New Team leaders blogs

Not that you can't see the obvoius link on the right but wanted to highlight a couple of new blogs.

Bryon (Not Byron) in Merida, Venzuela has a new blogspot one. And Emily his co-leader has one as well. Jessica, who is headed to Toyko, has a Xanga one I decided to go with since her blogpsot one just referred it.

Torn Curtain

This morning, I met with a few men from my church for a bible study. I have to admit I debated whether to get up and make this 6 am study. I really only know a couple of the guys. I would not have rolled out of bed had not Drew woke me up at 5:30. (Who needs an alarm clock when you have babies?) The fact that my friend leading the group, Paul Townsend, has cancer played even more into it. How could I let him down?


We were discussing what makes the difference between OT believers and us today. Funny I have been reading over the weekend A History of the Jews and have read up through the history of the OT and the time of the early Christian church. Reading from a historian's pov, you can really see the message of the new covenant that Jesus proclaimed and where it rocked the Judaism worldview.

As we were sharing this morning what made the difference in a life of forgiveness based on not a ritual system but on the complete atoning sacrifice of the Son - a sacrifice we know is acceptable and complete. We also discussed what does it mean to know we are forgiven. Is it just some act that happened but doesn't really change us or make a difference?

I thought of the temple and how pre-Christ everything was community based and had to be done in one place by one person on our behalf but since the Messiah has come the temple itself is us as He dwells not in a temple made by hands by in our very bodies and the sacrifice has been made once for all. I thought of how Moses alone would enter the tent of meeting and the congregation would just wait anxiously for him to bring word from God. This glorious new covenant is one of freedom and transformation.

I wasn't really thinking of the torn curtain but as I shared it came to mind. The curtain being torn paved the way for my acceptance - that it what I usually think of. But it did something else. Something far greater than forgiveness is just a means to attain. It enabled me to enter the Holy of Holies; to enter His presence - holy and complete. To experience what Moses did - meeting Him face to face - but even greater because his glory faded and we are being changed with ever-increasing glory. (Matt 27:50-52; 2 Cor 3; Hebrews 10:19-25.)

Do I take the torn curtain for grant it? Do I just go: ' that's great. I am forgiven and have that eternal life thing.' Do I long for holiness? Do I am embrace that I am holy and a saint (holy one)? Do I long to enter the Most Holy Place and be in His presence? Am I satisfied hanging out in the court of Gentiles when the way has been provided for so much more?


Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswerving to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. - Hebrews 10:19-25

Happy 1st Birthday, Jack and Drew!

Tomorrow (29th), Jack and Drew turn 1.

John Charles McCullough (left in pics - thank you, Vicki Jo) is named after Robin's paternal grandfather, Charlie. Robin's father (Woody) and brother (Allan) also have Charles in their names. We liked the name Jack and decided to opt for the formal John as his real name. John means "God is gracious". Charles means "manly".

About 7 months ago, I posted "Don't Lift the Van with your Brother" which has over 90 other "Jack" references. I must have had a lot of time on my hand that day.

Jack loves to say "hi" or "hey" over and over. He is a climber, a fast crawler, eats every thing in sight, and has a huge grin. We call him Jack-Jack at times. I guess after the little super hero in the Incredibles.

Andrew Bogan McCullough is named after me (or Andrew in the Bible since I am named after him) and one of my ancestors, Bogan Mask. Andrew, like Charles, means 'manly'. We decided to use "Drew" because it makes it less seem like he has my name.

Bogan Mask was a circuit-riding Methodist pastor in Georgia in the 1800's. (His mother was Judith Boggan.) Bogan Mask is mentioned in one of the short stories in Epiphany by Ferrol Sams. The book is not worth buying but the author uses the story of how Bogan Mask bought a slave to set him free in one of his fictional short stories "Relative and Absolute".

Unlike his brother Drew is a picky eater, but loves to climb and crawl too. He is just sweet as can be. He likes to scrunch-up his lips and nose. He says very softly, "Da- ti".

They both are towheaded like their older brother though sometimes when the light hits it right Jack looks a little strawberry blonde.

Tommorrow our little family of five will celebrate with cake, open presents and thank the Lord for our sweet little boys that we love.

Three Birthdays

On Saturday (July 29th), Jack (in the plaid shirt) and Drew will turn 1. Then on Tuesday (August 1st), Robin will turn... Well let's just say she will have a birthday and she is way younger than me.

