The following is a newsletter article I wrote several months ago for The Crossing. Recently, it dawned on my that I haven't communicated this plan very well at The Connection. In addition, I know full well that a Sabbatical after 6 months of employment with The Connection isn't exactly fair...but it was a plan that unfolded before we started our current call/arrangement. To deal with this imbalance, The Crossing is going to be providing assistance to The Connection in my absence. Please, read the article below and feel free to ask questions.

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Sabbatical?

The summer of 2001 was a very busy time in my life best described by my schedule and associated titles; full time Husband/Dad, full time Seminary Student, full time Youth Pastor and soon-to-be full time New Church Start Pastor. In July 01’ I was approached by the denomination to start what would become The Crossing. When I accepted the call the regional Church Planter asked me if I could commit to the project for 10 years. At that time my longest tenure in any job was 4 years, so ten seemed unthinkable. In some ways, it’s hard to believe that September 2011 will mark my first completed decade. In others, like my graying beard, it’s clear that I’ve been at this for a spell now.

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What would you do if church, as you know it, ceased to exist? Imagine no Worship, Life Group, Sermons, or access to the Bible, except the portions you had memorized. Take it a step further and imagine your pastor leaves and you feel “left behind”. How would you continue to grow in faith? Where would you bring friends in need of the Good News? Would you find Christianity, without church, fulfilling enough to continue following Jesus? Although it would be hard, I sincerely believe it would be good for most of us.

In John 16:1-15 [read it] we find a scene not unlike the above. Jesus was preparing his Disciples (followers) to become Apostles (sent ones) after his death and resurrection. In a counter intuitive move, he did not give them a stack of books or program in a box. Instead, he told them he would be leaving and it was to their advantage…what? Yes, it would be good for them to have Jesus go, so he could then send the promised gift of the Holy Spirit. This “gift”, Jesus explained, would be an “advocate” (helper) and be with us “forever”. (John 14:16) As the resurrection story unfolds, it happens just as Jesus said; he conquers death, ascends to the Father, and the Spirit descends (Acts 2). As the Apostles lived obediently (John 14:15-16), the Spirit filled them with knowledge and power to preach the Gospel of Jesus the Christ. And, although they must have missed Jesus, it was to their advantage that he ascended.

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