Sabbatical - Day 29

We are at home for a few days this week just hanging out with family, catching up on house and yard work, and doing some reading. We continue to enjoy our time off, but feel a growing yearning to be back with our Highland Drive family. Thanks for continuing to pray for us. God is certainly revealing some exciting things concerning the future of our church and is showing me some important things about my role as your pastor.

I will be back in the office on August 11. Stay faithful during the remaining weeks of summer and let's anticipate a great season of growth this fall.
Johnny

Sabbatical - Day 26

We are enjoying a few days in Northwest Arkansas. It is good to spend some time with Joy and to learn more about the Leadership Training Program/Internship that she is currently involved in at University Baptist Church. We also visited with Jan's brother and family and with my brother and family. I also enjoyed a round of golf with my brother and nephew yesterday afternoon. We are now well into the second half of our sabbatical and are already feeling a longing to get back into the swing of things at Highland Drive. God has been so good to enable us to enjoy this time, but we are missing our church family. We will worship with Joy at UBC on Sunday and will be praying for God to move in a special way at Highland Drive.

Johnny

Sabbatical - Day 21

Back home for a few days. Boy it feels good to be off the road and enjoying some down time. It will be good to do some things around the house and read a couple more books. The trip was great, but we are glad to be in our own home the next few days.

We spent some time with my folks before coming home. Mom had some surgery but seems to be doing well. Hopefully that will correct the problem that she has been having.

Hope everyone is doing well.

Johnny

Sabbatical - Day 16

For those who have been checking in each day, let me apologize for no entries the last couple of days. Last night we had a problem finding a hotel room and were only able to check in around 1 a.m. So, there was no time for computer work.

We have adjusted our travel plans and are cutting our trip a little short. We have seen some wonderful things but will not make it to Oregon or California this time around. Oh well, you have to leave some things for future trips.

Hope you enjoy the photos above. For the record, the plate of food was about to be eaten by JAN, not me.

Hope you all have a great day.

Johnny

Sabbatical - Day 13

Happy Birthday, Jana. Wish we could have been there to celebrate with you. We love you so much.

Now, for the rest of you . . . Jan and I are truly enjoying our time of freedom. Once again we are so grateful to Highland Drive Baptist Church for giving us this opportunity. I took a break from some of the driving today and read another great book that the Lord is already using in my life. It is such a joy to be able to do some additional reading that will not only help me but also my ministry as a pastor.

We attended a wonderful worship celebration in Denver this morning and then hit the road again. Check out the photos above and see if you can guess where we were today.

Johnny

Sabbatical - Day 12

We spent the day touring Monument Valley and Arches National Park. Had a great time. It's late and we are planning to attend worship at Riverside Baptist Church in Denver at 8:00 in the morning. I'll try to post some more pictures on facebook, for those who are interested.

Blessings.

Sabbatical - Day 11

Finally we outran the rain. After experiencing a lot of rain yesterday and last night we saw the sun for most of today. We are enjoying our time of touring some of the great western sites of this wonderful nation. Check out the pictures from Monument Valley, Utah. Many of the westerns starring John Wayne were filmed here.

It's also great spending some time alone with the Lord without thoughts of immediate sermons or Bible Studies. He is speaking and my spirit is being refreshed.

Thanks for your prayers.

Sabbatical - Day 10

Where are we? Have some fun. Check out the pictures and see if you can guess where we were?

Have a great day.

Johnny

Sabbatical - Day 9

We are sitting in a hotel room in Deming, New Mexico. I did not do any reading today because I drove all day. We finished driving across west Texas and into New Mexico. We spent a little time in El Paso and walked over into Mexico. However, it was rainy and late in the day so we were not able to enjoy shopping as we had hoped. It was fun to take Jan's mom and dad across the border for the first time. It was eye-opening for them.

We are absolutely enjoying our time and continuing to be grateful for this wonderful experience. Please continue to pray for safety as we travel and for a sensitivity to the Lord as He speaks to us.

Johnny

Sabbatical - Day 9

Sabbatical - Day 8

We traveled to west Texas today . . . spending the night in Midland. We had lunch at Sammie's Barbecue in Dallas, after Jan read about it in a Paula Dean magazine. The ribs and brisket were great.

Tomorrow we hope to travel to Tucson and do some touring in that area. I was able to finish a couple of books today. Simple Church by Thom Rainer was extremely thought-provoking and challenging. God has truly spoken to me through this book. I also read The Church of Irresistible Influence by Robert Lewis. It was also a great book. I'll do some more reading along the way (not while driving) and will let you know how it goes.

Thanks again to the HD family for allowing me to have this time to rest, refocus and refine. Even on Sabbatical I find myself alliterating my words.

Johnny

Sabbatical - Day 6

We spent the weekend with our relatives on the Nichols' side and had a great time. The kids swam, played, watched movies and took motorcycle rides. The adults ate, visited, snacked, shopped, ate some more, watched some TV, and ate even more. We had a great time.


Monday morning Jan and I will travel to Louisiana to spend the night with my mom and dad, then begin our trip out west. I'm looking forward to seeing some places I have never seen, to reading some good books, and to enjoying the time with Jan. We also plan to visit David Jeremiah's church in San Diego and John MacArthur's church in Los Angeles. Thanks for praying for us as we move into our second week of Sabbatical.

As you can see from the pictures above, Hutch loves the motorcycle.

Johnny

Sabbatical - Day 3

After a good night's rest, Jan and I left Wisconsin and headed for home. We stopped off in Springfield to see Lincoln's home and tomb. It was a fun side trip. Our trip to Chicago (and Wisconsin) was all that we hoped it would be. God is working and we are having a great time.

We plan to spend the next few days celebrating our nation's birthday with our immediate family as well as Jan's family. It should be a great time. Hope you all have a great weekend.

Johnny

Sabbatical - Day 2

What a great day. Jan and I began the day by meeting with Bob Bouwer, Senior Pastor of Faith Church. Ten years ago they were a church running around 275 in worship. Now they are reaching over 4,000. It was a joy to tour their facilities and to meet with Bob for over an hour. Jan and I both came away with a sense of excitement over what God has done in Faith Church as well as the belief that God wants to work in a special way at Highland. Bob indicated that it began when the leadership made a clear determination to do whatever was needed to fulfill the mission of the church by reaching unchurched people. They simplified their focus and determined to do a few things really well. Clearly it is working for them.

We then went downtown where we enjoyed a trip up to the skydeck at the Sears Tower, ate a late lunch at Lou Mitchells, then drove over to Wrigley Field. After that we drove up to Milwaukee for some Wisconsin cheese and a brief tour of the city. We drove through some pretty rough weather and had to endure some serious traffic issues. We praise the Lord for a really good day and for safety through all the traveling. It feels good to be settled in for the night.

Johnny

Day 1 - Chicago

Jan and I enjoyed the first day of our sabbatical by driving to Chicago. Less than four hours into the trip, Jan had already made her first purchase. She bought a Mexican blanket that was actually made in Mexico, but was purchased at a Travel Center in southern Illinois. This truly is a great nation.

After checking into our hotel, we had dinner at Dick's Restaurant (recommended by Jerry and Armentia) then went downtown. We discovered that "A Taste of Chicago" was going on, so we joined the fun after a stroll along the lake.

Tomorrow morning we will be meeting with the senior pastor of Faith Church in Dyer, Indiana. God has blessed that church with exciting growth during the past few years, and I am looking forward to hearing their story. Nancy Scarbrough's dad is the Executive Administrator on their staff.

Thanks again to the Highland Drive family for allowing us this precious time off.

Blessings,
Johnny