Last night was a trip and reminded me how much I love our students at MC Atlanta. My office was like a revovling door from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m., as one student left another would come to hangout and talk. First it was Jorge, then Rey, then Scotto, then Phillip and then when we had a power outage Nathan, Daniel and Scotto came in and chilled for awhile. I called it quits a little after 2 a.m. before my lamp died (it is plugged into this big old surge protect that operates as a back up battery for my computer). My relational tank was on full when they left ... I talked with one about his friend, another about youth ministry, another about family and another about his outstanding work. All the conversations were amazing but the two most memorable ones were with Rey and Daniel.
Rey got a whole years worth of youth ministry training in one week. One of our middle school students threw a fist at youth group last week. Instead of handling it myself, I coached Rey through it. He did an incredible job from talking to the boys involved to the mother of the kid who threw the fist. He felt the victory of one of the student really hearing him and, as a result, making positive choices...and the defeat of the other who really didn't get it. Rey is an amazing leader and will rock the world as a youth pastor some day (actually he really is one now, but someday will have the official title).
I had never really had much of a coversation with Daniel until last night. I learned about his wonderful parents, how his family is rallying in difficult economic times and that his church home back in North Carolina is Steven Furtick's Elevation Church. Daniel is an amazing young man full of optimism and Jesus. I am feeling the need for a road trip to North Carolina with a carload of MC'ers soon.
They are all incredible young men of God that if I had a kid, I would want them to hang out with. Right now we are in the midst of Experience where we showcase MC Atlanta to 60+ potential students next year. The hallways have been full of energy all day. Tonight is quiet though, our students are back in their apartments spoiling our guests like only MC Atlanta can spoil them.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Who Is Asking The Questions
And the survey says... we have been taken for a ride by American Express, Pitney Bowes, Nuvox and Milner phone systems. Seriously, it's enough to make me beat my head against the wall. However, it's not their bad, it's ours for not asking the questions years ago. I think churches have a tendancy to just pay the bills and fail to obtain adequate information. The ongoing question should be why and if you can't answer it, do your homework and figure it out? Why is this interest rate so high? Why do we have this elaborate postage meter that is so fancy it should be able to spit nickels? Why is our T1 line so expensive every month...have we ever thought about telling them we are switching to a different company just to see what they say? Why are we leasing our phone system and who signed this stupid contract anyway with hidden costs that are lawsuit worthy? Because of the economic times, my amazing team and I are going over every reoccuring payment that goes out of that place. While most of them are totally legit, some leaving you scratching your head. No more...it's a new day.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
When You Can Scale Back No More
I hurt for some friends back home who lost their jobs this week. While I know God holds them in the very palm of His hand, it still leaves a knot in the pit of my stomach. Being the creater and keeper of the church budget at the Tabernacle, I know the feeling of waiting for the numbers to come in each week. It's a point of GREAT confusion for me. While I feel it's a lack of faith to hold my breath, it doesn't prevent me from doing so. When I see the email from Vicky reporting the weekly figures, I literally suck air while clicking it open. This week I rejoiced that we exceeded budget by 19 bucks ... I had that feeling in the pit of my stomach last week when we didn't ... historically January is a tough month for us. I scaled back everything I could for 2009. I'm rebiding contracts, cutting out the little fat that there is and helping to get the church refinanced. By doing so, it might give us a pinch of breathing room. Without it, our bottom line will be zero at the end of the year. However, if there is much in the way of out of the ordinary expenses (like a flood and deductibles), weather that affects attendance, etc., it will jack us up. There are times I feel the weight of the world on my shoulders. While I won't be the one to determine who, I know the very jobs of friends who are like family are on the line. So, I pray, I cut and I watch.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Time Out
The ramp up to Epicenter NYLC 09 is fun and exciting, but beginning to take on an incredible pace. In the midst of creating and preparing product, overseeing exhibitors and a number of other things we had the flood (ie insurance adjusters, contracters and industrial hygienist), been refining the 09 budget, getting bids on phone systems, refinancing the church to take advantage of the lower rates and two ladies Cadres (one last week and one Feb. 9-10) ... all of which is good and right. However, yesterday I took a time out and left the office at 4 p.m. and said enough is enough. I spent last night and all of this morning chillin at Jeanne's by the lake before lunch with Kayla and "Find Your Leader" at the mall with my middle school 02 group. It was good to just breathe and sleep. Jeanne's words to me a few emails ago from out of the country were "don't forget my porch is annointed." So, you will find me and Jesus hangin' there tomorrow afternoon. It was in the 60's today, hopefully it will be tomorrow but it's feelin' a little chillier tonight.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Diet Mountain Dew
So, I gave up Diet Moutain Dew for a few days. Most would have thought I'd fall over in convulsions dead, but I've faired pretty well. I haven't had the "no caffeine headaches" that I would have thought. I replaced my drink of choice with orange "Vitamin Water." I think I've been sucked into a marketing ploy. It's really melted orange popsicle at twice the cost of the Diet Moutain Dew. However it does say "water" so I'm claiming it as so.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Freebies
Cool free resource for youth workers at...
