McCallum's Musings

McCallum's Musings Has Moved!

2006-11-16T15:54:00.000-05:00

McCallum's Musings has moved!

Please visit...

http://compasschurch.blogspot.com/

Where you can read more of McCallum's Musings!

CJM

McCallum's Musings Has Moved!

2006-11-16T15:50:00.000-05:00

McCallum's Musings has moved!

Please visit...

http://compasschurch.blogspot.com/

Where you can read more of McCallum's Musings!

CJM

Back From The Shadows...

2006-09-16T23:29:00.000-04:00

Ok, so I will be the first to confess that I have been absent from blogging for a good long while. Julie has finally prodded me to come out of the shadows and post something, so here goes...

Lots going on right now with getting ready to launch Compass Church. We hold the first of two preview services tomorrow and then launch on the first Sunday of October. I am excited and humbled by the whole effort thus far.

I got a call today from David Bannach sharing with me that the wife of his youth pastor was involved in a horrible accident that resulted in her being injured badly and their child losing his life. Something in me sank when I heard the news. My heart still hurts for them and for the Burnips church.

Family here at 8711 Woodhaven is good. Really good. Chase is a blast to play with at the end of the day and Miles is the cutest one year old on the planet. Julie is such a support and help to me as well. I am blessed.

With that, I am off to bed...

Chad

al-Zarqawi

2006-06-09T23:07:00.000-04:00

It's a fine thing to be passionate about one's beliefs. But passionate beliefs alone are not enough if they lack the added benefit of being right. There's nothing more dangerous and destructive than passionately believing and acting on lies.I was reminded of this when I heard about a pastor who truly cared about those in his charge. He spent much time at great personal sacrifice in ministry to his flock. He was keen on making disciples, and met often with key leaders in his ministry to counsel them in their faith and advise them in their careers.The people that he led revered him as a holy man of God.The tragedy is that they found this pastor's body yesterday in the bombed-out rubble of a terrorist safe-house in Iraq.Nearby was the corpse of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, al-Qaida's former leader in Iraq and infamous terrorist. Zarqawi boasted of beheading innocent victims and murdering more than 1,000 British and American soldiers in Iraq over the past two years. Zarqawi planned relentless suicide bombings and organized attacks that killed thousands of Iraqis.The pastor, sadly, was not an innocent casualty of war.His name was Sheik Abdul Rahman. He was not in that house to rebuke al-Zarqawi's blood-lust, but to encourage it. He was the terrorist's personal spiritual advisor. Abdul Rahman passionately believed that murdering innocent people was right, and he perpetrated his horrific teaching in the trappings of spirituality and obedience to God.Few of the news stories you hear about al-Zarqawi's death will say much about his pastor. But I wonder if that pastor's passionately believing and teaching lies to a willing pupil isn't a big part of what happened?Yes, it's a fine thing to be passionate about one's beliefs. But passionate beliefs alone are not enough if they lack the added benefit of being right.So check it out, my friends. Make sure that what you're believing is actually true and right and good and godly. Make sure that pastors you're trusting as teachers are humble and under authority and submitted to God's Word, The Bible. Check them out, all of them, including this one.Because there's nothing more dangerous and destructive than passionately believing and acting on lies.

Is Oprah A Cult Leader?

2006-05-30T22:19:00.000-04:00

Mark Driscoll has written quite the interesting blog…
Is Oprah a Cult Leader?
Her television show is a pulpit of sorts, where millions of American women tune in to hear from their great guru on everything from improving their souls to shedding their pounds. Much like a mega-church, her flock then breaks up into various small groups around the country to read the books she recommends so that her disciples can continue to grow in thinking and living according to her teaching.
For further indoctrination there is also her monthly magazine named, you guessed it, O. Like an icon upon which to meditate, her photo adorns the cover of every issue of her magazine as she is glorified in suburban homes across the nation.
In a November poll conducted at Beliefnet.com, a site that looks at how religions and spirituality intersect with popular culture, 33 percent of 6,600 respondents said Winfrey has had "a more profound impact" on their spiritual lives than their clergypersons. "She puts the ‘cult’ in pop culture," wrote media critic Mark Jurkowitz in The Phoenix.
The fifty-two-year-old Oprah Winfrey is reportedly worth a whopping $1.4 billion and is now the moral conscience and feminist prophetic voice of a generation of women. Following Hurricane Katrina, she showed up in New Orleans to berate the failure of the government as a voice for social concern. In February she attended the funeral of Coretta Scott King as an icon for civil rights while standing next to the coffin. Additionally, she regularly speaks to female guests on her show about everything from living a better life to caring for the poor and oppressed around the world.
Her fame is rising above even legendary evangelists such as my hero Billy Graham. Her television show is now watched by 49 million people in this nation, as well as many more in 122 other nations.
Jamie Foxx said, "You're going to get to heaven and everyone's waiting on God and it's going to be Oprah Winfrey." Cathleen Falsani, religion writer for the Chicago Sun-Times, recently suggested, "I wonder, has Oprah become America's pastor?" Oprah has herself referred to her television show as her "ministry."
Oprah seems to be a contradiction perfectly suited for a confused world of pluralism. She is a billionaire who speaks passionately about the pain and suffering in the world from the comforts of her sheltered life. She is among the most beloved icons of mothers yet she has never had any children. Many viewers tune in to learn how to improve their marriages yet she has never been married. And, she speaks of spiritual matters often and has an entire segment of her show titled "spirit," which makes you wonder which spirit she’s referring to.

Chatter

2006-04-25T10:04:00.000-04:00

Chatter.

I am kind of sick of it.

You know what I mean, the sometimes incessant…

“I heard that…”
“Did you know that…”
“I think that…”

As a pastor it drives me nuts.  I see it all the time around me.

In conversations about people in the church.

In interactions regarding who will get what job (and who shouldn’t).

Information is power.

Maybe something in us just likes to think that we are actually helping the process with all our wasted words.

Maybe we don’t have anything better to do.

Maybe instead of all the chatter we should actually do something about what it is that we see.

Are we chattering ourselves to death?

Are we watching the world sink while we chatter about what should be done to remedy its ills?

Am I taking this verse out of context?

Ephesians 5:4 – Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.

Quote of the Week

2006-04-10T08:57:00.000-04:00

"Whenever you are being praised, remember it is not you who is being praised but Christ, to whom all praise belongs. When you preach the Word of God in its purity and also live accordingly, it is not your own doing, but God's doing. And when people praise you, they really mean to praise God in you." (Martin Luther)

Good Words

2006-03-29T07:46:00.000-05:00

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn’t serve the world. There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. You were born to make manifest the Glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our light shine, we unconciously give other people permission to do the same. And as we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” – Nelson Mandela

March Madness Thanks To Yahoo!

2006-03-23T16:08:00.000-05:00

Dear Yahoo!: How many NCAA brackets would I have to fill out to cover every possible combination? Thomas Richardson, Texas

Dear Thomas: It seems like everyone loves March Madness -- especially betting in the office pool. Of course, the only way to assure victory is by anticipating every possible outcome.
So, what would it take to cover all your bases? We hope you have plenty of patience, because there are 18,446,744,073,709,551,616 different ways to fill out a tournament bracket from a 65-team field.
To find the answer, we took the number of games played in the tournament (64, including the "play-in game") and figured that each game has two possible outcomes. Either the Wildcats maul the Bulldogs or vice versa. So, the answer is 264. For you nonmathematicians out there, that's 2 multiplied by itself 64 times.
Math Forum confirmed our logic and also offered an interesting side note we'll paraphrase for you. If every person on the planet (around 6.5 billion) filled out a bracket, the odds of someone (anyone!) achieving perfection are still infinitesimal. Suddenly keno's not looking like such a bad deal.

