General Hospital – The Soap Opera Life of Steve Bullmer, New Methodist Church Minister in Crystal Lake

The first sermon we heard in person-

–focused on something I could relate to:

disastrous marriages.

“My life is about to crash and burn … and land me in ‘General Hospital,'” Steve Bullmer, new pastor of the First United Methodist Church of Crystal Lake, explained.

“Last week I told you I married the wrong person for the wrong reasons—I let Junior High self-esteem and self-image anxieties convince me that I was unloved and unlovable, and so I better take a bad relationship rather than risk being alone and miserable for the rest of my life. In other words I let hormones decide my marriage partner instead of the Holy Spirit.

“…even though God wills for people to ‘live happily ever after,’ a lot of things happen in this world that are not God’s will … because we have free will … and we are quite capable of resisting, ignoring, and distorting God’s will; we do it all the time. And sometimes, the only way God can save you … is to let you out of a relationship that is toxic to your soul.”

And, after twelve years of marriage, he separated from his wife for the third time.

Rough times followed, including Bullmer’s sister’s siding with his wife, the spreading of a rumor by the minister of the other Methodist Church in town that he was having an affair with his church’s Sunday School Superintendent. (Guess the other minister didn’t read that part of the Old Testament about not spreading gossip.)

Bullmer got the same visitation I did with my two-year old daughter Alexandra—two weekends a month.

I was relating much too much.

While in depression, he came across this verse (John 10:10):

““The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”

And Bullmer claimed it.

“I put my name in that verse and I said to Jesus,

“‘This promise applies to me.’

“And that made all the difference.”

Bullmer suggested one can do the same thing with the 23rd Psalm. Just put your name in it.

“The Lord is (your name’s) shepherd…”

“And Jesus answered me. He said,

‘Yes, I will. I will make your life abundant…. But….’

“Don’t you hate it when the ‘buts’ come?

“’But, in order for me to give you abundant life, you have to play the game of life by my rules; you have to let me be in charge of your life. Up to this point, Steve, you’ve been trying to run your own life. You’ve been using your own strength, relying on your own wisdom, trying to save yourself. How’s that been working for you?’

“Man, I hate it when Jesus is right! And I really hate it when he sounds like Dr. Phil:

“‘How’s that workin’ for you? Not so hot.’

“’Are you ready to let me run your life? Are you ready to play the game by my rules?’”

Bullmer said, “Yes.”

“I gave my life to Jesus a second time that day…”

“The fact of the matter is that I have to recommit my life to Christ every day. I am 24 hours away from losing my soul.”

Tomorrow – “The Bold and the Beautiful”

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Services at the First United Methodist Church (at the corner of West Crystal Lake Avenue and Dole, both of which intersect with Route 14 at a stop light) are 5 PM on Saturday and 8 AM, 9:30 AM and 11 AM. The 9:30 service is the most traditional. The 11 o’clock one is the most contemporary.


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