I have been preoccupied with family matters the last week or so, resulting in very little time given to the blogosphere. That will continue to be the case for the next week or two, as well.

Though I have often failed, I have consciously tried to live by a set of priorities that has served me well over the last 26 years. These priorities have been derived from asking myself a basic question, “What has God called me to be?” As I think through the answers to that question a series of fundamental commitments emerge rather clearly and in a very decisive order (see the article linked below). By God’s grace, I try to live by those commitments.

Doing so has led me to cancel out of the upcoming Founders Conference next week in Oklahoma. It will the first one I have missed since its inception 24 years ago. My wife, Donna, was scheduled to speak to the ladies this year on, “Stand By Your Man as He Walks the Line” (thank Tom Nettles and the timing of the release of the Johnny Cash film for the title!). Some medical difficulties have arisen with Donna that need our attention close to home. It is nothing that is imminently life-threatening as far as we know, but it is requiring a full engagement with the medical community and I need to be by her side as we navigate this course. There is absolutely nowhere that I would rather be.

Thanks for your prayers. We are asking the Lord to provide us good counsel, wisdom to make God-honoring choices, favor with those with whom we consult and the ability to represent Him well at every step of the process. As appropriate, I will try to give an update in the future.

Here is an article I wrote about pastoral priorities several years ago. My convictions remain the same today.