Thank you. Thank you. Well good morning. Happy Thanksgiving weekend. I tell you this is just one of the most thrilling times. My favorite holiday is Thanksgiving and as great as

Easter and Christmas are, I just, it's sort of all focuses in the family mood and

the spirit of Thanksgiving and to be here the week, the Sunday following is just a part of a great seasonal joy for me.

So thank you for the warm welcome. Thank you Robert. It's true Robert and I have come to enjoy a very meaningful relationship, but I need to confess to you.

I was a little troubled about this particular weekend invitation from him.

I hope you'll put up with my bewilderment.

He has been, well first I should say and will in a moment a little more

spoke at our Autumn Leadership Conference, an annual event, great event, course made a great contribution.

But he's also come just to be with a group of pastors that I will meet.

It's a different 45 pastors every month, nine months a year, one week a month I spend with 45 different people. the different

pastors every month.

Nine months a year, one week a month.

I spend with 45 different pastors.

And been over 3,000 participants over the last few years

from over 60 denominations and inter-denominational representatives.

And it's been a joy to have pastors come who just want you to talk to them about

pasturing.

Well, Robert's come to that.

And one of the things it occurred to me, and this did not even occur to me till yesterday

morning.

I was feeling really excited about being here and suddenly kind of a Paul came over it.

And this is the reason that I remembered talking with the pastors about how in building a strong, bibically-based curriculum with your congregation,

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