Author: The Pastor

Baccalaureate worship thoughts

/ The Pastor

This is my last post dealing with baccalaureate (at least until next year).  But I do want to offer a few final thoughts.  If you want you can check out the sermon I preached on my sermon blog (the link is also on my blog roll).

I was not sure how many people to expect but was pleasantly surprised when more than 75% of the seniors were there.  The total number of people was about 350+.  It was the largest crowd that I have ever preached for.  That realization alone made my heart beat a little faster.  I am not sure why.  I wasn’t nervous.  I think I was mostly excited to deliver a message to these seniors that I felt they needed to hear.

During the service, two of the seniors gave their faith story.  Both of them did a fantastic job.  I began to wonder if I even needed to get up and preach.  As the song before the sermon began, my heart rate started to speed up and I began to wish I had brought my water bottle with me – my mouth was completely dry.  I tried to calm myself down through prayer – trying to convince myself that this was not about me.  My heart rate did slow down but my mouth was still dry.  I was frustrated because I hadn’t felt this way since internship.

I started to preached and found myself fumbling around at first, but as I got into the second and third paragraph I started to clam down even more and things started to flow better (my mouth was still extremely dry).  Afterward a number of people came up to me to thank me for the message.  Even  couple seniors thanked me.  I am so uncomfortable about receiving compliments about sermons I preach because they are not from me.  But I responded graciously and silently gave credit to God (I should have been more vocal about that).

All in all it was a fun experience.  I feel the message that God wanted delivered was delivered.  Will the sermon have any impact on these seniors as they go into the great unknown?  Only God knows and that is whose hands I will leave it. 

Thank you for allowing me to debrief.  Take care and God bless.
-edh-

Baccalaureate

/ The Pastor

Baccalaureate went great last night.  We had a big crowd with around 350 people.  The Senior class here in Jackson is 119.  Most of the class was in attendance.  I am planning on posting a copy of the sermon I preached but I need to leave soon for an out of town meeting.  Be looking at be sermons blog (www.sermonsbyeric.blogspot.com) tomorrow for this sermon.

Have a wonderful and most glorious day.  Take care.
-edh-

Fun discoveries

/ The Pastor

Fun web site discovery
Someone left this web site address on my wife’s desk yesterday:  www.jcplayzone.com (I have linked this on the left hand side of my page under my favorite web sites). This web site is designed for children and it’s filled with fun games, crafts, printable coloring pages, recipes, and more.  With all the crap that kids can come across on the Internet it is refreshing to see places where kids can play (and learn) safely.  Check this site out and share it with your kids.  I plan to publish this web site in my bulletin on Sunday.

Fun baccalaureate sermon discovery
I have said this before and I will say it again.  I am always amazed with the whole sermon prep process.  I try to begin the process without an agenda.  If I am faithful to keeping preconceived notions at "home" then something amazing happens in the end — a sermon — a message for God’s people.  God is faithful.  And because of God’s relentless faithfulness, I feel guilty every time I enter the sermon prep process with worries – wondering and fretting over what I will preach (silly boy, it’s not you preaching but God through you).  One of these days I will get that through my thick skull (and heart).

With that being said, the baccalaureate sermon I was asked to give is basically done.  I have some fine tuning to do yet today, but it is done.  My plan is to talk to the seniors about "Living water".  In college (or where ever they are going) they are presented with so many sources of so-called "living water".  These kids are searching for meaning and purpose and often times willing to try anything.  My point to the seniors tonight is to not forget who you are or whose you are through baptism.  Your meaning and purpose in life has been given to you in Jesus Christ — the only "Living water" you will ever need.  Who knows if they will listen to me, but you got to believe someone will…right?

(Maybe not so) fun meal planning discovery
Before you go off and eat something from the frig, make sure your wife (or husband) wasn’t planning on having that later.  For lunch yesterday I had a cheese ravioli Lean Cuisine.  This morning my wife calls me at work and says, "Where’s my cheese ravioli!?!"  I knew right then and there I was in trouble.  Apparently part of my wife’s meal planning for the week included her having that ravioli for lunch today at work.  I guess I missed that memo and I got a feeling my wife will make sure I see that memo in the future.

God bless you as you make fun discoveries of God’s love and faithfulness and remember to "drink in", "bath", "bask" and enjoy the "Living water" of Jesus Christ.  You just can’t go wrong with that.  Amen. -edh-

P.S. And don’t eat your wife’s lunch.

Reprise — Now THAT was a sabbath day

/ The Pastor / 2 Comments

The Gospel was preached; forgiveness was announced and mothers were celebrated — Now THAT was a sabbath day.  I just hope others look back on Sunday and say the same thing; not because I preached such a great sermon (only God knows whether I did or not) — but because forgiveness through Jesus Christ was announced to everyone.  The reality of the situation is that probably no one remembers or cares (I wish I could be more optimistic) — or maybe the Holy Spirit did do something in someone’s heart.  Either way, I am looking back and saying, "Now THAT was a sabbath day!!!"

