UPDATE Week 7 Year 1

Good news! We survived our first broken bone and our first hurricane!

Susannah, David, Wesley, Anna Rose and Thomas surviving the hurricane

UNCOMMON MONDAY

With tears in my eyes I said my good-byes to Doug and Jen Wittenberg and family and walked on the red eye back to North Carolina. We landed and I made it back to our house in time to take the kids to school, go to the office, write an update, attend a few meetings, go for a short run and arrive at Redeemer Presbyterian Church to help host the second Uncommon Family: Purposeful Listening conversation about race.

The Fellows were amazing. Nine of the eleven were there. Campbell Anderson and Alex Loy, the two Fellows who actually go to Redeemer were out of commission - Alex with a fever and Campbell with a broken leg!!! Yes. A broken leg!!!

Me and Campbell the day before surgery

Campbell was hanging out with some of his high school buddies last Friday and SNAP. Two bones in his ankle.

Jessica and Julia and Campbell post surgery

All signs point to a full recovery.

(However, the camping trip that we had planned to go on next weekend has been moved to a stationary location)

Back to Uncommon Family. It was so cool to watch the Fellows serve a church where none of them attend. That's the beautiful thing about this program. We are all one Church and we live and serve that way...

Will and Reese almost convinced me to go out with them for a late night beer and pizza, but I managed to resist temptation and go to bed.

A PAINFUL HOPE (and MIC)

On Thursday, the Fellows traveled to Greensboro to the Civil Rights Museum to attend a conversation about the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. 

Probably the highlight of the night was the introduction Frank McCain Jr. gave. He is the son of one of the men who took up a seat at the Woolworth's Store in the 1960s. Wow! I need to get to know this man. (Can anyone connect me?)

Rabbi Hanan and Ali Awwad were pretty impressive too. There were microphone problems that severely hampered the audience's experience. Nevertheless, it was a great introduction for these Fellows to some of the deeper challenges our world faces. 

Afterward, Will and the gang did talk me into some late night fun. 

Nothing like playing pterodactyl at Natty Greene's

It was a great evening. Earlier, Will also introduced us to Yum Yum's pink hotdogs and heaping helpings of ice cream. The dogs were not as good as Pulliams. But the ice cream was top notch.

Dakota demonstrating proper ice cream eating technique

A FEW THANK YOUS

Thank you to Andrew Boyd for being our Leadership Lunch speaker this week. Thank you First Pres for hosting. Thank you Faye Horwitt and Patti Stanford for meeting with me, and thank you Jen Brown for introducing us. Thank you Tara Stokes, Keith Vest, Erika Quaile, Ella Long and Will Waldorf for the tremendous encouragement this week.

Will Waldorf, professor of Political Science at Wake Forest, on Friday, led us in one of the best dialogues on politics I have ever been a part of.

Tara and Keith are two of our Employers. Both indicated that they want to hire more Fellows in the future!

Ella Long of Reynolds American will be our Leadership speaker this Wednesday.

Erika Quaile is a development director for Hope International, a micro-finance company. You should check them out!

FELLOWS SERVANT WEEKEND

Camille, Sarabeth, Reese, Alex and Will

Five of our Fellows headed to Windy Gap with Forsyth County Young Life to volunteer for their fall outreach weekend. Camille and Reese did Work Crew. Sarabeth, Alex and Will were in cabins, serving as leaders.

They were simultaneously exuberant and exhausted when I picked them up from the buses on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Sean Henderson and Rahel Tafese were leaders at Camp Hanes with the River Oaks Community Church Youth.

MEANWHILE, Dakota Lee and Julia Lovett attended Salem Pres' new member retreat. Then, Julia and Jessica took care of Campbell Anderson (after first going to the Foothills Tasting Room for a Yoga and Beer class)

 

 

I'm so proud of these Fellows for how they have jumped into life here in Winston-Salem, for the way they serve this community, and the way they love each other.

QUICK UPDATE: Jessica bought a car this week!

