Mark Calhoun

We Made It!!

Well…It’s been a very busy couple of weeks… Our tip to Montana began on June 15th, the day after I returned from the Yellowstone Annual Conference in Billings… We spent Sunday rounding up the U-Haul, packing, and loading the truck.   The next day, Monday the 16th, we were caught a bit off guard by some news from one of Julie’s doctors that she had Thyroid Cancer. After weighing the options… surgery in Wichita or waiting a few weeks and having the surgery in Missoula… we opted to postpone our departure and have the surgery. By 3:00 we were at the hospital, by 7:30 Julie was in surgery, and by 9:30 she had been relieved of both sides of her thyroid and a small cancerous cyst the size of a plum. After several days of rest at the Kromer Inn and Recovery Spa Julie was ready to make the trek north. In a week or so, Julie will meet with a oncologist in the area for a radioactive iodine treatment and some testing… we’ll keep you all posted prognosis… please continue to pray for Julie and her recovery.

The days following Julie’s surgery we had lots of help packing and loading… we closed on our house in Wichita on Friday the 20th and by Sunday we were on our way to Montana... Two U-Hauls, the ol’ trusty Dodge Dakota, a Mark, a Julie, a Zach, a Jake, a Samson, and a Nammy.   All in all it was a great trip… we hit most of our pilgrimage stops along the way… Taco Johns… LaFonda De Acebo... the Golden Holiday Inn…etc. We spent a rest day in Lander at my parent’s house, loaded up my mom’s friend Donna and took out for Big Sky Country. We arrived in Polson on Thursday the 26th, unloaded one truck at a storage facility, 30 or 40 boxes at the church, and spent Friday unloading the big truck into a rental house. For the month of July we will be staying on the Ranch of church members Greg and Lynn Gardiner. The ranch encompasses over 10,000 acres and is located about 17 miles Northwest of Polson. The days are very long here… the sun rises early and set tonight at 10:38 pm… It feels a tad remote where we are… it is very dark and night (no city lights) and it is very quiet and peaceful… it has taken us all a few days to settle in.   We went to church on Sunday and met lots of new people… it’s exciting and a bit intimidating all at the same time. Vacation Bible School is this week so we have been hanging out there in the mornings. For the past several years our church has teamed up with 4 other area churches for Vacation Bible School. This year, VBS is being held at the Lutheran church and is led by counselors from the Lutheran camp that is located about 20 miles up the road.

We are without satellite TV (we do have a DVD player though… ran “A River Runs Through It” last night and tonight) , phone, and internet service out at the ranch so things are pretty quiet… it is a nice break from the life we have been living… nobody is going crazy… yet. Tonight was our 4th night out at the ranch an our first major thunderstorm… amazing… it was quite an experience to watch the storm roll in from the mountains… the storm moved extremely slowly and settled in on top of us for several hours… the moisture will definitely help control the dust on the roads in the area.

Oops… forgot to mention one exciting thing… during our first night here in Polson a dang black bear decided to paw paint our truck… he didn’t get in, but he did do a fine job of wiping his muddy paws all over the back of the truck… the dog food was in the back of the truck in an air-tight container, but we think he sniffed it out anyways…

Today was my first official day in the new appointment!! A tad quiet around the ol’ church house… I did get to answer the phone twice… ‘First United Methodist Church, this is Mark’… but they were both wrong number calls.

That’s all for now… a few pictures here…

So....

... I guess forty doesn't look so bad from where I am sitting.... you can't beat a pirate themed birthday party...

The Calhoun's are preparing for a move....

Last Wednesday, Julie and I stepped onto a plane in Wichita and stepped off the plane in Missoula, Montana. The primary purpose of the outing was for an "introductory" meeting with the staff parish ministry team of a congregation that had been discerned for us by the Bishop and cabinet of the Yellowstone Conference of the United Methodist Church. We were greeted by District Superintendent , Rev. Su DeBree, who then drove us about an hour north of Missoula to Polson, Montana. While a good portion of the drive was in the dark, we were glad to be greeted by a few snow flurries as we pulled into town. Our hosts for the two-day excursion were Bob (staff parish chair) and Diane Byers, who invited us to stay at there home on the lake. With the anxiety of the next day's meeting on my mind, and  curious thoughts of the town and the scenery consuming my thoughts, I had a hard time sleeping. After surviving the night, we awoke to the illumination of the sun,to the lake, to an island, and to the mountains that filled the window in our room. The sight was amazing.

