Ancora Imparo

What's Next?

2012-01-17T15:46:00.000-05:00

I'm sitting here thinking about what to do next. No, not what to do next today, but what to do next at Calvary Church. What’s next for us? Do we plan for another building? That may be a necessity in the future and certainly we have made provision for it in the long range planning, but that is not what I am sitting here thinking about. I am thinking about what it next for us to do as a church. It has been so exciting to see God gathering a large crowd at Calvary each Sunday. As we experience this growth it must stimulate us to action.

First, I believe we must have a vertical what’s next focus. We should be rejoicing in what God has done on our behalf. Rejoice that we are in a new building. Rejoice that there are no stairs. Rejoice that there are multiple bathrooms. Rejoice that there is no mold. Rejoice every time you come around the corner and you see the new building where you get to worship God and serve others.

Second, we must have a horizontal what’s next focus. I must focus on serving this growing congregation. How do we do that? We do this in part by never taking one another for granted. As God increases His church numerically it is easy to get caught up in the frenzied excitement of numbers and neglect the individuals who represent those numbers. We must redouble our efforts to love one another every time we see each other.

Another way we do this is by working hard to get to know the new people who are coming. Don’t be afraid to approach somebody and say, “Hey, I know I’ve asked this before, but could you tell me your name again? You see, we’re not used to this many people coming and we love it, so I am making an effort to get to know people personally by writing everyone’s name down.” Wouldn’t it be cool to see the regular Calvary people carrying around notebooks writing down visitor’s names? By doing this I think we would communicate to people that we really do want to get to know them and that we’d love to see them back!

Grace & Peace,

Scott

Unsettled Settled

2012-01-17T15:32:00.006-05:00

I am partially settle in my new office. I say “partially” because not all of the boxes are unloaded, not all of the books are shelved, and none of the pictures are on the wall. I have an “unsettled settled” feeling. I am what we call “betwixt and between.” I am in my new office but I am not all the way in yet. In theology we call this “already, not yet” (I am already in my office – it is a reality, it is happening – but I am not yet all the way in).

This is also how I feel as a believer. According to the gospel that saved me I am already in Christ, but I am not yet realizing the fullness of being in Christ. I know this because I am still on this alien world called “Earth” struggling with sin. This world is not my home; I am a temporary resident. The older I get and the more I study Scripture the more I understand this truth and long for the day when God calls me home. (But I am not raising my hand to see if I can get bumped to the next flight.)

I see remnants of sin all around me that prove to me that I am not home. I see boxes in my life that remind me that this place is not meant for me. The daily struggle with sin and my physical body not able to do what it did when I was 20 are just a couple of indicators that God has a place prepared for me that is much better.

So what do we do today? How do we live everyday knowing that one day we will vacate this place and join our heavenly Father? We follow the advice of Paul,

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account (Philippians 1:21-24).

As I look around my office I am bothered that not everything has been put away - not everything is as it should be. Does it bother me when I look around the world and see that not everything is as it should be? Or have I lulled myself into a sleepy satisfaction that causes me to shrug my shoulders and say, "It's not that bad." We must all realize that the gospel that transferred us from being darkness to being light (Ephesians 5:8) is what the world needs.

Grace & Peace,

Scott

The Building Is Not the Church!

2012-01-04T14:35:00.002-05:00

We made it! God got us in the building and with the help of many people we were able to get everything moved. So much stuff…so little time! Thank you to everyone who sacrificed their extra Christmas time off to load the trucks and trailers and then turn around and unload them. I love you and appreciate every box and piece of furniture you pick up. Remember: “The moving of 47,000 sq. ft. of stuff begins with the lifting of one box!”

We’ve been in the new building for a week and a half and the dust is still settling. I’ve been told the dust will be floating around for the next year! But isn’t it just plain wonderful and exciting to be in a new building. This is a first for me (and for many of you as well). As I reflect on this momentous move to a new location I’ve been thinking…

We must always keep something in mind: as beautiful and wonderful as this new building is, it is still just a building – it is not the church. We are the church and 4000 Parris Bridge Road just happens to be the location where we are meeting. I love this building and everything it represents, but I also realize that one day it will be torn down (destroyed) or renovated. The true Church of Jesus will never be destroyed.

…On this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it (Matthew 16:18).

Over the years the face of the Church has changed, its programs have evolved, but the essence of what the Church is has not changed one iota. No matter what we do as humans we really cannot change God’s Church. Let’s remember that.

Secondly, and I’ve said this before, if our focus is on the building people will get used, but if our focus is on the glory of God and the good of His people the building will get used! As much as I love this new building I love God and you so much more. If we zero in on the majestic splendor of a great God and His purpose in saving humanity then I believe the buildings we have will be used for the right purpose.

I love being your pastor. Stop by anytime. I can’t promise I’ll always be available, but if I have the time I would love to get you a cup of coffee and talk.

Grace & Peace,

Scott

Christmas Is the Path of Glory

2011-12-13T09:47:00.003-05:00

A couple weeks ago our son, Ben, sang This Is War written by Dustin Kensrue. This song rings a bell not heard very often at Christmas, but its message is so true that it needs to be heard over and over again.

This is war like you ain't seen.

This winter's long, it's cold and mean.

With hangdog hears we stood condemned,

But the tide turns now at Bethlehem.

This is war and born tonight,

The Word as flesh, the Lord of Light,

The Son of God, the low-born king;

Who demons fear, of whom angels sing.

This is war on sin and death,

The dark will take its final breath.

It shakes the earth, confounds all plans;

The mystery of God as man.

We readily sing songs that bring us joy and happiness, songs that celebrate the coming of the King, and this is right that we do. But we must remember that the occasion of the birth of Jesus that causes us much celebration is also one that caused Him much pain. His birth was the result of difficult choices. God the Father made the difficult choice of sending His Son. Jesus the Son made the difficult choice of leaving the glorious majesty of His Father to be born a human. The immortal God took on mortal flesh. He became like one of us!

Jesus spoke of His death as the hour He would be glorified, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified” (John 12:23). And just a few verses later He stated that He came for the very purpose of His death so He could glorify His Father (“But for this purpose I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name” [vv. 27-28]). The cross was the path for His own glory and the glory of His Father.

So even though it was a path of great pain, ultimately it lead to unadulterated joy as Jesus returned to the Father, and so He will forever be enthroned!

Jesus’ difficult choice leads me to the conclusion that our lives are going to be full of difficult, but necessary, choices. The path of our King will be the road we will travel as well. So as we celebrate Christmas this year let’s certainly celebrate, but let’s also not forget what lies ahead.

Grace & Peace,

Scott

What's Up?

2011-12-08T09:41:00.002-05:00

"Hey, what's up?"

When people ask me that question I usually answer it literally: Jesus, helicopters and clouds! But as I was thinking of that question today, my mind went immediately to the state of Calvary Church: our spirits, attendance and offerings! It’s pretty cool to see what has been happening in the last couple of months. Allow me a few lines to share a little more detail…

The spirit of Calvary is up because God is changing and molding us daily into the image of His Son. Always keep in mind that the goal of our lives is to honor God and the best way we can to that is to be more like His Son. We are ever learning what this means and how this looks, and we should never think that we’ve arrived. When we fall into the trap of believing we’ve mastered the art of glorifying God and knowing Him perfectly then we become stagnant. You know what a stagnant pool of water smells like? Well, when the warmer weather rolls around just go dig a hole in your backyard and fill it with water and then a few weeks later stick your nose down there and take in a big whiff! Yeah, it stinks…I think you get the point. Just keep allowing God to make changes in you!

We’ve seen numerical growth in the last two months as well. We thought this might happen as we neared the move-in date to our new building. Excitement is catchy and its, uh, mmm, well EXCITING! I love walking into the auditorium and seeing a new face! (Yeah, I like seeing all your “old” mugs just as well!) This is what’s really neat about a smaller church – you know when someone new is there and you also know when someone who is supposed to be there isn’t. Calvary Church is a family and a key word for us should be “TOGETHER.”

As much as I am not a number oriented pastor, I still know what’s going on. I don’t stick me head in the sand and say with Doris Day, “Whatever will be, will be.” I pretty much know the giving and attendance trends. What I’ve seen lately is that our average weekly giving to the budget is higher than the last two years. As near as I can tell we began trending upward in October. So far this year we’ve raised about $28,000 toward the new building (this includes the “Building Fund” and “A Thanksgiving Offering”). I want to challenge you as we come to the end of another year to give like you’ve never given. No, we are not in a crisis; and I am not in a panic. I just know that this is the time of year people are looking for a good and ethical place to give and I ask, “Why not Calvary?” I would like to see us raise another $10,000 toward “A Thanksgiving Offering” to help pay for the chairs, security system, phone system, signs, stage, etc. Pray with your family and ask God what He wants you to give. I have confidence that you will obey God’s leading!

Grace & Peace,

Scott

A Biblical Christmas

2011-11-28T16:26:00.003-05:00

Shopping lists, parties, parades, groceries, stocking stuffers, trips to the mall, Christmas cookies, caroling, TV specials, and on and on the Christmas list of "things I've got to do" goes. But what is missing in all of this is Jesus. How many times have we come to the end of the Christmas season and said, "Next year is going to be different. Next year I'm not going to focus so much attention on stuff and getting stuffed, but I'm going to really, really celebrate Christmas as a time of focusing on the birth of Jesus"? Well, this is the reminder to make this year the year that we do exactly that! Before we get caught up in the nonsense of commercial Christmas let's get caught up in the real sense of a biblical Christmas. How do we do that? Glad you asked...here's what I'm thinking -

First, get a Scriptural focus. We begin where the story begins - in the Bible. Everyday make it a habit of getting into the Bible and rediscovering the authentic Christmas story. Read the prophets in the Old Testament to get their perspective on the Messiah promised from God to Israel who would deliver them not from the oppression of a government but from the oppression of their own sin. Meditate on passages such as Isaiah 7 and 9, Micah 5:2, Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53.

Next, let the joy of the birth of Jesus capture your attention. Imagine yourself a shepherd on the night the angel announced the good news of great joy. Allow your voice to sing praise to the majesty and glory of God for the gift of His presence in the person of His Son. Let your mind dwell on Luke 2.

But don't leave Jesus as a baby. It is essential that we get caught up in the whole storyline of the Savior. Our redemption wasn't accomplished in a feed trough in Bethlehem; it was done on a cross outside the city of Jerusalem. Read the gospel accounts of Jesus' life, death and resurrection. Remember, and store in your heart, that He did this to reveal the Father to us.

Don't raise our generation of kids thinking that Christmas is about them and what "stuff" they get. Raise them to know the meaning of Christmas is the gospel of redemption for the glory of God!

Grace & Peace,

Scott

You Refreshed My Soul!

2011-11-21T11:38:00.003-05:00

There are times in our life when we need help. You know what I mean...times when it feels like we've been crossing a desert and we need a refreshing drink of clean, cold water. The problem is that we know what we need, but we can't get it on our own; we need someone else to give us that drink - we need someone to refresh us. Honestly this has been my life lately. With everything going on with the new building, messages to get ready, people to see, decision to be made, family to pay attention to, and life to live, I've simply needed someone to come along and refresh my soul. My family does a great job of this on a daily basis. Barb tells me how much she loves and appreciates me, and my children send me texts and Facebook posts. But sometimes you need a little more...you need to know from other people that you're doing a good job. And this is exactly what took place Sunday morning when a group of men came forward at the end of the service and each of them said a meaningful, heartfelt word of encouragement to me. Each of those embraces and words spoken in my ear reached their intended target. I walked away not just thinking that we are going to get through this relocation, but that I'm going to stick around and cast a vision for this congregation and teach this congregation until they can't stand me hanging around anymore!

Now before you go and think that I've gone all narcissistic on you and I need to be mollycoddled, I want you to remember that even the great apostle Paul needed encouragement and refreshing from time-t0-time. When he wrote to the Corinthian believers he made the following statement,

I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus...for they refreshed my spirit... (1 Corinthians 16:17-18).

Now I realize Paul was under a great deal more pressure than myself or most contemporary preachers, but I believe the application is available for today.

During this Thanksgiving week I want the congregation of Calvary Church to know that you are the best flock to under-shepherd. I love being your pastor and count it an honor to be a part of each of your lives. Thank you for coming back week after week.

Grace & Peace,

Scott

The Bible...Never Leave Home without It!

2011-11-17T09:20:00.004-05:00

"The best Bible to use is the one you use a lot" (Peter Williams - member of the ESV translation oversight committee).

At times I am amazed at the way believers treat God's Word. I'm not talking about mistreating it physically by throwing it around; I'm talking about how God's children treat it on an emotional, intellectual and spiritual level. My concern doesn't stem from how we handle the Bible with our hands but how we handle it in our hearts. When Paul wrote Timothy about his ministry he didn't fail to mention the importance God's Word played:

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16(.

According to this we cannot - we must not - treat the Bible with contempt because it is a product of Almighty God. The word translated "breathed out" is Paul's catchword for the divine inspiration of every text of Scripture. Just how inspiration works is not spelled out in this passage and so we must turn to 2 Peter to get a clearer understanding of the process.

For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:21).

Simply put, God, through the Holy Spirit, providentially moved in the lives of 40 men over a period of 1,500 years to write 66 books to contain what He wanted them to write to reveal His glorious gospel to humanity. Each human author had his own personality and style of writing; God did not erase that, He used it. Since Scripture is a product of God, when we disrespect the Word we disrespect Him. When we neglect God's instruction, we neglect Him. It's like a parent who gives their child instruction and direction and then that child ignores it and goes their own way thinking they know better.

If Calvary Church is gospel centered then we must be centered on where God revealed this wonderful truth. We must get into the habit of always having His Word with us. Every car, backpack, diaper bag or lunch box must contain a copy of God's Word; we never know when we will need it. I encourage all of us to make it a point never to walk into a worship service without a copy of God's Word in our hands; never go to a prayer meeting without taking along your Bible. Never leave home without it!

Grace & Peace,

Scott

Priorities

2011-10-24T11:07:00.002-04:00

Sometimes we get our eyes off the goal; something else grabs our attention; we get distracted. Whenever this happens the results can be tragic. Take for example rescuing someone who is drowning: you are taught to never take your eyes off the victim; if a person goes under you are supposed to keep an eye on where you last saw them. A lifeguard who takes their eyes off the target could cause someone to lose their life.

In the church we too must have only one goal - one target. This goal must always and ever be the first priority of the church. If we lose focus then the results will be tragic. Let me remind all of us what the target of Calvary Baptist Church is:

The church exists for only one purpose: to spread the fame of God. It must be our desire to accurately reflect our Heavenly Father to everyone with whom we come into contact. No matter what the circumstance, we should want everyone to walk away with the right impression of our God.

If people have the right idea about God, then they will have the right idea about us. We are a people who love others because God first loved us; we serve others because God serves us; we care about the needs of others because God has always been faithful to care for our needs.

In making God big and us small, I believe that we will be on the right path to hitting the target of making God the center of everything in our lives. We just can't get over how great and good God is!

I have come to learn that not everyone will be happy with the choice we make in flooring, but that is not the focus of the church. My goal cannot be, must not be, to make everyone happy with the new building. My goal must be to shepherd you to keep your focus on the majesty and glory of God. Flooring is way down the list of priorities; God's glory is at the top of the list.

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).

Grace & Peace,

Scott

Breast Cancer Awareness Sunday

2011-10-18T15:07:00.004-04:00

This week at Calvary we are observing breast cancer awareness. I have some thoughts on this...

Breast cancer is very curable if detected early. I would encourage all of the ladies reading this to call your doctor in the next few days to see if you need a mammogram. I have been told by more than a few people that I make them nervous when I start using "doctor talk" so I will spare you the pain and my family the embarrassment. But I do think it is just common sense to want to live as long as you can to have more opportunity to honor God and serve others. Early detection of breast cancer that can be treated is part of a good plan to accomplish that.

Cherish those who've survived this disease and remember well those who've died. Just because someone you know is over their surgeries and treatment doesn't mean they are over the trauma of their cancer. I've always tried to tell you, "Hug them while you have them." This week talk, call, text, Facebook, and write those who you know have gone through the dark portal of breast cancer. Let them know you are thankful God has willed that they are still alive; let them know how much you love and need them. One of the ways to remember someone who died due to breast cancer is to donate to breast cancer research. Check out www.komen.org for further information.

Finally I want to share something deeply personal to our family. Our Mom, Adella Walsingham, is a three-time breast cancer survivor. To her family and friends she is better than Superwoman and her invisible jet! She is a living testimony that you don't have to curl up in a ball and quit; with God's amazing grace and loving people surrounding you, you can get through anything. Talk to her, she is a phenomenal woman!

Grace & Peace,

Scott

Being Thankful

2011-10-12T11:50:00.002-04:00

Entitlements kill gratitude. We think, because we exist other people exist for us (they owe us something). Can you see the tangled knot that type of thinking creates? If everybody fell into this trap then who will be doing anything for anybody...the government? One of the tragic results of an entitlement mentality is a severe lack of thankfulness. I'm afraid that we've become a society of ingrates.

We must not take people for granted! Easily said (or typed) but hard to practice. Do we know how much we need one another? This is a two-edged sword for a Christ-follower because we do live to serve one another, but we don't live just to have others serve us.

Hundreds of kindnesses are shown to us everyday and if we don't stop and say a simple, "Thank you" I believe a little part of the pipeline of God's grace gets plugged. Let me try to explain...

The Bible teaches about two general categories of grace operating in the world: uncommon grace and common grace. Uncommon grace is the grace of salvation. It's God's amazing grace that does something to change a person's life forever. This type of grace is secured by God's love through the cross. The gospel is what rescues us from the clutches of Satan; it delivers us front he punishment that our sin deserves. Uncommon grace is uncommon in part because not everyone experiences this grace.

The other type of grace is common grace; it is what touches the entire world every day. This is why it rains on the sinner's crops as well as the saint's. This is why the sun rises every morning and sets every night on the whole world. This grace God shares with the entire world in thousands of ways every day.

Because believers have been dramatically changed by uncommon grace we become conduits of God's common grace. Everybody in the world can show kindness (and by and large they do), but I believe it is those who've been uncommonly grace-touched who have a greater responsibility to be more grace oriented than the rest. No Christian can make it rain, but we can express kindness to those around us. We have an obligation to let God's grace flow through us to others. We can pause and say "Thank you"; we can help a young mother with three preschoolers in tow load her groceries into her minivan; we can take one afternoon a week to visit a shut in.

