Sabbatical Underway
SABBATICAL HAS BEGUN . . . One week down and seven to go!
I thought the video produced to share the news of my sabbatical was GREAT! It was so funny that some of the punch lines couldn’t be heard in church because people were already laughing. You can watch it here (Thank you Tim Ingold and Nicole Lease!)
The two weeks before my sabbatical started felt like running the gauntlet!
First Tuesday Prayer
Staff-Elder Offsite
Teaching on Sunday, January 7 (“But I Don’t Have Enough Money”)
First elder meeting of the year
Celebration of Generosity Dinner
Winter Camp with students
Offsite - The idea of the offsite began as a way to help new elders with the orientation process and then it became a great way to build unity between the staff and our elders. Over the years, we have also used it for addressing key issues that came up. This year was the topic of blending the online and in-person aspects of doing church into what is commonly called “hybrid church.” What a delightful time we had together with people who genuinely love one another!
Camp - I was asked, “Weren’t you exhausted after camp?” My response was, “No, I LOVED being at camp with the kids!” I have a lot to say about how I love the quality and the direction of our Student Ministry! The best moments of camp were in our small group time together and in our cabins. I stayed in the cabin with the guys and drove one of the vans. The kids were delightful, respectful, and serious about matters of faith! Josselyn Bednarz is doing a great job of leading this ministry and serving on Sunday evenings with the 9th grade boys and girls. This is one of the things I miss most about my sabbatical. Thank you to Josselyn and Thomas Bednarz, Stephanie Diehl, and Troy Lombard for going to camp and loving the kids like you do!
SABBATICAL CHALLENGES
What I love about serving at TMC is that it’s not just a job but it is something I do with friends. There are emotional challenges with that but I recognize the benefit to the staff of giving them space to operate and for me to break out of the habits of my routine.
I have NOT TO DO goals and TO DO goals.
NOT look at my church email or any staff member’s calendar.
DO decompress and forget that there is a clock.
DO stay disciplined with how I choose to spend my time (I know that sounds like it contradicts #2 but they function independently)
DO re-establish discipline of exercise
DO complete my first “Simple But Not Easy” book that has been sitting on the shelf for a few years.
DO meet with a friend from the gym who has been wanting to discuss the bible and issues of faith.
DO play golf with my golfing buddy.
DO watch football. In spite of having the NFL Sunday Ticket, I haven’t seen a lot of games this year but I am catching the 2nd and 3rd rounds of the playoffs.
DO meet with local pastors to promote the next Church Connect event in April
DO go to the Pastor’s Prayer Summit in Cannon Beach, OR (January 29-31) for the first time since I went with four other pastors from here in 1994.
DO visit Mom over President’s Day weekend to do her taxes and assist in any other ways she needs.
DO (an exception) go to the Global Leadership Network Sr. Pastor gathering in OKC (February 26-27)
DO take a trip with Kim to San Antonio
DO complete a certification course on coaching soccer
DO blog if “it doesn’t feel like work” ;)
DO be ready to teach through Revelation after Easter
THAT list was longer than I expected (LOL)!! One of the questions I get asked is, “Where will you be going to church?” and “Will Kim still come here?” Here is my list and Kim wants to keep as many of her serving opportunities at TMC as she can.
Where to Go to Church?
January 21 - Calvary Chapel SV (9:00am so that Kim can serve at TMC at 11:00am)
January 28 - Jefferson Baptist Church, OR (Kim will be at TMC)
February 4 - The Grove Church, San Diego
February 11 - Undecided between Shiloh at 9:00am or Sierra Springs at 10:30 (if my friend John Evans is preaching)
February 18 - go to church with Mom in Dallas
February 25 - Life Church in OKC (Kim will be at TMC)
March 3 - San Antonio, TX
March 10 - LifeHouse Church (9:00am)
SO FAR . . . I have made progress on all of my objectives. One of the sweetest comments made about my Sabbatical was “We don’t need you but we like you.” I don’t need to be needed but I do like to be wanted :). I’ll see how it goes by writing something each week.
