Getting ready for the Renewal
Jamie Bogaard • Sep 25, 2023
One week to go
It seems like a long time ago that the elders and I began to talk about me taking some time off for a Renewal. We looked at my contract that states I can take a Renewal every five years. As I approached seven years here at Lynnville Friends I decided that it might be time to do just that. I don't feel burned out or overworked but just feel after 25 years in ministry it's time for a little break.
We talked about a lot of things but one of the main purposes of a Renewal is a chance to rest for the work of being a Pastor. I love being the Pastor here in Lynnville and while it will be a challenge to be away for two months it will also be an enriching time. It will give others a chance to step into rolls in my absence and give me an opportunity to refill my tank for the next leg of ministry.
I look forward to worshipping on Sundays with Missi and not leading or preaching. We hope to visit a variety of churches to also gain some new ideas and just be refreshed. We will be doing some traveling to spend time with family and friends. The highlight of my Renewal time will be a trip to the Holy Land.
In November we look forward to welcoming our first grandchild and will appreciate the time to focus on her.
I will admit that as I type this there is much yet to do before Sunday and yet it is hard to focus on the tasks at hand. It has been such a privilege to serve here and I can't wait to see what the Lord hold in store for us in the future.
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I'm supposed to be on a plane headed to Atlanta and then on to Tel Aviv. A trip that I have dreamed of taking for years. It was to be the highlight of my Renewal. That all changed of course when war broke out. I am grateful however that I was not there when this all happened. My tour company offered me a refund, minus a few fees and hopefully peace will return to the region and one day I will be able to go. Everything happens for a reason and God always has a plan. Sometimes that plan is very clear and other times it is harder to understand. My disappointment and inconvenience pales in comparison to the heartache and disruption of the lives of all of those in Israel. I know that God has a plan for this land and it's people and I pray that peace will return soon. I have my family and we were all able to be together in Galena, IL for the weekend. The colors were beautiful and we had a great time together. We slipped over to the Field of Dreams and I was able to have a catch with my boys. We walked out of the cornfield and ran the bases. What a treasure we have in Iowa. There were families there enjoying the same thing. I appreciate the fact that the decision was made to not commercialize this but keep it simple for families to enjoy for generations. We played a lot of golf, ate a lot of good food, played games and just enjoyed our time together. We all went to a local church together on Sunday. During the greeting time a gentleman was asking where we were from, I shared that we were all able to get together here during my Renewal. He was very excited to hear that and we had a great conversation afterward as they are working on a Sabbatical plan for their pastoral staff and I was able to share some great information with him. Through everything God is good. In his plan for me not being able to travel to the Holy Land made me available to conduct a funeral tomorrow. I guess God knew that I was needed here. He always knows best and I'm glad he leads my life.
It has been harder than I thought to disconnect from church. I find myself wanting to go over to the church and just be there. I want to go over on Wednesday nights and check in on everything. I am starting to get there and it has been good to take some trips. We had a wonderful time in Michigan seeing good friends. I spent a little over 5 years serving in Fremont, MI. Our friends have moved on to a different church so it was great to worship with them in their new church home. It was baptism morning and we got to witness baptisms in several age groups. It still brings tears to my eyes to witness this moving experience. The weather was not so cooperative as it was rainy and overcast for most of our time there. We were able to take a color tour Sunday afternoon to Traverse City. The colors were beautiful. God's creation never disappoints no matter the season. I have been journeying through the book of Acts. It is amazing to me how the Spirit would embolden the followers of Jesus to speak his truth. How amazing the transformation of Saul as a hater of Jesus to Paul as a believer and preacher of Jesus. I want to be that open to the Spirit moving in my life. I know that I feel it and at times embrace it and other times stifle it. Why is it that we are so afraid of the world? My verse of the day today was "Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed," says the Lord, who has compassion on you." - Isaiah 54:10. Oh what a beautiful promise from the Lord our God.