Closing Down Tom’s Desk

As July 31, 2025, approaches, marking my last day as senior pastor at Calvary, my heart is filled with joy for the privilege of serving God and this congregation for the last 33 years. This newsletter will mark the official closing down of Tom’s Desk! I have a deep love for the people of Calvary and much gratitude for the honor it has been to be serve here. Someone asked what I love most about pastoring; here are three of my greatest joys of being your pastor.

One, is the privilege of studying the Bible every day and preparing messages with the congregation in mind. It is the highest duty of pastoring to preach the word of God and build up the church toward Christ-like maturity. The exposition of Scripture is God’s prescription for spiritual health and growth; without it the church will devolve toward man-centered priorities. God has spoken, and He still speaks through His living and active word. That I got to study the Bible daily and experience the joy of discovery and then to share it in sermons, classrooms, and writings has been an enormous gift in my own life. I’m not sure how many times I’ve preached or taught a lesson, or shared a devotional over the decades, but it is many thousand. My life is richer by the meditation and memorization of His word – much of which I never got to share.

I’m thankful for a congregation mature enough to appreciate – even long for – the word of God to be taught and applied to everyday life, without skipping the most challenging interpretive sections!  Last year it was a slow journey through 1 Corinthians; in 2023 it was the book of Revelation; and 2018, Romans. All Scripture is profitable; thank you for your commitment to biblical authority (and for coming back week after week).

Two, is the honor of being with so many of you in your life experiences of accomplishments, sufferings, and spiritual steps of faith. Just last week a woman reminded me, “You baptized me and my brother when we were teenagers; you officiated my wedding; you dedicated our children to the Lord; you were there for our family when my husband left.”  Pastoring a church family through all the ups and downs of life is a tremendously emotional privilege. From leading countless memorial services, hundreds of weddings, baptisms, dedications, and hospital visits, I’ve had a front-row seat into the life of a congregation I deeply love. As Calvary has grown over the years, and experienced every joy and sorrow imaginable, God has preserved us with grace and unity. Thank you for your faithfulness in loving God and loving one another – and for working hard to preserve the unity of the body in the bond of peace. You yourselves have been taught by God to love one another; I have loved being your pastor.

Third, has been the joy of moving together in giant steps of faith to fulfill the mission of God for Calvary. A church that doesn’t move forward by faith will shrivel up in spiritual atrophy. You helped us take some huge leaps of faith over the years that were launched by many prayers and much generosity. You joined us in prayer movements that lasted a month, or 100 days, or 130 days! You tried an experiment called the Kingdom Assignments which raised thousands of dollars and led to a renewed emphasis on serving our local communities through ShareFest. You launched our second campus in Erie in 2006, and the third in Thornton in 2020. You helped send many mission teams to the ends of the world to bring the gospel, to plant churches, to provide medical care, clean water and food, and to build churches, schools and seminaries. Whenever we asked you to join in and step out in faith to fulfill the mission God has for us, you prayed with us, you gave generously, and the gospel-centered work of God advanced. Thank you for moving together in steps of faith. Without faith it is impossible to please God.

My most recent joy at Calvary was the exemplary way in which our Elders led us through a stable and healthy succession process in which God – through a unanimous vote of the congregation – called our next Senior Pastor, Thomas Milburn. I am proud to call him my pastor. Lucy and I look forward to supporting the ongoing ministry of Calvary under his leadership. May the love of God our Father, and the grace of the Lord Jesus, and the joy of the Holy Spirit be with us all!

With you on the journey,
Tom

Healthy Succession

In every healthy succession of leadership a few things always remain the same. First, the commitment to the mission of the church. It was the timeless commission of Jesus that we would go into all the world and make disciples, teaching them to observe all that He commanded. So, we make disciples. We raise up next-generation leaders. And in this way, we multiply the impact of the church for decades to come. The great commission of Jesus is the same today as it was when He first spoke to His disciples.

A second consistency in leadership transition is a fervent fidelity to the Word of God. When Moses passed his leadership mantle on to Joshua, God commanded that the word He had delivered to Moses necessarily would have to be Joshua’s guiding light as well. “Be careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”  The speaker and leader may change, but the word of the Lord abides forever. A prosperous ministry is never primarily about the leader, but about the message of the One we follow.

The third assurance of the stability of a ministry going through leadership changes is the promise of God’s presence into the future as He was certainly present in the past. Jesus said, “As the Father sent me, so also, I send you. And lo I am with you even to the end of the age.”  To Joshua the Lord said, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”  God is the one who always ultimately leads the prospering church by His presence. For His glory, not the praise of the leader.

So, we’re in good shape for a healthy, ordinary succession of leadership at Calvary. The Lord will be with us; His Word will be our guiding light, and our mission is uninterrupted. All for His glory.

