Author: The Pastor

Preach Jesus

/ The Pastor / 6 Comments

I have a Celebration of New Life service (a.k.a. funeral) to prepare for this week.  It takes place on Friday morning.  In my preparations I got to thinking about some other funerals that I have attended for people I know and for family.  There are two that stand out to me.  They stand out because at each service Jesus was not preached.  Actually…the name “Jesus” was not uttered…not even once.  Jesus was alluded to, but if I were an unbeliever or someone who has never even heard about this guy, Jesus, I would not have heard any Good News.  And both of those services were supposedly Christian funerals.

In seminary, my preaching professor told us that when we preach try to mention Jesus’ name at least once.  The obvious implication was to make sure that we were preaching the Good News of Jesus dying and rising for us.  For if we are not preaching about Jesus then we are just there giving a speech about some religious topic.

For me, a funeral is a golden opportunity to preach the Good News to those who normally would not step foot inside a church.  You also have people who I call CEOs (Christmas Easter Only…with the occasional wedding or funeral).  When I preach at a funeral I not only have the mourners in mind but those who don’t normally hear the Gospel.  We can’t miss these opportunities.

Jesus needs to be preached!

The best funeral preaching advise I have received came from a woman from Salem who died.  She left me detailed instructions about her funeral.  This is an excerpt of what she wrote (and how she wrote it):

“DON’T TALK ABOUT ME BECAUSE IT IS NOT ABOUT ME.  THIS IS A CELEBRATION OF NEW LIFE.”

And believe me…I was going to listen to her…and I still do.  To this day, this is why we call funerals “A Celebration of New Life.”

Preach Jesus…and don’t miss “golden opportunities”.  Preach Jesus and preach Life.  Preach Jesus…even if you are not ordained, preach Jesus (in words and deeds).  Preach Jesus.

[Did I mention…preach Jesus?]

-edh-

A sign that describes me

/ The Pastor / 5 Comments

CORRECTION Zombies Ahead

[By Chris Nakshima-Brown, Associated Press – Ap]
I have been sick with a nasty cold this week.  Part of me wants to put this sign in the church parking lot and make the text singular…it kind of describes how I am feeling.

(Sorry for the pictures recently…I have been feeling lazy with this cold)

God bless!

-edh-

…and she sucked my thumb

/ The Pastor / 6 Comments

One of the things I enjoy about the congregations I serve are the children.  On the Sundays when there are a number of kids in worship it can become quite a zoo, but I don’t mind.  One particular 3 year old likes to explore the sanctuary…during worship.  His mom usually has a horrified look on her face when she chases him down; thinking I am going to get mad, but I never do.  One little girl used to stand on the pew during the offering; holding a dollar bill and yell “Eric…I got your money!”  One Sunday, when I was preaching from the floor with a music stand, the little boy that likes to explore the sanctuary decided he wanted a better view.  He came down the center aisle and stood right in front of me; looking and listening (Try to stay focused during a sermon with that).

But this past Sunday a very cute moment took place for me.  We were down stairs enjoying another magnificent Salem Lutheran Church potluck.  I was sitting at a table with a friend of ours (a member at Salem) who has a six month old little girl.  She was born about 5 weeks early and I can remember being very nervous holding her after she was born.  She was so tiny.  But now Chloe is getting bigger.  Anyway…this past Sunday Chloe was in a very good mood; smiling at everyone (I hope she stays that cute).  After I finished eating I got my opportunity to hold Chloe.  In the process of holding her apparently my thumb got a little too close to her mouth.  Just then she grabbed my thumb with her two tiny hands…and she sucked my thumb.  Actually she was gumming it.  I thought that was the cutest thing ever.  I would pull my thumb away and she would grab it again and suck on it.  Everyone around laughed.  Maybe I had some left over hot dish on my thumb…I don’t know, but it was a moment I will cherish.  If I am here long enough to have Chloe in Release Time or Confirmation I look forward to embarrassing her with that story.

I know some people are annoyed when children “disrupt” worship but if there are no “disruptions” in worship then there is no children.  If there are no children…well…you do the math.  I cherish “disruptions” and thumb sucking moments with children.  It reminds me that we are to have the faith of children; freely expressing oneself without worrying about what people are thinking about you.

What if WE actually lived our faith like children…free and without worry?  Hmmm…

-edh-

All the craze

/ The Pastor / 4 Comments

I have been utterly amazed at this wild thing called “the Wii craze”.  My sister and I got one for our parents for Christmas.  A number of our friends got one for Christmas and a number of my students got them.  And since then, Connie and I have been looking for one.  Every store we go into there is no Wii to be found.  A sales person at Best Buy said that there are people that come in everyday asking about them.  And since we live no where near a place that would stock a Wii, we are at a disadvantage. Before Christmas I never gave too much thought in getting a Wii.  I knew they were out there, but I haven’t had a gaming system since the Atari 2600 (now that dates me) so I never got captured by this craze.  But after we got my parents one and started playing it…well…I got hooked.  And then we heard about the Wii Fit…that right there convinced my wife.

