The simple things of life...

Though Scotland is far more advanced than Taiwan was, when Linda and I were missionaries there, I am struck by how much I took for granted living in Texas.

• having a washer and dryer (the washing machine here takes almost two hours to go through the SHORT cycle...and I have no dryer)
• having HEB and Walmart within walking distance of the house knowing that I could go to either and purchase anything that I wanted...here the store is not a whole lot bigger than a gas station shopping area. To go to anything that resembles Walmart, I have to drive for over two hours over winding roads.
• only having to pay somewhere in the neighborhood of $2.50 for a gallon of gasoline...the price today for gasoline here on the Isle of Skye is the equivalent of $7.15.
• it could have taken me three weeks to get a bank account, had someone had not intervened in the situation.
• oh, yeah, I have not had a Whataburger in four weeks...uuugggghhhhh, but there is some wonderful fish here...I guess fish will be my beef substitute.

I am sorry to say that there are some things that I had in the US that are of a similar nature in this society:

• such a small percentage, and I mean small, like 12% of the youth find any relevance in having a relationship with God
• the Scottish society has truly become hedonistic
• there is a bill before the Parliament that would ban a pastor from preaching against homosexuality...I understand there is a similar one in the US Congress, as well.

So, our biggest need, in both countries, is for those who are called by His name to "humble themselves and pray, and seek His face and turn from our wicked ways, then He will hear from heaven, will forgive our sin and heal our lands." There is a current of unity in Scotland among the evangelicals that it is past time that we were on our faces before God. It is a grievious thing to live and minister in such a spiritually dark place, but it is exciting to know that God, just as He demonstrated to Elijah that He had a remnant, when he thought he was the only one who had not bent the knee to Baal, God, too, has a remnant here and that the swell of desire for revival is so loud. Scotland, at one time, was the spring-board of the Reformation that brought the Gospel to the Americas. Wouldn't it be just like God to revive this country in order to bring revival to the states? Would you commit to pray with me to that end? Revival will only come by means of prayer. Stand with me and all the others who will not be content until we see the healing of our lands for the glory of God and for His name sake.

Thank you for caring enough to pray for our personal needs, as well. Linda arrives in three more days. Yes, I am smiling again. Big time!

God bless you!

Sola Dei Gloria

Again, I am a resident of the "cyber nation"

Wednesday evening I had the joy of seeing the little red "X" covering my wireless icon disappear as the result of broadband being installed in my wee cottage, and, therefore, here I am in my kitchen typing away with a big smile on my face :)) No more hurried trips to the library trying to get my posting done before they close, or getting there in time, only to find that I had left the transfer cable at home or some other goofy thing like that.
I have already used what I am claiming to be one of the greatest blessings of my life...I am talking about Skype. Residing thousands of miles from my family and using a computer that does not even have a wire attached to it, I have talked to my wife, each of my girls, two of my son-n-laws, my parents-n-law and have seen and heard both of my newly born grandsons expand their lungs!!! How sweet is that?! Ooops, here I am smiling again!! I remember when my family and I moved to Taiwan 28 years ago, if you were fortunate, a letter send back home might receive a response in ten or eleven days. On Christmas day, 1982, we called home and talked for ten minutes. The phone bill was $120. In 2009, I can talk to my loved ones, see them at the same time, talk for as long as I want.......and it is FREE. How that happens I don't know, but I guarantee you, I am going to enjoy it immensely!!
Hey, and if you think that is amazing and spectacular, Salvation in Christ is eternally more so. I cannot comprehend how a Holy and Rigtheous God condescended to extend to me mercy, grace and love in the person of His Precious Son. I don't know how all that is, but I know it is true. His love and forgiveness, measured so deep at the Cross, has set me free from the bondage of sin and death. He changed me giving me joy and peace. He rescued me and adopted me making me a joint heir with Christ, only by grace...certainly not by any righteousness that I have done, but solely according to His great mercy. And, as Paul stated to the Romans, "He (God) who did not spare His only Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how will He not, with Him, freely give us all things (8:32). And I guarantee you that I will enjoy the blessing of that for the rest of this life and for eternity. Yep, you guessed, there is that smile again!

Ooooohhhhh, I feel another big smile coming on....Linda arrives in Scotland in nine days. Whooohoooo!!!!! Last year when we were separated for over a month we said that we would never do that agin...I have gained a new appreciation for never saying NEVER! We will be spending our first night in a B&B in Muir of Ord, a small village not far from Dingwall, where the Highland Theological College is. It is a quaint little town. Linda has never been there and I wanted to show her the college, as well as take her on a stroll through the town.