Youth Leader's Coach: www.youthleaderscoach.com/vault/
Southeast Christian Church: www.vineresources.com
Simply Youth Ministry: www.simplyyouthministry.com/freebies.html
Youth Leader's Coach: www.youthleaderscoach.com/vault/
Southeast Christian Church: www.vineresources.com
Simply Youth Ministry: www.simplyyouthministry.com/freebies.html
When Tragedy Strikes
Our little "when the rain came down" inside the building episode this weekend reminded me of the importance of having people who will rally around you when things get tough. About 20 MC students stuck it out for 14 hours on Saturday, another 20 for about 8 hours, to ready the church for Sunday. The final crew left about 3 a.m.
The ServiceMaster man is here and complimented us up on our clean up. However, our efforts didn't negate the fact that everything behind and underneath the surface is saturated. He is telling me that the floorboards are wet, the walls are wet...everything is pretty much wet... and needs to be ripped out.
None of that pales in comparison to what two friends are going through...
One just lost pretty much everything in a house fire in Illinois. Thankfully, his church is rallying. However, it doesn't fix the fact that his life is a whirlwind right now. Pray for the Raitz family.
One of our MC students was related to the four killed in the grisly Oklahoma slayings ... where the boyfriend killed the girlfriend and her four kids. Most of the kids were from a previous marriage to the MC student's brother. The MC gang rallyed, including one driving him home so he can go to his nieces and nephew's funeral. The MC student driving him also happens to be the one who oversaw putting in all the ceiling tiles for us on Saturday. We've got an amazing crew.
The ServiceMaster man is here and complimented us up on our clean up. However, our efforts didn't negate the fact that everything behind and underneath the surface is saturated. He is telling me that the floorboards are wet, the walls are wet...everything is pretty much wet... and needs to be ripped out.
None of that pales in comparison to what two friends are going through...
One just lost pretty much everything in a house fire in Illinois. Thankfully, his church is rallying. However, it doesn't fix the fact that his life is a whirlwind right now. Pray for the Raitz family.
One of our MC students was related to the four killed in the grisly Oklahoma slayings ... where the boyfriend killed the girlfriend and her four kids. Most of the kids were from a previous marriage to the MC student's brother. The MC gang rallyed, including one driving him home so he can go to his nieces and nephew's funeral. The MC student driving him also happens to be the one who oversaw putting in all the ceiling tiles for us on Saturday. We've got an amazing crew.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
It's raining ... inside the building
Crazy, crazy, crazy, crazy day. About 12:15 p.m., all heck broke loose. A water main to the sprinkler system split in half. Seriously, a four or five inch connecter joint thingy busted in two. It was pouring inside the building like I've never seen before. Coming out of the ceiling, down the walls, right through to the lower level. All while a funeral service was going on in the Sanctuary. It was an ugly site to behold.
Fortunately, over half of our MC gang were on hand. It's 9 p.m. and 14 of them are stilling sucking up water and shampooing the carpets. They are my heroes tonight. They will be here well after midnight and becasue of them we will have church tomorrow. Like pretty much every church in America right now, economically we can not go without a Sunday's offering. I know that sounds unspiritual. However, the keeper of the budget, thinks of such things.
Lessons learned today:
1. Instead of buying shop vacs, rent shampoo machines...they can suck up the nasty water first, then you can use them to clean the carpets afterwards.
2. Don't forget to rent the blowers to dry the carpet too. Fortuately we remembered.
3. In a staff meeting, devote an hour to walking the building and showing staff where the water main, gas main, circuit breakers and server are located. Even if they don't shut the water/gas/electricity off, they can show the fire department where it's located. We could have avoided a few hundred or thousand gallons pouring out if we knew where the water main was right away. We didn't even realize it, but the majority of the water was pouring down about ten feet away from the room where the serve resides. Thank you Jesus it didn't hit the $3,500 additional back up unit we just installed the day before.
