Author: The Pastor

Sunday morning prayer – 02/10/08

/ The Pastor

Grandma update:  She is STILL hanging in there.  Mom tells me grandma is getting weaker and weaker and thinner and thinner all the time.  Everyone is blown away by her resiliency.  As for the misunderstandings that were going on in the family a little while ago, about the nature of hospice care, things seem to have been cleared up.  Talking and open conversation has prevailed.  Praise the Lord for answering that prayer and for bringing us closer together!

Evangelism blog:  I know I have not done much with this in the past week or so (maybe starting a new blog right before Lent was not such a good idea).  But I do plan to post something early next week.  I still desire to continue our conversation about evangelism; discussing, encouraging and searching for better ways to proclaim this awesome message of God’s love.  I have so many things running around in my head right now…I just need to "catch them" and put them in print.

Deep freeze:  It’s -11 degrees F right now (wind chill is much colder).  Need I say more.

Prayer: As we begin our days (in whatever way that looks like), lets join together in a word of prayer…

Loving and merciful Father, we enter this Lenten season with heavy hearts as we ponder and reflect on our sinfulness and mortality.  We know that we have let you down.  We have not lived up to your expectations.  We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.  But gracious God we ask that you would hear our cries and soften our hearts so we can see and begin to understand our rebelliousness.  We want to serve you.  We want to please you.  Dear God…grant us healing, grant us understanding, grant us discipline so we can better serve you and others.  And God…thank you for sending your Son so we may live.  In Christ’s name we pray, Amen.

God bless your day and take care!
-edh-

Sermon delivery

/ The Pastor / 10 Comments

This Sunday (for the second Sunday in a row) I am using a preaching-from-notes style instead of the full manuscript style.  Part of me feels a little guilty – that I am not spending enough time in sermon prep.  But another part of me feels a little more free – more free to allow the Spirit to guide me when I preach the sermon.  I think I am still doing the same amount of sermon prep but the actual preparation is different.  Maybe that is what is causing me to feel this way.

Then there is another part of me that feels a little guilty that I am not producing a manuscript for people to take home or a manuscript for my sermons blog.  But then there is still another part of me that says the sermon is an event, not something tangible that you can hold in your hands.  The sermon is something that happens on Sunday that (hopefully) causes a change in people’s hearts that in turns helps them live the Gospel for others in their daily lives.

With all these "parts of me" it is a wonder I get anything done.  Can anyone out there relate to this?  What are your feelings on the "sermon event"?  Am I silly for feeling guilty?

Right now the feeling of freedom is overriding my feeling of guilt.  I think it is because I am looking more forward to preaching this sermon because of that freedom.  I am not being "tied" to some pre-written words on a piece of paper. 

I don’t know…does this make any sense?

-edh-

Evangelical Lutheran Worship

/ The Pastor / 9 Comments

I have a question to throw out into the blogosphere…

…At our annual meeting a couple weeks ago Salem approved the purchase of the new Evangelical Lutheran Worship (ELW) hymnals.  Along with that (of course) are a number of other worship resources (such as a guitar version that I found).  My question for anyone who reads this is post is this:  If you are using the ELW, how did you go about dedicating them?  Even if you are not using them, do you have any thoughts or suggestions for me?  My worship/Music team and I are beginning to brainstorm some ideas along with seeking some input from people/congregations that are currently using the ELW.  Right now we are planning on dedicating the ELWs sometime in April.

Some of you have already left comments on things you are doing to INTRODUCE the ELWs to your congregation…for that I say thank you.  I have printed those comments off for my Worship/Music team to consider.  But if you have any other thoughts on INTRODUCING the ELW, I am ready and willing to listen.

I know this will be a big transition for Salem, but from comments I have been hearing, people are more than ready.  My only prayer is for those who are silently upset about the move.  I pray that they can find it in themselves to voice their concerns to the Worship/Music team, the council or to me so we can have a fruitful and healthy dialog.  As I said last week in worship…"Worship is not contained to a place, date, book or style.  Worship is what we bring…giving thanks and praise to God."

So with that…I am preparing to hit the "place order" button…Here we go…

Take care and God bless!
-edh-

What are you giving up for Lent?

