“And when they had prayed, the place was shaken wherein they were gathered together; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and soul: and not one of them said that aught of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.

And with great power gave the apostles their witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.”

I awakened this morning to a flood of images from the last three days. Of course there were images from the services yesterday, but there were many more.

Friday:

A lunch and breakfast with two key leaders of an organization where I had been a part of helping shape a Kingdom culture and establishing a team led organizational structure. Of course there are challenges, but there was also great momentum, success, and both of these leaders were settling into the sweet spot of their unique creation.
Celebrated my precious 19-year old daughter’s birthday with my family.
My wife and I enjoyed an evening dinner with some of our closest friends. It was a four hour sumptuous feast of connecting around family, relationship, and shared mission. The Spirit breathed and powerful words were spoken. It was redefining, confirming, and foundational.

Saturday:

Long drive through the country with a sage and close friend who helped powerfully answer questions, confirm hopes, and help chart a clearer path forward. We shared coffee in a 100 year old converted bank building and an extensive hike along a riverbank.
An engagement party that turned into a surprise wedding. We celebrated with family, stole away to watch an incredible NCAA semifinal game, but I spent the most substantial time with a young man in college who had just found a book called “Wild at Heart.” He was beginning the journey into his masculine identity that I started a dozen or so years ago. It was holy and rich.

Sunday:

Our family’s traditional Easter morning experience, albeit with only four of my six children. The late night from the wedding and early morning, landed all of them in our bed.
Shared a lunch of lamb with traditional Middle Eastern flatbread along with close friends and ministry allies… opened glass walls, ushered in the incredible Texas Hill Country on a perfect day.
Finally, enjoyed Easter services with my church family.

Also, I have been helping a friend on a vision quest week in Colorado over the last few days, by interceding and offering him guided questions to take to the Father and journal around.

The thing that struck me out of all of this is that these three days were exactly as it was intended; rich fellowship, breaking of bread, Holy Spirit guided conversation, and created memories richly evocative of those depicted in Acts and the coming Kingdom.

It is the privilege and heritage afforded all of us in the death, resurrection, and ascension of our King.

It is the life that powerfully attracts the lost and wayward back toward the Kingdom where they were created to reside.

It is the opportunity to woo those we love and lead toward something more grand and beautiful than they have ever known.

It is so much more than I hoped or dreamed… so much more than I had taught those through my life and leadership to hope for.

As Andy Dufrene from “Shawshank Redemption” asks, “You better get busy living or get busy dying.” I have always chosen “life” but the offer is so much more than I realized or enjoyed through most of my Christian life. We are called to an uncommon life by an extraordinarily uncommon King. The weight of God’s glory in me and the intended glory for all those I love and lead, hangs in the balance.

What do others know about the Kingdom by observing your life and leadership?
Is it a Spirit guided journey into more of God’s offering out of the death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus?
Are you living and leading in a manner that would inspire others to follow?