Pre-game...

I have a pre-game ritual.

(or in this case a pre-preach ritual)

I always leave the highlighting of my sermon notes until about a half-hour before I preach. I learned this trick in high-school. No, I wasn't preaching then (although almost) I was studying for final exams.

I would compile my notes (research), organize 'em (outlining), then read 'em over and over (out loud) before finally re-writing the key parts while reading 'em (equivalent to writing then highlighting) to myself, again, out loud.

It worked with Grade 12 English, it works with Galatians.

The other thing about it is the whole 'ritual' part. I learned the importance of ritual while playing University football. I'd go through the same routine before every game. Later, I took that habit to the final moments before going live on TV across the Nation.

Always do the same stuff.

So, today, I make sure to sit down after all my pre-service responsibilities have been taken care of and just spend some time with my notes, a couple highlighters and the Holy Spirit.

Usually the 'groove' I find in those final moments is the same one that ends up happening in Worship and is the same one I ride all the way into the preaching.

T

What a month...

Yeah, that's me these days.

It's been the wildest September I can remember.

In addition to shooting, I've begun teaching (Bible) at my kids new school (so that they can *go* to said school) and my wife has also begun teaching there, doing all their high performance fitness training. So, not only did our four kids have to adjust to a new school and schedule, Mom and Dad did. Not pretty for the first couple weeks but I think we're settled in now.

When the Vice Principal asked me how it was going (week two) I casually answered, "Well, I'm not hating it as much as I thought I would, so that's good..." She laughed, which was what I was going for.

In addition, both boys are in football and I'm head coaching my youngest boy's team. Wow, what an insane time commitment. I'm really enjoying it though. It's very challenging, which has given me a whole new level of respect for Pro-level coaches. I'm blessed to have two excellent assistant coaches working with me. Great dudes.

To add insult to injury we also picked September to move our church from the location we've been in for the last three years to an entirely new space. Let's just say the amount of work was staggering. We're now three weeks in and I think the move was the right call. Our last three consecutive weeks have been the biggest (back to back) in our history, so that's a good sign.

Flew to Philly to meet and greet and pitch, and also met with a publisher about a potential project (more on that as things develop) which I am currently working on.

Reading scripts, writing, starting up a new shell corporation to funnel all our work through.

Good times.

Hope your Fall is treating you well.

T