Last month I posted a devotion titled, "The rain storm that wasn’t there".  This post is different from that one but still involves rain (I am not sure why I even wrote that line).  But anyway…

…I love thunderstorms.  I have fond memories of my dad and me standing in the garage and watching an approaching thunderstorm.  There was something about being out in the storm without really getting wet (except for the stray rain drop that would get blown into the garage and always land in my eye).  I stood there in amazement watching the lightening and then prepared myself for the clap of thunder to follow.  Mom would always yell out to dad and me and tell us to come inside.  It was great because it was the only time I had permission not to heed my mom’s instructions.  Dad wasn’t worried, so neither was I.

Today a thunderstorm rolled towards Jackson.  In the post "The rain storm that wasn’t there" the radar indicated rain but there was nothing in the sky.  Today, there was definitely something in the sky…headed right for Jackson.  So I went to my weather website to watch this storm as I watched out my window.  This time the weather website was correct…a thunderstorm was approaching.  I was excited.  But to make matters better there were some red and orange cells headed toward us (in case you don’t know red and orange means a "better" storm).  I was even more excited.  I watched the storm inch closer and closer.  The winds picked up and the temperature dropped a little.  The skies got darker and I prepared for an amazing light show.  And then…<pause for effect>…NOTHING but a little rain.  WHAT HAPPENED!  I went back to my weather website and replayed the last one hour loop and studied the storm’s approach as if I were getting ready to go on the air shortly.  Then I saw something that really did not surprise me (because it happens all the time here in Jackson).  As the red and orange cells moved right towards Jackson they dissipated and went around the town.  Sites on either side of Jackson got the red and orange cells but Jackson just got the green (light rain) cells.  You really need to see it to believe it.  We were going to get hit head on and then…NOTHING!  At least we got some rain and a couple small claps of thunder.  My day is not a total loss.

I wonder…<pause to prepare to wonder with me>…

…as Satan sits watching his radar of storms he throws at us; does he get frustrated as he watches God dissipate those storms in our lives?  Does he jump up and down in anger as God hands us an umbrella?  Does Satan throw his pointy little fork to the ground when God holds on to us when the winds hit?  Does Satan pull his hair out as God dries us off in the aftermath?  Storms will hit and we will get wet, but God is the great dissipater to frustrate Satan’s plans.

<"Yes", I know all this is true, and I thank you God, but can’t you let an actual thunderstorm through once in a while?> 

Praise be to God and Amen! -EDH-

I was at a graduation reception for one of Connie’s (my wife) cousins.  As I sat at the table, in the church fellowship hall, stuffing my face with that good ole reception type food, Connie’s uncle (father of the graduate) sat down next to me.  Now, he is not a guy I normally talk to much except for the basic, "Hey there, how are you?" and then a good, firm handshake.  "How is your church?"  "It’s going fine."  "Well that’s good."  Maybe we exchange some other pleasantries but that is basically it.  But this particular night was different.  Uncle Mark sits down next to me and we exchange the usual pleasantries and then he says, "I suppose you have to drive all the way back to Jackson tonight (this was on a Saturday night; 1 1/2 hours away)."  I said, "Yup, I have worship tomorrow morning."  Then uncle Mark asked this question, "So, how do you come up with all those sermon ideas?"  I sat there for a couple seconds; stunned like a deer standing in the middle of US HWY 71 gazing straight into the headlights of an oncoming car wondering why its there.  Once I pulled my gaze from the oncoming headlights I said, "Well…God, of course."  Uncle Mark rolls his eyes at me like I gave him a dumb answer and said, "I know that, but where do the ideas come from?  Do you read books or do they come from everyday life…what?"  I told him that I do read and pay attention to the world around me, but in the end, God places the sermon on my heart to preach to his people.  Mark seemed disappointed with my answer.  It was like he was looking for my secret ingredient to some famous recipe of mine ("Yes", I do cook and "No" I really don’t have any famous recipes, but work with me here) and I told him "salt and pepper".  It has got to be more difficult than that…right?

Just salt and pepper; that’s it; nothing fancy; something everyone has.

But for some reason people want something more.  They want to hear that it is more difficult than that.  This is because these people do not realize that they have salt and pepper "in their cupboard".  Ask a mother how she knew what to do when her first baby was born.  She will probably tell you that she was a little scared at first, but then it just came to her.  "Motherly instincts" she will say.  Mothers just know…salt and pepper.

