Just a quicky follow up from my previous post titled Expensive pants. Fellow blogger, Proclaiming Softly emailed me an interesting link: Dry cleaner wins in missing-pants case. A quick re-cap: A judge was suing a mom and pop dry cleaners for $55 million for losing his pants. The judge that heard this case ruled in favor of the dry cleaners. This story has given me a shot of hope in the legal system (if only for a moment). So with this link being sent to me and shared with you I am officially dropping this story (I hope) and moving on.
-edh-
Personal
Suffering
"Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us." (Romans 5:1-5)
When I was preparing my sermon on Thursday I stumbled across the sermon I preached three years ago. It was the very first sermon I preached at Salem Lutheran Church on June 6, 2004. The text that Sunday was also Romans 5:1-5. This means that I have finally reached the point in my ministry here where I get to repeat the lectionary cycle. So I decided to read that first sermon partly because I wanted to see how I interpreted the text back then but mostly to see how (if any) I had grown over the last three years.
I then got to thinking about how I, the community, the church and the world has changed over the last three years. I got to thinking about the sufferings we have experienced. I then got to thinking that even though we have gone through sufferings, we are still here and we are stronger for them.
"Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God." It is because of this peace that we can endure and overcome suffering. It is because of the promise from God, that when we go through the fire we will not be burned (Isaiah 43), that we can face suffering with hope.
…but when I go through suffering, I don’t always think about this hope…
I know there will be times when I will complain about any suffering I may experience. I will whine and be miserable. But in those times I pray that God may slap me in the face with the reminder that I am not alone and therefore make me stronger. I thank God for this "refining process". I thank God for strengthening me through the years. And I thank God for the opportunity to share in his glory.
"Oh God, slap me in the face with your love and grace when I whine in suffering. Remind me that you are there to strengthen and guide me through the fire. Through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord I pray, Amen!"
One more thing…
My wife and I have a wedding today and a graduation tomorrow (Sunday). After that we head on vacation for a few days to visit friends, so I may not be able to update this site until Thursday. Take care and may God bless your comings and going.
-edh-
Radio interview with Andrew
This link will take you to a radio interview of Andrew talking about his experience following the roadside bomb attack in Iraq he experienced.
http://www.ewiseradiotools.com/station_files/file_1180313927__.mp3
-edh-
Hope does not disappoint
"Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us." (Romans 5:3-5)
I have read this text a number of times. I have preached on this text and have studied it in Bible study, but now I see it differently. In light of Andrew’s situation, recovering from a roadside bomb blast in Iraq, I wonder how Andrew would hear this text. And as I wonder about that, I find myself wondering how we as Christians should hear this text.
We are reminded very quickly by Paul of OUR situation because of God’s love through Jesus Christ. Because Jesus died and rose from the grave (which he did FOR YOU and FOR ME), we have access to a peace and grace beyond all understanding – a free gift given through faith. And through this faith, we look forward to our ultimate glory that we will share with God someday…
…but we live in the here and now — with suffering…
I have a hard time thinking that one should "boast" about their sufferings – especially when one is faced with a life without their God-given legs. Does Andrew "boast" in his suffering? I don’t know. Would I boast in that kind of suffering? Part of me says "I hope I would", but another part of of me says "I don’t know what I would do".
Another question that comes to mind is this: Does one have to suffer in order to experience hope? Is it only through suffering that we truly understand God’s grace and love? And as a close friend of mine asks, "Do I suffer enough?"
Being a good Lutheran I understand Luther’s comments that we are not to search for "our cross" or our own sufferings. That is not the point. I understand that suffering will naturally come our way. Maybe it has to do with how we approach suffering – how we respond to it. Do we become bitter and angry or do we look at it as a way to grow closer to God – a reminder that we NEED God? Maybe I am asking the wrong questions or looking at this the wrong way. But maybe the point is that any suffering we face on this earth is nothing compared to the glory we will experience with God someday through faith. We live here for but a moment, but our New Life with Christ is forever.
I am not sure how Andrew is responding to his "suffering" but my prayer for him is that he knows and has assurance that he will experience a glory with God that one cannot fully imagine.
So I guess hope does not disappoint. "Suffering"…take your best shot, I cling to my faith in Christ – anticipating a life that you cannot take away. Praise be to God and AMEN!
