During this season of Lent think a lot about wilderness. The forty days of Lent parallel the forty days that Jesus spent being tested in the wilderness and the forty years that the Hebrew people spent in the wilderness after being liberated from slavery in Egypt, but before entering the Promised Land. In his letter to Church in Corinth, the Apostle Paul uses the story of the wilderness wandering of the Hebrews in order to make a very interesting point to his contemporary Christians.

Dear Friends,

It has been my absolute pleasure to serve as your pastor for the last three and half years. This is a wonderfully supportive congregation, and I think we’ve seen a lot of growth in the time I’ve been here. I know that I have certainly grown as a pastor, and I want to thank you all of you for the encouragement you’ve given me.

After much prayerful consideration, I have decided to submit applications for continued academic study in Biblical Studies. I intend to return to school for another master’s degree, followed immediately by a PhD in New Testament. I have submitted applications to Iliff School of Theology in Denver, Colorado and Vancouver School of Theology in Vancouver, British Columbia, and I hope to hear something within the next few months.

This means that this will likely be my last year as your pastor.