Church Family,
As most of you know I took some extra time off this Summer in what was originally going to be a 12-week sabbatical but ended up needing to shift to what we called a ‘hybrid-sabbatical’. Regardless of the shift it was a blessing to have some time to read, write, reflect, and spend some extra time with my family. This week marked the end of that time and I’m looking forward to fully reengaging in my role and by God’s grace continuing to serve Jesus and follow what the Spirit is leading us into as a church for many more years to come!
Because I couldn’t have taken this time without the support of you and our Leadership Team, I wanted to share a bit of a report. If you’d like to hear more in person, let’s go for a walk or grab a cup of coffee sometime.
Some things I read…
I don’t recommend books unless I really think they’re worth reading. Here are three I read this Summer that were outstanding.
Jayber Crow (Novel)
by Wendell Barry
I tend to like mystery type novels that move fast. This was not that. In fact I have never read a novel as slowly as I have Jayber Crow. Maybe it’s my age but I’ve recently found myself drawn more to stories that burn slowly and are more focused on the characters than a specific plot line. In this novel Wendell Berry walks you through an entire lifetime in a few hundred pages in his unique writing style which is poetic, theological, and emotional. His style isn’t for everyone but for me this book came at just the right time.
The Unseen Realm: Recovering the Supernatural Worldview of the Bible (Theology)
by Michael Hesier
We know that God is wholly different than us. We know that there is an evil one that the Bible calls Satan. But do we really understand the spiritual world and how it connects to our world and how it should affect our understanding of the Bible? For many of us the answer is, “No”. Dr. Michael Hesier does a great job in this comprehensive work, helping us see the Biblical story through a supernatural worldview and it’s one of the best theology books I’ve read in recent years (check out Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes for another good one!).
The Anxious Generation: How the great rewiring of childhood is causing an epidemic of mental illness (Non Ficition)
by Jonathan Haidt
About 5 years ago we had a mental health professional come to our church for a presentation. At that time she shared how anxiety and depression are at levels not seen since the Great Depression and no one really knows why. Well, five years later the data is in and Dr. Haidt unpacks it an accessible way that should serve as a wakeup call for the current generation. As sociologist he also goes beyond the current data and talks about how fundamental changes in parenting and childhood development have contributed to our current epidemic. While this book does not come from a Christian perspective it’s a must read for any parent. I won’t spoil the ending but the author (who is an atheist) comes to some amazing conclusions on what can reverse the dangerous things we have allowed to affect the younger generation and as a Christian I wasn’t surprised by his conclusions at all.
Some things I did…
One of the trips I took was to my hometown on the North Coast of California to meetup with my siblings as we spread my dad’s ashes and dedicated a memorial bench. I tacked on a couple of extra days to write and that’s where I met God in a profound way. When was the last time you took 24 to 48 hours to be by yourself without any distractions? I couldn’t tell you when (if ever?) I had done that. In those two days I found time to process, pray, reflect and hear from God in a deep way. I’m a people person by nature but it made me realize how important regular times of silence and solitude are.
As a family we also got to take the kids to where Jessica and I first met, on the Big Island of Hawaii. We saw friends, worshipped with our old church family, and visited the headquarters of the mission’s agency (YWAM) that we served in for four years. A piece of our heart is on that island, and it was sweet to be there again.
Some things I think…
Routine is comforting and often efficient and tidy. Stepping out of my routine this Summer was transformative. I was reminded of the importance of not always ‘going with the flow’ so much that I let life sweep me along without thinking.
Consumeristic culture is ugly. We visited a few churches this Summer and it was alarming at how easily I fell into the mentality of being a consumer instead of a participant in the shared faith. The fact that mentality could so easily pop up in me still has me thinking.
I want spend myself on things that matter. Years ago I realized if I can only make four disciples of Jesus (my kids) then that will have been a life worth living. With some extra time to spend with them this Summer I was reminded of how true that still is. Future retirement funds, professional recognition, personal comfort, these aren’t things that I want to dominate my thinking. My family is my most treasured possession on earth and to date is still my best return on investment. I’m thankful to Jess who has helped cultivate this with me and made our home a place of peace and joy, even in hard times.
Baptist Pastor and Civil Right Activist Ralph Abernathy has a quote that resonates with me. He once said, “I don't know what the future may hold, but I know who holds the future.” It reminds me of Proverbs 16:9 that says, We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps (NLT). I often feel like sailboat captain. The sail is up, the wind is blowing and God is going to take me where he wants me. I’m grateful that he has me here, with my family, pastoring this church, and living in this city.
Grace and Peace,
Andrew Fouché