Sabbatical

Last day on social media:
The kind leaders and people of Kaleo Church have given me a much needed Sabbatical. I will be away from the church from July 2-September 21. One of the ways I will pursue the goals of the Sabbatical (see below) is to decrease distraction. I will be without social networking and will not be blogging during this time. 
I joined the Army right after the September 11th attack and have been pursuing goals ever since. This has led to 16 years with little to no rest, and even more so, often not resting in my identity in Christ alone. 2016 was an incredibly hard season for Jennifer and me after losing a lot of dear friends without much explanation. This has also led to a lack of contentment in my role at Kaleo, which is not what I want nor what God’s people deserve from one of their pastors. With all that said, I have 3 goals that Jenn and I proposed to the church and they have confirmed as I use this Sabbatical. The 3 goals are:
1. Communion with God: This will be done primarily through longer and undistracted quiet time in the Word and Prayer. 
2. Healing: Jenn and I will be working through some of the hurt we endured and have not had the time to work through, grieve, and forgive. 
3. Redefining my role at Kaleo: This will be a time of dreaming, assessing, and clarifying my gifts vs. what I actually do. 
Jenn and I are so so grateful for this time away. We will be getting out of SD a couple times, enjoy more time together as a family, and rejoice in the friendships God has given us. Please pray for us and Kaleo Church during this time. 
28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” – Matthew 11:28-30