Well, I am sure that you have had about all of my joy that you can stand. But before I close, I would like to remind you that our expenses have piled up beyond what we could have imagined. I will barely be making a living wage for the first five months and we, as yet, have to invest in two cars. They will be used, of course, but costly, none-the-less. Just a reminder that anything you contribute to the ministry counts as a tax write off. We have heard from a few folks wanting to share in the ministry, but anything you might give would be greatly appreciated, remembering that a contributor has noted he will match any and all contributions, up to $10,000. I assure you that all contributions will be used strictly for the ministry and for the glory of God.

I am preaching Sunday in Kilmore and in Elgol, two communities separated by about 50 miles. I preached last Sunday on Psalm 37, and a good number of people were deeply touched by the Word. I praise God that He has called me to preach the Gospel and I take great delight in being His Kingdom steward. Pray that I will a glad, generous and compassionate shepherd of His sheep.

Always keep me in prayer for my traveling. Much of the driving is done on single lane roads and often, in foggy, misty weather. This is the heighth of the tourist season and watching many of them drive, you can tell that they have never driven on the left hand side of the road before. A lady pulled out in front of a huge bus, and had the driver of the bus not been alert there would have been serious injuries.

Till later,

Sola Dei Gloria

On The Move

Saturday, June 27

I just finished meeting with a couple of people who are on the Manse Refurbishing Committee at the manse. We did a walk-through looking at stuff that has to be done to get the house ready for our move-in date…sometime around the middle of September. I do wish Linda had been here for she is the real expert on the decoration side of things. The manse is in pretty good condition, but has quite a few minor jobs to be done. We are painting the inside something like this color throughout the house with the exception of the kitchen and the bathrooms, which will be done in a creamy white color.

The committee has been very accommodating to the things we want to do. They will re-carpet most of the house. I will go up several days, on my day off, and assist them with the painting. We are getting the house all “spiffied up” so that we can start receiving guests as soon as possible.

I will be preaching three times tomorrow, twice in the morning and then for the evening service at Broadford. Once a month, the Free Church in Kyle and the Broadford church, where I am doing my familiarization, have a combined service and I have been asked to preach for that service. I will be doing an exposition of the first eleven verses of Psalm Thirty-seven.

I was hoping to have some pictures to add to my blog, but it seems that the USB cable that came with my camera is in the crate. I was so certain that I had it with me. I will continue to look. Please pray that I find it!

One of the great blessings of my stay so far is that I have met a man who is excited about my book. I gave him the synopsis of it and he said that he knows someone who would be willing to publish it. My book deals with things that not dealt with could lead to depression. He had been in a state of depression for over a year, until recently. He is a very passionate man for the gospel. He said that the little bit of the book that I have shared with him resonated in his spirit and has helped him a lot. He is quite a prolific writer himself in the Gaelic language and so I am thankful that God has put him in my life and me in his.

I am deeply grieved that the death of a Hollywood personality, yes, even the “King of Pop” could have become such a platform for such horrible dribble. Psalm 37 gives us the perfect antidote for overcoming such a condition of godless aspirations in our own lives, or in our sharing with others the emptiness of living a life of absolute self-consumption. I wonder how many godly men and women died on the same day as MJ that the culture of the world will never hear about and yet, had their lives been broadcast as his was might have made an impression for good in someone’s life. God knows who they are and has welcomed them into His glory with the chorus of angels singing Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty. When we delight ourselves in the Lord, the essence of our lives is not about how important or popular we have become, but it centers on His majesty and glory and that alone…Sola Dei Gloria!!! May it be so each moment of the day for each of us who are called by His name!!!

Till later, I remain His glad servant and your brother!

PS....only 15 more days till the love of my life joins me in Scotland! :-)))

Here We Go Again.....

Wow, it has been a long time since I did a blog...hope I can remember how it is done :) Almost eight months ago I wrote my last blog saying good-bye to Scotland and saying hello, again to family, friends and country. Now, everything is in reverse....hello to old Scotland friends and good-bye to family, friends and country. It is really a bitter sweet experience.



So much has transpired that I feel that I can best relate it all to you by way of bullets:

• Sept 14: I interviewed with the Church of Scotland (hitherto referred to as CofS)


• Oct. 10: Received word that the CofS approved my selection to be a pastor in the CofS


• Nov. ??: The CofS made application to the government of the United Kingdom be a sponsoring agent for me as a foreigner to have the privilege of ministering in Scotland


• May 12; The CofS received their sponsor number


• May 14; We submitted our application to the Border Agency of the UK


• May 21: We received our work visas opening the way for us to go and minister in Scotland.

