[The following is a version of a newsletter article I wrote for the July newsletter for Salem Lutheran Church.  I have made a few changes from the original article to make it more general.  I added a few things and took out specific Salem references.  Those of you who get the Salem newsletter please keep reading.  You might get something new out of this.]

I wish I had all the answers; then maybe the world would be a better place.  Maybe wars would stop; the threat of disease would pass; and the Vikings would finally win the Super Bowl.  If I had all the answers maybe money would be something to give away and not be kept; helping thy neighbor would not be a chore and volunteering would not be like pulling teeth.  If I had all the answers maybe churches would not have fights over “stupid” things; people would honor each other; and budgets would always be in the black.  If I had all the answers maybe people would actually talk to people directly about problems; (Sunday) sports would not reign supreme; and conflict would be considered healthy dialog.  If I had all the answers…

…but I don’t have all the answers.  Who does?  Don’t you ever search for that “someone” who has all the answers?  Maybe you think you are that someone.  But thinking you are that “someone” is part of the problem because no one has all the answers (kind of depressing, isn’t it?).  But then I wonder if that phrase is even correct because that would imply that someone has some of the answers.  I guess I would take that.  Some answers are better than none.  But then we get into the problem of getting those “some answers” mixed up with the wrong questions.  When that happens chaos ensues.  Maybe that is why the world is messed up; church attendance is so poor; and why there is terrorism plaguing our planet.  People think they have an answer but they are working on the wrong question.  That’s it.  Maybe I have an answer here.  I had better watch out, though, because others might come banging down my door to get a glimpse of my brilliance.  Everyone will want to hear my opinion and stake their future on my judgments (Really, I don’t have a big head; I am just trying to make a point).

I really am not that brilliant.  Sometimes I fool myself to think I am.  But I need to keep myself in check because I know it is not about me (or at least it shouldn’t be).  I know I am not the most brilliant preacher.  I know that I am not the most charismatic person in the world.  I know I am not the most articulate communicator (maybe you have figured that out already).  Actually, I would not even put myself in the top half of those so-called groups. 

So the answer we are all looking for has to lie elsewhere (not with me and not with you); perhaps to be forever buried.  Maybe my search for answers will never be satisfied.  Maybe my search will only turn up more questions (now doesn’t that sound frustrating?).  Maybe the answer itself is not important; maybe, just maybe it’s in the question.  That’s it.  We need to keep asking questions and not get caught up in the elusive answer; for the only one who has all the answers is God.  So we keep asking the question but then we shut up and listen; listen for the voice of God.  God will give us the correct answer for the correct question.  But the answer may not come right away and we may not like the answer.  But we WILL get an answer.  We might have to ask the question again and again and then listen to God say, “In due time”.  But in asking the questions over and over we are reminding ourselves to keep listening and not forget that there is an answer out there waiting for us.  But more importantly, it is a wise answer from a wise God.  So let’s keep asking the question and then listen for an answer to be revealed to us through God. Let’s keep ourselves in check and stay humble.  We really don’t have all the answer (sorry to burst your bubble).  So…what is your question?  Amen!

P.S. Please don’t mistake this article as an “answer”.

-EDH-

Good morning friends!  It has been quite a while since my last post.  I apologize for that…I am going to blame a busy, but fun holiday weekend for my online absence.  So now here I am.  I am here today and tomorrow and then I head to Nashville with five 9th graders for the Youth Encounter national youth event called the Edge!  I am really looking forward to this trip.  I have really only spent time with these confirmation students at church.  This will be a great opportunity to spend time together outside of church.  I told my kids to be prepared though.  I said they may see another side of me that will cause them to say, "Is that really our pastor?".  They got a kick out of that so we will see what happens.  But I also know that I can’t let my guard down because doing would not be safe for anyone; and after all they are 9th graders (nothing more needs to be said there).  So starting on Friday you can read more about our time in Nashville, right here, on this site, so keep your eyes peeled.

