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.
Pastor’s blog 7/19/10 The times they are a changing
July 19, 2010
Time passes quickly doesn’t it? It seems like yesterday that we had 2 kids at home doing all the the things teenagers do as they are growing up. I remember the sheer busyness of family life with Liz in so many things that we had to drive her to and often attend. I remember the concerns we had about what would happen when the kids grew up and left home. Would they be able to get a good education, find jobs and make enough money to make ends meet? Would they find a good person to marry? We had lots of would they questions. All of a sudden our son John is 28 years old. He has gotten a good education, he makes really good money, he is happily married and has lots of exciting dreams for his life. Liz is living in New Mexico. she has a caring boyfriend, she is working and growing rapidly as a person. Oh we still have concerns and the journey’s of our kids are sometimes a little rough but they are growing and changing as they live in this world. When I reflect on all of this I am reminded of the scripture from Revelation Chapter 4 which speaks of a God who is always with us. A God who knows our needs and will stay the course with us. There have been many times in my kids lives when I wondered how things would work out. I wondered where I would get the strength to see things through. Yet somehow God in Jesus Christ has walked this walk of life with me and given me strength when I most needed it. I am so grateful for his gracious presence and it is good to just stop once in awhile and see just how powerful and lifegiving his presence has been. Thank you Jesus for your guiding hand and compassionate love.
Pastor’s blog 7/12/10 The two shall become one
July 12, 2010
This Friday in Chippewa Falls Wisconsin our Youth and Family Ministries Director Amy Lein and her fiance Chris Loker will be joined in marriage. Amy has been our director here at First for over 4 years now. I remember when she was hired that there was concern about a young woman far away from family and friends being able to make a life for herself in a new community. That concern seems like a distant memory now. Amy and Chris are making their home here now and seem to enjoy this community. It has been fun to see her grow and change as a person as our director and in her personal life. Love is grand isn’t it? When two people find each other and begin to build a loving relationship everything else in their lives benefits.
I recently saw our former youth director Matt Pearson. Matt and Sara got married about 5 years ago while he was serving as our Youth and Family Ministries Director. The loving relationship that they share has changed many things in their lives. They have a 2 year old son Josiah who is a busy and happy little guy. They now have a lovely home in the Omaha NE area. When I visited with them I was moved by the tender love they share with one another.
Jesus talks alot about love and says that it is the most important thing we can share with one another. When I am around people who love and care about each other the way Matt, Sarah, Amy and Chris do, joy fills my heart. Maybe that’s what Jesus had in mind when he said that he came so that we could have life abundantly. As I get older I treasure the opportunities I have to experience love in relationships in as many ways as I can. Love really does make the world go round doesn’t it?
Pastor’s blog 7/6/10 4th of July reflection
July 6, 2010
The 4th of July has always been a special day for me as I am sure it is for many others. Growing up in Maine the 4th was a day when our family would get together with my cousins the Gayton’s to go to Sebego Lake for the day. We would play at the lake, eat at the lake and have a great time together. It wasn’t until I got much older that I thought about what an important day it is for our country. You see like many others I have taken my freedom for granted. I have never been without freedom it is part of me. As I have grown older I have taken and interest in revolutionary war history. The story of this country’s beginning has helped me to realize what a struggle it was for those early settlers to separate from England. I am humbled by their sacrifice.
This past Sunday morning the prayers of the people was a video showing the graves of soldiers at Arlington National Cemetary. Thousands upon thousands of soldiers graves were shown as Taps was played. The sacrifices those soldiers have made for freedom is for each one of us. Those men and women gave their time and in many cases lives for you and I in belief of the ideals expressed in the Declaration of Independance. It is something beyond words isn’t it that a life is given for us in the name of freedom. Long ago in a land far away a man named Jesus gave his life for us to free us from sin, death and the power of the devil. Our freedom has been hard won for us hasn’t it.
Pastor’s blog 6/29/10 unexpected connections
June 29, 2010
We truly live in an amazing time in this world. Yesterday I was on my facebook page and completely out of the blue I received a friend request on my facebook page from my uncle Bud. Bud isn’t actually my uncle he is my cousin. Bud is my father brother’s son. I have always called him uncle Bud because he is much older than I am. I haven’t communicated with Bud for years and here he is showing up on facebook. After accepting Bud’s request to be a friend on facebook I connected with his daughter Barbara through facebook. There is much critizism and discussion about facebook and its effect on communication. I guess that is only natural when 500 million people are using a technology like this. I certainly would love to see Bud and Barbara in person but that hasn’t happened for many years. Facebook gave me an easy way to reconnect with them and that is a blessing. Chatting with him yesterday dusted off many great memories and I am grateful for that.
Pastor’s blog 6/21/10 Joyful reunions
June 21, 2010
This past Saturday I was reunited unexpectedly with Matt and Sarah Pearson. Matt was our Youth and Family Ministries Director before Amy. He was here for the wedding of Ashley Feller and Derek Hellstrom. When they were kids at the church they were active in the youth program. Matt and Sarah now have a little 3 year old boy named Josiah. It was fun to connect with Matt again. We talked quite awhile as he watched his very active son climb up and down on chairs exploring everything he could reach. While we were talking, Josiah got more comfortable with me and let me hold him for a couple of minutes. I haven’t held an active 3 year old in a long while and I found out that he was a very solid, wirey little guy. I made friends with him by offering him some candy from the little tins of candy that were on the table. When the tin was empty he was playing around with it and managed to ding me in the head with it. His parents said Josiah say your sorry and he made the saddest little face. I felt bad for him so I said oh how about a kiss. He smiled and gave me a wonderful hug and kiss. Seeing Matt, Sarah and Josiah reminded me of the importance of relationship and God’s abundant love for us. Many memories came to mind of Matt building our youth program and the beautiful way it continues to grow under the leadership of Amy Lein. You know God isn’t only good sometimes he is extravagent.
