2010 February

Dreaming or Dying

On February 26, 2010, In Jeff's random thoughts, Spiritual Growth, by Jeff Calloway

If you are not dreaming, if you don’t have a goal for life and if you do not have a vision, you are dying. Because you’re either growing or you’re dying. We develop our dreams and then they develop us. Our dreams define us. I believe when an ordinary person is committed to a great dream, it [...]

If you are not dreaming, if you don’t have a goal for life and if you do not have a vision, you are dying. Because you’re either growing or you’re dying. We develop our dreams and then they develop us. Our dreams define us. I believe when
an ordinary person is committed to a great dream, it makes that person a great person. If you want to be healthy, you
must have a dream to live for. God expects you to use your imagination.

In Ephesians 3:20-21 the apostle Paul writes, ““Now to Him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in you, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations.” God’s dream for you hasn’t changed. He is still able to do more than we could ever think or imagine according to His power, not ours. God’s dream for your life is for His glory, not yours. I am reminded that God’s vision is about people. God loves people more than anything. That is why you are alive. You are not a biological entity. Even though it was through biological processes that you were conceived and continue to develop physiologically, you have God’s fingerprints all over you. He created you to love you and for you to love Him back. The more we love God, the less fear we will have. It is a matter of trust. When we realize that God will take care of us, it relieves our fear.

Open your heart to God’s love. When you do, He can work in your life to bring fulfillment, joy, success, and service to Him. When you open your heart to Him, you are inviting Him to be the one and only leader of your life on this short journey on earth and for the time that we call eternity. If you really, really want God to work his vision in your life you must learn to love Him and other people who walk this life with us. Love is not a feeling; it is a verb in action. I can best define love in this manner – love is when you are willing to sacrifice yourself for the good of another. When you experience this kind of love you don’t have to worry about fear.

Over the years of reading and attending conferences I have come across many people that God has done a “God thing” in their life, family, or church. It is amazing to hear the stories of people who have prayed for an unsaved family member for years, to see them become Christ followers and to see churches that have exploded with growth by reaching the multitudes of their world who didn’t know Christ. God’s vision for the world is still the same today as it was 2,000 years ago and that is to see those who are lost come to know Him through his Son Jesus. That is His dream for the world. What’s yours?

TextEdit icon – Think Different

On February 25, 2010, In Apple, Jeff's random thoughts, by Jeff Calloway

It is no secret that I am a Apple enthusiast. I thought about labeling myself as an Apple evangelist, but I don’t go out and preach Mac to the masses. Apple has always been a company that focuses on creativity, which is not one of my stronger points, although I do see myself as a [...]

It is no secret that I am a Apple enthusiast. I thought about labeling myself as an Apple evangelist, but I don’t go out and preach Mac to the masses. Apple has always been a company that focuses on creativity, which is not one of my stronger points, although I do see myself as a visionary thinker and leader. In Apple’s cadre of applications that comes installed on a Mac is the program TextEdit. I never paid much attention to the launch icon for this app, but noticed recently that there is writing on the icon, a note pad with a pen laid on top of the paid. I decided to find out what was written on the icon and below is my finding, a larger shot of the icon.

This is the copy from a commercial that Apple aired during the final episode of Seinfield and it was the only time it ever aired. I love the copy! You can be a “crazy one” that changes things. I want to be a “Crazy One” that God will use to change the spiritual landscape of our country and our world. How about you?

Science of Happiness

On February 24, 2010, In Jeff's random thoughts, People, Religion, Spiritual Growth, by Jeff Calloway

From Time magazine dated Janauary 17, 2005, the cover story was titled, “The Science of Happiness.” The article deals much with the “psychology” of happiness. Some interesting statistics in the article report that based on their own assessment, Americans are overwhelmingly happy and optimistic people regardless of their income. The top four answers that people [...]

From Time magazine dated Janauary 17, 2005, the cover story was titled, “The Science of Happiness.” The article deals much with the “psychology” of happiness. Some interesting statistics in the article report that based on their own assessment, Americans are overwhelmingly happy and optimistic people regardless of their income. The top four answers that people gave to what makes them happy were: Children/grandchildren – 35%, Family – 17%, God/faith/religion – 11%, and Spouse – 9%. One thing that struck me while reading this article is that people are trying to find happiness in every nook and corner of their lives. It seems that the majority of us are searching for happiness, the American dream. Is happiness attainable and if so how?

In John Piper’s book, When I Don’t Desire God: How to Fight For Joy, he states, “One of the most important discoveries I have ever made is this truth: God is most glorified in me when I am most satisfied in him.” I remember as a boy there was a spring in the woods on the property adjacent to our property. I don’t know who, but someone had build a small concrete dam to pool the water so that it could be easily accessed. In order to get a drink of the refreshing water, you had to get on your knees and drink the water from your cupped hand. It was perhaps some of the best water I have ever drank. It brought refreshment to my body and quenched my thirst. In our underlying search for happiness, that is the premise, to have a thirst quenched.I don’t know about you, but I want to be happy. I want my wife to be happy. I want my daughters to be happy.

