years.

Here are a few pictures:

From Vacation and Beyond

My family and I returned from vacation last night, and deeply enjoyed sleeping in our own beds... ahhh! And since I didn't blog anything along the way, here's a quick overview of our 1,700 mile, 10 day (including missing two consecutive Sundays for the first time ever) vacation:

• to Brewster, NY to see Laura's family,
  
• onto Greenwood Lake, NY for 4th of July weekend and BBQs and fireworks on the lake,
• to NYC for church at the Journey which meets at the Manhattan Center right in the shadow of the Empire State Building,
  
• then onto Toys R Us at Time Square where our girls enjoy the largest Barbie house ever,
  
• then into the subway to Battery Park, where we waited forever in line to get on the ferry to see the Statue of Liberty, only to get to the front of the line and learn that we can no longer get into to the Statue since it was so late in the day. So, what better thing to do next, but to go get some NY PIZZA...
• on Monday we decided to head back to the City to see the Aquarium and Coney Island,
• golfing Tuesday (shot a 89) then meatballs and pasta at the Costellos,
• then to the beach for two days... ah, I love the beach. I could have easily been a beach bum. I love it, everything about it. But it is challenging getting the girls to bed after 11,
  
• then, back to Brewster for some hang-out time, and chicken marsala,
• and we took a Sunday off at my parents, just relaxed, had a private church time with our family, and even sang a few worship songs (although Bethany is convinced "Twinkle, Twinkle little star" is a worship song.
• and beat rush hour traffic all the way home.

Thanks for your prayers. I have lots more thoughts from our trip, the beach, church at the Journey, and fresh vision for Lifehouse East. But there are more blogs ahead.

Fired up (and watch out 'cause I'm rested up too)