On Monday, our family will be heading down to Southern California. Susan and I will be going to a Pastor's Gathering at Saddleback Church. We're dropping the kids off with my mom and dad for three days and hoping to recharge our batteries by listening to some great pastor's talk about ministry. After the conference, we'll be heading to one of our favorite spots - Legoland. Our boys love Legoland (even more than Disneyland) because they are big enough to go on most of the rides. Please don't mention it to my sons this Sunday though, because it's going to be a big surprise. Susan and I also enjoy getting a swirl ice cream at Legoland and taking a break while the boys run around. I know that sounds like a Grandpa thing to do, but we're tired parents and looking forward to it.
While we are gone next week I'd like to ask you to pray for our family. We are pretty worn out and need a boost. For the last several months, the financial dynamics of our church have created a lot of heaviness in my days. Praying about what to do has weighed me down quite a bit. At our MLT retreat last month we came up with a solution and for a few days I felt a lot lighter. After we announced the lay off though, the misunderstanding, mistrust, and false accusations hurt my heart a lot. So, I need to get away next week, get a spiritual recharge, and have fun with our family. Please pray that God encourages Susan and I and that we are able to laugh, relax, and get a renewed vision for what God's doing at New Song.
When we get back I hope to visit several of our life groups to share with you some of the methods our staff has come up with for the future of New Song. We took your input, prayed about it, put it in the oven, and out came some great strategies. I want our Life Groups to get a first look and also get feedback from you. We'll pray together and ask God to guide and bless what's next for our church!
2 comments:
Well Dale, I have been in your shoes many times and have to say that its never easy to do a layoff-much more fun to grow. I think that we need to stay focused and continue to make the changes that the church needs to make to go where we want it to go. That starts with you and then goes all the way down the line, not missing anyone in the church. Everyone that calls newsong their church needs to look at their commitments and make an extreme makeover in how they are "doing church" these days. We all must pitch in from the top down and revisit our contributions if we want the church to succeed in the way God has called it to. So look at this as a call to arms and I hope you come back ready to move out of the past and into the future!! You are a great influence on me and I appreciate you bro!
Well Dale, I have been in your shoes many times and have to say that its never easy to do a layoff-much more fun to grow. I think that we need to stay focused and continue to make the changes that the church needs to make to go where we want it to go. That starts with you and then goes all the way down the line, not missing anyone in the church. Everyone that calls newsong their church needs to look at their commitments and make an extreme makeover in how they are "doing church" these days. We all must pitch in from the top down and revisit our contributions if we want the church to succeed in the way God has called it to. So look at this as a call to arms and I hope you come back ready to move out of the past and into the future!! You are a great influence on me and I appreciate you bro!
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