Now I am facing an even more daunting task this week.  On Wednesday May 16 the baccalaureate service is being held and I am preaching.  I have never preached at baccalaureate before.  Actually…I haven’t attended baccalaureate since I was a senior in high school (and that was a long, long time ago).  The scripture texts I choose are:  Isaiah 55, Psalm 23, and John 4:7-14.  They all have the theme of Living Water.  I felt drawn to these but now I am pondering and praying about how to preach these to a bunch of high school seniors and families.  I am looking forward to the opportunity and am extremely honored to be asked, but I find myself at a loss right now.  I know that I have a couple days to prepare, but there is this pressure to really do well.  People who have never heard me preach before will be listening me.  I want to impress people.  I want people to say, "Now that pastor at Salem is really on the ball." <pause> What is wrong with me?

Yes…I am being selfish and sinful here.  Preaching is not about me.  Preaching is about the Good News — it is about Jesus Christ.  So for me to worry about this service is crazy and foolish.  I have been preaching for over three years and I should know better.

So I need to get over myself and preach the Good News.  To heck with what people will think of me.  I want people to hear and listen to the Gospel.  Maybe I am taking my first steps this week in preparing for this sermon.  But I would like to hear your thoughts.  Has anyone out there ever preached for baccalaureate?  Any advise for me as I prepare?  Any insights about the given texts for these seniors (I know preaching is contextual, but seniors across our land do have things in common)?  Any thoughts would be appreciated.

So on Wednesday of this week at baccalaureate, the Gospel will be preached and forgiveness will be announced (despite my sinfulness).  And with any luck (actually it won’t be "luck") people on Wednesday will look back on baccalaureate and say, "Now THAT was a day". -edh-

Friday morning stuff

/ The Pastor

Well…it is another beautiful day in SW MN.  The sun is out and it is warming up.  My lawn is looking great except for the backyard where I have a downed tree courtesy of a wind storm last week.  Hopefully I will have time on Saturday to clean that mess up so I can mow that section of the yard.  As for the rest of the yard, it has been fertilized and watered.  I only have to wait a couple weeks and then hit it with some weed killer.  I have noticed a couple dandelions and I will not let them get a hold of my yard.  I was talking to a parishioner of mine yesterday and we were talking about the nice day we were having.  She mentioned that I should get out of the office and mow or something.  I mentioned I did that already this week plus I fertilized the lawn.  Then she said, "Oh that’s right, your wife said that you are a freak about the lawn."  I said,"She actually called me a freak?".  My parishioner said, "No, I am just being nice."  I guess I need to talk to my wife now 🙂

Today my wife and I are going to Sioux Falls to get her Jeep fixed.  We are also going to have lunch with her grandparents and probably supper with her parents.  This all means that we have to leave in less than an hour and here I am typing this blog post and I have to shower yet.  You tell how excited I am to get going 🙂

God bless you day and everyday.  Take care. -edh-

Psalm “3”

/ The Pastor

This is a psalm I wrote yesterday afternoon.  I am teaching a Psalms class and trying to encourage my students to write their own psalm.  It’s due on May 30 so we’ll see if they actually do it.  This psalm is the third one I have written.  The first one was in seminary for a Psalms class I took – that was a lament psalm.  My second one was a praise psalm written a couple weeks ago.  This psalm was written as a reflection of my alone time outside at 6am yesterday morning (actually I was fertilizing my lawn – it’s amazing when, where and how inspiration can come).  So here you go…I hope you enjoy this.

Psalm "3"
God, you are an awesome God.
     Your wonders never cease.

You give life to the lifeless,
     you bring color to that which was once brown.
I lay down at night unexpecting,
     but wake up in the morning surprised.
You sprinkle creation with nourishment,
     nourishment that seems to come from no where.
Creation drinks in your wonderful gift,
     it cannot get enough.

Hours pass by and your mercies never cease.
     Signs of your faithfulness still surround me.
I gaze upon your creation and I am overwhelmed.
     I can hardly take in the love that I see.
The grass is as alive as a young child,
     a child in a candy store.
The trees reach for you as an infant,
     an infant reaching for her mother’s touch.

O God, your morning gift has been well received,
     and I thank you, but even my thanks seems so small.

O God, you are an awesome God.
     Your mercies never cease.

I realize that the Psalms are songs that were sung first and then written down, so I am doing things a little backwards.  But they did come from the life experiences of the people.  I am not sure what got into me because I don’t normally write things like this, but it was kind of fun.  And I may do it again sometime.

