As you might have noticed, the blog has been a little slow lately. Alright, it’s been dead. And so now it’s time to recognize that fact, have the funeral, and move on.

I started blogging at KaleoBill (back on kaleobill.blogspot.com before moving over to my own domain) back in 2004 - it’s been over four years now. To be honest, I’m just a bit bored with it. It was a great way to write through the first few years of Kaleo, but the time has come to make a change. So, that being said - this will be my last post on KaleoBill.com. But have no fear, the blogging will continue…

1. Kaleo will now have it’s very own blog. KaleoHouston.com/blog - a source for news, discussion on what we are learning in the messages on Sunday, what it means to live out our faith as a community of Christians in Houston, etc. Go, subscribe, and join the conversation about what God is doing at Kaleo Church!

2. I’ve got a new blog too. But this one is staying mostly under the radar - I’m not handing out the url. To be honest, I’m really looking forward to having a place to write about whatever I’m thinking, frustrated by, praying for, questioning, etc. But for now, it needs to be a pretty private place. If you’re interested, send me an email (bill at kaleohouston dot com) and tell my why you’d like to read - and I might just send you a link. (Chances are, if we don’t actually know each other in person, I probably won’t share - sorry.)

So there you have it. Tonight, when you gather with friends and drink your Schlitts Malt Liquer - pour one out for KaleoBill.com.

KaleoBill out.

Update: If you want to keep up with family stuff and see pictures of Mirabelle, you can check out the new family blog that Shannon put together - StregerFamily.com.

Tomorrow, I’ll be making an announcement for all five of you reading about the future of KaleoBill.com.

Stay tuned.

If you’re still around, keep watching…

I know my next post was supposed to be a continuation in my series of the role of a pastor, but I came across this today and had to post. I don’t have much I am able to say - I’m still in a state of shock. I am more anxious than ever for the restoration of all things that is at work in Jesus’ Kingdom.

The following excerpt is from yesterday’s edition of the Yale Daily News:

Art major Aliza Shvarts ‘08 wants to make a statement.

Beginning next Tuesday, Shvarts will be displaying her senior art project, a documentation of a nine-month process during which she artificially inseminated herself “as often as possible” while periodically taking abortifacient drugs to induce miscarriages. Her exhibition will feature video recordings of these forced miscarriages as well as preserved collections of the blood from the process.

You can read the full article here.

Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

About two months ago, I pointed to a post from JD Greear about how different people view the role of a pastor - promising to add my thoughts. Well, between Lent, Holy Week, Easter, and other stuff - I never got around to posting my thoughts.

(Jake has been kind enough to remind me from time to time that I have neglected this particular post…)

Part of the reason it’s taken me so long to post is that I’ve been really praying, thinking, and studying about what I truly believe in this area. What is the role of a pastor in responsibility to the church they serve? I think I’m finally ready to talk through this in a series of posts. Just to refresh your memory, here are the three categories that JD laid out:

1. Chaplain: This type of pastor simply takes care of the flock. He is a local Christian community’s spiritual advisor and is focused on meeting their needs. Care of the believers is the “purpose” and the “endgame” of the chaplain.

2. Missionary: This type of pastor sees his pulpit as the place from which he does ministry. He needs other believers in his church to provide a base crowd for him, to invite people to hear him, and to pay and pray for his ministry. Reaching the lost is the “purpose” of this pastor. He is the one who reaches them and and he “uses” other believers to that end.

3. Equipper: This type of pastor sees his role as equipping believers to be missionaries to the people in the community who don’t know Jesus. He is not concerned simply with his own fruitfulness or leadership abilities, but wants to see his people become fruitful leaders themselves. Reaching the lost is the “purpose” of this pastor, but he does so by equipping believers to do it.

Now, I’ll start by saying first off - I think that all three of these are the proper role of a pastor, but I would tweak both the label and descriptions JD has given them. (In the posts to come, I’ll talk about how I would change the labels and definitions). For now I’ll simply say - I think the pastor is to do all three of these things.

I’ll also say up front that I believe that anyone serving the office of elder is called to fulfill these roles. I know that we all have different giftings and some men will be stronger in one area than another, but I don’t think it is biblical or healthy to simply assert that these three functions can be divided up among different men on a pastoral team. (i.e. “I’m the missionary guy, he’s the equipper, and John over there is the shepherding guy). To be a pastor is to be a shepherd, missionary, and equipper.

Over the next couple posts, I’ll try to tackle each of those roles and flesh out how I see them playing out in the life of a local church.

Why, why, why do churches lose common sense and good judgment when they get a big sign?

I just got my copy of In My Place, Condemned He Stood yesterday afternoon and started reading it this morning. A collection of essays by J.I. Packer (with one by Mark Dever), the book explores the beauty of substitutionary atonement, detailing what Jesus has accomplished for us at the cross. So far, it is absolutely amazing. I can’t recommend it highly enough. Kaleo folks, watch for this to appear on the resource table very soon.