John Braland
  • Home
  • About John
  • Consulting Ministry
  • Books
  • Insights
  • Pastors
  • Leaders
  • Church Resources
  • Insights

What is a Sabbatical?

7/31/2014

0 Comments

 
The term “sabbatical” comes from the Hebrew word “shabbat” meaning “ceasing from labor.” A sabbatical taken by a professor might be used to write a book or complete a research project. In a secular setting a sabbatical could be taken to travel or for personal reasons. In religious circles a sabbatical is granted for rest and study.

Traditionally, pastors are granted a three month Sabbatical by their church every seven years. But Freshwater is not a traditional church and I am not a traditional pastor. I would not expect to be able to take three month off every seven years and am not sure I would even like it. I have a short attention span and find pleasure in what I do. Even though I have never taken more than three weeks in a row off in my 18 years of ministry, I have found that taking a brief time off over the summer has been incredibly beneficial to me and to Freshwater.

Read More
0 Comments

The Doldrums

7/10/2014

0 Comments

 
Back when sailing ships ruled the seas, sailors feared the Doldrums more than anything else. This was the most dreadful situation of all. The Doldrums refers to those parts of the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean affected by the Intertropical Convergence Zone, a low-pressure area around the equator where the prevailing winds are calm. If a ship was slightly off-course, or the Doldrums slightly shifted, a ship would sail into a dead zone where the winds simply stopped blowing. And when the winds stopped blowing, the ship stopped sailing, rendering it helpless. Sometimes ships would be stuck in the Doldrums for days and even weeks. Sailors would get depressed while floating in the middle of the ocean in a hot muggy climate. Many crews consumed their entire provisions and went on to starve to death waiting for winds that never came. If you were caught in the Doldrums and lived to tell about it, you were fortunate because many sailors never made it out alive.

Read More
0 Comments

    Archives

    July 2018
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    June 2016
    July 2015
    May 2015
    March 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home
  • About John
  • Consulting Ministry
  • Books
  • Insights
  • Pastors
  • Leaders
  • Church Resources
  • Insights