****************************************

This is Monday, June 22, 2009 and I have been in Scotland for a week now. I am residing at Half-of-two, Skullamus, Breakish, IV 42 8PY, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK. My phone number, should you desire to contact me is 011-44-1471-822-112.

It took me a couple of days to get acclimated to the time change and jet lag. I have been running ever since I arrived. I met with my supervisor on Tuesday going over business stuff. I spoke at the Wednesday prayer meeting. My cousin, Kande, her husband, John, and their children, Jonathan and Rachel and her husband, Dustin, arrived on Thursday and we had a whirlwind of an around-the-island trip until Friday. I had a Session meeting on Thursday night. I did my wash, grocery shopped and did sermon preparation on Saturday. I preached last night at Elgol, a little village about thirty minutes from Broadford, the place where Linda and I had our “chance meeting” with Ben and Annette Johnstone, whom God used in our conversation with them, to plant the seed which matured in our moving to Scotland.

I will send you a pic later of the little cottage that Linda and I will be living in until the middle of September. I have to do a three month orientation (familiarization, as they call it) in the Strath and Sleat Parish and upon completion of that we will move to Kensaleyre (Kin-sa-liar). There are a few things that you could certainly be in prayer for us about:

Since Linda is not with me, as yet, please pray that her time with our children, grandchildren and her family will be rich…and for her safety and health as she travels to be with me on 13 July.
That I will have a teachable spirit. Having been in ministry for 35 years there are certain ways I have learned to do things that will not fit in the “Scotland box.” I do not want my ways to be a hindrance to the Gospel.

Pray for our finances. I had planned for every contingency…I thought…before coming. However, when I arrived in Scotland I was told that I owed $600 for my second suitcase. Boy, talk about having someone come and kick you in the guts. I asked the counter clerk, “I beg your pardon, did you say $600?” When she replied affirmatively, I thought I was going to buckle. I retired to a bench and began to cry. There was nothing I could do. I had to catch my next flight in thirty minutes, so all I could do way pay. I was already packed to the gills, so there was not transferring stuff from the extra piece to other suitcase or carry on. This incident can be blamed on my Scottish, penny-pinching nature. Trying to save money, I booked from Orlando to Gatwick and separately booked from Gatwick to Inverness. Bad move. But, God is sovereign and He is faithful and I must stand on that. If nothing else, for all of you similar minded Scotts out there who plan on visiting us, let me experience be a warning to you: BOOK AN UNBROKEN TRIP ALL THE WAY THROUGH!!!!!! You will have more money in you pocket in the long run.
Speaking of money (and know that this is a frightful thing for me to be doing), our move and then establishing a “new life” here, has cost far more than we anticipated. A contributor to our ministry told me before I left the states that for every dollar contributed to “Heart Matters Ministries” (which is a 501c3, non-profit charitable organization) he will match dollar-for-dollar up to $10,000. So, if you will pray and ask God for direction in your giving to us, it will certainly go a long way in making up the difference.

Pray for a sensitivity to the needs around me. In the busyness of life, it is so easy to miss an opportunity to speak to someone who God would have me speak to. Paul Tripp says that “ministry happens in the common, mundane time of life”, and I am finding that to be true.

Pray that I will always have a sense of urgency while I am here. I only have a 72 month window of opportunity to minister the Gospel.

Well, that is it for now. I am hoping to have broadband access in the course of the next couple of weeks. Yes, and your can add that to the prayer list. If you are reading this, I am considering you a partner in what God is doing in and through me here. Thanks for your partnership!!

Sola Dei Gloria,

Robert

I'm Home...

Leaving Scotland was a bitter-sweet experience...I had such a memorable time, but I don't think that I could have gone without Linda another day!

I left Dunvegan on Tuesday morning and took the car that had been a loaner to me during my stay there. The the Johnstones and Morag MacLeod drove me to Inverness. We had a wonderful afternoon meal before having to say "Cheerio." They were so sweet to me during my stay.

I got to bed early, but did not sleep well. I did have an alarm clock, but the mind plays so many scenarios...it will quit working in the middle of the night; you won't hear it go off; you have it set wrong, etc. Well, it did go off, it was set right and I did hear it. I got up at 4am and was at the airport by 5:30. Flew from Inverness to London-Gatwick, to Atlanta and then to San Antonio. No glitches this time. In fact, my flight from Atlanta to San Antonio left an 90 minutes earlier than scheduled giving Linda, Elizabeth and myself a little more time to visit before I crashed.

I am thankful for many things:

• For God's goodness in providing the opportunity to proclaim His Word in Scotland


• For the financial provision to go


• For Linda's excitement for me to have this unusual ministry...I never sensed anything from her except genuine freedom for me to leave her and be separated for more than two months.


