The Magic in Orlando

The first full day of the Exponential Conference is in the books, and Bryan and I are filled to overflowing. This church planters' gathering is an eclectic group of men and women committed to establishing new congregations throughout the country (and beyond), with a willingness to think outside the box (sometimes waaay outside!) in order to see Christ's kingdom expanded. 

There's a freshness in what we're hearing as we talk with those a few steps ahead of us in this church planting process. And an urgency that charges us up as we think of what God wants to do with us in the days ahead. There's also a camaraderie that places us in the ranks of those who are willing to do whatever it takes to get this job done. We like that, and we're challenged by it.

Then there's the information. Lots of it. All good, I'm pretty sure, but way too much for one person to gather and digest. So we're trying to determine the best stuff for us in order to get as much out of our experience as possible. And we love to see God lead as we pray. We knew there wouldn't be much, if any, connection here with Muslim outreach, so we asked God this morning to lead us to someone with some kind of contact for us in that area. The first guy we spoke with at the ministry booths just happened to be connected with a large group at his church doing Muslim ministry, and he's hooking us up! Go figure.

It's one BIG avocado!

Thanks to those of you praying. Bryan and I both sense the impact as we move about. Please continue to ask God to show us the right stuff, take us to the right people and teach us what we need to take from here. And know that God is impacting throughout our culture as we labor together for the expansion of His purpose. We see it in the faces, hear it in the voices, and feel it all around us.

There's magic in the Orlando air.