I have just completed my first week of a December - January sabbatical.  I'm not planning to go anywhere, but I just wanted to let you know what I am doing, and also ask your prayers for those things I'm working on.

What am I doing on sabbatical?  The congregation kindly allows us sabbatical for rest, and for working on particular projects.  So, I am resting from preparing and delivering public teaching, leading meetings, attending staff & elder meetings, etc.  I am getting to sleep longer, exercise more regularly, have longer quiet times, attend the service & be fed (as we were so marvellously yesterday by the first in Michael Lawrence's Philippians series!) and just generally have a lot more flexibility in my schedule.  More time for email, and even some late night Settlers of Catan games!

So, among other things Monday, Dec. 1, I wrote a letter to our congregation on giving.  (Our church budget is not yet being fully met [though it's close!]).  I began trying to sort out exactly what my speaking commitments were in February.

Tuesday, Dec. 2, I spent much of the day clarifying my upcoming commitments (about 25 messages in Feburary!), worked on some planning for Togther for the Gospel 2010, and for a special conference that Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary will be hosting in September 2009.  That evening, Connie & I also went with our daughter & son-in-law & Daniel & Ashley Schreiner to go get our Christmas tree.  Good time at dinner & putting up the tree.

Wednesday, Dec. 3, met with a member who carefully explained to me why he was resigning to join an Anglican congregation, had a wonderful lunch with Nathan Santamaria, reflecting on God's grace (as we always do when we get together).  I had a leisurely time in the afternoon cleaning up the study a little bit.  (A lot more still needs to happen on that, as Matt Schmucker or Nathan Lugbill would tell you!)   And I read intern papers in preparations for Thursday morning's discussion.  An excellent Bible study that night by Michael Lawrence on Oaths.

Thursday, Dec. 4, 8:30-11:30 was our next to last intern discussion.  This has been a tremendous class, and it was a joy to lead them in discussing many issues, none of which were we able to give enough time to.  I then had a dentist's appointment, did some Christmas shopping, had a 3-4pm invitations meeting and prepared to go to Louisville.  Unfortunately at this point, I took an antibiotic that the dentist had prescribed, and I ignorantly took it on an empty stomach.  I had an empty stomach because I had had a toothache and hadn't wanted to eat.  Anyway, I started feeling bad fast, went to BWI anyway, there met CJ, got through security, walked to the gate, threw up, felt better for 2 minutes, started to feel bad again, and submitted to CJ's leadership to go home.  Back home, sad about missing our time with Al & Lig, my wife says I was "crazy" saying lots of stuff that made no sense.  I don't remember any of it.

14 hours later, I got up on Friday, Dec. 5, felt so-so and hungry.  I ate, quickly felt better, and then had lunch with CJ.  And read more intern papers.  Also, Mike McKinley phoned to tell me that Karen had safely given birth to little Ebenezer. Praise God for His kindnesses in this birth!

Saturday, Dec. 6, was a miscellaneous kind of day.  I was supposed to be in Louisville, but wasn't.  So I made plans for an overdue haircut.  (I generally wait until 3 or 4 people have commented that I need one.)  Took out the trash.  Had a great lunch with Bobby Jamieson (one of the interns) while our wives were at the CHBC Christmas evangelistic tea.  I did some planning for the coming year, walked down to the new Capitol Visitors Center with David & Andy (where we met new member John working there).  And I started what I need to be working on this week--Jonathan Leeman's manuscript for his new book on the theology of membership.  It is EXCELLENT!  More on that in a moment.  Dinner & a movie (Bolt in 3-D) that night with my dear wife.  We had a good time, and it snowed.

Sunday, December 7 had two wonderful gatherings with the saints at CHBC, and a good lunch with my sister Rhea, who is a member of our congregation.  Good afternoon conversations with Philip about his morning service leading, and Mack Stiles, about everything!  Mack has to be the most gifted personal evangelist I know!  Wonderful evening communion service.  Dinner with Kevin & Melissa McKay, working with a church up in Providence, RI.  Great to catch up.

And now, I launch out on this new week.  Among the most important things I could get done this week, is finish reading carefully Jonathan's manuscript.  I have some of my own writing projects that I want to get to, but this is more important.  Jonathan has carefully considered membership as an expression of love, and has reflected on it profoundly, placing it in its wider biblical, theological and cultural setting.  Pray for Jonathan as this work draws to a close, and as it then begins its pathway to publication.  That's my big work for this week, I think.  I'll try to check in again, next week.  Thanks for your prayers.