I recently completed a four-month sabbatical, one hundred and twenty days of rest -- if you can imagine it -- and I can tell you, as much as I needed it -- physically, emotionally, and spiritually -- I certainly didn't earn it or deserve it. It was a gift, plain and simple. A gift from God, to be sure, and a gift from the church I've served as Lead Pastor for nearly twenty-five years. And I'm so grateful, grateful for the time away but grateful, also, to return refreshed and renewed to the spiritual community that has had such an enormous impact on my life. It was, to coin a phrase, a sabbatical of Sabbaths. Let me explain.
The Sabbath, as it's described in Scripture, is a time to savor God. It’s about turning aside, slowing down, and allowing yourself to be caught by God. It’s a time to be refreshed and recreated, a time to separate yourself from the people who cling to you, from the demands you put on yourself, from the requests and expectations of others, from the routines you maintain and the roles you play. Sabbath is also a time to develop a contemplative heart toward life and God, to invest in your own growth as a child of God. It’s a time for receptivity, not necessarily inactivity, a time to stop, be still (cease striving) and know God while allowing yourself to be known by God. As Marjorie J. Thompson wrote,
“Rest is a chance to gaze on God, to readjust our minds, realign our hearts, reassess our priorities, clarify our commitments, and enlarge our perspectives.”
The Sabbath, as it's described in Scripture, is a time to savor God. It’s about turning aside, slowing down, and allowing yourself to be caught by God. It’s a time to be refreshed and recreated, a time to separate yourself from the people who cling to you, from the demands you put on yourself, from the requests and expectations of others, from the routines you maintain and the roles you play. Sabbath is also a time to develop a contemplative heart toward life and God, to invest in your own growth as a child of God. It’s a time for receptivity, not necessarily inactivity, a time to stop, be still (cease striving) and know God while allowing yourself to be known by God. As Marjorie J. Thompson wrote,
“Rest is a chance to gaze on God, to readjust our minds, realign our hearts, reassess our priorities, clarify our commitments, and enlarge our perspectives.”
That's what God did for me these last four months. As I trained my gaze upon Him, He readjusted my mind, realigned my heart, and helped me reassess my priorities and clarify my commitments while enlarging my perspective. I got such clarity and enjoyed times of deep contemplation. I can see now, better than ever, why God encouraged us to do it once a week. He even modeled it for us. When He finished with the first six days of creation, the Bible says, “On the seventh day He rested (Genesis 2:2).” Why did God rest? He wasn’t tired. He was modeling the importance of rest for us! Rest is “a God-practiced, God-given rhythm woven into the fabric of human life.” God gave it to us for our good, for the good of our souls. What are you supposed to do on the Sabbath? Three things...
1. Rest your body. Physically rest.
2. Refocus your spirit on God. Worship.
3. Recharge your emotions. Recreation.
What did I do on my sabbatical of Sabbaths? I rested my body, giving special attention to diet and exercise. I refocused my spirit on God, inviting Him into every experience and interaction, making every effort to be mindful of Him in all circumstances. And I recharged my emotions through travel, time spent with Dianne and extended family, and work. Yes, I know that may be surprising, but work actually recharges me, especially when there aren't any deadlines. I put the finishing touches on my first book, designed and built a website that I'll use as a ministry platform into the future, wrote blog posts, and learned a lot about computers, which is a growing interest of mine. It was a wonderful time, full of the presence of God, and I'll always cherish it.
Turning the page, I'm happy to be back, excited to step into my new role at Vineyard Community Church in support of Mark Stepheson, content with where God has me in this season of my life, while looking with anticipation to the future. Thank you to those who made this sabbatical possible -- the Board, the staff -- and thanks also to those who faithfully prayed for us. Your friendship means so much.
Note: I'm pleased to announce that my first book, All the Noise is in the Shallow End of the Pool, will be available on January 1st! I can't wait to share it with you.
i As enumerated in “Breathe,” a training by Larry Warner, p. 3-4.
ii Ibid
iii Ibid
iv As cited in From Stressed to Blessed, a message by Rick Warren, 2014.
1. Rest your body. Physically rest.
2. Refocus your spirit on God. Worship.
3. Recharge your emotions. Recreation.
What did I do on my sabbatical of Sabbaths? I rested my body, giving special attention to diet and exercise. I refocused my spirit on God, inviting Him into every experience and interaction, making every effort to be mindful of Him in all circumstances. And I recharged my emotions through travel, time spent with Dianne and extended family, and work. Yes, I know that may be surprising, but work actually recharges me, especially when there aren't any deadlines. I put the finishing touches on my first book, designed and built a website that I'll use as a ministry platform into the future, wrote blog posts, and learned a lot about computers, which is a growing interest of mine. It was a wonderful time, full of the presence of God, and I'll always cherish it.
Turning the page, I'm happy to be back, excited to step into my new role at Vineyard Community Church in support of Mark Stepheson, content with where God has me in this season of my life, while looking with anticipation to the future. Thank you to those who made this sabbatical possible -- the Board, the staff -- and thanks also to those who faithfully prayed for us. Your friendship means so much.
Note: I'm pleased to announce that my first book, All the Noise is in the Shallow End of the Pool, will be available on January 1st! I can't wait to share it with you.
i As enumerated in “Breathe,” a training by Larry Warner, p. 3-4.
ii Ibid
iii Ibid
iv As cited in From Stressed to Blessed, a message by Rick Warren, 2014.
I recently completed a four-month sabbatical, one hundred and twenty days of rest -- if you can imagine it -- and I can tell you, as much as I needed it -- physically, emotionally, and spiritually -- I certainly didn't earn it or deserve it. It was a gift, plain and simple. A gift from God, to be sure, and a gift from the church I've served as Lead Pastor for nearly twenty-five years. And I'm so grateful, grateful for the time away but grateful, also, to return refreshed and renewed to the spiritual community that has had such an enormous impact on my life. It was, to coin a phrase, a sabbatical of Sabbaths. Let me explain.