• For the prayers of many who offered prayers on my behalf, which impacted the next few points of thanksgiving.


• For the warm way that I was received by all the people I encountered


• For the seeds planted, lives touched and relationships established.


• For good health and protection in travel (I drove over 3000 miles without incident...all on the wrong side of the road)


• For all the magnificent scenery encountered


• And for much more...

I will hear from the Church of Scotland next week as to whether or not they have approved my ministry there. I will blog that. Until then, please know that it was my joy in sharing my experiences with you and a "Thanks" to all of you who responded to the blogs.

Till later, I remain His glad servant,

Robert Calhoun

This could be it...

The sweetest woman in all the world that I will be with in 5 days...God willing.

The last couple of weeks have been disastrous for my blog. I know! I have had difficulty getting to a computer with the Internet. The lady who offered me hers, has been out of town a lot and I have had other responsibilities that have hindered my updating the blog. The only real disappointment I have had is that in communicating with one of the church members the other day I found out that I could have had Internet here at the manse, but because the Session Clerk told me that it was not available, I just let it go. Well, with just under a week to go here in Scotland, I must move on.

I had a great opportunity to share the Gospel with a man who is terminally ill. It reminded me of the time in Kensaleyre. It appears that all that the doctors want to do to correct some intestinal problems will give him longer to live, but will affect the quality of his life. He told me that he was not afraid of dying. When I asked him where he got such courage, his wife began saying that he was such a good man, blah, blah, blah. All the things that she said about him being a good father, grandfather, etc., were commended by me, but I told him that that was not an acceptable offering, since the ultimate offering had already been made for him in the person of Jesus Christ. The assurance of a person’s acceptance by Christ is where one’s confidence should be in not fearing death. When I read various verses John 4, 11 and 16, I looked at him and tears were running down his face. I had already been there for over an hour and had another commitment that afternoon. But I asked him if he wanted to pray. His face went blank and I asked if he would like me to pray and he nodded in the affirmative. I prayed that the Lord would grant Him the peace that comes only by faith in Christ. That he would have the ability to humble himself and confess his need for Him. When I finished, he would not let go of my hand. He held it tightly. He was so moved he could not talk. I told him I would come back again. I have an appt. with him tomorrow.

I preached three times last Sunday in Broadford, Kyleakin, and Elgol. I have not preached that many times in one day in a long time. I got tired of hearing myself speak , but the Gospel was proclaimed, and that is what it is all about. I met some wonderful people in each congregation. I will be preaching in Kyleakin this Saturday night at a Communion Preparation Service. Most churches here do the communion once a quarter and three days prior to the Communion Sunday, they have services on Wednesday thru Saturday for a several of reasons. It follows the teaching in 1 Corinthians 11.27-32 calling all communicants to check their hearts. It also gives the congregants an opportunity to declare faith in Christ opening the way for them to baptized and receive communion. Lastly, the time allows for growing in the knowledge of the grace that is a part of the communion.

As you may recall, (though you may not because it has been three months ago), four days after arriving in Scotland I was called upon to preside over a funeral. Well, seven days before leaving, I did another one. In both cases, I, of course, knew neither man. One was a boat builder. The one yesterday was a former curator of the Dunvegan Castle. Listening to each family talk about these men made me wish that I could have known them. Both situations gave me the wonderful privilege of proclaiming the Gospel. Both churches were filled and members of both churches said that the majority of the attendants were non-believers. I praise the Lord for the blessing of declaring His love and grace in any circumstance. I may have another one before I leave. There is a 94 year old lady who recently had a stroke and is not expected to live much longer. I am to go to the hospital later today to see her.

Sunday will be my last opportunity to preach here in Scotland, for a while. We have our Bible study on Monday evening, and then on Tuesday I head for Inverness. My flight leaves Inverness on Wednesday morning at 7am, so I will have to spend the night there, in order to get to the airport by 5:30am. It is, in one way, hard to imagine that my three months is up. Conversely, this has been a terribly long time to be away from family, church and friends. This will probably be my last contribution to the blog, until I get home, but I have one last item to tell you about.