Today I Am Feeling A Bit Cynical

2006-03-21T16:09:00.000-05:00

"There will be a time when loud-mouthed, incompetent people seem to be getting the best of you. When that happens, you only have to be patient and wait for them to self destruct. It never fails." - Richard Rybolt

Rainer Makes A Great Point

2006-02-14T15:39:00.000-05:00

In a two-part series in Outreach magazine, Thom Rainer (newly-installed President of LifeWay Christian Resources) talks about "seven sins" that characterize dying churches, including both "Doctrinal Dilution" and "Failure to Be Relevant" among those sins.
Rainer observes, "Unfortunately, many churches in America are out of touch with the changing trends and values of today's culture.
"Some churches, for certain, abandon many of the cardinal truths of the faith in their quest to be relevant to the community they serve. But even more churches are woefully unaware of the realities, hopes and pains of those around us. Failure to be true to doctrines of the Christian faith leads to apostasy. Failure to understand the world in which we live and serve leads to irrelevancy."

When God Speaks...

2006-01-30T08:01:00.000-05:00

Wrote this a long time ago…it resurfaced in a pile on my desk recently…

February 2, 2004 – 9:47am – Shanty Creek – I am listening to church planters share and God is speaking to me…”To raise the water level of a district/denomination requires a group of people who are willing to be trendsetters and visionaries – people that are willing to be laughed at, made light of, questioned and willing to take a hit for the Kingdom. No ‘safe’ living will result in a movement. Only a life of risk will result in widespread change in our world. May God forgive us for making Him too safe. May God make us risk takers for the Kingdom. Let it be so in my life, let in be so in my church and let it be true of my peers in pastoral ministry as well.”

“Jesus says: Will you go tell the story? I’ll go with you. My spirit will go with you. This is the question. There are people in your world only you can reach. Will you reach them? There are prayers for people who do not know God that only you can pray. Will you pray? There is a story that you have with Jesus that no one else has ever had that only you can tell. Will you tell it?” – John Ortberg

Compass Church

2006-01-30T07:59:00.000-05:00

Shared this with my church today as a part of the morning message…excited about what the road ahead holds…feeling a bit like I just jumped into the deep end of the pool.

“For some time I've been sensing that still, small voice, gently calling and preparing me for a turn in the road.

To be completely honest, it didn't make sense to me that God would ask me to step away from a place as wonderful as Burnips Wesleyan Church, a place where I could not only be involved in the community, but also connect with the lives of people in ways that many pastors only dream about.

I believe that gentle whisper I've been hearing is the voice of the Shepherd.

Through a series of events, that at the time seemed random, God has increasingly shown me His will for my next step.

So, in light of who He is, and how He has led me in the past, I am saying yes to Him and embracing the fact that my season of ministry at Burnips Wesleyan Church is coming to a close.

God has opened a new door for ministry and brought our family to a decision point about how we can be more directly involved in what God is doing through the planting of new churches.

I've sensed the clear calling of the Lord and have agreed to serve as the lead pastor at a brand new Wesleyan church plant in the Byron Center area called Compass Church.

This church will be launched through the partnership and teamwork of a number of churches in the area.

In light of the fact that my current four-year call will end at the close of this church year, I have chosen not to allow my name to be considered for further service at Burnips Wesleyan Church.

Also, with the planning and preparation that needs to occur for Compass Church to launch in October 2006, I anticipate that my last official day at BWC will be May 31, 2006.

I have met with our LBA shared with them this decision and am working with the church board to promote a smooth transition.”

Choirs Behaving Badly

2005-10-24T09:44:00.000-04:00

Choirs Behaving Badly

And you thought you had problems. This from MSNBC:

CHARLOTTE HARBOR, FL — The pastor of a Charlotte Harbor church had 16 church members booted from a service after they allegedly refused to stop singing and let the clergyman preach.

Deputies were called at 10 a.m. Saturday by Pastor David Noel of the Seventh Day Adventist Church on Harborview Road.

Noel told a deputy he was instructed by regional church superiors to involve law enforcement to remove the rogue choir.

The deputy issued trespass warnings to the group, and all 16 left the church without incident.

The sheriff's office got another call from the church shortly before noon when a parishioner wanted to file assault charges against Noel.

Edourd Pierrelus, 57, of Port Charlotte, said Noel got mad at him, hit him in the chest and twisted his earlobe during a church service a week earlier.

The man told the deputy the entire congregation of 25 witnessed the attack. Pierrelus said that because of the way the singing dispute was resolved, he now wanted to pursue charges of simple battery.

Deputies say the dispute is rooted in concerns about the handling of church funds. The members of the rogue choir told deputies they'd handle those concerns within the church.

Greetings From Nebraska!

2005-10-21T18:50:00.000-04:00

I am writing from the Fairfield Inn in Lincoln, Nebraska. I am just in town overnight to lead a day long seminar at the First Baptist Church tomorrow.

I enjoy these opportunities and I don't in any way take them for granted. I really believe that God can do some amazing stuff through these day long efforts.

While I enjoy days like these, I also dread them in some ways...

Back home are my three favorite people in this whole world...

Julie - The one who said "better or worse...richer or poorer...sickness and health...till death do us part" I am continually humbled to be her husband. This old boy married up...way up.

Chase - The two year old. What a kid...he is full of laughs and loves to hang out with the other preschoolers at church. I love it when he greets me at the door at the end of the day. Now if we can only get him to sleep in a bit :)

Last but not least...

Miles - The two month old. Loved by his mommy and daddy and big brother too! Came into the world early one Monday morning. Has TV preacher hair - like a young Benny Hinn! He is an amazing kid...sleeps like a log. I am thrilled to have two sons!

So...being gone is good...but being gone is a bit of a drag...

So this preacher boy is still in love...with God, with Julie, with the boys...I am most deeply blessed.

The Power of Influence

2005-10-18T09:03:00.000-04:00

INFLUENCE

There are little eyes upon you.
And they're watching night and day;
There are little ears that quickly
Take in every word you say;
There are little hands all eager
To do anything you do;
And a little boy who's dreaming
Of the day he'll be like you.

You're the little fellow's idol;
You're the wisest of the wise,
In his little mind about you,
No suspicions ever rise;
He believes in you devoutly,
Holds that all you say and do,
He will say and do, in your way
When he's a grown-up like you.

There's a wide eyed little fellow,
Who believes you're always right,
And his ears are always open,And he watches day and night;
You are setting an exampleEvery day in all you do,
For the little boy who's waitingTo grow up to be like you.

Author Unknown

Way To Go Coach...

2005-10-17T09:51:00.000-04:00

A high school football coach in New Jersey had two words for school officials who told him he had to stop leading his team in a pre-game prayer.

I quit.

I'm Proud...

2005-10-10T16:20:00.000-04:00

It is funny the full range of emotions that a pastor faces.

Today, my emotion is pride. Not in the sinful sense of course :)

I am so proud of my church today. Over the past few weeks we have been banging the drum to fill a semi for Hurricane relief. So many people have stepped up in so many ways.

I am so proud of my community today. So many stopped in and donated items. This morning an elderly lady brought in six cans of vegetables. I thought of the widows offering in the temple that Jesus taught about.

I am so amazed at how God came through. 10,000 bottles of water donated by Ice Mountain (The Official Bottled Water of Burnips Wesleyan Church), 21,000 cardboard boxes donated by the Packaging Company of America (thanks Jerry Dunn for your help), over 200 stuffed animals with notes from our church kids attached, over 15,000 pounds of food and household items.

I am just one happy pastor today.

CJM

Recent Happenings...

