Thanks for Travelling With Me

To so many of you who took this journey with me (and so often Gwen), I wish to say thanks for all of your encouragement, prayers and support.

Back to [School] Work!

My first day back to work was Tuesday – also the first day of school for every kid in Michigan. I decided to walk to work (since one of our cars was in the shop – long ethanol story).

I walked past some teens waiting for the bus (bummer to have to ride the bus). They were all ready for day 1 of the school year – every article of clothing, every accessory, every part of the backpack – carefully selected.

Inside of all of the outward stuff there were the obvious day 1 anxious thoughts – will anybody remember me? Will the kids like me? Will I have anybody cool in my classes? Will anyone sit with me at lunch? Will anyone want to be my friend?

I thought all those things for them – and then for myself. I was going back after 3 months out. I was wondering the same things – will anybody remember me? Will they like me? Will anyone want to have lunch with me? Will they want to be my friend?

I’m back in and on the eve of my first Sunday to preach in 15 weeks – I wonder what it will be like?

Gliding . . .

I kept watching them being pulled up over the Frankfort Lake Michigan beach - so I thought, "I'm going to check into this!"

A few minutes later I received a trip up to 3,000 feet in time to see an incredible sunset on Lake Michigan (it still seems like it would go out when it goes into the water like that)!

Never "glided" before. It was incredible. So smooth. Seemingly effortless.

Pete was flying - while Peter Y is one of my best friends, for the 25 minutes in the air, Pete the Pilot became my very best friend - he was in control - my life was in his hands.

One of the joys of this Sabbatical experience has been learning to glide . . . being led by the one who created wind.

WOW! The Final Week . . .

It's so hard to believe that I am in the final week of this Sabbatical Journey . . . time flies.

I am alone this week at a cottage provided by one of our board members (thanks Craig & Lora!). It's been a great get-away - quiet, comfortable, and beautiful - perfect for processing the final week of this journey. Bonus that it is relatively close to Lake Michigan and only 40 miles from my folks (we met half-way for lunch on Sunday).

Yesterday (Sunday 8/26), I walked 5+ miles on the beach of Lake Michigan. Had an incredible time looking back on some dark issues of my life and finding cleansing at a deeper level in the midst of the amazing sunshine of the day and the freeing light of my Shepherd. He leads, guides, and restores . . .

This final week includes:

• wrapping up and summarizing key ideas and growth points along the journey
• some work ahead on the fall sermon series
• debriefing the experience
• somehow discovering and embracing the What could life be like in the days ahead because of the sabbatical experience?

I realize that the journey will continue - even after I return - but could you hold me up in prayer for this very significant week?

Thanks

21 Days . . .

Three weeks from today (September 4), I have the joy of checking back into my role as Senior Pastor of Spring Lake Wesleyan Church. That means that I am 80 days into this Sabbatical with just 21 left.

At 80% completed lots of memories come to my mind . . .

• A host of solitude experiences – some significant, some pretty routine, but lots of moments alone to think, reflect, smile, and rest
• Experiences with God - mostly just sort of "normal" times with a friend
• About 70% of the days, thus far, have been spent with Gwen – they have been rich to this journey
• Lots of hours in reading and writing and processing books and teachings
• Times of travel – something I enjoy – times that have enhanced the Sabbatical

Most of all – my gratitude for so many prayers and my certainty of the need for significant prayer as this experience draws to a close. Would you please send up a few prayers related to:

• The use of these final days – best experiences and connections with God and others
• The debriefing process – integrating God and life lessons into real life
• Identifying and clarifying new rhythms and pathways for the journey beyond
• Clarity in understanding this next season of life and ministry
• The ability to stay on Sabbatical until the final day
• The adjustments for Gwen and me as we return to regular life

I haven’t been able to do this without your prayers – I can’t finish without them either. Thanks in advance for finishing strong with us

Incognito

Being back home for a while has been great! Have been striving to not be back quite yet - to stay incognito - which is pretty difficult in our small town!

OK, I haven't exactly been very icognito either . . .

• I had to sneak in to see the closing of VBS - it was amazing! 400 Kids - 200 volunteers - amazing encounters with God through song, story, crafts - and most of all the love of so many connecting with kids!
• I snuck into the office to discover about 500 golf tees all over my office put there by a departing staff member! I can't pull out a paper towel without discovering another golf tee! I will get even . . .
• So I went to Coast Guard on the Midway and for the fireworks - with 50,000 of my closest friends and most of the congregation from SLWC! It was so good to run into many of the family.

It's a hard thing to not connect with people you love!

This Week's Prayer Requests . . .

