Some History

In the summer of 2007 our daughter while doing some research for K-State found that The Louisville Institute offered grants for pastoral sabbaticals. Though we appreciated her sending the info to us, the idea of a sabbatical was somewhat dismissed out of hand. However about a month later while revisiting about it Toni and I decided that we should at least make the application. The application required that our church board grant permission, which did two things. First it allowed us to complete the application (which was not accept) and second it also started the board thinking about the value providing a sabbatical for Toni and me. The elders started setting aside some funds and they gave approval for a May through July sabbatical; and by February we began to make serious plans.

Summary

Starting our fourth decade of ministry and our nineteenth year at Cheyenne Berean, we desire to finish strong. The theme for our sabbatical is based on Ephesians 3:16, I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being. This time will allow us to rejuvenate emotionally and physically and provide a time of solitude to rejoice in, and reflect on, our life in Christ. One report indicates that 1,600 pastors in US churches quit or resign from their jobs every month and nearly 20 percent of pastors suffer stress or burnout. A pastoral sabbatical is a change from the normal ministry routines to “rest, reflect and re-affirm.”

Considerations

Toni’s health and stamina are obvious considerations with her infusions every three weeks. Other factors are her mother’s struggle with Alzheimer’s and the fact that Toni’s spiritual, emotional and medical support teams are in Cheyenne. For us to maximize the sabbatical time we will have a “Front Range” sabbatical that is divided into four, three week segments. This will allow Toni to be in the comfort of her own home as she works through the side effects of her infusions, as well as have her support networks nearby. As her side effects wear off then we would use some time to stay in touch with Toni’s mom. The next two weeks we would go to various locations in the Front Range area for focused sabbatical time.

Approach

Using the insights from the numerous “spiritual retreats” we have taken through the years, we are preparing a “menu” for a buffet of reading and activities that we can select from as we journey through the sabbatical, realizing that the Lord in His awesome grace will surprise us with serendipitous twists and turns along the way.

Four Segments

Weeks 1-3, Family: Extreme Grandparenting, by Tim Kimmel

Weeks 4-6, Jesus: Soul Guide: Following Jesus by Bruce Demarest

Weeks 7-9, Worship: Sacred Pathways by Gary L. Thomas

Weeks 10-12, Service: Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands by Paul David Tripp

Some Elements

Toni is reading with an emphasis on renewal and as a project will be finishing a quilt she started several years ago.

Richard is reading with an emphasis on the Reformation era; he will be reading Philbrick’s “nautical” trilogy; and projects include writing some short stories for the grandkids and doing some family genealogy

Various activities probably will include a “Seven Day Cruise” along the coast of Canada and New England; driving the Rockies in a convertible; visiting various sites along the Front Range.

Reading and Audio List

1. Between Walden & the Whirlwind by Jean M. Fleming
2. Classics of the Christian Faith: The Pilgrim's Progress; Augustine’s, Conversion; Luther’s, Here I Stand; Jonathan Edwards’, Sinners in the hands of an angry God; George Whitefield’s, The Method of Grace (Audio) by Max McLean
3. Geneva Bible 1599 by Gary DeMar
4. God’s Bestseller by Brain Moynahan (Biography of William Tyndale)
5. In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex by Nathaniel Philbrick
6. Mayflower: A Story of Courage, Community, and War by Nathaniel Philbrick
7. Sea of Glory: The U.S. Navel Exploring Expedition 1838-1842 by Nathaniel Philbrick
8. Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands by Paul David Tripp
9. Pilgrim at Tinker Creek by Annie Dillard
10. Reformation Study Bible
11. Sacred Marriage by Gary L. Thomas
12. Sacred Pathways by Gary L. Thomas
13. Simplify Your Spiritual Life: Spiritual Disciplines for the Overwhelmed by Donald S. Whitney
14. Soul Guide: Following Jesus by Bruce Demarest
15. The Complete Chronicles of Narnia (Audio)
16. The English Reformation by A.G. Dickens
17. The New Testament Octapla by Luther A Weigle, Tyndale-1526, Great-1539, Geneva-1560, Bishops-1568, Douay-Rheims-1582, AV-1611
18. The Reformation Era by Robert D. Linder
19. The Story (NIV Chronological Bible)
20. Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson (Building schools in rural Pakistan)
21. Wilderness Time: A Guide for Spiritual Retreat by Emilie Griffin
22. A Quest for More: Living for Something Bigger Than You by Paul David Tripp
23. Extreme Grandparenting, by Tim Kimmel
24. The Secret Garden (Audio CD)
25. In Christ Alone by Keith & Kristyn Getty (Audio CD)

