Familiarization quickly coming to a close...

Well, as you can imagine, our days have been filled with joy in being together these past three of weeks. I have wanted to blog on two or three occasions, but with ministry needs, wife needs, our new manse going through a total transformation, familiarization meetings, etc., I have just not gotten it done. I love blogging. It helps me to remember the experiences of the days, as well as, helping you to know what is going on in our lives enabling you to better pray for us. I am going to do some on this blog and then Linda will write one later.

One of the great joys of being here and Linda not working is that we have had the ability to be together early in the day to have time in the Word and to pray together. We know the difficulty it is for a couple to have unhindered time together when both are working, or when you have young ones at home. It has been such a refreshment to us and it is one of the great thanksgivings we have to our God that He has allowed this to be a part of our lives at this time. Linda is the second greatest blessing of my life, who is indwelt by the first greatest blessing of my life…the Holy Spirit of God, Who brought Life and Light to me, one who was “dead in my trespasses in sin, but Who being rich in mercy because of His great love with which He loved me, [5] even when I was dead in my transgressions, made me alive together with Christ (by grace I have been saved), [6] and raised me up with Him, and seated me with Him in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus, [7] in order that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward me in Christ Jesus. [8] For by grace I have been saved through faith; and that not of myself, it is the gift of God; [9] not as a result of works, that I should boast. [10] For I am His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that I should walk in them.” Ephes. 2:4-10 (personalized pronouns italicized by me).



What a blessing it is that God in His wisdom sent me to the Strath/Sleat Parish, under the guidance of Dr. Johnstone, to be orientated into the ways and protocols of Scottish ministry. He and his wife, Annette, have been such gracious hosts and care givers to us. Ben received his Doctor of Ministry degree from Reformed Seminary, in Jackson, MS., in 2002. He is a great model for me while I am here, for he is a pastor’s pastor and deeply loved by his people.

This is Ben, Annette (on my right), and a thirty-year missionary to
Nigeria friend of the Johnstones, Georgie Orme having, of all things,
fajitas in our “wee” cottage in Sculamus, last week.



I had the joy of administering communion this past Sunday in Elgol, the little village where the Lord began His work of leading us to Scotland. There could not have been a more remote spot on the face of the earth...well, almost, anyway...for the Lord to have put two pastors together at the same tea shop that would later turn into a life-long friendship and a ministry thousands of miles from San Antonio, Texas. Since that time, Isaiah 46:9, 10 has become one of the hallmark verses in my life: “I am God and there is no other; I am God and there is none like me…My purpose will be established and I will accomplish all my good pleasure.” I have come to desire that if there is any purpose that I want established, it is a good thing to make sure that my purposes have been orchestrated by Him and that whatever thing He considers His “good pleasure” well, that is the very thing I want to find my pleasure in, as well.



In just a little over three weeks, I will be preaching in view of a call from the Snizort Parish. The Scottish term is “preaching as sole nominee.” On Sunday, August 30, the parish will gather in Kensaleyre to hear me preach. A short intermission will follow the message and then the parish communicants will vote whether or not to call me as their new pastor. Most say that it is a done deal and that what I will be doing is just a formality. For me, however, it is a very important day, for in the end, it will accentuate the faithfulness of God in His call upon my life; it will allow me to show where my heart is in ministry and my desire to be a loving shepherd to these people. Please pray that God will grant me the freedom to declare His Word in a way that will reveal HIS HEART to these people.

Sola Dei Gloria

Linda's on Skye!

Sunday, July 19th
Robert wanted me to write on blog this time...since I am here now and have alot to say! WOW! So overwhelming, leaving family and friends in San Antonio...had a nice going away dinner at Mexican restaurant in San Antonio...sure am going to miss our family there! However, I have already discovered that Skype makes the separation more bearable! Robert and I just sat and watched Brennan (11 mos) play and eat in his high-chair and visited with Robert's mom and Melody. It is ALMOST like being there...just can't touch! Anyway, we trust the Lord to meet needs and will look forward to hearing from all of you either by email or phone or Skype!

I arrived on Monday afternoon...the weather was perfect...clear skies and gorgeous 78 degrees or so...easy trip to Scotland. You know it's not as far as you think! Delta had plenty of room in seats and individual movie screens...it helps the 8 1/2 hr flight go by more quickly.

Robert and I went immediately to Tesco...the "Walmart" of Scotland. I was pleasantly surprised to find prices on fresh fruits and vegetables LESS than stateside! I can't figure that out...except that they probably buy from local farmers...but very fresh and very plentiful produce! Yea! Then the other surprise was the Italian and French "gourmet" items that were so much less than stateside! Central Market type items...and in abundance. As far as I can tell, the only deficiency in the food arena here is meat. Fish is great...I fixed fresh haddock last night and it was wonderful...smoked salmon too. But beef and chicken are much more expensive here and less of a selection. Other than that, I'm probably going to have to find a WeightWatchers group!

On another pratical note...I made cauliflower soup and it was good! I'll share the recipe with anyone who wants it. Soups are very popular. I am having to learn how to cook again and will start by making soups! We plan on entertaining alot, so I need to learn as many good inexpensive dishes as possible!

I have already been out walking in surrounding countryside...looking at magnificent mountains and sea..listening to classical music on ipod and weeping over this incredible place and the opportunity to live here and share Christ. Robert and I went on a drive and encountered sheep and cows on the road at several points ...you just have to stop and yell at them...it's impolite to honk the horn we were told! They do have cows they raise for meat, but most of it is sent out of the area...too bad!

I met several ladies in a Bible study I attended on Thursday morning. They were using a study,"Seeking God" by Nancy Leigh Demoss. A couple of years ago I had told Annette Johnstone that I thought it was a great study and she was interested in it so I mailed her videos and some books. She shared it with a lady at church, and after looking at it, decided to lead the study. The ladies at the Kilmore church this past week shared what a blessing it was. I was amazed thinking about how the Lord had already burdened my heart for the work with women here two years ago when I mailed it to Annette! I will probably do the study when we move to Kensalyre as well.

Everyone here is very complimentary of Robert's preaching. I think they enjoy the informality and sincerity that Robert has in his preaching. The Texas accent is a plus too! They actually like it!
He preached at the church "Kilmore"yesterday morning and there was a great turn-out. Many are visitors in the area on holiday. The church building is a monument to the McDonald family...lots of memorials and stones. When Bonnie Prince Charles came gathering supporters for his cause, and several refused to help him...there was a revenge taken on those 20 non-supporters when they attended a funeral at Kilmore. You can see the old stone church and very ancient cemetery there...the present building is less than a couple of hundred years old.

I met the president of the Gaelic college here on Skye there as well and am hoping to take a class in Gaelic just so I can read and pronounce people's names and read road signs! I am thinking about sharing this blog with Robert and include what it is like to be a Texan living on Skye...I have found out that we might be the only Texans here on Skye....and are quite a novelty! We intend on making the most of that...when people ask why we are here...we can share the call of God with them!

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