I am Pastor James Michael McDonald V—sinner, saved by grace, and ever aware of my need for divine mercy. I am husband to Stacy Diane McDonald (author of Raising Maidens of Virtue and Passionate Housewives, Desperate for God), father of 10 blessings, pastor, writer, and conference speaker.
God has indeed led me on an interesting path theologically and vocationally. I was baptized while an infant into the Roman Catholic Church, and became a Christian years later, as a young adult in a Baptist church. Over the years, I have served in many capacities, including deacon, elder, youth pastor, Christian school teacher, education minister, worship leader, and itinerant preacher.
During part of this period, I was also working in the secular world. God blessed me with many opportunities as I moved from a design engineer in manufacturing to a marketing director of a large multi-national software firm. I had global responsibilities over a wide product line and traveled the globe. The best airlines, the best restaurants, the best hotels, bonuses and stock options - and yet, there was something missing. God was calling me to give up all these worldly successes to take up the call of shepherding a small flock.
God also revealed to me the truth of His Word regarding His sovereignty over all things and the depth of His Covenant love for the saints in the Old and New Testaments. I now serve full time as an elder in the Covenant Presbyterian Church. In addition, I serve on the board of the Central Illinois Right to Life. I am also a former board member of the Highlands Study Center.
Stacy and I do not have a perfect past. Neither of us became Christians until we were adults and we made many poor choices during the foolishness of our youth. We both have known the pain of betrayal, desertion and loss. We know from personal experience why families today are in desperate need of reformation. We have experienced God’s healing touch and have been transformed by His miraculous grace. God has truly been very merciful to us. God has restored to us the years the locusts have eaten and we stand amazed—our cup truly runneth over.
Like anyone who takes a stand, I have those who don’t like me or my message. There are some who like to say unkind and often untrue things about Stacy and I. But I refuse to be distracted from the mission to which God has called me. I have tried to take the advice of Charles Spurgeon, who said, commenting about gossips and slanderers,
“Every church, and, for the matter of that, every village and family, is plagued with certain Mrs. Grundys, who drink tea and talk vitriol . . . There are also certain persons who are never so happy as when they are ‘grieved to the heart’ to have to tell the minister that Mr. A. is a snake in the grass . . . Do as Nelson did when he put his blind eye to the telescope and declared that he did not see the signal, and therefore would go on with the battle!”
That said, if you have any questions about who I am or what I believe, give me a call. The line at the church is 309-387-2600.
And, about this blog. It is intended to be my personal musings on faith, life, family, politics… really anything I want. It is not your blog, it is mine. As the wise sage Popeye would have said, “I blogs when I want, and I blogs what I want.”
In all seriousness, this is not a forum for open dialogue or long, drawn out debates. If you want to comment, feel free. But don’t assume I am obligated to approve your comments. Remember, it is my blog.
If you have an axe to grind, this is not the place. If you are schismatic, find another blog—you won’t find a platform here. If you want clarification, that is fine, comment away. If I don’t approve your post, I may find time to reply via email. And, I reserve the right to only publish a portion of your comment. Remember, it is my blog.
And, please be patient. I am a busy fellow with a family and a church to love and serve. I don’t have time to sit around waiting for comments. So, it may be a while before I get with you and your note.
My prayer is that this blog and the things I write will prove to honor God – and be a source of encouragement to you. And, from time to time, there may be a meager attempt at humor as well.
Soli Deo Gloria!
