Orlando GCA Conference in January

To all of you church planter types out there, I highly recommend GCA training. Good gospel camaraderie and great teaching. Besides, Florida in January… ‘Nuf said. Check out their website for more information.

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The Gospel Allows No Well Visits

This afternoon my eldest, who is 14, made an insightful comment. While reading Jane Eyre, she was struck by how outwardly “respectable” and “moral” people appeared, but that, while looking down upon and disdaining the “unrespectable,” they seemed to know very little about grace. The comment that struck me as insightful was when she observed that it is the sick who need a doctor.  After all, it was Jesus himself who said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick… for I came not to call the righteous, but sinners” (from Mt. 9:12-13).  In other words, the gospel allows no well visits. I will go as a sinner to Jesus or else I will not go.  The gospel says that we are all sick and in need of saving and sustaining grace. At least I am. God forbid that I become respectable. I so deserperately want to know much about grace.

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Princess and the Frog at the Holly in Dahlonega

Enjoying a night out on the town with friends.

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Sitting by the Fire

The kids and I just got a really nice fire going while Kristy is at the grocery buying food for a special Christmas Eve supper. With a stocked pantry and enough wood split to last us for days- we are set!

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Shooing on the Square with Three Cool Kids

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Enjoying This Gift from a Friend

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Reflections at 41

While enjoying a birthday rest yesterday afternoon, in a state of semi-grogishness I began to reflect on being 41. Here are some of those thoughts. They are not necessarily deep or profound, nor in any particular order… and I’ll probably add a few more before the day is out.

1. I’ve finally made enough mistakes to have some helpful experience.
2. Unfortunately, I realize that I have lots of mistakes left in me… so those folks who are 81 are the ones to look to for the most helpful experience. After all, Moses didn’t even really get out of the gate until 80.
3. I think I know myself better than ever, which is scary. When I was in my 20s, I thought I was kind of okay. Now I have discovered what a mess I really am. 
4. I’m realizing that I’ll never read all of the books that I want to read, nor write all the books that I want to write. So relax, McKay. Go take that nap by the fire.
5. I think I just might be mortal after all. 
6. I wish I had prayed more– not ritually or formally, but relationally to God as my Abba, Father… just talking, being real, honest, needy. Why not begin now?
7. I do not feel old. Tired, yes. But not necessarily “old.” Maybe 40 really is the new 30.
8. Sentimental idealism is slowly being replaced with biblical realism. 
9. The world (especially my own heart) looks darker and more evil that it used to, but the gospel is looking brighter and more hopeful than it used to as well.
   
10. I have come to hate duty bound, legalistic, rule-oriented, petty, ingrown, spirit-less, two-faced, hypocritical religion; mainly because feeling quite comfortable in that context is one of my biggest sins.
11. I long for a church that “glorifies God by helping people come alive to the wonder of the gospel”… period.
12. I am thankful for a wife who loves me the way the Bible defines love, not as reward, but as grace.
13. I am grateful for my children. I believe that they genuinely love Jesus because they know Jesus genuinely loves them.  And though they struggle with their own sin natures, I see the Spirit cultivating a real desire to obey and honor me. I don’t deserve it, but they still desire it, and express it in so many thoughtful ways.
14. Some decisions that I would NOT change if I had the chance: asking Kristy to be my wife, going to seminary to study, becoming a teaching pastor, having our children, and choosing to live and plant a new church in Dahlonega, GA, my “briar patch.”
    
15. I don’t just want to preach “good sermons,” but raw and uncut messages that storm Golgatha, because the cross is our only hope.
    
16. I want to be more of an evangelist for the gospel than I am for my Mac. 
    

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“You Say It’s Your Birthday…”

Thanks for all the facebook birthday wishes. I’m feelin’ the love!

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Primary Blog is now at mckaycaston.com

My primary blog is now at mckaycaston.com. Everything posted here is posted there first, with much more on that blog.

You may check it out here.

An Early Christmas with Nini and Papa (Photos)

Nini and Papa came to visit this week bearing some serious gifts. It was an early Christmas! 

See and download the full gallery on posterous

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Promise and Fulfillment

Since we are in the season of advent (the “coming” of the Messiah, Jesus), I thought I’d post a few “promise & fulfillment” prophecies regarding the birth and ministry of Jesus. These are reprinted from theresurgence.com.  These are only a few of many, many such predictions. Be encouraged.

4000 BC: Adam and Eve receive the prophecy that the Messiah (Jesus) would be born of a woman.

Promise: Genesis 3:15 – “’I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.’”

Fulfillment: Galatians 4:4 – “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law . . .”

700 BC: Isaiah prophesies that Jesus’ mother would be a virgin who conceived by a miracle and that Jesus would be God who became a man.

Promise: Isaiah 7:14 – “’Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.’”