This is just a reminder to us all to make sure we spill out God's grace to the world. Let's not use being tired or busy as an excuse to miss grace pouring opportunities.

Grace & Peace,

Scott

Pride & Presumption

2011-10-10T15:19:00.002-04:00

"Are we being presumptuous by building a new building?" That question is one that I wrestled with three years ago and settled in my heart and mind back then. If I had not done this then I would have been a failure as a pastor-shepherd in leading Calvary Church to relocate, and it would be a little too late to just begin trying to answer it now.

The idea of presumption is one of assuming something will happen that in fact might or might not come to pass. For us as a church, relocating without first praying for the Lord's leadership, being considerate of the entire congregation, thinking through the cost, and believing in growth would be assuming many things that may or may not happen. Presumption is pride, and those who presume cannot afford to fail. While I certainly don't want to fail, I do believe we can fail in certain practical areas and it still won't destroy the work that God is doing. Read this carefully, I don't believe God will fail, but because we are human, working with other humans, we will fail and others will fail along the way.

Presumption also acts first and asks for God's blessing after. (You know the old saying, "It is easier to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission.") This is a very dangerous philosophy to follow when it comes to God's church; sometimes He just allows us to fall flat on our faces. I would argue that this is what will happen if what we are doing is motivated by pride. Remember what James teaches us, "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble" (James 4:6).

While I certainly don't know, nor can I predict, what will happen in the future of Calvary Baptist Church, I do believe that because we are seeking to honor God's majesty and help His children, that He will bless us immeasurably. As your pastor I rest securely on the following words from James,

Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit." - yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that (James 4:13-16, emphasis added).

Grace & Peace,

Scott

Bridal Wars

2011-09-28T09:45:00.003-04:00

Sometimes being critical is necessary, but at other times it is simply self-serving. The Bible certainly encourages discernment, critical analysis and, at times, judgment. Finding the balance between when to judge and when not to judge has never been easy. If we scour the Scriptures we will find passages that warn us not to judge and yet we will also discover passages that command it.

Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you (Matthew 7:1-2).

Do not judge by appearance, but judge with right judgment (John 7:24).

So, should we just throw up our hands, stick our head in the sand, and sit in a circle singing praise choruses? I don't think a response like that is al all pleasing to the Lord. If we don't attempt to strike a balance for which the Word of God calls then we will do great damage to the glory of God, the Gospel and the church. And so, at the risk of sounding overly simplistic and maybe even naive I believe if we follow two principles they will will greatly help us in striking the balance between judgment and non-judgment for which the Bible calls. (I am greatly indebted to a book I recently read written by D. A. Carson for guiding my thinking in this area [The Cross and Christian Ministry, Baker Book House, Grand Rapids, MI 1993].)

First, we shouldn't judge when our motivation is to protect our "turf" and exalt our group above others. Competition abounds in the church today. It's as if we are having "bridal wars" where the bride is being ripped apart just before the ceremony takes place. Just think of what we are presenting to Christ just before we walk down the isle - not a very pretty sight.

On the other hand, we should judge and exercise good discernment when someone is treating the Gospel cavalierly. Any person or body of people who would treat God and His Word in an unholy, careless manner through words or actions deserves judgment. Unholy living and practice call for biblical confrontation.

Just because somebody is not "doing church" the way we do is no reason for us to jump down their throats and consign them to outer darkness. A wrong judgment at the wrong time with the wrong motives does just as much damage as ignoring those who treat God like a lap dog or a fire insurance policy. We must not write another church off just because they don't neatly fit into our sock drawer of church polity.

I hope this helps all of us as we seek to faithfully follow God's leadership.

Grace & Peace,

Scott

Will Relocation Change What Is Central to Us?

2011-09-26T10:39:00.002-04:00

Many of us have a perspective on the new building on Parris Bridge Road. I think it looks like a peach shed. Others are surprised at how big it is. Everyone is glad there will be no steps to climb! But one perspective I want us to think about and draw an observation or two from is Scott Carter's; he thinks it looks like a prison. Now, you have to understand that he said this jokingly, and to be honest it does resemble a prison right now without the skin on the metal studs. But Scott knows, as we all do, that the building stands for something completely the opposite of a prison - it is a place of freedom because of our crucified King!

Because the gospel we embrace and preach is a gospel that sets prisoners free, the place where it is both embraced and proclaimed must be considered a place of freedom as well. At the outset of Jesus' ministry, while in the synagogue at Nazareth, Jesus read from the prophet Isaiah:

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,

Because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives

And recovering of sight to the blind,

To set at liberty those who are oppressed,

To proclaim the year of the Lord's favor (Luke 4:18-29 [cf. Isaiah 61:1-2]).

After Jesus read these powerful words He said, "Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing." It is impossible not to hear these words as a personal application to Himself. It is through the proclamation of the good news of Christ's death that those who are held captive by sin are set free.

This is what has been done at Calvary since its beginning in 1923, it is what we are doing at Calvary today and this is what we will be doing when we relocate. A new building has never changed what has been central to this church, and there is no need to think that moving down the street is going to cause us to change now.

Grace & Peace,

Scott

The Way I Remember 9-11

2011-09-07T16:43:00.003-04:00

This Sunday, September 11, marks the tenth anniversary of the attack on our country. This event is one of those in our lives when we will always remember where we were and what we were doing. At the first mention that something tragic happened, there was a mad dash to find a TV, and for the most of the rest of the day that is all we did - sit and watch in disbelieving confusion. On that morning 19 terrorists took over 4 planes. Two planes were crashed into the World Trade Center Twin Towers in New York City, 1 plane was crashed into the Pentagon, and 1 more was taken over by passengers and crashed in an empty field in Pennsylvania. It took 2 hours for the Twin Towers to fall. Almost 3,000 people died that day. 9-11 has had a huge impact in America, some for the good and some for the bad. I can think of two I would like us to think about as we remember this weekend.

First, a tragedy like this shakes us to our very core. We stand in disbelief that something like this could happen here. We have a hard time putting something as terrible as this in a category where we can analyze it and eventually figure it out. It is beyond our understanding. One thing I have learned is that bad people will continue to to bad things, but it is up to good people to make changes, and the only changes that will last are those for eternity. It is only the Gospel introduced into this situation that will make an eternal difference. Elected officials will make policies, but Christians must share the crucified King!

Second, a tragedy like this shapes our future. 9-11 plunged us into war and economic crisis. It is difficult to find an accurate number of Americans killed since the terrorist attack on U.S. soil, but one source stated that 8,800 Americans have been killed in the war on terror (both military and civilian). We have sent thousands our our children overseas to fight this war, and it will forever shape the landscape of our country's history. But I have another question, "How has it shaped us spiritually?" Something as terrible as this should shape the Church into a haven of peace and security when we find none in the world. the Church must be shaped into prayer, an allegiance to the Gospel as the only answer, and as place where people find answers to spiritual questions.

We should never forget 9-11. I don't believe it would do any good to ignore what happened, but we must also take solace in the fact that Christ is still reigning and He has invaded the kingdom of darkness through the cross. Terrorism will win if the landscape of America is unchanged spiritually because of September 11, 2001.

Grace & Peace,

Scott

Praying for Our Students

2011-08-31T11:02:00.003-04:00

All of our students have been adopted for the coming year, but I fear that we have lost sight of the vision I originally had for this ministry. The main purpose behind our "adopt-a-student ministry" was to have people praying consistently for them during the school year. What brought me to begin this at Calvary were Paul's Letters. One of the repeated themes in his letters is consistency in praying, both through his example and his instruction. Praying must be a priority in our relationships.

On a practical level I believe all of our students need prayer. They all face pressure and temptations, and I believe it is our spiritual obligation to take each of them to the throne of grace. On more than one occasion Blake told Barb that he knew people were praying for him during exam week.

However, I think the train has derailed a little and, therefore, next year we will have a major overhaul to this ministry. I sense that we have focused more on gifts than prayer. This practice is destructive to the kids for two reasons: first, it makes them more selfish because they get used to looking for a gift when they see their adoptive family on Sunday; second, it takes away from the main focus of prayer. I daresay that some have even hesitated in adopting a student to pray for because it means more buying.

I'll lay the burden of derailing the train on myself, but from here on let's keep the focus on praying. To encourage you to remember here are some tips that may help:

Place reminders in your life to pray (i.e., pictures on refrigerators, names on a sticky note in the car, etc.).
Ask you student (or parent) to give you a class schedule.
Be sensitive to pressure cooker times in your student's life (i.e., exams).

I think without too much trouble we'll get back on track, and as we grow our students will know that we've got them covered in prayer!

Grace & Peace,

Scott

The Earthquake of 2011!

2011-08-31T10:51:00.003-04:00

At approximately 1:51 p.m on Tuesday, August 23, 2011 I felt the earthquake. At first I thought it was the helicopter flying over at the time or maybe a big truck trying to make it up the hill on Pearl Street, but no it was an earthquake! For those of us who experienced it, it was pretty cool in one way. It's one of those rare things that happen, and it reminded me of a couple of things from Scripture.

First, an earthquake is one of those reminders from God that the earth is under a curse because of sin. When sin came it didn't just affect humanity, the effects of sin are universal. Our entire planet feels the result of man's disobedience and desperately wants to get out from underneath its curse. Paul wrote,

For the creation itself was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now (Romans 8:20-22).

Tuesday afternoon we felt "mother earth" push!

Second, an earthquake reminds me that life happens quickly! Certain events, good and bad, come into our life unexpectedly. No matter how much we plan, something could come at us out of the blue and knock us out of our argyle socks. People don't plan to have a catastrophe touch their life. None of us wake up in the morning saying, "I think I'd like something really bad to happen to me today." That would be crazy, but these things happen every day, and when they touch close to home it hits an emotional chord we didn't realize existed.

The plain fact is that we just don't know what's going to happen tomorrow; in fact, we don't even have a promise that tomorrow will ever get here (and for some it won't). Listen to what James had to say on that matter,

You do not know what tomorrow will bring (James 4:14).

It is moment like these we need to be reminded that God has reversed the effects of sin through the cross. It is in the gospel we find our hope in catastrophes, not in our emergency preparedness (as important as that is). It is only through Jesus and what He did at Calvary that we find hope at times like these.

Grace & Peace,

Scott

Newness

2011-08-18T14:31:00.003-04:00

A new school year has begun! For many this is a time of getting back into a good routine. Teachers want to teach a fresh batch of young, eager minds, and students want to show their friends their new shoes, jeans, shirts, and boyfriends...it's something new for everyone. It's simply an exciting time of year! At least it's better than sitting around bored with nothing to do but watch the grass turn brown in the heat of the summer. "Newness" is wonderful and this time of year reminds me of the constant newness of the Christian life.

God spiritually created us to be new through Christ. Paul called us God's "new creation" and then he describes God's creative activity in our lives with the statement "the old has passed away; behold, the new has come" (2 Corinthians 5:17). God is not satisfied with leaving us the way we were; He wants and expects change. This change is radical in the sense that it affects every single, solitary area of our life. It's a different direction for our lives, a different desire for our passions, a new set of habits, and a different way of looking at life.

Another point I want to make is that this change never ends. The newness is always new again. We will never get to a point in our lives when change is no longer necessary. We must always be growing. This constant, spiritual growth is by God's sovereign design according to Romans 8:29,

For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son...

Just think about it, God's plan from before time began was to make us more and more like His Son. This plan is rooted in the gospel, continues in the gospel and finishes in the gospel. I say this because our spiritual growth is about being conformed to the image of Jesus. He didn't say conformed to a set of rules or traditions, but His Son. Central to being remade int he image of Jesus is the cross, and so central to our spiritual growth is the cross.

Grace & Peace,

Scott

A Painful & Proud Night

2011-08-12T21:49:00.004-04:00

I find so much joy in being a father, but I have also experienced pain. One of the most painful experiences is watching your children leave. Tonight is one of those painful nights. Tomorrow morning (8-13-11) we are taking our youngest, Abigail Jo, to the University of South Carolina in Columbia, SC. The Ford Expedition is packed, her "last supper" was homemade pizza and cake pops, her boyfriend, Pace, is here, and now they are all loudly playing a game of nertz (don't ask, I can't play because I can't keep up). Behind me I can hear a lot of card-playing trash talking and loud laughter. For all of that I am thankful, but a part of me is falling apart.

One of my fondest memories of Abby is a family vacation we took to Florida. We were staying in a resort in Orlando and decided to take the clan to FAO Schwarz. We had to park about a mile away. On the long walk Abby held my hand and talked to me the entire way. That was probably 12 years ago, but to me it happened yesterday. What I love about memories is that nobody can take them away from you and that one will always stay in my heart.

I am absolutely thrilled that Abby is going off to college. I am so proud of the decisions she has made up to this point in her life. She is a deeply spiritual young woman and she has my gratitude and respect. I love her with all of my heart and will continue to pray everyday that she stays cross-centered and safe.

A Proud & Sad Daddy,

Scott

Soul Gardening

2011-08-10T09:23:00.004-04:00

Okay, I must confess that I love the fact that the steel is going up on the new property! Progress is exciting and contagious. In my wildest dreams I never imagined we would be at this point so early in my pastoral ministry at Calvary, but God knew what He was doing. More amazing than the concrete and steel being put up on the new property is the spirit of the people at Calvary Church. You all are such a blessed people to pastor and I am thankful everyday for the honor of being called your "pastor."

In thinking about what I wanted to write to you this week I thought of at least one caution for us all: Don't get so caught up in the future of moving into a new building that we forget about ministering in the present! There is a serious danger is focusing so much attention on the move of tomorrow that we neglect what God has called us to do today. I really believe that we will lose our focus of honoring the great majesty of our God and helping the body of Christ at Calvary if all of our attention is given over to a new building. One area we must focus on is reaching new people who belong at Calvary no matter where we are meeting. We cannot afford to wait; we cannot allow the providential appointments God puts in our paths to slip past.

God has providentially and strategically placed us in our families, schools, neighborhoods, workplaces and hangouts to plant the seed of the gospel or to water that seed. And remember, it is not up to us to harvest...that is God's business.

I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth (1 Corinthians 3:6).

The reason God orchestrates His work this way is to maximize the glory He receives when a life is radically changed through His gospel.

So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth (1 Corinthians 3:7).

We need to know our place in God's "soul gardening" plan. So, let's put on the gloves, get out the seed and watering can and get into the garden!

Grace & Peace,

Scott

Calvary's New Home

2011-08-01T19:15:00.003-04:00

I thought it was time I posted the artist's rendering of the new building we will hopefully occupy in November 2011. Right now all we can say is, "Welcome to our pad!" Literally, all we have is a concrete pad, but they will start putting up the steel on Wednesday (7-3-11). We are all excited and are praying daily that this new location would honor our Lord and benefit His children!

Are We Moving in the Right Direction?

2011-08-01T10:07:00.002-04:00

As a church are we moving in the right direction? Good question, but isn't it a little late to be asking it now? I don't believe so for at least two reasons:

First, it is the right question because this is not the first time we've asked it. Over the last three years I have repeatedly asked this question. With every step we've taken to relocate Calvary Church I've personally asked this question in one form or another. When I stop and ask this specific question it causes me to ask another important one: "Why are we doing this?" If the first response from me is anything other an to display God's glory in a greater way to a community searching for a God-honoring church then our motivation is completely wrong. As we move forward we must always keep God's glory as the preeminent goal is relocating.

Second, it is the right question because of the danger of getting caught up in building a building and neglecting the church! I never dreamed how much it would take to build a new building. The largest building I've ever built is a 47 sq. ft. tree house, and that didn't turn out too great. So now, faced with a building project of almost 17,000 sq. ft. is quite daunting. Almost every day we are faced with emails, phone calls, engineer reports on concrete, invoices, sales people, and the list goes on. But what about the people who come week-after-week seeking direction, conviction and comfort from God's Word? What about the shut-ins who are looking for a friendly face to knock on their door? What about the saints who find themselves facing surgery at the hospital? Remember, these things haven't magically stopped just because we are building a building. So this question reminds me that if we get caught up in the sticks and bricks while neglecting the people then we are not truly building the church!

My prayer for Calvary is that as we build this building we will never neglect the truly important...the glory of God and good of His people.

Grace & Peace,

Scott

Clearing Our Conscience

2011-08-01T09:26:00.002-04:00

I received a letter last week that was the end of a young man's forty-three battle with guilt. I am leaving it anonymous to protect his reputation.

"As a young boy, I decided to skip school for the day as I was sure I would not pass a test to be given. A day of hooky sounded like a better plan. I was not alone in this though and soon a friend joined me in a day of adventure. It was midday when we wandered to the steps of Calvary Baptist Church and went inside to look around. Honestly there were no preconceived plans for what happened next, but I was there so I am guilty. As I looked around, I saw my friend taking a microphone from a stand and placing it under his shirt. I asked him what he was doing and before I knew it we were both running out the door.

"That was forty-three years ago and it is still on my mind. I am a Christian and have been for over twenty-five years. I know Christ has forgiven me, but want to give back what was taken. Please accept my deepest apologies and the enclosed check."

Oh, how this letter touched my heart (as I hope it does yours)! Immediately I was reminded of what Paul said it Acts 24:16,

So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man.

Biblically this man did the right thing. He sought forgiveness from God first and then began building his life for Christ. Along the way God changed him and that changed involved a radical obedience to the Spirit's moving. Eventually his conscience was convicted of the wrong he committed forty-three years ago against a congregation who for the most part didn't know the theft took place or had forgotten and moved on. However, God would not let this man move on until he radically obeyed and proved his repentance through a changed life. I am sure his check more than covers the microphone, and besides, the microphone is not the real issue anyway...his radical obedience is.

I praise our Father in heaven for letters and repentant faith like this. I reminds me that my spiritual walk is not moving in the right direction until I am ready to obey my Sovereign Lord at any cost to me personally. I hope this reminder helps your walk too.

Grace & Peace,

Scott

Be Still

2011-07-06T15:43:00.003-04:00

Watching the back and forth motion of the earth moving and compaction equipment is mesmerizing. It has quite a cool soothing effect on me. I try to squeeze a little time a few days a week to drive out to the new property and watch. I love to see the progress that each day and week brings, and I enjoy the distraction. It's sort of like a cheap alternative to going to the beach and watching the waves roll up on the sand. I just know better than to take along a beach umbrella and chair and set up in the middle of 4026 Parris Bridge Road - although it would be sort of fun to see what reactions it would generate!