I thought the video produced to share the news of my sabbatical was GREAT! It was so funny that some of the punch lines couldn’t be heard in church because people were already laughing. You can watch it here (Thank you Tim Ingold and Nicole Lease!)
The two weeks before my sabbatical started felt like running the gauntlet!
First Tuesday Prayer
Staff-Elder Offsite
Teaching on Sunday, January 7 (“But I Don’t Have Enough Money”)
First elder meeting of the year
Celebration of Generosity Dinner
Winter Camp with students
Offsite - The idea of the offsite began as a way to help new elders with the orientation process and then it became a great way to build unity between the staff and our elders. Over the years, we have also used it for addressing key issues that came up. This year was the topic of blending the online and in-person aspects of doing church into what is commonly called “hybrid church.” What a delightful time we had together with people who genuinely love one another!
Camp - I was asked, “Weren’t you exhausted after camp?” My response was, “No, I LOVED being at camp with the kids!” I have a lot to say about how I love the quality and the direction of our Student Ministry! The best moments of camp were in our small group time together and in our cabins. I stayed in the cabin with the guys and drove one of the vans. The kids were delightful, respectful, and serious about matters of faith! Josselyn Bednarz is doing a great job of leading this ministry and serving on Sunday evenings with the 9th grade boys and girls. This is one of the things I miss most about my sabbatical. Thank you to Josselyn and Thomas Bednarz, Stephanie Diehl, and Troy Lombard for going to camp and loving the kids like you do!
SABBATICAL CHALLENGES
What I love about serving at TMC is that it’s not just a job but it is something I do with friends. There are emotional challenges with that but I recognize the benefit to the staff of giving them space to operate and for me to break out of the habits of my routine.
I have NOT TO DO goals and TO DO goals.
NOT look at my church email or any staff member’s calendar.
DO decompress and forget that there is a clock.
DO stay disciplined with how I choose to spend my time (I know that sounds like it contradicts #2 but they function independently)
DO re-establish discipline of exercise
DO complete my first “Simple But Not Easy” book that has been sitting on the shelf for a few years.
DO meet with a friend from the gym who has been wanting to discuss the bible and issues of faith.
DO play golf with my golfing buddy.
DO watch football. In spite of having the NFL Sunday Ticket, I haven’t seen a lot of games this year but I am catching the 2nd and 3rd rounds of the playoffs.
DO meet with local pastors to promote the next Church Connect event in April
DO go to the Pastor’s Prayer Summit in Cannon Beach, OR (January 29-31) for the first time since I went with four other pastors from here in 1994.
DO visit Mom over President’s Day weekend to do her taxes and assist in any other ways she needs.
DO (an exception) go to the Global Leadership Network Sr. Pastor gathering in OKC (February 26-27)
DO take a trip with Kim to San Antonio
DO complete a certification course on coaching soccer
DO blog if “it doesn’t feel like work” ;)
DO be ready to teach through Revelation after Easter
THAT list was longer than I expected (LOL)!! One of the questions I get asked is, “Where will you be going to church?” and “Will Kim still come here?” Here is my list and Kim wants to keep as many of her serving opportunities at TMC as she can.
Where to Go to Church?
January 21 - Calvary Chapel SV (9:00am so that Kim can serve at TMC at 11:00am)
January 28 - Jefferson Baptist Church, OR (Kim will be at TMC)
February 4 - The Grove Church, San Diego
February 11 - Undecided between Shiloh at 9:00am or Sierra Springs at 10:30 (if my friend John Evans is preaching)
February 18 - go to church with Mom in Dallas
February 25 - Life Church in OKC (Kim will be at TMC)
March 3 - San Antonio, TX
March 10 - LifeHouse Church (9:00am)
SO FAR . . . I have made progress on all of my objectives. One of the sweetest comments made about my Sabbatical was “We don’t need you but we like you.” I don’t need to be needed but I do like to be wanted :). I’ll see how it goes by writing something each week.
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