1. Pray for coaching experiences I will be experiencing throughout the month of August
2. I will be spending time with my newest D-Team (Leadership Discipleship group) at the Leadership Summit - August 9-11. Pray for a deep connection for this team of 6 other men
3. Pray for a sorting through of potential resources, experiences, and dialogues I could yet engage (or not) in these final days of the sabbatical journey

Back in the States

After a wonderful time in Split, Croatia with our friends, Kent & Cheri Pickslay, we flew to Vienna, Austria. Our adopted daughter Regina was also flying into Vienna so after settling into a hotel (an "Airport Hotel" which was 45 minutes away) we ventured into the city for the evening - it was amazing!

Wednesday morning we traveled to the airport to begin our trip home flying to Washington D.C. and then on to Indy where Julie, Jamie, and Evee were waiting for us!

Evee was so depressed without her Papa

Evee content in her Papa's arms

She's so happy now!

We will spend a couple of days here in Indy then head back to West Michigan to begin Block 3 which is focused on coaching and processing insights learned and needing to be integrated into life ahead. Should be a great part of this Journey. More details to come.

This Week's Prayer Requests . . .

Transition back to the Midwest . . .
1. Final days in Croatia with Kent & Cheri Pickslay
2. Times of debriefing Block Two
3. Travel on July 24-25
4. Time in Indy with Evee, Jamie, Clint and Julie
5. Preparation for Block Three

More Thoughts From the Middle . . .

Here are some BIG THOUGHTS at the midpoint . . .

• Gratefulness – I still can’t believe that my church loves me enough to grant me this time away and that we have an amazing team to make it all work!


• Grace – I’m overwhelmed at how giving God is . . . How forgiving . . .How loving . . . How caring . . . How amazing!


• He is my Shepherd. He chooses this. He cares for my needs. He makes me lie down. He leads me. He restores me. He guides me into paths of righteousness for His Name’s sake.


• I have more clarity of call and calling.


• I love to grow – this has been a wonderful time to think and process and write and journey deeper with God and His mission assignments for my life.


• I’m so grateful for people – the church – who seek to be used by God to make a difference in hundreds of little and big ways.


• I’m so thankful for a group of men and women who team to lead this adventure we call SLW – people who partner with each other, with me, and most importantly with God.


• I love being married to Gwen who loves me in spite of my obvious warts (working through a couple of long-standing warts of mine while here in Croatia).


• My passions are growing and renewing for God and His passionate love for this world.


• I’m thankful for His faithfulness – and hundreds of other small thoughts . . .
  
  Hey – check out Gwen’s Blog to catch her personal reflections on my first Middle Thoughts Entry at http://www.gwenjackson.blogspot.com/ or touch on the link under my face to the right.

Here are a few new pictures

Dennis took a night off cooking

Gwen standing on the Terrace outside of our studio apartment

Our Friend, Ivan, at the ice cream shop!

So far, our favorite swimming spot

Born to be WILD!

Middle Thoughts . . .

So a couple of days ago I hit the mid-point of the 101 days of the Sabbatical Journey. . . Hard to believe in some ways and yet somehow very appropriate.


Typical days contain the same basic elements:

• I journal daily
• I average 6-8 hours of sleep (2-3 more than my usual pattern)
• I walk 2-4 miles
• I read books (1-2 per week)
• I pray - mostly for family, the team, the church (Day 1 and especially Youth camp and VBS over the past couple of weeks) and individuals as God brings them to mind (those who have suffered losses - Helen, Kass, Dale's family)
• I eat yogurt with peaches every a.m.
• I cook a meal usually every day (we usually catch one out every other day)
• We eat ice cream at the same place every night with Ivan who welcomes us with laughter (I usually get a dip of blueberry, strawberry, and lemon)!
• I listen to worship songs that you all are singing back home . . . this has been more filling to my soul than I could have imagined (thanks Pastor Jon for My Savior Loves, My Savior lives, My Savior's always there for me. My God He was, My God He is, My God is always going to be).
• Gwen & I share deeply . . . about what we are reading, about family and friends, about deeper works we both sense God is doing in our hearts. We celebrate intimacy. We talk through growth points in our marriage. We laugh and usually watch portions of a movie (Lord of the Rings, Sleepless in Seattle, Count of Monte Christo).
• We pray and take communion together.
• I reflect on Psalm 23 and seek Him . . .

Island Life

On Saturday, the 7th of July we headed out to the island of Hvar to the city of Stari Grad. The island is just off the mainland of Croatia and is rated in the top 10 islands in the world.

Bethany Karish lined up a vacation apartment with her friend Natalaje. It is up on a hill overlooking the community.

Here are some pictures . . .

The City of Split and our Ferry

In a back courtyard in Stari Grad - Beautiful!

Overlooking the Town of Stari Grad from a cross on the hillside

The city and harbor of Hvar from an old fort - I loved this place!