(For those of you are wondering about Christina - she went to Wheaton for Homecoming)

As for the Ericksons, we had plans to go to Charleston, South Carolina for the weekend (it's our children's fall break) to visit with friends like Cooper and Beth Williams. Unfortunately, Charleston had a little problem this weekend called Hurricane Matthew.

So on Wednesday, the Williams came to us!

A little calm in the storm of a rainy day with five crazy children

So this weekend, we fled to higher ground.

Cave Rock Community Church

 THIS WEEK

• Tonight, we are heading to Chris and Virginia Perry's house for Round Table. 
• Wednesday, Ella Long will be our speaker for Leadership Lunch, which is being hosted at Forsyth Country Day School (Thanks Garnder!)
• Wednesday and Thursday, I am helping to lead the Leadership Winston-Salem Opening Retreat. I have several big roles this year, so pray for me!!!
• Friday after class, we are heading to Camp Merri-Mac, (Thanks Andrew and Mary Page Boyd!) for our Fall Advance! It's been six weeks since our last weekend together as Fellows, so it's time!

In other news,

• We have started our annual fundraising push. Our goal is $40,000 in pledges and support to come in by November 1. 
• Give Online at http://www.wsfellows.com/give/
• Or Mail Checks to WS Fellows. 851 W. 5th Street. Winston-Salem, NC 27101
• Please pray for my friend Doug. The day after I left and this picture was taken, the tumors swelled to the point that he was having trouble eating and breathing. By Tuesday, he had to have a tracheotomy and a feeding tube put in. I am totally devastated. Although Lia and others assure me that my trip had nothing to do with it, and that it was actually God's grace that allowed us to spend an amazing forty-eight hours together - I still am struggling with how painful the days have been since my visit. Please, Lord, please have mercy on my friend. 

Thank you, my friends. God is good. Doug would want me to make sure I said that, and if the Fellows has shown us anything it's that it's true.

UPDATE YEAR 1 WEEK 6

ANOTHER GREAT WEEK TO BE A FELLOW

During Round Table, the Fellows surprised me with birthday cupcakes. With the help of the kids, we managed to prevent our house catching on fire while blowing out all 42 candles! Holy smokes! Pardon the pun. 

Just one of the many ways I get more than I give from this organization...

RECRUITING! ALREADY?

Me and the boys headed down to Davidson to meet Fellows prospects for next year's 2017-18 Class! It makes a huge difference to have guys like Reese Schaffner, who knows everybody, and Dakota Lee, who can make friends with anybody, and Will Troxler, who is so darn handsome to go with me on recruiting trips. 

Thanks! Sid Druen for inviting us down. We will be back in a couple months. 

I'm going to say it - I'm praying for Two, maybe Three Davidsonians - to join the Fellows next year. 

SENIOR SERVICES

Lee Covington, Richard Gottlieb, Kristen Perry, Will Troxler, Reese Schaffner, Dakota Lee, Sarabeth Abbey, Sean Henderson, Alex Loy, Christina Sandstedt, Julia Lovett, Rahel Tafese, Jessica Kok, Camille Stogner, and Ned

We had an unbelievable Wednesday with Richard Gottlieb, Lee Covington, and Kristen Perry at Senior Services. 

I have to admit, I'm a bit proud of our Fellow, Jessica Kok. 

Me, Kristen Perry and Jessica Kok

In the words of Kristen Perry, the Vice President of Community Engagement, "Jessica is making the Fellows Program look really good."

I'll tell you, we couldn't have been more impressed with Senior Services. Richard Gottlieb is in a class all his own. As for our Fellows, I don't think I have seen them so engaged. It was a truly inspiring, impactful afternoon. 

Thanks Senior Services! We are looking forward to volunteering with your Aging With Purpose Initiative. 

Speaking of volunteering...a bunch of Fellows spent the afternoon filling popcorn over at the Popcorn Emporium...I'll tell you, these Fellows are amazing!

Sarabeth said it was a big order...I'll say!

