New email address due to hack

Hey all.  My new email address is calcallison@gmail.com.  Please change my info in your systems.  I got hacked in this yahoo account and it is spamming people...sorry.  Thanks.

In His Grip,

Cal Callison

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Year End Reflections Coming Soon...

...stay tuned...

Just Pray...

please...

(I wanted a longer entry but this is it for now)

Heavy Heart

Tonight my heart is heavy. It's after 1am and I should be sleeping. I can't shake this feeling.


My hope is built on nothing lessThan Jesus’ blood and righteousness;I dare not trust the sweetest frame,But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.
Refrain:On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;All other ground is sinking sand,All other ground is sinking sand.
When darkness veils His lovely face,I rest on His unchanging grace;In every high and stormy gale,My anchor holds within the veil.
His oath, His covenant, His bloodSupport me in the whelming flood;When all around my soul gives way,He then is all my hope and stay.
When He shall come with trumpet sound,Oh, may I then in Him be found;Dressed in His righteousness alone,Faultless to stand before the throne.

Ug...

I had the best of intentions of writing something today...something meaningful... Either I had nothing to say...or I got distracted...both of which are really true. I will shoot for later tonight...maybe I'll have something to say then...who would think I would be one to be at a loss for words... oh well.

Another Shot

Today is a new day. It started off VERY good with an early morning up, some great time in the book of Romans and a long walk with God. It was cool. I think I went for between 2 and 3 miles. It was just good to get out, get excercise, and spend some time in prayer.

I've started Phase One of the South Beach Diet again. This time I will go all the way to my goal before I slip into phase 3. My current goal is 185 pounds. I'm currently just under 240 according to my scale at home, though I think it weighs in a little heavy...at least on me. : )
This morning Bethany made me some AWESOME scrambled eggs and for lunch I was in Jacksonville so I tried Subway's new Tuscan Chicken Melt but I had it as a salad instead of a sandwich. I highly reccomend it for a decent lunch...and it was only 5 bucks!!! I currently find myself sitting in the Three Legged Dog enjoying a second cup of bourbon-pecan coffee. It's nice. A little splenda and I'm a happy camper. For those interested in my listening experiences, Moby's 18 album is in my earbuds.

I've been going through some things lately personally, just in wanting to be as effective of a Christ-follower as possible. I don't want anything to get in the way of hearing and following God as closely as possible. Because of my personality (a bit obsessive...a bit...)I have to really watch the time I spend on "not as important" things such as Facebook and other people's blogs. It's good to connect with people and good to get some of the solid learning that I get from places like the Resurgence and other places but if I was honest, I'd have to say that the majority of the time I spend "online" isn't currently making a positive impact on any part of my life. It's a crazy thing. Take a social butterfly like me and a need for more information and it's like a gaping hole that the internet has gone into. I'm not dropping off the digital planet or anything like that, I'm just going to temper the time I spend on such activity. I want to be more productive... and I would hate to think that the (however long) I spend on facebook was time that I wasted when I could be reading a book that would help me grow spiritually or spending actual, real world time with someone that I hope to minister to. Most of my students are not "hard core" facebook kids yet so a little involvement there is enough to be in that part of their world. I'm not speaking here of what I do ministry wise online, but the parts where I am just killing hours. I hope this makes sense.

I've also come to the conclusion that I own a bunch of stuff that I don't need or use. In order to clean out the house, simplify my life, and hopefully make some extra money, I'll be getting rid of some of it. I'll probably list everything on here just in case anyone wants to purchase something. I spend too much time with my music...some of it will go away. Not all, because I don't think it's bad or anything, I just need to do this for me to make sure my priorites and time is in a better situation. It's like a safeguard for now. We'll see where that takes us.

Let me clarify this post for a few people: This is in no way one of those get rid of it all cause it's bad for you things... But it is a time of looking at my personality and seeing where I need to make cuts for the Glory of God. Where can I be a better follower of Jesus, a better husband, father, son, and youth pastor? I'm looking at these things.

I couldn't sleep last night and all of this has been ricocheting around in my brain...and heart.

