I got approval today to suspend CSM FRIDAY NIGHTS for the following 4-weeks until our Parent Night on September 10th. It was a difficult decision for me to make, but it needed to be done.

The truth is, I’m running on empty. Over the span of 30 days, I was in “ministry mode” for fifteen 24-hour days (Philippines missions trip, Summer Camp)! And between those 15 days I had “normal” ministry duties. That’s a lot of spiritual giving! And after giving so much your body naturally wears down and it becomes more difficult to spiritually take in.

This past Friday I literally felt spiritually flat, as if I had nothing more to give. During my message I was talking about one thing, but thinking to myself: Oh man, this sucks. I just need to stop. This was a huge warning sign for me! I never want my words to be my own, I want my words to be His. And when I am spiritually dry I am speaking from my heart and not His.

But outside of my own woes, my staff is getting tired too. I’m not easy boss– my staff works hard. Plus August is a notoriously terrible time to do something of substance, anyways. We will still have our random get togethers and Sunday service, but the choice to break is a hard wise choice.

It is really humbling to take this time off, but I’ll be using it wisely.

• I’ll be pressing into God and letting Him rejuvenate me.
• I’ll be encouraging and challenging our leaders.
• I’ll be planning and promoting our Parent Night on September 10.
• I’ll be dreaming and piecing together Central Seminary (discipleship training).
• I’ll be sabbathing and enjoying a vacation with my wife. Hallelujah.

Some may consider this a defeat, but I’m choosing to mark this one in the victory column because I didn’t let the program become untouchable (and kill me in the process).

Related Posts:

• Growth and Reinforcement
• Changing the Win
• The Tension Between Holiness and Grace
• Evaluating What I Spend My Time Doing [cutting out the fat]
• Spiritually Molested