4. Have a list somewhere of the telephone numbers for plumbers, electricians and whoever else might be helpful in an emergency situation. If your "go to" person can't be found, you should still be able to handle the crisis.
5. When the water sprinkler pipe breaks, there is a nasty odor that smells like gas ... in this case it wasn't, the water just stinks bad.
6. Boards warp really fast.
7. Know who you can count on in a crisis. The MC students rocked the house. I am like a proud mama right now.
8. We might of shot ourselves in the foot with the insurance company becasue we cleaned it up. Hopefully, the video and pictures we took will suffice. Regardless, had we not cleaned it up, we couldn't have had church. That wasn't an option.
9. You can't clean part of any carpet. It's an all or nothing deal. When the damaged area ended up being cleaner than the rest of the carpet, all had to be done.
10. How people respond in a crisis is a test of character. Our students passed with flying colors. This really is a special place. I am living amongst furture (and current) worldchangers. They give me hope for the church of today and tomorrow.
Fortunately, over half of our MC gang were on hand. It's 9 p.m. and 14 of them are stilling sucking up water and shampooing the carpets. They are my heroes tonight. They will be here well after midnight and becasue of them we will have church tomorrow. Like pretty much every church in America right now, economically we can not go without a Sunday's offering. I know that sounds unspiritual. However, the keeper of the budget, thinks of such things.
Lessons learned today:
1. Instead of buying shop vacs, rent shampoo machines...they can suck up the nasty water first, then you can use them to clean the carpets afterwards.
2. Don't forget to rent the blowers to dry the carpet too. Fortuately we remembered.
3. In a staff meeting, devote an hour to walking the building and showing staff where the water main, gas main, circuit breakers and server are located. Even if they don't shut the water/gas/electricity off, they can show the fire department where it's located. We could have avoided a few hundred or thousand gallons pouring out if we knew where the water main was right away. We didn't even realize it, but the majority of the water was pouring down about ten feet away from the room where the serve resides. Thank you Jesus it didn't hit the $3,500 additional back up unit we just installed the day before.
4. Have a list somewhere of the telephone numbers for plumbers, electricians and whoever else might be helpful in an emergency situation. If your "go to" person can't be found, you should still be able to handle the crisis.
5. When the water sprinkler pipe breaks, there is a nasty odor that smells like gas ... in this case it wasn't, the water just stinks bad.
6. Boards warp really fast.
7. Know who you can count on in a crisis. The MC students rocked the house. I am like a proud mama right now.
8. We might of shot ourselves in the foot with the insurance company becasue we cleaned it up. Hopefully, the video and pictures we took will suffice. Regardless, had we not cleaned it up, we couldn't have had church. That wasn't an option.
9. You can't clean part of any carpet. It's an all or nothing deal. When the damaged area ended up being cleaner than the rest of the carpet, all had to be done.
10. How people respond in a crisis is a test of character. Our students passed with flying colors. This really is a special place. I am living amongst furture (and current) worldchangers. They give me hope for the church of today and tomorrow.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Winter
It's midnight and it's only 20 degrees here. I'm thinking I shouldn't have left my winter coat in Indiana. That's what I get for braggin' how much warmer it is here.
Wednesday, January 07, 2009
Busted open this little gem and finished it while on Christmas break. It is a MUST read. Totally brilliant.
It was as easy to read as the 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership. Which, whether you're a Maxwell fan or not, is brilliant as well. Sooooo brilliant, that once again I am junior highizing it and teaching it to them on Sunday mornings.
Week 1: Who is standing next to you ... a gorilla or a slug?
Monday, January 05, 2009
Ugh!
Can it get any my dreary? Today...
1. Was my dad's birthday
2. I crunched numbers and finished the Tabernacle's 2009 budget
3. It rained most of the day (although can't complain too much, at 9 p.m. tonight it was 65 degrees)
The saving grace was that the MC students came back from Christmas break this evening. We played a fun game where staff, 3rd and 4th years disguised themselves and walked around the mall. The 1st and 2nd years had to find them and get them to sign their card. Pictures to follow...at some point.