The two of us are having some great times - I rented a scooter yesterday and we drove around more parts of the island including a tunnel nearly a mile long without any lights! Amazing views and wonderful times in the sun.

We have had some great couple discussions and I am taking time to reflect and journal about areas of life change needed. God has been meeting with us in all of this.

Thanks again for your partnership in prayer! We have one more week then a few days in Split, Croatia before heading back to see Evee!

Great People, Great Partnerships

Just a quick note to say again how thrilled we are to meet up with friends in these countries and sense the heart, commitment and impact they are making - from Slovakia to Bosnia to Croatia.

One of the cool "side benefits" has been the connection with individuals who have been impacted by our partnerships . . . to hear their stories and to sense how much they are being used to impact others . . . Reproduction taking place.

Makes our hearts fuller as we experience this time with our friends and partners!

Our Time In Bosnia

It's been an incredible time here in Bosnia! The best part is always about the friendships.

• It has been so good to see our "other daughter" Regina (see picture above). Regina was in our daughter's Jamie and Joni's weddings and was an intern at Spring Lake and lived with us. She really is amazing and has been a wonderful host to our time here.
• We have loved expanding our friendship and partnership with Frank & Sue. They are coming to Spring Lake for the next several months (pray for housing). We so enjoyed connecting and can't wait to deepen that in the months ahead.
• Trent & Nikki are new connects for us as they serve World Hope here in Bosnia. We have had some wonderful times laughing and sharing and gaining greater insights into the excellent work they are doing here. It's been so great!
• We met other new friends - Adam & Kristen & Matt & Anna and 5 very special children we have connected with deeply.
• We heard of the difference that Daine & Becky Shannahan made while they were here (we just missed them by a couple of days) working on a transforming a school classroom - bringing hope to this community. Thanks Daine & Becky for being such an encouragement to the team here!

Saturday we leave the time with friends to share more significantly as a couple during our stay on Hvar - an island off Croatia. The prayer requests below will be significant for us in the next 2 weeks.

We love and miss all of you who read this and are so grateful for your prayers.

This Week's Prayer Requests . . .

Our time in Croatia . . .

1. Growth as a couple
2. Direction for Gwen as she dreams, listens, and looks ahead for God's assignments as she has now completed the season of completing her degree
3. Times of study, meditation, prayer, and listening

This Week's Prayer Requests . . .

Our time in Bosnia . . .
1. Connection with Trent & Nikki Nettleton, Frank & Sue Majors, Regina Freeman and the team in Bosnia - this is a very busy time for them and we want to be sensitive to their needs
2. Couple connection time
3. Enhancement of our mission partnerships and research into potential team trips to this region

Europe with the Kilbry's

Well, after a few days with the Evee and her parents and auntie Julie in Indianapolis, we re-packed the bags for Banska Bystrica, Slovakia, home to Steve, Jo, Ben, Sam, and Emma Kilbry. We had a blast with them in in this central Slovakia city where they work with Youth With a Mission developing and encouraging ministries in prayer, family life, outreach, equipping, discipling and a host of other ways to build the Kingdom of God in Slovakia and beyond.

City Center - Banska Bystrica

Rainbow over the city

Cottage in the mountains in the small mining village of Spania Dolinka (15 minutes outside of Banska Bystrica where Steve & Jo lined us up to stay!)

Looking down the pathway from the waterfall outside of our cottage (on right of picture) into the village

The Roman Catholic Church in Spania Dolinka

Slovakia, a former Eastern Eurpose communistic country, is a largely Roman Catholic - with approximately 80% adherents but much fewer members with a living engaging faith. Steve & Jo have the privilege of working with large groups of inter-confessional Christians - baptists to pentecostals to Catholics to Brethren to Lutheran and everything in between - making a difference to see many Slovaks become followers of Christ.

We had a blast hanging out with the family talking, sharing, visiting castles, eating amazing ice cream (even Gwen was addicted to their ice cream - and she hardly eats the stuff normally)! It was great to enhance our friendship and our partnership with this family and their minstry.

Off to Bosnia

We are now on our way Monday to Bosnia to join our team there. We are overnighting in Budapest, Hungary which has to be one of the loveliest river fronts in the world - highly romantic - so this blog will have to be complete!

This Week's Prayer Requests . . .