"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.  His love endures forever." (Psalm 136:1)

-edh-

Now THAT day was a sabbath

/ The Pastor / 4 Comments

Check out the following cartoon I found (I couldn’t help help but to laugh):

(Copyright Gospel Communications International, Inc – www.reverendfun.com)

Healing_lepers_2

The Gospel text from John 5:1-9 ends in a way that makes me smile.  Jesus is talking to a crippled man by a healing pool outside the city gate and asks a very usual question, "Do you want to be made well?"  I mean, seriously, want kind of question is that.  But the guy’s answer is just as curious.  He doesn’t come out and say, "Yes, of course I do".  The crippled man goes into an explanation of why he has not managed to get himself healed.  Basically, a long way to say , "Yes".  After the man’s needless explanation, Jesus says, "Stand up, take your mat and walk"  The man got up and walked away.  Then the Gospel writer says (emphasis mine) "Now THAT day was a Sabbath."  And let me tell you…THAT was a sabbath day.  It was a sabbath day like nothing anyone had ever seen before.  What a sabbath day.

I wonder what the church would be like if people today said something like that.  I am not expecting people to say, "Whew…what a sabbath day…that sermon was something else, wasn’t it?"  I am sure this is a fantasy for nearly every pastor.  But what I am talking about is people saying, "Whew…what a sabbath day…my sins are forgiven.  Can you believe that?"  People just don’t seem to care about forgiveness.  Maybe it is my vantage point that is skewing my vision, but people today seem to take forgiveness for granted.  What can we as preachers do about that?

Imagine being at that pool outside the city gate the day Jesus showed up.  As you watch the scene you notice Jesus talking to a man who has been crippled for 38 years.  You can’t hear the conversation but the next thing you notice — the man is walking.  Wouldn’t that get your attention?  If you were the one healed, wouldn’t you say "Now let me tell you, THAT was a sabbath day"? 

God’s forgiveness of our sins through Jesus Christ is amazing.  We are totally unworthy of God’s forgiveness yet Jesus says to us, "Stand up, take your mat and go home."  My friends THAT is amazing.  After you leave worship next time, think back.  Think about your sinfulness.  Think about the fact that you are unworthy.  Think about the fact that on our own we are lost and hopeless.  Then remember the words of the worship leader speaking on behalf of Christ, "Your sins are forgiven".  I don’t know about you, but THAT is something.  Praise God always and forever.  Amen! -edh-

A Prayer of Martin Luther

/ The Pastor / 3 Comments

"Behold, Lord, an empty vessel that needs to be filled.  My Lord,fill it.  I am weak in the faith; strengthen me.  I am cold in love; warm me and make me fervent, that my love may go out to my neighbor.  I do not have a strong and firm faith; at times I doubt and I am unable to trust you altogether.  O Lord, help me.  Strengthen my faith and trust in you.  In you I have sealed the treasure of all I have.  I am poor; you are rich and came to be merciful to the poor.  I am a sinner; you are upright.  With me, there is an abundance of sin; in you is the fullness of righteousness.  Therefore I will remain with you, of whom I can receive, but to whom I may not give. Amen" (ELW – pg. 87)

I stumbled across this prayer as I was paging through a copy of the ELW (Evangelical Lutheran Worship).  We are in the process of exploring this new worship resource.  I am not sure why I was paging through the prayers at 7:30 on this Sunday morning, but I was.  As my eyes glossed over the various prayers, my eyes stopped at this prayer.  My eyes did not stop because I saw it was by Martin Luther (maybe that caught my attention) but what held me was the opening sentence –"Behold, Lord, an empty vessel that needs to be filled." 

I am always amazed at the humility of Luther.  He never thought himself worthy of the calling to preach, teach or lead worship.  And as he says in his sacristy prayer – one I use every time I prepare to preach, teach or lead worship – "if it were left up to me, I would surely bring it all to ruin."  And even more than that, Luther never felt himself worthy to call himself a Christian.  I can definitely relate to that – not his humility, but not feeling worthy to be called a Christian.  I sometimes feel weak in faith and cold in love.  I need God to strengthen me and warm me with his love.  I need God to speak to me.

Then this morning a 3 year old showed me love that energized me for worship.  As I was greeting people before worship, a 3 year old from my congregation came running out of the sanctuary to show me her Scooby Doo fruit snacks.  I bent over to speak to her face to face and showed her my genuine excitement because I love Scooby Doo fruit snacks — something I told her.  She immediately ran back into the sanctuary.  A couple minutes late she came running back out and handed me a pack of fruit snacks.  I looked up and her mom smiled at me in approval.  My heart was filled with love by a tiny act of love by a 3 year old little girl who hides behind mom’s leg when I come to greet her.  Who knew a 3 year old and Scooby Doo could prepare me for worship.

