Personal

10 random things about me

/ The Pastor / 9 Comments

I have been tagged by Diane at faith in community to share 10 random things about myself.  This could either scary or fun.  I will let you decide.  Anyway…here it goes (in no particular order):

(1) I played violin from 4th grade through high school.  I was definitely not God’s gift to the earth when it came to the violin.  By my senior year I moved all the way back to 2nd violin, second to last stand (at least I was better than three other people).

(2) My BIGGEST pet peeve is listening to people clip their finger/toe nails, but clipping mine does not bother me.

(3) I was a spoiled kid in high school.  From when I got my drivers license through graduation I drove 30 different cars (my dad is a car dealer) – and I never owned any of them.  Spoiled!

(4) I love drinking V8.  It is the only thing that endears me to my mother-in-law.

(5) I have never been overseas.  I came close when Connie and I were scheduled to go to the Holy Lands but then 9/11 happened and scraped those plans.

(6) I have never broken a bone in my body (knock on wood) and I still have my appendix and tonsils.

(7) My 32oz. nalgene water bottle rarely leaves my side (and going to bed without it means a night with no sleep).

(8) I am allergic to air.  O.K., maybe not air specifically, but I am allergic to almost anything that floats around in the air except for the Chinese fig tree (don’t ask me why they tested me for that).

(9) I love winter and cold weather — the more snow the better and the colder the better.  But…I do not like hockey, ice fishing or snowmobiling.  Actually I think hockey is pointless (no offense anyone), I am deathly afraid of walking on frozen bodies of water and even more afraid of riding on snowmobiles.

(10) I was baptized Catholic.  When told that I was going to be ordained, my grandmother (a Catholic) responded by saying, "Oh…that’s too bad" 🙂

Wow…I am one strange cookie.  Anyway, let’s see some randomness from the following (who I now tag): David at HERE I STAND, Pastor David at Postings from Prairie Hill, Joe at Freedom, and Chris at The Lutheran Zephyr

Have fun!

-edh-

Monday morning check in

/ The Pastor / 3 Comments

Greetings on this lovely Monday morning!

Finally…
After long last I finally got my yard done.  I have been staring at my long grass and abundant leaves for a couple weeks now wondering when I was going to get some nice weather and time to clean up my yard.  I never seemed to get those two parts of the equation at the same time.  Well…Sunday was a beautiful day and I barely had enough time.  I borrowed a riding lawn mower with a bagger and finished the yard.  I looks great and I feel much better.  The problem is I think I cut my grass way too short.  That could be a problem later.  Oh well…my yard looks nice so I am going to enjoy it for the time being.

A visit
I had one of those nice visits yesterday.  While I was on the lawn mower I saw someone pulling into the church parking lot…obviously looking for me.  I stopped to chat.  It turned out that he just wanted to explain to me why he hasn’t been in church the last few weeks.  It turned out to be medical reasons.  He is doing fine but it got me thinking:  I wish more people felt this sense of duty to be in worship; not because they HAD to be there, but because they wanted to be there to praise God.  Also:  I wish more people felt this calling to talk to people who have been absent and check in with them, "We’ve missed you in worship recently".  Wouldn’t that be nice?

Disturbing movie
I am usually not one to pass on email forwards or pay much attention to them, but I thought this was worthy to pass on to you.  There is a movie coming out that everyone needs to be aware of, especially if you work with children or care about children at all.  The movie is called The Golden Compass.  This movie is based on a series of children’s books with anti-religious themes.  Actually, the author talks about killing God.  The worry is that children will enjoy the movie so much that they will want to read the book series.  Please follow the above link to learn more so we can collectively protect our children.  This is indeed very disturbing.

Web site
Thank you for the comments I received for the new web site we are working on for Salem (www.salemjackson.org).  The site is still a work in progress but it is coming along quite nicely.  If you think of any other suggestions please let me know.  As a visitor what information would you like to see.  What needs to be improved or communicated more effectively?

Personal stewardship update
I finally reached the 20 pound mark in my weight loss.  I had been stuck at 17 to 18 pounds for a while.  I still have another 10 pounds to go to reach my first goal.  I hope to reach that by the end of the year, but with Thanksgiving and Christmas approaching, that might be difficult.