Anyway, this past weekend was a fun one for my wife and I.  We had a chance to spend Sunday at our friend’s house in Spirit Lake and we met some of their friends from college.  We had a great time playing some tennis (which I really don’t play; I just have fun hitting that fuzzy yellow ball around), hanging out, grilling (of course) and playing some games.  All in all it was a great time.  Connie and I hope we get a chance to hang out with this group again.

Monday, July 3 was mine and Connie’s 2 year anniversary (which my mom totally forgot until the next day…Sorry mom, I am just harassing you).  I took Connie out to eat at a nice restaurant in Spirit Lake and then stopped by our friend’s house again.  We tried to see some fireworks (that right there is a whole other story…let’s just say for right now we were not in a prime location).  Anyway, we still had fun that night.  On Tuesday we were in Inwood, IA spending time with Connie’s family.  We watched a parade and grilled (you can never grill too much).  We then went to Sioux Falls and had supper with Connie’s parent before coming home.

Now this morning…

As I stood in my kitchen looking out my window I noticed a horrifying sight.  First I noticed one of my cucumber plants was (and still is) a little shorter (this wasn’t so bad, but still frustrating).  I then shifted my gaze to the left and saw something that caused me to run outside…my sunflowers were (and still are) a little shorter.  A deer, once again, found its way into our garden.  My pumpkins that the deer ate a while back are coming back fine, but now I am worried about my sunflowers.  Here I am, chatting with my father-in-law the day before about keeping rabbits out when all the while I needed to worry about deer.  I let my guard down.  Last year this was not a big issue but this year I am ready to build a tree stand and hope the DNR doesn’t catch me "thinning the herd".

It doesn’t take long does it?  You let your guard down and something happens and happens way too easy.  This is especially the case when things are going really well in life.  You are clicking right along.  Everything is falling into place.  You are happy and excited to be alive.  Then out of no where something happens.  Maybe you take something or someone for granted.  You let something slip; and before you know it your sunflowers are almost dead (I know you all don’t have sunflowers, but work with me here.)  I mean after all, we live in the middle of Jackson.  One should not have to worry about deer; at least you wouldn’t think you would have to.  But that is the attitude of letting one’s guard down and we can’t afford to do that.  We need to be on our toes. 

<Watch out…this is were I turn a little more serious>

We are told in scripture that Satan is prowling around like a roaring lion.  If you let your guard down, you will get pounced on.  Satan loves it when we become complacent because he knows that you will eventually slip; that you will let your guard down.  When that happens then all hell breaks loose.  You need to be on the look out and not assume that because you are a Christian that everything will be fine.  We can’t assume that because we know that Jesus will protect us that we shouldn’t watch for the "prowling lion".  Jesus did die for us, but Satan is still active; making his last ditch effort to bring people down.  Be aware; keep alert; go to scripture; pray without ceasing and don’t let your guard down.  Enjoy life but enjoy life with a healthy dose of Jesus each and every day.  Hopefully my sunflowers will come back, I want a second chance to be alert.  Maybe I won’t get it here, but I know Jesus will never deny me…for he loves each one of us way too much for that.  Thank you Jesus!  Praise be to God and Amen!  -EDH-

I have three cactus plants sitting in my office window.  They would be sitting at my house but my wife is not fond of them.  So they are over here where I can enjoy them.  Of the three I have one that is not doing well.  Part of me says I need to throw it out but I am having trouble parting with it.(This is sounding familiar). Anyway, that is not the cactus I want to talk about. 

My favorite cactus is the first one I received.  It came from my grandma’s garden in Arizona.  I am not sure why I like these usual plants. Cactus plants are not really all that pretty.  You can’t touch them.  But they are easy to care for.  I believe you either love them or hate them.  I love them, my wife hates them.  Oh well, we all can’t like all the same things.

Anyway, at the time I received this cactus it was nothing more than a small stump; cute little thing.  As it grew I noticed something.  It started to lean, but always in the direction of the window (If I didn’t know any better I would think it was trying to escape).  So every once in a while I would rotate it, but it would always grow in the direction of the window (as if it were saying "you are not going to stop me from getting out of here").  Soon it became very tall and curvy.  I guess it was not trying to escape, it just liked the light. Then one day it broke off.  My wife was dusting at the time and she says she had nothing to do with it; that it just broke all by itself, but I wonder (She never liked that cactus).  That was when I decided to move them to my office where they would be safe from Connie’s "dusting".