So we have been looking online and the story has been the same…”Out of stock”…until last night.  Connie’s brother put us onto Gamestop.com and sure enough…a Wii…so I ordered one.  I should have one by next week.  I guess I gave in to “the craze”.

Today is January 20 and our 44th president is being sworn into office.  Today…January 20…we (officially) begin a new era.  It’s an era that worries me because of what I have heard from people in the media and in my own little world here in SW MN.  I have heard comments that suggest people are putting their hope and faith in Obama.  People are putting this president up on a pedestal.  It is almost as if they view him as a savior.  I guess one could say we are in the midst of an “Obama craze”.  But this is one craze I am not going to get caught up in.

I am not here to express my political beliefs.  As a pastor and as a Christian I am going to pray for Preisdent Obama and for the congress and for all elected leaders.  They all have a tough road ahead of them.  But I am not going to put my hope and faith in any person of this world…no matter how popular they are.  Our hope and faith needs to be in one person and one person alone…JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD!

I hope and pray that God uses Obama to work for peace.  I hope and pray that God uses Obama to stabilize this country.  And I hope and pray that Obama is faithful and listens to God.  I hope and pray that Obama puts his agenda aside and asks for wisdom from God our Father.  I hope and pray that the people of this county recognize the fact that Obama is a sinful human being (like we all are) and not our savior.  I hope and pray that the people of this country (and the world) recognize Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.

Only one person can save us.  Only one person can restore peace in this world.  Only one person can lead us in ways of truth and justice.  And it is not our president or any world leader…it’s JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD!

When I was a kid, the Atari 2600 was all the craze…but that faded away.  In the 80’s Rubik’s Cube was all the craze…but that faded away as well.  Today, Wii is all the craze…but that too will fade away.  As with anything of this world…all things will eventually fade away (Yes…even the “Obama craze” will fade away), but one person has not and will not fade away…and that is…JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD.

-edh-

Listen!

/ The Pastor / 3 Comments

“The boy Samuel ministered before the Lord under Eli.  In those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions.”  (1 Samuel 3:1)  Doesn’t this make you wonder who’s “fault” this is…God’s or the people?  My answer would be the people…not listening.  And even today I think many people could say verse 1 is true today; that the word of the Lord is rare and that there are not many visions.

But I would beg to differ…

…for the word of the Lord is very prevalent.  How often do we pray; asking for something very specific; and then wait for that specific thing?  Then…upon not getting it or not hearing an answer soon enough, we think God is not listening (“The word of the Lord was rare…”).  But is the word of the Lord rare?  NO!

The thing is, sometimes the word from the Lord is “No” or “not now”.  We don’t necessarily like those answers, but a word from the Lord is not rare.  We need to learn to listen and trust that God knows what we need.  We need to learn to shut up and listen for a word from the Lord.  We like to talk to God, but we don’t always like to listen.  I heard a quote one time (I am not sure who said it) that went like this:  “When you speak, you are sharing what you already know.  When you listen, you learn something new.”

There is a lot to learn from God…we just need to listen.

From the Evangelical Lutheran Worship book, hymn #513 “Listen, listen , God is calling, through the Word inviting, offering forgiveness, comfort and joy.”

Listen…God is talking to you.

-edh-

Getting peed on

/ The Pastor / 1 Comment

I went to text study this morning at Shalom Hill Farm, as I do most Tuesdays (O.K…some Tuesdays) and I experienced a first…

…I got out of my car and was greeted by the dog they have out there.  Nice little dog.  Wags its tail, but doesn’t get overly excited and jump on you.  Since I have a allergy to dogs I don’t pet the little guy.  Maybe it took offense to this finally because when I turned around (I am not sure why) I saw the little creep (notice my tone changing) lift its leg…and…pee on the bumper of my car.   Not the tire, but the bumper.  By the time I got over there to shoo it away,he had finished his business…and I a swear…I saw a little smirk on his face as he walked away.

I went inside (with my bumped dripping) and saw a couple colleagues.  I told them the story (which they got a kick out of) and soon I began to laugh along.  Of course…immediately…we went into “pastor mode” wondering if there is a sermon illustration in there some place.

<More laughing ensued>

I suggested a baptismal illustration; of God peeing on us and claiming us as his own.

