Pastor’s blog 8/23/10 Memories?
August 23, 2010
I have just received a request from Connie Russell (Lagasse) to be my friend on Facebook. Who is Connie Russell you may ask? My answer is that is a good question as I don’t recall her by her married or maiden name. She graduated from Lisbon High School in 1970. I graduated in 1968 yet I can’t place her. You see my memory just isn’t that good. I am often surprised on Facebook by requests for friendship through that medium by High School mates I can’t recall. I wonder if it is age or just a poor memory. The other night I was playing a memory game with friends. The object of the game is to look at a picture for 30 seconds and then answer some questions about the picture. I failed miserably in trying to recall details. Memory is an illusive thing isn’t it? Why can I remember baseball statistics, Elvis trivia, old songs, phone numbers, sermons etc. yet have such a poor memory when it comes to people in my distant past. Oh I have to go now I just remembered I have a visit scheduled.
Pastor’s blog 8/16/10 The summer fade
August 16, 2010
Have you ever noticed how quickly time passes. How quickly seasons change: our kids grow up, health changes, our friends come and go, our communities change. The world our world seems in a constant state of change. This summer I have noticed this for some reason more than any other. I am amazed that we are almost through the summer season. Maybe it is because school is starting so early this year but somehow I am sitting here wondering where summer has gone.
When I reflect on all of this I am reminded of the Gospel of Mark. I am always struck by how quickly Jesus goes from one place to another. How quickly he moves from healing, to speaking, to praying, and finally to his death. Jesus life changes rapidly as he seeks to bring the Gospel to those around him. He is in constant motion and lets nothing stop him or slow him down. I think there is a great message for us here. Jesus embraces change. He uses the changing circumstances of his life to teach us that while change is always with us and life is often uncertain. The presence of God in Christ Jesus is constantly and consistently with us. Many things may swirl around in our lives but the word of God in Jesus is true and solid. His word endures through it all. We can claim that everyday and count on it in all seasons of life.
Pastor’s blog 8/09/10 Transitions
August 9, 2010
Pastor why is Pastor Mike leaving American Lutheran Church and the ministry? Why would he not want to be a pastor anymore? These and other questions like these have been asked of me several times since I returned from vacation. I have had many conversations with Mike as he has searched his heart considering what he wants to do with his life at this time. Mike has told me that he is torn because he has enjoyed being a Pastor. He loves many things about ministry but he also has another love – computer programming and systems analysis. He has been out of that field for more than a dozen years and has felt a growing yearning to go back to it. The timing for change was right forMike and Nancy as both children are now in college. Now seemed to be the best time to make a change Mike said and the perfect job situation came along. Mike knows that he will miss many things about the ministry but he considers his new job to be an opportunity to minister in another way. Yes, being a pastor is a special calling but so is computer programming, stay at home parenting, bricklaying, managing, teaching, farming etc. Martin Luther said that our jobs are our vocations for spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ and that a Pastor’s calling is no more or less important in doing that than any other job.
Transitions are difficult. I and many others will miss Pastor Mike a great deal. He has shared many special and unique gifts with American Lutheran and the larger community. Mike is a dear friend and I would rather he stay in Worthington. I have enjoyed the many hours we have spent together. He is funny, intelligent and Christ-centered. His leaving will take me sometime to get over but I know that the choice he is making will be a blessing to those many people he will encounter in his new profession. He will always carry the loving message of Jesus Christ in his heart. I am grateful for his many years here and I am confident that God will do something exciting and new with American Lutheran. I believe as I am sure many of you do that God will provide what American needs. I wish Pastor Mike God’s peace and blessing in the days, weeks and months ahead.