Prior to our afternoon meeting, we were able to tour the town, the church, the schools, and some of the neighborhoods. Our morning ended with lunch at a local cafe located in the downtown Polson area, more touring and eventually our introductory meeting at the church in the afternoon. After a few hours of getting to know one another, and a brief time of deliberation, the church folks along with the DS, came to the conclusion that they would indeed like to have me as their new pastor and our family as part of their congregation. The reality of the news was overwhelming, but Julie and I were instantly excited about what the future holds for our family in this incredible town.

Polson, a town of over 4,000 people, is located on the Flathead Indian Reservation in the Northwest corner of Montana. The town sits on the southern edge of Flathead Lake and is surrounded by mountains. Our new church is First United Methodist Church of Polson.   The church has about 118 members with an average worship attendance of 54. Next year, Polson UMC will celebrate its 100th anniversary. The church moved into a portion of its current building in 1993 and into the sanctuary in 1997. We are extremely excited about the opportunities that await us in Polson, and we are especially excited about the chance to move back to our home region of the country. Please keep our family and the Polson church in your prayers as we both enter into a time of transition. We plan to arrive in Polson around the middle of June.

Here are a few pictures from our trip... Should you ever find yourself in this part of Montana, be sure to stop in and see us... and while you are there, be sure to stop in at one of the greatest stores in the valley...

Tragedy on the Interstate...

Yesterday, marked my 52nd commute to Kansas City. While the first 51 were relatively uneventful, this one was quite different. Getting a late start, I got to Kansas City about 3pm. As I traveled through the city I was passed, on both sides, by two small cars that appeared to be racing. I clearly remember thinking, "These two cars are going to end up causing and accident." As I completed that thought, I rounded a corner on the interstate and rapidly approached one of the cars that was sitting sideways in the Interstate, beyond the car, I noticed a truck laying in the ditch. The truck was heavily damaged and appeared to have rolled several times. Being among the first few cars to arrive at the scene I felt compelled to stop and lend a hand. Within a few moments it was clear that someone had been ejected, and was pinned under the truck. Numerous attempts were made to tend to the person, but it was not until the Emergency Rescue Vehicles arrived at the site, that the truck could be rolled out of the way and the individual's injuries could be assessed. Sadly, the Victim, David Bassore, was pronounced dead at the scene (News Report). As I think back, the circumstances of those moments still seem a bit surreal. At that moment, as I felt so helpless, and even at this moment my thoughts and prayers are turned toward David and his family and friends. As I read various articles about David on the Internet, he seems to have been an amazing individual. Please pray for the Bassore family over the coming days.

Google Picture Post

Got this fun little thing from Adam Cleaveland...

Instructions: Use the picture you like best from the first (no clicking around for 44 pages) page of the search results on Google Image.

1. The city and state of the town you grew up, no quotation marks.

2. The town where you currently reside.

Red Crocs Rock!!!

Buy them now!!!

Don't take my word for it read the testimonials...

Second testimonial here and full frontal photo here ...

"me and my thinkin' shoes made the cut"

"What do you stand for??"

A conversation at lunch yesterday reminded me of an experience I had a month or two ago at Church.  In passing a friend noticed a blue wristband ("life is a team sport") that I was wearing and asked what it represented. I proudly exclaimed "Bone Marrow," and added that the wrist band supported research and the donor program. That's when a form of this question hit me like a brick... "So, will you wear that until the there's a final cure or the issue is resolved??" Well that thought only haunted me for weeks. What social issue did I stand for? What was I willing to commit to for the long haul? Shortly after the brick in the head incident I ran into the "Make Poverty History" campaign thanks to some Emergent friends. As I continued to be unable to obtain some MPH bracelets, continued my research on the topic and continued to contemplate the things that I could commit myself to I landed at the ONE Campaign. So, in short, I guess that's where I'm at with my commitment to my little, white, ONE band.   Standing against AIDS and extreme poverty is something that I can commit to and something that is fully embodied in the Gospel Message. For those of you :-) wanting a full on commitment to a belief, this is something I believe in. Will I continue to wear my blue band, and my live strong band?? You bet I will. Partially because I believe in what they stand for and partially because Shannon and Donna thought enough of me to send the blue one along. As far as answering the original ? from my friend... I believe I am willing to wear my ONE band for the duration. As a bit of a sidebar I ponder....Can the spreading of the Gospel message and Social Justice stand in unified balance with one another and change the world?? I believe they can!!!

Life lived in the slinky...

