A sabbatical...really?

I'm beginning a 6 month sabbatical starting June, 2012. I've been selected as an Associate Fellow at the W.F. Albright Institute of Archaeological Research in Jerusalem. As an Albright Fellow, I'll reside just north of the Old City and will have access to world-class research libraries as well as several archaeological opportunities. Most of the other Albright fellows will arrive in the fall, but I wanted to be there to take advantage of some archaeological work this summer. My wife, BJ will be joining me in the fall too.

I know that look in your eyes when I mention a sabbatical. You're thinking "boondoggle" right? Actually, I will be working (I see that look in your eyes again!). Promise! Most of my time will be spent on a research project that I'll explain later, but I'll also be volunteering in three archeological digs, though only a week or two each month. I'll say more later in the blog, but these three digs are exciting: the City of David Excavations directed by Doron ben Ami; the Jezreel Expedition, co-directed by Norma Franklin and Jennie Ebeling; and The Megiddo Expedition, directed by Israel Finkelstein. You may remember that I was at Megiddo in 2000 and 2008. I'm no archaeologist, but these volunteer opportunities help me facilitate discussion in the classroom. Of course, I also hope to visit many of the important sites related to my teaching at WBU. Wayland Baptist University's generous sabbatical policy has paid for my travel and lodging while in country. I'm setting up this blog for students, friends, family and anyone interested in biblical studies and archaeology.