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Okoboji Lakes Bible and Missionary Conference

/ The Pastor

I have the privilege of attending the Okoboji Bible and Missionary Conference this year again.  This is a FREE conference that takes place in Arnolds Park, IA every year around this time.  I use this time for continuing education; as it is great to be fed for a while.

(For more about the conference go to their website at: http://www.okobojiconference.org)

The conference brings in great speakers every year.  This year Ruth Graham (daughter of Billy and Ruth Graham) will be speaking on Thursday and Friday night.  I am really looking to that.

But now (8:54am) morning Bible study is about to begin.  It is kind of nice to just sit back and relax…and not be the leader for once.

Feed away…I am hungry and ready.

-edh-

Creature of habit and the god of routine

/ The Pastor / 2 Comments

I am a creature of habit (as I expect a lot of you are).  I have certain routines that I depend on.  Some I can live without if need be but some, if disrupted, can throw me for a loop…if I am not careful.  Case in point ~ Thursdays.

Thursday is a day I look forward to because it is the day I head down to my favorite coffee shop to write the sermon for Sunday.  I arrive downtown at around 10:25am and set up my lap top and work space.  I order my pre-lunch snack ~ a scotcheroo.  I also order my lunch to be prepared at 11am and, of course, I order my coffee.  Each Thursday…that is what I do ~ so much so that my coffee shop has a scotcheroo set aside for me each week unless I let them know ahead of time that I am going to be gone.  I am a creature of habit.

Thursday is not only scotcheroo day but more importantly it is worship and sermon prep day; a day that Monday through Wednesday builds up to.  Thursday begins the three day process of preparing for Sunday.  Sunday of course is the Sabbath and then the process starts all over again on Monday.  Week in and week out that is the “normal” routine.  Variables, of course, are funerals, pastoral care emergencies, holidays appearing during the week, etc.  Those times call for a little extra energy (a.k.a. coffee) and concentration…and a lot of prayer.  I don’t mind those “variables” because they are part of being a pastor.  I say “I don’t mind” meaning they don’t annoy me for throwing off the routine because it is also those times that I am called to minister.  I hope and pray everyday that I never approach the idol of “routine” that would steer me away from those holy moments I am called to.  I hope and pray that these “variables” don’t become an annoyance…for it is in that moment where I would be failing to trust in God’s faithfulness.

Routines can be a safe haven but they are a false “safe haven”.  Routines may provide order in chaos.  Routines may give you a sense of security.  Routines may provide something to look forward to.  But routines can never provide that which God provides.  Routines will be disrupted from time to time but God’s love and faithfulness will never be disrupted.  Routines will lead people into ruts, but God’s love is always exciting.  Routines can become idols; false gods, leading to destruction.

I cherish the routine of Thursday but not more than I cherish the God who loves me ~ so much so that Jesus died and rose that I may know forgiveness and everlasting life.  Thursday scotcheroos, coffees and lunch are great but God’s promises are better.

God…I pray that I may not be drawn into the idol worship of routine.  You have proved your faithfulness through Jesus Christ and for that I worship and praise you.  May your name be praised!  Amen!

–edh-

Wednesdays

/ The Pastor

Wednesday/hump day is a strange animal for me.  I have very mixed feelings about this day ~ and the feelings depend on the time of the year.  If you haven’t read my previous post titled “ups and downs” I commend that to you ~ but you can still continue reading this post without being lost.

During the “down time” (May – August) Wednesdays are a quiet and relaxing day (even those Wednesdays that contain council meetings in the evening).  My secretary is not in and the phone usually is quiet (knock on wood) and there are no classes.  On these Wednesdays I take my time getting ready in the morning.  I usually try to get to my office by 8am on Mon, Tues and Thurs but these Wednesdays I usually stroll in sometime between 8 and 8:30am ~ almost like I am getting away with something when Vicki isn’t here 🙂

During the “up time” of the year (Sept – May) Wednesdays can be crazy.  It’s then that I have release time and confirmation classes ~ and Wednesday Night Live is in session along with some adult classes.   During this time of the year the second Wed of the month is especially crazy with ministerial meetings at noon AND church council after supper.  Those second Wednesdays are long ~ where extra coffee is usually required.