I talked to an old friend yesterday expressing some frustrations with ministry that I have been having. Nothing new to anyone...common stuff amongst youth pastors and other guys...I was looking for someone to pray for me that I would be able to reach the kids...that they would follow and serve and passionately worship Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. It was a good conversation and one thing inparticular stuck out to me. He told me that the first thing we have to do is ask, " Do I believe what I am preaching?" Of course I do. But follow that with me for a minute. If we believe that God is in control, that He is Sovereign, that He calls people to Himself and it is He who does the saving, not us then that should RADICALLY effect how we act, minister, and even how we think about our ministry "results". It is our job to be the faithful messengers, to make the appeal to people, to reach out, to love, to preach the Gospel. God's Word accomplishes exactly what He wants it to. You and I can therefore minister with the full knowledge that His Word will not return void. It will accomplish all that He wants it to. The results are up to God. He gives the faith, we can with full confidence, then tell the good news!

I wonder if these posts would be shorter if they were happening more often? Maybe, maybe not. God seems to be up to something big right now...and I just want to be right in the center of it. "I want to be like that lightening rod, where the only thing I fear is God Himself".

Why don't I...

own any Sting albums?

The Long Haul

So...I haven't blogged in a couple of months. I actually have started a Word Press blog but have not switched over yet. I might not. It really all depends. It's not that I don't have things to write about, it's just that most of what comes into my head never makes it to the computer. Sometimes I get a feeling or an idea but don't want the general public to be able to access it.

I've started playing a little bit of Star Wars Galaxies Online. It's a good time. I just don't have much time for games.

This summer is going to be packed. I have a lot of youth goings-on planned. I'm hoping that the our students will grow closer to Christ and closer to each other over the course of the summer. We still need to pray for and work to raise a little more than 3,000 dollars for our mission trip. The deadline is looming but God is faithful and has not ever let us down. I remember last year when we were at the deadline basically, and we prayed for God to provide. Someone walked up and handed me a VERY large check that took care of almost the entire rest of our bill for the mission trip. We were blessed in this way last year. Please be praying with us that the money is provided in whatever way God has planned for it to be provided.

If anyone is curious, I'll post our summer calendar here:

Similarities???

So, do you see any similarities between these two???

I have given Asher a nickname...It's Boss Hogg. And yes...I am a very loving father.

Updates on life...

It has, once again, been quite awhile since my last blog post. I have a lot on my mind to write about but for whatever reason, I don't immediately write it. I guess that's not the way this is supposed to work. I didn't used to have that problem.

Let's see...what has gone on in the last few months...

We had a baby! Asher Rhine was born on January 24. He's not too big but he sure is cute and we really love him. He is another blessing from God. My quiver is full.


And... I shaved.

And I got new sunglasses...

Liscense and registration please...

A few posts ago I was talking about deciding on some music to purchase and a very nice man named Bob Kauflin commented on my blog. For those of you who don't know, he's the head dude over at Sovereign Grace Music and as I found out, incredibly generous. He offered to send me the SGM cd of my choosing. I chose the Come Weary Saints cd. To my suprise, he also included their newest album, Psalms, with the cd I had requested. I really appreciated this. The Come Weary Saints cd is so good and hit me right where I was so much that it stayed in the car cd player for about two weeks straight. It is awesome. Here are some pics:

I have some things that I have been thinking on as of late. I have been reading some and have been VERY inspired to start back to writing on my novel. I am working on being self disciplined in this. It seems like with most things in my life, they kind of fell apart last fall with all of the pregnancy complication stuff. I quit doing some things that I had been doing well, such as working out. I have gotten up to 235 pounds, still a far, far cry from when I was huge but still larger than I want to be. My goal is to weigh 200 by the time school is out. I hope my body can do it again.

Bethany and I have been invited to be a part of a couples Bible study this spring and we're pretty excited about it. I think I may have even found someone to babysit the older two kids during these times.

Thanks to all of our friends who have been praying for us. Please keep it up. We love you all.

Inauguration Speech Generator

This morning I read about an Inauguration Speech Generator over at marko's blog. You should check out this link:

http://www.atom.com/spotlights/inauguration_speech_generator/

It works like a madlib... Below is the speech that my students came up with this morning in pre-class... pretty funny.


My fellow Americans, today is a sparkling day. You have shown the world that "hope" is not just another word for "cheese", and that "change" is not only something we can believe in again, but something we can actually shoot. Today we celebrate, but let there be no mistake – America faces fluttering and skanky challenges like never before. Our economy is hairy. Americans can barely afford their mortgages, let alone have enough money left over for babies. Our healthcare system is crazy. If your tibia is sick and you don't have insurance, you might as well call a painter. And America's image overseas is tarnished like a Bob Ross's afro rabbit. But pooping together we can right this ship, and set a course for The New Gym.Finally, I must thank my insane family, my saucy campaign volunteers, but most of all, I want to thank little people like Mrs. Shinall for making this historic occasion possible. Of course, I must also thank you, President Bush, for years of hanging the American people. Without your spicy efforts, none of this would have been possible.

