good to be back.

We sat in a crowded church sanctuary this morning, surrounded by 400+ others, worshiping and singing and being exhorted by a message from Dr. Lewis. Today is the first day of the 2010-2011 school year for Moody-Spokane. And what a year it seems like it's going to be!

Dr. Lewis talked about the importance of not just learning at this place, but actually growing, being changed, progressing... running the race that is set before us, well. I so appreciate that this place isn't about learning a lot of stuff. It's about our hearts. It's about growing and being changed by a living God. It would be great to do that and have a 4.0 but it is most important to let the things learned in this place to sink into our hearts. Yes! That's exactly it!

We'll be living in an apartment with most of the people we're doing youth ministry with this fall (not in the same apartment, but a couple doors down) which we are greatly excited about. Got to hang out and talk with them last night and we are EXCITED! It's going to be great. We can't wait to share exactly how it's great, and to experience that ourselves.

Fall is one of my favorite seasons. It's full of change - leaves change, weather changes; everything feels crisp and fresh and just pumps you up for what's coming next. And we are excited. Excited to be in Spokane, excited to be back at Moody (I plan on doing as much Moody-related things as possible), excited to do ministry, excited to see friends and meet so many new students, excited to rejoin our church.

We're on the brink of "anything could happen" and that's so very neat. Full of imagining and what-ifs. We're excited to move just past that brink and experience this fall and life back in Spokane. Dreaming and thinking is great, but we really can't wait to get our hands dirty. Looking back will hopefully be even more wonderful than thinking about the possibilities.

It's good to be back.