As we begin Block Two of the Sabbatical Journey, here are some requests . . .
1. Quick adjustments to time changes, etc.
2. Deep connection and encouragement with our missionaries to Slovakia - Steve & Jo Kilbry and family
3. A sense of rhythm to this time as individuals and as a couple
4. Continued understanding of Psalm 23 . . .
5. Travel to Bosnia on July 1

BLOCK ONE SUMMARY

Well, I have now completed block one of the Sabbatical Journey - designed to be a time of decompression – finding a different rhythm than my typical pace. To accomplish this I traveled West to hang out – alone for the first 15 days and then to be joined by my partner in life – Gwen. Here are some stats and thoughts on Block One:
I Visited:

• 7 states
• 7 National Parks
• 3 National Monuments
• 2 State Parks and 2 Canyons
• I drove just over 5,000 miles
• I hiked over 80 miles

I Managed to

• Unwind (all days but 2 . . .)
• Rest - (most nights 6-8 hours as compared to 4-6 normal)
• Keep things pretty simple – going with the flow
• Spend 15 days alone (though I caught myself talking to myself from day 11 until Gwen arrived)
• Find myself amazed over and over again by God, His creation, a larger perspective – I found myself thinking – to myself at first and later out loud – Wow, God! This is amazing!
• Share in communion everyday – these were meaningful times alone and later with Gwen

The Time with Gwen

• Was a great reunion
• A great celebration of our marriage love and partnership
• Was filled with incredible “shared experiences” in God’s creation
• Had a good rhythm – we have learned the hard way to balance activity and rest; time together and time alone (a wonderful fireplace in a Glacier Park Lodge assisted this greatly)
  

I Took Time to Read

The Testament by John Grisham – one of his legal novels but with a strong eternity matters message
Just Walk Across the Room by Bill Hybels – our staff is studying this in preparation for the year ahead – it is a great study in listening to the promptings of the Holy Spirit to share with those not yet connected to Christ
The Return of the Prodigal Son by Henri Nouwen – (Thanks Jerry for the book!). A phenomenal study of the three characters of the story of Luke 15. Nouwen writes about our hearts. I came away with a greater desire to be like the Father in the story and to deepen disciplines of trust and gratitude
A Resilient Life by Gordon MacDonald – it’s all about the need to finish strong. The biggest impacts for me related to:

• Caring for the past – On his encouragement, I wrote down Key People, Major Ideas, and Critical Events which impacted me in 5-year increments of my life. This was both encouraging and deeply painful – in a good sort of way. More processing from this ahead
• The need for a “Happy Few” in our lives – he identifies these individuals as the dozen or so who will deeply grieve at our funeral. Lots more there to process as well
• The need for focus and disciplines of life – I especially connected with the need for four growing disciplines in my life – Grace, Gratitude, Generosity, and Humility (doing really well on the last one!). Way too obviously there is room for growth in each of these areas

BEST OF ALL – One Amazing Passage
I spent time each day reading, memorizing, and meditating on Psalm 23:1-3.

The Lord is my Shepherd, I will not be in want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside quiet waters.
He restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness for His Names sake.

It’s too soon and significant to share a lot from this passage yet – my heart is almost too tender with these words from my Shepherd.

Final Pictures

We are within 24 hours of boarding the plane in Salt Lake City and bringing closure to the first of four time blocks of the Sabbatical Journey. Gwen & I did a simple debrief which I will share later.
Here are some final pictures from our time in Glacier . . .

The bull moose that crossed our creek right after our lunch on the rocks . . . only 25 feet away!

Lake McDonald - near our lodge - breathtaking every morning

At the culmination of our hike - Iceberg Lake - still frozen and beautiful in it's mystique.

Gwen at the same spot - she has the same mystique!

We spotted a family of 10 mountain goats way up on the rocky cliffs.

On the final day in the park an additional 13 miles of the Going to the Sun Road opened enabling us to get way up into the glacier areas.

We shared great times of learning and growing and loving in the midst of our 10 days together. Soon to be back to the Midwest and that all important stop in Indianapolis to see Evee (and Julie and Jamie & Clint)!

More Prayer Requests

Below are a couple of prayer requests for next week:

• Final Europe travel details (we fly out on June 25 and back on July 26)
• God-led times of sharing with our missionaries - Steve & Jo Kilbry (Slovakia), The Nettleton's, Majors, and Regina Freeman (Bosnia), and Kent & Cheri Picksley (Croatia).

Thanks so much!

Great Sights

Gwen is here!

We had a great time in Salt Lake City! I had asked for a simple upgrade and ended up getting moved to the Executive Level Floor (with lots of perks) for cheaper than most of the places here! Went to Church on Saturday night at a "Lobby" type service - good time in the Word.

Monday, we took off for Jackson, WY (my family founded this community back in the early 1800's). Went on a drive into the Teton's and saw this Grizzly and cub! They crossed in front of us on the road - 10 feet away!

The mountains were amazing!

On Monday, we travelled on to Yellowstone and the Geyser's and Elk.

We also met Jacob and CJ - two teens who gave us the low down on the park and the geysers and where to go and what to do. They were obvious Christ followers and really cool reminders of why we have great hope as this world goes on.

