The Heart of a Pastor

Monday morning check-in

A friend of mine left me a message recently and commented that I must be experiencing some writers block due to the inactivity of new posts on my blog.  And he is partly right...but I have had some things brewing in my head these past couple days.  I just haven't been sure how to approach them.

What would I do?
One of the things I have been pondering is a recent story I heard on KARE 11 news out of Minneapolis.  It is about a Catholic Church in the cities that has gained a temporary injunction against a family, who has an extremely autistic child, from attending mass (Follow this link for the Star Tribune story).  On the surface it seems to contradict the essence of the Gospel to bar someone from attending worship/mass.  The Church has tried to accommodate the family better the family did not like the church's suggestion (having them in a different room with a video feed).  Now this family is faced with jail time if they violate the injunction, going to mass elsewhere or not attend mass at all.  I wonder if there is more this church could do.  I wonder what I would do to minister to this family.  What would you do (knowing the limited facts that we have)?

What WILL I do?
Starting this week, the ramp that leads up our sanctuary, is going to be torn out and replaced.  The time table is going to be anywhere from 1 to 2 months (depending on what they find underneath).  All of this means that we will be worshiping downstairs in the Fellowship Hall where there is a ground entrance (handicap accessible).  Otherwise, people would have to trek up stairs to get to the sanctuary and that won't work well with some people.  Now the question is how worship is going to look in a new location for a couple months.  What will I do?  My worship and music team is meeting today to discuss the logistics of leading worship downstairs.  One thought was to keep the tables up and make worship very "informal".  Maybe we'll have the coffee on and people can grab a cup before, during and after worship.  But I wonder if this will be too informal for people.

What I AM going to do.
This sounded like a logical and cute three heading to put here but I have learned from experience that the best plans often do not work out.  We make plans and God laughs.  So I am going to be careful here and say...what I AM going to do is...

...anyway...

Have a very blessed day and check back soon for a new meme that I have been tagged to do.  Take care.

-edh-

A mighty wind (and I am not talking about me)

Grown up
I don't know if this will make a lot of sense to people, but part of me feels more "grown up" now.  Allow me to explain...

...my wife is the stage manger for a musical that is being put on by a couple churches in town.  The musical is called "The First Actions Heroes".  I don't know much about the musical, but based on what my wife is doing behind the scenes, it looks like it is going to be good.  Anyway, my wife needed a prop built...a light pole.  So we started brainstorming.  I had a couple 2x4s in the garage so we thought we could use them along with a old cardboard carpet roll tube.  But one thing was missing...I didn't own a saw.  Well...I do now.  When we were at Menard's this past weekend my wife said something to me that I think most guys would love to hear, "Honey, I think you should buy a circular saw."  WHOO HOO!  Power tools!  So I bought a Black n Decker circular saw.  And for some strange reason I feel more "grown up" now.  Combine that with the fact I bought a cordless drill a couple weeks earlier...well...I really feel "grown up".  (WHOO HOO! Did I mention I have pool tools?)

Marathon update
This past Saturday I ran my longest run to date...8 miles.  Part of me was excited to see how I would last and another part of me was a little nervous.  I was a little nervous because of a nagging voice in the back of my brain that tells me to be careful of injuries.  Would my legs hold up?  They did and I felt great afterward.  Praise be to God!  This Saturday I have a 9 mile run and the following week is 10 miles.  Then I drop down for a week to rest before increasing my mileage some more.  Starting June 1 I begin the official marathon training program.  Up to then I am simply in a mileage build up program to prepare me for the longer run I will have this summer. 

Without God, there is no way I could do what I am doing.  It sounds strange to say that God is helping me train for such a grueling race, but I don't feel I am doing this alone.  Whatever God's purpose is, I am in this for the long haul...and so far I am feeling great.

Pentecost Sunday
There is a verse from Acts 2 that always makes me smile.  Maybe you know what I am referring to.  The Holy Spirit comes over the disciples and they start speaking in the various languages of the people: "Amazed and perplex, they (the crowd) asked one another, 'What does this mean?' Some, however, made fun of them (the disciples) and said, 'They have had too much wine.'  Then Peter stood up with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd, 'Fellow Jews all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say.  These men are not drunk, as you suppose.  It's only nine in the morning..."  But if it were 3 in the afternoon, then we might have a different story :)

So in that "spirit", allow me to suggest a couple possible sermon titles for this week:
(1) High on God
(2) Drunk on the Holy Spirit
(3) No whining [get it?  wine-ing]
(4) God has good breath - no breath mint needed
(5) God breaks wind [this is my favorite]
Any other suggestions?

