Genesis recounts the creation of the world. It says that after taking six days to form the earth, seas, and everything in the sea and on the earth, God rested on the seventh day. This day is called the Sabbath. Most of us don’t think these were seven literal days and we Christians have changed it to the first day of the week. But the principle is the same. Throughout our working lives, we need periods of intentional rest. We need times (both weekly and periodically) when we get mental and spiritual refreshment and periods when we ask Rabbi Heschel’s famous Sabbath questions: Where have I been? Where am I now? Where am I going?

KBC wisely gives its ministers periods of sabbatical. Officially, it provides the Senior Pastor one month for every three years of service. This is a great gift – both for the pastor and ultimately for KBC itself. Having finished my third year, I don’t feel the need for the sabbatical that one might who has worked 6 or 9 years. I’m not going to take the full month, and in fact I’ve decided to divide it into three parts: some ministerial “re-tooling,” some creative rest & reading, and a conference on writing. I’ve already taken the first (3 days at a preaching practicum at Wilshire Baptist in Dallas). I’m going to France next week for the second (I’ll be working with a Cordon Bleu chef and reading an extensive list of books World is Flat, Plan B, End of Faith, History of Happiness, and whatever else will fit!). The third will be a week (taken in August) in Colorado working with writers at an “arts for the soul” seminar.

While I’m away in France (which incidentally will include a side trip to Serbia to explore opportunities of a mission trip), you’ll get to hear Daniel Johnson (May 28) and Jody Clegg (June 4). I know you’ll appreciate them both.

And let me take this chance to mention that I’m very excited about the fact that very soon you’ll get to meet the candidate for our Associate Pastor for Music and Worship position. We are not yet announcing his name (in order to give him time to notify those who need to know). However, let me convey my sense of enthusiasm and conviction that this is the right person for KBC’s future. We are at an important juncture in our church’s history and I believe that we have found a person who will be a key part of our ministry team. He is skilled in music, but just as significantly he has a heart for people and a mind for God. In the very near future there will be more details, but for now please pray for our candidate and his family (a wife and two teenage girls).