"Thank you God for warming my heart with love, for filling this ’empty vessel’ and for strengthening my faith through a simple act by a 3 year old"

When we need it, God provides.  I am indeed not worthy to be a pastor in his church, but God empowers me to lead his people through the Holy Spirit.  Thank you, God and Amen. -edh-

Thursday morning tid bits with a dose of Love

/ The Pastor / 3 Comments

National Day of Prayer

Today is the National Day of Prayer.  A colleague of mine and I lead the prayer service at the Elementary School next door.  The four schools in the Jackson Country Central school district all had short prayer services around their flag poles (of course not sponsored by them but by the Kiwanis group and the ministerial).  The event took place before school so the students could attend along with the community.  The only group of people that COULD NOT attend were the teachers.  They are on "contract time" so they could not participate in praying for our nation, community, our leaders and for our schools. I understand this whole separation of church and state thing — I understand but don’t like it — but come on, 10 measly minutes.  School is not even in session at 8am.  Next year I will talk to the Kiwanis group about starting this event earlier to allow teachers to participate and pray with the community. 

Car seat mania

Confused?  Check out this out:

100_1358

This picture represents 67 children who are now riding in safe car seats thanks to my loving and caring wife.  She works for community health and one of her passions is car seats.  My wife is a state certified car seat technician.  Most of these car seats came from two drive through car seat clinics she organized.  Last weekend Connie and her crew checked 51 vehicles and only three had car seats that were installed correctly or that were up-to-date.  People with defective or expired car seats got a new one for free thanks to a grant she received.  Unfortunately the local newspaper was not there covering this event, so this is me, giving Connie some "press".  This is also me super excited that these car seats are out of the garage…FINALLY!

A dose of Love

The Gospel text for this Sunday (The 5th Sunday after Easter) is from John 13: 31-35.  Here Jesus talks about this "new commandment" to love one another.  New commandment?  God gives the Israelites a law in the Old Testament to love another, so Jesus is not saying anything new…right?  Well, actually He is.  Unlikely Conversation: A Lectionary Blog talks about the four Greek words for love.  The "Love" Jesus is referring to is a "self sacrificing" type of Love — a kind of love Jesus shows.  This is "new" and different.  So maybe I need to preach on love and talk about what it means to truly "love one another".  I am also thinking that maybe I will refer back to Maundy Thursday where Jesus gives this "new commandment".  How are you doing with "loving your neighbor"?  On Easter Sunday a number of CEOs (Christmas Easter Only) came to worship — how are you doing in showing THEM love?   How can we love people better? 

Hmmm…I have some things to think and pray about.  I am excited to find out what the Holy Spirit places on my heart today to preach to the people on Sunday.  This sermon prep thing is awesome.

Well…it is time to chat with God and see what is up for Sunday.  God bless you and have a most wonderful day.  Take care.  -edh-

Internet safety

/ The Pastor / 3 Comments

My wife and I went to an eye opening forum last night.  It was a MySpace safety forum.  Rick Anderson, a retired cop from St. Paul and currently working with Internet Safety Consulting, LLC,presented this forum on Internet safety and our children.  He spoke with the kids during school and then the adults in the evening.  Even though I was aware of some of the dangers our kids face on-line I was still amazed at what our kids are doing on-line and how vulnerable they are.  Rick brought us to some chat rooms under an alias he uses to police chat rooms — an 18 year old girl.  Within minutes of signing on we had about 10 guys wanting to chat and view his web cam.  He warned us that some pornographic material may pop up with these web cams and said he would removed them as fast as he could (nothing ever did pop up that was offensive).  He said that is one way our kids can easily stumble across sexuality explicit material.  Rick also talked about parents watching very closely at what our kids put on the Internet.  Anyone can pull images off and use information to stalk and seduce our children.  He also shared some horror stories that really got our attention.

If you want some more information about these issues, check out Rick’s website (which I linked to above). He shares a lot of resources to help us keep the Internet a safe place for our children.  The site shares links for various resources such as cyberbullying, Internet monitoring software for the home, and places where you can report suspected abuse.  The Internet is an important tool for children (and everyone) but it can also be very dangerous.

So because of the danger of predators being able to pull images off any web site and use them for child pornography, I have decided to remove my photo albums of my niece and nephew from my blog.  I enjoy showing them off to the world, but I am not willing to put them at risk.  I wish I was more conscience of this before and hopefully nothing will come of it.  My niece and nephew mean the world to mean and it would just devastate me if anything would happen to them.  So please watch your kids and talk to them.  Ask them what they are doing on-line and don’t let them be a victim.

Times are definitely different from when I grew up.  "Internet safety" was not even part of our vocabulary.  But as adults today, we have to keep up if we hope to protect our children and prepare them for the world.  Take the time to keep up — our futures depend on it.  God bless and have a great day. -edh-