Summer Sabbatical

Thanks to my good friend Will, my family and I are taking our first-ever sabbatical this summer.

We moved to Omaha in the summer of 2001 to take a college-pastor job with a 2-year old and a 2-week old. Since then the story of our lives has included:

• preaching or teaching in some capacity almost every week
• adding 2 more children, including going through the emotional rigors of a 3-year international adoption
• finishing a Master's degree
• completing major renovations on 3 different houses
• being called by God to envision, shape, and lead a church-planting effort
• raising money to sustain said church-planting effort
• growing said church-planting effort into a viable, self-sustaining church
• counseling, discipling, and helping people through all kinds of life tragedies
• being shot at, discouraged, and/or generally disrespected by every brand of heretic, wingnut, false teacher, dissenter, self-proclaimed theologian, and unrepentant Christian you can imagine

I have a strong back and a thick skin because you have to in order to be a church planter. I don't generally get my feelings hurt or cry myself to sleep; life is war and Satan's going to bring all he's got and that's the way things go. But Will senses that these years - especially the last 3 - have taken their toll on me. And I'm not disagreeing with him, because he is probably more in tune with my feelings than I am. (He just recently got me to admit that I have them.)

I love the Coram Deo family and I hate to be gone for any length of time. But starting at the end of May, my family and I be taking 6 weeks of sabbatical rest. Some kind and generous friends have provided a place far away from here for us to stay. I will not check my e-mail. I won't return your phone calls. I will not listen to podcasts. I will not prepare for any sermons or solve any problems or counsel anyone. I will simply rest.

My wife and I are going to try to use the time to establish some new rhythms with each other and with our kids: more praying, reflecting, and reading; fewer video games, movies, and TV shows. Lots of being and very little doing. Reading some books I've wanted to read for years but don't get around to because something else is always more pressing.

During our time away, Walker and the crew will be carrying the pulpit at Coram Deo. We're even flying in an Acts 29 brother from another state to help fill some preaching gaps. I would appreciate your prayers that this time would be deeply restful for me and for my wife. (Our kids are going to have a blast no matter what, but you can pray for them too.) And as I told our members, if anyone is planning on teaching heresy, committing adultery, rebelling against church leadership, or embezzling money, please don't do so during the next few months. We are looking forward to 6 weeks of peace.