As I neared the chapel at school today I said a small prayer, "Good God, bring meaning  and depth to worship today," and the Lord our God Delivered. Following an intense rendition of "be thou my vision," (only to be exceeded by a version cranked out on the hammered dulcimer) the image of hoops was introduced. Not hoops in the form of the NCAA and March Madness, but rather, hoops in the image of what we jump through as we navigate life. For me there are a few academic hoops and a pile of denominational hoops pressing in. The image lifted up today was the image a slinky. When compressed the hoops look manageable and the light is easy to see at the end. When the slinky is expanded to two or three feet the hoops begin to feel intimidating and the light at the end is sometimes blurred. We all have hoops to jump through. We wake up each morning embrace the day and engage our hoops. Sometimes we jump through with success, and sometimes we stumble. Sometimes more hoops are added and sometimes they fall away. The hoops can be overwhelming and often consume us. It is easy to feel overwhelmed and become discouraged. While one option is to focus on the hoops another option is to look beyond the hoops to the open spaces between them. The more our slinky's are stretched the wider the spaces become. It is in these spaces that the experience of life breaks in and the light of life crosses our path. Imagine shedding our old silver slinky's for tie dyed slinky's abundant with color. The hoops become blurred while life comes into focus. The light of life and experience is reflected off of the vibrant colors that encircle the sometimes dreary hoops.Through the spaces between the hoops we are richly blessed. It is within these spaces that sociological competence draws us into an understanding of things that we cannot possibly know, but somehow comprehend. When we engage the spaces we get a glimmer of peace and hope. The kind of hope that blurs the hoops, transforms us, and ushers us into the experience of kingdom life. When we engage the spaces we engage one another and we engage the light of God. The hoops are a mere reflection of the reality of our life's journey, the spaces are a reflection of the reality of God. Bring on the hoops I say!! The more hoops, the more spaces, and the more spaces the more opportunities to experience light and life.

J Lo, Richard Gere, Heart shaped pizza, and John Denver

Shall We Dance?

Some 16 years ago, a week or two before valentines day, I gazed across a commons room in Hill Hall at the University of Wyoming. As I scanned the faces of the people gathered for the residence hall meeting my life was forever changed by a vision of beauty that has not left my mind since that glorious day. Not knowing then, but understanding now, that it was by the grace of God that I was placed within several feet of the one who would become my soul mate in my journey through life, and into eternity. Today I gazed across a table at the same vision of beauty and fell in love all over again, just as I do everyday. Many moons ago we started our journey in a dorm room over a pizza and an astronomy textbook, tonight we celebrated the past season of our life together over pizza, pretzels, and peppers. Things have changed, but yet they have remained the same (I'm still in College). My dear Julie, will you always be my valentine?

You fill up my senses...

Come let me love you
Let me give my life to you
Let me drown in your laughter
Let me die in your arms
Let me lay down beside you
Let me always be with you
Come let me love you
Come love me again

The Wilderness

What does Webster Say...???

Main Entry: wil·der·ness
Pronunciation: 'wil-d&r-n&s
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from wildern wild, from Old English wilddEoren of wild beasts1 a

(1) : a tract or region uncultivated and uninhabited by human beings (2) : an area essentially undisturbed by human activity together with its naturally developed life community b : an empty or pathless area or region c : a part of a garden devoted to wild growth2 obsolete : wild or uncultivated state3 a : a confusing multitude or mass : an indefinitely great number or quantity b : a bewildering situation

1 ~ Been there... Colorado and Wyoming, nothing better
2 ~ a lie, don't know of any place that has not been disturbed by humans. Including the Wilderness of God. "Naturally developed life community"... I'm into that.
2b ~ Kansas??? How about Jesus after his baptism??
2c ~ "Wild Growth" Sounds like spiritual formation... I'll take the Earthly orb for my garden.
3a ~ does a "wilderness of humanity" count?
3b ~ "Bewildering situation"... Saint Paul

Two kinds of wilderness experiences for me. The ones above 3,000 feet that I dream, everyday, about traveling to. And the one I live in, which is not limited to Kansas, but includes life, family, school, and chasing God.

I suppose the most important thing is not the location of the "wilderness," but what we learn about ouselves when we are there. The great Frank Pritz once told me, regarding a life lived chasing God, know yourself and love the people.

I learn something profound about myself everytime I am in a wilderness experience. I can't even begin to imagine the things that I miss or look past while I'm there. I guess that's why I continue to be pulled back into those times and places that foster self-exploration. Awesome!!!