*** I warn you this is a brutally honest blog.***

When asked about my recent leave of absence many asked, “How was your vacation?” or “How was the sabbatical?”  Let’s get this straight – it was neither a vacation or a sabbatical.  I have to be honest – those five weeks messed up my routine.  I felt the pressure that many “stay-at-home Moms” feel.  My schedule was wide-open family stuff from daylight to past dark.  Moms – I feel your pain.

The most important part of my day is my personal time with God.  My schedule over the last few weeks wasn’t as conducive to that as my regular “pastor – dad” schedule.   ATTENTION: THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR SPENDING TIME WITH GOD.  Here is how Pastor Mark Batterson said this in a recent blog on a similar subject, “If you want to grow spiritually, you need a consistent diet of Scripture.  In fact, you will never outgrow your consumption of Scripture. There is no substitute. There is no supplement.”

While I was out playing the role of “disneyland dad” as I call it… running from big moment to big moment… I realized that I developed the following symptoms: I was grouchy, selfish, irritable, complaining, short-tempered, tired, lazy and spiritually numb.  The symptoms were easily recognizable by all, especially my spouse and kids.  Someone actually said, “I will be glad when you go back to work!”  Work is not what I needed.  What I needed was Jesus.  I was missing my daily time with God.

I need Jesus – bad.

For me, this was an eye-opening experience of how easy it is to fall-out of the routine or discipline of spending time with God.  Every week at Bethel Community Church we stress the importance for every follower of Jesus to read the Bible.  A huge part of growing in God is spending time with God through worship, prayer, and His Word. Reading your Bible is much like physical exercise… every day that you miss it, it is much easier not to do it the following day as well.

One more warning for pastors and those in ministry… Bible reading has to be for personal devotion.  Often times we read/study to see what God would say through us instead of spending time with God to see what He wants to say to us!  As pastors and leaders, we must recognize the priority to be a Christian first and spiritual leader second.  We can only minister from what is within.

I need Jesus – bad.

Here are a couple of Bible reminders on the subject:

• James 4:8 – Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
• Matthew 5:6 – Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
• 1 Peter 2:2 – Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation.
• Psalm 119:72 – The law from your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of silver and gold.
• Psalm 119:105 – Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.
• 2 Timothy 3:16 – All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that all God’s people may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

My response?  Repent. To steal a line from the late King of Pop, “make a change.”  I believe it was Einstein who said, “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”  Confess your mistake and start fresh today.  Proverbs 28:13 – “He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, But he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion.”

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This blog is the ninth in a series of the top 10 things that I learned during my five week leave of abscence for the birth of our newest addition – Caden Jonathan Michael.

Christy at Dover Castle

#2 -  I have a wonderful wife

Main Entry:      wonderful
Part of Speech:     adjective
Definition:     great, extraordinary
Synonyms:     admirable, amazing, astonishing, astounding, awe-inspiring, awesome, brilliant, cool*, divine*, dynamite*, enjoyable, excellent, fabulous, fantastic, fine, groovy*, incredible, magnificent, marvelous, miraculous, outstanding, peachy*, phenomenal, pleasant, pleasing, prime, remarkable, sensational, something else, staggering, startling, strange, stupendous, super, superb, surprising, swell, terrific, too much*, tremendous, unheard-of, wondrous

All of these synonyms together do not accurately explain how blessed I am to have my wife!  You have got to read my reflections from 14 years of marriage that I wrote for our anniversary which we celebrated on July 1st.  It will give you insight into our relationship.

These five weeks of leave have taught me (reminded me) the following things about my wife:

• Christy is selfless.
• Christy needs a raise.
• Christy is a great mom.
• Christy really loves me. (Why? I’m not sure.)
• Christy is that Proverbs 31 woman. (Proverbs 31: 10-12)

I found this recent article that summarizes what I have learned.