Wednesday are unique and require a whole different mindset than Mon, Tues and Thurs (Friday’s mindset is, well, nothing as that is my Sabbath Day).  But as I mentioned in my previous post, I see “ups and downs” throughout the year as a gift from God to keep me fresh in ministry.  I am wondering if Wednesdays (during the “down time” of the year) are that “mini gift” each week to mix things up for me.  It is like a fueling station before I hit Thursday (my worship and sermon prep day).  During the “up time” of the year, Wednesdays are a weekly reminder that it is only by the grace of God that I can do all things.  I can’t risk getting complacent when I am teaching my kids and leading adult studies week in and week out.  Maybe, just maybe, Wednesdays (and especially those 2nd Wednesdays) are God’s way of kicking me in the butt each week; reminding me of his incredible faithfulness.  And I know that God is faithful because for 7 years God hasn’t failed me yet on a busy Wednesday.  Praise be to God!

So today I am preparing for a Bible study I am leading tomorrow and preparing for a wedding I am presiding at this weekend.  It’s a quiet day.  I might even clean up my messy office (but don’t count on that).  Thank you God for Wednesday’s and all those “Wednesdays” in our lives that you gift us with.  You never cease to amaze me with your faithfulness and love.

-edh-

Ups and downs

/ The Pastor

I never cease to be amazed at the ups and downs of pastoral ministry.  I am not referring to bad times and good times; joys and sorrows but rather the pace of ministry.

The month of August feels like a warm up run.  You know the real “workout” is coming but in August you are just getting ready.  There are no confirmation or release time classes yet, but I am busy making sure things are ready for the kids; working on the schedule and lesson plans.  Wednesday Night Live isn’t up and running yet but we are busy recruiting teachers.  Even though it feels like we are “off and running” it doesn’t feel busy or rushed…yet.

September hits and now one can say we are “off and running”.  Nearly every weekend is packed.  My weeks are filled with more lesson planning and Bible studies…which is on top off the sermon and worship prep (that is a constant in the weekly schedule).  Then of course in all this madness you have the occasional meeting, funeral and other surprises to make things interesting.  This pace keeps going through mid-May.

This faster pace is made even faster (and sometimes more crazy) with Christmas, Lent and Easter.  But just like speed work is good for a runner, these little bursts of speed in the year are good for the soul.  I mean, after all, it’s Christmas, Lent and Easter…my favorite times of the year.

May hits and all of a sudden things slow down to a crawl.  No more confirmation, release time or Wednesday Night Live and adult small groups take a summer break.  Now my schedule is dominated (in addition to sermon and worship prep) with more visiting and reading.  Reading is a nice change of pace (something I don’t do nearly enough during the rest of the year).  This slower pace maintains itself until August when the whole cycle begins again.

Currently we are in the slow pace (obviously since you know it is June).  I have knocked out a few books already and currently working on 3 more right now.  I am getting caught up on my visits.  And I am thinking about new and exciting things for the fall.  I like this slower pace, but I know I can’t stay in this pace forever…nor do I want to.

I am thankful for the ups and downs of pastoral ministry.  It is energizing and it is humbling.  It is energizing because I have more time to feed my soul during the down times and humbling because during the up times I am reminded that I only can do it by the grace of God.  And I think the up times come just in time because any longer I think I would risk complacency in my faith.

So for the time being I will enjoy the slower pace as I get ready for the faster one that will hit in September.  Until then bring on the books and the visits over a hot cup of coffee.  Fill my soul, O God, and let it overflow.

-edh-

Wrestling with justice and death

/ The Pastor / 10 Comments

I have been doing a lot of wrestling today over the events of the last 24 hours or so; the killing of Osama bin Laden.  My wrestling will continue but I wanted to write down what I have been mulling over so far.

Throughout today I have been keeping an eye on Facebook and Twitter to see what others have been saying.  I have also watched some news reports and read a few articles.  As I reflect on everything I have seen and read I find myself dealing with a tension.

First off…I am proud of our military and of their sacrifice.   Those men and women have made great sacrifices in the war on terror and in their hunt for bin Laden.  There is a part of me that is glad that this terrorist is gone.  There was a part of me that felt relief last night when I heard the official word of his death.  Will the world be a safer place…I doubt it.  But has justice been served…Yes.  So this part of me is happy and glad.