THURSDAY LECTURE(S)

Thanks to Kevin Frack and the good people of Davie County, I was given the opportunity to share my story on Thursday morning at their NCS, which meets at the Captain's Galley in Advance. (Thanks Murf for introducing me!)

As a way to open up about the man God is shaping me into, I decided to talk about all the mentors that He has put in my life. First, my dad. And men like Mike Flavin, Rob Spach, Bob Gerwig, John Gayle, Ty Saltzgiver, Ray Siegler, Clyde Godwin and especially Fil Anderson (not to mention a very special woman, Lynn Barclay). It was on my heart to inspire these men to seek out mentors, but to also seek out others to mentor. I think I got my point across. 

It directly correlates to why I am so passionate about the Winston-Salem Fellows. Mentoring is what we do. We are in the business of developing world changers. And in the process, we are being changed! That's how it works. 

  

Thursday night, the Fellows got to Wait Chapel early to make sure we snagged great seats for the Tim Keller lecture. And was it worth it! What an intelligent defender of our faith! What a treat to hear him!

I also had the treat of hosting a new friend from Chicago - Chris Lesner, from NCS Chicago. He owns and operates this awesome website: www.projectworldimpact.com that connects folks to organizations and giving opportunities all over the world. Great to have you Chris!

WEEKEND AWAY

Well...while I drove to Durham to spend the night with old friends Sam and Savannah Best on my way to Denver to spend the weekend with Doug Wittenberg and his family...Campbell broke his leg!

     

I won't divulge the details, but you can pray for his recovery. 

I'll tell you, when the Director's away...so far we have tallied two broken cars and one broken leg...good googa mooga...

Speaking of when the Director's away...

DAVE DAVE SCORED HIS FIRST EVER GOAL!!!

I hate I missed that, but I probably shouted so loud from Colorado that he could have heard it! So proud of that dude. 

  

To celebrate, Lia took the kids to the fair. 

The one thing Anna Rose wanted to do was ride the Ferris Wheel.

It appears Anna Rose got her wish. 

Meanwhile I was in heaven also known as Vail. The aspens were popping. 

Here is me hanging from the top of one.

What fun. 

As you know, the purpose of my trip was to spend time with my friend Doug who has stage 4 terminal cancer. He is on a new chemo drug that we are praying will slow down the tumor growth in his body. 

This photo was taken after I finished the Justice Run on Sunday morning. 

Jen, Doug's wife, and seven of her girlfriends have been raising support and awareness around human and sexual trafficking in Denver and around the world. This year's race brought in over $65,000 for the cause! 

I did my tiny little part by running. Somehow I finished ninth overall in the 10k with a time of 40:06. Not bad for a low lander just off the plane!

It certainly helps to be in a city I love with people I love. 

Like this guy. His name is Luke. He is Doug and Jen's sixth child! The first biological! After twenty three years of unprotected attempts, God gave them this surprise!!!

We became instant best friends.

It was also great to see Louise (seen below), Stella, Jacob (in the second photo below) Andrew, and Micah. 

Louise is leaving next week to work with YWAM

I knew this young man when he was barely walking!

I'll tell you, Campus Crusade acquired pure gold when they hired Jen and Doug to lead their Family Life ministry. Check out their resources at http://www.familylife.com/

All in all, it was a weekend to remember, which is why I will end this portion with a selfie in front our old house on Gilpin St. 

I don't exactly know how the new tenants have managed to place completely rotten pumpkins on the front stoop a full month BEFORE Halloween. I'm not saying it's because of the strong scent of wacky tobacky exuding from the window. 

All I can say is that the couple was very friendly. Through very slurred speech the lady of the house even asked me if I wanted to join their little party.  

I passed. 

FINANCES

This week we will be sending out requests for you to join us by supporting the Fellows Program financially. 

I am extremely proud of the fiscal leanness of this organization. Through tuition, churches, and business we cover over two-thirds of our budget. The rest is up to folks like you. 

If you want a support request (with a little gift from us to you), please let me know, and send me your address.