2005-09-12T08:56:00.000-04:00

My loving wife notified me that I have not been blogging enough lately, so here are some recent thoughts on life and ministry...

- Two Mondays ago we welcomed a new addition to our home. Miles John McCallum was born at 6:30am on August 29. Tons of hair. Sleeps great. Ten fingers and ten toes. Mom, Dad and Chase are all thrilled at this new little one.

- Church is good...this coming Sunday we are making a shift in our approach as we will no longer have two Sunday morning services with different styles, instead both services will be the same. We really think this has the potential to provide quite the boost for us. Should be exciting.

- The constant barrage of hurricane news is almost overwhelming. Finger pointing all around. Personal opinion...the state could have done more...the pres could have done more...the mayor could have been more like Guilani and less like a professional wrestler at a new conference...our church is going to be loading a truck and sending it down.

- My beloved Wolverines took quite the hit on Saturday. Within hours loyal fans were calling for Lloyd Carr to be thrown under the bus. I love college football, but I really don't see how people can get so red faced animated over a simple game.

- Attended the funeral of a 102 (almost 103) year old lady on Saturday (Lucille Nynhuis). Amazing to think of the history that she witnessed in her years. On her 100th she told me that the biggest difference between then and now is that "everything is moving faster"...I believe it.

- I am thinking more and more these days about the desperate need for the church to connect outside it's walls. I dont think we are active enough in inviting. I dont think we are diligent enough in engaging in the neighborhood. I know that the cynics would say, "no matter what you can always do more" but I think that often just plays out like a cheap excuse for inactivity.

On with the day...

Don't Harden Your Heart

2005-08-09T07:54:00.000-04:00

Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called "today," that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. As it is said, "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion." Hebrews 3:12-15

On Sunday night, October 8, 1871, D. L. Moody was preaching the gospel in downtown Chicago. He challenged the listening crowd to go home and “think about what I’ve said about the gospel and come back tomorrow and tell me what you’ve decided about following the Lord.”

Sounds OK, right? “It’s a big decision. Don’t rush into it. Weigh your options.”

About the same hour that meeting was breaking up, a few blocks west of downtown, a blaze had begun in Patrick O’Leary’s cow barn. By midnight the fire had jumped the Chicago River’s south branch and by 1:30 a.m., the entire business district (where Moody had been preaching) was in flames. By 3:00 a.m., the inferno had raced northward, jumped the main river, and devoured over 100,000 homes. Not until after midnight the following day was the fire extinguished as a steady rain left Chicago smoldering and in rubbles—with hundreds dead.

Many of the people who had heard the gospel on Sunday night perished in the flames. By not deciding to follow Jesus the moment they heard the invitation, they had missed their opportunity to respond to God’s good news.

D.L. Moody’s ministry was changed forever. He said, “From now on, every chance I get I will urge upon people a decision today, today. Today, sir, make a decision today. Although you can choose your actions; you cannot choose the consequences.”

“Today if you hear His voice, don’t harden your heart.” The writer of Hebrews repeats that warning three times (3:7, 3:15, 4:7). And while it applies to those who would respond to God’s call of salvation, it also applies to followers of Christ at some point of obedience.

It all comes down to this: when you hear what God’s Word says, do something about it. God often uses this in my own heart. If you want to go further with God than you have in years gone by, decide today that every time God shows you something, you’re going to get after it. If He lays it out for you, don’t put it off.

What action or point of surrender has God been prompting you to make that you haven’t acted on yet? What are you waiting for? Do you feel the weight of obedience right now in some area of your life? Don’t ignore His prompting. How quickly this life will end; how soon eternity will begin.

Get on doing God’s thing right away. You don’t know how long the opportunity will be yours.

What Are You A Genius At?

2005-07-21T16:23:00.000-04:00

Believe it or not, Amazon.com just marked it's 10 year anniversary. In fact, they had a big celebration that you can read about [here] which included a free live streaming concert of Norah Jones and Bob Dylan as well as their all-time customer-favorite authors and filmmakers.

In addition, there are links in this section to their favorite authors—some of whom have recorded short video or audio statements—including one by Marcus Buckingham. In the short video segment that he records, Marcus states, as he often does, a simple statement about working from our strengths. Now, we all know we're supposed to work from our strengths. In fact, most of us have probably preached on numerous occasions, "Do what you love and love what you do." But rarely do we actually sit down and analyze if we're actually following that principle ourselves.

Now catch this. In this short video segment, Marcus reveals that he did a survey on how many people actually feel like they spend the majority of their day doing work that they love. He knew the number wouldn't be 70 or 80%, but he wasn't prepared for the actual answer, which was 17%. Did you catch that? Only 17% of us feel like we spend the majority of our time doing what we love. So much for "Do what you love and love what you do!"

So how about you? Are you spending the majority of your time doing what you do best? Dan Sullivan, in How the Best Get Better, talks about four levels of competency.

The first level is what we're not competent at, the second level is what we're competent at.
The third level is what we're excellent at. And the fourth level is what we're a genius at.

The problem with most leaders, according to Sullivan, is that they spend too much of their time doing what they're competent at and/or excellent at. But to go the next level, they need to focus their time and energy on what they're a genius at (what only they can do). Excellence is one level too short for greatness.

So, what are you a genius at? God has wired you for greatness. So, what are you great at?

Once you define that for yourself, focus on it—and delegate everything else you possibly can (even if it takes you years to divest yourself of all the things you're now doing that you shouldn't be).

By definition, you cannot become great by doing more of what you're good or excellent at. You can only reach you highest God-given potential by focusing on what you are great at!

Pet Peeve #238

2005-07-21T16:13:00.000-04:00

I can't stand cheesy sayings on church signs...you know, signs that say things like...CH__CH What Is Missing? U R!

Do you think we could put stuff on the signs that would be beneficial and not cheesy? We are working on that here...maybe we can start a revolution.

I came across these church sign sayings from across the web...

“Don’t get depressed, come get blessed!”
submitted by Jason Quave, MS
I love rhymes!! I mean it!! Anybody want a peanut?

“Spending a lot of time kneeling leaves you in good standing.”
Submitted by Jennifer Bezaire, Smyrna, TN
So people who lay tile flooring should be in really good shape.

“Yabba dabba doo….God loves you.”
WIIILLLLMAAAA!!!!

“Have trouble sleeping? We have sermons, come try one!”
submitted by Wendy Reed, location unknown
Yes, folks, our pastor is so bad we have to ridicule him for all to see.

"Forbidden fruits make the worst jams"
Submitted by Pam Churchill, Tennessee
But I like jam.

"Abortion: Hitler would have loved it"
For all the compelling reasons to denounce abortion, must we resort to this one? The name "Hitler" doesn't belong on a church sign, in my humble opinion.

"Jesus is Y2K compliant"
This reduces Jesus to the level of a Compaq Presario. Does anyone else have a problem with that?

"Sign broken, message inside"
It’s a lie. The sign worked fine.

"Obey if you love Jesus, anybody can honk"
I bet this sign really convicts the geese that migrate by.

“The best *value meal* is feasting on God’s Word.”
Yeah, I’d like a SuperSize McN.I.V. with fries and a Coke.

I Wish I'd Written This...

2005-04-28T09:20:00.000-04:00

Bruce Johnson has written the following words that I believe speak volumes regarding church life and just life in general...wish I'd written it.

There is No Growth Without Loss

Every now and then, if you're at all like me, you'll hear a quote where you just think, "I wish I had said that." In other words, you'll hear a statement that so clearly captures what you've thought or experienced that you just want to stand up and cheer it. "Yes!!!" "Yes!!!" "Exactly!!" Well, that happened to me yesterday.

