Traveling Together

It's so easy in the midst of our married lives to forget that we are traveling as a couple the path of life. We're in the same boat, but it may not be as apparent as the picture makes it. Valentine's Day is about over. The expectations and anticipations of this year's addition to our "history" together will be what it is. Some will have shared laughter and love, maybe dreams and aspirations, too. For some this day has brought a painful reminder of how short time truly becomes as we near the end of our life's journey as a couple. A low mournful wailing could be heard during one of today's moments of prayer. It was that of one who can no longer share this special day in quite the same way, her mate has gone on to his reward. Let us keep in mind all the flowers of love that have bloomed on this earth. Not just the great romances which made it to the screen or novel or even tabloid, but the simple loves of heart and home shared by couples everywhere. You see, husband and wife the world over in response to christian faith is much the same. It is dictated by the Bible and it's writings concerning how we should be toward one another. I take comfort tonight that just as we hold one another today there have been those who have traveled this way before us. The church is referred to often as the "Bride of Christ." As we hold each other, so God holds us all. Thanks be to God! In Christ's love to all the christian sweethearts out there. Happy Valentine's Day, Preacher.

From The Heart

 
Tomorrow is the celebration of St. Valentine's Day! I've read several origins of the holiday. I'm sure you have, also. I think what always impresses me most is the lengths to which the advertising world goes to get the utmost out of a sales "opportunity" in relation to the buying public in our country. There are always new gimicks appearing out in retail land. I'm somewhat of a traditionalist when it comes to this special day of celebration. Then there is the side of me that insists we are to be actively loving our brothers and sisters everyday of the year. Tonight I send out a "Special Delivery" to the Body of Christ. When the apostle Paul wrote that "faith, hope, and love abide," and that "the greatest of these is love," he was exactly right! Real love, true love, is the most powerful motivator on the planet. If we could harness it and put it to work for good only, we could effectively solve the world's greatest problems. I pray you have someone very special to express your love toward tomorrow. Give thanks for that love, and as you thank God for that say a prayer for those who have not love in their hearts. One of the Native American artworks that adorn my office walls says it like this, "If there is anything better than loving, it is to be loved!" I like that! God loves us so much at such a personal level that we should not need to be reminded to love Him back, but that's what I'm doing! For each of us to share a moment of silent prayer with our God and say, "I Love You, Lord." In Christ's Love, Preacher. 

From Cross To Cup

My heart has been drawn to serving the "Living Lord," Christ! Five days have passed as prayer has been shared with God(and anyone else who was willing to listen and share)concerning the new ministry about to begin right here in Brookings, South Dakota. Months passed, over a year's worth, as I walked the shores of the Jabok wrestling with my thoughts and the seemingly unending parade of self doubt and criticism from within. My doubts centered on the question of worthiness, for I truly believe that none of us is actually deserving of the call to serve God. The affirmations I was slow to recognize as the mountain began to move in my direction until finally, today, under the most unusual circumstances I was brought to full realization that right here on the Great American Desert there are vast fields, white unto harvest, that must be addressed. I am not representing in an official capacity any denomination, but solely(no pun intended)trusting that God knows what He is doing with the meager supply of gifts and graces I entrust for His purpose. You may have heard me mention before that my personal "breath prayer" is "Let Thy Will Be Done" and it may not be continually on my lips throughout the course of each day, but it is broadcast constantly from the Spirit that dwells within. I shared with a close friend a few weeks ago that all I have and all I am is merely a vehicle for what God would have me do. This is it! A renegade Reverend on the high plains poised to set forth on the greatest journey in life. I suppose the next step is to do some in depth planning. According to God's will this should be a fascinating read as the chapters unfold. Tonight's title indicates a journey, but it is not mine alone. It is the journey of everyone who comes seeking a path of peace with all creation. I remember with a smile the words of one of my favorite seminary professors, "You need God a lot more than God needs you!" He is the same one that took a long hard look at me years ago across the classroom and pronounced the words(for some reason I think he was speaking directly to me in regard to the length of my hair), "The world doesn't need another Jesus, one was enough!" I pray Richard is enjoying the moments he takes to look in and see how I'm getting along in this life. I also pray it gives him cause for outright laughter from time to time, I know it does me. In Christ's Love, Preacher.

Communion!

Writing often about the peace which people seek in their lives has brought me to this consideration concerning Holy Communion. However we celebrate the Lord's Supper we are in the process of seeking God's enlightenment concerning our purpose in living. Today I have received an answer that will suffice for tomorrow. Our giving of ourselves to Christ enables us as a body to accomplish so much more than any one person could ever hope to do in a thousand lifetimes. We can stretch out our collective hands and arms of faith and wrap up another clear down in Texas(I'm up here on the Great American Desert which is really a cold place to be tonight)without concern that they might not be blessed by our prayers. Of course they will! God is so cool when it comes to this little knot of humanity we refer to as "christian." It is much like having family everywhere you travel, and they all love you as much as our Savior does. This is not meant to be a reason for joining up with a Body of Christ where you live, but if you don't you sure are missing out on a huge goodness that this life has to offer. In an age when many seem to be traveling a path of self-interest, self-indulgence, self-motivation, self-assurance, and independence, it brings much peace to my heart that there are also those who are "selfless!" I give thanks tonight for the opportunity to share always and all ways with brothers and sisters in Christ. This is a good thing to experience in this life and it will only get better in the next. God bless, Preacher.