-edh-
Andrew’s Caring Bridge site
I know I haven’t had a "normal" post in quite some time but I wanted to get this information out to people. Connie’s cousin, Andrew (who was hit by a roadside bomb in Iraq) is now at Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington, D.C. His parents arrived out there yesterday. There is also a CaringBridge website set up for Andrew at: www.caringbridge.org. Once there click "Visit a CaringBridge site" and then type in "andrewhanson". This will take you to his site where you can read more about this brave soldier.
Thank you for your prayers and I hope to get back on track here with this blog very soon. Take care and God bless.
-edh-
Update on Andrew
Thank you so much for your prayers. My wife and I have been amazed at the out pour of support. Recently one of my wife’s co-workers got and email from a friend talking about Andrew, asking for prayers. Connie has no idea who the person is or how they heard of Andrew, but news has been traveling fast around the region and prayers are being prayed.
We do have a couple updates: Connie’s aunt and uncle were able to talk to Andrew yesterday. He is a little confused and in a lot of pain. We hope that doesn’t last long. Currently Andrew is in Germany at the US Army base hospital and will be transfered to a hospital, probably in Texas, soon.
Thanks again for your prayers – they are greatly appreciated. God bless.
-edh-
Another US soldier down…
…but he is still alive.
My wife and I received some news yesterday that was like an unsuspecting punch in the stomach. My wife’s cousin, Andrew, who is stationed in Iraq was hit by a roadside bomb while driving a Humvee. Andrew is alive but has lost both of his legs. I am not sure how many people out are reading this but could you please pray for Andrew and his family. Andrew has a long road ahead of him but he does have a loving family and friends that have stood beside him and always will. Please also continue to pray for our troops still serving (as I am sure many of you have been doing already). I have read and heard many news reports of people losing loved ones to this war or returning home injured (like Andrew), but I never thought it would hit this close to home. Andrew was supposed to be home last month but his unit was extended by 120 days – this was not supposed to happen.
I think it would be easy to start blaming God or President Bush or someone – but I am not going to do that. I am not going to start becoming political over this war. I am not going to start shifting blame – Andrew doesn’t need that. Andrew needs our prayers and support – he needs my prayers and support. So that is what I am going to do. Whether I agree with this war or not is not important right now. Everything is in God’s hands and that is something I know Andrew understands as well.
Andrew’s former pastor wrote a blog entry about Andrew (something I read last night on a print out). I am trying to find this piece so I can share it with you. When I do, I will include a link for you to follow. But what I can say is that Andrew is a guy who was very committed to what he was doing. He was looking forward to coming home, but he loved being in the National Guard and serving his country.
Arguing over the merits of this war won’t give Andrew his legs back. The only think I can say right now is, "Thank you, Andrew, for serving our country." And like I said before, please pray for him and the thousands of others out there in harms way.
God is in control – always has and always will be. "Thank you God for sparing Andrew’s life." Praise be to God always and forever. Amen.
-edh-
Fun discoveries
Fun web site discovery
Someone left this web site address on my wife’s desk yesterday: www.jcplayzone.com (I have linked this on the left hand side of my page under my favorite web sites). This web site is designed for children and it’s filled with fun games, crafts, printable coloring pages, recipes, and more. With all the crap that kids can come across on the Internet it is refreshing to see places where kids can play (and learn) safely. Check this site out and share it with your kids. I plan to publish this web site in my bulletin on Sunday.
Fun baccalaureate sermon discovery
I have said this before and I will say it again. I am always amazed with the whole sermon prep process. I try to begin the process without an agenda. If I am faithful to keeping preconceived notions at "home" then something amazing happens in the end — a sermon — a message for God’s people. God is faithful. And because of God’s relentless faithfulness, I feel guilty every time I enter the sermon prep process with worries – wondering and fretting over what I will preach (silly boy, it’s not you preaching but God through you). One of these days I will get that through my thick skull (and heart).
With that being said, the baccalaureate sermon I was asked to give is basically done. I have some fine tuning to do yet today, but it is done. My plan is to talk to the seniors about "Living water". In college (or where ever they are going) they are presented with so many sources of so-called "living water". These kids are searching for meaning and purpose and often times willing to try anything. My point to the seniors tonight is to not forget who you are or whose you are through baptism. Your meaning and purpose in life has been given to you in Jesus Christ — the only "Living water" you will ever need. Who knows if they will listen to me, but you got to believe someone will…right?
