SSay Yess To The SS

You know how sometimes cool things happen and you know you SHOULD type about em, but you don't really have the words to express it in as eloquent a way as you'd want?  Of course you don't... your diction is flawless and your vocabulary is expansive.  But some of us (this guy) just have to suck it up and type it out anyway.

Well... About 17 months ago I took off around the world on this whole "World Race" thing you might have heard of.  I was incredibly blessed to journey far and wide with some remarkable people (pictured above) growing in the Lord in large part thanks to the selfless donations of "viewers like you" (However, Juicy Juice did not help sponsor me).  Such support from so many people in the form of prayer, financial, and equipment contributions were so wonderful beyond what my words could say, and allowed me the opportunity to have and share an incredible experience.  For those of you who helped me in that journey I thank you so very much!!!
....... and about 6 months ago I came home.  The end...

False!

Not the end.

I recently found myself at training camp helping in the training process for a new batch of to-be-further-changed world changers.  I was honored to be invited to pour into the second generation S Squad for the week.

These men and women are hungry for the Lord.  They are stepping up to the forefront of vulnerability.  They care for each other deeply.  They are extremely teachable, and are seeking wisdom and discernment from the Lord.  They are going to be used to do mighty things in His name.
And I'm super excited to have been able to spend a week with these wonderful people.

In fact, I was so excited that, when I was offered the chance midweek to go out and serve as their squad leader, and travel with them for the first 5 months of their race... I accepted.  I am humbled to have the trust of the World Race Staff to be blessed with such an honor and responsibility.  I'm thrilled to be a small part of helping to facilitate what God will be doing in the lives of these folks this year as we travel, alongside my co-squad leaders Liz Clem and Dura McKnight.  So after June 30... I'm outta here again.  (Till December-ish... Lord Willin)

As great as it is, it was not an easy decision.

I wish it didn't mean missing more weddings of dear friends, but it does.

I wish it didn't mean missing my pawpaw's 80th birthday, but it does.  

There are people at home that I will certainly miss... a lot.  Seriously.  I'm not joking.  Believe it or not... I don't hate home.  In fact, it's quite the opposite, but the Lord just keeps giving me new lovable people in my life.

In terms of ministry, it is difficult to walk away for another several months from ministry to family, the youth at WestHills Church, from the men in college and fresh out that God has laid on my heart locally, college ministry in general, and to push back other ministries I feel led to be a part of.

Despite these things being tough to walk away from I'm reminded of 3 things.

1. God doesn't need me to work in the lives of all those I've mentioned... In fact, that's what I've wanted for them all along, a ministry not dependent upon me.   

2. I'm walking into an opportunity to disciple some incredibly hungry people through an incredible "once" in a lifetime journey in the Lord.

3.  God is going to grow and prune me through this season in ways I'd not expected and maybe in ways that I'm afraid of.  But if that's what it takes... fair enough.
So, as my on-again-off-again relationship with "'Merica" gets ready to "take a break,"  I'll briefly grieve those things, AND the fact that I'll miss another half season of baseball and the meat of another college football season.  But I'll celebrate the start of a new journey with the Lord and some wonderful people.

OH.... and I almost forgot.  It's my chance to add "international stand up comedian" to my resume.

If you want to help support the new venture.  I have no expectation of it, and I do not deserve it, but I welcome it.  

How might you support this?  Pray. Pray. Pray... and IF that praying leads you to the place where you're led to financially support you can do learn more about that HERE.  I've included tips there to help you make sure your donations are going to the right place, and just a little bit on my heart for not giving to me INSTEAD of other valuable things.