Today, we move into Glacier National Park where there is still a lot of snow! Hoping to slow the pace a bit - to hike, to reflect, to connect with God and each other.

Resilience

I like the word.

I became more familiar with the word when listening to a dialogue between Gordon MacDonald and Bill Hybels. Gordon identified - In the great race of life, there are some Christ-followers who stand out from all the rest. I call them the resilent ones. The further they run, the stronger they get. They seem to possess these spiritual qualities:

• They are committed to finishing strong
• They run inspired by a big-picture view of life
• They run free of the weight of the past
• They run confidently, trained to go the distance
• They run in the company of the "happy few"

I listened to this dialogue several months back, soon after the Sabbatical had been approved but uniquely as I struggled with whether it was really a good idea or the right timing or . . . Listening to this sealed the deal for me that it was right and it was now. Since then, I picked up Gordon's book entitled, A Resilent Life, specifically to bring with me on this journey. I read much of it over the weekend - it's making a deep impact.

One of the tasks he suggests is taking a sabbatical (even if you can't get away like me, he suggests slowing down your life to evaluate) and doing a self-study. He offers the idea of evaluating your life in 5-year increments (0-5, 6-10, etc.) around 3 Important Factors:

• Key People who have influenced me - for good or ill
• Critical Events that have changed me - happy or sad, and
• Major Ideas that guided me - noble or ignoble
  

I started that experience last Saturday . . . I was amazed at the people, events and ideas I remembered - and the impact they have made on me . . . some negatively and many more positively.

I came away with a profound sense of the Hope that comes from God's Grace - the reality of the grace I have experienced and the need for more grace for the journey of the past in preparing for the journey of the future.

Thanks for your prayers regarding this as I spend time alone in this part of the Sabbatical journey.

GWEN IS COMING!

Today, Saturday, June 9, Gwen joins me for 10 more days of the first block.



We will be heading from Salt Lake City toward Glacier National Park in Montana.



I can't WAIT!

Prayer Requests

From time to time I will be dropping in prayer requests. So many of you have let me know that you are praying every day! That means more than you could ever know.

Here are a few requests for the next week or so

• The discovery of God's leading and a rhythm for this journey - for each day and for the whole
• A deep sense of joy in God's presence
• Personal renewal - beyond what I can comprehend
• Deep marital oneness and sharing - (Gwen joins me this Saturday!)
• On yeah, and all of the travel and safety issues

Thanks so much!

Pictures . . .

I've visited several places so far . . . here are a few pictures

Window Rock - home of the Navajo Nation Headquarters

Canyon De Chelley

Church Rock - which I climbed to the crest of - in a pathway I made up as I went along which would have freaked Gwen!

A natural arch in El Malpais National Monument park - I got better, closer pictures later because I found a trailed marked, LOSED, that took me right up into the arch area . . . (the sign may have been missing a letter . . .)

700 year old ruins of the forerunners of the Zuni and Pueblo Indians. These areas were used for 100+ years of the 700 that these Native Americans lived in this particular area.

Top of El Morro National Monument - one of my favorites and a place I spent a long morning on top of - again it seemed to be off the trail but sure was a great place to read, sun, and journal.

Moments With Ted & Evie . . .

So I'm staying in New Mexico in a cottage like home called a "Hogan" which is a native Navajo home. The couple that are providing it to me (thanks to "Donquest") are a couple named Ted & Evie. Ted is a Navajo who taught school for a number of years and now in his post-school days is pastoring a CRC church. Evie is a nurse from Wheaton who graduated from Nursing School in Grand Rapids and they met here in her (& his) first year serving at Rehoboth, a CRC mission.

Ted & Evie took me to a beautiful spot last week called Canyon De Chelley. It is an incredibly intimate canyon experience (unlike the Grand Canyon) in NE Arizona.

We took our time seeing everything - unlike most of the others visiting who merely hurried to each spot, took pictures and raced on to the next overview. Ted laughed as he watched them and shared a favorite dialogue people have after the experience - "What did we see there?" "I don't know, we'll have to wait and look at the pictures when we get home."

Basically, the joke is that we rush the sights, snap some pictures but never really experience the sight or any moments.

At one point, Ted & Evie were just leaning on a wall with their eyes closed. I had been looking around when Ted invited me to join them. He said, I (we) like to pause and experience the wind. He continued - It reminds me of John 3 - "we don't know where the wind comes from or where it is going, but we feel it." Or Elijah when he asked for God to show Himself - "He wasn't in the earthquake or the fire but in the gentle breeze . . ."

They invited me to join them. Frankly, I hadn't even noticed the breeze. We all paused, and in the quietness and the gentleness, we experienced His presence. Several persons came and went observing the sights, but we experienced the Creator of the sights and the One who chooses to draw near - if we pause.