1. Was my dad's birthday
2. I crunched numbers and finished the Tabernacle's 2009 budget
3. It rained most of the day (although can't complain too much, at 9 p.m. tonight it was 65 degrees)
The saving grace was that the MC students came back from Christmas break this evening. We played a fun game where staff, 3rd and 4th years disguised themselves and walked around the mall. The 1st and 2nd years had to find them and get them to sign their card. Pictures to follow...at some point.
Saturday, January 03, 2009
Welcome home, we missed you
Those were the words of a about a dozen people yesterday. The transition over the last year and a half has been interesting. For the first year of living in the ATL, Indiana still felt like home. The last six months, neither felt like home. Now, Atlanta truly feels like home. The #1 question people ask me when I come back to Indiana is, “do you like living in Atlanta?” The answer is that “I do.” Here’s why…
1. I love who I get to work with and for. My boss is amazing … a leader, visionary, coach, mentor and friend. We/I throw the “friend” word out pretty easily, but she truly is one. You should do life and work with people you love and who love you. If you are going to do this thing 50-70 hours a week, it matters.
2. I love MC Atlanta…seeing and working with 80+ God seeking, Jesus lovin’, hope filled, funny and fun 18-22 year olds is a hoot. We’ve mastered what it is to live in a “family environment.” I so believe in this program that has a foundational year of character and integrity building before its second year of leadership development. I’ve come to believe leadership without character is incredibly dangerous. I think in the church world we’ve lost sight of that a little. We build leaders and hope they catch character along the way. It’s a risky business.
3. I love diversity. As I mentioned, I go to a church that is comprised of 50 different nationalities that are predominately black in skin tone. I would love to say it didn’t affect me when I first moved down here, but honestly it kind of freaked me out. However, I went from immediately noticing that I was often times the only white person in a room, to seeing past skin tone. People are people, color really is just skin tone. I need to sit down and figure out how to put the transformation within me into better words.
4. I love to be stretched when it comes to leadership. I have my hand in a number of things right now. It breaks all the “less is more”, “laser focus is better” and “do only what you do best and hand off the rest” leadership principles I’ve learned along the way. However, that’s not an option right now and I’m great with it for this season. Plus, in my ear from the get go, I feel like God has been whispering “as you step into your future, this stuff will be important.” I’m not sure why, but am embracing the opportunities.
5. Words cannot express how much I learned at Granger from watching Mark, Rob, Dr. Bob, Ed, Mel, Georgia, Dave and a whole bunch of others too numerous to mention. I learn best by watching, not reading. So, all that stuff I absorbed by people watching is needed here. If you ever wonder “why they do what they do,” just go somewhere not doing it and you’ll be quick to know “the why behind the what.” Between that and the fact there is plenty of new stuff to learn here, it keeps my mind busy processing. We’re more denominationally tied here, which I love and hate with about the same amount of passion.
6. I’m a big fan of three seasons – spring, summer and fall. The average in July is only 5 degrees warmer here than in Indiana, but the average in January is 20 degrees warmer here than in Indiana. So, the summers aren’t much hotter, but the winters are much warmer. For someone who hates to be cold, that and the fact that the sun shines a lot more here is good for my soul. At 7 p.m. tonight it was 60 degrees. Last week in Indiana, for the life of me I couldn’t get warm. And when I was out at 7 p.m., my words were “why does it feel like I’m sitting in the middle of a freezer?”
So, life in the ATL is good for me. The second question I get asked when I’m in Indiana is “when are you coming back to Indiana, we miss you…we need you?” Probably not anytime soon, I am home.
1. I love who I get to work with and for. My boss is amazing … a leader, visionary, coach, mentor and friend. We/I throw the “friend” word out pretty easily, but she truly is one. You should do life and work with people you love and who love you. If you are going to do this thing 50-70 hours a week, it matters.
2. I love MC Atlanta…seeing and working with 80+ God seeking, Jesus lovin’, hope filled, funny and fun 18-22 year olds is a hoot. We’ve mastered what it is to live in a “family environment.” I so believe in this program that has a foundational year of character and integrity building before its second year of leadership development. I’ve come to believe leadership without character is incredibly dangerous. I think in the church world we’ve lost sight of that a little. We build leaders and hope they catch character along the way. It’s a risky business.
3. I love diversity. As I mentioned, I go to a church that is comprised of 50 different nationalities that are predominately black in skin tone. I would love to say it didn’t affect me when I first moved down here, but honestly it kind of freaked me out. However, I went from immediately noticing that I was often times the only white person in a room, to seeing past skin tone. People are people, color really is just skin tone. I need to sit down and figure out how to put the transformation within me into better words.