So now I had a shorter cactus.  I wondered how it would respond to its trauma (to this day the poor thing just shakes in fear when Connie comes into my office).  I keep it in the light and water it (but not too much; they don’t like too much water). Soon a little stump grew from the edge of where it broke off.  Now it is beginning to return to its former glory, but the scar is still there and it always will be there as a reminder; reminding me of brokenness and healing.

I have been "broken" a few times in my life.  I have scars to prove it.  Some of the scars are very visible.  Like when I fell head first down some cement stairs when I was 2 years old nearly cutting the top of my ear off.  But other scars are not so visible.  Those scars are the emotional ones; like when a friend let me down.  But when I am reminded of these scars I think back to the former pain and the healing that came along with it. 

Maybe that is what scars are supposed to do…they remind us that we are not invincible but rather fragile creatures.  Scars also remind us of healing; that pain will come our way, but that we will recover.  Scars remind us of a promise.  There is something comforting about that.  I try to avoid pain in life but I know I won’t totally succeed.  But when pain and "brokenness" do come I know that healing will be close behind.  That is the promise. 

Read through the Gospel of Mark sometime and pay close attention to the various healing stories.  I wonder if these people ever thought healing would come their way.  I bet not.  They lived in hopelessness.  What a terrible thing.  But we do not live in hopelessness, because with Jesus there will always be healing.  But remember…healing comes in a variety of ways.  Be open to how Jesus heals you.  That is why I like to use this phrase when praying for someone, "…and grant them healing in anyway you see that they need".  Jesus in his infinite wisdom WILL heal you in the way that gives God glory.  Hopelessness is a thing of the past for Jesus is here with you.  Jesus, through the cross, came to heal the pain and brokenness of the world.

Remember your scars and the promise that comes with them (I bet you have never looked at scars that way before…I know I haven’t).  Amen!  -EDH-

I heard on the news yesterday about a new report from the Surgeon General about second hand smoke.  He said that even a couple breaths of this smoke can greatly effect your health.  Basically, second hand smoke is more dangerous than it was believed before.  Experts think that this will cause even more widespread smoking bans across the county in an effort to protect the health of people. 

Imagine if people took warnings about bad influences as seriously as this Surgeon General report.  You can be a "good" person but if you are around bad influences enough you can easily be corrupted.  1 Corinthians 15:33 says, "Do no be deceived: ‘Bad company ruins good morals’".  Let’s take this warning seriously and be attentive.  If you care about second hand smoke shouldn’t your soul be more important?  -EDH-

As I get older I have found that I don’t have as many moments of youthful exuberance as I used to.  You know what I am talking about; or has it been too long for you too.  Remember when you were young and you caught your first fish…<pause to dig through the memory banks>…you could hardly wait to tell mom and/or dad even though the fish looked like something that you might have in a fish tank?  Remember that time when you were camping and you were running around trying to catch fireflies; and how excited you got when you caught one?  How about that hit you got in a little league game?  Moments like these bring out a youthful exuberance (at least when we are young).  But as we get older, we don’t get as excited.  Something happens and I am not sure what.  Consider this quote from Mike Yaconelli’s book Dangerous Wonder: The Adventures of a Childlike Faith.  Before this he is describing when he used to pretend he was superman: "Then came a day when, without warning, without provocation, I woke up, never to wear a ‘cape’ again.  Wherever the knowledge came from, it came nonetheless, and from that moment on I knew flying was nothing more than a childhood fantasy.  I would never fly…and there is no superman.  In retrospect, my day of ‘enlightenment’ was a very sad day.  I know something inside of me died that day.  Whatever the ‘something’ was, it was the stuff of dreams and imagination…"

I miss those days.  I miss that "something".  But yesterday was a day I felt something I hadn’t felt for a long time…youthful exuberance (childlike wonder).  I was reminded of something I lost long ago and something I want to find again.  Here’s my story from yesterday about the child that resurfaced in me:  I finally played my first round of golf for the year.  This is awfully late considering I have been golfing for about 23 years and I love the game.  This year has been one of those years.  And I can’t quite put my finger on why I have not been out yet.  But looking back I realize I wasted a lot of opportunities.  Anyway, a parishioner wanted to golf with me so we made plans to golf last night.  It was a beautiful night; perfect temperature; very little wind; no bugs; great conversation; all in all it was one of those evenings on the course you just don’t want to end.  But it was a night I did not want to end for another reason.