But now here’s the tension…

…as a Christian how are we to respond to the death of an individual who was created by God.  That’s right…Osama bin Laden was created by God…it’s hard to believe sometimes but he was.  So the question is this:  Is it a proper Christian response to cheer, celebrate and party over the death of a human life…no matter how evil we may think they are?  That is what I am struggling with…and the struggle feels even worse considering that it is bin Laden; a man responsible for the deaths of thousands of people and for changing our lives forever.  But another problem I am having is if it is alright to cheer this person’s death where do we draw the line?  It seems to be a slippery slope and one I am not willing to approach.

Another theological issue arose this morning for me.  I received a phone call from a parishioner who asked me if Osama is in hell.  I know what they wanted to here but I was forced to respond with a very difficult phrase:  “I don’t know…only God knows“.  This person wanted me to do better so we talked about the fact that we are not God and that God is the only true judge.  We also discussed that it is a dangerous business to get into; trying to determine who is going to hell and who isn’t.  “Do not judge lest ye be judged“. (Matthew 7:1)

So where I am at now is the fact that I live in two different worlds.  I am a citizen of the United States of America and a citizen of the Kingdom of God.  These worlds are in tension with one another but it is a tension we need to learn to live with and respond to.  Maybe the challenge for all Christians is to follow what Jesus commanded us to do…pray for our enemies.  That can be a tall order sometimes.

I am not going to mourn bin Laden’s death but I am going to try to refrain from celebrating it.  So in the mean time the wrestling match is going to continue…and maybe that is a good thing.

How are you responding to Osama bin Laden’s death?

-edh-

Book reports

/ The Pastor / 2 Comments

Ever since I bought myself a Kindle this past November I have been reading more than ever before.  And from what I have heard from others I am not the only one experiencing this “phenomenon”.  The ease of searching and downloading books has contributed to my increase in reading.  Being able to take my library with me to the coffee shop or while traveling is very appealing.  I was hoping that this Kindle would not be just a passing phase that I would get tired of.  So far I have a hard time putting it down.

So with that introduction (Amazon did not pay me to write this) I want to share with you a couple books.  One I have just finished and one I have just begun.  First…the one I just finished.  It is called 24 Hours That Changed the World by Adam Hamilton.  I would recommend this book right now to help you prepare for Holy Week.  This book takes a look at the last 24 hours of Jesus life.  Through reading this book I saw these hours in a fresh and new way.  One of the most powerful things I experienced in reading this is seeing myself in the various characters in the story.  It is easy for us to say that “I wouldn’t have crucified Jesus“, “I wouldn’t have mocked him“, “I wouldn’t have denied or deserted Jesus“…but not so fast.  It is amazing what we are capable of…and it is even more amazing that despite this God has shown us forgiveness through Jesus Christ.  I encourage you to check this book out.  I started using this book as a morning devotion but I later found that I had a hard time putting it down.

Second.

The book I am currently reading is called The Pastor: A Memoir by Eugene H. Peterson.  Many of you know Eugene Peterson as the author of The Message.  I have always found Peterson to be a very thoughtful author and pastor.  I have looked up to him for a long time.  I am only a couple chapters in but so far he is taking us through his initial journey to the vocation of pastor.  Whether you are a pastor or not I think you will enjoy this book.  His use of words and imagery is amazing and it keeps me turning those electronic pages.

Oh wait…one more book.  The Bible.  I have subscribed to a couple reading plans through my DroidX smartphone Bible app (now I can say that I never leave home without my cell phone or my Bible).  Every morning I log in and read what’s waiting for me.  It is always a joy to spend time in scripture.  Something I am doing different, though, is that each morning I am posting a Bible text from my phone straight to my Facebook wall.  I have been amazed at how many people comment or simply hit “like” on those posts.  Just another little way I can share the love of Jesus with people.

There…a couple book reports for you.  I normally don’t do this but this is what has been on my heart recently.  Are there any other books that you are reading this Lenten season that you would care to give me a report on?

O.K…I guess that is it for now.  I am off to read what else Eugene Peterson has to say.  May God bless your day 🙂

-edh-

A day off

/ The Pastor

Wow…I get a day off today, but it is not what you think.