/ The Pastor / 6 Comments

Ash Wednesday is upon us…and with that we have Lent…and with THAT we have the "big question" – "What are you giving up for Lent?"  I know that there isn’t anything really biblical about that tradition, but it is something that I have done in the recent past.  I do it because it reminds me of the great and awesome sacrifice that Jesus made for us…a sacrifice that cost him his life and gave us eternal life.  I do know that if I do not give up something God will still love me; that I won’t be censured by the church and that people will not look down on me.  If I choose to give up something for Lent, it will be my choice.

Last night my wife and I were talking about this when she started pondering what she was going to give up.  Last year she gave up ice cream (something she loves dearly) but she said that was too hard so she won’t do that again.  Then she said, "I did think about chocolate, but there are too many things I really enjoy that have chocolate like my morning mochas and ice cream…so maybe I won’t do that."  Then I said, "Giving up something for Lent is not suppose to be easy.  If it is not a sacrifice for you then what’s the point."  That statement pretty much ended our conversation.  So I am not sure where we are at with this whole giving up something thing.

How about you?  What do you do?  Do you give up something for Lent or do you think it is just some silly tradition people hold?  I do think there is some value in it if it is done for the right reason.  If you are giving snacks thinking that will help you lose weight, then maybe that motivation is not pure.  If you are giving up TV because you think you watch too much then maybe that is not good either.  Then again, maybe I am completely off base.  If so…what is the point of giving something up for Lent?  Does Jesus really need it?  Do we really need it?

When I think more about this…about really taking this seriously and giving something up that I really, really enjoy I wonder what it would be like to give up…say…coffee.  I drink a few cups a coffee a day – some in the morning and then the afternoon.  I don’t know…40 days without coffee might drive me insane, but then again, if Jesus gave in to temptation and came down from the cross or avoided it all together, then we would all be damned.  Hmmm…

What do you think?

-edh-

It’s that number again

/ The Pastor / 3 Comments

It happened again…

…at my favorite coffee place (which is in downtown Jackson). 

I am at Coffee Choices most days and every once in a while (like today) I have lunch there.  And on more than one occasion, when I have gone to Coffee Choices, the total that appears on the cash register is $6.66…"scary".  The owners, when they see that, always give me a wry laugh and immediately take one cent off my total.

[Mental note:  A turkey wrap and travel mug of coffee is "evil" :)]

O.K…maybe nothing bad has ever happened by me receiving "that number" time and again, but at least I save myself one cent every now and then.  So that means after another few hundred more cases of being "cursed" with the mark of the beast I will have saved up enough money for a free coffee.  What a deal 🙂

[Mental note:  Consider cutting back on the caffeine]

-edh-

Monday morning check in – 02/04/08

/ The Pastor / 3 Comments

Grandma
She is still hanging in there.  I am blown away each and every day that I do not receive "the phone call".  Grandma’s organs are shutting down/failing and she’s not eating or drinking much, yet she hangs on.  God indeed must have some more work for her to do.  I continue to pray for peace for my grandma and for my family.

The "Big Game"
Apparently there are some copyright laws about using the words "Super Bowl" (I am pretty sure I am not violating any here, but why take the chance).  Apparently the NFL does not make enough money off the "Big Game" so they have to insist that bars and restaurants (and churches) not show the "Big Game" on TVs larger than 55 inches diagonally.  Maybe we should all take a special offering to help support the work of the NFL since they are in such dire straits. (Did I get a little too feisty there?)

The "Big Game"…continued…
But I did watch the game and even hosted a modest "Big Game" party for a few friends.  As much as I enjoy watching football (and playing fantasy football), I am glad the "Big Game" is done.  I got tired of hearing about New England’s pursuit of perfection (as if they would have been "perfect" if they won the "Big Game").  "Perfection" is such a hard work to use in reference to any human achievement.  God is perfect…not creation…and definitely not any sports team no matter the record.

Snow
We are currently getting a blast of winter weather.  I went to the gym at 5:45 this morning and when I came out at 6:45am there was about 1/2 inch on the ground.  Now we have a couple inches, but the snow is beginning to taper off.  Apparently the BIG winter storm is fizzling out.  Imagine that.