I got to the first tee which is a 185 yard par 3 (you non-golfers out there please be patient with me.  I will make my point shortly).  I pulled out my 5 wood and teed my ball up.  Now I was not holding any hope of playing that well.  I usually shoot in the mid to upper 40s so a score in the 50s would have been fine for me, but I will tell you right now I did not shoot in the 50s.  I teed off on the first hole and stuck my ball 4 feet from the hole.  I stood on the tee box stunned.  It was a perfect swing and hit.  That should not happen on your first round of the year.  I walked up to the green and putted my ball in for a birdie.  Talk about a nice start.  The next two holes were par 5s.  I hit some great shots and took a par on those two holes.  On the fourth hole I finally showed some rust but still took a bogey (5) on the hole.  So after four holes I am even par.  On the next three holes I showed some more rust and bogeyed two of them while taking a par on one of them.  Now I stood on the 8th tee with a 2 over par score.  The excitement in me was building more and more.  This is a dangerous thing for a golfer because now I am starting to think what score I could shoot.  I am thinking I have a chance to tie my personal best of 2 over par.  I teed off on the 8th tee and hit my ball waaaaaaay left into the next fairway.  Now the true Eric has made his first appearance…choking under the pressure.  That is what I get for thinking about my potential final score.   There goes my personal best.  I then walked up to my ball and hit a perfect shot onto the green and two putted for a par.  Hole #9…all I need is a par to tie my personal best now.  I have to force myself to stop thinking about it.  I hit great 5 iron just missing green by inches.  I chipped close to the hole and tapped in for my par.  I SHOT A 2 OVER PAR 38 TYING MY PERSONAL BEST!  A score like that is not supposed to happen on your first round of the year.

I drove home from the golf course a little faster than I should of.  You see…I was so excited that I could hardly wait to get home to call my dad (the person in my life who taught me the game).  I called the house and my mom answered the phone as usual.  She was surprised when I asked for dad because I usually talk to mom and thought something was wrong.  I said nothing was wrong…I just need to talk to dad.  Dad got on the phone and I proceeded to tell him about every hole and nearly every shot.  I was excited.  I felt like a kid who got a homerun in little league.  Youthful Exuberance. 

After I calmed down I realized something:  I miss this childlike wonder.  I miss getting excited about the little things.  Why can’t I take childlike joy in more things?  I can…we can…we just need to stop taking ourselves so seriously.  Paul says in one of his letters that when he became a man he put childish things away; but we can’t put childlike wonder away.  When we lose this joy; when we lose this imagination we miss out on the joy that the Lord has created for us.  Jesus says we need to receive him like a child; innocent, unconditional trust and faith.  Look for that child within yourself and dust it off.  Take simple joy in the little things.  Laugh out loud…in public even.  Jump in a mud puddle and get someone wet.  Have fun.  Life is too short to be serious all the time.  Enjoy some youthful exuberance for a change.  I guarantee, you will like it.  Amen! -EDH-

Has it really been since last Thursday since I last updated my blog?  Wow!  It is not because I am losing interest it has just been that kind of weekend; full of events.  Fridays, as some of you know, is my Sabbath day.  I try not to do anything "work" related that day (I put "work" in quotes because I really don’t consider my calling as a pastor to be work even though it may feel like it some days).  Friday just happened to be a beautiful day so I spent it working in my yard and garden.  I won’t bore you with those details…I have written about that enough. 