Last Wednesday, September 17, I met with the Credentials Committee of the Church of Scotland for the express purpose of seeing if I might be a suitable candidate for a permanent pastoral position. I responded to questions for two hours. I felt very much at ease and the Lord gave me the ability to communicate with them quite freely. They had great poker faces, so I have no idea whether or not I will gain acceptance. If they give approval for me to seek a pastorate, then, Linda and I will pray for God’s directive. Just because the CofS says, “Yes” will we see that as God’s answer. This is a big decision on our part. We do not want to be anyplace that God does not want us to be, nor do we not want to be where He does want us to be. Scotland is a magnificently beautiful place with great spiritual needs. But there are many such places in the world. The key is His clear leadership. I have never found God silent in all the places I have served. He has always given unmistakable guidance and peace wherever we have gone. Since He wants me to be where He wants me to be, I can be confident that He will Sovereignly show Himself again. Would you please pray with us and for us in this matter?

I have included some shots from favorite memories...

This was one fo the most brilliant rainbows I have ever seen. I followed it to the edge of town and found two pots of gold :)

Dunvegan Castle This beautiful princess found the fossil ruins of some ancient guy, propped him up next to her and someone took this photo.

Edinburgh Castle in the mist.

The Royal Tattoo...what an amazing night.


Trout fisherman's paradise

An old, still active church in Perthshire

Linda's parents next to the river that runs through Elgin

This was my favorite prayer spot.

Well, till I write from San Antonio, Texas, USA, I will say, “Cheerio” and God bless you.

And he went out to pray....

On Tuesday, I just felt that I needed to get away to pray and so I drove to an area south of the manse that a parishioner had told me about. I drove there and found a knoll that overlooks Loch Vatten, which is a smaller loch of the larger Loch Bracadale (that is probably way too much information for you, I know, but I thought if you wanted to Google the location you would have a good go of it…so, carry on). It was a beautiful, partly cloudy day as the sun played hide-and-seek with the clouds. I had my trusty staff, well actually a rod, and found the perfect rock to sit on and pray. I had been there about twenty minutes and I heard a faint cry. I perked up and heard a voice again. This time I understood what was being said to me. A lady, who looked to be in her early 70’s, was calling out, “Are you alright?” She had seen me with my head down and actually thought that I was contemplating suicide. I introduced myself telling her that I was the Dunvegan locum. What ensued, after that, was a conversation that immediately reminded me of the one that Jesus had with the woman at the well. She immediately said, “Well, you are sitting in my sanctuary. Isn’t it beautiful?” I felt that for some reason she was trying to defend herself. Not wanting to debate someone I knew nothing about, and probably would never see again, I felt like the Lord had opened up this window of truth for her. I said to her, “Well, I can see why this place is so special to you…I have been captivated by the beauty, as well. But, even the beauty of nature calls us to give praise and worship to the Creator of it.” I continued by saying, “Because God has given us His Spirit to indwell us, we can worship God anywhere, here or in a church.” At which she was quick to respond saying, “I used to go to church in England when I lived there, but I just couldn’t take it anymore. It just didn’t seem to have life anymore to me.” I said, “I have only been in Dunvegan a little more than a month, but I have found the people here to be warm, friendly and sincere.” Before I could say anymore, she cut me off…not rudely, but enough to indicate that she did not want to talk anymore. She said that I could come back any time and if I did, to come by her house and we would have a cup of tea. I wish I could report a similar response as the woman at the well, but perhaps a seed has been planted and perhaps I will go by for the cup of tea before I leave.

Yesterday, a couple from the Snizort Parish came by for a visit. We drove out to see the Neist Lighthouse. Neist Point is the furthest west point of Skye. It is a beautiful place. They had been there once before, a long time ago. The wind was blowing so hard you could not stand alone and take pictures. We had to stand up against the car or we would have been blown over. It was fantastic. (Yes, I love the wind. I am sorry for the kind of wind that S. Texas is going to have later today. I pray that wherever you are today, if you are in that area, that you will not been in harms way). We visited for over five hours. I had a wonderful opportunity to speak truth into their lives. They are young Christians and have found great joy in the fellowship at Snizort. I was thankful that God gave me the opportunity for some informal discipleship training with them.

Last night, I attended…now don’t laugh…a ladies guild meeting. The guild does projects throughout the year that strengthen outreach and support evangelism. Las night they invited a lady to come in show them how to do flower arranging. There is a rota of ladies in the church who do the arrangement for the sanctuary flowers each week and they wanted some fresh ideas. I was asked to open the meeting with scripture and prayer. I felt a little strange, as you might imagine, but it was really a great time. There were 11 ladies there and I reinforced to them that they could even make arranging a part of their worship to the Lord…using His created things for the beauty of the sanctuary. One woman came up to me afterwards and said, “I really appreciate your coming. We longed for this kind of support from our former pastor, who was with us for over four years. He never came to a single one of our meetings.” When asked to attend a few days before, I thought…naaa. The Spirit impressed me to go and now I know why.