I worked for my dad for 2 1/2 years trying to learn the car business so I could take over some day.  I quickly found out that I was a very bad car salesman (selling 4 cars in 2 1/2 years I believe qualifies as "bad").  I asked my dad, "How do you do it?  How do you know how and when to call for the sale?  How do you make people feel comfortable with you?"  He told me that he just knew and that he could not teach me that skill.  It was salt and pepper.

Think about what you do.  How do you know how to do that skill so well?  Hard work?  Sure.  But it does come easier to you than others.  What is it then?  Salt and pepper.  When God calls someone to a certain vocation whether it is a pastor or a salesperson or a parent or whatever, you don’t have to think too much about it.  When Jesus sent his disciples out to proclaim the Gospel he told them not to worry about what they will say; that God will give them the words…salt and pepper.  Those disciples were called to that particular vocation and God was not going to let them fail.  God has given you gifts and it is God who enables you to use them.

There is no secret formula.  There is no secret ingredient.  It is just God; your salt and pepper, working through you for His glory.  So next time someone asks you, "How do you know how to do that?"  say "Salt and Pepper." and then give witness to our awesome God who gives us the "flavor" in life.  Praise be to God and Amen!

Good morning you faithful weblog readers and to any one popping in for the first time.  It has been a few days since I have written something, so hang on, I am going to make up for lost time.  Following this entry there will be some updates including the question of the week (which I will actually answer this week) and other items.  Keep an eye on this site and see what I am up to.

This past weekend I was in St. Peter, MN at Gustavus Adolphus College (GAC:  For some reason it is a lot more fun to say "Gac" instead) for the SW MN Synod assembly.  There were about 600+ people there (lay and clergy) discussing and debating the "business" of the church.  It was really intriguing.  The meeting follows strict parliamentary procedures which ensure everyone is treated fairly and has equal opportunity to speak and vote.  There were three microphones set up for people to debate resolutions.  We had 13 resolutions to deal with.  A few of them were slam dunk, no-brainers that had no real debate but others took a little longer to get through.  There was one particular resolution that caught my attention; dealing with immigration and the people who do ministry with them.  I won’t get into specifics here but the long and short of it was do we oppose legislation that would criminalize undocumented workers and the people who do ministry with them?  What caught my attention was the wording of the resolution and I wanted to propose an amendment.  So the night before this resolution was to come to the floor I wrote up my amendment so I could go to a microphone and have the correct wording in front of me.  I even talked to a couple colleagues and got their opinion and they agreed with me.

But part of me was nervous.  Six hundred plus people at a business meeting and I was thinking about speaking.  I had never done that before.  What if I made a mistake?  What if people said, "Eric that is out of order and stupid"?  What if I stumble over my words and look like an idiot?  I shouldn’t be scared about expressing my opinions; I do it all the time here on this site and in church.  But for some reason this synod assembly was different.  Well, time came to start debate on this resolution.  A couple people spoke and I started to doubt and second guess myself.  Then someone came to the microphone and wanted to propose an amendment.  And get this, the amendment he proposed was exactly the same as what I had written up.  It was like he was looking over my shoulder as I wrote this.  He was then given 4 minutes to argue why he was proposing this and his argument was basically the same as mine.  I said to myself "Wow, someone is thinking like me".  Others argued against the amendment, but when it came to the vote, it passed overwhelmingly.  The amendment I almost proposed, people liked.  I was excited and then started to get a little depressed (and of course I started thinking).

I had a chance to speak and I didn’t.  I then thought back to other resolutions.  I had a chance to speak there and I didn’t.  Some of those resolutions passed that I did not want to pass.  What if I had spoken?  Maybe I could have influenced some voters so that the vote would have turned out the way I wanted.  But I didn’t speak.  I waited for someone else to say what I was thinking.  Sure…with the amendment I got lucky, but that is not the norm.  I missed my chance to speak my mind and make a difference.  I missed my chance to work for "good".  I missed my chance, right, privilege and duty to speak.  I blew it and I will never get those moments back again.