4. I love to be stretched when it comes to leadership. I have my hand in a number of things right now. It breaks all the “less is more”, “laser focus is better” and “do only what you do best and hand off the rest” leadership principles I’ve learned along the way. However, that’s not an option right now and I’m great with it for this season. Plus, in my ear from the get go, I feel like God has been whispering “as you step into your future, this stuff will be important.” I’m not sure why, but am embracing the opportunities.
5. Words cannot express how much I learned at Granger from watching Mark, Rob, Dr. Bob, Ed, Mel, Georgia, Dave and a whole bunch of others too numerous to mention. I learn best by watching, not reading. So, all that stuff I absorbed by people watching is needed here. If you ever wonder “why they do what they do,” just go somewhere not doing it and you’ll be quick to know “the why behind the what.” Between that and the fact there is plenty of new stuff to learn here, it keeps my mind busy processing. We’re more denominationally tied here, which I love and hate with about the same amount of passion.
6. I’m a big fan of three seasons – spring, summer and fall. The average in July is only 5 degrees warmer here than in Indiana, but the average in January is 20 degrees warmer here than in Indiana. So, the summers aren’t much hotter, but the winters are much warmer. For someone who hates to be cold, that and the fact that the sun shines a lot more here is good for my soul. At 7 p.m. tonight it was 60 degrees. Last week in Indiana, for the life of me I couldn’t get warm. And when I was out at 7 p.m., my words were “why does it feel like I’m sitting in the middle of a freezer?”
So, life in the ATL is good for me. The second question I get asked when I’m in Indiana is “when are you coming back to Indiana, we miss you…we need you?” Probably not anytime soon, I am home.
Rachel Leazenby
Did you ever write a post that was about five times longer than you expected, breaking all "posting" rules, but just don't care and are going to post it anyway?...well here is one for you.
Rachel Leazenby
It was a wonderful holiday in some ways, horrible in others. On Christmas Eve, one of the leaders who served alongside of me in Oasis died in a car accident. Rachel always had a smile on her face – she was full of life, laughter, adventure and vision. Her smile was contagious. As I got to know the family over the years, I think it was one of four things that are a pre-requisite for all their family. Rachel’s life is marked by a family that…
(1) smiles
(2) loves Jesus
(3) uses their God given talents for the Cause, the King and the Kingdom, and
(4) leans in
As I sat through the funeral, I thought of the affect their family has had on my life and ministry over the years.
Before meeting Rachel, I met her brother-in-law, Jeff Banicki, when he first came to play drums for us at Oasis. I was glad he had mega skill because just watching him play was a site to behold. I love watching people who can play (sing) and smile at the same time. Like Rachel, Jeff had that same contagious smile as he’d “lean in” to the drum kit while he played. His face helped to lite up the stage and it kept beaming when he stepped off of it as well.
I then met Rachel’s sister, Leah Banicki. Leah would come and sing solos for us at Oasis. Her voice is indescribably AMAZING…seriously. I remember time and time again giving God thanks for her ministry, especially to our girls. I loved that they were able to watch her “lean in” to the microphone, smiling as she sang, using her talent for God’s glory. She inspired us with her music and her life. In fact, I’m sure there are many high school girls singing into school choir microphones because of her.
I then met Rachel and Leah’s mom and dad, Gene and Mary Ort, at Camp Adventure. They would come and set up camp with their trailer so that we could have the most superb sound ever to be heard at camp. Gene’s talented beyond measure when it comes to many things, especially sound. He could have been making a lot of money somewhere that week I’m sure, but instead he gave it up to run sound for a bunch of middle school students free of charge. Often I’d look over and see Gene smiling as he would “lean in” to the board to twist a knob, push a button or raise a slider, as nearly 200 middle school students and leaders were jumping all over the place during worship. The fact that Mary would come to our “rustic” camp was beautiful. I know many of wives who would have simply kissed their husbands on his way out the door and said “see ya next week.” She didn’t “have to” spend a week fighting off dear flies and showering in rusty/iron/sulfur water, she “chose to” in order to “lean in” to her husband with love and support.
Then, Rachel came on the scene. As I would walk around checking on small groups, Rachel could always be found sitting with a smile on her face as she would “lean in” to her circle of girls in order to listen well. It, among other things, made her a great leader. Her imprint will remain on the lives she touched forever … and, if you haven’t heard, forever is a really long time.
