Images from Sync 1 to 6 | Also, I recommend listening to this while reading, enjoy.
This year begins a new tradition in my house. Our (first) annual “father/daughter” and “father/son” trip. For years I’ve dreamt of going on little one on one trips with my kids. I long to make memories with each of them, I want to provide for them moments they can recall where I wasn’t distracted by work, ministry, life. Of course, no trip can replace a lifestyle of daily connecting and of small moments of love, but there is something special about getting away with somebody you love.
God, our Father, wants to spend time with us. It’s that simple. I know every year, churches put on camps, VBS’s, and all sorts of summer activities; summer harvest, summer revivals, movements we should be mindful of, causes we should care about. And with them there are all sorts of important spiritual implications and invitations for us to acknowledge and experience. But what if going away as a family (as a church) was just as important, just as spiritual.
And what if the agenda, the only agenda, was to bond.
Bond with God. Bond with Others.
It is in rest the plant grows and blossoms.
It is in quietness the soul flourishes.
It is in intimacy a family is born.
It is in abiding the church produces much fruit.
"In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength…” - God
To bond is to be in Sync.
Sync is another way of practicing the art of abiding.
“However strong the branch becomes, however far away it reaches round the home, out of sight of the vine, all its beauty and all its fruitfulness ever depend upon that one point of contact where it grows out of the vine. So be it with us too.” - Andrew Murray, Holy in Christ
Therefore, as we all prepare for this year’s Sync, lets get ready to rest, be still, open our hearts, and abide in Christ.
Love you all and see you soon,
Bryan
PS: We purposely designed Sync to have all the elements of rest. There are lots of breaks in between sessions, lots of “optional” activities if you so choose so that there will be plenty of time to chill, hang with new friends, catch up with old ones, as well as engage in fun activities and powerful services.
Here are some tips to make the most out of your trip with the Tribe.
1 | Prepare to Spend Undistracted Time with God and Tribe.
Before heading out to my father and son trip, I did my best to take care of work stuff, emails, phone calls. The trip for me started way before I got in the car with my son. Certain Apps were shut off, messages were no longer forwarded to me from my social media Apps, you get the point. I didn’t want my child to ever catch me looking down towards my phone, my fingers clicking away at some supposedly important text, etc. In the same way, try to take care of all things that might make you anxious while away. Take care of your business. Stay an extra hour clearing up your to-do list at work, school, home. Pack early, start tonight if you haven’t packed already, clean out your car early, fill the gas, etc. Get ready to spend time with the most important person in your life. Yes, camp starts now.
2 | Enter this Sync with Faith
As you get ready to go up camp, prepare your heart. The best way to prepare your heart is to pray and worship. Ask God for whatever he may want to give to you at this camp; be it revelation, healing, new friendships, a renewed love for his church, reconciliation, etc. Tell him via prayer that you want what he wants.
3 | Be Open.
Be open. Open up to people. Engage in activities. Enter worship with heartfelt praise. Receive the messages with excitement and in all earnestness. If you are being prayed for let God do whatever he wants in and to you. So have fun, smile at people, laugh, cry, and be yourself.
4 | Sync Pak
Check out the Sync website for all things Sync and make sure to pack the right stuff.