Does God want us to be happy? Is it sinful for Christians to be happy? Sometimes it appears that the answer to that question is yes and sometimes it seems to be no. I am in the process of reading When I Don’t Desire God: How To Fight For Joy, a book written by John Piper. I highly reccomend this book as it addresses the question of Does God want us to be happy and experience joy. Two weeks ago at a men’s retreat, I took the opportunity to share on the subject Loving God For Who He Is, in which I addressed the topics of happiness in the Lord, joy in the Lord, delight in the Lord and desire in the Lord. I shared that happiness happens when we are pursuing God. In our formative years as a believer in Christ we were taught to pursue godliness and you would find joy. We were taught to be obedient to God and His Word and someday we would experience happiness. The Bible teaches us we can be happy, joyful and delight in the Lord now, (Psalm 37:4, Psalm 100:2, Philippians 4:4, Psalm 42:1-2, Matthew 6:21, Psalm 16:11). Nowhere in the Bible does God condemn people for longing to be happy. People are condemned for forsaking God and seeking their happiness elsewhere (Jeremiah 2:13).

In my pursuit of God, I will become more like Christ – willing to serve, longing to love, able to forgive. Those attributes that we have tried to achieve by our own effort will happen naturally, or should I say supernaturally.

In the past I have heard well intentioned people make a statement that happiness was temporary and joy was eternal. Perhaps you have heard a variation of that statement to some degree. The premise is that you can’t really enjoy happiness while you are here on earth, but that it is something that will be realized after this life. When we examine scriptures, there is a very strong arguement that happiness can be achieved in this life and should be pursued. I will admit that for the greater part of my life, my belief in this area has been; serve and be obedient to God and His Word, then I will have joy. Happiness is not a science, it is not an emotion, it is not a state of mind. Happiness is found in knowing God, desiring God, delighting in God, and pursuing God.

I will be sharing more on this subject later.

The Difference Faith Makes

On February 17, 2010, In Jeff's random thoughts, by Jeff Calloway

Let me ask you a few questions. What difference did your faith in Christ make yesterday? What difference will your faith make today? What about tomorrow? God wants your faith to grow. For many of us our faith is about the size of a speck of dust, very miniscule and almost impossible to see. I [...]

Let me ask you a few questions. What difference did your faith in Christ make yesterday? What difference will your faith make today? What about tomorrow? God wants your faith to grow. For many of us our faith is about the size of a speck of dust, very miniscule and almost impossible to see. I use a speck of dust as an illustration because Jesus said in Matthew 17:20, “If we have faith that is the size of a mustard seed we can move mountains.” In other words if you want to see God’s hand move, you must have faith.

Have you ever wondered what faith looks like when it is lived out with the intent of God doing great things in and through your life? The person who lives by faith acknowledges the presence of God. Living faith recognizes that God is in absolutely everything. Living faith gets up in the morning and realizes everywhere we go, God goes too. Living faith has the constant awareness of God’s presence in life. Living faith says, “God I know you are here.; I may not understand what you are doing but I know you are here.” Do you get up in the morning realizing that when you go to work God is going to be there? Faith is a choice. You chose to take God at His Word and act accordingly. You chose to believe the evidence you have seen. Faith is not a feeling. You might say, “I don’t feel like getting up today. I don’t feel like going to work. I don’t feel like going to church. I don’t feel like (you fill in the blank).” You often choose to act regardless of how you feel. Do you remember a time in your life when you experienced faith –when you made a choice to take a risk?

Are you living out your faith in a way that is visible? Is your faith more than words that you may sing in a song on Sunday morning or a subject you talk about around fellow believers? Is your faith making a difference in your life and in the lives of those around you?

A move regarding organic church

On February 15, 2010, In Jeff's random thoughts, by Jeff Calloway

Last week, there was a conference in Austin called Verge that centered on organinc church life in North America. Speakers included the regulars – Hirsch and Cole, but something interesting came from that conference. The possible idea sharing/merging of the Exponential Church Planting Conference that takes place every April in Orlando with the purely organic [...]

Last week, there was a conference in Austin called Verge that centered on organinc church life in North America. Speakers included the regulars – Hirsch and Cole, but something interesting came from that conference. The possible idea sharing/merging of the Exponential Church Planting Conference that takes place every April in Orlando with the purely organic Verge. Having been to two of the Exponential Conferences, it is full of church planters wanting to launch large and create the next phenomenal attractional church.