Thank you (as always) for stopping by.  God bless you today and everyday as you live out the promises given to you in baptism.

-edh-

"…weeping may last for the night, but joy comes with the morning…" (Psalm 30)

Monday morning check in

/ The Pastor / 2 Comments

Happy Monday morning(if there IS such a thing)!

Slowing down
It feels like so long since I wrote a "personal" post I felt I should do something a little different today.  It also has been a while since I have commented on the blogs I read regularly.  It’s not that I have stopped reading blogs, but that I have been either out of my office for continuing education or playing catch up.  Now that Reformation/Confirmation Sunday is past I feel that my plate is a little clearer…which is a good feeling.  Now I need to get together with the Methodist and Presbyterian pastors to plan the Thanksgiving eve worship service.  Each year we rotate between the three churches.  This year its the Methodists turn to host with me preaching.

Halloween
Wednesday is Halloween or as I like to call Oct. 31…Reformation Day.  But for some reason that hasn’t caught on too well.  We celebrate Reformation SUNDAY and often forget the actual day of Reformation is on the 31st.  I thought about that recently and decided that next year for Halloween(Reformation Day) my wife and I are dressing up as Martin and Katie Luther (we would do that this year, but my wife has already purchased our costumes).  This year I am dressing up as a Roman Gladiator and my wife is going to be a Roman goddess.  I haven’t decided if I will wear my costume all day or not.  What are other people doing this year for Reformation Day?  Are you wearing a costume? If so, are you wearing it all day?

Confirmation Sunday
Along with Reformation Sunday we also celebrated Confirmation Sunday.  I had only one confirmand this year.  I told him on Saturday that he needed to make sure he remembered the Apostles’ Creed.  I said, "When we get to the part where you confess your faith, you are not going to have a LBW up there with you.  Being the only one, if you mess up, everyone will know."  I felt that was a reasonable thing to expect.  After all, the Apostles’ Creed was a piece of memory work AND it is something we confess every week (except Communion Sundays where we use the Nicene Creed).  This Confirmand apparently was scared silly on Sunday morning, but he made it through just fine.  Only one little slip up at the end (something his younger sister made sure he knew about when he sat down – She will get her turn in two years).  Was this a reasonable expectation?  Should I have let him bring a LBW up with him?

Personal stewardship update
As of this morning I have lost 18 pounds since mid-August.  I have been stuck at this point for a couple weeks.  I guess my body is adjusting to my new life style.  Hopefully I will start the slide downwards again pretty soon.  It is fun to wear clothes I haven’t worn for a few years.  The only problem is that I am running out of clothes that fit me; some of my favorites feel and look too baggy.  I guess that is not a bad problem to have.

Anyway…that is my life now.  I look forward to getting caught up on some blogs here this week.  So take care and may God’s blessing fill you to overflowing – so much so that people can’t help but stare at you and say, "I want some of that".

-edh-

Interview questions from Pastor David

/ The Pastor / 8 Comments

A couple weeks ago I volunteered to be interviewed by Pastor David at Postings from Prairie Hill.  Below are the questions he posted on his blog followed by my answers to those questions.  But first, the rules for this meme are as follows:
1. If you are interested in being interviewed, leave me a comment saying "interview me."
2. I will respond by posting 5 questions for you. I get to post the questions.
3. You will update your blog with a post containing your answers to the questions.
4. You will include this explanation and offer to interview someone else in the same post.
5. When others comment, asking to be interviewed, you will ask them 5 questions.

Now…here it goes:
(1) You recently celebrated the third anniversary of your ordination. In these three years, what has surprised you most about ordained ministry? What has consistently fed you the most as a pastor?
When I first started here what surprised me the most was how much people cared about my opinion on various matters.  I remember my first council meeting.  Someone asked a question and immediately everyone turned and looked at me.  Time seemed to stand still as I peered into their eyes first wondering, "Why are you looking at me?" and then "Wow…people want to hear what I think".  That was hard to get used to and at times it still surprises me.  I think it is one of those reminders for me of the responsibility I have.  What I say and do matters; people are listening.

What feeds me the most is when I see people respond in service to others.  I am fed when I see the "Sunday school" (Wednesday Night Live) teachers working with the kids and having fun.  I am fed when I see council members get excited about worship and giving to ministeries outside the church.  I am fed when I see people choosing Bible study over something else (i.e. work, meetings).  I am fed when I hear people talk about their faith.