Wii Little Entry

It's Monday...but it's a holiday... that means that I have more time to recover from the weekend of youth ministry...by doing more youth ministry. I love it. Today I'm supposed to be catching a movie with some dudes from the group. I don't have school today so we should be able to catch a matinee of Paul Blart: Mall Cop. I hope it's hilarious.



I've been shopping on emusic and iTunes for some new music. I love Red Mountain Church and am trying to decide between one of their albums that I don't have, an Indellible Grace album, and a Sovereign Grace Music album. I guess I could just get them all...



God has been working on me the last few weeks. He is using the people around me to mold me into the kind of youth minister that I need to be...one that acutally ministers to kids.

Unfortunately I Can See Myself Too...

The following is an article by C.J. Mahaney from the Sovereign Grace Blog. Read and see where it hits you. I needed to reflect...and repent.

Cal


Sovereign Grace Blog
C.J. Mahaney's view from the cheap seats
& other stuff

The Sluggard
by C.J. Mahaney 03/12/2008 09:13:00 My study in the book of Proverbs began shortly after my conversion in 1972. And it wasn’t long after this that I began reading and learning from Dr. Derek Kidner’s little commentary. For decades now Dr. Kidner has been one of the scholars holding my hand, leading me through the book, and helping me to discover what he calls “the neglected wealth of the Proverbs” (p. 9).

One of the most distinct features of the commentary is his brief subject studies. In these summaries he covers the topics of God and man, wisdom, the fool, the sluggard, the friend, words, the family, and life and death (see pages 31–56). I wish all Christians could read these brief and pointed studies and experience the grace and wisdom I have derived from them.

When I began my Christian life, I held to a narrow and limited understanding of laziness. Then I read Kidner’s subject study on the sluggard.

I’ll never forget it.

As I began reading, I saw my face in the picture. My definition of laziness was expanded, and its subtlety was exposed. I discovered that I could be—and often was—a sluggard.

Here are the words I read:
“The sluggard in Proverbs is a figure of tragi-comedy, with his sheer animal laziness (he is more than anchored to his bed: he is hinged to it, 26:14), his preposterous excuses (“there is a lion outside!” 26:13; 22:13) and his final helplessness.

(1) He will not begin things. When we ask him (6:9, 10) “How long…?” “When…?”, we are being too definite for him. He doesn’t know. All he knows is his delicious drowsiness; all he asks is a little respite: “a little…a little…a little…”. He does not commit himself to a refusal, but deceives himself by the smallness of his surrenders. So, by inches and minutes, his opportunity slips away.

(2) He will not finish things. The rare effort of beginning has been too much; the impulse dies. So his quarry goes bad on him (12:27) and his meal goes cold on him (19:24; 26:15).

(3) He will not face things. He comes to believe his own excuses (perhaps there is a lion out there, 22:13), and to rationalize his laziness; for he is “wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason” (26:16). Because he makes a habit of the soft choice (he “will not plow by reason of the cold,” 20:4) his character suffers as much as his business, so that he is implied in 15:19 to be fundamentally dishonest…

(4) Consequently he is restless (13:4; 21:25, 26) with unsatisfied desire; helpless in face of the tangle of his affairs, which are like a “hedge of thorns” (15:19); and useless—expensively (18:9) and exasperatingly (10:26)—to any who must employ him…

The wise man will learn while there is time. He knows that the sluggard is no freak, but, as often as not, an ordinary man who has made too many excuses, too many refusals and too many postponements. It has all been as imperceptible, and as pleasant, as falling asleep.”

-Derek Kidner, Proverbs (IVP, 1964), pp. 42–43.

What's Up...

I've been away from blogging for a good long time. It's not that I haven't had anything good to say, it's just that I haven't taken the time to sit and actually write it. As with most of my deep thoughts, something else gets in the way...usually my desire to do something else. It's amazing how much I let get robbed from me by not just following through with my passions. I read something just a few minutes ago about this that scares me. Perhaps more on that later...

