This picture from one of our volleyball matches sums up our staff “pray and play” retreat.

What a great time of fellowship for our team. I’ve said it a hundred times, but I’ll say it again: who you do ministry with determines how much you enjoy ministry. I’m so blessed to do ministry and do life with a team that laughs together! We had a blast playing in the pool, playing volleyball, playing games. And it was so spiritually refreshing just to pray for each other.

Definitely an annual highlight.

It’s really strange. The night before the retreat I had a dream. Actually, it turned into a nightmare. I dreamt that I accepted a position at another church and I got up to preach and I felt totally empty and sad. I felt like I didn’t know anybody and they didn’t know me! And the moment I started preaching, I realized I’d made a huge mistake!

I don’t have dreams like that. And I want to pastor one church for life. So it didn’t totally make sense. But somehow it intensified my appreciation of NCC and our team. What an unbelievable joy and privilege it is to serve God in a healthy environment.

Lots of smiles these past two days!