My Sabbatical
I have mentioned over the past several weekends that I am planning to take a sabbatical this summer in July and August. Back in January, our Church Council (which is the equivalent of our church board) recommended to me that I take a significant break from my pastoral responsibilities. There is a strong sense among our senior leadership team that:

1. I have been burning both ends of the candle for too long. For the past 14 years I have preached approximately 49-50 weeks a year. Typically, if I am not in Columbus, I am somewhere else teaching at another church and also, perhaps, doing a conference. I have been responsible for serving as the point person for Vineyard Columbus for the past 17 years. The Church Council felt that it was imperative that I get some rest and refreshment in order to run the race for the long haul.

2. The church needs fresh direction and insight from the Lord of the kind that can only be discovered through extended periods of seeking God's face. The pace and volume of work by our pastors simply doesn't permit the kind of space in life that is necessary for me to "hear God's still small voice." I believe that God wants to call the church into some very exciting things. I am looking forward this summer to hearing some of God's plans for our church family.

Please pray for me and the church during this sabbatical. We have a wonderful lineup of teachers and subjects. Some of our best Vineyard teachers will be teaching on the Power of the Kingdom. I believe God will work powerfully as newcomers and long-time attenders grasp the meaning of Jesus' announcement: "The Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe the Good News!"

Out of Gas
A few weeks ago I preached a message on what you can do when you are out of gas. I am uniquely fortunate to have the opportunity (albeit rarely) to be able to take an extended leave from my job to refuel. The vast, vast majority of you do not have that luxury. But everyone of us needs space in our lives to receive from God because of the pace of 21st century life. Many people that I talk with are literally out of gas. We all suffer from too much activity, too many responsibilities, too many plates spinning in the air for too long a period of time, too many phone calls, too many items on our to-do list, and too many people making too many demands.

What can you do this summer to refuel even if you are unable to take a sabbatical? I recommended in my talk that the Lord directed me to sit down with a blank sheet of paper and write down all of the things that refuel me emotionally. For example, I enjoy getting together with good friends that I don't have to counsel over dinner. I enjoy bike riding. I enjoy taking walks with my wife. I enjoy reading for no purpose other than the sheer pleasure and joy of reading good writing. I enjoy lifting weights.

What would be on your list of things that you enjoy? Have you ever constructed such a list? If not, why not do so in the next few days. Look over your list of enjoyable activities. Is there any way for you to clip some of your current responsibilities so that you make room for those things that fuel you emotionally.

From an Absurd to an Obedient Life
The second kind of refueling is spiritual refueling. One of my favorite authors, Henri Nouwen, wrote a wonderful little book about two decades ago titled "Making All Things New: An Invitation to the Spiritual Life." In his book, Nouwen outlines a few very simple ways to move from an absurd to an obedient life. Because we are surrounded by so much outer noise and inner chaos, Nouwen suggests that our lives have become absurd. According to Nouwen, the word absurd springs from the Latin word surdus, which means deaf. We cannot hear from God, who constantly speaks to us, because we have become deaf to his voice. Only when we slow down enough to listen, can our lives become obedient. Nouwen reminds us that the word obedient comes from the Latin word audire, which means listening.

How do we move from an absurd (deaf) life to an obedient (listening) life? Nouwen's book suggests that we have to create some space, that is, solitude, away from all of the outer noise that continually assaults us. Solitude is one of the most neglected spiritual disciplines among 21st century evangelical Christians today.

Jesus said that we need to set aside a time and a space to give him our undivided attention. Go to your private room and, when you have shut your door, pray to the Father who is in that secret place (Matthew 6:6). Solitude means no radio playing in the background. Solitude means shutting off the TV; not picking up the phone and making a call; not reading a book. Solitude means taking time simply to be alone with God.

What do you think would happen in your life if you put into your DayTimer just 1-2 hours each week this summer to be spent entirely alone with God? What if on your vacation you didn't pack as much activity as possible into the week, but instead stopped living absurdly. During that time you could worship God with Vineyard songs; sing hymns to God; pray in tongues; share your heart with God; and, listen for God's voice as he gently made impressions upon your soul.

This summer, as I have opportunity to get refreshed and refuel my gas tank, I would pray the same blessing for you. Whatever your life circumstance, will you sit down and consider those activities that fuel you emotionally? Moreover, will you make a weekly date to be alone with God and learn the practice of solitude?

With much love,
Rich Nathan

P.S. This past week I had the opportunity to visit the White House in response to an invitation to meet with President Bush's newly appointed Director of Faith-Based Initiatives. During the White House visit, I met with two dozen other pastors from around the country who are doing some incredibly exciting things in reaching out to the least, the last and the lost in their communities. Some of these pastors have formed partnerships with local governments and local businesses in ministering to at-risk youth, the homeless, families getting off of welfare, the unemployed and the addicted.

One of my prayers this summer is going to be for God to increase the diversity of our church, and also to use Vineyard Columbus in partnership with other local entities to bring the Kingdom to the neediest in our community. Please join me in prayer both for our diversity as a church and our impact on Central Ohio.