Author: The Pastor

The sermon event (with a Prelude and Postlude)

/ The Pastor / 4 Comments

PRELUDE
Have you ever written something; thought it was the best thing since sliced bread and then lost it in the blink of an eye?  Well…that happened to me late this morning.  I was working on this particular post and thought I had something pretty good.  I went to hit save and the next thing I knew I was being transported back the the Typepad home screen faster than a Star Trek beam-out.  And in what seemed like a freak transporter accident, the "molecules" of my brilliantly written post were scattered throughout the vastness of cyberspace.  But before anyone starts getting theological on me and say that this was God's way of saying that I was not suppose to write that post…I had already considered that and discarded that reasoning.  I just haven't figured out what I am chalking this unfortunate incident up to yet.  But I got a feeling it will come back to some message from God.

Now on to something I hope you really like…
The real reason I wanted to offer my not-so-called writing talents was to say something about the sermon event as I see it.

Back in 2006 I started posting my sermons on a separate blog over at Blogger.com.  I thought for some reason that people might enjoy reading these and even enter into a discussion about them.  But a few weeks ago I discontinued this practice.  I did have a few people comment on these sermons, but it was not for the lack of comments that I quit posting them.  I came to the conclusion that I was not being authentic in those sermons.  People were not really getting the sermon that was preached.

For me…the sermon event is more than a bunch of words/notes on a piece of paper.  The sermon event involves (very intimately) the one preaching the sermon; something that is very difficult to see, feel and experience though a bunch of words.  I do not doubt that people get something out of written sermons read after the sermon event.  I have read other people's sermons and have learned a lot about my relationship with Christ.  I have read a number of Luther's sermons and have found them very useful.  But I believe that actually being there; to hear and experience the sermon would produce something different than some printed words ("Faith comes by hearing").

Don't get me wrong…I am not claiming to be some brilliant sermon deliverer.  I am not claiming that people's lives are transformed each and every week because of words that I have written.  But what I am claiming is that in each sermon is a piece of me.  People get to see my faith being worn on my sleeve.  There are times when the written word on my piece of paper is not what is spoken.  There have been times when I felt I did not explain a point well enough so I added more words.  There have been times when the Holy Spirit captured me and totally lead me away from my written words.  More times than not, the words I posted on-line where not the exact same words I preached.

And don't get me wrong in this respect…I am not criticizing those who post sermons on-line.  Like I said, I have read many sermons that I thoroughly enjoyed.  But for me…the sermon event is the main thing.  I don't want Salem members to think they can get the same thing out of the sermon by reading it as opposed to experiencing it.  I want people there…in worship…to experience the power of the Holy Spirit through the SPOKEN word.  Once again…"Faith comes by hearing".  But if people call in a request a copy of one the sermons I preached…I will provide them with one (but maybe I should print the above "disclaimer" on it).

So there you have it…my faith on my sleeve through a bunch of words written on a computer screen.  Seems kind of hypocritical considering what I just wrote.  So…if you want to experience this post in a different way, stop by my office sometime and I just might read this to you.

POSTLUDE
I have determined what I am chalking up my "freak blog post transporter accident" up to.  You see…there is this pesky little button on the bottom of my page…right next the the "SAVE" button that says, "DELETE POST".  Need I say more 🙂

-edh-

Monday morning check-in

/ The Pastor / 2 Comments

Sermon prep-less week

I know "prep-less" is not a word but like I am fond of telling my wife, "If it comes out of my mouth, then it is a word".  That may or may not be a good idea, but I am going to apply that logic here. 

Today begins a sermon prep-less week.  For those of you who are not solo pastors this may not seem like a big deal.  But if you are used to preparing a sermon (nearly) every single week of the year…a week off seems kind of strange.  This weekend is the SW MN Synod Assembly.  It's been called the synod's "business" meeting (I don't like that title).  Others have called this weekend a "forced day off" for pastors (that may be closer to the truth…the "forced" part not the "day off" part).  Whatever the weekend is "officially" called, it is a time for me to re-fuel a little bit.  I enjoy preparing and preaching sermons, but I still need a week off now and then to help me appreciate this craft more.  But even though I am not engaging in my "official" sermon prep routine, I still think I am still going to go to my favorite coffee house on Thursday for lunch (with my laptop) to do some writing.  I guess some habits are just too hard to break.

Prince Caspian

Yesterday the churches in Jackson hosted a day at the movies for people to come and watch The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian.  A number of businesses donated door prizes which we gave away before and after the movie.  After the movie we also had a time for questions and answers. 

