Are you unqualified too?

When I was feeling the call to pastoral ministry, I struggled with the fact that I wasn't perfect. I didn't feel good enough, holy enough to serve God. That's why this message speaks to me. I hope it speaks to you too.

Cal

One day at a time.

Twenty years. That's how long ago I quit smoking cigarettes. On July 12, 1989 I went to a psychologist in Boston who used hypnotism to help me quit. I don't know how he did it. I never lost consciousness but he implanted the words I needed in my brain so I could give up the cigarettes. I haven't had one since.

I remember one of the phrases that was so helpful to me at the time. He told me that I wasn't quitting forever. I was simply choosing not to smoke that day. So far I have made that decision 7,300 times and I'm still counting.

The truth is that every day we have a choice. It works for doing good as well. Every day we can choose to serve God. I like to begin my days by asking God to guide my steps to the place where I can do the most good. Then I just follow his lead. I've been doing that for the last twenty years as well and He hasn't let me down yet.

God bless. Cal

Stepping out

This afternoon I participated in the wreath laying ceremony at the grave of Samuel Huntington. He was one of the forgotten founders of the nation. Denny Gibbs was the Master of Ceremonies and Attorney General Richard Blumenthal was the guest speaker.

The service began with the Governor's Footguard bringing in the colors. I was honored to give the invocation and I gave thanks for the vision and courage of our founder fathers. Then I asked God to bless the day.

As the foot guard came in I used my camera to take a video. It came out pretty good so I decided I would try uploading it to You Tube. I've never done anything with YouTube before so I was a little nervous and unsure of what to do. Within a few minutes I had signed up and uploaded the short video to YouTube and then posted it on Facebook.

I don't look at myself as being very old, but some of the newest technology does intimidate me. As a result I haven't done very much with it. This afternoon that changed. With this upload I took a step that will allow me to do even more creative things in my ministry

It made me think about the number of thing that we let get in the way of doing what God calls us to do. We hesitate because of fear, uncertainty, a lack of knowledge and so many other things. As a result we limit ourselves and limit what God wants to do through us.

Maybe its time we stop letting fear get in the way and begin taking action. All we need to do is step out in faith and do that thing we have been avoiding. For me it was sharing a message through YouTube. Today I've done that and now I'm ready for the next step. It's your turn now. Go ahead. Do it.

Here's my first YouTube video. Enjoy it.

Cal

Rest easy for the victory will be ours.

I love baseball. My favorite team is the Detroit Tigers. Every once in a while I get to watch the game thanks to MLB.tv. Tonight was one of those nights. My schedule was clear and I sat down and turned on the game to watch my favorite pitcher, Justin Verlander, go up against the Kansas City Royals.On paper it should have been an easy game but lately the tigers have not been scoring many runs. Every night is an adventure. Will they score enough runs o win and will their pitchers keep the opponents at bay?

I probably should never have sat down to watch the game. My chest is still pounding. You see, I hate not knowing who will win the game. The Tigers had an early lead and then they lost it. They came back to tie the game. I got excited. Then they push four more runs across the plate to take a commanding lead. The Royals came right back and cut the lead to two.

For the last three innings I wanted to turn the game off. I couldn't stand not knowing what was going to happen. Then again,it as a lot like life. The truth is that we never know what the future will hold for us. We simply do the best job we can and hold out for the best.

That's where faith comes in. It reminds us that God is the one who holds the future. He has a hope and a future in store for us and it will be a good one. That doesn't mean we won't face challenges and hardship. It simply means that at the end of the game we will come out the victor. How do we know? Because Jesus was the first one to claim the victory and he promised that we will all follow suit if we trust in him.

There are no guarantees for my Tigers (although Jim Leyland is a pretty good manager.) It is a different story when it comes to our faith. For Christ is as good as his word and the victory is ours.

Cal

The big good bye

When it comes to God, the biggest funerals are for those who have lived faithfully. No disrespect intended to Michael Jackson but enough is enough. Turn on the television and every talk show is obsessed with the funeral and the theatrics surrounding his death and the aftermath. I have been changing the channel every time his name is mentioned. I liked Michael Jackson's music, especially the early stuff. I also liked his Thriller and Bad singles. He was quite a performer. HE was NOT another Elvis or Frank Sinatra or Elton John. I don't care how many records he sold.

The thing that really turns my stomach is the fact that all the critics have disappeared. All those vultures that were ready to destroy him when the allegations of child abuse were circulating are singing another tune now. Katie Couric and all the media darlings want to tell us how wonderful he was and what a nice man he was.

I have always felt that Michael got a raw deal. I think he was innocent and that people were taking advantage of him. I also think that he was like a little kid inside and very immature socially. Of course I didn't know him. Very few people did.

Here is the point I want to make today. A big deal has been made over Michael Jackson's death as if he was the most important person in the world. The truth is that to God you and I and Michael Jackson are all equal. He loves each of us as if we were his only child. When one of us dies, the angels in heaven weep over the loss. But then the tide turns for those who have lived faithfully and sung God's praises. For them there is great rejoicing as we are greeted in heaven by the of Lord of Lords.

I hope nice things are said at my funeral but that's not the most important thing. I want to live in such a way that my life will glorify God and when I get to heaven I will hear the words "Well done, good and faithful servant."

Cal

Two Hands

I came across this video and it immediately got me thinking about our upcoming mission trip to Appalachia. We leave on July 26 and we will be working on the homes and families in West Virginia. We will using our hands to share the love which is in our hearts.

I was talking to a friend of mine the other day and he was telling me that his church has now adopted a policy where they take a mission trip every other year. In the non trip year they do a Habitat type project back home here. I thought that was great.

The truth is that all of us are called to reach out and do something to share Christ's love. Too often we just talk about it. If we used both hands to embrace God and to do his world, the world would be transformed.

Enjoy the music video.

Cal

This is the day

Walking through Times Square in New York City at 6:30 a.m. is a surreal experience. The streets are virtually empty. Yet the billboards are awash with images and the lights are flashing non stop. Just eight hours earlier you could hardly walk through the same area. People were eight thick on the sidewalks and cars were bumper to bumper. Everything was a blur of activity. That's what you think of when you think of the "city that never sleeps."

This morning I saw the other side. It is a world with so much potential. It is just waiting for the world to wake up and take hold of it. It reminded me that we have this opportunity with each day that God gives us. It is filled with possibilities. That's why David wakes up and declares, "This is the day God has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it!" He sees that the choice to enjoy the day or waste the day is ours.

In the Broadway musical Rent, the cast sings, "525,600 minutes, 525,000 moments so dear. 525,600 minutes - how do you measure, measure a year?" The first time I heard that song I thought about how quickly time flies and how much time we waste.

Each day is a precious gift. It provides an opportunity to live and love, to make a difference in the lives of family and friends. It gives us an open door to build up our community. The potential is there ready and waiting for us to take it. So what are we waiting for?