I had a great time Thursday and Friday in New York City.  I am privileged to be a part of a coaching network with about 15 other pastors from all over the country that meets once a month.  This month’s meeting was last Friday and I was able to break away Thursday and spend some time in the Big Apple. 

I got to spend some time hanging out with my friend Tony Portell and he scored and shared some tickets to the Late Show with David Letterman Thursday night (more on this in my next post).  I don’t know if it was just being out of town or what, but I had the best night’s sleep Thursday night that I have had in a long time.  The only downer of the entire trip was that my flight back home got cancelled Friday and thankfully Jeff was able to get me on another one.  Different airline, different airport, but thankfully they knew where Pittsburgh was.

The network meeting was great on Friday.  I have often said that the journey of planting a church for me has been often marked by great periods of self-discovery: learning and observing who God made me to be.  One thing I know about myself is that I am a passionate learner.  Another thing that I’m fast discovering is that I learn very well in a “learning community” like this network. 

I am a consummate brain-picker (if that’s a word) and this group is just that kind of an opportunity. There are a lot of guys who have been where we are as a church and led their churches much further down the road.  And the guy that leads the group - Nelson Searcy - may be on the list of people I am obligated to name a child after because of all the help he has been to me and ICC, but don’t hold me to that (and don’t tell Amber).

All in all, if you are a pastor or church leader I would highly recommend being involved in a coaching network.  If nothing else, find a group of people who are like-minded and all have similar aims and begin sharing information.  Why should you be willing to share the stuff that God has been teaching you?  One word: KINGDOM!