I was sitting in my office yesterday.  It was one of those dreary days; overcast, cold and windy.  As I fiddled around in my office, cleaning things up, preparing for Sunday I noticed that it started to down pour.  The sky turned darker and it looked like we might be getting some more serious weather.  My wife was in the cities for her brother’s graduation from college and I knew she would be traveling home soon.  So I decided to check out the weather forecast on the computer.  I went to one of my favorite weather web sites to check out the radar.  When the radar booted up and noticed something odd.  According to the radar, SW MN skies were completely clear; not a cloud to be found.  "Well", I said, "I beg to differ".  So I went to another weather web site and that radar told me the exact same story.  No rain.  No clouds.  I know I was not imagining things.  It was raining.  But my searching to validate my observations fell flat.

"Be still and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10)

Isn’t it amazing how we like to have emperical proof that God is doing something in our lives or the world.  An event happens and we want it to be God.  So we search and search scripture to prove to others and to ourselves that God is responsible.  Maybe a natural disaster has stuck.  Maybe a sudden death of a loved has riped your family apart.  Maybe an unexplained illness has reared its ugly head.  We want this to be God because it is easier to explain and we have someone to point the finger at.  But sometimes our searching leaves us with more questions than answers.  God can not be explained.  God is mysterious.  I wish I knew how the world worked.  I wish I knew why the weather radar did not show rain when it was raining.  I wish I knew how God worked.  But this one thing I do know.  "God so loved the world that he sent his only Son that anyone who believes in him may not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16)  This does not make sense, but it is what God did.  Be still and know that God is God and be comforted with the fact that God loves you and will never cause you harm or desert you.  God is where you least expect him, in your heart.  Praise be to God and Amen!

My mom became a mom on February 12, 1971.  She later became a mother for the second time on June 10, 1973 with the arrival of my sister.  But it would be silly for my mom to say, "I was a mother on Feb. 12 and June 10".  The verb "was" does not make sense here.  Motherhood is not just something that happens at a particular point in time when a little one makes their appearance in this world. Motherhood is rather a current condition/title that implies duties and privilages that never end.  If we want to correctly talk about motherhood we need to practice correct verb usage.  Past tense verbs don’t work (My high school English teacher would be so proud).  Instead mothers say, "I am a mother".

The same goes with baptism.  Too often we say, "I was baptised on (such and such a date)".  The past tense verb is used as if baptism is an event in the past; something over and done with.  But like motherhood, using the past tense verb with baptism does not work.  Your baptism is not something that happened in the past and now is done, but your baptism is something you live everyday of your life.  Baptism is something your are and not something you were.  Baptism is a gift and something that is received in faith.  When that happens, why would anyone possibly want to put that gift in the closest.  Rather we are called to live as baptized children of God to the glory of God.  So the correct verb usage is:  "I am baptized"  You say that phrase with confidence because it means you have been claimed and chosen by God ("You did not choose me, but I choose you" John 15:16)  Live as if you are baptized and chosen by God so others may see God’s glory and the promise of New Life through Jesus Christ.  Amen!

Anyone who knows me well, knows that when it comes to my lawn I am extremely picky.  When I mow, I rake up all my grass clippings.  I trim around all my trees, poles and along my sidewalks.  I spray for weeds a couple times during the summer.  If weeds happens to break through my defenses, I have my spot weed killer that I walk around the yard with.  I fertilize every 2 to 3 months with a strict lawn care program and water any new grass seedings and bushes.  My lawn looks great with no pesky yellow dandilions litering my yard.  I spend a lot of time trying to keep my lawn looking good knowing that if I do not do these things, my lawn will not look good and will become unhealthy like it was when I arrived.

Wouldn’t it be great if we spent that much time caring for our hearts and souls.  When I get too busy and forget to read my devotions; neglect scripture and prayer, I become unhealthy.  My energy is down.  My outlook on things is tainted.  My optimism is clouded over.  Weeds of doubt spring up all over my life and the crabgrass of complacency overtakes my attitude.  But scripture serves as the best weed killer of them all.  Nothing else on the market will do the job.  But I know that if I want to stay ahead of the weed problem in my yard I have to spray early and often.  Stay ahead of Satan’s attacks in your life with scripture; early and often.  Caring for our hearts and souls is hard work, but it is oh so worth it.  The grass is always greener…when it is cared for.  Praise be to God and Amen!

Well, I finally did it.  If my wife is reading this she will have a smile on her face in just a bit.  So, honey, you can say I told you so, but don’t rub it in too much.  Last Christmas I was given a pine-type tree with some cute red bows tied on the branches.  I put the tree in the room next to my office by the window.  I tried to take care of it, but in the end it dried up.  If I bumped one of the small branches they would just break off.  But I was not about to let it go.  When the weather got nice I brought it outside in hopes that the sunshine and plenty of water would bring it back to life.  My wife kept telling me, "let it go…it’s dead."  But I refused.  I held on to my tree.  I did not want to see it go…until today.  I walked outside this morning and saw my tree lying on its side.  The wind blew it over.  I decided then that it was time.  I threw my tree onto my compost heap that is going to be taken care of very soon.  My tree is dead(Ok. honey, let me have it).

When Jesus died, he came to kill the "old self" or known as the "old Adam/Eve"; our captivity to sin, death and the devil.  But for some reason we try to hold onto that old self.  We think it is still alive when it is dead.  Maybe the "old self" is more fun(sin can be that way you know).  Maybe we are afraid of what Jesus requires of the "new self".  Maybe, just maybe we want to be in control.  But when Jesus died and then rose from the grave he came to bring us a new life; a new life far better than that one we had.  Sin, death and the power of Satan is dead.  We are no longer captives, but we are free.  So let it go…it’s dead.  You are alive forever in Christ. Amen!