Sometimes we need a break from the cacophony of the crowd. At our downtown location all I hear all day is the noise of traffic of Pearl Street (which includes sirens from all sorts of emergency vehicles). At times it drives me to the edge of insanity and that is when I seek some solitude of peace and quiet. I find this peace and quiet by driving out to the new property and watching other people work while shut up in my car. Hey, I could go to work for the road commission!

Nothing super profound this week, just a reminder that sometimes we need to get away from the hustle and bustle - get away from the screaming world around us and find a place of quiet to meditate on what God is teaching us and pray. There are times when God calls us to action: "Don't just sit there, do something!" But at other times He calls us to quiet: "Don't just do something, sit there."

Be still, and know that I am God... (Psalm 46:10a)

God's intention in these quiet times is not self-focus, but God-focus. The outcome of finding a place of quiet rest is primarily to gather our thoughts about God's majestic beauty - to rediscover just who is in control of this little ball of dirt we call "Earth."

I really believe this is going to be a very busy year for us at Calvary Church. We have so much to do and while that is certainly exciting it is also dangerous. It is dangerous because in all of the hustle and bustle we may end up forgetting for Whom we are doing all of this. So stop! Be still! And remember everything we do is for God's honor and the good of His children!

Grace & Peace,

Scott

Our Lives Will Influence People

2011-07-06T15:27:00.004-04:00

When you go out to eat with certain people you just know that the meal is going to take some time. For instance, if you go somewhere with Preacher Crocker you have to be prepared to stop about every ten feet and wait for him as he talks with somebody he knows. Well, on Monday I found myself along with Greg and Keith taking PC out for a belated birthday lunch to the Clock (awesome bacon cheeseburgers!). And in keeping with tradition, as soon as we walked into the restaurant I noticed people looking at PC and whispering; I knew then that we were in for a long lunch. After we sat down a couple came over and began talking with us - a blast from PC's past. This is not an unusual occurrence, its standard fare, and I both enjoyed it and learned from it.

Through the years of pastoring, Preacher Crocker has taken the time to get involved in people's lives. He didn't simply pass them by thinking he was too important to get involved with their everyday messes. He is one who has taught me firm, loving compassion. I think we've all been around long enough to know that you don't get his reputation by being filled with your own sense of self-importance.

I have read many good books (and some not so good) on how to be a pastor, but nothing will ever take the place of spending time with men who have done it right. Theory on the black and white is one thing, but what I've found more helpful is reading the flesh and blood books of my brothers who care enough to teach me. And believe me, I still have a long way to go because I'm still learning! I have been blessed to have two such men in my life as a pastor: Jerry Wiley and James Crocker.

Our lives will influence people - good, bad or ugly (not people, our influence). What we say and do follows us well into our 80's. Remember this lesson as you think about the people with whom you work, play and worship. The very person you ignore may become the same person who ends up sitting next to you in Sunday school one morning; what will they think then? The one you stop and spend time listening to in the nursing home may just be the mother of somebody looking for a good church. Think about it.

Grace & Peace,

Scott

Growing Through Trials

2011-07-06T15:14:00.002-04:00

I can't help thinking about where Calvary Church will be in five to ten years. I know there will be "high water" marks and "low water" marks. The years ahead will be filled with great memories as we continue our pursuit of honoring God's majesty in all we do. I also realize that we will face trials that will test our faith. Church life will not be an easy-breezy coast along the highway of no potholes. Trials will come and they will be a constant reminder that we should not make ourselves too comfortable because we aren't home yet. These times of testing can be very beneficial or equally devastating...it all depends on our response. And therein lies what I've been thinking about the last few days: Our growth from trials will be directly proportionate to our response in those trials.

This is why James wrote "count it all joy when you encounter various trials." He knew spiritual growth would come as a result of a proper response to these times of testing. So, when trials come knocking at your door, stop and ask, "God, what am I supposed to learn from this?" And remember that God doesn't want us to go around the trial; He wants us to go through the trial with His help. I hope this helps your spiritual walk.

On another note I want to thank those who've served the Lord so well over the last few weeks on mission trips. Our thanks goes to out to Tammy Gilbert for serving for a week in Honduras. Our gratitude also goes out to Matthew Bayliff, Maggie Cox, Kacie Hines, Abby Linnerud, Ben Linnerud, Blake Linnerud, and Nikki Paxton who all served through Salkehatchie Summer Service in Blythewood, SC. These mission trips, though diverse, accomplished much for the name of our Lord. the sacrifice of your faith is a joy to all of us!

My hope and prayer for all of us this week is that we sense the smile of God on our lives as we live for Him!

Grace & Peace,

Scott

Prayer Is Our Only Option!

2011-07-06T15:03:00.003-04:00

We are finally underway. This week they brought out the bulldozers (never really knew why they call them that) and earthmovers (I can figure that one out). Our little piece of dirt that was once all trees is being reduced to nothing but good ole South Carolina red dirt! Yea, I'm pretty jazzed right now. Here is what we can expect to see...

By the end of June a slab will be poured. That slab will be the foundation of our new building.
By the middle of July the steel will begin to go up.

That just gives us an overview of what we should see and when we should see it taking place. I anticipate many of us will spend some time out there watching, and others will not be able to do that because you don't live in the are. For everyone my challenge is to pray. If you find yourself standing in the parking lot of the Fast Stop use some of that time to seek the Lord and ask Him for wisdom and blessings for Calvary Baptist Church. If you are not able to get to the building site, then as the Lord brings Calvary to mind please pray. This is the time to be persistent in prayer. A verse that is important for our praying is Matthew 7:7:

[Keep on] asking, and it will be given to you; [keep on] seeking, and you will find; [keep on] knocking, and it will be opened to you. (emphasis mine)

Never give up praying. Prayer is not our last resort it is our only option! But we must be careful not to pray selfishly. Remember what James wrote:

You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. (James 4:3)

And when we find ourselves at a loss for words we should allow the Holy Spirit to help us.

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weaknesses. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings to deep for words. (Romans 8:26)

Grace & Peace,

Scott

Waiting

2011-06-14T09:54:00.002-04:00

Waiting is difficult. Patience is something with which we all struggle. Its tough wanting something to happen, knowing it is going to happen any day, but not seeing it happen when we expect it. This has been our experience at Calvary this week. We thought for sure the grading on the new property would begin. We even thought we saw evidence of it early in the week when two pieces of machinery showed up on the property. However, that equipment belonged to the Depart of Transportation; I have no idea why its there. I guess I have a new appreciation for the old saying, "A watched pot never boils." How true! No matter how many times I drive by, the dirt is still not getting moved.

At this point we cannot allow a lack of patience to overwhelm us and plunge us into frustration. This is not what God wants for His church. He is never early and certainly never late; His timing is perfect. Part of what we must do at this point is surrender ownership. Keep in mind that this is God's project...we are simply the stewards, managers, overseers He has entrusted.

A verse of Scripture I have parked on this week to find help is found in Proverbs 13:12, Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.

We must guard our expectations. If we think something is going to take place and we schedule our life around that event but it is not God's timing then we will be greatly disappointed (i.e., our heart will be sick). I think it boils down to trust. Are we going to trust God to run the show and work things out in His way? In this situation we have to choice but to wait patiently. What other option is there? Its not like we can run out there with shovels and get the job done.

Our hearts will be filled with joy when the grading begins. This will be the "tree of life" Solomon wrote about. I am anticipating the day we will all meet in the parking lot of the Fast Stop and rejoice together that once again God is doing something great for us!

Grace & Peace,

Scott

Writing the Final Chapter

2011-06-02T09:32:00.004-04:00

If you will permit me a little personal reflection this week I would greatly appreciate it. Graduation reminds me of endings and beginnings. For Barb and me it is the end of a long trip...the last chapter in but one book we will write. All of our children have now graduated from high school. I have come to call each of these graduations "sitting on the edge of disaster." Why? Because I feel the wrenching in my entire being as our children step away from us and plunge themselves into a great adventure! They are not on the edge of disaster, but we are. Our emotions run wild as we hear their names called and they walk across that stage. I hope you understand our feelings.

I feel the same way about Calvary Church. We are beginning to write the last chapter of just one of the books on our shelf. I spend time at night contemplating how we are going to write these final words. Sometimes it is troubling and sometimes exhilarating! I tend toward the melancholy at times like these. I don't want us to falter; I don't want us to stumble; I don't want us to fail. And maybe I play too much emphasis on us and not enough on an almighty Creator who made us in His image. But I honestly fear that it will end in a mess and the result will be a poorly written chapter that is very disappointing.

All of this reflection brings me to the point of what I am attempting to write this week and I think Paul said it best,

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. (Colossians 3:23-24, ESV)

I want to encourage all of us that what we are doing is primarily for the Lord. If we truly build this building for the glory of the Lord and the good of His people, then we will write this last chapter beautifully. It will be a chapter that we will want to return to and read many times over. It will be a credit to God's majestic glory and a benefit to His children.

What I am trying to say is: let's do something that will be remembered for the right reasons! Let's move away from the spotlight and point others to the wonderful work that God has done and will continue to do. I believe that if we do this then the book we finish this year will be worth the time to read and we will begin to write a new one that everyone will anticipate reading once it is finished...chapter-by-chapter!

Grace & Peace,

Scott

Groundbreaking!

2011-05-29T16:12:00.006-04:00

To God be all the glory! After three years of praying, seeking wise counsel, planning, studying, meeting and voting the relocation of Calvary Church is finally underway. The Groundbreaking Service we had on Sunday evening, May 22, 2011 was the official launch of attempting, as far as man is concerned, the impossible. But God is the God of the impossible.

I am both excited and scared about the future. I am excited about God continuing to do the impossible as the new building on Parris Bridge Road get built. I am scared because I know that we are facing a spiritual battle against the prince of the power of the air (Ephesians 2:2). We are not waging war against an enemy that can be seen; he is not flesh and blood (Ephesians 6:12). If we could see the enemy, if we could touch him, if we could hear him coming, if we could sense his presence in some physical way it would make the fight so much easier. But just because he can't be seen, heard or felt doesn't make him any less real. Be assured of this one thing: Satan is fighting a turf war for the souls of lost people and the hearts of disillusioned, disenfranchised disciples in our area, and he is not going to go away quietly just because we are bringing in the large and loud earth movers on Parris Bridge Road. No, because we showed up he will too!

Be confident of this one thing: the devil will only be defeated as we move forward on our knees in faith. Our utter dependence on God is absolutely necessary at a time like this. I believe God will build His Church; I just want us to be a part of what He is doing. May we valiantly fight the spiritual battle. It will cost, but the rewards will be worth the price.

Grace & Peace,

Scott

The Trees Are Down!

2011-05-11T14:14:00.003-04:00

The trees are down...at least the pine ones are! This is progress and progress is exciting. Removing the trees was the next step in the many that we will take in the months ahead. Did you realize that we are a short six months away from moving? I usually like to take a look ahead which is good, but sometimes it can be depressing. It is good because we are taking each step into the future by faith. the future is only something that God knows and if we remember that then we will not be anxious about the future. It can also be depressing because of all the work that needs to be done before we move. Here is what yet needs to be done:

First, we need to decide how much money God would allow us to borrow. This will be the main item of discussion of Sunday night (5-15-11). Please come as we discuss the recommendation of the deacons and myself. As one deacon said, "This is not a problem for God...He has no problems."

Second, we need to finish cleaning and inventorying the approximately 48,000 sq. ft. we presently occupy. This project has been going "swimmingly." Each month we set aside one Saturday to attack an area of the building. I would guess that we are about 38.6492% done.

Third, we need to raise money for certain items we will need in the new building. What things? We will need a stage, phone system, and chairs for the auditorium. Those are immediate needs, but others will need our attention in the near future (security system, replacing tables, replacing the sound system, a sign, and landscaping).

I am confident in the Lord as I look to the future of Calvary Church. The reason I feel this way is because it isn't up to us, it is up to Almighty God and nothing is impossible for His to accomplish. the one activity that has been on my mind more than usual for us is prayer. This is not a time to fret; it is a time to pray. I would also encourage you to be fasting-praying if the Lord leads you to do so.

I believe that if we attempt this without God's help and leadership we will not have tapped into His inexhaustible resources. God is a God who does the impossible. We must be a praying and working church. We will only see fruit as we do this work God's way!

Grace & Peace,

Scott

Choose the Best, Moms

2011-05-04T15:26:00.002-04:00

I think you moms need more than one day set aside to celebrate all you do. I know as a little boy I put so much stress on my mom that she deserved a "Mother's Day" once a week. I think I know why some moms color their hair - to hide the gray hairs brought on my little boys. But I digress...

Moms, I want to encourage you to take on Mary's characteristic of hanging on every word of Jesus. The sisters, Martha and Mary, are a study in contrasts. Martha was a woman who took care of things, probably necessary things, and not just one thing, but many things. She got stuff done, but she probably took on too much because Jesus said to her,

Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things (Luke 10:42a).

No doubt some of the things she was obsessed over were things for other people to take care of. But I think it was in Martha's nature to make sure everything got done, and if something was left undone then she felt it her mission to get that done as well. The problem with this is that it robbed her of the time she could have been spending doing something better - something her sister, Mary, was doing. Jesus said of Mary,

Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her (Luke 10:42b).

And just what was the "good portion" that Mary had chosen? She had chosen to sit at Jesus' feet and listen to His teaching (cf. v. 39). It seems that we usually find Mary at Jesus' feet handing on His every word!

Now let's not be too hard on Martha. At times all of us find ourselves doing so many "good" things that we neglect the "best" thing! I just want to encourage you moms to make good choices. Spending time at Jesus' feet soaking in His teaching is a higher priority than making sure the hamper is empty and the ironing basket is kept to a minimum. It is better to take time everyday to be with jesus than Betty Crocker. When you spend time with Jesus then you are better equipped to mold the lives of children.

Happy Mother's Day!

Scott

"Thank You" Notes

2011-04-27T13:29:00.002-04:00

We have almost lost the practice of appreciation; we have misplaced the habit of saying thank you. I think this happens because we take people for granted. We see each other week after week and day after day. It is normal for these people to be a part of our lives. We get used to what others do for us and we only take notice of what they do when they don't do it. Does that make sense to you? I hope so.

Paul is a good example of showing his appreciation to his fellow believers. In almost every letter he wrote, he expressed his thanks (cf. Romans 1:8; 1 Corinthians 1:4; Ephesians 1:16; Philippians 1:3; Colossians 1:3; 1 Thessalonians 1:2; 2 Thessalonians 1:3; 2 Timothy 1:3; Philemon 4). This week I would like to point out just a couple of observations about Paul's thank you notes:

First, Paul's thanksgiving was directed to God. Yes, he did openly express his thanksgiving in his letters, but he was thanking God for these believers. He was careful to make sure they knew that he was thankful to God for them. This is a great compliment we can pay to others. A God-ward thankfulness is sincere whereas a man-ward thankfulness can be hypocritical and self-serving.

Second, Paul's thanksgiving was about spiritual qualities. He saw things such as faith, love and hope as important. There was never a focus on the external, temporary traits; he kept his attention on those things in believers that we lasting and world-changing.

the avenues of communication we have today are both wonderful and quick, but they should never take the place of a timely written and much needed handwritten card. I hope all of us will be challenged to take the time to occasionally write a personal note to someone and tell them that we are thankful for what God has done in their lives and how God is using them in ours. When God brings someone across your mind take that as a prompting of the Holy Spirit to get out pen and paper and put words to your feelings.

Grace & Peace,

Scott

The Resurrection Gives Us Hope

2011-04-21T09:27:00.004-04:00

The resurrection is a doctrine of hope. It is a truth that was shrouded in mystery for centuries to Old Testament believers. The believers who lived before Christ's resurrection were not given much revelation from God about what happened to those who died. But even those believers trusted that God would do the right thing. Job said of his life after death,

For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God. (Job 19:25-26)

At this point in history God had not chosen to pull back the curtain to reveal what happened to His followers after they died. The mystery of what ultimately happened to the body after death continued. And then it happened! Three days after Jesus' agonizing death on the cross He physically raised from the dead. What was once a total mystery began to be revealed. God began to give a glimpse of His plan for our physical bodies after we die.

God continued to progressively reveal His ways throughout the New Testament. When we finally come upon Paul he basically throws the curtain wide open so all could see. Paul was dealing with this issue with the believers in Thessalonica; he wanted to give them hope in the midst of grieving for those who had died and so he wrote,

But we do not want you to be uninformed brothers about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep...The dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive...will be caught up together with them...and so we will always be with the Lord. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14, 16-17)

I believe people look for hope in death. The one true hope believers have in death is that God is not done with their believing loved ones. He clearly promises a resurrection to eternal life for those who believe in Him. The resurrection of His Son, Jesus, is proof positive of the authenticity of the resurrection. The resurrection we celebrate every week as we gather on the first day of the week infuses us with hope!

Grace & Peace,

Scott

You Honored Her Well

2011-04-12T15:30:00.004-04:00

What you did for Barb on Sunday night was "fantastically wonderful"! And I want to say, "Thank you." Your love was on vibrant display as you surprised her to honor her just for being Barb. She is truly a wonderful woman...I may be biased, but I know I'm right. In the churches we've served she is one of the factors that I'm sure got me the job. And yes, I agree that I married way beyond my pay grade! I don't think you can spend even five minutes with her without coming away with the feeling that you've met somebody pretty special. By the way, I believe a church like Calvary deserves a pastor's wife like Barb!

Does this surprise me about Calvary? Not in the least! This is a church filled with people who not only tell you they love you but also prove that love through action. It reminds me of what God dreamed His Church would be like. He didn't create a church that would be all talk and no action. One of the many important aspects of His Church is a loving environment where people know they are loved by what people do not just what they say.

Jesus vehemently attacked the religious hypocrisy of His day. On one occasion He said, "They preach, but do not practice" (Matthew 23:3). Even Paul sense this danger of saying but not doing when he addressed the believers in Corinth. He compared his Christian walk with that of a runner, and in the analogy he said that runners discipline themselves to run by the rules so that when they cross the finish line they win legitimately (1 Corinthians 9:24-27a). He applied this analogy to his own life-ministry and wrote in the end,

...Let after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified (v. 27b).

A danger always exists in our lives of becoming a hypocrite (saying one thing and doing another). We must not let that sin slip into our lives. If we do then we are no better off than the accepted religion of Jesus' day that thought they knew God but were far from Him.

