Day 20

Bob’s Sabbatical

Day 20, September 19, 2009

 

I have been at the airport for
two hours, still two more until flight to Budapest.  Susan, Chris and Sarah are somewhere over the
Atlantic, or maybe even closer.

As I sit here, reflecting on the
last two weeks, I continue to be excited by the challenges my new experiences
of St. Paul present to me and to we who bear his name in Franklin.  It strikes me that Paul was especially good
at two things.  He was a prophet, and he
was a pastor.  Our mission statement, to “Proclaim
the Good News of Jesus Christ, and to care for all,” fits perfectly with Paul’s
own mission and ministry.  He proclaimed
the Good News of Jesus Christ, not just those he knew well, but to gentiles and
anyone else with whom he came into contact. 
I hope that we too will find ways to share our faith as positively and
as persistently as Paul did.

Paul was also a pastor – he cared
for the people and churches in the places he went.  His letters reflect his love and concern that
they not quarrel among themselves over minor matters, but that they find ways
to grow in love and service.  We too are
committed to “care for all,” which we do in so many, many ways.  If Paul were writing to us, he would say, “keep
it up!”

If I do not add something to
this site as regularly as I have been, it will be because we will be having
some great family time.  I promise to be
thinking about you – but not too much.

Peace,

 
Bob