The insights are easy to draw . . . leaving that up to you and HIM.

Reflections On the Plane

OK, I didn't realize how difficult it would be. I'm sure most people look at this Sabbatical time and say, "Wow - sure wish I could do that!" Some have thought that this is just an extended vactation - my favorite - "The God-Cation."

Truth of the matter is, the leaving has been hard . . .

• Hard to leave people you love so much
• Hard to let go of responsibilities you carry
• Hard to leave people you do daily life with
• Hard to let go and be led when you are used to leading
• Hard to leave unfinished responsibilities (or at least I think they are unfinished)
• Hard to leave everyone behind (even Gwen for the first 15 days)

Can I also share the tension - the polarity - in desiring God but the fear I have of finding Him?

It was strangely wonderful to get on the plane . . . Hopes mixed with fears . . .

I'm so glad - The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not be in want . . .

DAY 1 OF 101

It's hard to believe that the Sabbatical is within hours of beginning. For months I have anticipated this day. I wondered what it would be like. I'm not sure I know what to do. I'm asking God to be my Shepherd.

To lead me.

To teach me.

To speak to me.

Day 1 of 101 (Friday, May 25) I fly to Salt Lake City where I will rent a car and drive to a town just East of Gallop, New Mexico. From there I will take several days to hike and explore National Parks and Monuments as well as other open areas.

DONQUEST
You've heard of MapQuest, well I have DonQuest. Don Peterson, a faithful friend and prayer partner, mapped the entire area out for me - people, exact exits to take, roads, what to see (and skip) and so much more. Don has been an incredible gift to me - freeing me from having to plan - freeing me to be led. Thanks Don for your gift!

For the first 15 days I will be alone. On day 15, Gwen will join me to complete this first block of the journey - a sort of time of decompression and physical, emotional, and soul rest.

Prayer Requests

• The discovery of God's leading and a rhythm for the beginning of this journey
• A deep sense of joy in God's presence
• Personal renewal - beyond what I can comprehend
• Deep marital oneness and sharing
• Oh yeah, and all of the travel and safety issues

Thanks again for sharing in this journey with me!

Confidence, Credibility, Competence

Probably the most visible thing I do is preach. I love to teach. It is a huge responsibility but one that brings me great joy.

Soooo . . . letting go of teaching for an entire summer is - EASY - when I am so Confident in our Teaching Team. They have a great level of Credibility and Competence. The unity we experience, the joy and energy we share in preparing; the deep understanding of and love for the congregation we serve make letting go of this responsibility for this season a delight!

Pastor Peter Yoshonis and Pastor Dave Horne will be carrying the bulk of the teaching times. They are delivering two summer series that we all assisted in developing. These series will have year-long impact on us.

At SLWC we strive to be about Developing People. The Teaching Team is a wonderful example of this mission fulfilled.

Please be in prayer for this team:

• Weekly preparation in the midst of their regular responsibilities
• Anointing from the Holy Spirit
• Deeper Mission Engagement (this is not a static or "holding on" time but a time of growth and progress

It's going to be a great summer in the Word!

Renewal in Israel

I am just preparing to board a flight to come home from Israel - a trip that indeed was a Spiritual Odyssey.

There is something about this land that renews your heart and passion for Jesus and for the intensity of the love He offers. I found that renewing love in the sense of deep community I observed in how the ancients lived. They were close in proximity. They were together in travel and in work and in spiritual activities - in all of life.

I found the renewing love in the places of consuming passion and compassion - the journey to Gethsemane - where the final alignment was made to give his life and love for all of us - and for me. I found the renewing love in the place where after his mockery trial, he was beaten. In the place where He willing allowed the cross to be placed on Him and He on it.

His overwhelming love deeply renewed me - not only because I was here - but uniquely because I was here.

The trip has been a gift of heart preparation for the 101 days ahead - that begin in just one week.

101 Days of Prayer

This Sabbatical is 101 days long.

I will genuinely need prayer for each day. Many have already committed to pray - some even to fast - for me while I am gone.

If you want, pick a day (or days) between May 25 and September 4. Then simply e-mail my assistant what day you want.

srizzio@slwc.org

If it's available she will sign you up and send you a reminder and specific requests.

Thanks for being a part of this Sabbatical experience through prayer.

Life Batteries . . . Again

We all have a battery supply we run off of . . . (see previous post). What happens when the battery is low? How do you get the battery "charged up?"

With car batteries, if the battery is dead or low you have a couple of choices:

• You can jumpstart it - some tow trucks even have a "super charger" they can hook up that jolts it back to life
• You can trickle charge it - hooking up a slow charger (6-24 hours) of trickle of electricity

Most of us jumpstart or super charge our batteries back to life - we take a drive or go out to dinner or a ball game or hook up with replenishing friends or get away for a weekend or do something entirely different than what has often caused the drain.