Thank you for praying for our church during these days. Lucy and I are thankful for all the years we have been able to serve God and serve you here. We’re also delighted that we’re not moving away from the church family we love. We have much more we want to do in this next season. We encourage you to be present as a Calvary member at the special Congregational Meeting on June 23 and affirm the recommendation of the Elders to call Thomas Milburn as our next Senior Pastor. He is a man of faith and prayer, and we will be honored to call him our pastor! 

Great days are ahead as we follow the Lord and continue in our roles of serving, praying, giving and loving. May God enable Calvary Bible Church to fulfill His good will.

With Love and Appreciation,

Tom

Who Will You Invite?

With two and a half weeks left before Easter, we’re on a mission. To some shrinking extent, Easter remains a recognized religious holiday that many people observe. For thousands, it is the one day of the year they are open to attending a church service. Whatever the reason – family tradition, sentimentality, or just a box to check – more people walk into church on Easter than any other Sunday of the year. Actually, I think people want to believe the resurrection of Jesus has vanquished death. Internally, we hope the message is true, we need it to be true. Consequently, people with only a remote connection to Christianity or the church always show up, nearly doubling average weekly attendance.

We’re on a mission to see hundreds of people come to saving faith in Jesus at Calvary this year. We plan to be ready for what God will do as we celebrate the realities of the resurrection of our Savior. What part can we each play to see this happen?

INVITE:  Who in your world might be open to coming with you to church? What if you just asked, “What are your plans for Easter Sunday?” (Listen). “Do you ever go to church on Easter?” (Listen carefully). “Would you like to come with me to my church? It’s always such an encouraging service.”  You might be surprised how honored your friends are to be invited – and inclined to come along if you invite them to join you.

PRAY:  The message of Easter, that Jesus died and rose again, is eternally significant. There is no other name under heaven, given to mankind, by which we can be saved. It is a victory song that must be sung; a life-altering message that must be preached. We pray for the souls of men and women, young and old, to respond to the good news of Easter and to be saved. We pray every intellectual objection will be overcome by the truth of the gospel, and every spiritual roadblock will be broken down by the conviction and wooing of the Holy Spirit. Pray that faith in Jesus will arise from the tombs of dead men’s souls.

LOVE:  We always say the friendliest place in the world on any Sunday morning should be in the services at Calvary Bible Church!  How much more on Easter. Park a little further away. Get there early to meet someone new. Show compassion to those seated around you. Love is the greatest witness of the reality of our own faith, and a magnetic force for those who live in a loveless world. Love God and others is our motto; let’s make an extravagant effort to love every visitor on April 20.

 

Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.
1 Corinthians 15:3, 4

 

There is no greater news to be told – there is no other means of salvation than through faith in the Son of God who loved us and gave Himself for us. This is why we are having ten Easter services across our three campuses. May the risen Christ be exalted in our services, may hundreds come to saving faith in the only savior of the world.

With you on the journey,
Tom

What are you giving up for Lent?

I’ve been asked that question more than a few times over the years. Sometimes it feels like a competition. How sacrificial are you, after all? Are you willing to give up coffee? Beer? M&M’s? Smoking? TV? Flying first class? Self-denial is good habit that can develop the necessary life-long strength of self-discipline. But in the context of a religious or spiritual practice, fasting has much more significant implications. 

Today marks the beginning of Lent, a 40-day observance for many Christians intended to prepare for the celebration of our Lord’s passion on Good Friday and Easter. Originally it was a time of personal sacrifice leading to greater repentance of sin, and gratitude for the grace of Jesus. This practice of going without is reminiscent of ancient Israel observing seasons of fasting and repentance while covering themselves with sackcloth and ashes. Self-imposed austerity that leads to spiritual sensitivity toward God is a worthy habit.

Some people unfortunately assume that if they give something up for Lent, God will be obligated to bless them for their sacrifice. But fasting is not a means to gain merit with God, or to impress Him. There is nothing we can do to achieve grace, only receive it by faith. On the other hand, fasting does – or can – accomplish a noble transformation in us. Going without food can be uniquely God-glorifying if it awakens a hunger for Jesus. Going without a frivolous time-consuming habit such as endless scrolling, can also honor God, especially if it is replaced with Jesus-exalting content. Going without screen time is good; replacing it with Bible reading is better!

Jesus assumed His followers would fast. But He qualified that it should be done in private, not in a showy way before others. It is to be performed as unto the Father in Heaven who sees both the sacrifice and the motives of our heart.

And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 17 But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. Matthew 6:16-18. 

