Holy Leisure and Sacred Rhythms
John Coulombe
In my 45 years of pastoral ministry I have enjoyed four sabbaticals which, in looking back, allowed us fresh starts after some pretty long hauls. I’ve had friends over the years quit their ministries in the heat of battle, regretting later their hasty decision and realizing only too late that perhaps they just needed some rest from their labor. Thank you elders, for allowing us some time to refresh, rejuvenate and renew the body, soul, mind and spirit.
What is this thing called Sabbath? Growing up in the church parsonage in the 40’s and 50’s, it meant cooking Sunday’s dinner Saturday night, polishing shoes, laying out Sunday’s clothes and doing all the preparation for Sunday on Saturday. Sunday afternoon was a time to talk around the dinner table as a family, take naps and read. And you didn’t do homework, home chores, read the newspaper, watch TV or go outside and play. And… one was at church all morning and evening.
Looking back (though at times there was resentment of some of the legalism), overall it was a special day in the Lord’s house with God’s larger family as well as our own little one. Today, Sunday seems to be for some a quick run to the church for a little ‘fill up,’ then back to the rat race, trying to catch up from the rest of the week. But what did God have in mind for us? Sabbath literally means rest— peaceful, relaxing rest. Holy leisure. Sacred rhythms.
Right in the beginning (Gen. 2:1–4) God reminds us of the importance of rest. After creating the world, God rested on the seventh day, not because He grew tired, for Omnipotence does not grow tired! God rested in the sense of completion and satisfaction.
Rest is so important that God made it one of His Ten Commandments for His humans. He tells us to rest every seventh day. Jesus reminds us in Mark 2:27 that the command to take a Sabbath was for our own benefit: “man was not given for the Sabbath, but the Sabbath was given for man.”
Can we assume God desires that His children rest, relax and recreate? Yes.
God knew we would need a regular, weekly time to recharge all of life’s batteries, and so He has built into our annual calendars 52 mini-vacation days of 24 hours each. One seventh of our time on earth is to be restful, not including our sleep at night. Apparently God can get along better without our work than we can.
Hebrews 3 and 4 cuts to the quick of our humanity. Here’s the gist: “You didn’t trust me to meet all your needs…your basic needs like food, shelter, clothing; your purposes, directions, plans, relationships. You hardened your hearts in your deceitfulness and lack of faith…and so you did not enter into My rest!” Wow! Indicting words for Sabbath-breakers. Apparently Sabbath rest has nothing to do with days, activities or lack thereof, but rather my attitude, my heart, my trust.
January 16–March 28, 2012, I’ll be shirking my ministerial duties at EvFree to break some old habits and start some new ones. I confess to you that I have neglected a rhythm of rest and have been a Sabbath-breaker most of my life. My desire during our sabbatical is to clean up the clutter in both my church and home offices, freshen up my spirit, rest up my body and soul, write and finish the book I started fourteen years ago with a friend, trim up the ‘temple’ I live in, fill up my mind with fresh thoughts from the Word, catch up on my relationships with Jacque, our sons Matt and Tim, their wives Cory and Taylore, and our seven grandchildren.
Finally, my desire is to finish up…well. I don’t want to just finish my journey in life and ministry in the next five to ten years; I want to do it well and focus on some fresh, new opportunities God may have. And Lord willing (‘cause I am!), continue my work with the older, ‘experienced’ saints and sinners God has allowed me the privilege of working with over the past 23 years.
Ps 92.13-15 …planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming, “The LORD is upright; he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.”
John Coulombe has been in pastoral ministry since Judson Baptist College and Biola/Talbot Seminary days, working with youth in Redondo Beach and Long Beach, and for 17 years with youth and families in Santa Barbara. For 21 years at First Evangelical Free Church in Fullerton, CA, John has served as Pastor to Senior Adults. He and Jacque teach in churches and conferences on issues surrounding marriage, family and grandparenting.









Taking Fresh Stock Of What’s On Life’s Shelf
John Coulombe has been in pastoral ministry since Judson Baptist College and Biola/Talbot Seminary days, working with youth in Redondo Beach and Long Beach and for 17 years with youth and families in Santa Barbara. For 21 years at First Evangelical Free Church in Fullerton, CA, John has served as Pastor to Senior Adults. He and Jacque teach in churches and conferences on issues surrounding marriage, family and grandparenting. They have 2 married sons and 7 grandchildren.