When God gives us chances to share our faith with someone, do you jump on that chance or do you wait for someone else to chime in; hoping they will do what you want to do?  Do you sit back thinking to yourself what you want to say but never say it; afraid of what others might think or say?  Do you say to yourself, "Who am I to say something?"  God gives us opportunities everyday to make a difference in the world, but too often we pass those opportunities by.  We think and hope someone else will say something, but they won’t.  When God gives you and me a chance, the chance is for you and me only.  No one else will jump in for you.  No one else will say what YOU need to say.  Only you can say it.  Next time an opportunity comes your way think to yourself "God has placed this opportunity here and no one else will do it.  I MUST ACT."  Don’t miss your chance to make a difference in the world.  You will never get that chance again.  God needs you to change the world.  So don’t wait to act because tomorrow is promised to no one.  Live today and make a difference, someone needs you.  Amen!

It has been a couple days since my last post. So thanks for your patience; I really do have a good excuse.  Yesterday I spent the day (A couple hours actually) in Dawson.  I had lunch with my mom and picked up a trailer and a bed.  I got home late afternoon and was shot.  Today I was up at 4:45am (that’s right, IN THE MORNING, before God gets up and has coffee).  I was helping out with a pancake feed the Jackson Lions were doing.  Now I am getting ready to hit the road again.  This afternoon I head to Gustavus College in St. Peter for the SW MN Synod assembly.  I am hoping to get to a computer and update my blog this weekend, so check back and see what is up. 

But before I go I want to leave you with a thought.  It deals with the trailer I picked up yesterday.  After we loaded this small 4 foot wide trailer with a queen size box spring and mattress, we started to have some concerns.  First, this small trailer was not built for long distance traveling (Approximately 150 miles) and second, the wooden sides my dad built were bowing out because of the weight of the bed.  My mom and I were wondering if I was going to make it.  I had my doubts about this load.  So we talked to dad, hoping he would make the decision not to haul the bed, but he didn’t.  It’s weird, I make decisions all the time being a solo pastor of a small congregation, but this was a decision I did not want to make.  I am not sure why.  It was nothing big, just a matter of hauling a bed.  It was not going to affect a lot of people.  Do we haul the bed or not?  I finally said, "What the heck, I’m going for it.  If the trailer breaks; it breaks."  But as I was driving, keeping one eye on the road and one eye on the trailer, I started thinking.  In life we are often weighed down with a lot of expectations and other burdens.  We start moving slow and second guessing ourselves.  A time eventually comes when we just want someone else to make a decision (but we often don’t admit that to ourselves).  Better yet, we want someone to come along and take the burden off us without us saying anything.  Maybe we are too proud or scared to ask for help.  Maybe we have too much of a sense of responsibility that says you have to do everything yourself.  Maybe that is what I was feeling yesterday.

But God does not weigh us down beyond what we can handle.  He will certainly not let the world burden us to the point of breaking.  God will come and helps us carry the burden.  God will relieve the pressures from our souls.  God does not let Satan get the best of us by placing the burden of salvation on our hearts (God carries that load…completely, through Jesus Christ).  So next time you feel weighed down know that God is there with you.  He will help you, just ask him.  Don’t be too proud or scared; don’t be stubborn or pig-headed. God wants us to come to him.  God wants us to talk to him.  Ask him to relieve you of some of your burdens and God will give you the strength to carry it or God will carry it for you.  Turn to God and cast your burdens on him.  God will not abandon you.  God needs you.  And God loves you.  Have a wonderful weekend and take care.  Amen!

The title of this little rambling should say it all.  It has been so cotton picken dry these past couple weeks that my lawn is browning up quite nicely.  Add a cactus or two and throw in a roadrunner and we got SW Arizona (sense the sarcasm).  "Rain, rain, come this way.  Please don’t stay away another day".  O.K., I know I am whining, but that is another reason I got this blog site; so I can whine when there is no one physically around (I am sure my church secretary is glad I have this outlet).  But don’t stop reading, I do have a point.

I just returned to my office after running next door to my house to move my water sprinkler.  One would think I could do that with relative ease, but nooooo…not me.  I can not move the sprinkler without getting wet.  I think I am standing out of the reach of the water, but then the wind comes up and blows the water right at me(For crying out loud, I am wearing nice clothes today).  So here I find myself drying off once again today.  That’s right, again.  This is not the first time today.  One would think I would learn.