I was on my way to BWI to catch a flight to Minneapolis for the quarterly Board of Directors meeting of the EFCA, when I heard an old Rick Warren line that so captured the essence of what we, as change agents, have to deal with all of the time that I just had to pass it along to you. So, here it is.

"There is no growth without change. No change without loss. And no loss without grief."

It doesn't matter what the change is that you want to make. Regardless of whether you want to change the structure of your church or the color of the bathroom walls. Whether you want to change up your staff team or a ministry. Whether you want to change the name of your church or the way you do church. Whether you want to change the order of service or the style of preaching. Whether you want to change the way you do pastoral care or the way you run your small groups. Whether you want to change the name of your "bulletin" or you want to change the database your church is using. Whether you want to change the way people get their announcements into your bulletin or the times when you actually have your meetings. Whether the change is big or small, if you are going to make a change, you had better be prepared—there will be some loss and there will be some grief. It is only natural (and it probably doesn't have anything to do with you). Every church (in fact, every organization) has the same thing happen to them. To create growth, you will need to make some changes and those changes Will lead to some loss and grief.

However, that does not mean that you and I should surrender to them. As leaders, our job is to lead our people somewhere. If we only do what we've already been doing, we can only get what we've already got. We are where we are because of what we've done in the past. If we could get to the next level by continuing to do what we've already done, we would be there. But we're not. Because the only way to grow is to change—and all growth involves change. However, with that change will come loss and grief. So don't be surprised by it. When it arises, just remember,

"There is no growth without change. No change without loss. And no loss without grief."

What you're experiencing as a change agent is only natural. So, don't give up. Hang in there. Because what you're fighting for is worth the fight! The advancement of God's kingdom is always worth a few scars!

Umm...I Thought I Had Seen It All

2005-04-20T20:26:00.000-04:00

Divine intervention

By Margot Carmichael Lester

Approaching someone who catches your eye in a bar or at a party can be challenging enough. But in a house of worship? Can you even do that?

Of course, according to Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald, founder and director of the National Jewish Outreach Program. "The synagogue, the temple or the church is an absolutely marvelous place for people to meet,” he says. “One of the most difficult issues of the dating scene is identifying the values of prospective mates. Meeting someone in a house of worship usually is a way of clearing up ambiguities regarding a person's values.”

So now that you’ve got the green light from a religious official, how do you get started?

Meeting and Mingling
Once you feel comfortable with the concept of meeting someone at your place of worship, try these tips:

Get involved. Besides singles ministries, there are plenty of opportunities to meet people. “A spiritual community is active daily and has many opportunities to meet others outside of the typical service,” adds Rev. Bonnie Barnard, associate minister of Unity Church of Bainbridge Island, Wash., and founder of The National Forgiveness Tour. “Grab a bulletin and find out where your interest aligns with the church's needs and offerings.”

Find an angel. “A good way of doing this is by using a third party who can introduce the two people to one another,” Rabbi Buchwald says.

Move around. Sit in a different place each week, or attend different services. “This way, you can take notice of others you haven't seen before,” Reverend Bonnie says. “Sit next to someone you don't know and introduce yourself. You never know who they know and it's good practice to step out of your comfort zone.”

Initiating the Flirt
Wait a minute — flirting in a religious setting? Isn’t that a sin or something? “The only time I think flirting in church is inappropriate is if it is detracting from the primary purpose of church, which is worship and learning,” observes Lori Rogers Baker, who met her husband, Michael, at their Houston church. “Socializing or ‘fellowship’ is also an important part of church. If you’re single, then flirting with someone you’re interested in is a natural part of socializing, so I don’t think there’s anything weird about that.”

But when exactly is it O.K. to flirt? “If a sacred moment is at hand, it may be inappropriate to flirt just then. However, before and after services is a free-for-all,” explains Reverend Bonnie. Sometimes, you can even seize the right moment during services. “The priest said something really funny — unintentionally,” recalls Grace W., a Brooklyn resident. “I made some comment under my breath, which I often do. [A man] heard and started laughing. During the rest of the service, we commented back and forth on some things. After the service, he introduced himself to me in the car park.”

Staying the Course
Don’t feel that playful banter has to happen right away. Meeting someone at a house of worship lends itself to a slow and steady approach. Explains Michael Baker, Lori’s husband: “Meeting somebody at church is a lot easier than a bar because you get to know the person over time versus trying to make a connection in 15 minutes,” he notes. “At church, there is the possibility of seeing that person several times in a week in a group situation, where you can relax a little as you are not forced to keep the conversation going.” So don’t feel pressured to use your best lines; take your time and keep turning up next to the object of your affection, and see how things unfold.

And If It Doesn’t Work Out…
Of course, not every relationship we start in a house of worship is a match made in Heaven. Sometimes, the necessary chemistry and other requirements just don’t add up to romantic success. How do you handle that — particularly in the typically tight-knit spiritual community?

“If you meet at church, go out, and you don’t click, then just be adults about it and keep doing what you were doing,” says Bob Spain of Raleigh, N.C., who has recent experience with this situation. “Keep going to Sunday school. Keep going to worship service. After all, I think you have to keep in mind the real reason that you go to church. You go for spiritual reasons. If you just happen to meet someone while you’re there, then that’s just an added perk.”

Margot Carmichael Lester didn’t meet the love of her life at church (they met online, naturally), but she still considers meeting Prince Charming at the age of 41 an act of Divine Intervention. Her romance advice also appears in the anthologies How to Survive Dating and How to Survive Your Marriage.

'Hell-Bound Pope' Sign Not a Good Idea

2005-04-18T09:08:00.000-04:00

I picked this up off of some other blogs and thought it was worthy of McCallum's Musings...

Hilltop Baptist Church in Newport, Tenn. has been getting lots of attention for a statement on their church sign that appeared a few days after the funeral of Pope John Paul II: "No truth, No hope Following a hell-bound pope!" On the other side it reads: "False hope in a fake pope."

Pastor Clive Franklin said people are misunderstanding the sign and that it was not meant to be offensive to Catholics. "Hell-bound pope" is supposed to be a cheery phrase for Catholics? Um, try again.

An assistant pastor at the church said that the sign's point is that people shouldn't put their hope in a pope. He reiterated that people are misunderstanding the sign and said the church isn't trying to say the pope is in hell. So what does "Hell-bound pope" mean? He was going to hell, but got distracted and ended up in heaven instead? Um, try again.

Just about everyone interviewed has blasted the church sign, and under increased pressure, especially from WATE 6 News, Hilltop Baptist changed the statement on their sign. Now it says "Censured, Thanks TV6." Ooh, the bitterness comes out.

I'm going to go out on a limb and say this isn't the best way to represent your church to the community.

A church sign is rarely a good place for public discourse. Now I try to be an understanding guy. Maybe you think you have a valid point—the church is often called to make unpopular statements. But is blasting those statements in the most offensive manner possible from a public sign limited to a phrase with no possible chance to explain your stance a good idea? I doubt it.

How about a sermon? A study series? An op-ed piece for the local paper? How about a less offensive title like: "Pope Pointed to Jesus" or "Jesus: He Saved the Pope, How About You?" (neither of which are very good, but you get the idea). Offensiveness can be effective, but unintentional offensiveness is poor planning.

And for the love of all good things, don't blame your poor choices on the local news.

Amen Mr. President

2005-04-16T21:45:00.000-04:00

"We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of heaven. We have grown in numbers, wealth, and power, as no other nation has ever grown.But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace and which multiplied, and enriched, and strengthened us, and we have vainly imagined in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us."