Grace & Peace,

Scott

3 Elements that Make Calvary Church Great to Pastor!

2011-04-06T11:39:00.006-04:00

I pastor the greatest church known to mankind! Now I realize that is a bold statement, but I believe that if I don't feel this way then I have to ask myself, "Why am I here?" Every pastor should feel this way about the congregation they under-shepherd, and at any time he feels like the grass is greener in another pasture then it's time to pack the books and move on. But let me tell you why I believe this particular group of Christ-followers is simply the best.

A God-Exalting Passion. The people at Calvary are truly striving to lift the name of God high above all others. This is a growing desire here that steers the ship. You just need to step into one of the services and you will sense this focus. We are not about gimmicks, glitz, or gold--we are about God!

A Family Atmosphere. While this is a trait many are trying to attain it is something that I believe Calvary has achieved. When you come week after week you just feel like you've come home. Every week is a family reunion. No, we are not perfect, but what family is?

A Truth-Hungry Appetite. Christians naturally love God's Word. They see the Bible as their lifeline to the heavenly Father and His instructions on how to live. When you come to Calvary you encounter a people who have a heavy appetite for that Word. You cannot come to Calvary without wanting to be taught.

These are only three of the factors that make Calvary Church the best. I love you and it is an honor to be your pastor. One of my prayers is that I will be able to return to the pastoral trend set back when the church first started in 1923. The first four pastors pastored the church for 62 years, and two of the first four pastors stayed for over 18 years. Let's get back to that pattern and see what God will do over the next 15 years!

Grace & Peace,

Scott

The People Had a Mind to Work

2011-03-22T11:28:00.003-04:00

Seventeen years old to eighty-four...that was the "span of the ages" on Saturday's Packing Day (3-19-11). It was nothing short of amazing to watch and work alongside this group of 20 people. Everyone jumped in right away and started moving chairs...and boy do we have chairs, and not just ordinary, lightweight, easy-to-stack chairs. No, we have about 490 solid oak, non-stacking chairs, and we needed to move about 300 of them from the 5th and 4th floors of the educational building to the gym. The elder statesman of our troop came up with the old fireman's bucket brigade approach. Well, you can scratch that of the to do list! I want to shout out a huge "THANK YOU" to those who have been able to come out and help over the last three months.

As I reflect on that morning I am reminded of the post-exiled Jews who, under the leadership of Nehemiah, rebuilt the ruined walls around Jerusalem. They too jumped right in and got the job done no matter what obstacles they faced. Nehemiah wrote of them,

...The people had a mind to work! (Nehemiah 4:6)

Even though God put the task of rebuilding the walls in Nehemiah's heart (cf. 1:12), he realized he could not do the work himself. Why? Well, the task was just too much for one person. He needed help. He understood the old adage, "Many hands make light work." But he also knew that the responsibility of rebuilding needed to be shared by the ones who would enjoy the end result.

We have now had three packing days. We are scheduled to have nine more. The reason for having these once-a-month packing days is because we have about 51,000 sq. ft. of space to inventory and pack up. Yes, it is hard work, but it is also a morning of fun. Come out and put your muscles to use for the glory of God! If you have a mind to work we will find something for you to do.

Grace & Peace,

Scott

"I Just Don't Have the Time!"

2011-03-14T10:03:00.003-04:00

In the midst of a building program there is the danger of neglecting ministry. Deacon's meetings, renovation committee meetings, relocation committee meetings, future building plan committee meetings, budget and finance meetings, meetings with builders, and meetings with bankers consume our time. Meetings! Meetings!! And more meetings!!! These are essential and must have a place in our schedule, but if other priorities are neglected then something is wrong. Let me put it this way...Sunday is still on the calendar (every week!), shut-ins still need to be visited, people are still having surgery, suffering hasn't magically gone away, and God still longs for us to talk with Him through prayer.

We often say, "I just don't have the time!" I've used that excuse (and just maybe some reading this have as well), but we must realize that it is an incorrect statement from God's perspective. God has given us all the time we need to do His will. It is just a matter of prioitizing...or re-prioritizing.

Do you understand that Satan doesn't want us to have priorities that puts God first? He wants us to be busy about doing good things so that the best things get neglected. He wants us to get so wrapped up in the process of building (a good thing) so that we spend less time praying and devoting ourselves to God's Word (the best things). I believe it would put a smile on the devil's face if we got lost in planning where the babies, children, students and adults will meet for Sunday school all the while neglecting the very ones we want to put in those rooms.

Paul understood the tyranny of the adversary on our time when he wrote,

Making the best use of the time, because the days are evil (Ephesians 5:16).

Take note that he wrote, "making the best use of the time." I am trying to ask myself throughout each day as meetings arise and decisions need to be made, "Is this the best use of my time." Let me challenge you to do the same. It also helps me to remember the words of Solomon,

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven (Ecclesiastes 3:1).

Grace & Peace,

Scott

Faith

2011-03-02T16:23:00.003-05:00

We had a good discussion Sunday night (February 27). I think we were able to answer all the questions everybody has at this point. We will have more family discussions and will need to fine-tune the building. However, I believe we will be able to vote on this Sunday morning with confidence. Remember, we are voting to build at a cost not to exceed $1.5 million, we would borrow up to $500,000, the building will be built by Solsbee Construction Company, and we would borrow the money from First Piedmont Bank in Boiling Springs.

Now can be accomplished in this regard without faith. So, let me encourage you in your faith. Faith is the one godly character trait that is absolutely essential as we move to building. I can't improve on the definition of faith we find in Hebrews:

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1).

Two words that jump off the page are "assurance" and "conviction." Both of these words are descriptive of faith and therefore give us a pretty clear definition. First, faith is assurance. This means that when we exercise our faith we are sure. We are issuing a "guarantee" or "title deed" that we believe what we hope for is really going to happen. Paul wrote something similar to the Romans,

...Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience (Romans 8:24-25).

Second, faith is conviction. F. F. Bruce wrote, "Physical eyesight produces conviction or evidence of visible things; faith is the organ which enables people (like Moses in v. 27) to see the invisible order" (The Epistle to the Hebrews, p. 227). The invisible is the spiritual; it is in the realm of God and therefore in the realm of the possible.

Men and women at Calvary Church with good minds and great integrity have prayed, discussed, prayed some more, planned, and come up with a plan we believe is the path for us to follow in order to honor God the best. God has promised to bless His church, and we are going to take God at His word! Faith in God says that we have both the assurance and conviction that God will do what He says He will do.

Grace & Peace,

Scott

Are We Living for God's Glory or Bricks & Sticks?

2011-02-22T11:51:00.002-05:00

This has been one of those "good news...bad news" weeks. The good news is that the leadership of Calvary Baptist Church is recommending a building, a builder, a bank, and a loan amount; the bad news is that I had to call and let the other builder know that they didn't get the job. Yeah, that's hard for me because I don't like giving people bad news. The good news is that we are now able to move forward; the bad news is that some don't want to move at all. The good news is that another decision has been made; the bad news is that this one decision creates many more decisions yet to be made. Ok, I think you get the picture.

I want to quickly give you a perspective on this from my heart as a pastor. I see the opportunity in all this to being great glory to our worthy God. He is absolutely without question a magnificent God and everything we do I see as a grove that is ripe for picking the fruit of exalting God's name higher than we ever have.

I am not simply looking to pick this God-exaling fruit when we finally relocate; I want to do it right now. If we don't seek opportunities to honor His name now, I believe we won't in the future just because we are in a new place. Every day must be seen as a day to honor Him and let others know about His majesty. Getting to a new place isn't going to magically change things for us. In fact, it will create more problems that are unique to that location. But, if we are consistently trying to hit the target of glorifying God now, then no matter where we are that will continue to be our theme.

If we are driven by a consuming desire to let others know how great God is, then we will not be consumed with selfish desires about a new building on a different piece of dirt. God made us to glory in Himself, not in bricks and sticks. At least one difference between to two is how long they will last. Living for God outlasts and outstrips living for a building.

Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together! (Psalm 34:3)

Grace & Peace,

Scott

Are You Searching the Scriptures for Yourself?

2011-02-16T10:11:00.002-05:00

Something I read a couple of weeks ago struck a pastoral nerve. It was something that C. S. Lewis wrote:

"The charge to Peter was Feed my sheep; not Try experiments on my rats."

This gave me pause as I thought about my ministry as a pastor-teacher to the wonderful flock at Calvary Church. Keith Higginbotham taught me to ask, "What are you doing with these people?" You see, I realize I have the solemn and sacred responsibility to feed and not experiment. The church is not my personal playground in which to invent games just to keep the rest of the kids entertained and interested so they won't leave for a bigger and better one. No, the church is the bride of Christ and I have the awesome responsibility of co-nurturing her through the Word of God, not through tricks, techniques and strategies.

And what about the bride herself? What is Calvary's (and every other church out there as well) responsibility? Well, I can tell you that its not to be like a patient in a comma and be force fed through a tube. Nor are you to take every bite indiscriminately. This means you must get up (literally get out of bed and go to corporate worship) and eat. Enjoy the meal served. Eat to your fill and then sit back and let it digest. I believe we digest God's Word best when we act like a cow and let it keep coming up as we look at the Scriptures for ourselves. The Bible calls this meditation. And to be afraid to ask the question, "Did what Scott (or put any pastor's name in there) taught jive with other Scriptures?"

If you just swallow everything you hear you will become constipated spiritually (pretty painful)! And people in this state can't do much of anything--they are immobilized. I would encourage you to follow the example of the believers in Berea who "received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so" (Acts 17:11).

Grace & Peace,

Scott

Loving Passionately for the Long Haul

2011-02-08T11:13:00.003-05:00

The old saying goes, "Love is in the air." Yes, it's that time of year again--Valentines Day. Maybe this will simply serve as a reminder to the men out there (because we know our ladies don't need the reminder). Today I want to charge all of us to love biblically, and to accomplish this let's quickly look at love in two ways.

On the one hand, the worldly system in which we live bombards us with counterfeits to genuine love. The media portrays love as something that is easy to get into and easier to escape from. This type of love is Satan's imitation to the genuine thing. It is a love that has very little to do with choice and very much to do with feeling and attraction. It is something that comes and goes, and when it comes we are taught to grab it with gusto, but when the good feelings fade then we are free to move on. Western society not only gives us permission to love in this way but also encourages it.

On the other hand, God created us to love passionately for the long haul. It is not some ho-hum love nor is loving a lazy affair. The object of our love is someone whom we must follow hard after. This love is going to take commitment, patience and sacrifice. Loving someone doesn't come easy or cheap; in fact, it can be difficult and downright expensive. But God teaches us that the end result is worth it all. After all, it was His love that drove Him to sacrifice,

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

Grace & Peace,

Scott

The Warmth of the Embrace

2011-01-31T15:22:00.002-05:00

It is always exciting for us when somebody new comes to Calvary. We love visitors because we like to meet new people who might potentially turn into active members! Now, when somebody joins it is like Christmas all over again. This is what happened last Sunday...welcome John & Pam Suder!

We want to get down that isle and hug their neck or shake their hand; we want to shout "Hallelujah"; we want to shed tears of joy. Why all the emotion? We are emotional about people joining because they have come to know us, and they want to be a part of what God is us to at Calvary Church, and that brings joy to our souls. It touches a spiritual nerve deep inside us.

We must never take new people for granted. Whether someone is visiting or joining, it is our responsibility to make them feel like they've come home. God has enough "cold fish" churches out there that He is trying to light a fire under, let's not be one of them. Let's strive to be warm and loving to the sisters and brothers who come our way.

With the same breath I also want to say we must never take each other for granted...you know, the old people. Calvary is a family, and one of the characteristics that make us who we are is the way we treat one another week after week. This sense of family has always existed here. I'm not sure how it got started, but it is imperative that we keep it going. No matter what God does to us numerically in the future we must strive to maintain our family atmosphere.

What will you do now that you've read this? Not everyone who reads this electronically or in The Calvarette attends Calvary Baptist Church, but the lesson is still the same. You will make a difference where God has placed you. You can be the one who brings warmth to a cold place. We never know what people are going through, and it may just be the warmth of our embrace that lifts their spirits out of the pit of despair.

Grace & Peace,

Scott

The Farmers - Missionaries to Cambodia

2011-01-25T16:27:00.004-05:00

We had another great day worshipping the Lord this past Sunday at Calvary. We had a few visitors and that is always nice. I guess seeing new people means that we are getting the word out about the awesome work that God is still doing in His church. It gives me pause to give thanks to God for calling me to pastor this group of followers, and it gives me hope for the future. We will still be passionately serving the Lord in the years to come!

I want to spend just a few minutes talking about one family that came this past Sunday. I have been in contact with them for almost a year. They are missionaries going to Cambodia. The purpose of their visit was to share with us their biblical vision and godly desire to go to a foreign land with their five precious children. The family I am talking about is the Farmers (Jeremy, Bonnie Ruth, Abby, Isobel, Gloria, Eden and Judson). You learn a lot about a couple's character by watching them as a family, and I can say without hesitation that this is a family of great integrity. Everyone at Calvary thoroughly enjoyed interacting with their well-behaved and fun children. In all, the day spent with the Farmers gave me hope. They were a joy to have with us!

At the evening fellowship and Bible study Jeremy shared his family's vision for not only God's calling on their lives but also how the Church is involved in this great task. He handled the Word well and he wove their mission to Cambodia into the presentation flawlessly. I was both encouraged and challenged at the end of the night. As a family they definitely evidenced the call of God on their lives, and they have the "coupons" to get the job done right.

In the days since I have had a few people approach me about how we can partner with them now! First, we must be praying for them. We can do this most effectively by picking up their prayer card, visiting their website (www.solidjoys.org), and friending them on facebook (Solid Joys - The Farmers in Cambodia). Second, begin praying about supporting them financially. I am praying for wisdom about how as a church we can do this without waiting. Pray with me and I am sure the Lord will show us the way.

Grace & Peace,

Scott

Stuff in My Office

2011-01-25T11:51:00.003-05:00

We all forget about things from time-to-time. Sometimes when we forget it is not a big deal, but at other times it can be earth shattering. For instance, if I forget to stop at the store and pick up the gallon of milk Barb asked me to get I can put that in the "no big deal" category. However, if I forget about our anniversary it is pretty much of a guarantee that I can put that in the "you are in big trouble and sleeping on the couch tonight" category!

If you are like me you need reminders, and so I surround myself with stickie notes on my desk (yes, I have them on my computer too) and a white board in my office and alarms that go off on my phone...I even have reminders to remind me to look at my reminders just in case I forget. Does that sound familiar? I hope I'm not the only one.

Now one thing I certainly don't want to forget about is to pray. And so, I try to put things in my office, on my computer and in my car to remind me to pray for family, church and myself (to mention a few). Let me talk about "stuff in my office." Through the years people have given me things for my office and I can basically tell you who gave me what and when. The pictures and paperweights may not match the decor but they definitely serve a purpose. Let me explain...

As I walk around my office something will catch my eye and when I look at it I am reminded of somebody and that in turn reminds me to pray for them. I have found it to be a pretty cool thing to do and it has helped me in my walk with God by praying for you. This is not a solicitation to get "stuff" for my office unless you want to turn a five dollar bill in a pant suit; it is just something I thought I would pass on to you. Maybe you could use it, may be not...I was just thinking.

For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you always in my prayers... (Romans 1:9-10a).

Grace & Peace,

Scott

Let Us Exalt the Name of the Lord!

2011-01-13T11:55:00.005-05:00

Its cols outside, hey its cold inside; its cold up north and its cold in the south; its cold everywhere! In fact 49 states have snow right now. The only place you can go to escape the snow is Florida...anyone for a road trip? Seriously, I hope you have enjoyed this week of "staying in." I also hope that "cabin fever" has not set in too dramatically for you and your family. If it has, it is easy to cool off, just step outside.

Let me help us get a proper perspective on this cold and snow. Imagine living in a place where the temperatures are 20 to 30 degrees colder, you only get 5 1/2 hours of daylight, and the annual average snowfall is over 7 feet! If you lived in Anchorage, Alaska that would be your world (just ask Mike). We don't life in a cold climate like that and I am pretty sure that by the time you read this the kids will be back in school and most, if not all, of the snow will be gone. I guess I'm writing this to get all of us to count our blessings. We are truly blessed to live in the south. I think we are especially blessed to live in the part of the south where we can look down Highway 9 and see the snow on the mountains in North Carolina, and then turn around a travel 4 hours and be walking on the sandy shores in Myrtle Beach.

We have so much for which to be thankful. Take a moment while reading this and think about seven things for which you are thankful. God ahead, I'll wait. What are the first seven that came to you mind? Now, write them down and spend the next week thanking God for how He has blessed you. Focus on one of those things each day of the week. Change your facebook status each day to let your friends know what you are thanking God for that day.

Let's spend a week just thanking God for the blessings He has showered upon our lives.

Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together! (Psalm 34:3)

Grace & Peace,

Scott

Building to Spread God's Glory

2011-01-04T11:05:00.002-05:00

Are you ready to build? I am! We still have many questions that need answers, but we are progressing in the direction of breaking ground very soon. I don't think it is good enough to just come up with an answer to a question, I believe we need to ask why we came up with that answer. In other words, what is driving us to do what we are doing? Here is my attempt to ground us as we continue to make decisions today that will affect us years down the road.

We are not here to build an empire for ourselves. The buildings we build will not be ornate or built for the glory of self. As God leads and provides we will build buildings that are functionally simple. The decisions we make as a church will be driven by keeping our focus on the target: to spread the fame of God. We accomplish this great task through worship that is God-exalting, discipleship that is cross-centered, fellowship that is grace-focused, and outreach that is world-impacting.

Buildings are a means to an end; they are tools we can use; they are not the legacy we leave future generations. No matter how well built a structure is we can be certain that it will decay and crumble one day. But seeking to honor God through worship, discipleship, fellowship and outreach will outlast our lives here on the earth. Just think of all the lives that have been changed by God through Calvary Baptist Church...those who have been saved, the weddings, the baby dedications, and the baptisms.

Our life here is but a temporary existence and I believe we must build buildings that reflect we are not home yet. We are citizens of another country and to sink our roots too deeply into this world is dangerous. Building elaborate structures leads to falling in love with a building and ends in shifting our attention from the heavenly city not build with human hands (cf. Hebrews 11:13-16).

Are we ready to build? Certainly, but let's build with a focus on spreading the honor of God in this world!

