Boy, it is so hard to believe how quickly these past weeks have gone by. In some ways it seems like only yesterday that Jan and I took off for Chicago, on day-one of our sabbatical. Now, as I sit in my sun room on Sunday evening, August 10th, I am facing the conclusion of a wonderful time of refreshment, growth, learning, and re-energizing. Tomorrow morning I will be back in the office and will be resuming my day-to-day duties as pastor.
So, what will tomorrow be like? As with every day in full-time ministry there are some unknowns. I know what I hope to accomplish: beginning sermon prep for next Sunday morning and preparation for staff meeting on Tuesday just to name a few. I also will spend some time jotting down the specific things the Lord has revealed to me concerning ministry in general, my ministry in particular, and some important insights into the direction of our church. It is amazing how the things the Lord began to reveal to me from the very beginning of the sabbatical have been confirmed over and over again throughout these weeks through books, personal conversations, conference messages, quiet meditation and church worship experiences. God clearly spoke to me in some very specific and exciting ways.
Hopefully in September I will take a Sunday night to share exactly how the Lord spoke to me not only concerning my life and ministry, but also concerning Highland Drive Baptist Church. I have no doubt that God plans to use the HD Family to impact this community and the world in ways far beyond what we have seen.
We finished our sabbatical by spending a few days in the Nashville area, attending the Willow Creek Leadership Summit on Thursday and Friday, then attending FBC, Franklin on Sunday morning. It was truly a great way to end our time of rest.
Thanks again for giving us this wonderful opportunity and for praying for us during these days. I look forward to seeing many of you on Wednesday night, and then again on Sunday.
In Calvary's Grace,
Johnny
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