(Abraham Lincoln)

Chase Isn't Quite This Bad...Yet

2005-04-14T08:25:00.000-04:00

Deb Lawrence, an extremely insightful mother, penned the “Property Laws of a Toddler”:

1. If I like it, it’s mine.
2. If it’s in my hand, it’s mine.
3. If I can take it from you, it’s mine.
4. If I had it a little while ago, it’s mine.
5. If it’s mine, it must never appear to be yours in any way.
6. If I am building something, all the pieces are mine.
7. If it looks just like mine, it’s mine.
8. If I saw it first, it’s mine.
9. If you are playing with something and you put it down, it automatically becomes mine.
10. If it’s broken, it’s yours.

Some Random Thoughts...

2005-04-12T10:17:00.000-04:00

A good quote by Bono…

<>“The hardest thing to do is to stick together; mates, family, marriage, business, bands.
It's like resisting gravity. It’s like King Canute in his chair trying to talk back the tide, but
you can, and we have, and we will turn the waves around. The alternative is too predictable.
You rid the room of argument. You empty your life of the people you need the most.
(Bono of U2) <>

Some random thoughts on a Tuesday morning… <>

The way I see it we all have three choices in life… <>

- You can be a commentator who critizes what happens.

- You can be an excuse-maker who waits to see what happens.

- You can be a wave-maker who seizes this divine moment.

<>How Does A Wave-Maker Make Waves? <>

We dare to trust God actually. <>

“'Lord, if it’s you,' Peter replied, 'tell me to come to you on the water' 'Come,' he said. Then Peter GOT DOWN OUT OF THE BOAT, WALKED ON THE WATER AND CAME TOWARD JESUS. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, 'Lord, save me!' Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. 'You of little faith,' he said, 'why did you doubt?'” (Matt. 14:29-31 NIV) <>

We dare to test God practically. <>

“'Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. TEST ME IN THIS,' says the LORD Almighty, 'and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit,' says the LORD Almighty. 'Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,' says the LORD Almighty.”
(Mal 3:10-12 NIV) <>

We dare to take God at His word daily. <>

“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.”
(Luke 21:33 NIV) <>

“Give away your life; you’ll find life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. GENEROSITY BEGETS GENEROSITY.” (Luke 6:38 MESSAGE)

The Week After Easter

2005-04-05T10:35:00.000-04:00

My fears were confirmed this week when I went to church.

Just seven days ago, I was enthralled in the excitement of a spectacular Easter celebration service. The choir was lively, the music was grand, the message was direct, and the congregation showed up in record numbers. Smiles were everywhere, visitors were abundant and energy was everywhere.

Welcome to the week after Easter. Between having 25 of our number on a missions trip, daylight savings time and spring break, it was a ghost town. It seemed like most of us were taking a collective nap. Hopefully we can get the train back on the tracks this weekend!

Sanctuary or Jet Hanger?

2005-04-05T10:33:00.000-04:00

Idlewild Baptist Church in Tampa, Fla. is building a new $73-million facility with a sanctuary large enough to hold Air Force One. The new 400,000 square foot building sits on a 143-acre campus and will house the church’s 66 full-time staff members—all to serve the church’s 9,000 members.

A gigantic building project like this certainly makes a statement. I can only hope that statement is heard outside the $73-million facility.

This AIDS Stuff Isnt Really Getting Much Airplay

2005-03-31T14:39:00.000-05:00

 With all the news about Terry Schiavo and tidal waves and earthquakes and wars we haven't heard much about the AIDS virus.  If it was this severe in the good old USA we would be picketing at the White House.
What                 We Know About AIDS:

Globally, there are 40 million people with HIV/AIDS;25 million of them live in Sub-Saharan Africa.

AIDS claims more than 6,500 lives every day; it kills 2.4 million Africans per year. (that is per year...not decade...year.)

14 million children have been orphaned by HIV/AIDS.

Mother-to-child transmission of HIV/AIDS is the #1 killer of the world's children.

Sources: UNAIDS, World Vision, The aWake Project, Global Stragegies for HIV Prevention.

Just Thinking Out Loud

2005-03-31T08:47:00.000-05:00

It is Thursday and I have a bad case of sermon block. I usually have my ducks in a row by now, but this week has been some tough sledding. There are those weeks when it just seems like the sermon bucket is empty. Maybe it is an Easter overhang? Maybe it is just the taste of spring we had yesterday. I don't really know, but I do know that I need to get busy or else I will be in a pretty major hole.

On another note, I am wrestling with prayer. Not its importance, but how we pray. We pray for the sick and that is good. We pray for the hurting and that is good. But there seems to be a glaring gap in our prayers...what about praying for those who are far from God? What about praying that the church will prevail in an increasing way? I don't hear many of those prayers these days. Could it be that the cause of plateau/decline in the American church is due to a lack of these kind of prayers?

One other thought (and my only Terry Schiavo comment of the day)...The Pope is now on a feeding tube. I bet we don't hear a clamor to have it removed.

Thats all for now...I have a sermon to prepare...

Easter On The Other Side

2005-03-28T09:08:00.000-05:00

Mark Roberts has written an interesting piece on Easter on the other side of the pulpit...I will write more in the coming days...

http://www.markdroberts.com/htmfiles/resources/easterotherside.htm

STUDY SHOWS DRIVING IMPAIRS USE OF CELL PHONES

2005-03-17T15:57:00.000-05:00

San Enfermo, California – A new study released today shows that driving a car while using a cell phone definitely impairs an individual’s ability to use the phone correctly.

Says one of the study’s authors, Professor Irwin Flugelmayer of the University of California at San Enfermo, “We have long suspected that people who drive while phoning weren’t phoning very well. This study finally gives us proof of it.”

Some examples of inaccurate phone use among those driving cars in the study included punching in as many as five wrong numbers before the right one was obtained, ordering the wrong toppings on take-out pizzas and calling a parent or employer “dude” by accident.

© 2005 Barry Rabin. All rights reserved.

The Sermon Made Me Do It

2005-03-17T15:49:00.000-05:00

Terry Ratzmann entered a church meeting this past Saturday in Brookfield, Wisconsin and opened fire on the congregants, killing 8 people, including himself. Police are still trying to determine the motive, but one reason floating around is that he was upset about a previous sermon.

According to the Chicago Sun Times, "Living Church of God members told investigators of Ratzmann walking out of a service two weeks ago after hearing a pre-recorded sermon by Roderick C. Meredith, the North Carolina-based church's leader. Meredith reportedly told of earthquakes, famine, disease and wars that will precede the end of the world. 'He was upset over something relative to the church. Whether it was a sermon or some [other] aspect of the church, something upset him and he walked out,' said Waukesha District Attorney Paul Bucher."

I don't know anything about this particular church, and can't make a judgment about whether the preaching is biblical or not, but I do know that sermons based on Scripture have the power to change hearts. And while biblical messages can motivate people to do good things, I'm grieved that some media outlets are laying the blame for these murders on a pastor's sermon. As Paul wrote to Timothy, the goal of a pastor's instruction should be "love from a pure heart." The pastors I know have this as the motive behind their messages.

Yet Another Reason For Me To Not Like Cats

2005-03-10T10:24:00.001-05:00

Cat accidentally shoots owner in Iron County home

(March 9, 2005, Bates Township, MI) An Upper Peninsula man is in the hospital after he was accidentally shot by his cat.

State troopers in Iron County showed up at Joseph Stanton's home in Bates Township last night to find him wounded in the lower torso. The 29-year-old man was cooking when his cat knocked a loaded nine millimeter handgun off the counter. The gun discharged and a bullet struck Stanton. Stanton was taken to a county hospital for treatment. There's no word on his condition.

Yet Another Reason For Me To Not Like Cats

2005-03-10T10:24:00.000-05:00

Cat accidentally shoots owner in Iron County home

(March 9, 2005, Bates Township, MI) An Upper Peninsula man is in the hospital after he was accidentally shot by his cat.