The Sabbath, as it's described in Scripture, is a time to savor God. It’s about turning aside, slowing down, and allowing yourself to be caught by God. It’s a time to be refreshed and recreated, a time to separate yourself from the people who cling to you, from the demands you put on yourself, from the requests and expectations of others, from the routines you maintain and the roles you play. Sabbath is also a time to develop a contemplative heart toward life and God, to invest in your own growth as a child of God. It’s a time for receptivity, not necessarily inactivity, a time to stop, be still (cease striving) and know God while allowing yourself to be known by God. As Marjorie J. Thompson wrote,
“Rest is a chance to gaze on God, to readjust our minds, realign our hearts, reassess our priorities, clarify our commitments, and enlarge our perspectives.”
That's what God did for me these last four months. As I trained my gaze upon Him, He readjusted my mind, realigned my heart, and helped me reassess my priorities and clarify my commitments while enlarging my perspective. I got such clarity and enjoyed times of deep contemplation. I can see now, better than ever, why God encouraged us to do it once a week. He even modeled it for us. When He finished with the first six days of creation, the Bible says, “On the seventh day He rested (Genesis 2:2).” Why did God rest? He wasn’t tired. He was modeling the importance of rest for us! Rest is “a God-practiced, God-given rhythm woven into the fabric of human life.” God gave it to us for our good, for the good of our souls. What are you supposed to do on the Sabbath? Three things...
1. Rest your body. Physically rest.
2. Refocus your spirit on God. Worship.
3. Recharge your emotions. Recreation.
What did I do on my sabbatical of Sabbaths? I rested my body, giving special attention to diet and exercise. I refocused my spirit on God, inviting Him into every experience and interaction, making every effort to be mindful of Him in all circumstances. And I recharged my emotions through travel, time spent with Dianne and extended family, and work. Yes, I know that may be surprising, but work actually recharges me, especially when there aren't any deadlines. I put the finishing touches on my first book, designed and built a website that I'll use as a ministry platform into the future, wrote blog posts, and learned a lot about computers, which is a growing interest of mine. It was a wonderful time, full of the presence of God, and I'll always cherish it.
Turning the page, I'm happy to be back, excited to step into my new role at Vineyard Community Church in support of Mark Stepheson, content with where God has me in this season of my life, while looking with anticipation to the future. Thank you to those who made this sabbatical possible -- the Board, the staff -- and thanks also to those who faithfully prayed for us. Your friendship means so much.
Note: I'm pleased to announce that my first book, All the Noise is in the Shallow End of the Pool, will be available on January 1st! I can't wait to share it with you.
i As enumerated in “Breathe,” a training by Larry Warner, p. 3-4.
ii Ibid
iii Ibid
iv As cited in From Stressed to Blessed, a message by Rick Warren, 2014.
The Sabbath, as it's described in Scripture, is a time to savor God. It’s about turning aside, slowing down, and allowing yourself to be caught by God. It’s a time to be refreshed and recreated, a time to separate yourself from the people who cling to you, from the demands you put on yourself, from the requests and expectations of others, from the routines you maintain and the roles you play. Sabbath is also a time to develop a contemplative heart toward life and God, to invest in your own growth as a child of God. It’s a time for receptivity, not necessarily inactivity, a time to stop, be still (cease striving) and know God while allowing yourself to be known by God. As Marjorie J. Thompson wrote,
“Rest is a chance to gaze on God, to readjust our minds, realign our hearts, reassess our priorities, clarify our commitments, and enlarge our perspectives.”
That's what God did for me these last four months. As I trained my gaze upon Him, He readjusted my mind, realigned my heart, and helped me reassess my priorities and clarify my commitments while enlarging my perspective. I got such clarity and enjoyed times of deep contemplation. I can see now, better than ever, why God encouraged us to do it once a week. He even modeled it for us. When He finished with the first six days of creation, the Bible says, “On the seventh day He rested (Genesis 2:2).” Why did God rest? He wasn’t tired. He was modeling the importance of rest for us! Rest is “a God-practiced, God-given rhythm woven into the fabric of human life.” God gave it to us for our good, for the good of our souls. What are you supposed to do on the Sabbath? Three things...
1. Rest your body. Physically rest.
2. Refocus your spirit on God. Worship.
3. Recharge your emotions. Recreation.
What did I do on my sabbatical of Sabbaths? I rested my body, giving special attention to diet and exercise. I refocused my spirit on God, inviting Him into every experience and interaction, making every effort to be mindful of Him in all circumstances. And I recharged my emotions through travel, time spent with Dianne and extended family, and work. Yes, I know that may be surprising, but work actually recharges me, especially when there aren't any deadlines. I put the finishing touches on my first book, designed and built a website that I'll use as a ministry platform into the future, wrote blog posts, and learned a lot about computers, which is a growing interest of mine. It was a wonderful time, full of the presence of God, and I'll always cherish it.
Turning the page, I'm happy to be back, excited to step into my new role at Vineyard Community Church in support of Mark Stepheson, content with where God has me in this season of my life, while looking with anticipation to the future. Thank you to those who made this sabbatical possible -- the Board, the staff -- and thanks also to those who faithfully prayed for us. Your friendship means so much.
Note: I'm pleased to announce that my first book, All the Noise is in the Shallow End of the Pool, will be available on January 1st! I can't wait to share it with you.
i As enumerated in “Breathe,” a training by Larry Warner, p. 3-4.
ii Ibid
iii Ibid
iv As cited in From Stressed to Blessed, a message by Rick Warren, 2014.