Families Can Customize Mom’s Job Description and Create a “Mom Paycheck”

Are you wondering what mom should be paid for her work as mom? Salary.com has valuated the “mom job” of both the Working and Stay-at-Home Moms! Based on a survey of more than 12,000 mothers, Salary.com determined that the time mothers spend performing 10 typical job functions would equate to an annual salary of $122,732 for a stay-at-home mom. Working moms ‘at-home’ salary is $76,184 in 2009; this is in addition to the salary they earn in the workplace. The job titles that best matched a mom’s definition of her work are (in order of hours spent per week): housekeeper, day care center teacher, cook, computer operator, facilities manager, van driver, psychologist, laundry machine operator, janitor and chief executive officer.

Amen.

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Gracie @ Fischer/McNamara Wedding

Main Entry:      compassionate
Part of Speech:     adjective
Definition:     having tender feelings
Synonyms:     all heart, being big, benevolent, bleeding heart*, charitable, commiserative, forbearing, going easy on, humane, humanitarian, indulgent, kindhearted, kindly, lenient, living with, merciful, old softie, piteous, pitying, responsive, soft shell, softhearted, sparing, sympathetic, tender, tenderhearted, understanding, warm, warmhearted

During my leave I had lots of time with my oldest child – Laura Grace (a.k.a. Gracie).  On June 9th she turned 10.  She is really maturing and her sprouting into a young lady has Daddy nervous! =)

Grace has always been “cautious” or “careful”.  She unlike her younger siblings has always had intrinsic boundaries that have helped protect her.  This summer at Holiday World and then Busch Gardens those boundaries disappeared!   She wanted to ride every ride and practically did!  She drug me on to major roller coasters that I was unsure of.  She is a great coaster rider!  We had a blast running to the next ride, waiting in line, and screaming to the top of our lungs each time… these will always be amazing memories!

My Sister's Keeper

Another interesting “leaning” that Christy and I want to watch is Gracie’s amazing compassion for the physically challenged and under-privileged.  A good clue for us should have been that “Extreme Home Makeover” has been her favorite TV show forever… and now she watches other things like, “Little People, Big World.”

Most recently, she has been asking me to take her to “My Sister’s Keeper,” a movie about a family defined and distorted by the leukemia of their older daughter and middle child, Kate (Sofia Vassilieva). Kate’s disease was diagnosed when she was a toddler, and to save her life her parents, Sara (Cameron Diaz) and Brian (Jason Patric), conceived another daughter, Anna, who was genetically engineered to be a perfect donor of blood, marrow and whatever else Kate might need. I probably wouldn’t mind her to see it, but I don’t have the heart to tell her that Daddy can’t make it through it! However, the movie seems to have a parable like plot.   We (mankind) are sick with a disease called sin and we have to have a perfect sinless man be born and die so that we may be redeemed, forgiven, and recieve eternal life – with that in mind… I may have to see this movie! Thank you, Jesus!

The above entry on compassionate is a great adjective for our Gracie and most of the synonyms fit as well.  It is going to be awesome to see how God uses that!

I do have amazing children!  Thanks for letting me boast on them.  Make sure that you read “Things I Have Learned” #4 – #7.  Its all about my kiddos!  Sometimes…  you have to slow down to really enjoy all that God has blessed you with!  Psalm 127:3-5 says, “Children are a heritage from the LORD, offspring a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them.” I am a blessed man!

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Main Entry:        baby
Part of Speech:   noun
Definition:          infant
Synonyms:          angelface, babe, bairn, bambino, bundle, buttercup, button, cherub, chick, child, crawler, deduction*, dividend*, dumpling, kid, little angel, little darling, little doll, little one, newborn, nipper*, nursling, papoose, preemie, suckling, tad, toddler, tot, write-off, youngster

On May 26th at 1:36pm our fifth baby, Caden Jonathan Michael Cantrell was born.  Caden weighed 7 pounds and 12 ounces and was 20 inches long.  Not sure my wife would totally agree, but the entire pregnancy from conception to birth was very easy.  Caden is doing well at home.  He is eating, sleeping, and soiling lots of diapers.  He is a peaceful baby and I look forward to growing in relationship with Him.