This One Rang My Bell

2005-03-09T14:00:00.000-05:00

Stuff I've been reading: Any one in leadership must read George Barna's Transforming Children into Spiritual Champions (Regal, 2003). Avoid this book at your own risk. Barna writes: "You simply cannot raise a child to be a compliant workhorse and then expect him or her to turnaround and become a majestic thoroughbred when he or she is older."

Back From North Carolina

2005-03-09T08:29:00.000-05:00

What a rush the last few days...Julie, Chase and I took a quick trip to North Carolina to see our friends Scott and Deanna. Scott and I were college housemates at IWU and have really been good friends since those days. We had a blast with them...church on Saturday night, eating, shooting hoops with their kids, sleeping in, sitting around talking and telling stories from days gone by...it was just a great time...As we made the 13 hour drive back to the great white north I was reminded again of the gift that friendship really is. How often we take it for granted...

We arrived home at 3am on Tuesday (am...middle of the night!). Slept and then got back at it...a couple meetings at the district office that ran until 9pm and then home for the night.

I think we all are bit lagged from the trip, but we will keep at it today!

I read this post on another blog and thought it was interesting...

Each year in May we read stories about the approach of "Tax Freedom Day," the day when the average American has earned enough to pay their income taxes and can start working for themself.

This year, the average American will watch 1760+ hours of TV, which is about 5 hours per day, or about 74 24-hour periods. That makes March 15 "TV Freedom Day." Yes, 2 1/2 months in front of the tube! Another 4 months spent sleeping, and people can wake up from the TV and the bed in the second half of the year and start doing other stuff—like interacting with other humans!

Monday Again...

2005-02-28T11:02:00.000-05:00

Random thoughts on a Monday AM...

As I look outside my window it is snowing...they say we will get a truckload of snow by tomorrow night...did I mention that I am sick of snow???

Yesterday was a good day...offering was good, attendance was good in light of the flu and various folks being away...Pastor David preached his first message...good day.

I spoke at Kentwood Community Church on Saturday...had a blast with the adult group...I then went to speak to their middle school group...zowie! Let's just say that I felt a little out of my element.

Back to work...

I Hate Michigan Winters...

2005-02-21T08:13:00.000-05:00

We got another dose of winter yesterday...the weather people on TV made it sound like the end of the world, so we cancelled services all day. In hindsight we probably could have met yesterday AM, but there would have been a risk factor that would have played into the mix.

I tried to make the most of the morning and while Julie and Chase took a long morning nap, I proceeded to visit not one, not two, but three area churches. I had hoped to hit four, but I didn't quite make it...

My progressive worship fest started at Daybreak... I have a new respect for Pastor Wes and his crew there. The elements are done with excellence and they are connecting with an audience that the average church never will. I did sit in the back and think myself, "I don't get it..." but if I did "get it" they would probably change it. They dont want me to get it! They want dechurched and unchurched people to...

From Daybreak... I snuck down the road to a Reformed Church...there were a dozen folks gathered in a room that sat at least a couple hundred. I sat in the back and only stayed for about twenty minutes...I was easily the youngest one in the room...a little too formal for me...especially after Daybreak...

My morning finished up at Mars Hill...I grabbed my cup of coffee and found a seat in "The Shed." The place was packed to the gills. Don't tell these people that it is a snow day. The music was fantastic and I only stayed for a little bit of the message. As I was leaving I chatted with another early departer who in passing said, "I always leave early if Rob Bell isn't teaching..." Interesting...

All in all a good morning...I pondered the approach at Daybreak... wrestled with the dilemma of a dying church and then witnessed something that seems to really have made a connection with people these days...

Busy week this week...Rotary / Funeral Viewing / Appt. / Class Final today...the rest of the week is blur...

CJM

I Fell Off The Wagon...

2005-02-16T08:42:00.000-05:00

So yesterday I entered into day three of no sweets and no fried stuff...let's just say that I fell off the wagon in a major way. It actually started with eating not one but two valentines cookies at class on Monday night...then I needed a little further sugar kick to make it through so I ate a bag of peanut M&M's...then came black Tuesday...lunch was ok...grilled chicken sandwich, no mayo, no cheese...but then on my way back from Coldwater I began to drool thinking of a turtle sundae at Culvers...I looked in my spare change and realized I had enough and a few minutes later I was in the midst of indulgence...hot fudge, caramel, pecans, frozen custard...mmm...today starts a new day...I am back on the wagon...the day started with toasted O's and juice...so far so good...I liked this bit by Lucado...

TODAY I WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE ---
by Max Lucado

Today I will make a difference. I will begin by controlling my thoughts. A person is the product of his thoughts. I want to be happy and hopeful. Therefore, I will have thoughts that are happy and hopeful. I refuse to be victimized by my circumstances. I will not let petty inconveniences such as stoplights, long lines, and traffic jams be my masters. I will avoid negativism and gossip. Optimism will be my companion, and victory will be my hallmark. Today I will make a difference.

I will be grateful for the twenty-four hours that are before me. Time is a precious commodity. I refuse to allow what little time I have to be contaminated by self-pity, anxiety, or boredom. I will face this day with the joy of a child and the courage of a giant. I will drink each minute as though it is my last. When tomorrow comes, today will be gone forever. While it is here, I will use it for loving and giving. Today I will make a difference.

I will not let past failures haunt me. Even though my life is scarred with mistakes, I refuse to rummage through my trash heap of failures. I will admit them. I will correct them. I will press on. Victoriously. No failure is fatal. It's OK to stumble… . I will get up. It's OK to fail… . I will rise again. Today I will make a difference.

I will spend time with those I love. My spouse, my children, my family.
A man can own the world but be poor for the lack of love. A man can own nothing and yet be wealthy in relationships. Today I will spend at least five minutes with the significant people in my world. Five quality minutes of talking or hugging or thanking or listening. Five undiluted minutes with my mate, children, and friends.

Today I will make a difference.

Even though my life is scarred with mistakes, I refuse to rummage through my trash heap of failure. I will admit them. I will correct them. I will press on.

It's Lent...Not Lint!

2005-02-10T08:54:00.000-05:00

What a day yesterday...waited all morning for a delivery at the house that was supposed to arrive between 9-12...instead it arrived at 1pm. The afternoon turned into a blur. Visiting a couple folks. Stopping by the computer store to pick up my repaired desktop that isn't repaired after all. Church stuff last night with a premarital appointment afterwards. By 9pm last night I was whipped. Off to bed early for me!

With the blur of yesterday, I almost forgot that it was now officially Lent. With that in mind I have made a couple decisions regarding what to give up this season...

#1 - I will give up sweets in general. No dessert. No pop. No milkshakes. Nothing with gooey icing on top. (Graham Crackers will still be allowed so that Chase and I can enjoy a snack together!)

#2 - I will give up any fried goodies as well. No french fries. No deep fried shrimp. No fried ice cream. Nothing fried for me.

That is all for now.

CJM

A Wise Man Once Told Me...To Be Quiet

2005-01-26T09:19:00.000-05:00

Thinking this morning about...Proverbs 17:4-10, 27-28

Have you ever talked too much? I don’t know about you, but I’ve been told many, many times to close my mouth—by my parents, teachers, and even friends.There are definitely times when we need to hush up.

Solomon made a logical statement when he said, “In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise” (Proverbs 10:19). Proverbs 17:27-28 carries that thought further by calling us wise if we learn to shut our mouths.