I have this Bible app (YouVersion) for my Droid X smart phone.  It’s a great little app.  It has a few different versions of the Bible.  I can bookmark favorite passages.  I can share favorite passages with Facebook and Twitter.  I can make notes on my favorite passages.  I like this app…but there is a glaring flaw.

Another feature of this app is that it contains a number of different Bible reading plans (devotional, partial Bible, topical, whole Bible and youth).  One of the plans I have subscribed to is a Lenten plan.  It has a short thought to consider and then a couple texts to read each day…almost.

Well…today I signed in to read my text and this is what I found: Sundays are days off in this reading plan, as they are traditionally not considered a part of Lent.  Every Sunday is a “mini-Easter”, when we celebrate the resurrection of Christ and his victory over sin and death…”

I have no problem with that part as it is true but this is what came next:  “There is no reading for today, enjoy your day off…“

Did they really tell me to enjoy my day off from reading the Bible?  So I read it again and sure enough, “…enjoy your day off…”  I have a problem with that.  True…Sundays are technically not counted in Lent but a “day off” from reading scripture?  But not just a day off but “enjoy it”?  That doesn’t make any sense whatsoever.  It almost sounds like they believe reading scripture is a chore and that they we need a break from time to time.  Maybe they are concerned that people will think that reading the Bible everyday is too much work and will be turned off from their app.

Seriously people…if you want to communicate how Sundays are not counted in Lent, fine, but at least include a “non-Lent” scripture reading (on Sunday) to encourage people to read everyday.  The Sabbath Day is a day of rest but not a day of rest from reading God’s Word.  In Matthew 4, as Jesus is weak and tired from fasting for 40 days, Jesus responds to Satan’s temptation by saying, “Man does not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.”  We need this word everyday…you can never get too much.  And if you are getting tired from reading God’s word (and need a break) then you’re simply reading for information (like for class) and not for nourishment.   You should never need a “day off”.

OK…I am done ranting now.  I am going to go and violate my Bible reading plan.  Hopefully I won’t get struck down 🙂

Happy reading and may God bless your day.

-edh-

Great day

/ The Pastor / 4 Comments

I had a great day yesterday.

Saturday, Feb. 12 was my birthday…the big 4-0.  Some people might get depressed about hitting that milestone but for me it just means I move into a new running age class (the 40 – 49 group).  Leave it to a dorky runner to be thinking about that.

But Saturday was special to me for another reason…

I was reminded yesterday of all the special people I have in my life.  Throughout the day I received numerous Facebook messages from people wishing me a happy birthday.  This is one of the many joys of Facebook ~ but that was only part of the specialness of the day.

Mid-afternoon I received a text message from a colleague of mine here in Jackson who is moving to a different house in town.  He asked me if I could come over at 5pm to help him.  I asked Connie and she said that would work fine before we went out.  My friend said it would take about a 1/2 hour.  At 5pm I went over to my friend’s house.  As I was helping him I began to wonder what was going on.  My friend seemed to be stalling me for some reason and I began to wonder why I needed to help him then when they weren’t moving for a few weeks.  I didn’t say anything.  At 5:30 I said I needed to go so Connie and I could go out for supper.

As I drove home various scenarios started playing in my head but I tried to squash them because I felt guilty for expecting any elaborate plan to get me out of the house.  I turned into the parking lot and there were no vehicles but I immediately thought “well…they just parked somewhere else.”  I shook my head trying to rid myself of that thought.  I walked into the house and began to take my shoes off.  I looked up…and saw a strange coat hanging on the chair (my suspicions were confirmed).  I walked into the living room and there they were ~ a whole host of my friends waiting for me (apparently they forgot to hide that coat I saw).  My wife had decorated while I was gone…and had been planning for quite a few weeks.  It was a great night.  Even though I had my suspicions I was still pleasantly surprised…and felt very blessed.

As I played through various scenarios in my head from 5 to 5:30pm they did not compare to what I felt when I actually experienced the real thing.  It is like that with God as well.  We can read about God in scripture.  We can hear stories about God’s faithfulness in the Bible.  We can hear others talk about their encounters with God.  All of these are great but they can’t hold a (birthday) candle to your experience of God’s love in your own life.  Every time I am blown away.  Every time I am lifted up.  Every time I am made to feel like the only one in the world.  When ever God does something in my life I feel like I have had the best night of my life.