<More laughing ensued>

Then I suggested, “I think I might have to flush that one out some more.”

<And more laughing ensued>

Moral of the story…well…maybe there isn’t one…except that if you pee on my bumper, I will talk about you on my blog.

<I needed a good laugh today>

God bless!

-edh-

You ain’t seen nothing yet

/ The Pastor / 2 Comments

The Gospel text for Sunday is from John 1:43-51.  This is the account of Jesus calling Philip and Nathanael.  Jesus tells Philip to “Follow me” and he does (maybe not literally at first) and goes to find Nathanael.  Upon hearing that this “prophet” is from Nazareth Nathanael promptly asks, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”  Nazareth seemed like such an unlikely place for a prophet to come from, but Philip says, “Come and see“.  Nathanael does “come and see” and what he sees is a “prophet” who knew more about him than he thought.  Nathanael is so amazed at what he hears he immediately makes a confession of faith; “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.”  Nathanael makes this confession of faith based on what he hears but Jesus basically says, “You ain’t seen nothing yet” (Jesus actually used better grammar than that but I thought it fit).

Our evangelistic efforts with people involves more than just telling people about Jesus, but it should also include showing people Jesus.
We do this through our actions.
We do this through bring them to worship where we experience Jesus in the preached Word and the sacraments.
We show people Jesus through the fellowship of other believers.
We show people Jesus through service.
Telling people about Jesus is one thing…but they ain’t seen nothing yet.

Nathanael didn’t believe until he experienced Jesus first hand.  And even then; even during that first encounter he hadn’t experienced truly who Jesus was.
That is why we keep coming back.
That is why we don’t just read the Bible once.
That is why we worship each and every week.
One encounter with Jesus is great, but if you liked that then you ain’t seen nothing yet.

“Come and see” is great advice…but remember to keep coming and to keep seeing.  For as Jesus says “you ain’t seen nothing yet”.

-edh-

Lyle’s cross

/ The Pastor / 7 Comments

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Lyle’s cross

In a couple previous posts (shortly before Christmas) I wrote about a parishioner named Lyle; a saint of this congregation that went to meet Jesus.  I won’t talk about him here but I do want to show you something; Lyle’s cross.  I talked about these crosses before; that he made dozens of them (They are 5 inches by 3 1/2 inches).  He made a number for the nursing home and the hospital.  He made a bunch for the people at Salem and Belmont.  And of course he made them for his family.  The one pictured above is one of three that I have.  This one serves as a pectoral cross that I wear in worship from time to time.

I have other pectoral crosses that I wear as well:  I have a pectoral cross that my parents gave me for my ordination that is silver.  I like that one because is very beautiful and reminds me of the faith my parents passed down to me and the support they gave me as I went through seminary.  I have a old wooden cross necklace that I got from my grandma (who died last Feb.) that wear I from time to time.  That one, of course, reminds me of grandma and the faith that she passed down to me.   I have two cross necklaces made of olive wood that were made in Jerusalem.  These remind me of our brothers and sisters in Christ around the world; that the church is not just located  in Jackson, MN.  And then I have Lyle’s cross.  This one, of course, reminds me of Lyle and the faith that he passed down to me.

All of the crosses I wear are special to me and remind me of various people in my life that have paved the way for me.  But one thing that I did not say (but I hope was understood) is that the cross, of course, reminds me of what Jesus did FOR YOU and FOR ME.  Formerly a symbol of death; it is now a symbol of hope.  I wear these crosses as a reminder to me and others who see them of why we truly gather together on Sunday morning to worship.  I wear my other (smaller) cross necklaces to proclaim that same message out in the world from Monday to Saturday.  Some people wear cross necklaces because they are a fashion statement.  But whatever the motivation for a particular person, when I see that cross, I am reminded of the life we have in Christ.

So I thank those who have paved the way for me and most of all, I give thanks and praise to God our Father through Jesus Christ, for paving the way to eternal life; carrying us across the Great Divide.

-edh-

The slinky Gospel

/ The Pastor / 9 Comments

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Why is this simple little toy so hard to put down (except, of course, for this picture)?

I am trying to resist the urge to find a way to work this into a sermon sometime.  But wouldn’t it be fun to have a contest to see who can come up with the most creative way to incorporate a slinky into a sermon.

Hmmm….”Stop it Eric”…

…anyway…when I was in seminary, the on-going joke among my group of friends during my senior year was how to compare Jesus to an armadillo at Christmas time(don’t ask me how that started).

So…if you want to submit an idea (about the armadillo or slinky) I would love to read it 🙂

-edh-

SIDE NOTE:  I know these last couple posts have been a little more light-hearted with little depth, but don’t worthy…I will post some depth soon.