Have you ever found yourself in the middle of a dilemma because you didn’t keep your muth shut? We’re also told that if we learn to control our tongues, we keep ourselves out of trouble (Proverbs 21:23). Proverbs also tells us that a fool “uttereth all his mind” (29:11), and that his mouth is his destruction (18:7). I don’t want to be considered a fool, so what must I do? Hush up!

Ever want to brag on yourself? Another gem of wisdom that Solomon shares is that we ought to let someone else compliment us and keep our own mouth shut (27:2).

How often we could sin less, hurt less, annoy less, and stay out of trouble more if we could just learn to be quiet!

Monday...

2005-01-24T07:10:00.000-05:00

What a day yesterday...Clay Crosse was with us for our PM service and we had a blast. His keyboard player was fantastic...There was a real postive spirit in the room. I stood in the back and just was full of gratitude for what God is up to in these days at BWC.

Some additional thinking on an early Monday AM...

‘What is your philosophy of ministry?’ As a pastor, I get asked that question constantly. Sometimes the question takes other forms such as ‘What’s your vision for the church?’ My personal favorite is ‘What church are you modeling yours after?’ As far as I can tell, those who ask such questions are usually really wondering what I am doing to accomplish the call God has placed on my life. I always tell them that I don’t have a philosophy of ministry. What I mean by that is that I don’t have a formula I follow. I don’t have a strategic plan of action or a hot new ministry model from a new church that guides me or the church I pastor.

My philosophy, if it could be called that, is a simple one. My passion for anyone who walks into the doors of the Burnips Wesleyan Church would be simply that they encounter the living God. My goal is for men and women in that hour of worship to truly experience Him. I don’t want them to experience great teaching. I don’t want them to experience great music, or great entertainment, but Him. If the most powerful thing that they encounter at a worship service is a charismatic preacher, they have just wasted an hour of their lives. If the most powerful thing they encounter on Sunday is a tight band with a good sound, again, they have just wasted their time. But, if within that time of worship, they truly experience the presence of God, everything changes and nothing was wasted. They will leave church not talking about how great the preaching was or how powerful the worship was. Instead, they’ll leave church proclaiming how great and powerful God was! Pastors and worship leaders who are hungry to shake their flock out of the rut of complacency and apathy would do well to help fix the church’s gaze off of themselves and onto the face of the Father.

There is a single ingredient necessary for all this to take place. If that ingredient is not there, my ‘philosophy’ falls on its face. The key ingredient is the very presence of God. Of course, God is everywhere. He is an omnipresent God that is in all places at all times. Unfortunately, He does not manifest Himself in all places at all times. I am convinced that the key to an amazing church is not a great preacher or a gifted musician, but the church becoming a place in which Almighty God shows up. Because of this, I am passionate about God’s presence! The church can’t grow, become healthy or even exist with purpose without it! God’s life-giving presence transcends our philosophy, our plans, our models, and our talents. God enthrones Himself in churches big and small, traditional and contemporary, new and old. Whenever, wherever He shows up, good things happen!

King David understood this. It was his philosophy, too. He knew that without the presence of God he was lost. He would have been just another kid who got eaten by a lion while tending some sheep. He would have been just another soldier who bit off more than he could chew on the battle field. Without the presence of God, he’d simply be another king with another kingdom whose life would wither away like grass. His passion for God’s presence was exemplified when the Ark of the Covenant finally made it back to Israel. After its long and turbulent return, David didn’t wipe the sweat off his brow, thank God and go about his business. When the presence of the Lord returned to Israel, David took off his robe and began to dance! It wasn’t just any dance, though. Scripture tells us that David danced with all his might. David knew he was once again in the presence of God. And David knew that was all that mattered.

What are you passionate about? What would cause you to take off your your tie and coat and dance in public? I’ll tell you what makes me dance. I love sensing the presence of God in the church God has called me to shepherd. I love watching my church grow. I love watching it flourish and become healthy. And I love knowing it has very little to do with me!

Monday

2005-01-10T22:19:00.000-05:00

Today I had an appt with my cancer doctor. Pretty routine...not red flags and my bloodwork looked fine. Spent the day working on some loose ends at the church and then cramming for my exam tonight. I think it went well...I think.

Home now and ready to head for bed...weary from the weekend.

Sunday!

2005-01-09T22:29:00.000-05:00

What a day...woke up well before the alarm...I was wide awake and ready to tackle the day. Church this morning was good. Attendance in the morning was sixty ahead of AYA and the spirit in the services was pretty good.

I told a story about Sams Club that seemed to connect.

After church tonight I ran to Grand Rapids to make a hospital call and then I scooted back home in time to help put Chase to bed. I am now sitting down with my stuff for my Masters class to study. Midterm tomorrow. Failure is not an option.

Talked with Mom & Dad McCallum tonight...they are without power...ice storm earlier in the week messed up the Marion infrastructure...

I have been watching some of these amateur videos of the tidal wave. Amazing.

How about them Colts? Peyton Manning is a picture of what it means to be prepared for a game...I can only hope that we pull one out next week against New England.

My buddy Scott Blair sent me these pics of a Moose that went through a lady's windshield in Ontario. Talk about an insurance claim!

Saturday...

2005-01-08T22:03:00.000-05:00

Not much that was too thrilling today...slept in...took Chase to the store to pick up a couple things. Took a nap this afternoon. Spent time playing with Chase. Watched Shrek 2 with Julie tonight. Now it is time to hit the books for a midterm exam on Monday night. Looking forward to my messages tomorrow.

2004-10-12T13:49:00.000-04:00

Moses had a dilemma. Maybe you can relate. He was leading the people of Israel through the desert. They were running low on water. People began to complain. So, Moses did what any good leader would do. He prayed. As Moses sought direction from the Lord, God said,

Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the
assembly together. Speak to the rock before their eyes and
it will pour out its water. You will bring water out of the rock
for the community so they and their livestock can drink.
Numbers 20:8-9 (NIV)

Sounds like a plan. So, Moses took the staff, gathered the people, and said, “You need water? Watch this.” And Moses struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and everybody drank to their heart’s content. It was a great leadership victory…almost. There was just this little issue of following God’s command.

Why did Moses strike the rock, twice, when God said to speak to it? Because he had done it that way before. Earlier on their journey, when the people cried out for water, Moses had struck the rock and water came out. Since that worked so well in the past, he figured, “Why mess with success?” Unfortunately, God saw things a little differently.

Because you did not trust me enough to demonstrate my
holiness to the people of Israel, you will not lead them into the
land I am giving them!
Numbers 20:12 (NLT)

This doesn’t seem fair. After all Moses had done to lead his people out of Egypt, then spending 40 years wandering in the desert with this cantankerous lot, now he would be denied the satisfaction of setting foot in the Promised Land. How could this be?!

It boils down to this: Moses refused to change. Even though he was a great leader who talked to God “face to face,” he allowed himself to get stuck in the old way of doing things. Tragically, because Moses did not trust God enough to change, he forfeited his right to leadership. It can happen to anyone.

We are in a season of great change. School is starting, schedules are shifting, even the leaves will be changing soon. Burnips Wesleyan Church is also experiencing great change. In this sea of change, we will be tempted to “strike the rock” because it has always worked before. But things are different now. We are living in a new era, one we have never passed through before. What worked so well in the past may hinder us in the future. In changing times, it is even more crucial to listen to God’s voice and follow it closely.

Change is never easy, but when you stop changing, you stop growing. And when you stop growing, you start dying. In my experience, the seven deadliest words in the church are: “We’ve never done it that way before.” They are the seven deadliest words in a person’s life, too. Are there changes God is leading you to make in this new era? Is there something in your relationships, your spiritual practices, your marriage, or your life direction that needs an overhaul? If so, be careful of the “rocks” in your past. They can blind you from the wonderful new thing God wants to do.