Mini sermon of the week
"The Holy Scriptures are our letters from home" -St. Augustine-

God bless your day!
-edh-

Sunday morning prayer – 02/03/08

/ The Pastor / 1 Comment

Happy belated Groundhog’s Day…with 6 more weeks of winter to look forward to.  But seriously…does this really matter to anyone living in the upper Midwest.  Come February 2, there is always at least 6 more weeks of winter left.  Actually, I am thrilled that that little rodent thinks our winter will be a little shorter.  A Minnesota winter ending in March…most people will definitely take that.

Anyway…Happy Transfiguration Sunday…and in a couple days it will be "Happy Ash Wednesday" which is also "Happy Lent".  Wait a second…that doesn’t quite sound right…"Happy Lent".  Oh well…you get my meaning.

Lent is right around the corner…a period of time (before Easter) where we focus and contemplate our sinfulness and mortality.  We begin with Ash Wednesday where (in many traditions) ashes are placed on people’s foreheads (in the sign of a cross) as a remembrance of our mortality.  We confess our sins but no absolution is announced until Maundy Thursday as a way to contemplate our sinfulness.  But Transfiguration Sunday is that glory-revealing event that we carry with us through Lent as another reminded that even though (and despite that fact) that we are sinful and that we will all die and rot in the ground, our future reality is a transfiguration of sorts.  Because of the glory-revealing event of the cross and the resurrection, we too will be raised in power and glory.  What an awesome thing to hold on to.  So as we prepare to begin our Lenten journey, don’t forget the many facets of who you are and the ultimate promise we have through the cross.  So as I said before, "Happy Transfiguration Sunday"!!!

Let us pray…
Awe inspiring God, at the transfiguration of your Son, Jesus Christ, you revealed to the first disciples (and ultimately to us) the magnificence of your glory.  Grant us the foresight to see those who desperately need to hear this Good News and grants us the words to proclaim this News with power and authority.  But before we can do that, give us ears to hear your message and the heart to truly LISTEN.  For your words are indeed words of eternal life.  To you all praise, honor and glory belong…in Christ’s name we pray, Amen.

God bless you and have a safe Transfiguration/Super Bowl Sunday!

-edh-

NEW Evangelism blog

/ The Pastor / 3 Comments

On Monday I traveled to Shalom Hill Farm (just outside of Windom, MN) for the First Call Theological Retreat.  First Call Theological education is something that all first call pastors (and other rostered leaders) in SW MN (and other area synods as well) are required to participate in for the first three years of their ministry.  Among the various components, an annual theological retreat is held.  I finished my first call requirements this past year so in a way I am "off probation" 🙂

But this year I was back…and this time in a teaching capacity.  With the various evangelism training I have had combined with my passion for evangelism, my bishop asked me to lead a presentation at this event.  I was honored to be asked and joyfully accepted the invitation.  But I was still a little nervous.  I have never really taught a class for a group of pastors before.  I DID lead a workshop at our synod assembly last year on evangelism and blogging, but somehow that felt different.

So I gathered my resources and tried to piece together what I would talk about.  There is so much one COULD talk about that trying to narrow things down to a 1 1/2 hour presentation was not easy.  My only fear was that I would get so excited that I would begin talking to fast and thus mumble and jumble words and phrases together (that is the main reason I need a manuscript when I preach…to slow me down).  But I did it and had a great time.  Afterward I had some great conversations with people one on one about evangelism and even more during supper.  Now the next question is this:  What is next?

I am working on something for here at Salem that I hope will be the beginning of a culture change here.  I am not sure if it will work or if I will even see the fruits during my time here, but I am going to give it a whirl (I will talk more about this in an up coming post).  So in the mean time I am going to spend some time writing about evangelism and I invite your thoughts and comments.  And I think the best way to do this is on another blog that is specifically designed for that purpose.  So I have created an evangelism blog called The Heart of Evangelism where we can have some discussion about evangelism, share ideas, resources, strategies and the like along with support for one another.

So there you have it.  We will see if this takes off or not.  Whether it does or not, it won’t curb my passion for encouraging people to be who we were created to be.  After all, if the church is not about evangelism, then we are nothing more than a social club with special tax exempt status. Let’s reclaim the very thing we should not have to re-claim.

[And…as always…this new blog will be done all for the glory of God…because without God, what’s the point?]

