We just got back from our annual “Staff Advance.”  Last year we called it our “Staff Retreat.”  But I hate that word, retreat.  At The Connection Church we NEVER retreat.

It was sweet to get away with the team to pray, plan, dream, set goals, talk about our upcoming move the PAC, team build, laugh, and even relax a little.   It was energizing!  And Connection Church, just let me say this, God has some INCREDIBLE stuff for us this year!

• We set some pretty BIG HAIRY AUDACIOUS GOALS for the year. It was funny to us last year when I wrote “move to the PAC” on the goals sheet because we had already been told that it wasn’t allowed. And yet here we are, moving to the PAC in a few months! One thing I LOVE about our church is I have always been allowed to dream GOD SIZED dreams!
• I sat in a BLAZING HOT, overly chlorinated, hot tub with Cole and Micah. It felt good, until I got out an itched like crazy. Everyone was laughing at my legs because they turned pink…
• We did team building on a low ropes course. It was a BLAST!
• Cole led us through an incredible session on being visionary leaders.
• Cole also “serenaded” us by the camp fire. You know that scene in Animal House where Belushi bashes the guitar? Enough said.
• I ate more rice crispy treats than any one man should in 24 hours and got sick!
• Cole and Pam split up the men and women in one session and talked to us about the needs of our spouse and how important it is that we focus on our families before our jobs. That was needed!
• I taught a session called “PACK the PAC.” MAN I GET PUMPED about the PAC stuff!
• The mattresses we slept on were about a half inch thick. Comfy.

I could go on and on…but I’m pooped and need some sleep…so here are a few pics…