I've been doing some serious mental retooling of how I think about youth ministry and sort of recasting the vision to myself. I learned in college that Jesus led by example and that therefore, relationships were key. I spoke very highly of this when in view of a call at various churches which I have served at. But somewhere along the way, my relational time shifted and gave way to more program based ministry...It happened subtly and I didn't notice it until one day I looked up and realized that the majority of my ministry time was spent preparing lessons and messages and not actually doing ministry with my students. I have taken immediate steps to rectify this situation and continue to do real, meaningful ministry, just like my first year here. As youth ministers, we must not get caught up in gathering a large number at the expense of the small. It seems that what I have been suspecting is true: some of the best ministry happens in one on one types of settings where you can really invest in someone's life.

I'm sorry that this blog has fallen by the wayside a bit. I've had a lot going on and have been sick for a few days. Hopefully I am on the mend. I've been jamming to some Christmas music of late. I've also been wanting to read more. It seems that this is always a desire but most times it stops at desire. It's time to put my money where my mouth is...so to speak.

Bethany is doing as well as can be expected under the given circumstances. We have another doctor's appt. on Tuesday. In the interest of conserving my time off, someone else will take her to it. This isn't optimal but it will help us save my paid time off from school for when the baby actually comes. We're getting things ready for Christmas. We have a good old cedar tree up in the living room with all the trimmings. I have most of the shopping done and have just a few more things to pick up.

I've been catching up on the new season of Friday Night Lights online and really liking most of it... (spoiler warning) I don't like what they have done with Lila's character and I was hoping that Riggins would finally straighten out. I am also really bummed about Saracen getting benched.
I watched the Mark Walberg version of Planet of the Apes today and though it really was not good, I would still like to see a sequel. They left it so open.

Since I've been laying in bed sick, I got out the old Gameboy Advance and played some Final Fantasy I. That is still one of the greatest video games ever. I also checked out U2's new Christmas single on YouTube. As you might imagine, I had plenty of time to cruise the net as well as talking with a good friend to round out the day. I'm feeling a little better and I think I'm going to try working tomorrow. I feel like a big bum for missing church today but it was better for me to be in bed and try and rest the sickness away.

Well, there you have it...your update. For those of you who have been waiting...pretty much just Dave and Jed...(and their legion of protesters)... I hope you have enjoyed... See you next time.

Still Kicking...

I've been gone from this blog for almost two months.

The Rest of the Few Things (from the 90s)

It occurs to me that there are quite a few albums in my life that have been very important to me but that the general public may have missed out on. Some of these are out of print and only available if you can find them used online, in a used cd store, or through a friend who will make you a copy. Others of them are not out of print and may still be obtained at your local record shop.

1. Ephemere by Rose Blossom Punch

After the demise of Poor Old Lu, prolific producer Aaron Sprinkle got together with some friends to form Rose Blossom Punch. This, their only full length, was a truly amazing post grunge, late nineties, rock offering. It still stands as one of the musically strongest albums ever to emerge from the Christian market.

2. Hooray for Now by Viva Voce

Viva Voce to this day, is still making music and to this day, they refuse to acknowledge that this album ever existed. It's sad because I prefer this to any of their modern day music. This is another must have.

3. The Hunger by Seven Day Jesus

I really can't say enough about this band musically and lyrically. Honest, good, dudely... Another must have.

4. This Beautiful Mess by Sixpence None the Richer

Before "Kiss Me", before the hype, and before Tess left the band. In 1995 Sixpence played a show in my hometown at our fairgrounds. It was incredibly hot and I'm pretty sure multiple members of the band were sick. My church fed them spaghetti and Tess threw her guitar down and kicked it. This is the album they were touring on and I'm pretty sure it was their best.

5. Love is Against the Grain by Dimestore Prophets

Some of my favorite songs are on this album. The songs, "Baby's Got a New Dress" and "Hitler's Girlfriend" have been in my head for many years.


This concludes part one...

A Few Things For Thought

I have recently realized that I'm not as smart as I'd like to be. Somewhere along the way I traded reading and learning for electronic distraction...(read internet, internet, tv, internet) I log in and check my email seemingly mindlessly... sometimes multiple times within a few minutes, as if in the last thrity seconds I may have missed that oh so important email. It's silly. I recently read a blog post over at Matt Chandler's blog about inspiration and things that make us less inspired. It's a great read and you can read it here. Definently food for thought. What inspires you. I'll be working on my list. Perhaps I'll post it when I'm finished. I'm making the effort to read and study more. I want to increase my ability to answer people's questions and that won't happen by staring at an empty inbox...

I'm just not sure I can do this anymore...

It's a crazy mess. Al Davis ruins teams. I'm on the verge...