Saturday I spent the day at Shetek Lutheran Ministries (check out their website in the left side bar).  Shetek was hosting their annual quilt auction to raise money for summer camp programs. Since I am on the board of directors I was helping serve lunch.  The quilt auction is a huge fundraiser and very important to the camp.  Sports have become such a priority in the lives of so many people that camp has taken a big hit (but let’s not get me going about sports, otherwise this could be a long blog entry).  Kids are being so pressured to perform in sports that they "have" to attend sports camps or leagues if they want to keep up and compete.  Sports have become their life and everything else gets left in the dust…including their faith (Sorry, I wasn’t going to get off on that topic today…maybe later). Anyway, we had a beautiful day at camp until just after lunch when a storm moved in; so we had to move quickly and get everyone inside so we could continue the auction.  I had to leave before it was done so I am not sure how they did, but when I left they were just over the $12,000 mark.

Sunday morning was..well…you know…busy as usual.  Everything went fine.  The afternoon was relaxing spending it with my wife.  We then went to Spirit Lake, IA to spend some time with friends.  We grilled and played some games.  It was a great evening.

Now we are at today.  It is Monday morning and I am in my office re-grouping and getting ready for the week ahead.  A week from this Thursday (July 6) I leave for Nashville with 5 senior high kids for the Youth Encounter national youth event called The Edge.  I will be writing about this while I am down there so check out this site for fun details.

But with all that going on the one thing I need to remember is not to lose touch with what is REALLY important…and that is relationships.  First and foremost is my relationship with Jesus.  When life gets busy God can easily get forgotten.  We take God for granted because God will always be there and forgive us.  Don’t forget about God…God does not forget about us.  Next I need to remember my wife.  She is the most important person in my life and she needs to be told that everyday.  She sees things I don’t and keeps me from getting a big head when things are going well; she reminds me that it is not about me.  Next I need to remember my family.  Being a few hours away from them it is easy to lose touch, but thank God for email…now I can send those quick notes to say that I am thinking about them (I just need to send those notes).  Next I need to remember my friends.  This is tough because life situations change so often and with that, sometimes friends.  But there are some friends that do not change. 

My wife recently lost a friend to a brain tumor last week.  His Celebration of New Life service will be on Tuesday.  She is struggling with this because she feels she lost touch with Adam and thinks she was a bad friend.  But then a mutual friend said that true friends are connected not through how much time they spend together or through how much they talk (or communicate); true friends are bonded together in a way we cannot adequately explain with words, but God is somehow involved.  Connie…you are a good friend because you and Adam were and are friends through Christ…and Adam knew that.  But here is the best thing, through Christ, you and Adam and everyone else will be reunited again in the great circle of friends.  And that is exciting. I am looking forward to meeting Adam someday; he sounds like a neat guy.  I wish I could give you a more accurate picture of what heaven is like, but know that Adam is at peace.  No more tumor; no more treatments; no more suffering.  Adam is at peace, so take comfort in that.  You and we WILL see him again.

There you go…that is my heart for today.  Let’s not lose touch…I promise I will do better.  But know we are always connected through Jesus.  And that is a bond that will never be broken; and praise God for that.  See you later Adam…enjoy your New Life.  I am looking forward to seeing you someday.  As for you, my friends, who are reading this, you are cherished.  Have a blessed day!  Amen! -EDH-

I drove through a high school parking lot recently leaving a graduation ceremony.  My wife and I were trying to hurry to get out before the crowd.  The parking lot was full and we knew it would be a zoo trying to get out if we did not hurry.  As I was driving I was getting situated and talking to Connie when I noticed a speed bump coming.  I was not too concerned because these speed bumps are usually not too bad.  But as we got close we realized that this bump was different.  I hit the breaks to slow down but I still hit the bump too fast (5 mph was still too fast for this bump).  The jolt quickly reminded me to slow down because there were more bumps coming.  Going over the next three speed bumps provided us with the feeling we were on a slow moving amusement park ride designed for pre-schoolers.  There was a small jolt when the tires hit the leading edge of the bump and a little bounce when we went over.  My niece would have had a great time.  I can also about imagine that the high school students did not care for those bumps.  Slowing down is usually not fun (but needed).