Praying Scripture Guide

Segment One: Our Family

God’s Gift
1. May 6, Genesis 2
2. May 7, Proverbs 31
3. May 8, I Timothy 3
4. May 9 (Infusion), Colossians 3
5. May 10, 1 Corinthians 13

God’s Grace
6. May 11, Ruth 1
7. May 12, Ruth 2
8. May 13, Ruth 3
9. May 14, Ruth 4

Biblical Romance
10. May 15, Song of Songs 1
11. May 16, Song of Songs 2
12. May 17, Song of Songs 3
13. May 18, Song of Songs 4
14. May 19, Song of Songs 5
15. May 20, Song of Songs 6
16. May 21, Song of Songs 7
17. May 22, Song of Songs 8

Joyful Living
18. May 23, Philippians 1
19. May 24, Philippians 2
20. May 25, Philippians 3
21. May 26, Philippians 4

Segment Two: Our Savior

Servant Songs
22. May 27, Isaiah 49
23. May 28, Isaiah 50
24. May 29, Isaiah 51
25. May 30 (Infusion), Isaiah 52
26. May 31, Isaiah 53
27. June 1, Isaiah 54

Upper Room
28. June 2, John 13
29. June 3, John 14
30. June 4, John 15
31. June 5, John 16
32. June 6, John 17

Enthronement Psalms
33. June 7, Psalm 96
34. June 8, Psalm 97
35. June 9, Psalm 98
36. June 10, Psalm 99

Coming King
37. June 11, Revelation 4
38. June 12, Revelation 5
39. June 13, Revelation 19
40. June 14, Revelation 20
41. June 15, Revelation 21
42. June 16, Revelation 22

Segment Three: Our Worship

In Christ
43. June 17, Ephesians 1
44. June 18, Ephesians 2
45. June 19, Ephesians 3
46. June 20 (Infusion), Ephesians 4
47. June 21, Ephesians 5
48. June 22, Ephesians 6

Psalms of Ascension
49. June 23, Psalm 120
50. June 24, Psalm 121
51. June 25, Psalm 122
52. June 26, Psalm 123
53. June 27, Psalm 124
54. June 28, Psalm 125
55. June 29, Psalm 126
56. June 30, Psalm 127
57. July 1, Psalm 128
58. July 2, Psalm 129
59. July 3, Psalm 130
60. July 4, Psalm 131
61. July 5, Psalm 132
62. July 6, Psalm 133
63. July 7, Psalm 134

Segment Four: Our Service

Practical Service
64. July 8, James 1
65. July 9, James 2
66. July 10 (Infusion), James 3
67. July 11, James 4
68. July 12, James 5

Christ-like Service
69. July 13, Mark 1
70. July 14, Mark 2
71. July 15, Mark 3
72. July 16, Mark 4
73. July 17, Mark 5
74. July 18, Mark 6
75. July 19, Mark 7
76. July 20, Mark 8
77. July 21, Mark 9
78. July 22, Mark 10
79. July 23, Mark 11
80. July 24, Mark 12
81. July 25, Mark 13
82. July 26, Mark 14
83. July 27, Mark 15
84. July 28, Mark 16