From My Heart and Mind

James Teyler, the second son of Mark and Tracy Teyler, very dear family friends, wrote me recently and asked for advice as he has just started a new ministry fresh out of college.  It's kind of weird because I can still picture he and my son Kurt riding bikes up the street when they were 10 years old!  But boys become men and some men become giants.  So here is my note to a man I pray becomes a giant: Dear James, Thank you for asking me to share with you some insights that I have had during my time as a Pastor.  Congratulations on your position at your home church and congratulations on finishing at Biola.  You are truly a blessed man to have a great combination of wonderful biological family, church family, Christian education at a really good school and a chance to serve others now in your position as Jr. High Pastor.  You have been given much and now much will be required of you (Luke 12:48).   I thought and prayed about your request for advice and I came up with one

I am looking for 40 friends (you would have to be a VERY good friend to do this) so read below carefully.  But I PROMISE to keep my end of the bargain also: It's time!  3 1/2 years ago I resigned from leading a wonderful church and left the ministry to work on areas of my life long neglected and in need of much transformation.  Five Pastor/Leaders and many others have helped Sallie and I renew our marriage, refocus our life, re-prioritize and heal areas of my life personally, our marriage and our ministry focus.  But it is now time to start making plans to re-enter the calling that God gave me when I was a college student- to lead the body of Christ using my spiritual gifts, talents and abilities.  Sallie is ready too-- really ready!  So I have been thinking and praying and I came up with an idea-- I want to challenge 40 people in my life- close people, people who know us well, who have walked with us, those who love us, to join us in a journey from October 10 to Thanksgiving.