Anyplace where it is important for people to slow down, speed bumps are installed; malls, schools, generally most parking lots.  When things get too fast, we risk hurting ourselves and others.  Speed bumps are meant to save us.

I wonder if speed bumps in life are designed for the same purpose (please excuse my "over-used" life analogy).  I don’t think there is a person alive who can say they have never encountered a speed bump in life (In case you missed the transition, I am talking metaphorically now).  We are going along quite nicely then something happens.  We hit a bump in the road (and it hurts) and we are forced to slow down and see what we hit.  Then we look ahead and see more bumps.  We get frustrated because we want to keep moving at our pace.  We don’t like opposition.  We want people to agree with us.  We don’t like starting over; we don’t like re-examining and we don’t like any interruption to flow of things.

Speed bumps are often discouraging.  When you hit them you may feel like giving up.  "If I can’t go as fast as I want, then I don’t want to be in the car".  "If people don’t get it, then forget about it."

Speed bumps sometimes cause damage, because if you hit any bump too fast damage will occur.  This may cause us to stop altogether and not get going again.  After all we don’t want to risk getting hurt.

But maybe we need these speed bumps in life.  When things are going along nicely in life we can easily forget about God.  "I don’t need help.  I am doing just fine."  We think we know the "right" way and get full of ourselves.  But speed bumps cause us to slow down (like a said before) and re-examine who really is in charge…and it is not us.  I have had times in my ministry here at Salem when I thought I could do no wrong.  I was cruising along just fine and then something happens.  Maybe a program falls through.  Somebody backs out.  I make a mistake.  All of a sudden the momentum stops and I am forced to figure out way.  I have not relied on God’s direction and guidance.  I tried to go too fast and rush things…faster than what was needed.  I tried to rely on my own wisdom (YES…I do have some wisdom).

Speed bumps slow us down, but they are not meant to stop us completely.  We need to be reminded that God is in control.  Speed bumps show us we need some help; that we need God.  So don’t get discouraged; don’t give up; but see speed bumps in life as God’s way of slowing us down to get a word in edge wise: "Don’t forget about me.  I know what you should do and how to do it.  Let me help."  God speaks and God acts for the good of creation; for the good of your life.  Slow down.  Listen.  And see the awesome power of God transform this world through you.  Amen! -EDH-

Those of you who are not golfers please be patient and read on.  I do have a point that you might be interested in.  The U.S. Open this past weekend, you see, begs to be written about (especially since I am a golfer myself and a fellow "loser").

Phil Mickelson, the #2 golfer in the world coming into the U.S. Open last Thursday, gave away a tournament that was well in hand.  Phil had a one shot lead going into the final hole.  All he had to do was take a long iron off the tee and place his drive in the fairway; get on the green and make a seemly simple par (I say "seemly simple" because Phil nearly mastered the back 9 at Wingedfoot Golf Course not because I could do it myself).  Instead Phil used a driver, something that had plagued him all day and put his drive way left…in trouble.  His next shot hit a tree (something I can relate to).  Phil’s third shot was a "shot in the dark" that buried itself in the sand bunker near the green.  Phil’s fourth shot out of the bunker went over the green in the long ruff.  His fifth shot (which needed to go in to force a playoff) missed badly.  Phil finished tied for second in a tournament he should have won.  Geoff Ogilvy from Australia won, but the thing is, no one is going to remember who won, but rather who lost.  The 2006 U.S. open will always (and I mean always) be known as the Open that Phil lost, not the Open that Geoff won.

Jean Van de Velde was leading the 1999 British Open by 3 shots going into the final hole.  All he needed was, at worst, a 6 on a par four to win, but Van de Velde carded a 7 to force a playoff.  He lost by three strokes in the four hole playoff format.  Who won the 1999 British Open?  I do not know off the top of my head, but I know who lost it.