Without giving too much of the movie away I thought there was a lot of violence in the movie (epsecially for younger kids).  There was one family that walked out during the movie for that very reason.  Granted…the violence was not as bad as most movies; there was no blood and gore, but a lot of people/characters died.   The first Narina movie did not have this much violence and the books don't have the violence either.  Hollywood definitely took a lot of creative liberties with the movie.  Even though it is rumored that the C.S Lewis family approved how these stories were protrayed, I find it hard to believe C.S. Lewis himself would have approved.  These stories were written as children's stories.  And the last time I checked, "children's stories" generally don't contain that much violence.  But that aside…I still really enjoyed the movie and recommend it.  I just don't recommend it for young children.  Please preview the movie before letting children see it.  And that is all I will say about it.  I don't want to ruin it for anyone.

Training

117 days, 19 hours and 14 minutes (give or take a few minutes, hours or days…depending on when you read this) until the Medtronic Twin Cities marathon.  This past week or so my running has been a little slow.  My right hip has really been hurting me lately, but is feeling better today.  I can still run, but it takes a few miles for my hip to loosen up enough for me to get up to pace.  Maybe this is a sign that I am indeed getting old (but let's not tell my body or my wife…I still plan to run this marathon).

With that I take my leave of you.  Since this is a sermon prep-less week, I am going to take advantage of it and get some things done that I haven't done for a while.  I am also going to try to get outside this afternoon and enjoy this blue sky that I haven't seen for awhile.

So take care and have a very blessed day!

-edh-

Sunday morning prayer – 06/08/08

/ The Pastor / 2 Comments

Thank you for all your prayers this week.  Those big storms the so-called "weather experts" were predicting never happened around here.  The severe weather tracked to the west of us, but even that weather wasn't anything too bad.  I did hear of some farm trees being blown down and that's about it.  Fortunately those Oklahoma storm chasers that traveled to our area didn't have any tornadoes to chase.  Right we are praying for dry weather.  It has been unseasonably wet this spring.  With the wet ground we can't start our ramp construction project here at Salem.

Sermon prep
This I have been captivated by Hosea's words from God that say, "I desire mercy not sacrifice…" (NIV translation…the translation we use in worship), but I like how the NRSV translates this verse, "I desire STEADFAST LOVE, not mercy…".  I like the NRSV because earlier God is saying to the people that their LOVE is like the morning cloud; like the morning dew that quickly disappears.  Connecting these two verses together by using "steadfast love" drives home the point better.  We are good at showing love…at times…when it is convenient.  But God desires STEADFAST love; a love that is never ending.  The Israelites were doing all (or almost all) the "right" things according to the law, but they were not loving their neighbor.  They were more focused on their acts of worship than on people.  I guess we can still relate to that today…can't we?

Let us pray…
God of mercy you have given your one and only Son so we may live.  Help us to show that mercy to others so people may come to know you.  And help us to daily learn what this means, "I desire steadfast love, not sacrifice…".  Amen.

Praise be to God always and forever!

-edh-

Not so concerned…

/ The Pastor / 4 Comments

…I know, I know…the night is still young, but it seems that the serious stuff is done. But I also know that some of the worst storms have come during the night hours. So I will keep praying…and thanking God for getting us through the afternoon. God is indeed awesome…there is no question. I just don’t want to let my guard down and start relying on my own power; thinking that I don’t need God.

“God…help me not to grow complacent. I don’t want this lull to be an excuse for me to turn away from you; to stop relying on you. I need you through the storms and the calm. In Christ’s name I pray, AMEN!”

-edh-

Getting a little concerned — UPDATE

/ The Pastor

As of 2:45pm, the severe weather as drifted just to the west of Jackson, but my wife is in the midst of the storms up where she works in the Windom area.  So far things are going alright, but we still have a long night ahead of us.  Thank you all for your prayers.

-edh-

Getting a little concerned

/ The Pastor / 2 Comments

For the past few days, the "weather experts" have been forecasting severe weather to hit SW MN today; into tonight and tomorrow morning.  Normally I get excited about thunderstorms but I am not excited today.  I am actually getting a little concerned.  My wife called me from work this morning and said that in Lakefield, MN (10 miles NW of Jackson) there are a number of storm chasers from Oklahoma waiting for the tornado outbreak that is expected to hit our area.  These people are the serious chasers, so when they come to your area, it means they expect something big.

The logical and faithful thing to do is pray for God's protection as these storms develop and rumble ever closer.  But yet I find myself thinking of the worst.  I am worried about my wife who is in Windom (20 miles away).  I am worried about my friends and parishioners (Jenna and her dad are traveling to Sioux Falls today).  I am worried about our house and all the stuff we have.  I am worried about the church building (if anything, I hope the sanctuary ramp is destroyed but the building spared.  The ramp is coming out anyway).  Basically…I am worried.  Please pray for all those in the path of these storms. 

I know we have an almighty God who is in control.  I know we have a loving God who wants nothing but the best for us.  I know we have a God who will never leave us.  And even though I am worried about what the day may bring; whether it is a devastating tornado or minor storm damage, I know God will be with us through it all.  But I still cannot help but be a little concerned.  "Oh God…I believe, help my unbelief."

