New Melleray Abbey
I wanted my sabbatical to begin with a time of quiet and prayer, so here at the start I went to New Melleray Abbey in Eastern Iowa. New Melleray is a Trappist monastery, 
and they’re devoted to a contemplative life of prayer and silence. I arrived on Monday, and I’ll leave on Friday.
People are often curious, who’ve never experienced . . .
Bike with Dad
193 Miles on the Katy Trail
Men usually need a shared activity when they get together. Guys aren't into sitting and sharing; we've got to do something. When my Dad and I get together we ride bikes. Here on the first week of my sabbatical we took a trip down the Katy Trail in Missouri. We've done this three times before, riding and staying along the trail. . . .
What's a Sabbatical?
i.e.- How did you get so lucky to get three months off of work?
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During the preparations for this time, I’ve had a few ask me, “What’s a sabbatical?” It’s a fair question; they’re asking, “What exactly is this thing you’re doing?” A sabbatical is a period of paid leave for learning and travel. Sabbatical comes from the Hebrew word Sabbath (or Shabbat), which means to cease, stop, or rest. A key part . . .
Silent on Sundays
Giving up, for a time, preaching a weekly sermon.
The church where I worshiped during college had several retired ministers as members. I learned that they really missed having something to say because anytime they were given a role in worship they couldn’t stop talking. What was to be a two minute offering appeal lasted seven or eight minutes. The quick mission announcement reached . . .
Rule of St. Benedict
Why a Protestant pastor cares about the rules monks live by.
A monk at St. Meinrad Archabbey in southern Indiana said to me, "We've been living by the Rule of St. Benedict for 1500 years. Something must be working."He was speaking of the Rule that Benedict, an Italian
monk, created in the sixth century. If you're curious, you can read it all here. The Rule guides their daily living, . . .