I feel sorry for Geoff Ogilvy and Paul Lawrie (1999 British Open winner.  I just looked that up).  They won major tournaments but yet the world is going to remember who lost them.  The world won’t remember how they won, but how Phil and Jean lost.  Wow!  What a way to be remembered…a loser…someone who choked under pressure.  But here I am; speaking when I have no place to speak since my golf game is no where even close to the same plant has Phil’s or Jean’s.  But anyone who is a sports fan thinks they know how to do things better than the actual athletes out there (And YES, golfers are athletes.  Don’t make me argue with you).

So…those of you out there who could care less about golf (like my wife who thinks I have a "golf" disease) your question about now is "Where are you going with this? Stop with the golf stuff."  Well hold on to your pants, I am getting there.

In the cosmic game of salvation we are losers.  In Paul’s letter to the Romans, chapter 5 he writes, "God proves his love for us that while we were yet sinners, Jesus died for us".  Loosely translated, "While we were still losers in the salvation game, Jesus won the prize FOR US."  You see, people throughout time and today have tried to earn their way to heaven.  People thought and still think today that we can appease God and win the salvation game; if we do enough "stuff" and well enough then God will have to give us our prize.  My friends, that is not how it works.  We lost the salvation game; we are losers if you will.  So God sent his Son, Jesus Christ to run the race.  Jesus not only ran the race but won the prize through his death and resurrection.  But he not only won the prize, but won the prize FOR US…a bunch of "losers". 

So if the world remembers losers, I am glad to be counted among them; for Jesus (the winner we should not forget about) died for a loser such as me and you. Amen. -EDH-

A couple days ago, two 21 year old guys, who were drinking, got onto the baseball field at the Metrodome during a Twins game.  One guy ran into the outfield, but he was not shown on TV.  The one that got the press was the guy who ran down from third base and slid across home plate, seemly safe.  But as he got up to run away, the batboy ran and tackled the guy and held him to the ground until security arrived.  Batboy?  I thought he looked more like Batman coming to save the day from two jokers.  And apparently the local and some national news outlets thought the same.  This scene was played on the Today Show and on Kare11 in Minneapolis.  The focus was on the batboy, not the jokers who ran onto the field.  People like that should not be glamorized.  And I am willing to bet that we would not even be talking about this if the batboy did not make a great tackle worthy of a spot with the Minnesota Vikings.

Then a couple nights ago I was watching Kare11 News and their top story was this scene from the Metrodome.  They replayed it over and over again (I guess it sure beats hearing a top story about a murder or a hit and run). Eventually they talked to the batboy and got his side of the story.  Up to that point I was fine with the story, but not totally thrilled.  Then they talked to the two guys who ran onto the field. 

WHAT IS GOING ON HERE? 

These two guys, who were drinking; who broke the law; who made fools of themselves are being given their 15 seconds of fame (actually it probably worked out to be 30 seconds give or take).  But why glamorize these two guys?  Why give them the attention?  They pulled this stunt to get attention and they got it.  Kare11 went too far and when I emailed them yesterday morning about this, they did not even respond to me.  I felt like I was talking into the wind.  Pointless.  A waste of time.  Maybe they will respond later (I will definitely let you know if they do).

But my point in writing this morning is not to vent (even though that is part of the reason).  My point today is two-fold.  First it is to wonder with you about why we like to hold up and glamorize stupidity.  Initially this Metrodome event was funny.  When I first saw this story I chuckled (I will admit that).  I thought it was creative that someone had the nerve to slide across home plate, but I was even more impressed with the tackle at the end.  But why are we drawn to these events?  Maybe it is because they acted in a way we never would.  Maybe we wish we had the nerve to be more bold so we live vicariously through these people.  Maybe there is a small part of each of us that is mischievous even though we would never admit it.  Maybe it is because if the media says it is news worthy, then there must be something to it.  I don’t know.  Leave me a comment to this post if you have an answer.  I would love to read it (as I am sure others would).

But my second point, before I end my ranting this morning, is this:  As Christians we are called to be witnesses of God’s love in this world.  We are called to hold people accountable; naming their sin (but not before we name ours and recognize our shortcomings).  We are called to be kind and gentle.  We are called to recognize wrong; call those people to repentance; and do it out of love.  All the while loving the people, but hating the sin. 

