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
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
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
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