Grace & Peace,

Scott

Let God Be Glorified Through the Sale of Our Building!

2010-12-27T10:15:00.004-05:00

I have some very good news: We have been told by Gibbs International, Inc. that they are going to buy our downtown property! Our lawyer, Matt Henderson, has looked over the closing papers and everything is in good order. We are now set to close on the sale of the property on January 4, 2011.

In getting to this point the people of Calvary Church have had but one desire: Let God get the honor and glory for accomplishing His purposes in and through His church. We never wanted to manipulate the sale of our present location nor the move to our future location. It has been our heartfelt passion that we would not be able to explain this through our own effort; we wanted people to know this is the unmistakable plan that God has for His church. I believe God has great and wonderful plans for the future of Calvary Baptist Church!

The work has just begun! From what I've been told by other pastors I should be thankful that there is not a crystal ball showing all that will need to be worked out in the next 12 months. I look back at the date when all of this got started, August 2, 2007, and my mind is blown away by how quickly the time has gone. We are now simply 12 months from moving into a new building and beginning to experience the future God has for us. I am excited and scared at the same time.

I know the time will go by so fast that we will hardly have time to breathe. I am also aware that this is a time when many decisions will need to be made and the potential landmines for strife and division are many. Each of us must decide now that we are only making decisions about brick and mortar, and that doesn't amount to much more than a hill of beans. How we treat one another in making these decisions is what is important. In the process of building a structure I believe God could use this to continue building the unique unity of Calvary.

So, let's build for the glory of God alone and serve one another through love as we do this together. God is handing us a wonderful opportunity, let's not let it slip by.

Grace & Peace,

Scott

Presents vs Presence

2010-12-13T11:27:00.002-05:00

What will alter the way we think about Christmas? What will change our mindset from "presents" to "presence."

I don't think it's too far of a stretch to believe that we get it--that we get it's not about getting, it's about giving. The older I get the more I come to appreciate and live this out. When Barb and I became parents it was a wonderful experience to wake up on Christmas morning and watch each of our kids open their presents. (I am so thankful for video cameras!)

But I think we need to take this a step further. I believe we need to fully examine Scripture and let the Holy Spirit teach us lessons about Christmas that will strip away the lessons we've learned from the empire of cultural consumerism. Think about this: What if we began cutting back on presents in order to spend more time with each other? The danger of modern Christmas shopping is getting caught up in the mood of buying stuff we can't afford. I didn't say we couldn't buy it--plastic money makes it possible to buy almost anything--we just have to pay for it latter. And just how do we pay for something later we couldn't afford in the first place? Businesses call it overtime. We buy things we don't need at prices we can't afford to satisfy a longing that is only fleeting. And come January, when we get the invoice in the mail, we discover that we have to work extra hours to make ends meet. The extra hours we work cheats our family out of the time we should be spending with them. Nobody really wins.

The biblical record of God's gift was the gift of Himself. He didn't give something that would rust, fade or go out of style; no, God gave us His eternal Son whose birth would change the world forever! I believe Christmas can still change lives. I also believe we go about celebrating Christmas wrong. I realize accomplishing this is difficult and that is why I propose we go about it slowly, but intentionally. Start small this year and let it grow as the years pass.

I wish all of you reading this a Merry Christmas. My hope and prayer is that you find peace and contentment through the gift God gave.

Grace & Peace,

Scott

Getting Caught Up in the Story of Christmas!

2010-12-08T11:17:00.003-05:00

I have a sneaking suspicion that we all love a happy ending. Most, if not all, the stories of Christmas have the ending we expect. Hallmark seems to have the corner on this market; they know how to spin a Christmas story in such a way to make us glad the lights are turned off so the rest of the family can't see the tears in our eyes...it touches us in all the right places. Hallmark has eight new Christmas movies for 2010:

The Night Before, The Night Before Christmas
The Town Christmas Forgot
Call Me Mrs. Miracle
November Christmas
Farewell, Mr. Kringle
An Old-Fashioned Christmas
The Santa Incident
Three Wise Women

The other night we watched November Christmas, and let me say you ought to watch it!

The story line of Christ's birth recorded in God's Word has all the elements to bring tears to our eyes. The problem is that we have become so familiar with it that it no longer touches us. It is the birth of the King of kings that leads to the tragedy of the cross that leads to the triumphant and glorious resurrection that eventually leads to His return to set things right in the world. Ultimately the true Christmas story has a happy ending for believers and we should celebrate this, especially this time of year.

To sincerely celebrate the birth of Jesus we must get caught up in the story; we must lose ourselves in the plot of God as He unfolds it through Scripture and in our lives. Take Jesus' birth personally because that is the way it is intended. Jesus came personally to put on display the glories of His Father. Part of this display is believers. We read in Ephesians 1:4-6,

In love he predestined us for adoption through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace.

The purpose of our adoption into God's family is to "the praise of his glorious grace." This is, at least in part, the happy ending for which we are looking. It is the ending that should bring tears to our eyes because the Hero (Jesus) has triumphed over what was killing us (sin and Satan). Here is the reason we can joyfully sing His praises this Christmas.

Grace & Peace,

Scott

Resisting the Empire!

2010-11-30T09:28:00.003-05:00

Did Jesus come to advance the kingdoms of the world or the Kingdom of Heaven? His countrymen fully expected Him (at least their idea of "Him") to come and advance the cause of their kingdom. The Jewish people longed for a deliverer who would come and release them from the bondage of the kingdom of the day. It had been a long time since the nation of Israel was on top of the world, respected by other empires, and feared by their enemies. But when Jesus showed up on the scene as the Messiah He didn't fit their deliverer model, so they rejected Him. This was all prophesied by Isaiah:

He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. (Isaiah 53:3)

Is it any different in the world today? Our culture rapes the birth of our Savior by slapping a nativity scene in their stores and then advertising their latest product at an overinflated price that we don't need in the first place. This is what they call the "Christmas spirit"! And don't get me started on the office parties that turn into drunken orgies. I would implore people to take the name of our Christ off their celebrations and just call it their "Late December Office Party."

The rejection of Jesus Christ the King takes a different, more subtle form in the Church. We reject the way Jesus resisted the empire of His day by accepting and bowing down to the empires of our day. No, I'm not talking about politics, although we could make a case for that because it seems to me that more and more Christians put their hope in human government instead of the future Kingdom of Heaven. As believers we fail to resist the empire of the consumer culture at Christmas. We buy into the phenomenon that bigger is better and he who dies with the most toys wins. We follow the rest of our comrades to the malls and spend more time shopping than we do with each other.

We have been called by God to be different and therefore our difference must make it into Christmas. God's gift was presence, not presents! We must model His way of giving this year and strike back against the empire of consumerism. Spend less, give more, give of ourselves, and worship more fully! (Check out www.adventconspiracy.org)

Grace & Peace,

Scott

A Tearful Thanksgiving

2010-11-16T10:35:00.003-05:00

Every week in my pastoral ministry I encounter people who are going through a "severe trial." The trial they face comes with many faces and with differing severity. Some who read this have faced seeing a loved one go to the hospital, some are waiting for death to overtake someone close to them, some have had to make a visit to the funeral home to make arrangements, some have had to deal with very difficult family issues, some have lost jobs (or are at least facing that possibility), some are struggling financially, some are wresting with emotional issues such as loneliness, depression, anger, bitterness, etc., and the list of trials goes on.

I was planning to preach a series of messages on the names of God, but the Holy Spirit has been directing me to change course and work on a series that helps us wrestle with the trials we all face. Not a single disciple reading this is exempt from facing a severe trial of faith, and I want to encourage, challenge, and inspire all of us as we face these difficult times. For now I want us to consider just two things:

Trials attack faith. What is being attacked in the trial is our trust in God. James is very specific; he wrote that when we are tested it is a testing of our faith (James 1:3). This is encouraging because faith is a gift from God (Ephesians 2:8-9) and it is the one thing with which we can please God (Hebrews 11:6).

Be thankful in trials. This is the most difficult thing to do. Being thankful, especially in a severe trial is almost impossible. Paul wrote to the Thessalonian believers that they should be thankful in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:18). This is something which which I would encourage all of us to wrestle. It certainly will not be easy, but it is necessary. The thanksgiving we give to God in times of severe testing is a tearful thanksgiving.

Stay tuned. I hope and pray you all will have a wonderful Thanksgiving. Why don't you join us for a worship service of giving thanks on Tuesday, November 23 at 6:30 p.m.?

Grace & Peace,

Scott

"Thanks!"

2010-11-09T09:32:00.002-05:00

And a wonderful Homecoming was had by all! Yes, it was a memorable day. A huge "Thank You" to the Church Hostess Committee and all who helped put this day together...the ones who planned, those who decorated, you who picked up the chicken, the crew who set up and tore down, those who patiently waited in the gym all morning, you know who you are and we all sincerely appreciate your labor of love. I hesitate to list names for two reasons: (1) I will probably forget someone and (2) I realize you don't do what you do to be seen or recognized.

Homecoming is one of those events that just doesn't plan itself; it takes work to put together a special day like that. Whenever we are given an opportunity to serve like this and we spend hours and days putting it all together I think the reward manifests itself in two ways: First, durning the event it is a thrill to see people enjoying themselves. This tells us it was worth the effort and expense. Second, when we put something together that honors God there is a satisfaction deep in our souls. We come to realize that God is a great God and the sacrifices to make Him known in daily living are sacrifices gladly made.

We do not have a final count on the shoeboxes that will be shipped off to the mission field, but our current total is 124! If you are still planning to fill some boxes, now is the time. We have about a week left to get all our boxes to North Spartanburg. Don't hesitate to send just one box to a child who has nothing. The box you send may be the only gift a child will get the entire year. My prayer is that the love of God will touch many who receive these shoeboxes.

Buckle up because things are about to get busy! With what?

Sunday night, November 21: Tammy Gilbert will be sharing about her mission trip to Honduras.
Tuesday night, November 23: Calvary Church Thanksgiving Praise Service.
Sunday morning, November 28: Lottie Moon Post Office opens.
Sunday night, November 28: Hanging of the Christmas Green.
Sunday night, December 12: Choir Christmas Musical, "Glory in the Highest."
Sunday night, December 19: An Evening of Christmas Music @ Calvary.
Friday night, December 24: Christmas Eve Candlelight Worship Service.

I hope you will be able to make it out to all of these special nights. I am praying that God will use this time of year to draw our hearts into closer symphony with His.

Grace & Peace,

Scott

Magnify the LORD with Me!

2010-11-01T11:27:00.003-04:00

Homecoming for Calvary Baptist Church is here again! The Family Life Center floor is being scrubbed and waxed as I write this, the Homecoming Committee has put together all the plans for a wonderful day, decorations are planned, tables are being hauled out and set up, sign in pages are being printed, name tags are ready to slap on your chest, and delicious food is being cooked. What more could we ask for? The answer to that is very simple: YOU! We want you to come and be a part of this annual celebration of fellowship.

We will also have our tentative future building plans on display in the Family Life Center. We are excited about what God has accomplished in the past--the many who have come to know and follow Jesus, the weddings that have brought two into a covenant of sharing their lives, the babies who have been brought by parents to dedicate their lives to raising them for the honor and glory of God, the countless lives that have been changed through the changeless message of God's amazing grace, and so much more. We are also anticipating a future that God still has for His wonderful church. We look forward to more people being saved, more brides walking down the isle, many more babies being given their first Bible on their dedication day, and thousands of more people who will find their way back to the Father through the message of His amazing grace.

It is one of our desires at Calvary to lift high the name of our majestic God. We want to spread the fame of His name everywhere we go and in all that we do. God has been so good to us that we cannot help but praise Him. God is so great that we cannot help but stand in awe of His majesty. Our first and foremost value in life is to glorify this great and awesome God. We will never cease to praise Him and thank Him for giving us the opportunity to sing His praises.

Please come and be a part of this wonderful annual celebration of fellowship. Add your voice to those who are thanking God for a past that gives us a future to which we look forward. See what God is doing at Calvary and taste His goodness.

"My soul makes its boast in the LORD;

Let the humble hear and be glad.

Oh, magnify the LORD with me,

And let us exalt his name together" (Psalm 34:2-3).

Grace & Peace,

Scott

Welcome Michael & Mattie!

2010-10-25T11:16:00.005-04:00

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?

2010-10-25T11:05:00.002-04:00

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

2010-10-13T10:28:00.003-04:00

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

2010-10-05T14:11:00.003-04:00

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

Unity or Unanimity?

2010-09-21T13:53:00.003-04:00

As I sit in my office on this Sunday afternoon I'm thinking about the vote we took this morning to sell. The vote was 87% in favor of selling, so it wasn't unanimous. I am trying to think through what this means. So here goes...

Does this mean that we are not unified? Absolutely not! Just because we don't agree on everything doesn't mean that we are not unified. Our unity is not based on geography; our unity is based on theology. Our purpose as a church is to glorify God, reach the unsaved, and disciple the believers. This purpose doesn't change when we relocate. The glory of God is not localized. We are not locked into accomplishing God's will in a particular place.

Unity is not unanimity! "Unanimity" is defined as "the quality or state of being unanimous" (www.merriam-webster.com/netdict/unanimity), whereas "unity" is defined as "a condition of harmony: accord" (www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unity). It is actually rare that a body of believers (or any group of people for that matter) will be in 100% agreement on anything. And I don't believe it is essential that we are unanimous on non-essentials. It is necessary that we find ourselves in a state of unity on the essentials of our faith.

Paul wrote the following to the Philippian believers:

Complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind (Philippians 2:2).

As a pastor it is my desire to share in Paul's joy by experiencing this same type of unity in the church. I would describe it as a church that is focused on the same purpose of making the glory of God the target at which we aim using the arrows of worship that is God-exalting, discipleship that is cross-centered, fellowship that is grace-focused, and outreach that is world-impacting. Calvary Baptist Church...YOU ARE MY JOY!

Grace & Peace,

Scott

It's a Tough Way to Get a New Car!

2010-09-20T22:39:00.003-04:00

On a Tuesday morning (9-7) Abby, our youngest, was on her way to get her braces off. This was going to be a good day! She was pumped. She spent the last two years and two months with these things in her mouth. She had to have her senior pictures postponed because the alternative was just unacceptable. Then something unexpected happened in a split second...she hit a delivery van.

The accident was about a mile from the house so I was able to get their fairly quickly. She was doing fantastic! When I looked at the car I couldn't believe she wasn't hurt. In fact, nobody was hurt. The guy in the delivery van didn't even realize he had been hit until he looked in his mirror.

Here's something else that is amazing...the traffic on Highway 9 or Boiling Springs Road is horrific unless you drive it at 3 a.m. This happened around 9:30 a.m. and hundreds of cars passed her by without a though of this young girl standing alone outside of her totaled car. So many went "rubber necking" by and didn't offer to help. She doesn't look like she's from the hood, but still no help. But two people did come to her rescue. One adult man in a pickup pulled up behind her to protect her. As I was walking from the parking lot to her another young man (a teenager) made a u-turn to help. I didn't get either of their names, but I am thankful these two stopped to make sure my daughter would be safe. I have prayed that the Lord would bless their lives for their act of kindness.

I guess I'm just trying to express how grateful I am that my baby girl didn't get hurt. I've always said that things don't matter, people do. This was a fresh reminder of that.

Looking for a Car,

Scott

"I'm Going to Church!"

2010-09-14T10:48:00.003-04:00

When I hear people say, "I can worship God without going to church" I think to myself, "Yeah, and you can probably breathe without air." It just doesn't make sense that a disciple of Jesus Christ would consistently miss getting together with other disciples to worship, share and learn. The early Christians never imagined there would be a time when it was more popular for believers to stay home than to gather in honor and worship of God.

The writer of Hebrews saw this habit of not "attending" the Christian gatherings (i.e., going to church) slipping into the lives of believers:

Not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near (Hebrews 10:25).

It would be helpful to understand the backdrop of this verse. During this time, those hostile to followers of Christ were hounding the believers. The people of the "Way" were in opposition to accepted religious practices and they were gaining ground in people's lives. They were seen as dissenters and were perceived of as spreading division. The result of this perception was persecution. Later in the same chapter the writer wrote:

You had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plunderings of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one (v. 34).

This is guilt by association. Christians were being dragged off to prison for their faith and others in the church would visit them. While visiting, their homes were broken into and their possessions stolen ("plundered property"). These disciples would not just accept the robbery, but accept it with joy. Yes, that does sound like they were a chapter short of a complete novel, but they saw their identification with the Church as a "better possession" than the things they had collected. But some in the church were finding this too costly so they began to "miss church." They were neglecting the meetings because they didn't want to pay the price of being robbed while at church.

This sort of thing is not happening to us today (at least not in America). We are not the persecuted church, and yet some are constantly looking for excuses to stay away from church. We must have a deep-seated conviction that being a part of a church means that we are going to gather together with the Christian family. Having our name on a church roll has very little to do with our relationship to a church, but our presence has very much to do with it. Take this as my "encouragement" to go to church.

Grace & Peace,

Scott

The Church Is Who We Are!

2010-09-07T15:26:00.004-04:00

We are on the edge of making yet another historic decision as a church. On Sunday morning, September 19, 2010 we will vote to sell or not to sell the buildings and land we now occupy. I have a tough time wording this because I refuse to say we are voting to sell the church. Yes, it would be easier to write that, but it just isn't true, at least not in my understanding of the New Testament's teaching on the church.

The church has nothing to do with buildings or land, but it has everything to do with the people. The Old Testament does teach about a meeting place for the people of God. While the Israelites were wandering in the desert, God instructed them to build something that could be taken down and moved (i.e., the Tabernacle). Once they reached the land of promise God lead them to build a permanent structure (i.e., the Temple). Both the Tabernacle and Temple symbolized God's presence with His people.

This symbolic presence ended with the incarnation of God in Jesus Christ. God came to live with humanity. But the world's reception of the Son of God was less than accepting. In fact, at the end of His time on the earth He had 11 trained apostles and 120 disciples (Acts 1:15). In human terms this would be considered a failure, but we know differently.

Before Jesus' ascension to heaven He promised the presence of the Holy Spirit who would indwell His followers (true believers) in a new way. His presence would no longer be located in a place, it would now be found in His people. It is interesting that the New Testament writers considered the body as the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19). All believers are now priests to God (1 Peter 2:9). Every Christian can go to the throne of grace with confidence because of the blood of Christ (Hebrews 4:16).

