Another week of sabbatical done. Only one left now. But it was a good week, and I am thankful for it. It included my first ministry travel since Oct or Nov! It's been a nice break. Anyway, here's the week.

Mon. Jan. 19. Up early, packed, QT. Went to National Airport & flew to Louisville. Matt Schmucker & I met with Lig Duncan & Al Mohler about T4G 2010. Good lunchtime meeting. Worked on specific talks, schedule, etc. Took Matt to the airport. In the afternoon went by the bookstore with Adam Grusy and David Dewberry. 5pm, Lig & I were on Al's radio show. Afterwards was dinner, where we were joined by 2 more friends, making us a table of 6. CJM & JP joined us. Great fellowship. Good time of prayer.

Tues., Jan. 20. My son's 19th birthday. Barack Obama's inauguration day. Meetings with our group from 9:30am through until 4:30pm. Break to watch the inauguration, then more discussion until 4:30. Then back at it at 6:30pm. We shared stuff from our lives right now and prayed. Excellent brothers & excellent fellowship! Discussion at night about contextualization, holiness, regeneration. Very good.

Wed., Jan. 21. QT. Morning discussion about the problem of evil. Began with questions about how hell is best discussed publicly. Got quickly onto the problem of evil itself. Left mid-day. CJ & I were on the same flight back to BWI. Picked up by Nick Lingle & Josh Manley. Great to be back home. I've loved not travelling these last 2 months!

Thurs., Jan. 22. QT. Going over emails with Nathan. Finished Spirit and Flesh and wrote thanking the author. Sat in on intern discussion (led by Michael Lawrence) on 2 sermons by Francis Grimke. Good stuff for us to think about. Putting up books. Then lunch with the associate pastors. Afternoon spent typing in quotations, putting up mail, brief meetings, etc. Dinner with a couple of friends.

Fri., Jan 23. QT. Lukas Naugle from DesiringGod came down to spend the day with us 9Marks folks helping us think through what we do. We had a good time thinking of what 9Marks is, what we do, how we do things we do and why. A number of folks gave time to being there, from Matt Schmucker to Adam Casper. It was a good, full day.

Sat., Jan. 24. QT. Enjoying reading George Swope, Kingdom Builders (from the early 20th century). Baptist minister in Norfolk, studies on the apostles. Chapter on Peter was excellent! Had a good lunch with Gustav. Then went up to Eli's father's memorial service. Thank God for a life well lived. This afternoon I spent working on Lev. 19:1-18 for Guilford tomorrow morning. First time I'll have preached since November! Looking forward to it. Dinner with Connie. Read another Powlison article.

Sun., Jan. 25. QT. Continued enjoying Swope's Kingdom Builders. Drove out to Guilford. Had a wonderful time singing with the saints at Guilford Baptist. Morning service was tremendous. Enjoyed preaching on "Love your neighbor as yourself." (Lev. 19:18). I was more than once during the service brought to tears thinking of God's goodness in reviving this congregation. Good lunch afterwards with Mike McKinley & family. Afternoon, Meet the Press. Evening back at CHBC. Josh Manley preached and did a good job.