Well, Sue got her wish.  If you read my previous post titled "What is my purpose?" you will understand.  Sue has been waiting to die for at least two years and that is how long I have known her.  I guess I don’t have to worry about what I will say to her now.  But I find myself in a weird situation.  There is a large part of me that is happy for Sue.  She is no longer suffering and struggling.  I close my eyes and see Sue resting peacefully in God’s arms and I can’t help but to smile.  But there is another part of me, the selfish part, that wishes she stayed alive a little longer so I could talk to her one more time.  Then I think to myself that if I held onto that part of me, I would never be ready to let Sue go.  But Sue was ready, because of where her hope was located.  And her hope was in the resurrection.  She knew Jesus was waiting for her.  She knew that there was more to this life.  She knew that paradise was but a breath away and she couldn’t wait.  Where is your hope?  Is it in this life gaining possessions, wealth, and status or is it in Jesus Christ.  If it is in this life I pity you because there is so much more.  Jesus suffered that we may not suffer.  Jesus died that we may not die.  And Jesus rose from the dead that we may live forever.  Put you hope in Jesus Christ.  I would love for you to meet Sue someday in paradise.  Amen!

Have you ever wondered why you are here?  Have you ever questioned God about your purpose in life?  I have had someone ask me that question.  I willl call her Sue.  Sue is approaching the ripe ol’ age of 100 and is ready to die.  She is frail and can’t get around anymore.  So Sue asks me quite often why God has not taken her yet and each time I am at a loss for words.  I don’t want to deliver some off the shelf comment that she could find herself, but I want to comfort her in some way.  Then yesterday I was talking to a mutual friend of Sue and heard her response to the question.  She said, "Well, God has something for you to do yet.  Maybe God is waiting for you to touch someone’s life.  Eitherway, God is using you for something."  This sounds like an off-the-shelf comment, but then something I read this morning put this wise response into perspective for me.  Martin Luther writes, "Christ does not take us out of this world.  Rather, he leaves us in the world after baptism so that others will be strengthened and encouraged by our example."  Sue has no idea what God wants her to do or whose life she has yet to touch.  But looking back on my last two years getting to know Sue, she has touched my life.  Sue’s questions to me has been a proclamation of her faith.  She knows she will be with Christ and can’t wait to see him.  Christ needs each of us to be that example to others because through the cross we too will see Christ again.  Take care, Sue, I and we will see you again in our Father’s House.  Amen!

"Remember to go out of your way to do something kind once in a while"

That was the fortune I received last week at my favorite Chinese restaurant.  Sometimes I wonder if Chinese restuarants give you those little cookies, with a piece of wisdom inside, to help cushion the blow of the bill.  Either way, this fortune caught my eye and got me thinking.  Doing something kind of someone should not be "going out of your way".  If that is what kindness entails, we are in trouble.  Going out of one’s way implies an extra effort.  Kindness should be something that is "on the way".  Kindness should be something that comes natural.  Kindness should be something that we should not need to be reminded to show.  Kindness should not be an extra effort.  For Jesus I don’t think kindness was an extra effort.  And I thank God for that because otherwise the cross would not have happened and we would be dead in our sins.  When we show kindness we are showing Christ.  And showing Christ should be as natural as breathing.  I know that writer of this fortune meant well.  But maybe, just maybe they could have written this fortune as follows:  "Someone will show YOU kindness/Christ today".

Whew!  I just came back from our local radio station to record five 2-3 minute devotional spots that the local pastors take turns doing every couple months.  I Chose to use the texts from Sunday, May 7.  But I still needed one more.  Since I was running behind I went to my archives on my computer to reuse a devotional (I can’t believe I actually did that) and the first one I saw was from 1 Peter 5:7, "Cast your anxieties on him, for he cares for you".  Well, it sounded good to me. So I copied the text into my Word document with my other four devotionals I wrote (Yes, they were new ones).  I hit the print button, scooted across the hall to my secretaries printer, grabbed my papers and drove the 10 miles to the radio station.  I recorded the first four in glorious fashion.  I was flawless and feeling good about myself.  But then my ego came to a screeching halt when I tried to turn to my last page to record my last devotional.  The problem was that I did not have my last page.  Apparently the printer back at church had run out of paper and I did not notice.  So there I stood at the microphone, frozen, with just a hint of panic.  Now what?  Well, I did the only thing a cocky little pastor could do at that moment.  I casted my anxieties on God, because I guess he cares for me.  Actually he does.  I read 1 Peter 5:7 and started talking.  Before I knew it I was done and you know something it was…

I better stop there.  I have been down that road before.  But the ironic thing about this is that I have 1 Peter 5:6-8 taped to my computer screen.  Verse 6 says, "Humble yourselves…".  Yes God, I get the hint and you are right.  Glory be to God and God alone. Amen

"He makes me lie down in green pastures and leads me beside still waters".  I like that verse from Psalm 23.  There is something about the whole notion of God "making" us lie down in green pastures.  If one were not careful you might think that God is placing his hands on our shoulders, forcing us down and saying, "There you go, green pastures.  Now lie down and enjoy it".  It almost sounds like something I have told my confirmation students when going on a retreat.  I would lay out the expectations like: "No hitting", "Listen to your leaders", "Do not bring cell phones", etc.  But my last one would always be "Have fun".  That is easy to say but try telling that to a confirmation student giving up their Friday night for their pastor.

When God "makes us lie down in green pastures" there is no force but rather a response to what God has done.  When you see beautiful fireworks you may say "Ooo", "Aaaah" and not even think about it.  When we bask in the glow of God’s glory and experience the comfort and guidance that only God can provide, our response is to fall back and "lie down" in God’s arms.  Nothing can touch us.  God does not force us or "make us" lie down, but how can we not when we see who God really is. –Pastor E–