"And Jesus told them many things in parables, saying: Listen! A sower went out to sow…Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away…As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet such a person has no root, but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately falls away. " (Matthew 13, The Parable of the Sower) 

If I don’t take care of my lawn and water it, the sun will scorch the grass and it will indeed whither away.  So I water it and care for it.  My garden gets the same attention.  The heat of the day is powerful.  If you do not take care of yourself, you will easily be defeated.  Too many people go to worship on Sunday and that is it.  It is even worse for those who go to worship once in a while or never go.  For them the seed (The Word of God) is sown on rocky soil.  The heat of the day and the pressures of life will quickly cause these people whither and fall away.  The Word is not sown in the deeps of their being.  They do not water it through scripture reading and prayer.  You can not go to worship on Sunday and that’s it and expect to be alright.  You need the Word of God EVERY SINGLE DAY OF THE WEEK.  You need to nurture and care for your self with regular doses of God’s Word.  Try it and I guarantee you will see a difference.  Your life will "green up" in a hurry.  And like a nice looking green lawn, people WILL start asking you, "what is your secret?"  At that you have an amazing opening to share with them the glorys of God through Jesus Christ our Lord.  So go out there and get wet.  You will be better for it.  Amen.

Today is Tuesday, June 6, 2006.  I am supposed to have text study at Shalom Hill Farm today, but I don’t think I am going.  I have some visits up at the nursing home and a home visit with a person who is somewhat homebound.  I also plan to do some reading.  I will more than likely get some coffee at my favorite coffee place here in Jackson.  I might even practice some piano (since I haven’t practiced for a few days). But it is also a strange Tuesday for me.  Normally I would be doing some sermon prep, but I am not preaching on Sunday; actually I am gone all weekend to the SW MN Synod Assembly in St. Peter, MN.  But other than that, this is a run of the mill day.  It is Tuesday, June 6, 2006; just another day in the year 2006 in the month of June.  That’s it.

But there have been some bigger moments to happen on this day in history:  In 1660 Denmark and Sweden sign a peace treaty; 1673 – France and Brandenburg sign a peace treaty; 1744 – France and Prussia sign a peace treaty. So far this is sounding like a peaceful day in the history of June 6.   Other events that happened are:  1844 – The YMCA is formed in London; 1850 – Levi Strauss made his first pair of blue jeans and in 1916 voters in East Cleveland approve women suffrage.  That is a very partial list of some of the "positive" things that have happened on this day.  There have also been some "negative" things to happen on this day (but that is no different than any other day of the year).  Today is Tuesday, June 6, 2006.

In case you have missed the point so far today is Tuesday, 6-6-06.  You know, 666, the mark of the beast as it is described in the Book of Revelation.  Some people see this day as the day of the beast, but for me it is just Tuesday, June 6, 2006.  It is no different than any other day.  Hollywood is trying to make this day bigger than it really is by releasing the horror flick, "The Omen" today.  Hollywood never releases movies on a Tuesday.  It is because it is 6-6-06 and apparently that carries special meaning for people; a marketing ploy to make more money.  Got to love good ole Hollywood; make something out of nothing.

In John chapter 15 and 16 Jesus talks about sending us the Holy Spirit.  He also says the ruler of this world has been condemned, defeated, and over-thrown.  We do not belong to this world, but we have been chosen from this world to be witnesses.  We were chosen through the cross.  So if all of this is true (and it is!) this day is a special day, like any other day.  The day of the beast?  Hogwash!!!  The beast has been condemned, defeated and over-thrown by Christ himself.  This is not an evil day, but it is a day that the Lord has made.  Let us rejoice and be glad in it.  We have a habit of making something out of nothing.  Rejoice and be glad.  Jesus has overcome the world.  Satan has lost. Death has been defeated; and the beast, well, to hell with him.  This is a day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.  Praise be to God and Amen.

P.S. Do you want to know some other events that happened on the other days that share the date 6-6-06?  Well…according to www.historyorg.com (a web site where you can find out significant events on any day in history) NOTHING of any "evil" significance has happened on this day.

Monday morning is here.  Please excuse me if I get too random; I am still working on my coffee.  Anyway, sorry I have not updated this site for a couple days.  My wife and I were in Cloquet for my cousin’s wedding.  What a fun time that was seeing family we have not seen for a while.  But the highlight for me, other than seeing my cousin get married, was spending time with my parents, sister, brother-in-law and niece.  My niece, Meara, needed a little time to warm up to Connie and me, but once she did, she kept us running.  I forgot how much energy a two year old has. 

