Thoughts On Abraham's Call

Genesis 11:30 "Now Sarai was barren, she had no children.

God speaks to a barren, hopeless and helpless situation.  God made a powerful call to Abraham.  The call was so powerful that it gave Abraham and Sarah the ability to respond to the call.  A person in a hopeless and helpless situation needs not only a person to extend a hand but also for that hand to pull them up.  Did you realize that God makes a powerful call to each and every person.  Because of the sin of Adam and Eve, all humanity are in a hopeless and helpless situation.  Maybe not financially, or emotionally, or physically, but at the deepest core of our being, we are helplessly lost without God and his love.  Maybe helpless and hopeless because the world speaks loudly.  And sometimes the world is so loud that we cannot hear - so we become fearful.  But God, through his son Jesus, makes a powerful call to all people.  Powerful in the fact that the call doesn’t become louder than the world, but the call is so powerful that it breaks through the noise of the world.  It may even whisper, but the whisper is powerful enough to break through the noise of the world.  Not only does he make a powerful call to each person, He also empowers and enables each one to respond to his call. 

Nursery Rhymes

Since the birth of Zeke, we have been playing and listening to nursery rhymes in the car.  Have you ever paid attention to the lyrics in some of the nursery rhymes.  Check these out.

Rock-a-bye Baby

Rock-a-bye baby, on the treetops,

When the wind blows, the cradle will rock,

When the bough breaks, the cradle will fall,

And down will come baby, cradle and all.

Really!  How morbid is this.  Who would put their kid in a treetop, in a cradle, in a windstorm?  Call DHR - unfit parents wrote this nursery rhyme.

Rub-a-dub-dub

Rub-a-dub-dub,

Three men in a tub,

And how do you think they got there?

The butcher, the baker,

The candlestick-maker,

They all jumped out of a rotten potato,

'Twas enough to make a man stare

Come on Man!  Who would put three grown men in a tub?  And, why write a nursery rhyme about it?  I have never been in a tub with three dudes - no wonder we live in a messed up world - we teach young kids immorality from a young age.  And, if I just had to be in a tub with three dudes, there definitely wouldn’t be a butcher in there with me.  I’m just saying.

A Call To Ministry

We know that he has been called to ministry, we are just not too sure what his occupation will be.  Everyone is called to ministry - doctors, accountants, factory workers, teachers, salespersons - That's what Kelly and I will teach him.  In fact, we are teaching him how important it is to spend time with God. Notice the books that he is reading - the Bible and a book celebrating the shepherd finding lost sheep.  The challenge and the responsibility is there for Kelly and I to train Zeke to be a minister -  It is a challenge and responsibility we are up for.

A Baby Changes Everything

It is amazing how a baby can change everything. Baby Zeke is only one week old and all my thoughts are geared toward him. Is he eating enough? Sleeping enough? Too hot or too cold? Not to mention Zeke has changed my sleeping pattern - and boy will I be glad when this changes back. 


 Baby Z has given me the opportunity to rethink five key components of life - spiritual, physical, emotional, relational, and financial. One of the most important jobs God has granted me is leading Zeke into a relationship with Jesus. That means my Spiritual life has to be solid. I want to see Zeke grow up and have a family of his own one day. That means I have to stay in good physical health in order that I may live a long time. Living an emotionally balanced life will allow my family to skip much of the heartache that takes place in a household as the emotional roller coaster goes up and down. Relationally, I want and need to spend time with Kelly and Zeke - a strong relationship with God and with family is a great witness to others of the love of Jesus. I must be a good steward of my finances in order to adequately provide for the family - Zeke will be going off to college one day and Kelly and I will be going to a nursing home. I'm just kidding. I thank God for Baby Zeke. I thank God for change. A baby does change everything!

Baby "B" is almost here!

It is amazing how quick things change. Baby "B" looked like a peanut just a short time ago. Now he is almost fully developed and ready to visit our world. I am excited and ready to see him - laugh with him - cry with him - play ball with him - watch football with him - bandage his many scrapes and cuts - have guy to guy conversations - make fun of other people with him - lead him to Christ - and just simply love him. Baby "B" is almost here!

See ya soon Baby "B"

"_____________ Thomas"

I've often thought that the disciple, Thomas, got a bad rap. When we refer to Thomas we typically attach the term "doubting" before his name. It is interesting that you can find the term "doubting Thomas" in the dictionary. Here is what the dictionary says - "a person who refuses to believe without proof; skeptic. John 20:24-29 or a person who insists on proof before he will believe anything; skeptic." But Thomas was so much more than a doubter - Thomas was also very loyal and honest. And I believe we can learn much from his life - his doubting, his loyalty, and his honesty. Check out my sermon entitles "_______ Thomas."

___________ Thomas from steven brumbeloe on Vimeo.

"What Do You Do?"

Does anyone else see the issue with this sign? I entitled this "What Do You Do?" for a reason. kelly and I drove up to this sign in a parking lot in Norcross, Georgia. I was in a state of confusion for a few minutes. But then it made me think - I'll pose the question to you. Have you ever been in a place in your life when you were unsure which way to go. I mean, you came to a point in your life where you needed to make a decision, but the next step forward seemed so conflicting. What do you do?