This week I was with our Worship staff preparing for our trip to Colorado this summer. I always enjoy spending time with Keith and his team and the opportunity he provides me to add input into the planning process. I have to say, I am very excited about being in Colorado this summer. We were there for camp two years ago and I was definitely bitten by the mountains, fresh air, rolling plains, close to modern conveniences setting! We'll be working with a new church plant, The Edge Church. Their pastor is Ryan Heller; a good friend and a great pastor.

It's funny riding around in a car wtih a guy who has completely sold his life and family out to a dream of reaching total strangers. I was completely inspired, stretched and challenged by Ryan's attitude and his outlook. We would drive around Aurora (outside of Denver) and he would point out streets, schools, houses and even buildings that he was claiming for the gospel. I was amazed at his passion and vigor to see the people in the community he has planted into be drawn to Christ. The church has been up and running for 8 months but God has already been doing amazing things. They had a huge crowd for Easter and people and coming more regularly each week. It's no wonder why - everywhere we stopped, Ryan knew someone. Every place that we visited was an open door because of the relationship Ryan had with someone at that location. He knew the neighborhoods, the schools, the parks and, most importantly, he has a vision to reach them.

Now, I had a blast riding up the train to Pike's Peak (though it was snowed out at the top so we didn't get to see it), I laughed every time Michelle Chapman found a new prairie dog she wanted to take home as a pet and I was impressed with the determined but laid-back approach of the average Coloradoan (not sure if that's right but we'll go with it!). But the thing that will be etched into my mind for a while is how much Ryan has done in such a short amount of time. He is "all in" with his community. He loves them and he's broken for them. To me, that's the real heart of a pastor: do you love the people around you and are you loving them towards the gospel? Ryan is doing that and I was blessed and challenged to be around him for even just a short amount of time. The trip this summer is going to be great; so many opportunities to help drive people to The Edge Church, Ryan and his team. But between now and then, I've got some things to think about.