A good week.  Especially thankful to complete three evangelism addresses.

Mon., Jan. 5 was a quiet day.  A lot of time to work on the Evangelism messages, as we had prayed.  Good lunch with Nathan Lugbill, good to have him back.  Our Nathan returned to Providence.  Connie & I had a quiet evening.  I was up late working on the messages.

Tues., Jan 6 working on the Evangelism messages.  Outlining.  Lunch with Philip Leeman.  Spent almost 2 hours on a conference call with the Financial Board ofthe SBTS Trustees.  I am thankful for these wise and competent friends, Al’s excellent administration and the honest and vigorous conversation that was encouraged (and happened!).  Dinner with Connie.  More work on messages.  Enjoyed watching & listening to Sacred Harp singing of “All is Well.”  I love songs about being with the Lord forever!

Wed., Jan. 7—I slept poorly during the night (due to my cold).  So I was up early, but tired.  Was only halfway successful in doing the elliptical.  I was tired, so slept some more.  Didn’t feel well enough to go to the annual 9Marks lunch for employees (sorry to miss that!).  Slept early afternoon.  Then from about 1:30-5:30 was in 9Marks meeting with Matt, Jonathan & Josh sorting out various schedules & talks for 2009.  The Lord is blessing 9Marks with so many opportunities this year!  Dinner with my wife.  Michael did a good job with Bible study.  I’ve really been enjoying listening to a new CD by the Galkin’s—“Christ Only, Always” that Ben Wright gave me.  And then, later in the evening, wrote a devotional for the Jacksonville Pastor’s Conference, and worked more on the evangelism talks for the Desiring God Pastor’s Conference.  I really need to get these done, because I’ve got about 20 more messages in February!!  But I keep thinking of more to say!  Pray for me.

Thurs., Jan. 8.  A good night’s sleep.  Most the day working on these evangelism messages.  Interview with Jonathan Leeman for the upcoming 9Marks ejournal.  Lunch with Greg Gilbert.  Good discussion about the cultural mandate being for us NOT as Christians, but as humans.  We nailed down details for some more 9Marks events later in the year. 

Fri., Jan 9.  Worked today mostly on editing the first address for the DG Pastor’s conference.  Lunch with Nathan S.  Great to hear how he’s doing.  Dinner with friends.  Good talk with Danny Shieh later that evening.

Sat., Jan 10  QT. Finished the first evangelism address in the morning.  Then a good lunch with Bill Anderson, reflecting on God’s grace in his life.  Then spent the afternoon with Connie.  Finished the second and third evangelism addresses in the evening.  Finished Stories of Emergence, ed., Mike Yaconelli.  Interesting.  Got an address done for Paul Perdue’s church in Minneapolis.

Sun., Jan. 11  QT.  Philip did a good job again in Core Seminar.  Michael preached well on Philippians 3.  Wonderful baptisms.  Lunch with my sister.  Meet the Press.  Reading James Ault Spirit and Flesh.  Very interesting look at fundamentalism. In the evening great sharing and prayer. 

I thank God and the congregation for this sabbatical.  I hope next time to have a more restful one by more carefully arranging it in proximity to other deadlines coming due!