By default some of the first century Christians would continue to meet in the local Temple, but most just met in homes for practical reasons. Generous believers opened their homes to these small band of believers all over Asia. Most of the letters written in the New Testament we meant to be passed along from one congregation to another. In this way all the church would receive the proper grounding on spiritual issues.

The early church didn't have buildings to pay for or budgets to consider or insurance to buy. However, this is where we are today. I just want to stress that our devotion should not be to buildings whether they are old or new, our devotion must be to people. As we come to vote in a week let's all keep in mind this vision of the New Testament church. When I think in terms like this I am encouraged. I get excited to think of God's Church in terms of God's presence through His people. Church is not where we go, it is who we are!

Don't Neglect Such a Great Salvation!

2010-09-01T09:48:00.003-04:00

This week we will be worshiping God the Father by remembering the sacrifice of His Son. The Lord's Supper is always an important time of worship for the church. It has also become a time to which I look forward. As a pastor-teacher I love opening the Word and discovering what the Bible teaches about our Savior. In theology we call this "Christology." I especially enjoy the study of the cross and how it molds, changes and centers our lives as disciples.

In my studies on the Lord's Supper I have come to understand it as a sacred meal. It is sacred because of the meaning behind it. No other meal we eat has such a rich history behind it. I don't approach my morning oatmeal in the same way I come to the Lord's Table. It is also sacred because of Who ultimately prepares it for us. When somebody diligently prepares our favorite meal it has a special meaning to us. You know what I mean...you can't wait to get to the table because of what awaits you. The Lord's Table is so much more! It causes us to go well beyond our stomachs to our souls. It touches not our physical appetite but our spiritual one. It satisfies pains that are celestial not earthly.

The passage of Scripture I have chosen to examine this week is found in Hebrews. We will be proverbially "skipping the rock" through chapter 2 as I will be pointing out some of the highlights that pertain to the question the writer poses in verse 3:

How shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?

I want to encourage you to read through Hebrews 2 several times over this weekend in preparation for our Sunday worship. Try to set a grasp of why it is so important for us not to neglect such a great salvation. Ask questions like: "What am I escaping?" "How could I neglect my salvation?" "Why does he call it a great salvation?" You may come up with some other questions that touch your walk with Christ, just don't be afraid to ask and investigate.

Grace & Peace,

Scott

Pray Without Ceasing!

2010-08-23T15:56:00.005-04:00

As a church we have much to consider over the next several weeks. We must think soberly over an offer that has been made to us for our present meeting site. Is this the best offer? Can we move out in the time frame proposed to us? Should we try to find a temporary location to meet? Is the timing right?

We must think critically through the building the Phase One Planning Ministry Team is going to present to the church on Sunday night, September 19. Are enough classrooms proposed for the near future? Is the auditorium too big or too small? And two issues every young mother is concerned about: (1) What is the nursery facility like? (2) How nice are the bathroom?

Above all, this is a time of prayer. I beg of you to be earnest in your prayers. This is a time for some to fast while praying. For all it is a time of constant, stretched-to-the-limits praying. We must seek the kind of wisdom that only God can, and will, provide at a time such as this. A verse the Lord keeps reminding me of and directs my prayers is Proverbs 3:5-6,

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

We all have our opinions but the only one that counts is the Lord's opinion. If His will prevails then we cannot fail; if our will prevails then we are destined to fail! We must not just grab the bull by the horns; instead we must enter the throne room of the holy of holies through the blood of the slaughtered Lamb. He will give us the answers for which we are looking if we only seek His face. And let's don't grow weary in our praying, because we have a Father who never tires of hearing from us!

Grace & Peace,

Scott

We Are in This Thing Together

2010-08-18T17:23:00.003-04:00

Recently while visiting a shut-in she said to me, "I never want to be alone." My response to this sweet follower of Jesus was, "God never intended for us to go through life alone." This is part of what the church must be--a family. God has called us to community. "Community" means "a unified body of individuals" (Merriam-Webster). In other words, we are in this thing together. For me this involves at least the following marks (taken from Philippians 2);

Unity. We are united in Christ therefore we are one in purpose.

Complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind (v. 2).

This doesn't mean for us to be mindless robots, but I believe it means for us to be unified in the goal of honoring God through His church. God has put us together not to tear each other apart but to build one another up.

Humility. No single person is more important than the whole. Mavericks like to go about their business without any notion of having to think about how their actions will affect others. Humility kills the spirit of mavericks because we see the value of others through the eyes of God.

Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves (v. 3).

Deference. Deferring to others is not a sign of weakness. When we defer to somebody else's plans or desires it communicates a loving acceptance that should be commonplace in the church. It should never be "My way or the highway"; it must always be "God's way"!

Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others (v. 4).

Looking out for number one is a terrible philosophy on two fronts: First, it is selfish. And second, what makes me think I'm number one?

Following Christ's Pattern. I'm so thankful God didn't leave us without instructions on how to live (i.e., the Bible), but I'm equally thankful He sent Jesus as an example of how to live in this world.

Have this mind among yourselves, which was also in Christ Jesus (v. 5).

We must actually follow Jesus, not just talk about it!

Grace & Peace,

Scott

Focus

2010-08-09T12:12:00.003-04:00

So many "things" distract us and cause us to lose focus. I believe Paul was constantly trying to get churches back on track because they had gotten sidetracked by distractions. He certainly clarified those distractions and put them in their proper place, but I also believe he tried to re-focus the church. We find sound advice on this when he wrote to the disciples in Philippi:

...One thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:13-14).

From this passage we learn that there are things that may seem important to us at the moment, but they really don't deserve the attention we are giving them. These are distractions. It could be sideline issues such as planning a vacation, the weather, wondering if "so-and-so" likes us, past failures and/or successes, job stress, etc. All of these are important but never as important as the main focus (i.e., "the prize of the upward call"). These distracting issues may even have a place in the plan, but they are still not the main thing. We must learn to put things in their proper perspective and focus on the "upward call of God in Christ Jesus."

We also learn from this passage that God has a main focus for our lives that pleases Him. This is what we shoot for. We only have one life to live for God's honor, and I believe we must start where we are and begin today "straining" toward that goal.

At Calvary it is going to be super easy for us to get sidetracked on issues that will take our attention and energies away from straining to reach the goal of pleasing God. I completely understand that part of who we are as a church is being defined by selling our present campus, designing a phase one worship center, and relocating to the corner of Parris Bridge and Flatwood. But if this becomes our main focus and we allow it to completely define us then we will fail. How? We will fail because once we get relocated then we have nothing left for which to strain. We will have reached our goal: relocation; but tragically we will not have reached God's goal: discipleship. Let me explain...

I believe the "upward call of God" for us as a church is to bring Him glory and honor by making disciples as Jesus commissioned us in Matthew 28:18-20. I would much rather have us walking the halls talking about what we discussed in Sunday school or what we learned in worship than how "deep and wide" the new building should be. Just remember:

"If our focus is buildings then people get used; if our focus is on people then buildings get used!" (Les Ollila)

Grace & Peace,

Scott

Faithful Wounds

2010-08-04T09:52:00.002-04:00

Wounding someone is devastating but at times very necessary. Now I'm not writing this to advocate we go out and shoot someone in the leg or run him or her over with our bicycle. No, that's not the kind of wounding I'm talking about. I'm talking about wounding people with honest rebuke or correction. You know, telling them the truth even though the truth may wound them for a time. Too many people are walking around thinking everything is ok simply because we don't want to wound them with honesty. It's like watching somebody make the bed while the house is on fire. We see people making a mess of their lives knowing we could help them with a word of warning, but we are willing to keep our mouth shut because we are afraid of either hurting their feelings or running them off as a friend. But the stakes are too high!

Solomon wrote,

Faithful are the wounds of a friend;

Profuse are the kisses of an enemy. (Proverbs 27:5)

This takes risk on our part. We have to be willing to risk a friendship for the sake of helping someone take another step spiritually. It's not only risky but also painful...I've been on both the giving and receiving ends of rebuke and correction. But I've also realized the great joy that can come when I respond correctly or when someone I am trying to help responds correctly.

And always remember the words of Paul,

...Restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. (Galatians 6:1)

Grace & Peace,

Scott

Ben's First Sermon!

2010-08-03T22:01:00.000-04:00

"The Overwhelming God!" (Ben Linnerud) from Scott Linnerud on Vimeo.

Remembering You

2010-07-12T14:15:00.003-04:00

As I sit in my office on Monday I am thinking about you and a passage from God's Word comes to mind,

I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. (Philippians 1:3-5)

Three key words jump out at me:

Remember: Inherent in the word "remember" is the fact that other people become the object of our thinking. This means that we are not so self absorbed that others have no place in our every day musings. When our minds are occupied with so many thoughts about ourselves there is little room left for thoughts of others. This is a tragedy because we owe so much of our success to someone else's influence on our lives.

Joy: What emotion comes to your mind when you think of others is very important. I wouldn't waste my time thinking about people who stirred up anger, resentment, bitterness or jealousy. If those thoughts invade your spirit then confess your frustration to God and move on by eliminating those people out of your memory bank. God created relationships in part to bring joy, nor sorrow, into our lives. This is how I feel when I think about Calvary Church. You are a delight to me and I thank God that I feel joy when you come to mind.

Partnership: Finally there is the enterprise of partnership. God didn't intend for us to go through life alone. We need other people. The New Testament teaching on the church is clear that it is not a one-man show. The church is compared to a body with many parts, and each part plays a vital role (cf. 1 Corinthians 12:14-20). Paul uses the term "indispensible" when writing about the need for one another in the body.

When I opened your 4th anniversary gift on Sunday I was overwhelmed--overwhelmed by your generosity, overwhelmed by your love, overwhelmed by God's grace in allowing me to be your pastor, overwhelmed by your friendship. I know you love me; I know you love my family; I just want you to know that I love you.

I have been saving for a guitar and now I can go to the store. You have provided what I needed to get the job done. Thank you so much for being an instrument in God's hand to bless me.

Grace & Peace,

Scott

Pray for America

2010-07-06T15:16:00.002-04:00

I'm thinking about our country in a special way this week because it is the fourth of July. It is not just a time for a good picnic followed by watching fireworks. No, it is much more than that. It is a time for celebrating the birth of a great and wonderful nation. It is also a time to reflect on the state of our country and ask, "What can I do for America?" Many things come to mind, but only one thing really sticks out that all of us can and should do--pray! In fact, the great Apostle Paul wrote as much to Timothy,

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. (1 Timothy 2:1-2)

Communication is so important and has rapidly changed over the decades. What once took days can now be done in seconds. Let me explain, when you lived a county away from a boyfriend or girlfriend and you wanted to express to them your feelings, yes you could pick up the telephone, but what if they were out of town and not near a telephone? You would need to write a "love letter" and tell them that their absence has caused an epic shift in your existence, and that you couldn't bear the pain of this eternal separation, and that you counted the seconds until your happy reunion. Now all you have to do is pick up your cell phone and text them" musm...tuamualu...h&k...143! Instantly they got your meaning!

Well, prayer is something like that only much better! First of all, it is better because you are talking to an eternal God who cares so much more than anyone else. And second, there are no dropped calls with the Almighty. He always hears and He always answers.

This is what I want us to do this July 4th. We all realize that the ones in positions of authority are out of our reach. We will probably never be called on to give advice to any person in high authority. So what do we do? Reach out to God in prayer. Pray specifically that our leaders would create conditions that advance the gospel ("that we may lead a quiet and peaceful life"). Pray confidently because God is sovereign and He can reach them like no other. And pray thankfully because we still enjoy freedom.

The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will. (Proverbs 21:1)

Grace & Peace,

Scott

Get Caught Up in the Story Line of the Bible

2010-06-24T17:46:00.003-04:00

We need to get caught up in the story line of the Bible! Too often the programs and the parties of the church trump the truth. We become more concerned about the machinery than biblical history. Churches have a tendency to follow the next fad of popular Christianity that is driven by budgets, buildings and numbers. What has happened is that we measure the success of the church by a standard of programming instead of disciple making (cf. the Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:46-48; Acts 1:8).

The story line of the Bible is the theme we discover as we read the Scriptures. At times it is a tragic story of disobedience. This is the human element of doubt, distrust and denial. We find this when the characters of the Bible manipulated the plan of God for their own ends. Examples of this are Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden; Moses striking the rock instead of speaking to the rock because of anger; Daniel's adultery, attempted trickery, and eventual murder of Uriah; Judas' betrayal; the Pharisees' plot to kill Jesus; Thomas doubting the resurrection; etc. This part of the story line (failure) teaches us the frailty and need of humanity. The powerful lesson of failure is: We cannot do this without God's grace.

At other times the story line of the Bible is a beautiful story of obedience. It is about God's grace enabling men and women to accomplish great things. Examples of this are Abraham and Isaac; Joseph in Egypt; Ruth's faithfulness; the disciples following Jesus; Stephen being killed for his faith; and the stories go on. The powerful lesson of obedience is: God uses common people to accomplish His will.

All of this is ultimately for the purpose of the glory of God. God's plan is the He would receive all the honor for stepping into a seemingly impossible situation. This is the story line of the Bible...let's get caught up in it!

Grace & Peace,

Scott

How Do We Best Honor Dads on Father's Day?

2010-06-17T16:02:00.005-04:00

This week we honor fathers. And just what is the best way we can accomplish this task? How can we honor our fathers best, not only on June 20th, but every other day of the year as well? Perhaps John expressed it best when writing to the disciple, Gaius.

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. (3 John 4)

Let me first challenge dads, and then I will return to children...

The greatest, best and most lasting legacy we can leave our children is not land or a large bank account, but a desire to know God by walking in the truth. Contemporary society puts pressure on dads to secure their children's future by providing for them financially. This is all well and good but it falls short of what God desires us men to do for our kids. We can't control the stock market or interest rates on CDs. This leaves us short in the end if that is all we are leaving our kids. But what lasts for eternity, what really counts in the long run, and what really outstrips economics is the truth in Jesus (cf. Ephesians 4:20-21). This is how we can fulfill the admonition Paul gives to "bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord" (Ephesians 6:4).

As children the best way we can honor dad is to continue walking in the truth they taught us. I believe all of us Christian dads will agree that nothing brings a smile to our faces and a deep sense of satisfaction more than knowing that our kids are honoring God by walking consistently in truth.

Happy Father's Day,

Scott

P.S. Keep Tammy Gilbert in your prayers this week as she serves the Lord in Honduras. She will return on June 27.

Pray for the Salkehatchie & Honduras Mission Teams

2010-06-13T15:18:00.004-04:00

This week marks the beginning of two mission trips Calvary Church people are taking. By the time you read this, our students will be in Blythewood, SC. During this week long mission trip (June 12-19) they will be helping needy families with rebuilding and repairing their homes. This is the third summer they have taken a week our of their busy schedules to minister through Salkehatchie Summer Service, and each time they have been profoundly touched by God through ministering. The second mission trip is being taken by Tammy Gilbert. Tammy will be going to Honduras June 20-27 with a medical mission team. This team has been going to Honduras for six years now and this marks Tammy's second trip. Whenever I think of missionaries (short and long term) I am reminded of what Paul wrote in 2 Thessalonians 3:1-2"

Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you, and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil me. For not all have faith.

This passage teaches us to pray for two things for our students and Tammy as they go. First, pray for the success of the Word. Pray that as they share God's Word with people that the Holy Spirit would use it and that it would quickly invade their hearts. Pray that people would trust in the Savior as a result of their Christ-like efforts.

Second, pray for the safety of the messengers. Dangers are everywhere and we need to keep our missionaries' safety before God's graceful throne. Pray while they are on the road or in the air; pray while they carry a hammer or a syringe; pray as they travel to their work site or satellite clinic; pray for them in the morning, in the afternoon, when you go to bed, and whenever the Spirit prompts you. Pray! Pray!! Pray!!! Praying is what we can do, while going is what they are doing.

Grace & Peace,

Scott

Common Grace in MLB!

2010-06-03T22:58:00.003-04:00

Everyone is weighing in on the obviously bad call made by MLB umpire Jim Joyce on Wednesday night (6-2-10). His call cost a young pitcher, Armando Galarraga, from the Detroit Tigers a place in history. Here's my bit of insight...

I think the call should stand, yea, it must stand. Being human is part of the game, and a bad call is simply a bad call. Yes, I do believe Galarraga deserves a perfect game and he deserves to go down in history as the man who pitched the 21st perfect game in MLB history. But to reverse the call because we can replay them on a monitor rapes the purity of the game. I detest replays in any sport.

Also, if we had instant replay in baseball then we would have totally missed what these two men showed us over the last couple of days. I loved Galarraga's immediate response, he smiled. That's class. He never became angry...he just stepped up to the mound and pitched the ball one more time. That was awesome.

Jim Joyce apologized as soon as he was given the opportunity. He displayed humility for all of us to see. He took the blame and all the heat. He didn't run, didn't make any excuses, he just manned up to his error!

What I have witnessed from these two men is common grace. This is what the world needs to see, especially in the juiced-up, entitlement-ridden professional sports world. Maybe even our softball church leagues should take notice!

Grace & Peace,

Scott

Our Marriage By the Numbers!

2010-06-01T17:56:00.006-04:00

This week (June 3) Barb and I celebrate our wedding anniversary. I remember the Saturday evening we gathered at the little church in Pound, Wisconsin to rehearse the wedding. I remember taking a walk around the neighborhood with my sister, Julie, to talk about marriage. I remember getting up the next morning and going to church with my brother, Jack. I remember being excited as we drove up to the church that afternoon for the wedding. I remember all our friends and family who came. I remember hearing later that summer that a date of a friend accepted Christ as a result of the wedding. I remember being nervous. I remember cutting the cake and not returning to the reception because of all the pictures we had yet to take. I remember leaving for the honeymoon and stopping at a burger joint because we were starved (remember, we missed the reception). And...well, that's as far as I am going to share remembering with you!

Here is our marriage by the numbers...

We have owned 27 cars and been married for 26 years! We've lived in 14 different dorm rooms, trailers, apartments and houses. We have served in 6 churches in 4 states. God has blessed us with 4 children. In all of this I have only had 1 wife! She is the woman God blessed my life with...there have been no others, and I would never shop around for another! Barb is the first, and only, girl I ever said, "I love you" to in a romantic way. She is my best friend and knows me better than anyone else, and she still loves and accepts me.