I am an extremly blessed man to have a sweet, godly, lovely wife who is a great mom to our three boys.

Saturday, we will celebrate something else too. Other parents of twins said 'if you survive the first year its all down-hill'. We don't believe them but I guess after July 29th everything will be downhill!

A John Rozzelle wannabe

Not sure if you can tell from the pic but Drew wants to be like John Rozzelle. He also prefers the Christmas Caboose. (Says 'Winter Caboose' on the bottom of train but in GPI we still say 'Christmas' hence DCC, not Winter Conference like the more secularized regions.)

John, is it two 'z's or one? Your blog has one 'z' but CCC directory has you with two.

Partner with Us

We would like to invite you to join us in our ministry to the students across the globe. Robin and I help give leadership to our national Worldwide Student Network effort. In addition to helping with the overall overall effort of mobilizing and training laborers across the nation, we serve locally by helping raise laborers among the Great Plains Int'l Region, (Colorado, Nebraska, Wyoming, Kansas, Missouri, and New Mexico) to reach students in countries were GPI partners (Serbia, Russia, East Asia, Thailand, Cameroon, South Africa, Ireland, Spain, Mexico, and Chile).

We believe God is calling us and thousands of others to take the glory of Christ to every campus in the world. Our heart's desire is that every single student will be given an opportunity to have a saving knowledge of Jesus and be part of a Biblical community.

We are trusting God to train and raise up thousands of laborers who we can coach, train, and send out to their communities to plant spiritual movements in every nook and cranny of these states and nations. Ultimately we aim to fulfill the Great Commandment and Great Commission in this generation through passionately following God and making Him known.

Your prayers and financial support are crucial. God supernaturally has called us to develop Campus Crusade staff and students and we believe He will provide supernaturally all the necessary financial support and prayer laborers to make this about Him. If God is leading you to join with us, then you can partner in a variety of ways.

1. Commit to praying for us daily.
2. Giving a special needs gift. (Follow one of the methods below.)
3. Joining our monthly financial support team. (Follow one of the methods below.)

You can support us financially in the following manners:

• Send a check by mail and payable to:Campus Crusade for Christ Contributions P.O. Box 628222 Orlando, FL 32862 Please include a note that reads: Andrew and Robin McCullough #0376383.
• Make a contribution by phone using your credit cardCall 1-888-CRUSADE (option 1)Direct the person to make your gift toward Andrew and Robin McCullough account #0376383.
• Give via the web using your credit card Give to the McCulloughs Here you can give special gifts or set up monthly gifts.
• Give via monthly bank transfer (EFT) Each month your gift will be transferred directly from your bank account to our Campus Crusade for Christ account. A record of each gift will appear on your bank statement. To set up a EFT click here to download a Bank Account Direct Giving Form. Under the "Please divide my gift this way" Enter "Andrew and Robin McCullough #0376383". Follow the other instructions on the form and mail to Campus Crusade for Christ.

Thank you for laboring with us. May God be glorified.

Pray for Andrew Lewis

I was catching up on blog reading and found out about one of my 3rd cousins, Andrew Lewis, who is a missionary in inner city LA working with Youth With A Mission (YWAM). Andrew who is 26 is in the hospital for a bleeding stroke. Andrew's mom, Debi is one of my dad's first cousins. Both she and her hsuband, Gregg, have authored numerous books.

I know Andrew, Debi and Gregg would appreciate your prayers.

I'm Back

Okay Haven't blogged in a while because I was in the midst of leading a training for STINT Team Leaders.

This group of leaders will be leading one-year mission teams (STINTs) to countries all over the world to help start movements (ministries) on university campuses. They will go to East Asia, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Kazakhstan, Turkey, Russia, Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia, Slovakia, Lithuania, Sweden, Germany, Italy, France, UK, Barbados, Mexico, Venezuela, Argentina and Chile.

I'm second from the left on the front row. Robin and the boys went home earlier in the conference because the no a/c in 100 degree weather was killer.

It's kinda Like This...

Starbucks and Changing the World

I recently read "Pour Your Heart into It" about Starbucks up to 1999. Great read. The author, Howard Schultz, is the CEO and he tells the history of Starbucks starting with its founding in 1971 and how he came on board and later bought the company.

