Three years ago my family and I started to take an end of season exhale trip to Palm Desert. Yes, I know it is hot in Palm Desert, but we spend the majority of our time at the pool or in the air conditioned room. This trip is one of my favorite activities we do as a family each year.

This exhale allow me to do a few things:

• Relax – We all need to do this. We need to be able to sit and do nothing!

• Refresh – If I don’t take time to get refreshed I will lose sight of what God has called me to do and could lead to burnout.

• Reconnect – The busyness of the season can cause us to wonder if our wife or kids remember who we are! Some down time alone with our families is needed. Time away from the phone and computer is essential.

In the same way that I need this time with my family, I also need this time with God. I might not need to relax with God, but I do need to be refreshed by God and to reconnect with God. This time with God reminds me why I do what I do, and prepares me for the next season of life and ministry.

Don’t underestimate our need to exhale. If we don’t exhale in life we die. If we don’t exhale in ministry we also will die, or at least get burned out and be less effective.

If you look around a little you will see that there are kids and students everywhere who are doing big things. Indian Hills Camp is working on a program to challenge their campers this summer to do something big when they go back home. It is also something that we are doing with the TEAM Staff this summer at Indian Hills.

My daughter and her friend Jerusha, decided that they wanted to do something for the orphanage that we work with in Nicaragua. Last year they made and sold crafts and raised about $150.00. This year they came up with a new idea, Kick 4 Kids.  Watch this video to learn more about Kicks 4 Kids…

Their goal this year is to raise $1000.00 for the Diaz’. They plan on doing this again next year and getting more of their friends to come out an shoot goals and raise more money.  If you would like to sponsor them contact me for more information.

Today I went to the JFK Presidential Library in Boston. While there I saw the quote that is in the picture. As I read the quote I thought about how that plays out in personal life and in ministry. The quote was the only thing posted in this large open space. The open space was meant to make the room look unfinished symbolizing the unfinished things in life.

In life, we need to not let the fear of failing or not completing something keep us from even starting. Dream big. Do things that scare you. Get uncomfortable. Live the life that God has called you to live. Much of life is about the journey and the things you learn along the way, and not as much about the destination.

In ministry, we need to continue doing what the Apostle Paul tells us and plant seeds. Some of those seeds we will see grow and flourish, others we won’t. That’s okay. God loves our students more that we do. He is more concerned about their life than we are. God will cause them to grow in HIS time, not ours. We need to remain faithful to planting seeds.

Life WILL get messy. Life WILL get complicated. Don’t let it stop you. “But let us begin”. Begin today.

Resurrection: Rob Bell from The Work of Rob Bell on Vimeo.

A couple years ago I got the opportunity to work at the NASCAR race in Fontana.  I admit it.  I like NASCAR.  There is just something about going around in circle for hours!  We work in the garage area (where all the cars and drivers are).  We guard the gates and make sure that only the right people get in.  The days are long with lots of standing around, but it is still really fun.  The thing about it that I enjoy the most is that it gives me the perfect opportunity to live out my faith.  No one there knows me.  I could go and be a totally different person and no one would know.  The environment there isn’t the best.  The language is rough. But leaning on God and being and example to others is awesome.  I am reminded of what life is like for my students everyday at school.  The choices they make about honoring God all the time.  It gives me greater compassion when they struggle, and when they mess up.  Living for God isn’t easy.  At times we mess up.  But man is it worth it!

As soon as I finish this I am leaving for the weekend.  Pray for me that I would be an example to those I work with.  Pray that they would see Christ through me.