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-

New design

/ The Pastor / 1 Comment

Those of you who came here expecting to find “The Heart of a Pastor” you are in the right place.  I did some re-designing yesterday after a couple years with the same theme design.  In the recent past the most I had done was maybe move some items around and change the theme color.  Yesterday I felt a complete overhaul was in order to spice things up.

So…what do you think?

-edh-

Priorities

/ The Pastor / 2 Comments

This morning as I was watching the news I became very irritated…both with the news agency and with myself for not noticing earlier.

For the past few days the thoughts and prayers of many people in the world have been with the people of Japan.  The stories and images are heart wrenching.  I sit in my comfy home as I watch the homes of other people get swept away like toothpicks.   I see the faces of people who have had their lives washed away and I feel helpless.  I see the utter devastation and I am in awe.  The power of the earthquake and tsunami is absolutely incredible.

This is not what irritated me this morning, though.  Even though I don’t like what is going on over in Japan I am growing more and more irritated with how some media outlets are reporting this (i.e. Fox News).  As I was watching Fox News this morning it dawned on me that I hadn’t heard Fox News say much about what was going on over in Japan.  Rather…the focus was on the United States:  Are our nuclear reactors safe?  How would we fare in an earthquake and tsunami?  Will this bring gas prices down for a while since Japan won’t be demanding much gas for a while? Etc, etc, etc…

Really?  Are we really that self absorbed?

Maybe those questions are important but let’s keep some perspective.  I don’t like seeing those images from Japan but I need to see them. I need to see them so I won’t forget.  When was the last time you thought about Haiti?  We don’t see or hear much about Haiti anymore and therefore it is easy to think that everything is going well.  Then a news story appears talking about Haiti and I am quickly reminded that life is not back to normal (as if I thought it would be).  But you know the old saying, “Out of sight, out of mind”.

But as for the current crisis, I really don’t care right now what the status is of our nuclear program.  I really don’t care how we would hold up in an earthquake.  (and believe it or not) I really don’t care what this crisis will do to gas prices.  What I care about is the people in Japan and what we can do to help.

I may be only one person but I can still do something.  I can pray, I can text some money to a relief organization, I can give to a special offering in worship and…I can remember.

Let’s not focus solely on “what-if” scenarios and self-centered interests but rather let’s keep our attention on our brothers and sisters in Japan.  Let’s not forget and grow complacent.  Remember…after hurricane Katrina Japan was one of the first nations to come to our aid.

God, may your glory be revealed through all those who are helping in various ways in Japan.  Bless their efforts, O God.  We know that you are not distance but right there in the midst of this crisis.  Knowing that you are with us gives strength and encouragement as we face an incredible worldly force. May your name forever be praised.  In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

-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-

Lord’s Prayer — In today’s language

/ The Pastor / 6 Comments

I am not sure where I got this but I have found it helpful in helping confirmation students understand what we are actually saying when we pray the Lord’s Prayer.  Too often when we pray this very well known prayer we just vocalize the words without much thought about what we are asking for in this great prayer.  I know this is not perfect and that we could probably fine tune this but I think you will get the point.  Let me know what you think.

LORD’S PRAYER – IN TODAY’S LANGUAGE.

Hey God…THE creator of everything,
You are awesome!
Help me to experience your presence everyday,
and help me to see what you want me to do in this world.
Please give me what I need to live each day
and forgive me when I mess up,
but I also ask that I have the strength to forgive those who hurt me as well.
Please don’t tempt me and please keep me safe from evil.
And…as I said before…you are awesome,
always and forever.
This one thing I know:
you have promised to hear me and will give me what I have asked  in this prayer.
THANK YOU GOD!
See you soon.

And…if you don’t like this version I challenge you to write your own.  Get out your Small Catechism and review this prayer.  Then…being writing.  This could serve as a great devotional exercise.

I just might have to do that.

-edh-

Really?

/ The Pastor

I recently read a little blurb in the March issue of The Lutheran.  Check this out:

A British university study suggests that people of strong faith can spread
religion through a “believers’ gene” that is part of their DNA.
The Proceedings of the Royal Society B, a prestigious journal
of Britain’s Royal Society of scientists, theorizes a “predisposition
toward religion.” Author Robert Rowthorn suggests that people with
strong religious beliefs tend to have more children and this, combined
with a genetic predisposition to believe, can explain the expansion of religion.

Wow…I think someone needs to tell these people that they have too much time on their hands but more importantly about the work of the Holy Spirit.  Then again…maybe they have figured out how the Holy Spirit “really” works.  Who knew that God programs us at the DNA level to believe.  The next thing you know is that on CSI, while they are doing a DNA profile, you will hear them say, “Hey look…we have a Christian.”

But seriously…this is just another sad example of how people just can not leave some mysteries up to God.  There is this insatiable desire to try to figure God out.  We can’t just leave things up to faith.  I mean…there are some things we can not fully explain.  I think this is just another attempt to remove God from the picture and become gods ourselves.  Surprise, surprise.