(2)This is your first call. Did you choose SW Minnesota, or did it choose you?
In a way I(we) chose SW MN AND SW MN chose me(us).  Connie and I grew up in the SW MN Synod.  Our hometown is only 2 1/2 hours away (we grew up together with me graduating 3 years ahead of Connie).  For both of us family connections are important so we wanted to stay close. So we requested to stay somewhere within Region 3 (MN, SD and ND) hoping to stay in SW MN.  And SW MN did choose us.  We were willing to go where we were called but thankfully we were called here.  Small town/small congregation life appeals to us even though there are times when a large congregation would be appealing.  But in the end, I would not trade my call to Salem for anything.

(3) What is one book, other than the Bible and Confessions, that you could not live without? And why?
I am going to cheat a little bit here and mention a couple books.  Dietrich Bonhoeffer is the one theologian I have quoted the most in my ministry with the Cost of Discipleship being the book that has influenced my faith the most.  I had heard the phrase "cheap grace" before but never really understood it.  After reading Bonhoeffer, God’s grace seemed to come alive in me in a new and powerful way.  God’s grace does not give us license to be "lazy" but it should motivate us to action.

A couple other books include: The Evangelizing Church by Richard Bliese and Craig Van Gelder; and A Story Worth Sharing by Kelly Fryer.  Both of these books helped me see evangelism in a new way.  Actually it placed a fire under me; so much so that I am getting involved with my synod’s effort to push evangelism in the Church – something you wouldn’t think you would have to do in the Church.

(4) If you were not a pastor, what you be doing with your life?
This is a hard question to answer.  This is my third career so I have tried others things.  I served as a program director of an ELCA Bible camp and I tried my hand at selling cars (my dad owns a car dealership).  I enjoyed my time at camp, but I burnt myself out.  And I enjoyed selling cars (for a little bit) but found out that I am a bad car salesman.  My dad has a gift…I don’t.  So what would I do if I weren’t a pastor?  Hmmm…this may sound kind of strange, but I could see myself running a Christian coffee house.  I love hanging out at the coffee place downtown doing my "ecumenical ministry".  I also have an accounting degree.  So combined with my passion for ministry, why not use both of those.  Plus…access to great coffee whenever I wanted.  You can’t go wrong with that 🙂

(5) What is one place you have never been, but would like to go?
In 2001, my wife and I were registered and set to go to the Holy Lands as part of my cross cultural education requirement for Luther Seminary (of course she wasn’t required to do cross cultural education but we thought it would be fun to go together).  Our deposit was paid and we were making plans…then 9/11 happened.  A month later our trip was canceled and the deposit was returned.  So my answer here (obviously) is the Holy Lands.  To walk in the areas where Christ and his disciples walked and lived would be a powerful experience.  To see first hand the area where some of the major events of our faith took place I think would draw me closer to the stories.  You can see and hear stories about mountains, but when you experience them first hand your perspective changes.  But my faith won’t be "incomplete" if I never get there.

And to steal Diane’s bonus question: what is one question you would like someone to ask you?
This is also a good question and I hope I have a good question for my answer. My question (for myself) is this: What is the most important lesson you learned from your parents? I ask this because I feel it is important for our lives as followers of Christ.  The lesson I learned came from my dad when I moved home in 1997 to work for him.  On my first day of work he said, "You treat every person who walks through that door as if they were Jesus (and I am not talking about crucifying him even though that is often how we treat people).  I will never forget that.  After all, isn’t that how each of us is suppose to treat everyone.  Imagine if the whole world followed my dad’s advice.  Hmmm…

Well…that’s it.  Thanks, Pastor David, for the thought provoking questions.  It was fun to ponder them again.  If anyone else out there would like to be interviewed, let me know.  I have enjoyed getting to know people through this meme.  Take care and God bless!

-edh-

Monday randomness

/ The Pastor / 7 Comments

It is Monday morning and my routine is all thrown off.  As some of you may know, my office computer "died"  this past week.  I have a guy coming in this afternoon so I am hoping for a quick resurrection. Hopefully the hard drive is alright and it’s only the power supply that is shot.  In the mean time I am typing away on my lap top.