God is like that, you know.  God celebrates you each and everyday.  God is happy that he created you.  God brags about you to the angels in heaven.  And…God sent his Son, Jesus, to die and rise FOR YOU that you may have life.  That is God’s gift FOR YOU.

I thank my wife and friends for a special day yesterday…I will never forget it.

But most of all…I thank God for making everyday to eternity special through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

-edh-

Mistakes

/ The Pastor / 2 Comments

What is the best mistake you have ever made?

I can’t remember being asked a question like that before yesterday, so when it came it caught me by surprise.  I mean…it almost sounds like a contradiction ~ a good mistake?  Often times we want to put mistakes in our rear view mirror as quickly as possible and move on.  I have heard it said that we shouldn’t dwell on our mistakes.  I HAVE been told to learn from them but I have never really looked back and pondered what my “best mistake” was.

When I was asked that question I paused; looked off into the distance as if I would find something out there, and tried to recall some past mistakes.  Recalling mistakes was not the hard part, but trying to prioritize the “good ones” was difficult.  Maybe I have moved on too fast from mistakes without soaking in what I learned.  Maybe I have not connected certain learnings, skills or knowledge with past mistakes.  I am not sure what it was.  After what I deemed an uncomfortable silence I started talking about a conflict I was involved with, early in my ministry, that involved a break down in communication.  I rehashed the situation briefly and began to recall what I did wrong.  I learned through that particular situation to be more aware of what various groups in the church are doing and to be more proactive in communicating with leaders in the congregation.  I learned that I need to keep my emotions more in check and to exude a non-anxious presence during a conflict.  At the time I did not enjoy the situation but I would say that was one of my “best mistakes”.

So…what is your best mistake?

-edh

By the grace of God

/ The Pastor / 4 Comments

I have been a pastor for just over 6 1/2 years now (hard to believe sometimes).  During that span I have never woken up on a Sunday morning feeling sick (knock on wood).  I have woken up tired after getting to bed late the night before or just not sleeping well, but I have never been sick on a Sunday morning…until yesterday.

When I went to bed on Saturday night my stomach wasn’t feeling that great but I figured I would sleep it off.  As the night wore on I wasn’t getting better.  I wasn’t feeling nauseated but I was still in the bathroom a few times (I won’t elaborate on that).  After a very long night my alarm went off at 5:30am.  I was shot.  I had absolutely no energy.  I laid in bed and prayed, “God…I have no energy.  There is no way that I will get through this morning on my own power.  I feel like crap.  Please grant me the energy I need to lead these two worship services this morning.  I need you.”

After some arguing with myself I finally rolled out of bed.  My programmable coffee maker was doing its job so I made a bee line for the kitchen for a cup of coffee.  I couldn’t drink it…believe it or not the coffee just didn’t taste good.  You know something is wrong with me when I can’t drink coffee.  I got ready and headed over to the church.  I got into the pulpit and ran through my sermon.  I could feel the lack of energy in the sermon and I prayed again that God would give me the energy that I needed so that God’s Word would be preached despite Satan’s best efforts to keep me from doing so.

At about 7:30am I went back to the house and laid down on the couch (I need to leave for Belmont Lutheran Church by 8am).  I tried not to fall asleep because I knew I might not wake up until it was too late.  I laid there in a fog and prayed some more.  I finally got up at 7:50am.  My stomach was feeling a little better and I had a little more energy (but still not 100%).  My wife was concerned about me driving the 8 miles out to Belmont but I assured her I would be fine.

Worship at Belmont began at 8:30am and I was feeling good.  Not once during the worship service did I think about not feeling well.  My energy seemed to return and I preached the sermon with my normal energy and passion (at least that is what it felt like to me).  Worship at Salem was at 10:15 and I was still going strong.  Salem’s annual meeting followed worship and then our famous potluck.  I got home after 12noon and was out like a light by 12:30pm for a 2 hour nap.

So my streak continues…by the grace of God.  There is no way I could have survived Sunday without God by my side.  I know that if I were sick enough that I couldn’t go, someone would have stepped up and worship would have still happened.  But on Sunday God wanted me there and so it happened ~ by the grace of God.

-edh-