But something tells me I am speaking into the wind (and often times I am).  What do we say to people who would take something like what I have written here and toss it out the window?  Why should we continue to talk if no one will listen. Sometimes I wonder why bother; no one cares.  Why am I wasting my energy (Can you relate?)  I guess what keeps me going is that I do care and I hope you do too.  As long as at least one person cares then we have something.  Change can happen; the gospel will be preached; the kingdom will advance.  If we are speaking into the wind, then we need to speak louder than the wind and not give up.  Let’s live as witnesses to the gospel.  Don’t stay silent. When you see something that is not right say something.  People might not always listen, but if one person does, then you have made a difference.  We don’t need to live vicariously through others or go with the wind; because we have a God who gives us all we need.

Thank you for listening (reading) today.  Thank you for giving this whatever attention you think it deserves.  Speak loud.  Thank you "Batman" for saving the day; for tackling a pair of "Jokers".  May your act be inspiration to us all.  Amen! -EDH-

I can’t believe it.  I have been stewing all day trying to resist the urge to write today.  And now here I am.  I guess my urge finally wore me down.  I can remember a time that resisting the urge to write was pretty easy.  In high school I hated writing (I know "hated" is a strong word, but it accurately describes the moment).  I resisted the urge to write.  If I had to then I took the easy way out and got the "Cliff’s Notes" for a book and went from there.  In college I started out as a computer science major and then switched a year later to accounting.  Both majors are ones where we did not write a lot of papers.  Then I got to seminary and writing was the norm.  I guess I knew that going in; especially answering the call to be a pastor I knew I would be writing a lot ("a lot" is a major understatement).  So all of this brings us to today.  A guy who spent much of his life resisting the urge to write is a pastor writing sermons and newsletter articles and now a blog.  Talk about irony at its best. 

But one would think I could call on my past and rely on my "writing resistant" skills today…but no.  I found the urge and here I am.  The reason I fought the urge is because of what I am going to write next…<Deep breath>…people really need to leave Britney Spears alone.  Did I actually write that?  Wow!  I need to take a break from this writing thing if I am mentioning Britney Spears.  But after what I saw this morning on the "Today Show" I need to say something.  I guess that is why I have this blog; to say what is on my mind.  Because seriously, if I were to preach a sermon mentioning Britney Spears…well…let’s not go there. 

Anyway…

Ever since BS (I am using those initials so I don’t have to type "her name" anymore) had her first child, she has been under an even more focused microscope.  Recently she was plastered all over the media for being photographed driving with her child in her lap.  This morning BS was interviewed by Matt Lauer (I probably misspelled Matt’s name, but at least I don’t cringe when I type it).  When Matt asked her what she would say to those hounding her for pictures and stories she broke down in tears and basically said, "Leave me alone.  Let me have privacy.  Let me live my life."  For a brief moment I found myself feeling sorry for a person I have always seen as a bad role model for young girls (and boys for that matter).  Why is that?  Apparently it is something worth writing about if I am spending the time on it now.

We spend so much time judging people.  In the case of BS we don’t even know all the facts.  Is it ever O.K. to drive with a child in your lap? NO! But is it ever O.K. to judge someone? NO!  And that is what is being done here.  I have no clue if BS is a good mom or not.  I have no clue if BS is a good wife or not.  I can’t care about it because I don’t know her or know any real facts.  Even the people in our lives…we can’t be judging them even if we know them like the back of our hands.  The only one who has any right to judge is God alone. 

Scripture tells us to not judge anyone lest ye be judged.  But that scares no one.  It doesn’t always scare me because I judge like the next person.  I mean, I just called BS a bad role model.  I don’t care who you are, no one deserves the judgment that BS is getting.  No one!  But we do deserve any judgment that God would hand down.  Luckily we have a Savior who loves us a lot ("a lot" is a major, major understatement).  Jesus died so that our judgment sheet would be stamped "SAVED"  Let’s leave any judging to God and I promise not to write any more about BS.  Deal?  Good…deal.  Amen! -EDH-