For the most part this works - for a while. Unfortuneately high numbers of repeated jumpstarts can actually damage a battery and make it weaker. It's true in our lives as well. We can often fall into a pattern of enduring and holding on until the next jumpstart - If I can just make it to Friday! If I can hold on until our getaway! If I could just get to the course. I'll be ok if I can just get to the mall!

Trickle charge might be a lot better solution - but it's not easy to adapt to - it's slower. It often requires waiting. Sometimes it doesn't even seem like anything is happening - it's like a crockpot! Trickle charging forces us to:

• consider deeper causes for battery drain
• take assertive action in addressing damaging patterns
• discover grace to accept and embrace drains you cannot control
• say no to others and to opportunities
• slow down and say YES to people and things that matter more and most
• live more intentionally

If your battery is low, jumpstarting can be ok, but trickle might be the only true re-charge for your life.

For me, I realized that the battery had been low enough for long enough that unless I found a way to trickle charge I might be irreparibly damaged for the Master's use.

So I have a Sabbatical starting in just 17 days (actually, it sort of begins with a tour of Israel with Gwen and the Teaching Team that begins today).

Amazing Change!

Isn't it amazing how quickly they change!

Our Granddaughter Evee at just under 2 weeks old. . .

Life Batteries . . .

We all have a battery supply of energy we live off of. It's the supply for us physically, emotionally, spiritually - every part of who we are.

It's good to have a battery that is fully (or at least more than half) charged. The energy is drained by activities, involvements, circumstances, events, experiences, people, being alone - by LIFE. Often it is recharged by some of the same things.

This is significant - What drains us and what recharges us varies from person to person . . .

Here are some things that recharge me . . .

• Operating in God's strength (instead of my own)
• Using God's unique spiritual gifts given to me in the specific ways He seems to have focused and developed them. For me that includes:

Leadership - Investing in, developing, and directing people to fulfill mission

Administration - organizing, developing systems, plans, and procedures to accomplish the mission

Exhortation - my speaking gift - knowing, expressing and explaining God's Word

• Seeing God-intitiated life change - tranformed lives by God's grace - I never tire hearing of stories of peoples lives
• Seeing teams form, build, and be used by God
• Time alone - especially if I can quiet myself enough to listen
• Praying with others - I am always recharged by this - I have built "mini prayer meetings" into my life with consistent people - Tuesdays, Saturdays, Sundays. I am so much more effective in prayer with others than alone
• EVEE - Did you know I have a grandaughter?
• Hugs and smiles
• Hiking, volleyball, reading, riding my scooter
• Time with Gwen. Time with friends

You might be asking - So, what drains me? Or, So what do you do as a result of knowing this?

That's for another entry . . .

Sabbatical Cancelled - WE HAVE A GRANDDAUGHTER!

So who needs a Sabbatical when you have a beautiful granddaughter? Who needs a job? Who needs anything?

God, Evee Marie (and a bit of Gwen Marie) – That’s enough for me!

Did I mention she’s beautiful?

Born: 12:02 am April 24, 2007
Weight: 7lbs. 15.5oz.
Length: 20 ¾ inches


She's Beautiful!

SABBATICAL FEARS

It’s true – deep inside this image of courage – I do have fears. Nothing keeps me from sleeping at night – but these Sabbatical fears come close . . .

• That the custodial team will rebel & put the TP on under the falls . . .
• That the women I most like to hug on Sundays – Pat and Helen and Barb and Helen and Marian and Arlene and Janet and – well, there are so many – will find their hug needs met through Pastor Dave or Jon and they won’t need me anymore . . .
• That the preaching will be so great that no one will miss me . . .
• That the relocation will take place while I’m gone and I won’t be able to find our church when I get back
• That the summer ministry interns will have youth sleep-overs in my office or that the Vacation Bible School rallies will be held in my office or the staff will hide dead things in there
• That so many people will offer help in my absence that the staff will be overwhelmed and not able to place people in Kingdom difference ministries

Tough fears – makes me glad I don’t have to worry about . . .

• A slowing of the great momentum we are experiencing
  
• Church people “going on Sabbatical from church” while I’m gone
  
• Ministry Fund giving “dipping”
  
• The final months of imagine losing ground in preparing us financially and in our characters for the relocation journey ahead
  
• A cooling of the passion for caring for and reaching our community, region, and world

My biggest fear remains – the fear of missing out on all God is doing in our church family!

EASTER REFLECTIONS . . .

