Welcome Michael & Mattie!

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Monday, October 25, 2010 11:16 AM

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I want to take this opportunity to welcome two new "little additions" to our Calvary Family: Michael James Thomas (born September 14, parents: Amber & Zach) and Mattie Rae Bayliff (born October 19, parents: Megan & Matthew)! Congratulations, I love you and am so proud of you. This is awesome news for everyone and I am hoping you will do your part in helping these parents train, love and nurture these precious babies. God has greatly gifted them with healthy children. I know it took a great effort to bring them into the world, but now their work really begins...

Parents have one opportunity to raise their children, and we all know children don't train themselves. I greatly admire young couples, like these two, who are willing, by God's design and grace to bring children into this world. We live in difficult times, but God is greater than the age in which we live. We have before us two, innocent, beautiful, sweet babies. Right now their lives consist of sleeping, eating, crying, "dirtying" their diapers, being carried, and keeping their parents up at night. But, they will grow and they will learn. The weight of responsibility for training them is upon the backs of their parents; they are accountable to God for the direction of their children. Just as it is a heavy burden it is also an inexplicable joy! To both I say, "Enjoy your babies...they are your heritage from Almighty God. He has entrusted you with a wonderful gift!"

As a church what do we do? The one thing we must do well as the days, weeks and years pass is to pray. Don't take for granted the power of a praying church for its children. If you can't sleep one night take it as a hint from the Holy Spirit to pray for Mattie and Michael (Megan and Amber probably aren't sleeping either!). Think of all the children at Calvary, write their names on a card, and pray throughout the day for each of them. Pray for their salvation, pray for their safety and health, and pray for mom and dad. Pray without ceasing. Don't give up praying. And on their wedding day you can go up to them and say, "I've been praying for you since the day you were born, and I'm going to keep praying."

BTW...ask Angie and Len what their big news is!

Grace & Peace,
Scott

What Do We Do Now?

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11:05 AM

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Calvary is in a holding pattern. We must keep circling until we hear definitively that our buyer really wants to buy. This is something we have prayed about and for which we have labored. We began the process three years ago:

  • August 7, 2007: Began investigating two possibilities...renovation and relocation.
  • June 1, 2008: Voted to relocate.
  • August 3, 2008: Appointed the Land Search Ministry Team.
  • June 7, 2009: Purchased the property on the corner of Parris Bridge Road and Flatwood Road.
  • December 6, 2009: Appointed the Master Site Planning Ministry Team.
  • January 10, 2010: Listed our downtown property with Spencer-Hines.
  • January 10, 2010: Appointed the Phase 1 Planning Ministry Team.
  • Early 2010: Began a stewardship campaign to raise $20,000 for the building fund; to date we have raised a little over $28,000.
  • September 19, 2010: Accepted an offer on our downtown property.
We are now waiting on the buyer to finish up his "due diligence" (which will be done by November 20, 2010). The Phase 1 Planning Ministry Team has completed their work and is waiting to present their final recommendation to the congregation. Is there anything we can do? Do we just twiddle our thumbs, cross our fingers, and hope the sale goes through? No, we pray (and some fasting-praying as well), we plan out the details on the first phase of our new building, we reach others, we teach the Word, we follow Jesus, etc. In other words, we don't quit on what God has called us to do, we just keep doing it. Let's not be held hostage.

Grace & Peace,
Scott

Getting Lost in the Shuffle

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Wednesday, October 13, 2010 10:28 AM

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Good things get lost in the shuffle. I've heard of kids being left behind because something or somebody arrested the attention of mom and dad. What caught their attention was not necessarily bad, it just got them sidetracked for a moment. That scenario doesn't happen often, but other examples of neglecting something because of distractions do. You know how busy like can get sometimes. Things that must get done keep getting added to our daily schedule and pretty soon something gets forgotten--something gets lost in the shuffle. But what is really, really, really important usually doesn't get overlooked (like eating, sleeping, Monday Night Football, etc.). So, what is most important goes to the top of our list. I want to challenge all of us to ask the question, "Where is giving on that list?"

I know that may be an odd question, and believe me writing about giving is kind of difficult for me because I don't want people to think of my pastoral ministry in terms of money. But I am not just talking about money. Giving is about everything in our discipleship: honoring God, serving others, packing shoe boxes for needy children, swinging a hammer in Blythewood, SC, picking up communion cups after the Lord's Supper (Who does that?), changing diapers in the nursery (Who wants to do that?), visiting a shut-in, the list is endless.

Giving must be a top priority for us because our whole life is about giving in one way or another. I don't think we wait to give. We don't compare our giving with what others are giving. Giving flows out of the biblical principle of stewardship. Stewardship sees God as the Creator and Owner of everything.

The earth is the LORD's and the fulness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein, for he has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers. (Psalm 24:1-2)

When we speak about our things, we are talking out of ignorance, and these words relfect the values of the world. Everything we own will be left behind. Everything we have has been given on loan from God.

...What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it? (1 Corinthians 4:7)

Because of this we ask God what and how He wants us to give. Where is giving on your list of "Things to Do"? Don't let giving get lost in the shuffle.

Grace & Peace,
Scott

Mice on the Wheel

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Tuesday, October 05, 2010 2:11 PM

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As the weather turns cooler the projects of fall loom big on the horizon. You know, thatching the lawn, raking leaves, gathering in the last of the produce from the garden, winterizing the boat, raking leaves again, shining up the shotgun, planting spring bulbs, cleaning the gutters, getting out the sweaters (this item is exciting for husbands because it means a whole new wardrobe without going to the mall), and raking the leaves once again.

Let's see, did I forget something...oh, yeah, I certainly did. What about all those projects at church? You know what I'm talking about...making sure the boiler is going to work this year, getting the gym set up and decorated for Homecoming, planning out the events for advent, ordering the gift baskets for the shut-ins, beginning rehearsal for the choir Christmas musical, and so much more!

As you can tell there is much to do and little time in which to get it all done. I am confident that come July 1, 2017 it will all be done and forgotten. So, it causes me to pause and ponder, "Is it all really worth it?" Does all our labor count for anything? Or are we like mice running on the proverbial wheel getting a lot of exercise, but really going nowhere? I think the answer to those questions and ones similar to them depend on our motivation--WHY am I doing what I'm doing? We can get super busy about events and we can expend great energy in getting things done, but if we are doing all this for the wrong reasons then it all amounts to dust and ashes (Paul called them wood, hay and straw [1 Corinthians 3:10-15]).

However, if we are expending energy to glorify God through worship that is God-exalting, discipleship that is cross-centered, fellowship that is grace-focused, and outreach that is world-impacting then I believe our work is what God intends it to be. So, as we go about our busy schedule keep in mind that nothing done for the glory of God is worthless, but efforts done for our own exaltation has no more substance than a soap bubble. And put in your heart what Paul wrote to the Corinthian believers:

...Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain! (1 Corinthians 15:58)

Grace & Peace,
Scott
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