PRAYER THIS WEEK 

 This week...

Monday we are helping to Host the Uncommon Family at Redeemer. Starts at 6:30. You should come!!!

Tuesday is meetings day. 

Wednesday Sean and I will be volunteering at Habitat. Then we will meet up with the rest of us for a Leader Lunch with Andrew Boyd and a surprise guest! Then we will be heading to the Center for Creative Leadership for professional development. 

Thursday we are heading back to Greensboro to participate in an Israeli/Palestinian dialogue at the Civil Rights Museum!

Friday, the Fellows will be learning from Cathy McDowell and Will Waldorf. Then most of them will be heading to Windy Gap to serve with Forsyth County's Young Life trip. Fellows will both be in cabins and on work crew! 

As for me, please pray that God would continue to show us what He is up to and give us the strength and wisdom to jump in with Him. 

Pray also for my family. We have been struggling with health related stuff the last couple weeks. No fun. 

Thanks everyone. 

Keep up the good will!

UPDATE Year 1 Week 5

Getting smooshed by Dave Dave and Bunny-eared by Anna Rose...could life get any better?

COMMUNITY

We read this together on Monday: "When you are aware that you are the beloved, and when you have friends with whom you live in community, you can do anything." Henry Nouwen from his article Moving from Solitude to Community to Ministry. 

Friends, I have witnessed this quote up close and personal this year through you. Across every sector: from business to the academy, to government, to the church - your support of the Fellows has been fantastic. We wouldn't be here without it. 

In a similar way, these Fellows have demonstrated community to me so beautifully in both the way they care for each other and the way that have so willingly volunteered to serve this city. 

This week was no exception. (If only I had the pictures to show it). 

SAM and EGGS

On Thursday morning, the Fellows woke up bright and early to serve at Samaritan Ministries' annual SAM and Eggs breakfast. As you can see by my amazing drawing, there was Will Troxler in the upper left pouring coffee for guests, Rahel Tafese sitting with attendees around the table, and Alex Loy in the lower corner showing latecomers to their tables.

It was an honor to be there. You know - most young people don't get the opportunity to attend things like this. Why? Because they have no money. Which is true. But I can tell you that because Samaritan Ministries opened their arms to us, we have eleven inspired men and women who are going to volunteer and support this ministry for years to come. Thanks Samaritan!

The President was in town

We had the special pleasure of welcoming Morna Comeau, the Director of the Fellows Initiative, into town this week. She was here for less than twenty-four hours, but we certainly made the most of it. 

Wednesday afternoon, she pulled into Summit School parking lot and met the Fellows for a fireside chat up on the third floor. Thanks Fellows for making me look good! From there, she and I went for a walk around Reynolda and Wake Forest before gathering the kids from school and heading home for dinner. It was leftover buffet night (my favorite), and Morna got to see the family in all its glory as Anna Rose let out the loudest belch in history and Dave Dave recounted stories from his day. 

Morna then got to meet our bunny and turtle and hamster and chickens and fish before freshening up for a Board Meeting. 

We had an abbreviated meeting in order to allow time for Morna to share and ask questions. Before we knew it, it was past ten! So it was off to bed for an early morning at SAM and Eggs. From there, Morna and I went to visit with Richard Geiger of Visit Winston-Salem. I introduced her as the President of the Fellows (to give her clout - not that she needs it). It was a fabulous meeting and a great new friendship was born. 

Afterward, we headed to meet with the five churches that are partnering with us this year. 

Ben Milner (Salem Pres), Morna (The Fellows Initiative), Clyde Godwin (Hope), Giorgio Hiatt (Redeemer), David Speakman (Hope), and Susan Gladd (River Oaks) - Andrew Wild and David Beaty were out of town so Susan, one of our mentors, stepped in.

It was a great time of sharing vision and prayer. I couldn't have been more proud of the team. I wish I had gotten a real picture...

From there Morna and I went our separate ways to separate lunches. 

Then she was off to the National Board meeting in Charlotte. 

Thanks Morna for visiting us!