The Church Of Tomorrow.....Today!

Here it is a fully functional multi-purpose building set up for peoples enjoyment and Sunday edification! Yes, there is a regular gymnasium to one side of the water park themed worship center. Yes it is 100% handicap accessible, and there are no uncomfortable seats. It's a perfect place to enjoy a Sunday outing with the family. After services one can sit and dine while children cavort in the flowing waters which do double duty as baptismal fonts and pools when needed. An entire family can now be baptized in just moments with a few quick words from the pastor and an exciting rush down the slide to full immersion where they can be greeted by friends and loved ones alike!
This is all in jest, maybe. It seems as though today we are growing closer and closer to churches that establish themselves not only as places for worship, but also other activities. So, why not an indoor theme park? Put it in a large mall and you have a place that everyone is sure to want to attend. In this day of bigger and better ways to get people through the doors of the church can we be far from the implementation of such come ons? Think of it as a club and that with your membership you receive a beautiful gift and a lifetime pass to the facility! This may be happening already, somewhere. Not out here on the Great American Desert, although I must admit it does look very inviting. Then there is that church with the big screen TV and the Superbowl is coming, maybe we could just visit next Sunday. Keep a smile on your face and a song in your heart! In Christ's Love, Preacher.

Quick Christians

EMT friends are interesting. They always have pictures to share concerning what can happen when one's favorite mode of transportation is a two-wheeled suicide machine better known as a motorcycle. The one pictured here was obviously ridden by someone who placed very little value on life! Crashing this tiny VW at a speed estimated to be in excess of 155 mph took three lives in a heartbeat. I've been up over 170 on two wheels, sanctioned, of course, and it is a speed I no longer need to seek. The slightest bump in the road causes the front end to literally float and the sound of the air whistling past is, well, awesome! The whole experience is a rush like many things in life. When it comes to matters of faith I have chosen to place mine in Christ and even He agrees that speeds over 100 are not reccomended for people over 50! Crashing into obstacles is another factor in our faith that must be encountered. They say the average reaction time for a rider is 1.6 seconds. For the new comer to faith in the spiritual sense it can be more like a month. God does not prepare us completely for the journey, He provides the maps and guidelines, even posts signs and wonders to keep us on the right track, but that isn't always the "fast" track. Faith needs time to mature and age a bit as it aquires it's unique perspective provided through our individual experiences. Oops! I almost started down one of those "I can remember when" roads, which is another sign of age that seems to pop up with greater regularity. Fresh out of the chute it is wise to temper enthusiasm with caution. I know, everybody should be as excited about heaven and the eternal possibilities there are with our loving Savior, but we shouldn't go so fast that we scare folks away or turn them off permanently. Just a little something to think about when you're out there on the high way! In Christ's Love, Preacher.

Filling In The Blanks

The administrative tasks of pastoral ministry are seemingly endless. When serving a large congregation there are always secretaries to take care of filling in the blanks so that all we need do is add the "official" signature and everyone is happy. This isn't true in the smaller congregations. There has always been a lot of satisfaction to be found in sifting the records of a church under my guidance. Some denominations require a certificate like this for their transfer of membership records. How many years pass before we no longer hold on to these records and guard them faithfully for those who will continue in our absence? I know, these days everything is done with the aid of a 'puter. That's a good thing in a way, and a bad one in another. Have we lost touch with the roots of our "Body of Christ" the same way we have lost "touch" with the old ways of doing things? I suppose we have, but I would like it to not be thus. What may be occurring across the board in our churches is a depersonalization of the connections which give us our rich history in so many valuable ways. After all, that is a large part of what the church is about, remembering, and making those remembrances pertinent to the lives we live in the 21st century. Even in our worship much of what we are about is the practice of remembering what we have been taught, and attempting to hold it so sacred that we allow no depersonalization of the message and the gift it holds for those with eyes to see and ears to hear. Much emphasis has always been placed on the "how" of worship, and it is a subject that there are more opinions on than we have denominations in our world. It has been that way from the very beginning of the 1st century. I really enjoy a heated debate with my brothers over the nuts and bolts of worship. And here comes the clinker, inside every denomination there are subcategories that make distinguishing one church from another very easy for the visitor. They may have the same name on the outside of the building, but inside it is nothing like the church of that same name fifty miles down the road. It doesn't even have to be that far, but out here on the Great American Desert things are spread out a bit more than some parts of the world. The important thing for the individual to find is a place, a worshiping Body of Christ, that they feel meets their needs where they are in their faith journey! Not all of us enjoy the same foods, and this is true of our spiritual natures, as well. Recently I spoke with one of my old colleagues who is now serving a "high" church environment. All I can say is that if God is using someone, truly using them, they will be filling out those records of Baptism somewhere along the line, and actively involved in the lives of the people. Personally, I'm sort of like a team player. I think we're all on the same team serving God no matter what the position we play, even if we're only there to "fill in the blanks" for someone else. In Christ's Love, Preacher.