So, I’m still thinking deeply about the message of love on Easter and the stories of life-change. My favorite quote of the day – David speaking of the friend who reached out to him in his need and pointed him to God – how he had given him a swift prayer in the butt! God’s love has no limits – the Curtain was torn – no more barriers (and over 1800 persons on Sunday said, Amen!).

Some have asked, So what do you do on a sabbatical?

I sense God’s leading to walk in 4 Blocks of time. Here is a glimpse at the first two

Block 1 – Decompression and Rest – in Western U.S. parks (UT, AZ, NM, MT) - Several days of alone time for rest, reflection, hiking, prayer, journaling, soul reading, worship and word. Gwen will join me for the second half of this block.

Interlude – Coaching and time with grandchild!

Block 2 – Mission Partner coaching and personal and couple growth – in Slovakia, Bosnia, and Croatia. We will enjoy time with missionaries Steve & Jo Kilbry in Slovakia and then our partners in Bosnia. Most of the time will be spent in study, couple time, reading, writing and reflecting and some limited sight-seeing.

Interlude – We will come back for more time with the grandchild!

We’re not gone yet – so as you are praying for us – could you please ask for clarity in completing a number of pre-sabbatical tasks? Lots of people are stepping up to the plate at this time. Pray for Pastor Peter who will give significant leadership during the Sabbatical and Pastor Peter and Pastor Dave Horne as they give significant investment to the preaching while I am gone.

101 Days . . .

You may have noticed that the Sabbatical journey is 101 days long. When I added it up that seemed like a long time . . . until I realized that by the time I leave I will have been here 3,650 days – 10 years!

10 years is so hard to believe! It seems like yesterday . . .
* The congregation voted for us to come as Senior Pastor
* That our youngest, Julie, was going in to 5th grade at Jeffers (she’s 20 now!)
* That I was still in my 30’s (ok, so 39 – but still in my 30’s!)
* We were experiencing the joy-filled journey of getting to know you.

So much has happened in our family
* Proms and graduations and significant others
* 3 out of 4 of the kids are married
* Did you know we are expecting our first grandchild any day (due 4-19)?
* Gwen is going to receive her Bachelors Degree (4-28)

And in the Church – becoming more and more
* immersed in prayer
* about reaching children & students
* engaged in our community and world
* generous with our time, energy, gifts, and money
* like Christ

The Psalmist asks God to “Teach me to number my days . . .”

That’s my prayer for the 101 – “Lord, teach me to number those 101 days in a way that is led by You.”

The 101 is exciting but not near as meaningful as the 3,650 have been.

Questions, Questions

So lots of folks have had questions about the Sabbatical - by the way, what is a Sabbatical?

What This Sabbatical Isn’t:
· Not a prelude to Pastor Dennis leaving
· Not one year long
· Not “intensive” study or research time
· Not a 3 month vacation
· Not just another opportunity to lose his luggage!

What This Sabbatical Is:
· Time with God
· Time alone
· Time in prayer, reflection and intercession
· Time in worship and the Word
· Time for reading and journaling
· Time for specific counsel and coaching from mentors
· Time with Gwen and family (strategically with the grandbaby!)
· Time with friends for replenishment
· Time in mission partner development
· Time of rest and relaxation

Here are some Frequently Asked Questions that the Personnel Committee offers answers to:


· Who is in charge while Dennis is away? Pastor Peter Yoshonis will be giving leadership to the Church and staff. As Executive Pastor, this is part of the normal role he carries anytime Dennis is away.
· Who will give Local Board of Administration leadership? Pastor Peter will be working with the Vice-Chair, Britt Cary to give leadership at this level. The Vice-Chair generally leads meetings.
· Who will be preaching? What a blessing to have a preaching team already in place to insure consistency and connection! Pastors Peter and Dave Horne will carry most of the teaching responsibility with others. In addition, we have two special guests - Paul Hontz from Central Wesleyan in Holland and Steve Deur from Watermark.
· What about care that Pastor Dennis normally gives? Pastor Peter will lead and opportunities will be shared by the team.
· Will Pastor Dennis have contact with SLWC leadership while he’s gone? Dennis and Peter will have scheduled contact.
· How is the Sabbatical experience being funded? The costs for this Sabbatical are being completely cared for by an unsolicited gift from outside of our congregation.
· How about Long-Range processes? Larry Ritsema and the Oversight Team will provide leadership to long-range planning and initiatives for the Capital Stewardship launch in 2008. Administrator, Cecil MacLaren will be deeply involved as usual.
· Will Gwen be with Pastor Dennis during this experience? Approximately two-thirds of the time Gwen will be with Dennis. Gwen’s expenses will be covered by their own personal funds.
· Is Pastor Dennis considering leaving Spring Lake Wesleyan? No, not at all. He would not accept the sabbatical if he had any intention of leaving.