Speaking of visits: We had another special visit that night from Madison Perry, the Executive Director of the Christian Study Center at Chapel Hill. Love that guy. Go heels.

MAKING NEW HISTORY

Rahel, Christina, Alex, Reese, Julia, Camille, Chris Jordan, SaraBeth, Jessica, and Will at New Winston

Friday morning, we paid a visit to the New Winston Museum for an animated history lesson and discussion with Chris Jordan, the Interim Executive Director. 

Kevin Frack, the living History Book, had gotten us from John Huss to Count Zinzendorf to the Wachovia Tract and the founding of Salem. Chris took us from 1800 to about 1940 in ninety minutes which went by in what felt like ninety seconds. 

It became clear that we are going to have to come back for Part 2! 

Thanks Chris!

Y'all need to visit the New Winston Museum!

A QUIET WEEKEND

After several weeks of weekends away, we were finally able to have a nice, quiet weekend. 

Hobo Dinners...my other favorite!

Several Fellows went downtown for the Latino Festival. 

As Rahel put it: "These nachos and queso taste so much better in 90 degree weather."

While another set of Fellows headed to Raleigh to meet up with the Greensboro and Raleigh Fellows at the Ben Rector concert. 

A great finish to another great week. 

LOOKING FORWARD

Tonight for Round Table, perhaps because I'm a glutton for punishment or feel the need to upset the apple cart, we are going to watch the Presidential Debate. What am I thinking?

Tuesday, I'll be heading down to Davidson for my first recruiting trip of the year!!! 

Are you kidding? It's still September!

Wednesday, we will be visiting Senior Services for a Leader Lunch with Richard Gottlieb (who just announced his retirement - so glad we got him in this fall!)

Thursday, we will be attending the Tim Keller lecture at Wake Forest. 

Friday, I'll be heading to Raleigh and hopefully crashing on Scott Steele's couch. 

Saturday, I'm flying to Colorado for a quick two day visit with my dear friend Doug who is battling cancer.

If you all could focus your prayers on him this week, I'd appreciate it.

Thank you for your support!

We couldn't, wouldn't do this without you. 

UPDATE Year 1 Week 4

Walking it off after getting shot in the back by Anna Rose

A Wonderful Week To Be A Fellow...

NON-PROFIT OPEN HOUSE

Love Out Loud

The Fellows jumped in and served at Love Out Loud's Non-Profit Open House last Monday night. They did a great job greeting, networking, and working behind the scenes. 

The highlight for me was at the end of the portion when each non-profit shared about what they do and what they need, I had the opportunity to say, "We are the Winston-Salem Fellows, and we are not looking for volunteers, we are looking TO volunteer!" 

A truly great night. 

Thanks Chuck Spong for inviting us to work with you!

Unannounced spot check to Fleet Feet to find Sean Henderson hard at work!

The CENTER for CREATIVE LEADERSHIP

Back Row: Shannon Rainey, Sean Henderson, Rahel Tafese, Reese Schaffner, Ned Erickson
Front Row: Will Troxler, Dakota Lee, Campbell Andershon, Alex Loy, Christina Sandstedt, Camille Stogner, Jessica Kok, and Sara Beth Abbey

Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday we met alongside the Greensboro Fellows at the Center for Creative Leadership for a three day Leadership Intensive to kick off the program long course of study we will be undergoing over there.

The Greensboro Fellows

 It was three days full of tests and analysis: everything from good old Myers Briggs to the Fibor-B to StrengthsFinders, to SBI, and DAK, and a bunch of other acronyms.

The plan was for each Fellow to develop a Personal Growth Goal and Action Plan for the year. We got there eventually...

But the process was  enjoyable, and it is really exciting to think we will continue to build on what we learned. Thank you CCL and Tripp Graziano (Director of the Greensboro Fellows) for inviting us! It was a rich time.

LUMINEERS!

How about this for it being good to be a Fellow? On Thursday, The Fellows were given tickets to see one of my favorite bands, the Lumineers, in concert.