Take care and God bless!
-edh-

Monday morning check in

/ The Pastor / 6 Comments

Annual meeting:  Yesterday (Jan. 27) Salem held it’s annual meeting.  Normally our meetings are pretty quick(20 minutes tops)…with very little on the agenda, but this year was different.  Agenda items included: (1) Consider to approve purchase of new ELWs; (2) Budget (of course); (3) Consider to approve bid for new ramp that leads to the sanctuary; (4) Discussion of moving to twice a month communion; among some other items on the agenda.  I looked back in my worship attendance records and normally we average 75 on annual meeting Sunday…yesterday we had 92.  Considering the agenda items I am not surprised.

But everything went great…there was great discussion, excellent questions, and concerns were voiced.  In the end, the congregation approved the purchase of the new ELW (Evangelical Lutheran Worship – the new hymnals recently released) and there was basically no concerns about moving to twice a month communion.  The bid for the ramp had some discussion but, once again, in the end the bid was approved.  I was very impressed with our congregational president and the discussion that took place.  I hope and pray people felt that their voice was heard.

Now the tough work begins…implementing the new hymnals and our major building project this spring or summer.

Evangelism class:  Today is going to be a day of preparation for an evangelism class I am teaching.  The class is at the First Call Theological Retreat at Shalom Hill Farm near Windom, MN.  This will be the first time I have lead a class like this for a bunch of pastors (first call) and it is a little unnerving, but exciting at the same time.  My class starts at 4pm so please say a little prayer for me as I teach. 

"Winter break":  We are currently receiving a "winter break".  The temperatures are expected to rise into the 40s before taking a nose dive Tuesday night.  By Wednesday morning it is expected to be -14 degrees with a wind chill around -40.  Almost an 80 degree differential…you got to love Minnesota.

I guess the lesson to be learned here is to take advantage of every moment, because you never know when you will get another one (or at least a warm one).  Was that too deep for a Monday? 🙂

Have a super start to your week and God bless!

-edh-

Sunday morning prayer – 01/27/08

/ The Pastor / 2 Comments

Grandma update:  Grandma is still hanging in there.  She is getting weaker and weaker by the day and spends more and more time sleeping.  When she is awake, she just stares blankly at you.  She is basically eating nothing at all and drinking less and less water.  Combine this with the fact that her kidneys continue to fail I can’t believe it has gone on this long.  But I know that grandma is not suffering.  There are those in my family that think we are starving grandma to death.  I pray that they come to understand and that this does not cause a rift in the family.  These are not the memories I want to have of grandma’s death (fighting and hard feelings).  I pray grandma is at peace, that I (and the family) may see God’s will in all of this and that God takes her home soon (of course, GOD’S will be done).  Thank you again for your prayers.

Chilly run update:  Yesterday (Saturday Jan. 26) I ran the Okoboji Winter Games 5K run.  It was my first race in nearly three years.  I have been training for a marathon so I am used to marathon pace, not 5K pace (which is faster…obviously).  With all of this I did not expect to do too well.  Well…I did SURPRISINGLY well.  I finished with a time of 22 minutes and 40 seconds.  Out of 56 runners I finished in the top 15 and won my age group (only 5 runners) – thus receiving a medal…Whoo Hoo!  Needless to say I was (and am) very happy.  But I still have a lot more work to do.

Prayer:  Today is 3 Epiphany in the grand ole lectionary calendar and the Gospel text is from Matthew 4:12-25 (the beginning of Jesus’ ministry and the calling of the first disciples).  The sermon focus today will be on trust.  When Jesus calls us to follow him our response is nothing more than radical trust to drop our "old life" to follow Jesus (the giver of "New Life").  But trust is a tricky thing and something we, as sinful people, are sometimes hesitant to give out.  But in the end, if we can not trust Jesus, then who can we trust?  Let us pray…

Radical God, your love and mercy is so reckless, wild and free.  And maybe that explains why we are so often tentative when you say to us, "Come, follow me!". Give us courage to go where you go and to follow you with reckless abandon.  You did not call us to be spectators but you called us to be life savers.  Faithful God, kick us in the butt that we may leave our comfort zones and go where we never thought we would – leaving all that encumbers us on the shore.  We pray this in your most holy name, Amen!

Take care and God bless!

-edh-