On Saturday the family took Meara to the park and we played on the equipment.  That was a lot of fun for Meara; so much so that when we decided it was time to go Meara had one of her two-year-old fits.  But the fit soon passed; then we were off to the pool.  This was Meara’s first time in a pool so it was fun watching her experience this.  She loved it.  Soon I decided that she should not have all the fun so I got my suit on and jumped in.  Actually I did a huge cannonball; water everywhere.  Apparently Meara loved it; she couldn’t stop giggling.  Then Meara decided she wanted to try that and ran to the deep end.  Of course we would not let her jump in and that made her mad.  Where ever she went there I was waiting to catch her or someone on the pool deck was right next to her.  But Meara wanted to jump in without any help and screamed when we got close.  Eventually Connie decided Meara needed to experience what she was trying to experience.  She grabbed Meara and tossed her into the pool…<pause for effect>…don’t worry; Connie tossed Meara to me so I could catch her.  Meara went under a little bit and then cleared the water from her face.  We were sure that this would satisfy her curiosity, but no.  Meara immediately started fussing and wanted to do it again…this time with no help.

But you know, people are no different than Meara.  Here we are stopping Meara from literally jumping into the deep end when we as adults do that all the time.  We take chances, try new things, go out onto a limb and risk it all.  No one is there to stop us and if they were, we might throw a two-year-old fit as well.  So we jump in; often times not knowing the risks.  But when it comes to God, our attitudes change.  But here is some good and encouraging news; here is the fun part, "Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful." (Hebrews 10:23)  I love that verse.  Any verse that reminds me that God is not going to let me down is awesome.  I mean think about it; when we take chance (for God) God will be faithful to keep us from "going under".  When we "jump into the deep end" and love someone we are scared to love (for God) God will be faithful if or when we get hurt.  When we "dive in" and serve one another (for God) God will be faithful to give you strength.  We take chances in life and jump into the deep end, why don’t we do that for God?  God is faithful and will not let you "drown".  Jump in; love someone who others have labeled unlovable; serve one another; welcome the stranger. Let’s have the bravery of a two-year-old and jump in (for God)…for God is faithful. Amen!

Last night a new spelling bee champion was crowned.  My wife and I along with a couple friends of ours watched the last two contestants duke it out for the title "Scripps National Spelling Bee Champ".  Believe it or not it was quite exciting.  A word is given (always one I have never heard before).  The contestant then usually repeats the word and then asks for a definition.  Then they might say the word again (to make sure they don’t forget I guess) and then ask for the language of origin.  With all that information they are able to piece together how the word should be spelled.  Now…if that is not impressive, I do not know what is.  In the end, a 13 year old girl from New Jersey won the title by spelling u-r-s-p-r-a-c-h-e.  She was making her fifth and final appearance.  FIVE TIMES!  WOW!  You have to be good to even make it to this event.  Very impressive.

Then this morning I was watching Sports Center on ESPN (Ooooh, big surprise).  At the end of each Sports Center they show the Top Ten plays from the day before in the world of sports.  At number 6 was the 13 year old girl from New Jersey winning the spelling bee title.  Number 6???  That’s it???  Numbers 5 through 1 contained nice looking catches from baseball, a hockey goal and a college girl striking out 18 batters in a softball game.  If they are going to include the spelling bee champ in their top ten list, shouldn’t they be number 1?  I guess that goes to show you what is more important in our society.  We value great "athletic" feats over intelligence.  I guarantee you that this 13 year old girl had to work harder than any of these athletes.  Imagine standing on a stage with millions of people watching trying to spell:  u-r-s-p-r-a-c-h-e

That can not be easy, yet she is deserving of only number 6.  That is sad.  What message is being sent to our kids?  I have kids who miss church because of sports.  I have kids where sports are the bread and butter of their lives.  These kids have been taught that you need to succeed in sports to be somebody.  Their parents are not necessarily pressuring them, but society is.  Look at the state legislature.  They have been spending way too much time talking about sports stadiums.  Give me a break.  Let’s talk about getting more money for education so we can see more kids that can spell    u-r-s-p-r-a-c-h-e in their sleep.  Something needs to change.  Sports lasts for only a moment, but education lasts for a lifetime.  Our priorities are way messed.

Excuse me a second as a climb off my soapbox…<pause>…there I am back.  But one more thing before I go, in the end let’s not lose what is really important.  Jesus said, "Where your treasure is there you will find your heart".  Where is your treasure?  Have a great weekend and God bless.