A couple months before the birth of Caden, I felt a nudge from the Holy Spirit to take some time off from pastoring Bethel Community Church to spend more time at home to help our family adjust to our new addition.  Many people have asked, “How has your vacation been?”  I usually respond with, “Its been awesome, but neither spiritual or restful.”  I have been running ragged with my kids!  I am ready to give my wife a raise!

Caden is the reason why I have learned so much!

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Main Entry:      friend
Part of Speech:     noun
Definition:     confidant, companion
Synonyms:     acquaintance, ally, alter ego, associate, bosom buddy, buddy, chum*, classmate, cohort, colleague, companion*, compatriot, comrade, consort, cousin, crony, familiar, intimate, mate, pal, partner, playmate, roommate, schoolmate, sidekick, soul mate*, spare*, well-wisher

One of my favorite Christmas movies is the 1946 classic,  “It’s a Wonderful Life.”  One of the greatest lines from the movie is, “No man is a failure who has friends.”  Over the last few weeks during my leave of absence for our 5th baby, I have realized that my family and I are blessed with amazing friends.

I cannot say enough about the last few weeks and the great times we have had with our friends.  Unfortunately, Christy has missed some of them because she has been more restricted with Caden.  Whether it has been birthday parties, front porch talks, dinners, weddings, or weekend trips our attention has been turned to the great people in our lives.  It is easy to look past some of the great people God has strategically placed in your lives.   We are grateful for the friendships that God has given us.

The Bible stresses the importance of relationships.  One of my favorite verses of the Bible is Proverbs 18:1, “A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire; He rages against all wise judgment.” Many times we get ourselves in trouble when we cut ourselves off from the divine friendships that God has given us to supply wisdom, accountability, encouragement, support, and love.

The Bible also discusses the value of a friend in Ecclesiastes 4: 9 – 12, “Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor.  For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up.  Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone? Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”

The lesson? We need to often evaluate, “who are the God-given friends in my life?”  Next, we must fight for those friendships… through intentional planning to “do life together.”  Finally, we need to ask ourselves, “who used to be in our lives that we need to invite back in to our life?”  As a bonus question we may also need to ask, “who is in my life right now that I need to un-invite?”

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Main Entry:           staff
Part of Speech:     noun
Definition:             employees of organization
Synonyms:             agents, assistants, cadre, cast, crew, deputies, faculty, force, help, officers, operatives, organization, personnel, servants, shop, teachers, team, work force, workers

One thing I learned from coaching high school athletics is that you need to surround yourself with good people. Your success (or failure) in many ways is directly related to the people that are on your team, staff, and in your organization.  I am blessed as Lead Pastor of Bethel Community Church to be surrounded by a bunch of first round draft picks.  We have a great staff and TEAM.  (Thanks to all those who have picked up my slack during my leave!)

Team Ministry is one of our values at Bethel.  We do all we can to minister in teams… from the pulpit to the parking lot, and from our volunteer ministry teams to our small group ministry.  So many ministries are built around “the man of God.”  We do all we can to build as a team of ministers doing life together in family to bring salvation and healing to our community and de-emphasize “the man of God.”

Recently, I read, “Apple Inc. shares have climbed 63 percent since Chief Executive Officer Steve Jobs went on medical leave, signaling investors are confident the maker of the iPhone can succeed without its co-founder at the helm.” This is the kind of church we are striving to build!

One word about character… the same principle can be applied to every area of our lives.  It has been said that, “you are the 5 people you hang around.” If that is true we need to evaluate our top 5 often.  We need to make sure that our top 5 friends personify the lifestyle and character that we desire in our own lives!  Doesn’t the Bible say something about this? 1 Corinthians 15:33:

• NIV – Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”
• NASB – Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.”
• ISV – Stop being deceived: “Wicked friends lead to evil ends.”

Feel free to leave a comment or send to a friend.  Be looking for lesson #8 coming soon!

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#10 – I have a cool church.

I introduced this in a previous blog entitled, “10 Things I Have Learned” Series.