Unfortunately, the Fellows director had other responsibilities and was not able to chaperone. Insert tear.

Lumineers!

CLASS and FIELD TRIP!

The Fellows were understandably a little groggy Friday morning for class.

Good thing we had Ben Milner who always brings the heat. And on Friday, the man was on FIRE!

Two hours of class went by in a wink.

It was then off to Old Salem for a Field Trip with Kevin Frack. Kevin walked us (literally) through history from the founding of Old Salem to the merging with Winston to the establishment of St. Phillips (Winston's first black church). It was truly amazing to listen to this master weaver of story, weave history for us.

Afterward, we stayed for another hour debriefing all that we had absorbed that day.

A truly amazing day. Thanks Ben and Kevin...and Murf! who surprised us with his presence!

MENTOR HAPPY HOUR

Thanks to Mentor Coordinators Holly Heath and Charley Donohoe, we had an incredible evening event on Friday, when for the first time Mentors and Fellows met to exchange contact information and set a time to meet.

We decided to set the event as a Friday Happy Hour. I told Holly a couple bags of chips and a couple bottles would be fine - but she turned it into a feast!

Thanks Holly!

Holly and Charley

Good times were had by all...

Pre-Happy Hour Introductions

 Speaking of introductions:

Here are our Mentors!

FELLOW	MENTOR
Julia Lovett	Erin Pfeiffer
Campbell Anderson	John Gerstmeyer
Camille Stogner	Ginny Evans
Reese Shaffner	Jason Whitener
Jessica Kok	Scott Sewell
Alex Loy	Beverly Bradstock
Dakota Lee	Cooper Carter
Rahel Tafese	Susan Gladd
Will Troxler	Hardt Bing
Sean Henderson	Paul Allen
Christina Sanstedt	Michelle Schapira

What a gift!

I wish I could get mentored by these guys!

ADVENTURE PRINCESS CAMP

The theme this year was Color Wars. We got ten points if we let our Princess shoot us with a paintball. Guess which dad got shot first?

You got it, Slippery Fish.

OUCH!

It's for the kids.

A great and exhausting weekend. 

Lauren, Anna Rose, Georgia and Vivian beneath Sauratown Mountain

I sped home on Saturday morning to coach Dave Dave in his first soccer game.

A win! (not that we keep score or anything)

I'm looking forward to a quiet(er) weekend upcoming...

LOOKING FORWARD

Monday - Round Table
Wednesday - A Visit By Executive Director of the Fellows Initiative, Morna Comeau. She will be meeting with the Fellows, the Board, and our Churches while she is here.
Thursday - The Fellows are volunteering at SAM and Eggs for Samaritan Ministries and later at Speas Elementary for their uniform drive. Thursday night, my friend Madison Perry is heading into town to share about the Christian Study Center - PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU WISH TO ATTEND!

Prayer - Peace in the storm as the Ericksons head into another busy week.


THANKS ALL - Keep spreading the love and sharing the story!!!

Update Year 1 Week 3

UPDATE HAS MOVED

Dakota Lee and Julia Lovett wearing apple glasses

I'm going to try something different with these updates since Gmail keeps rejecting my emails for being too big. Can you believe it?

What can I do? There's simply too much good stuff to share. 

So we are going to shift these updates to my blog, which will also link to the website. 

I'll still send an email reminder. So when you get it, trust the link and click on it. 

Sound good?

Christina, Jessica, Camille, Dakota, Alex, Sean, Julia, Will, Reese, Campbell (left to right in back)
Ned, Nigel and Rahel (in front)

Nigel gives it too thumbs up. 

ROUND TABLE ... and FIRE

This week at Round Table we discussed two thoughts from St. Francis.

What does living in an "Economy of Grace" mean?

And this thought: "If your only goal is to love, then there is no such thing as failure."

It was really helpful (I wrote a short piece on in it for the My Big Jesus blog. I also put it on this blog. See next.) A sweet time, which bled into stories around the fire at the Denlingers, which bled into making homemade hot pockets. 