I got a call last night from my mom.  She told me that they were close to selling their lake cabin.  This would make number three.  That’s right…three lake cabins built and three lake cabins sold.  Most people have normal hobbies like collecting stamps, coins or, in the case of my wife, Precious Moments.  But my dad’s hobby is building things, in particular, lake cabins.  I am not sure why I am even thinking about this and allowing you to peer into my thoughts.  I only spent a few hours at this last cabin.  A couple of those hours were spent helping my dad put up siding.  The other time was spent showing my wife the un-completed cabin.  I never saw it completed.   But it is not this cabin I am missing; it is the first one my dad built.  That was a fun one.

My dad’s first cabin was built while I was in high school.  It was a nice looking A-frame style cabin on a beautiful part of Big Stone Lake along the Minnesota/South Dakota border.  We had lots of neighbors and there was plenty of activity, yet it was a quiet get-a-way.  But what I remember most was the number of other family members and friends that came to spend time at the lake.  Grandpa and grandma came every summer with their motor home and spent at least a week there.  Aunts and uncles and cousins came to visit and spent time at the lake.  We had "mammoth" fires (got to love the word "mammoth" — see my sunflower post from yesterday).  We explored the lake in canoes and paddleboats.  We water skied and fished.  I loved that lake cabin.  We had lots of fun and created a lot of memories.

But wait, it is not the cabin itself I loved, but the time spent with people.  A lake cabin is made with wood and nails and will eventually pass away, but time with people is built with love.  And love will not pass away.  Our society places so much emphasis on buildings and structures; so much so that if a building is lost, so are the people.  It is sad that we connect emotions and memories to materials that will not last.  Just talk to a community that has been destroyed by a tornado.  The people are devastated at first, but they vow to rebuild.  The community is not defined by the buildings it has, but is defined by the people living there.  People make a community; people make a family.  Sure, buildings and structures trigger memories and fond times with friends and family, but those memories should not be connected to those structures.  Those memories will not disappear with the buildings.  Those memories only disappear if you do not share them with one another.

Let’s move away from worshipping buildings to a point where they are set as gods in our life that cannot be touched.  Lets move to loving people and focusing on people.  I loved those cabins that my dad built but only in what they represented.  I will never forget those times at Big Stone Lake and I am sure other memories will be made in the future.  A building is a building that lasts only for a moment, but people last forever.  That’s right; we will last forever, through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

My wife and I went shopping the other day for seeds because we are getting ready to plant our garden.  We don’t plant a big garden, but we like to try to grow a few things.  Last year our garden was not a huge success.  We planted corn, beans, carrots and cucumbers.  Only the cucumbers really turned out.  So this year we are trying some new things.  We are going to plant cucumbers again due to our success last year and beans.  We are also planting spinach and pumpkins.  That will be fun.  I have dreams of producing some huge pumpkins worthy of the county fair, but I am guessing they will barely be big enough to carve for Halloween.  But there is one more thing we are planting.  As we were looking through the seeds I came across sunflowers.  Not just any ordinary sunflowers but mammoth sunflowers.  Wow!  You put the word "mammoth" in front of anything a man wants to buy and you had better watch out.  I turned to my wife with a big grin on my face holding the sunflower seeds.  She just rolled her eyes at me (I can’t imagine why).  "You want to plant sunflowers? Why?"  I responded, "Because sunflowers are neat and different.  Please."  She said, "What ever."  Now we have sunflowers (I mean, MAMMOTH sunflowers).

But here is the real story behind sunflowers and me.  As a child a remember fields and fields of sunflowers, as far as the eye could see, near my grandparents farm.  Maybe there weren’t that many, but it sure seemed that way.  I thought they were the most beautiful thing; many because we did not have them around Dawson.  Then one day I noticed something.  As I was riding past my favorite sunflower field with my grandparents I noticed that they were facing a different direction.  Being the curious kid I was I asked grandpa about it.  He told me that sunflowers don’t only look like the sun, but they follow the sun as well, hence the name, sunflower.  Where ever the sun is in the sky, the sunflower will follow it.  That I thought was pretty cool. 

Wow! Even simple little sunflowers know how to follow the sun. Seriously, do I really need to write anymore?  Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6)  I guess we can learn a lot from sunflowers…just follow the Son. Amen!