(Maybe not so) fun meal planning discovery
Before you go off and eat something from the frig, make sure your wife (or husband) wasn’t planning on having that later. For lunch yesterday I had a cheese ravioli Lean Cuisine. This morning my wife calls me at work and says, "Where’s my cheese ravioli!?!" I knew right then and there I was in trouble. Apparently part of my wife’s meal planning for the week included her having that ravioli for lunch today at work. I guess I missed that memo and I got a feeling my wife will make sure I see that memo in the future.
God bless you as you make fun discoveries of God’s love and faithfulness and remember to "drink in", "bath", "bask" and enjoy the "Living water" of Jesus Christ. You just can’t go wrong with that. Amen. -edh-
P.S. And don’t eat your wife’s lunch.
Reprise — Now THAT was a sabbath day
The Gospel was preached; forgiveness was announced and mothers were celebrated — Now THAT was a sabbath day. I just hope others look back on Sunday and say the same thing; not because I preached such a great sermon (only God knows whether I did or not) — but because forgiveness through Jesus Christ was announced to everyone. The reality of the situation is that probably no one remembers or cares (I wish I could be more optimistic) — or maybe the Holy Spirit did do something in someone’s heart. Either way, I am looking back and saying, "Now THAT was a sabbath day!!!"
Now I am facing an even more daunting task this week. On Wednesday May 16 the baccalaureate service is being held and I am preaching. I have never preached at baccalaureate before. Actually…I haven’t attended baccalaureate since I was a senior in high school (and that was a long, long time ago). The scripture texts I choose are: Isaiah 55, Psalm 23, and John 4:7-14. They all have the theme of Living Water. I felt drawn to these but now I am pondering and praying about how to preach these to a bunch of high school seniors and families. I am looking forward to the opportunity and am extremely honored to be asked, but I find myself at a loss right now. I know that I have a couple days to prepare, but there is this pressure to really do well. People who have never heard me preach before will be listening me. I want to impress people. I want people to say, "Now that pastor at Salem is really on the ball." <pause> What is wrong with me?
Yes…I am being selfish and sinful here. Preaching is not about me. Preaching is about the Good News — it is about Jesus Christ. So for me to worry about this service is crazy and foolish. I have been preaching for over three years and I should know better.
So I need to get over myself and preach the Good News. To heck with what people will think of me. I want people to hear and listen to the Gospel. Maybe I am taking my first steps this week in preparing for this sermon. But I would like to hear your thoughts. Has anyone out there ever preached for baccalaureate? Any advise for me as I prepare? Any insights about the given texts for these seniors (I know preaching is contextual, but seniors across our land do have things in common)? Any thoughts would be appreciated.
So on Wednesday of this week at baccalaureate, the Gospel will be preached and forgiveness will be announced (despite my sinfulness). And with any luck (actually it won’t be "luck") people on Wednesday will look back on baccalaureate and say, "Now THAT was a day". -edh-
Friday morning stuff
Well…it is another beautiful day in SW MN. The sun is out and it is warming up. My lawn is looking great except for the backyard where I have a downed tree courtesy of a wind storm last week. Hopefully I will have time on Saturday to clean that mess up so I can mow that section of the yard. As for the rest of the yard, it has been fertilized and watered. I only have to wait a couple weeks and then hit it with some weed killer. I have noticed a couple dandelions and I will not let them get a hold of my yard. I was talking to a parishioner of mine yesterday and we were talking about the nice day we were having. She mentioned that I should get out of the office and mow or something. I mentioned I did that already this week plus I fertilized the lawn. Then she said, "Oh that’s right, your wife said that you are a freak about the lawn." I said,"She actually called me a freak?". My parishioner said, "No, I am just being nice." I guess I need to talk to my wife now 🙂
Today my wife and I are going to Sioux Falls to get her Jeep fixed. We are also going to have lunch with her grandparents and probably supper with her parents. This all means that we have to leave in less than an hour and here I am typing this blog post and I have to shower yet. You tell how excited I am to get going 🙂
God bless you day and everyday. Take care. -edh-
The Heart of a Pastor 