So What does a guy do on Sabbatical Anyway?

I'm back--back to a place where I can connect to the internet that is. It's been a while since I last made an entry, but that has been intentional. For those who may be interested I was in Chicago May 17-21st at a Pastor's conference at Moody Bible Institute. A few of my previous blogs were written while I was there. Since returning I've been to the state track meet in Des Moines, attended graduation parties for several graduates May 23 and then spent the week of May 24-28th "hold up" at "The Ranch"--an undisclosed location owned by a gracious couple in the church where I was able to get far enough away to be unplugged from responsibilities so that I could get "plugged in" to the Lord. It was a great week of reading, praying, thinking. I spent most of the week working through a book that compared ministry to flying a plane--"Defying Gravity." The author discussed nine instrument "gauges" in ministry that need to be carefully watched if pastors/church leaders are to keep from crashing. For me the issues of Spiritual Intimacy--importance of keeping my walk with God fresh and growing--Biblical Identity--basing my true identity on what never changes (i.e. who I truly am in Christ), and Eternal Significance--living to please God and not men spoke deeply to my heart.

Memorial day weekend was spent with my parents on the farm near Earlham. One of the difficult realities of ministry is that you just never get a weekend with your family unless you are on vacation. So it was a real treat for us to pack up on Saturday and not return until Monday night(rather late I might add). I was able to play more golf in this weekend than I've played in the last two years. Indeed, a test of my "spiritual intimacy" as lack of practice was very evident. I played one of the worst rounds of golf in my entire life. This was not only humbling, but a time of soul searching as I realized afresh just how desperately I tend to look for significance in what I can do, in how I perform. It was a time to cling to Colossians 2:9--"In Him dwells all the fulness of the God head in bodily form and you are complete in Him." That same afternoon our threesome--My dad, myself, and my son Tyler--headed back to the course. Amazing thing happened. I nearly beat my father (which is a feat worth writing home about). All I know is that I was "putting for par" on more than a few holes. Unfortunately I missed most of the putts. But I was thrilled just to play at peace and to actually do well. The weather was absolutely gorgeous--God is soooo good.

I just returned from four days at a pastoral retreat cabin south of Webster City. My mind is boiling and my spirit is at peace. I've been reading a book about the importance of corporate prayer that has me praying about what the next step is. For a few years now I've been wrestling with the belief that ministry in America and in the church I serve in particular is too routine, too calculated, too controlled by us. The author likens our approach to ministry to driving a friends car around back and parking it--no big deal. We can handle it. But what if that friend asked us to fly his 747 from Des Moines to Dallas for him. We'd realize we were in over our head. Yet ministry, even life is actually way beyond our ability. We truly need the Lord in Everything. We give lip service to the truth of John 15:5 "...apart from Me you can do nothing." But we operate as if we don't need the Lord for anything. Our lack of prayer is actually our declaration of independence. We all know we are suppose to pray in private, but we've done a poor job of discipling people in the area of prayer. We tend to forget that most of the New Testament was written to groups of believers who were gathered together to hear it read out loud. Many of the instructions on prayer were given to the group. We need both group and individual prayer. I'm realizing afresh that we go to God in prayer to express our dependence, to enjoy His presence, and to ponder His magnificence.

I've enjoyed reading R.C. Sproul's "The Holiness of God." Sproul is a heady guy with keen insight, but despite his occasional side bars into intellectual obtuseness this work has really challenged me to think again about the awesome Holiness of God, about His absolute perfection, His utter transcendence, and My abject wickedness in light of His Holiness. It is a meaningful, interesting treatise on a subject of grand importance for every believer. He wonderfully describes God's justice and how that alone is what we deserve and yet we find ourselves offended/shocked when we read in the O.T. that God struck Uzzah dead for touching the ark of God or that Ananias and Sapphira were struck dead in Acts 5. What's amazing is not that God executes His justice in the Bible but that he does so sparingly. In fact, He is soooo merciful that when we encounter justice we come to believe that we deserve grace--think about that one for a moment. If it is true, and I think that it is, that what one thinks about God is the most important thing about him/her, then this book certainly helps us think rightly about the Almighty. What a glorious thought that in spite of our absolute depravity God in His infinite mercy placed upon His perfect Son our guilt, sin, shame, and therefore was bound to pour out wrath we deserved upon the one who stood in our place. Because God's wrath fell upon Christ those who trust Him are not only forgiven but actually clothed with His righteousness. A glimpse at God's Holiness is essential if we are to grasp fully the marvel of our own salvation.

I'm also finishing a practical ministry book called "Simple Church" that argues for simplicity and continuity in our ministry programming. Some very thought provoking ideas about making ministry more simple, more understandable. It's really all about making disciples, about providing opportunities to help people become "conformed to the image of Christ", to be "transformed by the renewing of our minds". So what is our process of making disciples? What are we all about as a church? What are we doing to help move people along in their quest for transformation? Is that process simple? Is it understandable? Is it easy to communicate? Does everyone know where we are trying to go? Do people understand what the next step is in the process? I recoil a bit as it makes transformation so "linear" and rational. Making disciples is not quite that simple, but I think there are some insightful ideas here to make the process more simple and fruitful.

Other than that I've been walking everyday or riding my bicycle (finding muscles and tendons I forgot that I had).

Psalm 2--"Worship the Lord in Reverence, rejoice with trembling.

Blessings