I constantly thank God for Barb. She is truly the best thing I have going for me personally. I love her with all my heart and want to spend the next 26 years learning more about her--Ancora Imparo! One of our prayers and desires is to show our kids and the church that a good marriage is possible, but a great marriage takes hard work! I still enjoy thinking about marriage the way Jesus did in Mark 10:6-9--One woman for one man for one lifetime! It's not a fairytale, but please don't wake Barb!

I Love You, Barb,

Scott

Congratulations Class of 2010!

2010-05-27T16:42:00.003-04:00

The end of the school year is in sight for our students! This is a great week of celebration as they end another year and look to begin something new and exciting. At Calvary Church we congratulate four of our own: Matthew Bayliff, Alejandra Molina, Matthew Banks and Shelbi Elder.

Matthew Bayliff graduated from West Virginia University with a Master’s Degree in Athletic Coaching Education. He is also enrolled in the PGA of America’s Professional Golf Management Program. Alejandra Molina graduated from the University of South Carolina (Upstate) with a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing. Keep her in your prayers as she will soon be taking the state board exams to become a registered nurse. Matthew Banks graduated from Spartanburg Methodist College. He will be attending Upstate this fall to finish his four-year degree in Physical Education. Shelbi Elder graduated Friday (May 28) from Boiling Springs High School. She plans on attending Spartanburg Community College majoring in Radiology.

Hey, with these four students we’ve got our recreation and health issues covered! Each one of them needs our prayers and support. Becoming successful in life doesn’t happen by accident—it is intentional. They are doing their part and we must do ours. Put their names on your prayer list and pray diligently for God to bless and direct them.

Congratulations Matthew, Alejandra, Matthew and Shelbi. We love you and are proud of you!

Grace & Peace,

Scott

The Ordination of Greg Mickey

2010-05-18T15:21:00.003-04:00

This week we will gather together on Sunday morning at Calvary Baptist Church to ordain Greg Mickey to the ministry of the gospel. This will be one of the most special services the Mickeys ever attended. Many have sensed the call of God on his life and he has shown evidence of this call through his conversion and giftedness. Greg has been examined by a group of his peers, they have found him competent to enter the gospel ministry, and now they are recommending to Calvary that we proceed. We as a church will do the actual ordination.

The front line ministry of the local church is never to be entered into lightly. Vocational ministry is not just another job option, no it is a specific call from God.

Preacher Crocker and I will challenge Greg this Sunday, but time will not allow us to share everything. So, I want to take this opportunity to challenge you with a personal responsibility of prayer with regard to Greg and the gospel ministry. Paul wrote,

"And [pray] also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel" (Ephesians 6:19).

The first thing we can pray about for Greg is clarity in his preaching. It seems that everything but the Word is being preached from our pulpits these days. Too much time is spent on looking up jokes and illustrations that the truth of the passage is being neglected. Our ideas are not important, it is God's Word and His ideas that must prevail.

The second thing we can pray about for Greg is courage in his preaching. Boldness in proclaiming is important because preachers can fall into the temptation to please the audience of many and forget the audience of ONE! Paul reminded Timothy,

"For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions" (2 Timothy 4:3).

I hope you will join us this Sunday. This is the beginning of ministry for Greg and Beth (and don't forget about Meredith and Hannah!). Share in this exciting day and support them with your prayers.

Grace & Peace,

Scott

Following a Murdered Hero

2010-05-12T11:06:00.005-04:00

In John Milton's epic poem, "Paradise Lost" he wrote, "Heavenly love shall outdo hellish hate."

I think we all like heroes. You know the type...mild-mannered newspaper reporter Clark Kent who runs into the nearest phone booth to become Superman when help is needed. (Can you imagine him trying to find a phone booth today?) Heroes and heroines are always endowed with some type of superhuman power(s), and when they come to rescue they use those powers to "save the day." If you were a super-hero what sort of power(s) would you want?

Now imagine that it was up to you to save the entire human race...what would be your plan and what would be your power? From eternity past God set out to do exactly that--save the lost, struggling and dying human race. God's plan to save us was shocking, something nobody would ever think of, He would send His Son. No x-ray vision, no invisible jet, and no fancy cape. He would come clothed in human flesh (Philippians 2:7) armed with love. Those around Him expected something powerfully spectacular (1 Corinthians 1:22), but to their surprise He came in humility. Paul calls this God's wisdom and power--the cross. This is why Paul wrote,

"For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." (1 Corinthians 1:18)

God's power to save through the cross was no expected, but it was the only way to rescue us. Too many want a savior who is like Superman or Wonder Woman, and when we don't get what we expect we become disillusioned and disappointed. In the end some walk away from Him because it seems so silly to follow a murdered hero. But this is precisely what God wants us to do; He wants us to follow His Son, a most unlikely hero.

Grace & Peace,

Scott

Honor Mom in a Meaningful Way

2010-05-04T11:12:00.004-04:00

This week is Mother's Day...it is a time to honor our moms. We should do this with great enthusiasm! Is there a way we can honor moms this year that really magnifies the role of biblical motherhood? Is there something special we can do that would tell her that she is "something special"? We usually jump to the conclusion that giving her an elaborate gift somehow honors her best. Is gift giving the best way to honor Mom? I'm not against giving Mom something that she can hold, something that communicates "I love you and thanks for being my Mom." I'm not advocating being a "cheapskate" when it comes to the one who went through the pains of death to bring me into the world, but I do believe a couple of inherent problems exist in just running down to WalMart on Saturday night to get something for Mom on Mother's Day.

First, opening our wallet is an easy way out. It is the path of least resistance relationally. I think it's fairly painless to buy some flowers or a box of candy or a bottle of perfume. (Come on, does she really need crocuses, calories and cologne?) Relationships take time, not gifts.

Second, things don't last. Eventually everything wears out...flowers die, candy gets eaten (usually by everyone except Mom), and the "good smelly stuff" fades. When your mom looks around her place what does she have that reminds her of your love and appreciation? That is possibly the best way to measure the value of a Mother's Day gift.

The point I am trying to make is that what moms need more than things is us! She didn't bring us into this world to get more "stuff." Moms are so self-giving; they are the ones who make this world a stable place. I think we should give ourselves this Mother's Day. This is not the easy way out and it is something that will last with our moms. When they look around their place they will remember the time we spent with them, the phone calls we made, and the cards with personal poems we wrote or the pictures we colored.

Sacrifice this Mother's Day to express how much you love and appreciate your mom.

Grace & Peace,

Scott

Effective Prayer

2010-04-26T15:22:00.003-04:00

I am writing this on Monday afternoon from my office. Tomorrow morning I will get on a plane and head to Florida to visit with Mom and Dad for a few days. By the time you read this (unless of course you are reading this blog) I will be on a different plane headed back to Spartanburg. What can I say to you but "Thank you." You are the most wonderful people to pastor and I love you so much. You have done a wonderful thing by allowing me some time with my parents. No, I will not be suffering unless Mom has some "outside" projects for me to do while I am there. Otherwise I will be sitting by the pool reading or running in the old neighborhood I used to terrorize. I am quite sure that many of those neighbors in Brandon, Florida never imagined that the "Linnerud Kids" would end up loving God with their whole hearts, but we did. This brings back a memory I want to share with you this week.

My brother, Jack, and I ended up at the same sixth grade campus in Riverview, Florida. We both spent our respective year there, and by the good hand of God's providence we had the same teacher only a year apart from each other. Now I couldn't tell you the name of all the teachers I had over the years, but I could never forget this one (and that was 37 years ago!). Her name was Mrs. Deangelo. Neither of us boys would know of the spiritual impact this woman would have on our lives until we were in Bible College many years later. Let me explain...

While Jack and I were home for Christmas break in 1981 we went to the mall one afternoon. As were were walking through one of the stores we both recognized this sixth grade teacher and she recognized us. If I remember correctly she asked us what we were up to and we said that we were in Bible College. That may not shock you now, but you didn't know us in 1973, and she did. Just let me say that we were not believers then and we were not her best-behaved students. What she did tell us that day is that she was a Christian and prayed for her students almost every day!

God answered her prayers years later by moving in the hearts of two young men. In time both Jack and I trusted Christ and followed His sovereign plan for our lives.

The effective prayer of a righteous person has great power! (James 5:16)

For whom are you praying? Have you given up? Please don't quit, because you never know when or how God will answer.

Grace & Peace,

Scott

God Is Most Valuable to Me

2010-04-20T11:16:00.003-04:00

I think one of the reasons we have some difficulty talking or teaching or preaching about money is because we have a skewed perspective. What I mean is that we are not looking at it from the right point of view nor with the right end in mind. That main thing I want us to focus on when it comes to money is how we honor God with it. Paul wrote,

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).

In other words, magnifying God must be the priority in all that we do, and that definitely includes our money. Money can become a touchy subject because we wrongly see all we can get from it...power and control, and we don't want to give those up very easily. I think this is wrong because after all, money is just money, and it really can't accomplish very much on its own. It is also wrong because it shows that we value money more than God. I like what the "wise guy" in Proverbs wrote:

Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce (3:9).

Solomon is teaching that the way we show that God is more valuable to us than wealth is by giving to Him off the top, not the bottom. We honor God with our paycheck when we look at the entire amount and give to Him first. I believe that by giving to God before buying even the necessities of life shows that my appetites don't run my life, but God does, and then I am going to trust Him to take care of the "necessities."

But Solomon doesn't end with just an encouragement to show the worth of God by giving to Him first, he follows with a precious promise:

Then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine (3:10).

This is not a promise to make us rich, or to give us a Cadillac. I don't believe that just because we give to God first that we will live in a nice house or retire on the beach someday. That type of theology is self-defeating. The promise is that God will continue to meet the needs we have in life. And when we find that our "barns are full" or our "vats are bursting" then we will have all the more reason to be generous to those in need.

Grace & Peace,

Scott

Right Place @ the Right Time

2010-04-10T21:50:00.003-04:00

It was a pretty uneventful day as Saturdays go, until...

After cleaning the eves with a borrowed pressure washer (thanks Keith) I wanted to get to the hospital at a specific time to check on a prospective church member who landed in CCU a couple of days ago. After checking on Jimmy's progress, which was good, and praying with him and his sweet wife, Gwen, I went back to the waiting room to say good-bye to the rest of the family. To my surprise all I saw were butts. Yes, I did write that. Almost everyone in the room was staring out the window just trying to get a glimps of somebody famous who was going to be visiting the hospital. No, none of us knew who that would be but we were all curious. After a cup of really bad coffee and some fun conversation I decided it was time to go home. Exit Scott. When the elevator opened on the ground floor I was greeted by a throng of police, hospital personnel, TV cameras, secret police, and all the other "what have you's."

I didn't get off, I just asked who all the fuss was over. The answer: Laura Bush. They said she was here to do a special promotion, or something like that, on the hospital. Kuddos to Spartanburg Regional Hospital. You are an awesome institution that takes excellent care of its patients. I hope Mrs. Bush does you proud.

I guess I was in the right place at the right time. And no, I didn't get to see her, but on my way out I did hear her voice as they were interviewing her.

Grace & Peace,

Scott

Great News!

2010-04-07T10:29:00.002-04:00

I have some great news! Actually I have three things I want to share with you this week...

First, Greg Mickey has announced that he has been called by God to the ministry of the gospel. This has been weighing on Greg's heart for some time now and in a way he has "stuck his neck out" by telling everyone. This is a step of faith and I believe God will honor him and Beth because of it. One huge hurdle that is out of the way for Greg is his education; he holds a Master of Divinity degree and so his official training is complete, but he still has more to do. Sunday morning Calvary Baptist Church approved to move forward to ordain him. Ordination puts our personal stamp of approval on his life and call. More details to come...

Second, we had a wonderful day of family worship. It was fantastic to see the familiar faces, and some new ones, gathered to give thanks to an awesome God for raising His Son from the dead. The resurrection gives us hope for the future. The last great enemy we face is death. Paul wrote that "death is swallowed up in victory" (1 Corinthians 15:54). In that context what "swallows" up the sting of death is the resurrection (cf. vv. 51-53).

Finally, the Building Fund Easter Offering...I know, you've probably already looked at the financial report if you get one, but if you just read this blog I want you to know. But really I just want to honor God and not us. Yes, the offering was off the hook for Sunday with $8,070 coming in just fore the building fund, and the general offering was one of the best also. But we must, and I mean must, keep in mind that we don't get any of the credit. I am thrilled that even though we are in a recession that God's people can, and will, give sacrificially beyond their means. This offering is huge for us, but it proves that when we look beyond our ability and see life in the heavenly realm where we are seated with Christ (Ephesians 2:6) that nothing is impossible for God to accomplish! This brings our total giving for the Building Fund Easter Offering up to $18,261.28 which means we still have $1,738.74 to go to meet the goal.

Grace & Peace,

Scott

No Resurrection...No Hope

2010-03-30T12:07:00.003-04:00

The cross centers our life and the resurrection gives us hope. The cross without the resurrection is a lesson in tragic hopelessness. This is something that Paul confronted the believers with in Corinth.

Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. (1 Corinthians 15:12-19 ESV)

Paul saw that underneath all the dismaying problems of the Corinthians lay one massive theological falsehood: they denied the resurrection of the dead. And by doing that, they denied the importance of the world that God created. They denied that these flawed bodies of ours are loved by God and we will be redeemed.

Notice the "if's" in the above passage, they are piled up and by doing this Paul is raising the stakes higher and higher. He ties Christ's resurrection in with our resurrection. Paul's point is simple: if the Corinthian position on the resurrection prevails then we have no past and no future! That is, if we have believed in Christ's resurrection as giving us hope for the future when there is no hope for the future, then we are truly the most miserable people on the planet.

But the resurrection is true and therefore our hope is real. And hope changes everything. Join us this Sunday as we focus on the resurrection of our great Shepherd, Jesus.

Grace & Peace,

Scott

Never Get Over the Cross!

2010-03-23T13:30:00.003-04:00

I remember the first time I told Barb "I love you." I remember our first kiss. I remember the first time I held each of our children. I remember the first church I pastored. I remember the first time I preached at Calvary (Easter, 2006). There are some things you remember forever; you just never get over them, and you don't want to, and you shouldn't.

Do you remember the first time you realized God's love for you was so great that He sacrificed His own Son? Have you gotten over it? Do you remember when you made the decision to follow Him and trust Him with your life? Salvation is something that is rooted in the event of the cross. That event took place over two thousand years ago and it still never loses its power to transform a life! The cross is central to our faith and it changes everything we do. It changes the way we love; it changes the way we worship; it changes the way we raise kids; it changes the way we spend money; it changes the way we live.

Oh, so many have come to the cross and accepted its sacrifice only to turn their back on the One who paid the supreme price to secure everlasting life. They came enamored by the transformation it produces; they stayed in love long enough to fervently read the Bible and learn how to live above the confusion and noise of a world gone mad; and they have followed hard after Jesus...for a time. Then suddenly, or maybe subtly, they drifted and "fell out of love" with the cross. No, they would never admit that, but their actions speak of a betrayal that mirrors Judas. They simply got over the cross and it is no longer central to their life. But this shouldn't be.

Never get over the cross!

Grace & Peace,

Scott

Hoarding Is Sinful

2010-03-16T10:35:00.004-04:00

Shortages create panic and when panic sets in people have a tendency to hoard. Have you ever tried to buy water after a severe weather announcement? Try going to WalMart when there is a threat of a snow and the possibility of Spartanburg County being shut down for three days looms in everyone's mind. What happens? County-wide panic! We get in our cars, head down to the nearest WalMart, BiLo, Ingles, or whatever and buy enough water to drown a pregnant cow. We also buy enough batteries to light the town of Chesnee for three months! We hoard all these things to produce some sense of security. Now, I'm all for a moderate emergency plan, but come on...really?

I believe this same thing happens when it comes to the gifts God has given us (i.e., money, time, giftedness, a message). For example: we are facing a current financial crisis. This is no mystery, but what have we done as believers in response to this crisis? Some have looked at the economy and panicked. They have begun to worry about what is going to happen tomorrow and so they run to the "WalMart" (i.e., the bank) to stockpile what they don't think they'll have in the near future (i.e., money). This is hoarding and hoarding is foolish. Taking our eyes off of the Provider always produces panic.

When Jesus was illustrating the truth about being careful with greed and that life does not consist in the things we have (Luke 12:15), He told the story of the rich guy who looked at his stuff and said, "Boy, I've got a lot of stuff. What should I do? I know, I'll demolish my two-car garage and build a four-car garage." Jesus calls him a fool because he is making decisions without thinking about God, and those decisions will carry with him after he died. Jesus ends by saying, "So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God" (v. 21).

The problem with hoarding is trust. This "rich fool" wouldn't trust God because his "stuff" got in the way. God provides for us not so that we can keep it all to ourselves, but so that we can get it out into Kingdom work. God never intended that we keep all we have and store it for a rainy day. We have to trust Him and under His leadership give away what we have (Luke 6:38).

Grace & Peace,

Scott

I Am Not a Racist

2010-03-03T21:22:00.002-05:00

I don't have a racist bone in my body (at least that is what I think). In fact I tell people that the first time I remember being south of the Mason-Dixon line was when I was probably 10 years old. I was born in Alaska so I didn't have much of a chance to interact with other races except Eskimos. I abhor racism and derogatory remarks made toward anybody. God created us in His image, and when He created Adam and Eve He created in them all future races. Why should we disparage any race when that God doesn't. Having said that let me share something with you...

I teach a non-denominational Bible study once a week to a group of wonderful senior citizens. Out of the 35 that come week-after-week only about 5 are white. I have been doing this for 2 years now and love it immensely! I have talked to them about race and God's view of the issue. In particular when teaching through Ephesians we came across the passage:

For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. (2:14-16)

I'm just saying that one of the purposes of the cross is to create one new race. It is not a black race or white race or red race or any other race. This is a new race in Christ! It is the cross that brings about reconciliation.

Grace & Peace,

Scott

God Is the Creator & Owner of It All!

2010-03-02T10:57:00.002-05:00

We make a monumental mistake when we play the game "that's mine!" God has graciously given us all things to enjoy. Fundamental to this is our understanding that God is the Creator and Owner of everything. Everything we are and everything we have is His. When we grasp this truth then we begin to understand that if we don't own anything, then we must be stewards of God's creation. True stewardship is built upon the foundational understanding that it all belongs to God. The believers in Macedonia understood this fact clearly and devoted themselves completely to the Lord. The result was that any gift they gave to the ministry was a consequence of this devotion.

