Wednesday, November 16, 2011

About this blog

Some things are pretty obvious. If u see a blog titled "Writer's Block" you would probably guess it's about writing or a writer trying to get over her writer's block. If u see a blog entitled "Hip Hop News" you expect to see news about Hip Hop. And if u see a blog entitled "Mama's Musings" you expect to hear about a mother's thoughts on motherhood and life. Well my blog is named after me but it is about more than just me. It is about my journey. See for the past eight to ten years I have taken a hiatus. A hiatus from living authentically as me.

See I have been an impostor for a long time. Not the kind of impostor with sinister motives to topple down governments but pure motives. I was an impostor for others. An impostor who had sincere motives of serving others; of serving God. The past two years have been very revealing and have helped to shed that false mask. I have seen a church that I love become a church that I don't love and eventually go from declining to death. All the while I have noticed that not only was it the church that I didn't love but I also didn't love the person I had become.

So this is my journey into becoming a better person. It is the journey of a pastor who has preached living an abundant life-a better quality of life-but has not fully experienced that. See I believe true authentic spirituality is supposed to encompass more than just religious observances but it is supposed to show you how to live 24/7. It is designed point the way to a better quality of life in all areas that you touch-work, relationships, recreation etc. So this blog will chronicle my journey in becoming a better person; a better me; as I seek a better quality of life.

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

My 1 Year Sabbatical Goals




Yes I know Sabbatical and Goals don't seem to go together. As paradoxical as that may sound there is a good reason for having goals for a sabbath. As obvious as it sounds, a year is a long time to just sit there. But there are other reasons as well:




  • You do not want to end up doing things that you should not be doing. I do not want to end up running around like a chicken with my head cut off and in the same tired and stressed place. I can avoid this by having boundaries and avoiding the activities that would disqualify this time as a sabbath
  • You want to end up doing the things that you want to be doing. I want to take time during this year to follow my heart and let me passions emerge to the surface after being buried for so many years. Already my passion for music and art has come back with a vengeance.
  • Sabbath does not=inertia. From ancient times to now the Sabbath had a purpose. The weekly sabbath was a day to honor God and rest from work. Yes even resting from work is a goal.
So my boundaries for this sabbath are simple: no long term commitments to make money and no long term commitments to full time ministry. To put it simply I will not take on a second job, start a business, or work as a pastor of any kind. Really simple. If someone asks me to speak or preach or write something then that is fine but I do not want to enter into any role that has constant deadlines that are connected to my income.

My goals for this sabbath are as follows:

  • Participate in a workout program
  • Practice a contemplative spiritual discipline (breath prayer)
  • Hike a section of the Appalachian trail
  • Practice a spiritual discipline with my wife Yvette
  • Volunteer as social media director for New Identity magazine
  • Write in blog and work on my book in order to improve my writing and learn the craft.
So those are my "goals" for this year of sabbath. What goals would you have for a year long sabbath?