Which goes to show you that you never know what might happen at Round Table.

LEADER LUNCH WITH NIGEL

Easily one of the highlights of the week was Leader Lunch with Nigel Alston. We could have listened to his stories all afternoon. 

According to Nigel, When it all comes down to it - it is all about relationships. And to use his words, "Relationships are simply the result of contact and time." "Show up, do a half decent job, and say yes to the opportunities placed before you." Everything happens from there.

It worked for Nigel. 

SaraBeth, Christina, Jessica, Camille, Alex, Sean, Julia, Will, Reese, and Campbell with Ned, Nigel and Rahel in front

Now, I'm trying to come up with more excuses to have contact and time with this man. 

Ideas?

CAN YOU SAY ULTIMATE?

A few hours later, The Fellows and some friends met up at Wake for a little night time Ultimate Frisbee. 

Might not have been the smartest move for me, as I was about to head to the mountains for the 209 mile Blue Ridge Relay - but man was it fun. 

HIGH CLASS

Friday, class began. Special Assistant to the Director (S.A.D. we need to come up with a better acronym) Shannon Rainey helped get everyone where they needed to be. 

First off - Bible Journey with Dr. Cathy McDowell. 

Then - History of Winston-Salem with Kevin Frack.

Then - Story time with Clyde Godwin. 

How about that for a line up?

I hated to miss it. I heard good reports. 

SERVING IT UP

The Fellows weren't done. 

From there, they went to help set up Flywheel's big community gala at the Biotech Place. For some reason they didn't send me photos from the party...

Christina taking care each one is lined up right

Reese, Dakota and Will getting instructions

After the party, Reese hosted game night with his host family...

Maggie and Reese looking natural

And while we are at it, The Fellows helped host Redeemer Church's community party, dubbed "The Feast" on Sunday. 

Anna Rose and I won the sack race. I'll be honest. I haven't won anything in a long time, and it felt really good to hoist the imaginary trophy over my head. (So what if I was the only one who took it seriously.)

BLUE RIDGE RELAY

Team #DashStrong put in a great performance. 

On Thursday, David's cold caught up to me - but I pushed through and finished all three of my legs under prediction AND according to Lia's FitBit, I managed 1.5 hours of real sleep!

So proud of the team. All did fantastic. 

Here is one special moment caught on camera...including the encouraging butt slap from yours truly!

@F3WinstonSalem #fastholes

Wink in! MIB out! pic.twitter.com/Dwfn9vFln2

— Dave (@thedavetown) September 10, 2016

All in all another memorable week in The Fellows Life.

Looking Ahead and Prayer

This week we are helping to host the Love Out Loud Non Profit Open House. When? TONIGHT!

Click
OPEN HOUSE
for details

Tuesday - Thursday we will be living at the Center for Creative Leadership for a three day leadership symposium.

Friday we have class and a FIELD TRIP with Kevin Frack! Woo Hoo!

Pray for us
- Stamina for the Ericksons as Lia also is leading a three day conference this week!
- Deep Learning at the Center for Creative Leadership
- Open doors at the Love Out Loud Open House
- More Opportunities to say YES to!

BIG PRAISE - THANK YOU TO PAUL AND JENNIFER BRIGGS FOR LOANING JESSICA A CAR!!!

Could It Really By That Simple?

I read this the other day… “If your only goal is to love, there is no such thing as failure.”

Wait. What? Really?

Yes. Yes really.

Love is a gift, given freely. No strings. No agenda. No pre- or post- requisites.

It’s free.

Real love that is.

Real love is free.

The love I give so often looks more like a down payment. I offer this; you owe me that.

It sounds more like an “if/then” sentence. I add conjunctions like and, but, and or. There are complexities that compound the phrase.

Real love is simple.

It ends with a period.

No ands, ifs or buts.

That is the love Jesus offers us.

Even in losing – He won.

You cannot fail when you love that way.

You cannot fail when love is the goal.

It is that simple.

I didn’t say it was easy.