For me…the wonder of creation is that I don’t totally understand it.  I love being surprised.  If everything was calculated, figured out and predetermined ahead of time life would be incredibly boring.

“Believers’ gene”…nope.  It’s just good ole fashioned parenting.  No mystery there.

-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

Lent re-thought

/ The Pastor / 3 Comments

I am excited about Lent this year…not to say that I haven’t been any other year, but this year is going to be different.

At the Belmont Lutheran Church (the small county congregation I also serve) annual meeting on Sunday we decided to try something new for Lent.  For our Wednesday Lenten services we have been averaging around 10 per week.  So for a while now I have been pondering the future of these services.
–Do I need to re-think what we do on Wednesdays?
–Do we need to change the time of the worship?
–Do we need to change the location (share a service with Salem in town)?
–Or what?

Well…on Sunday I offered an idea that I heard from our Methodist friends down the street.  Instead of Wednesday evening Lenten services what about having home cottage meetings on Tuesday nights?

Are you intrigued…then allow me to elaborate…

What Belmont decided to do is meet in someone’s home on Tuesdays during Lent at 6:30pm.  We will gather together in a circle and have a time of worship/devotions (I am not sure how this will look yet).  The bulk of the time will be devoted to some teaching.  I envision this to be a cross between a sermon and a Bible study.  I will do the majority of the teaching but allow for questions, feedback or discussion.  People can come and just sit and listen or get involved…it’s up to them.  After we are done there will be some refreshments and fellowship time.  The thinking is that this will be a more intimate setting and thus more attractive to people.

I am not sure what the topic will be; whether I will do a series in a particular book of the Bible, some aspect of Jesus life or whatever.  The idea was suggested that I use the topic from the Lenten small group that I will be leading called “The Seven Wonders of God’s Word” from Augsburg Fortress.  That idea intrigues me so I am going to explore that as well.

So I am excited about this new thing we are about to do (I will post updates here during Lent).  I am not sure how it will be received.  My hope is that the home we meet in won’t be big enough, but we’ll see what happens.  But in the end we need to remember that where 2 or 3 are gathered there is Jesus right there in the midst of them.  So either way we will praise God.

-edh-

Remove your shoes

/ The Pastor / 2 Comments

“Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” (Exodus 3:5)

The Old Testament small group and sermon series takes us to Exodus this week (despite the fact that the small group have been canceled tonight because of weather).  I didn’t get very far in my reading before I was hit by some pondering and thinking ~ holy ground.  Moses saw this “strange thing” on the mountain ~ a bush burning but not being consumed by the fire.  Of course he had to take a closer look (me…I might have been a little more leery).  As Moses approaches the bush God belts out that this is holy ground so take off your sandals. Why take off his sandals ~ more on that later.

As I read that section I got to thinking about “holy ground” today.  What is considered holy ground?    Many people would define holy ground in various ways.  Some might say their home is holy ground.  A guy might say his man’s den is holy ground.  A golfer might say that St. Andrew’s golf course in Scotland is holy ground.  But what is holy ground?

The word “holy” means special, set apart, different.  The Bible is holy and therefore special, set apart and different ~ it is a book like no other book; for it is a living word.  God is holy and therefore special, set apart and different.  Communion, baptism is holy…and you get the picture.  But do we treat these things as holy?  Do we give such things in our lives the same respect that Moses did for some dirt around a bush?  I am not saying we should take off our shoes during Holy Communion or a baptism (that might not be a good idea for some), but how do we treat and view such events?  How do we treat the truly holy things of God?

We can get so caught up in protecting “holy things” that we miss the fact that the very things we are protecting are not truly holy.  They may be special, set apart and different in our lives, but in relation to our souls they do nothing.  I have seen people treat sports as a holy event; protecting it at the expense of time in worship.   I have seen people protect their status at the expense of the promises they made in Holy baptism.  I have seen people protect their pocket book at the expense of their relationship with their holy God.  Our “holy things” do nothing for us in the long run.  They provide some happiness and security now, but do nothing for our souls.

But consider this ~ we are ALL living on holy ground.  We are living holy lives.  We were created by a holy God to do holy things.  We were redeemed by a holy savior through a death and resurrection that is indeed special, set apart and different.  All that we consider “holy” is only available to us to call “holy” because our holy God created such things and such opportunities.  We may have special things, people, places and times in our lives but they are nothing outside of God.

So if I can dare to be allegorical here let me suggest that we take off our shoes ~ which is anything that gets in the way of truly encountering God ~ and worship God with our whole heart, soul, mind and strength.  Let us treat the things of God for what they are ~ special, set apart and different.  Only God is life-giving and life-sustaining.

We are indeed standing on holy ground ~ remove your shoes.

-edh-