-edh-

Loon Cam

/ The Pastor / 1 Comment

Check out this website my mom just told me about.  It's the Minnesota Bound (www.mnbound.com) site.  When you get there click on "Live Loon Cam" link and enjoy.  For some reason I have been fascinated with watching this mother loon sit on a nest (of course I am doing some work in the mean time).  But I wonder, though, if my fascination comes from my discombobulation.  Or…maybe…I am just feeling a little loony right now.  In any case…enjoy.

-edh-

Monday morning check in – “Eric in a fog”

/ The Pastor / 1 Comment

Sorry to those who stopped by yesterday for the Sunday morning prayer and found none.  I was running a little behind yesterday morning.  Actually I felt a little discombobulated (Wow…I can't believe I actually used that word.  Pretty cool).  Anyway…an hour before I was to leave for Belmont to lead worship I was in the Salem sanctuary to practice my sermon one last time.  As I was running through the sermon I came to a realization:  "This sermon is crap."  So I changed it (I am still not sure if that was a good idea or not), but I think that is what started me down the road to discombobluation. 

Worship at Belmont went fine, but I still found myself feeling my way through the sermon; a little unsure of it.  During worship at Salem things did not get better for me.  I was leading the congregation in the Nicene Creed and about half way through I caught myself thinking ahead about what was coming up next in worship (communion).  That right there was a mistake because as the congregation continued with the NICENE Creed I started into the APOSTLE'S Creed around the third article.  Of course people were slightly confused but luckily I caught myself after "…the Holy catholic church…".  But before that, though, I got confused as I was standing up front during the last few words of the hymn of the day.  "What's next?" I pondered.  There was an awkward pause for a couple seconds until I realized I should be facing the congregation and not the altar to lead them in the Nicene Creed.  I have no clue where my head was.  Right now I am chalking it up to the fact that I am still getting used to the ELW.  Yea…that's sounds good :)  But hopefully I am not the only one who has have ever gotten confused while leading worship.  Please share a funny story of your own about worship confusion so I don't feel alone.

So with that I am going to end this post to make sure I am out of my fog.  At least I don't have anything too major on my calendar today.  But then again, maybe I do.  Hmmm…

-edh-

The coffee shop and the Gospel

/ The Pastor / 5 Comments

The coffee shop feels a little more crowded and busy today…more so than last week when I dined here.  Maybe there is more gossip to chew on.  Maybe it is because summer has unofficially begun and more people are around.  Maybe, just maybe, word has gotten out that I dine here on Thursdays to be among the “congregation”.  LOL (laugh out loud)…Surely I jest.

 

Once again I am at Coffee Choices; among the “congregation”, trying to hear, listen and respond to a Word from God.  I am trying to be careful to not think that this is a magical place where God’s Word is transmitted more powerfully than other places.  After all…this is only a coffee shop.  But then I am reminded of a bumper sticker I have seen on some blogs I read that says, “I drink coffee so I can do dumb things faster” or hear the gospel faster perhaps.  LOL!  Maybe I am more “amped up” on caffeine here and thus feel more energetic and alive.  Hmmm….  

 

(Excuse me…my hands are starting to shake.  Maybe I should stop at six cups of coffee.)

 

Anyway…this week I am being lead into Paul’s letter to the Romans where Paul boldly proclaims, for I am not ashamed of the gospel; it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes… 

 

(I wonder what Paul would have been like on six cups of coffee.  Hmmm…)

 

Paul’s bold proclamation is received by a group of people with plenty to fear (and maybe to be ashamed of).  Christians feared for their lives.  They had to be secretive.  There was no public worship.  And among this environment Paul reminds the people that even though the powers that be may take his life, he has a greater power with him…the POWER OF GOD.  This same power he enjoyed in his life was also theirs and it is also ours.  And because of this power there is no need to be ashamed.

 

But now, as I hear the murmur of voices all around me, I wonder what is stopping me from speaking a Word to the people here and now.  I wonder how people would respond if I gave a loud whistle and asked if I could pray with them; read from scripture; or lead a biblical discussion.  I wonder what is stopping me.  Am I ashamed?  I don’t think that is the right word.  Maybe it is…but I don’t think so.  And even though I amped up on six cups of coffee, my fast moving brain has no answers.  So I pause and ponder…and I still have no answers.

 

(Wow…I can’t believe I just turned down another cup of coffee.)

 

Well…my coffee shop time is coming to a close.  It’s like that zone that one gets into (where everything around seems to disappear and quiet a couple decibels) and then all of a sudden you drop out of it; like the Enterprise dropping out of warp.  Then you realize all that you have gotten done and say “Wow!”  Now I feel much more aware of what is going on around me; as if the voices have gotten louder.  I feel myself “creeping along” now so I guess I should move on.  I guess should move on before I am tempted to drink cup-of-coffee number 7.

 

But as I creep along, I am still pondering coffee shops and the gospel…

 

-edh-