Does this mean that church leaders who pastor mega-churches are finally starting to see the need and validity of organic church planting movements? Hopefully, they days of looking at such movements as a fringe group wthat has to be tolerated in the church planting scene are coming to a close. The most effective church planting movements are not taking place in the United States and they are being done through organinc church planting. Church and denominational leaders would be smart to follow the lead of our brothers across the seas when it comes to spreading the gosple through church planting.

Content or Coveting

On February 8, 2010, In Sermons, by Jeff Calloway

Yesterday we finished up our series on the 10 Commandments as I spoke on developing contentment. I had to confess to our church that this is the one that tempts me, drains me, and the one that makes me sad. I am not into coveting someone elses wife, their car, home, money, or even their [...]

Yesterday we finished up our series on the 10 Commandments as I spoke on developing contentment. I had to confess to our church that this is the one that tempts me, drains me, and the one that makes me sad. I am not into coveting someone elses wife, their car, home, money, or even their ox What I do covet is success. I have coveted fame.

Of all the commandments, ths is possibly the hardest because when I break the tenth one, I also break the first one – “You shall have no other gods before me.” Consumerism and materialism are as much a threat to our churches as any other heresy we might envision or any other sin we might understand. It is all about our desires. We are to desire Christ. We are to desire the glory of God. We are to desire the things above, not the things below. We are to desire to please the one who died for us. We are to desire heaven. We must learn to find our fulfillment in Jesus. This world, and the things in this world, will never fulfill us. God wants us to find our fulfillment in Him. God wants people who will place themselves in His arms. He wants people who are secure in His provision, trusting in Him to provide what they need in His wisdom.

Every week during our series, I would tie in the OT commandment to the NT principle that God wantes us to learn. To overcome covetousness we must be unselfish and give – Matthew 6:19-20 Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.

House of Prayer

On February 5, 2010, In Church Life, Spiritual Growth, by Jeff Calloway

Have you noticed something about Jesus’ comments about church? He tells Peter that the truth Peter spoke is the foundational truth of the church – “You are Christ/Messiah, the Son of the Living God.” One statement Jesus made has recently grabbed my heart and is changing my life – “My house shall be called a [...]

Have you noticed something about Jesus’ comments about church? He tells Peter that the truth Peter spoke is the foundational truth of the church – “You are Christ/Messiah, the Son of the Living God.” One statement Jesus made has recently grabbed my heart and is changing my life – “My house shall be called a house of prayer.” Too often we make His house a house of music, a house of teaching, a house of programs or a even a house of cards. Music is great, teaching is needed, programs – well… Jesus wants his house to be a place of prayer.

Is your church a house of prayer?

Merger of SBC Mission Boards

On February 4, 2010, In Mission, by Jeff Calloway

This past Monday at the FBC Jacksonsville Pastor Conference, I had the opportunity to pose a couple of questions to members of the Great Commission Resurgence Panel. Present for the Q&A time were Johnny Hunt, Ronnie Floyd, Al Mohler, and Danny Akin. My first question which has been picked up by Baptist Press (http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=32200) was [...]

This past Monday at the FBC Jacksonsville Pastor Conference, I had the opportunity to pose a couple of questions to members of the Great Commission Resurgence Panel. Present for the Q&A time were Johnny Hunt, Ronnie Floyd, Al Mohler, and Danny Akin. My first question which has been picked up by Baptist Press (http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=32200) was that I and many others have heard through the grapevine of the possible merger of the North American Mission Board and the International Mission Board. This topic is one that many SBCer’s have on their minds, but have not asked directly up until now.

My reasons for asking this question was twofold. First, I have served as a church planting missionary with NAMB and the church I planted and pastor, Bridge Church at Perry benefited greatly with through that partnership. Bridge Church was a core church plant of NAMB’s Strategic Focus City initiative in Cleveland. Second, I asked the question, because I am intensely interested and vested in church planting and wanted to know what church planting in North America would look like with one mission board. Which model of church planting would one board follow, if any. I guess we will have to wait until late May to find out the strategy for church planting that may be rolled out when the GCR issues their report of suggestions.

Until then we will be content with the fact that there will remain two distinct mission boards. Read the above link for the article that reports on the question I asked

David Platt – FBC Pastor Conference 2010

On February 1, 2010, In Uncategorized, by Jeff Calloway

OK – I had posted on Facebook that I heard the most moving sermon on missons in my life at the FBC Pastor conference by 30 year old pastor David Platt of Church at Brook Hills. I bought both the DVD and the CD and since they are not marked as copyright material, I am [...]

OK – I had posted on Facebook that I heard the most moving sermon on missons in my life at the FBC Pastor conference by 30 year old pastor David Platt of Church at Brook Hills.

I bought both the DVD and the CD and since they are not marked as copyright material, I am posting the audio here as a podcast to help build the kingdom. Enjoy and listen closely.

David Platt – FBC JAX Pastor Conference