So, we enter Lent together as a community of faith with a warning:  Don’t ask. Don’t tell. And with the guidance of 1 Corinthians 10:31: So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Lent will lead us to Easter. On that journey, we should remember self-denial that enlarges our appreciation for Jesus’ sacrifice is a habit worth perfecting – and not just for 40 days.

With you on the journey,

Tom

In the Doghouse

“You must have done something really wrong,” said a complete stranger as I climbed back into my truck. I was carrying several bundles of fresh cut flowers with plans to assemble an impressive bouquet for Lucy’s birthday. “Excuse me?” I asked. “Oh, you must have done something terribly wrong.” I smiled at him and said, “Or I have a really great woman.”
 
I laughed as I drove away thinking of this man’s assumptions that I was in the doghouse and a peace offering of flowers, with a lifespan of a mere few days, was going to repair whatever horrifying offense I had committed. Flora restores favor. Can flowers do that? I don’t think so. Chocolate maybe.
 
Sometimes when we drift away from the Lord, we wrongly imagine that the pathway back to Him is through some performative measure. There’s a contribution we can make or a noble deed we must attempt to get back in His good graces. Certainly, there must be something we can do to prove we’re worthy of His love and forgiveness.
 
Such thinking is both an over estimation of our ability and worse, an insult to the sufficiency of his sacrifice. His grace is unlimited, and His love is everlasting. When King David drifted deeply into sin his only cry eventually was “have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.”  
 
There are no pay backs with God, only the humble reception of His mercy. David sums up his experience of repentance this way.
 
For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. Psalm 51:16, 17
 
If you’re adrift from God today, forget the flowers. Don’t try to work your way back. Just bow, give thanks for His mercy, and believe with all your soul that He will not despise a broken and contrite heart. Only He can cleanse us from our sin and that work was fully accomplished in His sacrifice on the cross. As the old hymn says, “Nothing in my hand I bring; only to the cross I cling.”
 
May God give you the assurance of the forgiveness of your sins through our blessed savior Jesus. If you hold fast to Him, you are NOT in the doghouse.
 
With you on the journey,
 
Tom

Keep Telling It

Last fall I looked out my office window to see a man sprawled out on the lawn under the shadow of the Calvary Bible Church monument sign. I watched him for a few minutes to see if he was moving. He wasn’t. He had a backpack under his head and grocery bag next to him but remained motionless. I hurried outside to check on him. He said he was just tired and needed to rest a bit before he could make it back to the home he was renting, a couple blocks away. I offered some water; he declined. Is there anything I can do for you?  No.

I returned to my office and got back to work. About an hour later I looked again to see that he had not moved. When I checked on him a second time, he said he had lost all sense of strength in his legs and was too weak to walk. I offered to take him to the hospital or call an ambulance both of which he refused. I pleaded with him to let me take him home. When he reluctantly agreed, I drove my truck out on the lawn as close to him as possible, lifted him up into the seat, buckled him in, and drove to the place he was staying. Once there, I unbuckled him, lifted him out of the seat onto the sidewalk where he shuffled along as I carried most of his weight through the front door and onto a couch. You sure you don’t need a doctor?  Do you want me to call a friend? Is there anything else I can do for you? No. No. No. He was ready for me to leave. As I stepped out of the house and closed the door, he thanked me and lived happily ever after.

I hope.

The fact is, I don’t know what happened to him. I thought a lot about him in the following days and tried to check on him but never did see him again. I wanted to do more, but it is hard to help people who don’t want help – even when they’re in obvious trouble.

All this reminds me of what it’s like today trying to help people see their need of Jesus. So many are in a terribly broken place, feeling weak and powerless. Their need for spiritual renewal is obvious. But they go on insisting: I’ll be OK; I don’t need help; I can do it. I just have to rest, center myself, and everything will be fine. I’m good!

As frustrating as it may be, we can’t make people accept the gospel – we can only keep telling it. This is the primary responsibility and work of the church: Preach the gospel!   Sometimes people reject us. Sometimes the scales fall off and broken people believe in the name of Jesus. John 1:11, 12 describes the pattern this way:

He [Jesus] came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.

The rejection of Jesus is commonplace. The salvation of repentant sinners is the miraculous work of God. We can’t do it, but we can tell the gospel that leads to it. Jesus promised he would empower his followers with the Holy Spirit to be witnesses right where they were – and then ultimately to all the world.

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. Acts 1:8 

Our “Jerusalem” is Boulder, Erie, and Thornton. Let’s keep our eyes open for the broken who need the Savior and pray God will deliver them. I’m asking God to save hundreds of people through the ministry of Calvary in 2025. I’m asking you to pray for two or three people in your circle of influence to come to faith in Jesus this year.

Extending the gospel is our mission and our joy.

With you on the journey,

Tom