Here's a guy who left everything - VP of a major coropration, home in NYC, etc - to take a lesser job with this small little coffee company that was only in Seattle and only sold coffee in bags. It wasn't anything like it is now. You couldn't buy a cup of coffee. It was a time when America was drinking inferoir coffee and didn't care. He got caught up in the vision and saw what it could be when even the owners themselves didn't.

It is fascinating. You read it and you get pumped! This guy changed the world. He didn't sit back and listen to the scoffers. He gave us what we didn't even know we wanted. He stuck to his mission. He did things that were crazy like giving full benefits to part-time employees even before they were making money.

It was compelling. Reads like a good novel. I highly recommend it with a cup of Gold Coast - my favorite.

Last Minute stuff

I just wanted to send you a few last minute reminders....

1. We are still having the registration from 2-5pm on the 12th @ the Kappa Alpha theta house - 6338 S Sherwood Street. (There is a N Sherwood on the far north part of town so make sure if you maquest it or in the shuttle that you mention the 'S'.) It is at the corner of Sherwood and Laurel. Note too that on Thursday at least they were repaving Larel and the road was closed right in front of the Theta house so you might to detour around it if they are still there.
2. If you are arriving on a later flight and can't be there by 5, come straight to the 1st Presbterian church - 531 S College (corner of College and Mulberry). You will have to do a late registration. We start @ 6:30 pm.
3. The first meal provided by the conference is breakfast on the 13th so you will want to bring some cash for meals on the 12th.
4. It has been raining here last few days so I would check weather.com for 10 day forecast for Fort Collins as you pack.
5. Even if temps are really high, you might want to bring a fleece or something esp. for mornings at the church because they crank the a/c to get it cool for the rest of the day. Also summer nights can be cool in Colorado.
6. We will provide you w/a towel, sheets and a pillow. So no need to bring anything.
7. The church doesn't have wireless and I'm not sure about the Theta house. But the Chi O house where the couples and men will stay has ethernet connection in thr rooms. So if you have a cable, bring one. Otherwise there are several internet cafes in town.
8. Sunday will we go to Lory State park so you will want to bring shoes to hike and/or play volleyball.

What kind of heart is a heart that serves?

I have been looking lately at some ways Jesus really demonstated what it means to serve. I find my heart so far removed from this most of the time.

He came not be served, but to serve and give His life a ransom for many. He humbled Himself not only by taking on flesh and blood but becoming a servant to man that He created.

His service involved giving up. He as Lord of the Sabbath gave up His day of rest to heal many times. Not once but many times. Look at all he healed on his day off: man in Capernaum with an evil spirit; a man with shriveled hand; a crippled woman; an invalid by Pool of Bethesda and a man born blind.

He gave retreats and times alone. When mourning over the death of his friend and cousin, he took his disciples on a retreat, only to be followed by a mob. That didn't even bother to bring their own picnic lunch. He had to feed them as well as heal them.

There something in that story of feeding the crowd of 5k. 'He had compassion on them.' (Matt14:34-35). My pastor, Gene, pointed out a few weeks that when Jesus saw crowds, he had compassion on them.

The crowds after ministering to all their needs? (Matthew 9:35-38) (And Gene's text that Sunday.) He had compassion.

I keep seeing others... (not all crowds mind you - it is the response to being moved by compassion that I see)

The feeding the crowd of the 4k? (Matthew 15:29-34) He had compassion on them.

Two blind men in Jericho? (Matt 20:29-34) He had compassion on them.

A man with leprosy? (Mark 1:40-42) He had compassion on him.


Gene asked, 'how do we respond we see crowds?' I can't seem to get this out of my head. Maybe because repeated he the question the next Sunday. Maybe because I keep thinking about it while I drive in rush hour, while I am at the grocery store, etc.

(Okay I googled and found this picture that was actually a joke on someone's site but maybe it serves a purpose. Jesus would respond a lot different than me in this situation. )

I hate crowds. (Except at a sporting event with likeminded fans - but then I hate crowds again when trying to leave.) Hate? Yeah that's a coorect word when I am honest with how my heart is. I tolerate crowds at times I guess. But rarely do I have compassion. In fact it is so rare I could probally recall every time I have moved been to compassion when seeing crowds. It is to my shame. I am not anywhere like Christ. He had compassion. I am self-centered. Philippians 2:5-11, says I should have the attitude He had as a servant.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort! You are compassionate and you look on me with the same compassion you did the leper, I need healing too. Oh Lord help me gain a heart like yours! Help me to see others the way you do.