Fulfillment: Matthew 1:18–23 – “Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.’ All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: ‘Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel’ (which means, God with us).”

700 BC: Micah prophesies that Jesus would be born in the town of Bethlehem.

Promise: Micah 5:2 – “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days [eternity].”

Fulfillment: Luke 2:1–7 – “In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. . . . And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.”

400 BC: Malachi prophesies that Jesus would enter the temple, which was destroyed in 70 AD, meaning the Messiah had to come before then.

Promise: Malachi 3:1 – “’Behold, I send my messenger and he will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord whom you seek will come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts.’”

Fulfillment: Luke 2:25–27 – “Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law . . .”

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Caston Family Christmas Card Picture

Merry Christmas from the Castons! May you experience the grace, hope, peace and joy of the gospel in abundance.

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Creekstone’s Christmas Open House Pictures

The Caston crew had a GREAT time tonight hosting Creekstone’s First Christmas Open House. Thanks to all who were able to make it out!

See and download the full gallery on posterous

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It Once Was Lost…

I am rejoicing in Luke 15 fashion tonight after finding my lost Mino video camera. It has a lot of family footage that I have yet to upload to Vimeo. It once was lost, but now is found!

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Creekstone’s Christmas Open House

You are invited to Creekstone’s Open House. Go to this link for more info- http://eepurl.com/fQSx

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The Cross Chart

Here is the famous “Cross Chart” that we discussed this morning at Fight Club. Click on the graphic for a larger view, or to download.

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The Latest Creekstone Update: Open House, Advent Service, Etc.

Check out the latest Creekstone Weekly Update: Open House, Advent Service, Etc. at this link– http://eepurl.com/fJGg

A screen shot version is below:

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A New Mantra

This is last night’s Sunday Night Fellowship message at Creekstone, “A New Mantra,” based on 2 Corinthians 12:7-10.  The thesis is that only through weakness and need can someone be an effecive Christian. 

A New Mantra by Mckay Caston  
Download now or listen on posterous

A New Mantra.mp3 (9366 KB)

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Night on the Square: Lights, Friends and Many Animals

Last night while Ann Ferris was spending time with friends, Kristy and I took the other two to the square to enjoy the lights and see the living nativity scene (the entire square is mega-decorated for the season).  We got there a bit too early for the nativity, but just in time to pet the animals. Also, we got to enjoy the bonus of living in a smaller community by running into our friends, Lauren and Matt Stephenson, as well as his folks. This afternoon is the Christmas parade- will post pics soon. : )

See and download the full gallery on posterous

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Today’s Fight Club Handout

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FightClub.Gal5.walkinginthespirit.pdf (148 KB)

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Last Night’s SNF Teaching Handout on Worship

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worship copy.pdf (49 KB)

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Permission To Not Know

I received this message yesterday from a friend, Dave McCarty. 

“The best gift I ever give myself, is permission to not know. Not know what’s best for me, and those I love.  Not know what I should do in the next hour, day, month, year, or how I should do, or when I should do.  Priceless.  Ultimate bliss.  The weight of the world lifted off of the shoulders of LittleOrphanDavie, and onto the broad shoulders of his Daddy in Heaven, who has promised to lead Davie into the future.  Ahhh!”

As a recovering control addict, those are words that I need to hear. Thanks, Dave. 

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Trusting God in the Dark and Difficult

This is a quote from Tim Keller’s book, Counterfeit Gods, that provides encouragement for those of us who are being so well loved by our Father that he is tearing our idols away from us (and usually without anesthetic).

Sometimes God seems to be killing us when he’s actually saving us… The Bible is filled with stories of figures such as [Abraham and] Joseph, Moses and David in which God seemed to have abandoned them, but later it is revealed he was dealing with the destructive idols in their lives and that could only come to pass through their experience of difficulty… We can’t know all the reasons that our Father is allowing bad things to happen to us, but like Jesus did, we can trust him in those difficult times. As we look at him and rejoince in what he did for us, we will have the joy and hope necessary—and the freedom from counterfeit gods—to follow the call of God when times seem at their darkest and most difficult.

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Post-Game Message Review: “Discipleship 101: Living in Light of the Gospel”

Key Ideas from last night’s SNF teaching on Discipleship…

1. Chrisitan discipleship is not primarily about performance and practices (what to do as a Christian), but about identity (discovering who I am as a forgiven and adopted child of the King).

2. “Being precedes doing.”

3. Four key elements of Christian Disipleship:

- The priority of theology

- The significance of relationship

- The necessity of friends

- The centrality of grace

4. When Jesus says “follow me,” he leads us to the cross.

5. Being a disciple (follower, learer) of Jesus ultimately is about learning what it means to live in light of the gospel/cross/grace.

 

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A New Angle on Discipleship- by Jerry Bridges

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