I have been off (or serving my family) since May 26th when our 5th baby – Caden was born.  During this time away from my normal routine God has taught me many things… there are many things, but I have narrowed them down to a TOP TEN list… I will count them down from #10 to #1.

Main Entry:     leave of absence
Part of Speech:   noun
Definition:          time away from regular job or school
Synonyms:          business man’s holiday, furlough, leave, liberty, sabbatical, shore leave

#10 must be, “I pastor the coolest church in the world.”

In September of 2004, my wife and I and our friends Lance and Deanna Phillips, were sent from our home church, Bethel Murfreesboro, by our pastor Ron David Moore and the Senior Minister of Bethel, Rice Broocks.  The four of us landed in Clarksville, TN where we inherited a handful of amazing people that were wanting to see God doing something great in Clarksville / Fort Campbell. Since ‘04 the church has grown steadily to a group of 500 passionate, ethnically diverse, 80% military followers of Jesus!

Christy and I are humbled at the amazing people that gather and call themselves Bethel. God has given us an incredible team.  I remember from my High School football days this saying, “BIG TEAM, little me.”  As a former coach, I learned the importance of team and I believe we have one of the best.

In the few years that we have been here we have launched a campus church at Austin Peay State University called U-Church, with my friend and powerhouse Brock and Allyson Lillis.  We recruited the world’s only Egyptian/Bolivian pastoral duo Fikri and Goty (Jalil) Youssef to launch our hispanic church – Iglesia Cristiana Bethel.  (Great story – maybe I will share it later.) We have launched a weekly Bible Study / Fellowship on Fort Campbell in conjunction with the 5th Special Forces Group called Force Ministries.  We have dynamic worship – thanks to our hardworking worship team and leaders.  Our children’s ministry is creative and cool.  We have so many great leaders… leading small groups, ministry teams, and servant areas.  Our youth ministry REVOLUTION is exploding in every direction!

One thing I have learned is that I have been blessed to serve such an amazing church on a daily basis.Am I bragging?  Certainly not on myself – I give God the praise for “feeling sorry for us” and sending us so many amazing people!  Bottom line – I miss my church. I love the people.  The Bethelites give me energy. Passion is my fuel for life.

During my leave, the great people of Bethel have blessed our family with so many things like… meals, gifts, yard-mowing, baby-sitting, and peace.  This has been an enjoyable time… and I have learned how blessed we are to have a TEAM.

Thanks to my spiritual family – Bethel Community Church!

TEAM

me

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"Our new baby boy!"

On May 26th, at 1:36pm Christy valiantly delivered our 5th baby & second boy - Caden Jonathan Michael. It was awesome.  Update? He and Momma are doing well.

We serve an amazing God and truly Psalm 127:5 is accurate when it says, “Blessed is the man whose quiver is full (of children).”  Our 5 children are each unique and amazing.

Men (Dads), on the other hand, can be kind of slow when it comes to the area of sensitivity to the pressures of home and family.  That is why we need to be ever dependent upon the Holy Spirit.  Jesus said in John 14:16 that, we should ask and He would give us another counselor – the spirit of truth or the Holy Spirit.  Men – we need counsel.  We need a lot of help.  We need the daily guidance of the Holy Spirit!

Anyway, in April I felt the nudge of the Holy Spirit to take a good amount of time off when this 5th baby came.  I wasn’t sure.  So I held on to it.  After about a week of wrestling with God, it was obvious (even to me) that this was what I needed to do. I decided that one solid month sounded good.  I told the staff, I told my wife, I told the church!  There was no turning back!   My BIG announcement was met with some amazement, speculation, doubt, and even a little teasing.  It was also met with a ton of praise. (Mostly from the women.)

Since planting Bethel Community Church in the fall of 2004 I have never taken an extended break, leave of absence, or sabbatical.  I was sure what to expect, but I knew “in my knower,” it was the right thing to do.

So, over the next few days, I want you to follow a new series that I will be doing here at mikecantrell.org.  It will be called – 10 Things I Have Learned During my Leave of Absence.

See ya soon!

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