With My Own Eyes

Last Sunday was Dave McMahon’s last Sunday as Sr. Pastor at the First Baptist Church of Cadillac, MI. “Mac” has played such a significant role in who I have become as a person and as a pastor.  Here are just a few things I appreciate about Pastor Dave:

1. He took me under his wing when I was just starting in ministry.  I remember one of the first things he did was to take me to O’Neil’s to buy a desk and set-up an office.   I felt validated from day one.
2. He gave me lots of room to grow.  Whether I was painting the Underground black (sorry about that…) or launching the Renaissance, he patiently and humbly let me spread my wings.  I was given permission to try, fail, learn, and grow.
3. He modeled for me how to lead a church through times of crises.  I watched intently on multiple occasions when he entered into difficult situations with just the right words at just the right time.  He is a man of great courage and fortitude.  I want to be like that.
4. He taught me by example that we are called not just to pastor a local church but to pastor a community.   Not only did First Baptist lose a pastor on Sunday, but so did all of Cadillac.

I look forward to his continued influence in my life and pray that God will give me the ability to continue the faithful work that he has begun.  

Really enjoying this book so far and learning the much needed principle of having soft edges and a firm center.

Here’s hoping 2004 was a very good year for Tahoes.

Unfortunately, they don’t.  They don’t have wings.  They are fat and lazy.  Further, because their faces are “smashed”their breathing is distressed and airlines won’t allow them to fly in the cargo portion of the plane.  So, when our family relocates to Michigan we face the daunting challenge of 3-4 days in a car with two snorting, restless pugs (and teenagers).  For those of you who suggest that we leave Coco and Libbey behind, we can cease to be friends right now.

The children of Israel faced their own daunting journey that actually took 40 years (making 3-4 days in a car seem not so bad after all).  Numbers 21:4 says, “And the people became impatient on the way.”  This caused them to grumble and complain.  I can certainly relate.  But let us be reminded that God hates grumbling.  He in fact hates it so much that He sent a plague of fiery serpents among the complaining Israelites.  Why does God take our grumbling and impatience so seriously?  I think it is because it demonstrates a lack of trust in God’s goodness.  When we are impatient with our present circumstances it proclaims that God is not good in our present circumstances.  And that is certainly an offense to the God who created us, provides for us, and loves us so much that He sent His Son to die for us.  I must remember this on day 2 in the car with the pugs–and at all times when I am tempted to be impatient and grumble.

I went for a walk yesterday.  That was not the amazing part, as I walk quite a bit.  The amazing part–are you ready for this?…I was without earbuds.   That’s right.  I was unplugged.  And that for me is extraordinary.  My typical walking companions include Albert Mohler and his podcast “The Briefing” or Justin Brierly and his podcast “Unbelievable”.  Or maybe John MacArthur and one of his sermons.  Or Marty Brennaman and the Cincinnati Reds baseball game.  But yesterday…silence.  And it was good.  The break from the noise was so stark.  We live in a world of words.  Lots of them.  Words sent and received.  Constantly.

And so Mark 15:5 stood out to me today:  “But Jesus made no further answer, so that Pilate was amazed.”  It was the absence of words that amazed Pilate.  Jesus, being so supremely confident in His identity and mission, felt no need to defend Himself with words.  His silence screamed.

I want to greatly reduce the number of words in my life–words received and words delivered (Yes, I recognize the irony of writing about this in a blog with words).  My point is that the words of Jesus were so purposeful and measured.  Weighty.  Not careless.  I want my words to be like that.  I also want to experience more of the silence that I did yesterday.  Perhaps that sets the tone for delivering words that are more purposeful and measured.

What are three things you could do in your life to increase silence and decrease words?