Til Next Time...

As I head into the final month of my sabbatical, I’ve realized that I need to take a break from my blog for the next 30 days. While I have enjoyed the opportunity to share with you my thoughts, insights, and feelings over the past 60 days; I desperately need to take the next 30 days and do some serious introspection: the kind of work that’s so profoundly introspective that I feel compelled to involve only one other party – God. Of course I've got plenty to keep my going. I've got a half a dozen books to read including Doug Pagitt's Body Prayer, Jonny Baker & Doug Gay's Alternative Worship: Resources From and For the Emerging Church; Loughlan Sofield & Carroll Juliano's Collaboration: United Our Gifts in Ministry; An Emergent Manifesto, and a couple of Richard Foster's resources. I've got some work I want to do around my prayer life (particularly as it relates to centering prayer and lectio divina). I've even got some fun stuff to supplement my spiritual journeys (tending to my much neglected Houston sports card collection and absorbing all four Houston Texans preseason games). As I head into this period of public silence, I want to thank the wonderfully generous people of Mountain View United Church who have made this sabbatical possible. There is no way I can put into words how helpful it has been to have time from my day to day ministerial responsibilities to reflect on my practice of ministry and regain a sense of perspective. This experience has already been a transformative one for me. During the next 30 days I look forward to deeper times of prayer, reflection, and fun as I culminate my sabbatical. I’m already looking forward to the wonderfully rich ministry experiences that await us next fall! I thank you for sharing the past 60 days with me and urge you to check back here in September as I explore the possibility of turning this sabbatical blog into an ongoing endeavor. May God’s grace and peace continue to be with us all as we enjoy what I hope will be an unforgettable August. Til September…