Monday Afternoon Sabbatical -July 15th, 2013

Relaxing Together, a Youth Group Missions Trip, and a Rated 'R' Play.

This past week Lynn and I spent five days at a friend’s condo North of the Dells.  This was the first time in 14 years that we were alone for this length of time.  Yes, I do feel guilty, as this place was absolutely amazing!  However time spent with Lynn is a blast.  We shopped (Lynn just so happened to hit my rare twice-a-year-window when the stars align for me to shop) went out to eat, caught a movie, and just relaxed together.

Of course while we were having fun, our son was working hard.  The Southbrook Church Youth Group went on a missions trip to a suburb of Cincinnati, Ohio.  Our team joined churches from many other states and worked together to build wheelchair ramps, paint and do general household projects.  Jacob’s group served an elderly woman, who loved on the students and called them ‘her kids.’  

There is tremendous value in students going on a Youth Group Missions Trip and I highly encourage all parents to set this as a goal for their children.  Going to a new location, leaving parents behind, joining with other peers; all add up to an excellent spiritual growth opportunity.

On Sunday the 14th, we started a 2 day trip to Maryland with a stop-over in Ohio.  Lynn and I met as Undergrads at Cedarville University, in Central Ohio.  This is where we had our first date.  It ended up at a hip place called the Winds Cafe in YellowSprings, but it started out at a Rated ‘R’ Community Play.  Now in my defense, the write up in the local paper said ‘Romantic Comedy.’  So being known as the ‘Love Doctor’ I thought that this may be a cool opportunity for a first date.  As the play began Lynn leaned over and asked me, ‘Is this a modern or a classic work?’  The premise of the play was that a newly-wed couple and a long-time married couple were snowed-in for the weekend in a cabin.  EVERYTHING was a double entendre, and to make matters worse, some of the jokes were hysterical!  But out of propriety and not wanting Lynn to think that I was crude and crass -I did my best not to laugh and instead acted horrified at the ‘humor.’  So as soon as half-time came, we hightailed it out of the play and made it to the Winds Cafe for coffee and dessert.  And the rest is history!

Spent some time reading some great books about How to Do Church....I have some thoughts that I will post soon about what I have been reading.  Humbled for this time away, truly missing Southbrook Church!

Monday Evening Sabbatical -July 8th, 2013

Meeting God Over Pizza, A Screaming Bladder, and Driving 85mph Down Rawson Avenue.

This past week we accomplished some more house projects.  We started cleaning out our basement storage and main room.  Wow, where did all this stuff come from?  It is eye-opening to realize how easy it is to accumulate so much stuff.  Cleaning out the basement is cathartic, tense, and in the end -well worth it.  We were able to give some great items to friends and a few car loads made it to the local Goodwill.  Realized through this that our spiritual lives contain basements, which -more often than not- need the same attention as the ones in our homes.  Doing a spiritual inventory of what we are holding on to and what we need to get rid of -works wonders for the soul!

One day last week Jacob and I went to Tazino’s in Oak Creek.  This pizza buffet is perfect for our 13 year old man-child.  It was great to be greeted with a huge hug from Southbrook Church member Wanda C!  While we were eating our lunch, a group of five businessmen came in and sat down near us.  Before they ate, one of the men bowed his head and prayed before his meal.  A few minutes later as he was getting up for more pizza, I thanked him for praying before he ate.  We had a solid conversation about living out our faith.  What a cool God moment !

One thing I thoroughly enjoy about what I do in life- is using my Super Pastor-Powers to connect and meet with others who share this calling.  This week I met with three local pastors from three different churches.  Pastor Pete recently announced that he is retiring from his service to his church: Redeemer Evangelical Free Church.  He has faithfully served the Lord in four different churches with character and integrity.  On the other end of the spectrum is Pastor Dave from New Hope Community Church.  Dave has been a senior pastor for all of four months.  I am impressed with his passion and determination in leading his church to be externally focused.  Near the end of the week I had lunch with Pastor Ansen, who leads a Central City congregation -the Word is God Worship Center.  He is a man who is passionate about preaching the Word and spending time with his family.  I am so thankful that God has brought these guys into my life!

On Wednesday from 4am to about 1pm, I rode along with two different Franklin Police Department Officers.  Let me tell you, very little happens in Franklin at four in the morning!  At one point a call came through that there was a fire at a local gas station... Well, the officer put the pedal to the metal and we were flying down Rawson avenue.  I’ve never been in a car that drove over 85 miles an hour.  Good thing my police-issue pants are dark blue as my bladder was screaming louder than the car engine.  The ‘fire’ turned out to be a few gallons spilled gas on the ground, no flaming inferno, no trapped civilians who were in need of an alert Chaplain’s life-saving assistance; alas no great sermon illustrations...  However God did provide me with some solid opportunities for me to listen and connect with these officers, all of whom seemed willing to talk about spiritual issues...  A new Police Bible Study is possibly even in the works!  I am so thankful that the City of Franklin called four years ago to ask if I would be their Chaplain...

By the end of the week, we were packing up the clothes that our son needed for his Youth Group Missions Trip.  Jacob joined 30 students and 6 staff for a week long work camp to Cincinnati, Ohio. Not sure why we packed so many clothes, as we are certain that he will return in the same clothes that he was wearing when he left.  On the day we said good bye to our son, we welcomed two Southbrook families into our home for dinner.  What a joy to get to know these families, to hear their stories of Christ at work in their lives, and to eat a dynamite meal together!  It is amazing the bonds that can form around food!

I am thoroughly enjoying this Summer 2013 Sabbatical and at the same time, miss tremendously the great people of Southbrook Church....