You’d think it would end there, but it doesn’t … Along comes Rachel’s husband, Jon. Jon was one of the coaches for our annual flag football tournament. Jon was a great coach. He’d huddle up his players tight, arms stretched across each others back, and all would “lean in” to hear his voice of wisdom and encouragement. Rachel would be right in there next to him. Their passion for the sport and, more importantly, our kids ran deep.
Like I said, it’s a family thing. For some reason, while sitting through the beautiful service that celebrated her life, I was in my own little world celebrating and giving God thanks for their family. All throughout, those two simple words, “lean in”, kept washing over my mind like the ocean’s tide. They all do it so well. While Rachel went on ahead of them to warm up their section of the dance floor with Jesus, they will continue to mark people on their journey with their love for Jesus, smiles and use of their talents for Kingdom purposes. This week I continue to give thanks and pray for the Ort-Leasenby-Banicki family. May you “Lean in” to Jesus my friends, now more than ever.
Rachel Leazenby
It was a wonderful holiday in some ways, horrible in others. On Christmas Eve, one of the leaders who served alongside of me in Oasis died in a car accident. Rachel always had a smile on her face – she was full of life, laughter, adventure and vision. Her smile was contagious. As I got to know the family over the years, I think it was one of four things that are a pre-requisite for all their family. Rachel’s life is marked by a family that…
(1) smiles
(2) loves Jesus
(3) uses their God given talents for the Cause, the King and the Kingdom, and
(4) leans in
As I sat through the funeral, I thought of the affect their family has had on my life and ministry over the years.
Before meeting Rachel, I met her brother-in-law, Jeff Banicki, when he first came to play drums for us at Oasis. I was glad he had mega skill because just watching him play was a site to behold. I love watching people who can play (sing) and smile at the same time. Like Rachel, Jeff had that same contagious smile as he’d “lean in” to the drum kit while he played. His face helped to lite up the stage and it kept beaming when he stepped off of it as well.
I then met Rachel’s sister, Leah Banicki. Leah would come and sing solos for us at Oasis. Her voice is indescribably AMAZING…seriously. I remember time and time again giving God thanks for her ministry, especially to our girls. I loved that they were able to watch her “lean in” to the microphone, smiling as she sang, using her talent for God’s glory. She inspired us with her music and her life. In fact, I’m sure there are many high school girls singing into school choir microphones because of her.
I then met Rachel and Leah’s mom and dad, Gene and Mary Ort, at Camp Adventure. They would come and set up camp with their trailer so that we could have the most superb sound ever to be heard at camp. Gene’s talented beyond measure when it comes to many things, especially sound. He could have been making a lot of money somewhere that week I’m sure, but instead he gave it up to run sound for a bunch of middle school students free of charge. Often I’d look over and see Gene smiling as he would “lean in” to the board to twist a knob, push a button or raise a slider, as nearly 200 middle school students and leaders were jumping all over the place during worship. The fact that Mary would come to our “rustic” camp was beautiful. I know many of wives who would have simply kissed their husbands on his way out the door and said “see ya next week.” She didn’t “have to” spend a week fighting off dear flies and showering in rusty/iron/sulfur water, she “chose to” in order to “lean in” to her husband with love and support.
Then, Rachel came on the scene. As I would walk around checking on small groups, Rachel could always be found sitting with a smile on her face as she would “lean in” to her circle of girls in order to listen well. It, among other things, made her a great leader. Her imprint will remain on the lives she touched forever … and, if you haven’t heard, forever is a really long time.
You’d think it would end there, but it doesn’t … Along comes Rachel’s husband, Jon. Jon was one of the coaches for our annual flag football tournament. Jon was a great coach. He’d huddle up his players tight, arms stretched across each others back, and all would “lean in” to hear his voice of wisdom and encouragement. Rachel would be right in there next to him. Their passion for the sport and, more importantly, our kids ran deep.
Like I said, it’s a family thing. For some reason, while sitting through the beautiful service that celebrated her life, I was in my own little world celebrating and giving God thanks for their family. All throughout, those two simple words, “lean in”, kept washing over my mind like the ocean’s tide. They all do it so well. While Rachel went on ahead of them to warm up their section of the dance floor with Jesus, they will continue to mark people on their journey with their love for Jesus, smiles and use of their talents for Kingdom purposes. This week I continue to give thanks and pray for the Ort-Leasenby-Banicki family. May you “Lean in” to Jesus my friends, now more than ever.
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