And the did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will. (2 Corinthians 8:5)

One of the hindrances to stewardship in the disciple's life is falling in love with money and what we foolishly think money can buy (i.e., security, satisfaction, popularity [after all its usually the rich who get elected], happiness, etc.). Having a love affair with money is a dangerous relationship that will leave us abandoned one day. James presents several common sins associated with the love of money:

Placing trust in the temporary (James 5:1-3).
Hoarding wealth, rather than using it for good (James 5:3).
Using dishonest means to get rich (James 5:4).
Living in self-indulgent luxury (James 5:5).

When God calls us to do something He gives us what is necessary to carry out that calling. He never envisioned that we would fall in love with the provision and not the Provider. All of His resources are available to get the job done. How are we using what God has given us?

Grace & Peace,

Scott

A Simple Life

2010-02-23T16:41:00.003-05:00

Is it possible to live a simple life? What I mean by this is, is it necessary that my level of comfort increases proportionately with my level of income? It is all too common that the more money we make the more "things" we buy, and soon our lives are defined more by what we have in the garage or in our retirement fund and less by what we have in Christ. Think about it along these lines: Do you remember living on less income than you have coming in now and being just as happy (if not happier)? Has it happened to you? It has happened to me. Let me explain how we got ourselves into this situation and why it is important to get out!

First is the "how." Simply put we have followed the American dream of prosperity. We bought into the lie that we deserve bigger houses and nicer cars. We have fallen prey to the envy monster and heeded the call of greed. Just take a look around and ask, "Do I really need these things, and when was the last time I used them anyway?"

A simple lifestyle is a lifestyle that doesn't evolve at the rate of our increase in pay. It is a lifestyle of contentment. In fact, it is interesting that when Paul wrote "I can do all things through him who strengthens me" he was talking about being content with what God provided (cf. Philippians 4:10-13).

Now "why" is it important to get away from chasing the American "nightmare" of more? Because the gospel is at stake. If we are greedy then the world will see no difference between their living and ours. Contentment is a powerful witness in a world that clamors after more! We must consider that the money God provides for us is not for our ever increasing pleasure, but for His ever powerful kingdom. Jesus' words are most appropriate, "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matthew 6:21).

I'm still working this out in my life, but it is something God is teaching me.

Grace & Peace,

Scott

Looking at Stewardship Through the Right Eyes

2010-02-18T09:46:00.002-05:00

Looking at things through the right eyes changes everything. When we were young we experienced going to the grocery store as an epic journey, now it is a chore we must endure to feed the family. Vacation used to be the ultimate, white-knuckled, adrenaline pumping, fantasy encouraging adventure of a life time, but now it is a savings account busting, insomnia inducing, over eating encouraging, never ending long road trip. It is a matter of how we look at things--through what eyes are we looking. I have come to believe this is true with stewardship. Let me explain...

The word stewardship can conjure up all sorts of negative feelings in us if we look at it from the wrong perspective. We can see it as an anxiety inducing, piggy bank emptying, guilt trip. This way of looking at the subject is twisted. In the first place stewardship has less to do with money and has everything to do with discipleship. Stewardship is a responsibility to manage well what God has given to us, and God has given us more than just cash. We are to follow hard after Jesus with our whole life, not just our bank accounts.

In the second place our stewardship will follow our focus. If our focus is on the here-and-now then we will be skewed in our management responsibilities. You see, we will manage our time, our gifts, our love, our compassion, our money, our investments, etc. with an eye only on the temporal, not the eternal. The temporal is what can be taken from us, but the eternal is what will last. Paul write about how God "has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places" (Ephesians 1:3). Too often we think of the "blessings" in terms of good health, more money, bigger homes and nicer cars, but this severely misses the point of God's blessings. His blessings are with an eternal perspective and He wants us to get our focus there, not here!

So, what are we doing with what God has given to us? Are we being faithful with our time? Our giftedness? Our love? Our compassion? Our money? And when we look at all of this are we looking at it in light of the heavenly and not the earthly? Let's start looking at it through different eyes.

Grace & Peace,

Scott

"Life Comes at You Fast!"

2010-02-02T16:21:00.003-05:00

One of the funnier commercials I enjoy is the one that uses the slogan: "Life comes at you fast." That message was illustrated audibly and visibly Monday afternoon (2-1-10). I was engrossed in some good reading on a passage in Ephesians when through the city's cacophony of noises I heard the unmistakable sounds of a traffic accident right out my window (you know...the screeching of brakes and a loud crash!). Well, that interrupted my day, and after calling 911 Amanda and I proceeded to do a running commentary of what was going on below us on Pearl Street. I don't think any of the five people involved in the accident was thinking their day would end like that.

For me this was a lesson on the unexpected and sometimes unwanted, and life is full of this. Yes, I plan out my day and try to stick to a schedule, but every once in a while the unplanned thing happens and changes everything. I have to be okay with this because I firmly believe in God's control of events and I equally reject fate. I am not saying that God causes bad things to happen, but He does control those bad things. Nothing takes God by surprise, and He knows just what I need and how much I can handle. God never says, "Oops," or "I didn't see that coming." What is a real comfort for the follower of Jesus in all of this is that God can turn even the most severe event into a life-changing episode for the good. Paul wrote,

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28 ESV)

I look out my window and see the remnants of the accident: some shattered glass and plastic and the paint the officers used to mark the scene of the accident. As long as the paint remains it will be a vivid remind that life comes at you fast, but I can trust that God is working things out in my life for His purpose.

Grace & Peace,

Scott

The Tsunami of God's Grace

2010-01-25T11:09:00.005-05:00

Sunday at lunch we were gathered around the table talking about everything from how our jobs were going to church to Haiti. The conversation when from the Haiti earthquake to one of our favorite subjects: Life in Alaska. Mom was recounting the great Alaska earthquake of '64 when my brother said something about the largest recorded tsunami in history. He checked his Blackberry and yes, he was right, it was in the 1950's, July 9, 1958 to be exact. It happened in Lituya Bay when an earthquake hit the Fairweather Fault along the Alaska Panhandle. It was reported that 40 million cubic yards of rock dropped 3,000 feet and landed in Gilbert Inlet. The result of the impact was the largest tsunami that created a wave 1720 feet high (47 feet taller than the Empire State Building). It stripped trees and vegetation off the nearby mountains at that height. Nothing could stop the devastation of this tsunami. I use this as a point of stressing the power of God's grace.

When God breaks into a person's life the results are mind-boggling. God's grace to transform a life is one of the undeniable miracles still taking place in the world today. Grace is not merely a "little" thing that God does, no, it is a deluge of His work in our life and nothing can stand in the way of grace when it rains down.

Do you get it? I really want you to get it and explore and appreciate the tsunami of God's powerful grace. Paul labors to get this point across in Ephesians. He calls this grace "glorious" (Ephesians 1:6). In attempting to describe the power of God that has invaded broken lives he writes, "having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might" (Ephesians 1:18-19 ESV, emphasis mine). Paul is praying that we would get a clue about God's powerful, glorious, life-changing, tsunami-like grace.

Pause for a moment and think about this for your life personally. Don't run to the altar of decision, but to the altar of appreciation. Thank God as He reminds you of how this grace invaded and took over your life. Nothing, and I mean absolutely nothing, can evade the effects of God's glorious grace!

Grace & Peace,

Scott

Don't Throw in the Towel!

2010-01-20T11:01:00.004-05:00

Endurance is a much-desired quality. For instance, we desire possessions to endure and we want relationships to last. And this is what God wants in our relationship with Him. I find that too many "believers" check out on God early. When people don't make it to the end in discipleship it leaves me wondering whether they ever had a genuine relationship with God to begin with. I am not the judge of their eternal state, but with all the teaching in the Bible on perseverance I just can't help but think that God's design is for His children to go all the way to the end without throwing in the towel. Let me explain how I arrive at this...

First, I see in the example of Jesus this quality of endurance. Jesus went all the way to the end. Paul wrote that Jesus was obedient...to death...on a cross (Philippians 2:8). Since this was the way of our Savior then this is the way of discipleship. True followers of Jesus will go all the way to the end no matter what obstacles come their way.

Second, we are encouraged by other followers of Jesus to endure. The writer of Hebrews wrote about a "cloud of witnesses" who made it to the end, and then he appeals to us to "run with endurance the race" (Hebrews 12:1). If they made it through hardship and rejection without throwing in the towel then I am encouraged and reason, "They made it, why not me?"

Finally, and quite frankly, it scares me spitless to think of the prospect of not enduring and forfeiting eternity because I loved my sin more than I loved God! Jesus uses the phrase "the one who conquers" (i.e., "overcomes" or "perseveres") to address each of the seven churches in Revelation 2-3. This leads me to believe that those who are not overcomers forfeit what He promises and that prospect is pretty damning if you read their mail.

Be an overcomer. Don't quit following Jesus just because you think something better comes along. Nothing is worth giving up on being a genuine follower of Jesus Christ.

Grace & Peace,

Scott

The Best Use of My Time

2010-01-11T16:22:00.002-05:00

Don't live with regrets, live doing now what the Lord has called you to do. I have been known as a procrastinator at times, but in my defense I only put off the things I really don't want to do. Is that considered procrastination or hopeful living? By "hopeful living" I mean that if I put something off long enough I am hoping that it will either take care of itself or so much time will elapse that it doesn't matter if I do it or not. For example, mowing the lawn. I like yard work, to a certain degree. But if I procrastinate cutting the grass eventually it won't matter because winter will be here and nobody notices my yard in the winter. Ok, its not "hopeful living," its procrastination. No matter which way you cut it (no pun intended) putting off what God has called you to do is not good practice.

Paul wrote, "making the best use of the time, because the days are evil" (Ephesians 5:16 ESV).

The world we live in claws for every minute of our day; some of that clawing is for good activities, but some, as Paul warns, are for no good at all. We live in days that are filled with evil and this is the motivation we need to get done what God has called us to do.

Think through this new year keeping in mind that it is a new opportunity God is giving you to do His will. What is He calling you to do? Write that down and being doing it today. Look at your relationships, look at your vocation, look at your whole life and see them as gifts. These are gifts of which you are a steward. Now make the best use of your time and just do it. Don't put off to tomorrow what God is calling you to do today!

Grace & Peace,

Scott

Psalm 125: "We Cannot Be Moved"

2010-01-11T16:14:00.002-05:00

"My world has been turned upside down!" That statement pack a lot of meaning. Something devastating and unexpected happened. Life doesn't make any sense. We are confused and frustrated. And I believe it is at this point we make decisions that will affect the entire course of our lives. This is a crucial point. I am afraid it is also a point at which we make mistakes and choose the wrong path, but it doesn't need to be this way. This is the message of Psalm 125. Let me recap from Sunday...

The last statement of David is what we are looking for when our world get turned upside down: "Peace be upon Israel." The Old Testament idea of "peace" (shalom) is not the absence of conflict, but a sense of well-being; it has the meaning of wholeness, or security. With this end result in mind let's see how we get there.

We are imperfect and our trust wavers like the stock market. We can be moved and we sometimes "turn aside." This is the point David makes at the beginning of verse 5.

Trust is key (v. 1). It is not the circumstance that should dictate our "peace", but in what we trust. If our trust is placed in something that is temporary (something we can lose) then our security will only last as long as that something, or somebody, is in place. Only God is eternal and only He can make us eternally secure. David shares the result of placing our trust in God...we "cannot be moved" (v. 1).

Read this psalm...live it and love it. May the Spirit of God teach us how we can be "fortressed" in God who cannot be moved! If He cannot be moved and our trust is in Him, then we cannot be moved.

Grace & Peace,

Scott

Psalms for Pilgrims

2010-01-07T23:11:00.002-05:00

Currently I am preaching a series of messages that cover Psalms 120-134. Popular opinion believes these psalms are a collection of songs that were sung by the Israelites as they travelled to Jerusalem for worship at one of the three annual festivals. This trip presented the Jew with time to reflect on all that God was and did for them; it was a time to rehash the "good things" and rehearse for the great gathering of Jews in the holy city.

These 15 psalms present a view of life that really shouldn't be that foreign to a believer. Too often we fret and fume about life...we don't think God has given us any help along the way. I find believers who say they believe God's Word, but refuse to practice God's Word in every day living.

I find this study a challenge to my own walk with God. I also find these psalms comforting as I face the issues the Jews faced thousands of years ago. I would ask everyone reading this blog to read these 15 psalms everyday for a month. While doing this write down key truths presented in each psalm. And then live by these themes.

Ancora Imparo,

Scott

Touching Lives for Eternity

2009-12-21T11:41:00.002-05:00

I came across something while reading last week that arrested my attention and has had be thinking this week:

"I am not saying you have to go to church to be a Christian, but you also do not have to go home to be married" (R. Kent Hughes). Think about it!

"Going to church" has fallen on hard times and I can understand why. In large part it is due to the unbiblical emphasis on buildings, budgets and programs. The church has become big business with pastors we are seen as CEO's (or better yet CFO's). We (pastors) are clamoring for all the wrong things are are spending so much time in lunch meetings that the only thing growing is our waistline. (And when we are growing our waistline, then I believe it is a "waste of time"!) The important things of ministry have been long-neglected...things like studying the Word, praying for the sheep, and visiting the widows and orphans. When we (pastors) do this then we are subtly teaching the disciples of Jesus that cash flow is more important than God's honor and that the next strategy meeting is a higher priority than people's needs.

Change begins with the under-shepherd of the flock. I am reminded of what James worte,

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. (James 1:27 ESV)

I believe that without people you can't have a church, and people won't come (much less stay) if you won't touch their lives. So, we need to give people a reason to come to Calvary Church and I believe that reason comes through personal contact, not in ornate buildings, or multi-million dollar budgets, or even elaborately planned programs.

Remember, if our focus is on buildings then people get used, but if our focus is on people then buildings get used!

Grace & Peace,

Scott

One Purpose

2009-12-14T15:17:00.004-05:00

God's purpose for all of creation is to bow before His Son. Paul wrote,

"Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:9-11 ESV [emphasis added])

We ought to honor Him EXCLUSIVELY ("the name that is above every name"). No other person, ideal, philosophy or religion is greater than that of Jesus. No other pursuit is worthy of our time and energy as much as Jesus.

We ought to honor Him WITHOUT EXCEPTION ("every knee should bow"). Some will do this for the first time after death because they refused in life, and by then it will be too late. It is better to bow the knee today.

We ought to honor Him WITH ENTHUSIASM ("to the glory of God the Father"). Glorifying God is not some mundane, ho-hum thing we do on the weekends, it is what we enthusiastically do with our lives every minute.

The ultimate aim of all creation is to glorify God through honoring His Son. Everything we see is an outworking of that one purpose. Our greatest joy and full satisfaction will only be found in bowing before Christ. We may look in other places and in vain seek for satisfaction in other ways, but our only hope for lasting joy will come through obedience to Christ.

Christmas is a great time to think some of this through. This is not just a matter of what we believe, but also how we behave. What we claim in important, but how we live is just as important. Sometimes our lifestyle is a little hypocritical when compared to our doctrine.

There are three reactions to the Christ child recorded in the Gospel of Matthew: (1) hatred and hostility by Herod (Matthew 2:3), complete indifference by the religious (Matthew 2:5-6), and adoring worship by the Magi (Matthew 2:2, 10-11). When you compare and contrast the responses, where do you fall? Are you honoring God with every fiber of your being?

Merry Christmas,

Scott

How Do We Have Peace of Earth?

2009-12-08T11:31:00.005-05:00

Christmas is a wonderful time of year. It is a time that brings out the best in some people and the worst in others. I personally think its kind of sad that Christmas is the only time when some people are on their best behavior. It is tragic when believers act like this. Let me share the impact the coming of the Christ child has...

Luke records the response of the angels to the birth announcement of Jesus:

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased. (Luke 2:14 ESV)

We need to be very careful at this point not to misinterpret what the angels said. Does this mean that every December 25, and the weeks surrounding, that there is a mystical, special, super-inspirational, supernatural peace that floats down on the world in an invisible mist so that everyone feels good about everyone else. Is there a little less killing, a little more love and understanding, and does everyone treat each other better? I don't think so! A look at the world around us tells a different story. So what is meant by these words? Glad you asked...

This emphasizes the work of Christ on the earth. He came for the purpose of seeking and saving the lost. His mission was to set man's relationship with God right--to make men to be at peace with the Father through redemption. This is a life-changing, radical rescue. When redemption is brought into play then sin must be recognized and that flies in the face of popular opinion. What the Christmas message is saying is that man is at odds with God and is a sinner who is dead in his sin and is in need of rescuing!

There is no peace in a sin-stained, Satan-dominated world. But, if you are one of those who has come to Christ and taken Him as your Savior, then His peace rests on you.

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 5:1 ESV)

Grace, Peace & Merry Christmas,

Scott

Consumerism vs Compassion

2009-11-30T16:30:00.004-05:00

Commercialism erodes our affections; it forces us to think too much about the here-and-now when we should have our focus on the riches in the heavenly places (Ephesians 1:3). What if we had to live the entire year under the frenzied pressure of the "more monster"? I don't think any of us could handle a weekly "Black Friday" (unless of course you are in retail or are one of my daughters).

I think we spend too many of our resources on what is under the tree instead of preparing our hearts for the Advent. Culture is moving toward a "holiday" celebration where present are king instead of investing in preparation of the presence of the King.

One of the major downfalls of this is that we perpetuate our own selfishness. We are teaching the next generation that it is ok to be greedy and fall head-0ver-heels in love with the things this world has to offer. We are training the next generation of "Black Friday" shoppers to be even more consumed with wanting and expecting more stuff.

John Stott wrote, "Materialism tethers our hearts to this earth." This right on target because it's grounded in biblical truth. Remember what Jesus said, "Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also" (Matthew 6:21; Luke 12:34)?

I am not advocating emptiness under the tree. I still believe giving gifts in moderation can be an expression of God's grace and our love to one another. What I am encouraging is a little less under the tree and a little more time at home...a little less spending on the over stuffed and a little more spending on the hungry...less consumerism and more compassion. God's present was His presence, why should we do any different?

God's intention in giving His gift was to change the world and I still believe Christmas can change the world, but it must start with me...with you...with us!

Something I've been thinking about this year that will actually be put into use next Christmas (yes, I actually do plan that far ahead) is "The Advent Conspiracy." I've found the following website helpful in the beginning stage of my thought process: www.adventconspiracy.org.

Grace & Peace,

Scott