SABBATICAL VACATION

Hi Everyone! As many of you already know, I started my 3 month Sabbatical Vacation on June 1. I thank the Lord for the 3 month Sabbatical that He gave me through my Church Elders, as well as for Pastor Alan for “Filling the Pulpit” for me while I’m gone. Also of course for my guest speakers Pastor Danny and Pastor John.

Wow, my first Sunday away from Church was actually more difficult than I expected! Since last week, I had this weird kind of feeling that I needed to prepare a sermon for Sunday – but wait, I’m on vacation!

I also had the temptation to call a church member, any church member to ask how the Church Worship Service went, but my wife Cory wisely said to me, “No, no, no! You’re on Sabbatical!”

After nine years of pastoring our church, and week after week of hours in preparing a relevant biblical message every Sunday to feed the flock, as well as numerous other “pastoral duties,” I guess its really not that easy to just say, “Okay, I’ll see you again in 3 months!”

In my past vacations, I never really took longer than 2 weeks at a time for my vacations, one being in April and the other being in August, and in that two week time I knew that I had to at least try to “meditate” on my future sermons, because 2 weeks isn’t really that long. But this time it’s different.

During my 3 months, I plan to rest, spend time with my family, do things that I’ve always had to put off, and really pray and discern for vision as to how God wants me to take the church to the next level. Please pray with me and for me as I try to accomplish those things.

Please also pray for me that I’ll be okay as I fill in some extra hours as a “per diem” operating room RN (its what I used to do before God called me to plant a church). I know, I know, that’s not rest, but it does help us out financially - and I can “rest” in that.

Please forgive me if I have to turn down officiating or even showing up to a birthday party, baby dedication, baptisms, home dedication, anniversary, etc., during my absence. Because for me to say “yes” to one person but “no” to another would be a “double standard,” and there’s no integrity in that. During those times, Pastor Alan and our Church Elders are more than qualified to step in for me to represent our church during your special day.

Please keep checking my blog once in a while to see what I’m up to. For all the Church Members, please email to me any pictures of our church activities, and I’ll post them on my blog.

Thanks again for your love and support for me and my family, and for your continued prayers. I love you all.