Sermon prep
This past Wednesday we had a great Bible study – studying the up coming Sunday texts.  I gained a lot of insight through this group and through all those who left comments on this blog.  I really, really appreciate the body of Christ as we gather together to discuss the Word of God.  I can’t imagine being involved in ministry as a "solo" pastor.  We definitely need each other.

Personal stewardship update
Last month set a goal for myself to run the Twin Cities marathon in Oct. 2008.  Right now that has been put on hold.  I have been having some problems with my shins and found out recently at a doctor’s visit that I have flat feet and that is probably is the source of my problems.  I have an appointment with a specialist to check my feet out.  So I have turned my attention to biking and weightlifting.  Maybe I will be the next Lance Armstrong – minus the drugs 😉

But on a positive note I have lost 16 pounds since mid-August.  I can’t tell you how excited I am.  I have gone down a pants size and have moved into large shirts from XL.  Today I even comfortably got into a medium shirt.  Whoo hoo!

God is awesome!!!
God has been incredibly faithful.  Even though my I am "suffering" through computer problems, God is still faithful.  Even though I "lost" my sermon last week, God’s Word was still proclaimed.  Even though "my" running goals have been (hopefully temporarily) derailed, I am still losing weight.  God is faithful.  God is awesome.  And through all these "hardships" I will praise God.

-edh-

Box elder bugs

/ The Pastor / 9 Comments

I just want to go on record by saying:  I REALLY, REALLY DISLIKE BOX ELDER BUGS (I would use the word "hate", but that is such a strong word…O.K….I HATE BOX ELDER BUGS!)!

Whenever I walk outside I can just hear them: "Look a free taxi ride.  Quick…jump on he will never know it".  Then I get inside and lo and behold, there they are…flying around in my house or office.

We also have Asian Beatles that attack town when the farmers start harvesting the soy beans in the fall.  I had the house and church sprayed, but they are still thick, flying around outside and dive bombing me.

Stupid bugs!

O.K….I am done ranting.

Have a nice day 🙂

-edh-

Never walking alone

/ The Pastor / 6 Comments

Two weeks ago my wife, Connie (who also serves as Salem’s parish nurse) began a program called "Walking and the Word".  At 6:30am on Wednesday mornings you meet at the church (with Connie) and go for a 1/2 hour walk.  Upon your return you head to the church fellowship hall for b-fast (coffee, juice and something healthy to eat) and devotions with me — hence "Walking and the Word".  After three weeks we have 3 faithful walkers.  But whether anyone shows up or not, Connie and I will be there — exercising, enjoying breakfast and devotions.

Today, Connie was out of town for a meeting so that meant I was in charge of everything — including the walking — which was (and is) fine.  I got up at 5:30am and got b-fast ready and the coffee maker set.  At 6am I went outside to prepare for a short run before the walkers arrived.  As I was stretching out a Suburban pulled into the parking lot.  It was W.  W is a sweet man.  He always spoils Connie and I at Christmas with a gift certificate to a fancy restaurant.  This morning W got out of his vehicle and said, "No one should walk alone or walk alone in life.  So I will walk with you."  I couldn’t help but smile.  I explained to him the walkers arrive in a 1/2 hour and that I was going for a run before we walk.  I invited him to come back at 6:30 but he said he is not much of a walker…he just didn’t want me to walk alone.  We chatted for a while and then he left to have coffee with the guys.

What a great thing to say, "No one should ever walk alone".  How true…how true.  No one should EVER walk alone and no one does when it come to Christ.  But here on this earth many people still "walk alone".  They grieve alone, deal with problems alone, celebrate alone, cry alone. 

"No one should ever walk alone"

Most if not all of us know people who "walk alone".  We know people who feel isolated because of choice or because of life circumstances.  They may feel lost and don’t know what to do.  But whether it is a choice or life circumstance…

…"No one should ever walk alone"…

…so go and "walk" with them.  Remind them that with Christ they never truly walk alone.  They never truly grieve alone or deal with problems alone or…you get the picture. 

"No one should ever walk alone" is a nice thing to say but an even better thing to put into practice. W does it literally and figuratively.  So pull a W…pull off the "road"…step outside your comfort zone…and "walk" or walk with someone.  Because…"No one should ever walk alone".  Thanks W…and…happy "walking" to all.

