LIVE SUMMER 07

It's official, summer has begun. Longer days, hotter temps, BBQ's, vacations and memory makers. I absolutely love summer--more than most--because I have a boatload of memories. My mom and dad spent time camping with us kids each summer at Alta Lake in Eastern Wa. In the Knight house summer meant there were trips to take, mountains to summit, baseball games to win, and fireworks to light up. These recent years have been full of road trips, racing, boating, motorcycling across the states and whatever else I can try for the first time. I am serious, I have decided that I do not have to be an expert to try something, be it fly or deep sea fishing, hiking, mountaineering, running, or whatever. It doesn't take money to make memories--it takes time. We have to make time to Live Summer.

Forgive me if I seem as though everything is a cake walk; it's not like there are not things to trouble me. As a pastor I have to stay in touch with the ministry because it never stops--church is a 24/7/365 operation! Summer statistically means increased need, decreased attendance and tightened budgets. Sometimes those items can alarm me, but every summer God shows Himself faithful. Every summer people have been saved and given generously of their finances to The Rock Church.

The reality is, if you and I don't call time out and Live Summer, before we know it, the rains of fall are touching down on our necks like a 747.

I made a decision to Live Summer. What does that mean? I decided to stay up late on the right occasions, have bon fires with smores, take long drives, race a car on Saturday nights, watch a lot less TV, sleep in a tent, nap in a hammock, take a few extra days away from the "to do" list so that I can attend to the "do what I want" list.

Some of you need to Live Summer. You know who you are because if you really get honest with yourself you're burned out, you're working too much, the fuse is short and you continuously say, "When we get____, I will take the needed break." You know who you are because the break doesn't come, and you hopelessly wonder if it will.

Believe me, I have been there and I know what it is like to feel like your world is upon your shoulders. I know what it is like to live with mental, physical and emotional exhaustion. Some call it being tough, others say "don't show weakness," but in reality we need a break!

For 7.5 years I have been burning it at both ends to build The Rock Church into what I know God has called it to be. The vision burns within me every moment and with every breath and it will never leave my life. I have taken a short break here and there--the longest was in 2003 when I took 10 days away--but if we are waiting to get out of town to get refreshed, if you're like me, the wait is too far off. We can't wait to take the time; take it now, this summer!

So instead of waiting, LIVE SUMMER, seize the day, clear the calendar, make the reservation, set the tee time, clean the boat, wax the hot rod, restock the sun tan lotion, book the hotel, take the trip and MAKE MEMORIES.

I can't tell you on a keyboard how excited I am to Live Summer. I hope you will join me in this journey by being at church on Sunday Mornings. Instead of trading "God-time" (Sunday) to Live Summer go ahead and trade "Job-time" (Anyday) to LIVE SUMMER! Think how refreshed life might be if we are emotionally, physically, mentally and spiritually healthy all at the same time!