What A Good Monday!

2004-10-05T11:43:00.000-04:00

Yesterday Julie had to do a training at the hospital in Coldwater, so Chase and I went along with her. We were able to spend time with our good friends Dwayne and Kathy Carmer and then last night Gary and Dorthy Barker joined us for a wonderful evening meal. It is always good to connect with these great people.

Thinking this morning about the ever present tension that seems to be present in the church across America. There seems to be a struggle that goes beyond normal tensions. It could be a spiritual battle (I would lean that way)...but I also wonder how much of it just stems from unwise leadership and a lack of real discipleship in our churches. Specifically, have we focused so much on the visible parts of leadership that we have forgotten what Dan Webster refers to as life "below the waterline"...What is unseen is what sinks leaders and churches. What is brewing beneath. Just something I am pondering.

Busy day today...meeting for breakfast...meeting for lunch...meeting this afternoon...death by meetings.

Is Ergun Right?

2004-10-04T01:15:00.000-04:00

'Hatriotism' & Michael Moore: Turkish Muslim says 'Fahrenheit 911' wrong on liberation of Iraq

Posted: June 24, 2004
1:00 a.m. Eastern

By Dr. Ergun Mehmet Caner
© 2004 WorldNetDaily.com

He was lauded with a 20-minute standing ovation at the Cannes Film Festival. A.O. Scott of the New York Times calls his movie a "passionate expression of outraged patriotism." At the June showing of "Fahrenheit 911" before the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science in Los Angeles, he received a standing ovation of over a minute.

And Michael Moore's most recent work spits in the face of my dead countrymen.

As yet another innocent person has their head severed by Islamic "extremists," Moore apparently glosses over the fact that democracy, in general – and America, specifically – is under attack. I am innately aware that Michael Moore is first and foremost a provocateur, and he thrives on controversy.

I am also sure he will smile gleefully at this op-ed piece, because I mention his film, which is free advertising. He has gone on record on his website as saying he hopes we will watch his movie, even if we disagree, because his facts and analysis are correct. He notes that he has a "dogged commitment to uncovering the facts."

I am not holding my breath. With the aforementioned facts in mind, I must still speak. Michael Moore has released the cinematic equivalent of a French kiss to all who hate America. He is the leading exponent of hatriotism.

"HATE-RIOTISM" describes the new breeze blowing through the American media. It is now "cool" and "relevant" to mock everything for which our soldiers are fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. Criticizing democracy and America has long been in vogue in continental Europe from those who look with disdain at American "naivete," while still lamenting the Islamic onslaught.

Now imported to our shores, hatriotism is the simplest way to get the growing contingent of professional protestors who populate television audiences to cheer: Mock America. Mock our involvement in Iraq. Mock President Bush ... and get rousing applause.

The only problem is ... America has freed my kinsmen.

I am a Persian Turkish immigrant raised as a Sunni Muslim, and in the interest of full disclosure, I must state that I left Islam in 1982, and became an American citizen. Yet, as I survey the current cultural landscape, I cannot help but be less than enthused when Michael Moore states that his film is a call to true patriotism.

The present conflict is not a war against Islam, and neither is it a "war for oil." In the previous six military endeavors, American troops sided with Muslims who were under attack, and there are much less extreme methods of garnering oil. This is a war of ideologies, and with "Fahrenheit 911," Moore clearly shows his.

His visual narrative of Lila Lipscombe, a Flint, Mich., mother who sent her sons to the military and "lives to regret it," as Roger Friedman of FOX News notes, is "unexpectedly poignant."

I wonder – was Moore equally moved when he heard of the honor killings which daily threatened the lives of Muslim women in Afghanistan? Was he equally as outraged at the female circumcision practices in my countrymen's lands, because it lessens the threat of adultery?

In fact, I wonder ... where were all the "hatriots" when our soldiers freed all the women of Afghanistan from the Taliban? Where were the feminists when our soldiers liberated the Afghan women to be educated for the first time in years?

The irony is, for all of their false bravado behind the First Amendment and their right to "free speech," the hatriots are exercising this right because American men and women shed their blood to afford them this right against those who would seek to oppress it. I would invite Michael Moore to my homeland to make a movie criticizing Turkish oppression and see what happens. The freedom he enjoys now was purchased with a dear price.

The central fact of the current controversy is the conflict between Islamic theocracy and American democracy. Islam has not now – nor has it ever – allowed religious freedom or freedom of expression. The best the Islamic republics can offer is "religious toleration." Based on the "Pact of Umar," religious toleration allows non-Muslims to enter Islamic republics, but they must pay a tax (jizyat). They can practice their faiths, but they cannot convert anyone from Islam. To do so means deportation ... or worse.

Further, Islamic prophecy foretells of worldwide conversion to Sharia law under Islam, and thus, those who are fighting against us are "holy warriors." In this instance, I would say our president is half right. He says we are not at war with Islam. I agree. However, a significant portion of Islam is in fact at war with us.

And Michael Moore is blind to it all.

The clearest definition of religious freedom and freedom of expression I can make is this – the religious freedom America offers means that I would fight and die for a Muslim's right to build a mosque in every city in America. It is precisely this freedom for which our soldiers are fighting.

In recent days, it has become fashionable for those like Moore to say, "I support the troops, but not the war." This is the equivalent to saying, "I support doctors but not surgery." The position they hold is ludicrous at best, and insulting at worst. When my brother – also a professor and my co-author of five books – and I came out in support of the Iraqi intervention, we began to be accosted by peace protestors when we spoke. I found this amusing.

Allow me to say it emphatically: I support the troops – and their mission.

Our soldiers – your sons and daughters – are fighting to preserve Michael Moore's freedom to produce such works that mock their very existence. I hope he realizes that. They are allowing my countrymen the right to freely express themselves without being stoned to death as a consequence. Or have their heads severed slowly while their executioners are chanting "Allah hu Akbar."

There is one final irony. There is a film producer who has worked for years, chasing down Michael Moore in an effort to interview him. The young man, named Michael Wilson, is making a documentary titled "Michael Moore Hates America." So far, Moore has dodged him at every turn. Anyone who knows cinema recognizes that this is the exact tactic Moore took in his film "Roger and Me," as he chased an automobile executive for an interview.

Do you see the paradox? Because Michael Moore is now in the mainstream of hatriotism, and now the young conservatives are the radicals, Moore has become his own worst nightmare. Michael Moore has become that which he mocked. He has become an aloof elite.

Count me among the radicals.

Dr. Ergun Mehmet Caner is co-author of "Christian Jihad" (Kregel, June 2004), and is professor of Theology and Church History at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va. The Caner brothers won the 2003 Gold Medallion for their book "Unveiling Islam" (Kregel). You can contact him at www.erguncaner.com.

2004-10-03T22:40:00.000-04:00

Applesauce & toast for my birthday! What are mom and dad thinking? Bring on the sugar!

2004-10-03T22:38:00.000-04:00

The Family - Chad, Julie and Chase (a.k.a. The Boy)

Good Day Today

2004-10-03T22:18:00.000-04:00

With the rest of the world now blogging I felt I needed to get in the mix.

We had good day today at BWC. Our special guest was piano player Alex Zsolt (www.pianocreations.com). He played in our AM services and then did a concert tonight. Alex did a great job and was warmly received.

Came home weary and tired and watched my favorite show...Extreme Home Makeover. Julie and I have very few shows that we watch regularly...this is one of them.

We enjoyed a quick overnight visit from my folks on Friday night. Mexican food and Hudsonville ice cream. On Saturday we got dad caught up on technology by buying him a DVD player. Now if he can get it wired up right he will be rolling!

Getting late...