Merlin founded Faith Hope and Love Intl., which collaborates with churches crossing denominational lines. He has developed the concept of “Mission Trips in Your Own Backyard” to unify the Body of Christ by bringing the love of God into the community. Merlin’s messages and teachings are about raising up a generation passionate for God to build a legacy of transformation. He is an Advisory Council Member for the State of Indiana Office of the Faith-based and a co-host for Religion in the News. Merlin speaks at churches, businesses, government, educational institutions and faith based organizations to encourage people to live out their faith. He is a church consultant helping pastors reach out in their communities to raise and train leaders. Merlin and his wife Annie live in Noblesville, Ind.
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February 13, 2012 was my first Sabbatical ever. I didn’t fully understand the definition of it. All I know is when a person is on sabbatical, he/she cease from working. I was not planning for this sabbatical but a few months ago, my friend Donna encouraged me to take one and do some writings.
So I contacted our friends from the Crossroads Baptist Association whom I met in November last year (2011). I was planning to take the sabbatical in January but it did not work out for them. Rather, they provided me and my wife (she will be staying with me till this coming weekend) a very nice hotel room in the Highland Lakes next to their chapel and dining room free of charge from 2/13-2/23. In addition, I found out that the entire 400-acre camp is empty till the weekend (we’re all alone!). On the way to the place, I just realized that it’s Valentine week. What a perfect time to be with my wife in a camp just by ourselves! I thought to myself that a sabbatical is when things divinely aligned to take away your stress and worries.
So, we got in the room without TV and microwave oven (but with WiFi) and found ourselves asking each other the same question, “What do you do when you are on sabbatical?” Do you read, write, eat, sleep and do the same thing again for the next several days or weeks? I thought that could be boring. I fell asleep as I was thinking.
After an hour nap (I don’t normally take naps), I put on my boots and explored the camp. I saw wild animals frolicking around, tall leafless trees, empty cabins, a couple of lakes and totally silent surrounding except for the beautiful sounds of the forest…birds chirping, water rolling down the streams and the gentle wind as it pass through the branches and the leaves on the ground.
Then, some inspirations about writing my book whiz by my mind. Suddenly, I was drawn to peak through one of the Retreat Centers. The backyard was of course wooded area and had a few empty bird feeders. I saw a creek by one of the trails I and took several pictures around me. I turned on my iPod to listen to music on my way back to my room.
So, here I am at the Welcome center of the camp writing this blog in front glass windows. I am looking right now at the trees with branches covered with snow. Next to me are bottled water, an orange, an apple and a jar of peanut butter. My wife just fixed me a hot cup of coffee.
Maybe you don’t really plan what you’re going to do when you are in sabbatical. Just enjoy the surroundings, listen to nature and speak to God. Once He speaks, you just need to listen and then follow His lead. He knows what you need to do when you are on sabbatical.
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It’s be a few months since I visited my Blog. I will try to be more present on my blog. Thank you for all who has been following me and for your encouraging Comments. Lots to share with you but we’ll start with the core of the following Blogs.
What would you community look like if you could say, “The Presence of God is here!”
In the past few weeks, I had the privilege to interview several Mayors of Central Indiana, Corporate Executives, Medical professionals, Spiritual leaders and people on the streets regarding the topic to see their perpectives from their own world. Please visit http://fhlinternational.org/category/podcasts/ and https://www.facebook.com/FHL.International for the audio and video interviews.
Noblesville Mayor Ditslear said that God is already present in his city but it would be better if more people are aware of IT. Then I read Genesis 28:16, “When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was not aware of it.”
I wonder how many people are asleep and would not wake up to see that “the Kingdom of God is at hand”. How many Jacobs are out there not being aware of the Lord right in front of them.
As a community, we need to be catalysts of the awareness of the Kingdom of God in our Midst. It could be just asking the question above or be the representative of the Kingdom wherever you are.
What would your neighborhood look like if more people are aware of the Presence of God in your community and marketplace? So, what would your community look like if you could say, “The Kingdom of God is here!” We’d like to hear your perpective.