-edh-

Question: School referendum

/ The Pastor / 11 Comments

I am seeking your help and advise on something.  I have always struggled with a pastor’s place when it comes to supporting referendums.  Living in a parsonage, I am not directly effected by tax increases since pastor’s do not pay property taxes if they live in a parsonage.  So here’s my question (with an explanation first):

Coming up in November the school district I live in (Jackson County Central — JCC) will be asking the community for an increase in school funding.  The referendum would increase the current per pupil funding from $50 to $1000.  Jackson County Central school district is currently the lowest funded school district around (if not in the state).  Last year the referendum failed.  A number of teachers were cut along with a couple programs (of course sports were barely touched at all, but don’t get me going on that).  Classes sizes are increasing and if this referendum fails again, JCC is in a lot of trouble.  I fear for the future.

Schools are extremely important for any community and I definitely support our schools, but (and here’s my question) how do pastor’s speak about something like this when we don’t have to pay for it.  On Sunday I was given a button that says, "Vote Yes for Education" and asked if they could count on my vote.  I said "Yes" because schools are important but part of me feels…<and I am not sure how to word this…maybe you know>.  Should I wear a button like that and visually support this?  It sounds like a strange question but it is something I struggle internally with.

Then again, maybe this does effect me.  If our school receives less funding then that will mean more teachers will be cut.  Classes sizes will then increase.  Maybe with all of that that will cause people to leave the community for a better school district and that right there would effect the church.  Does that make sense?

Does anyone else have any thoughts on this?  I am curious what your experiences have been with things like this.  This is definitely a fine line that needs to be walked.  Thanks for "listening".

-edh-

The joy of September

/ The Pastor / 11 Comments

Well…the joy of September is here.  As always, the second Wednesday of the month from September through May is always the busiest for me.  Thankfully I did a ton of prep work yesterday so I am ready to go.  At 12noon we have our ministerial meeting.  I am beginning my second term as president and third term as treasurer and second term as secretary.  Basically I am the "king" of the Jackson County ministerial.  Scary I know, but no one else will do it…so I am it.  The other part of the reason I continue serving the ministerial in this capacity is because the other pastors have told me that the community now knows who the contact person is and it is easier to keep the same person instead of changing every year.  As long as they want me to serve in this way I will continue and if someone else steps forward I will gladly turn over the reigns.  Until then I wonder if I should have people call me, "Your Majesty" 🙂

Anyway…allow me to continue if you are done laughing at me…at 2pm Release Time begins.  On Wednesdays the schools "release" the 3rd through 5th graders (who have registered) to go to their respective churches for an hour of Bible class.  This year I have 3 third graders and 2 fourth graders (these two kids are not from Salem).  It should be a lot of fun.

Starting in 2 weeks (but not today) I will have confirmation at 3:30pm until 4:30.  So I will have a 1/2 hour break between Release Time and confirmation.  Today at 6:30 I have an Endowment committee meeting and then at 7pm the Deacons meet with the church council meeting at 7:30pm.  I should be ready plop down on my couch at around 9:30pm (if all goes well).

WELCOME TO SEPTEMBER, ERIC!!!

A request
On Sept. 30 Salem is planning on giving our 3rd graders Bibles.  This has been a tradition for us for some time now (as it is for many congregations I know).  We haven’t done this for three years because we haven’t had any 3rd graders for a while.  Also on that day I am planning on introducing the congregation to the new pew Bible we have purchased.  This will be a big change for people; moving from a printed insert to a Bible.  Ooooh…this may cause some controversy…I will keep you updated on this.

Anyway…my request is this:  Do you have a Bible Sunday for your 3rd graders?  And if so, what do you do?  How to you present the Bibles?  What Bibles do you give?  Do you have an inscription inside the Bible? etc.  I am looking for ideas here to help make this a memorable day for our kids.  Also…one thing I am thinking about is after we present the Bibles to the 3rd graders I will ask the 3rd graders in turn to present the pew Bibles to the congregation.  I thought this would be a neat experience for everyone.  What do you think?  Any ideas for me?

Thank you for "listening" and stopping by.  May the joy of the Lord kick you in the butt today to be a light to someone who sees only darkness.  Take care and God bless.
-edh-