On that note...it time to accomplish something this morning.  God bless you on this beautiful spring day and may you sense the Mighty Wind (Holy Spirit) "blowing" in your life.  Take care.

-edh-

Monday morning check in - 04/21/08

Wow...what a novel concept...me actually posting a "Monday morning check in" on Monday :)

Anywho...

It's official reprise:
I feel a little different today; after having had a couple days to let this whole marathon thing sink in.  I registered for the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon on Friday and then ran six miles on Saturday.  That ties my longest run since high school and you know something...I felt great.  The first couple miles were tough as my body loosened up, but after that I felt myself getting strong and stronger.  I don't know how long that feeling will last for I have no idea where my "runners wall" is (The runners wall is the point where your body runs out of energy reserves; usually around the 18 -21 mile mark.  A marathon is 26.2 miles).  I am going to be running a 18.6 mile race this summer so we'll see if I hit my wall then.  In any case, so far I am having a great time and getting more and more excited about the marathon.  My sister and mom left a comment for me at my last couple posts about running and they said they would be at the marathon cheering me on.  That meant the world to me.  Now I pray that God keeps me healthy enough to run this monster race.

WHOO HOO!!!
Our church secretary, Vicki, is back in the office.  She's not going to be here all morning, but is back getting some stuff done.  Vicki still has some more healing to do and strength to build back up again, but it is great to have her back...even if its only for a short time today.  My life feels somewhat "normal" again.  Praise God!!!

Scripture
This verse from the first lesson text for this Sunday (Easter 6) has captured my attention today:  "But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord.  Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.  But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously again your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander." (1 Peter 3:15-16) 
Questions to consider:
(1) Is Christ set apart, in your heart, as Lord or is their another lord in your heart (i.e. success, money, athletics, etc)?
(2) Are you prepared to give an answer for the hope that you have?  Are you able to verbalize or live out this hope?
(3) Are you gentle and respectful when it comes to sharing the hope that you have?  Are you patient with others?

I believe these three questions are ones many Christians struggle with.  What do you think?

-edh-

Amazing God

Two weeks in a row I have missed my Monday Morning Check-in post.  I still do plan to continue with Monday Morning Check-in but with Vicki still out of the office, my whole routine has been thrown into the air.

First an update:  I talked with Vicki today and she is still in the hospital.  There is still no word on when she will be coming home, so I'm on my own for bulletins this week again.  We are hoping that Vicki will be back to do the May newsletter, but we're not holding our breath.  I am currently getting volunteers in place to help me with that task in case Vicki can't.  So please continue to pray for Vicki.  This has been really hard on her.  She just wants to get better and get home.  It has been over a month and this is getting really old for her.  Her job will always be safe here (I keep assuring her of that since she keeps worrying about it), but we still miss her and look forward to having her home soon.

Now for the main reason I am writing today:  GOD IS AMAZING!!!

Last Thursday a 93 year old parishioner of mine had a "massive" (that was the doctor's word...a word you never want to hear) heart attack.  He was placed on life support after receiving three stints.  When I was at the hospital on Friday, doctors did not give G much hope to survive this heart attack.  Part of me fully expected to be preparing for a funeral this week.

But yesterday (Tuesday) I found out all life support has been pulled and G was doing great.  I went to see him on Tuesday and he was sitting up in bed and conversing with me.  I gave him communion before PT came to pick him up.

WOW...GOD IS AMAZING AND AWESOME.  This man has survived a couple strokes in the last few years plus this heart attack...all the while living alone in his own apartment and still active; driving himself to where he needs to go.

Yet another example of how God's time and plans are not always in line with ours.  We need to be patient and let God take care of things; for God is always faithful.

We have an AMAZING GOD!  AMEN!

-edh-

Monday morning check in - 3/17/08

HAPPY ST. PATTY'S DAY!!!  Oops, I don't think we are supposed to be celebrating saints during Holy Week...

...well...let's try this...

...HAPPY MONDAY OF HOLY WEEK (Hmmm...doesn't quite roll of the tongue...does it?).  Oh well...

...It's Monday of Holy Week and I feel a sense of...well...I am not sure if I have the right words here.  Last week I wrote that I was Tired and Excited.  This week it feels like I have more energy and drive within me.  I don't feel as mentally, physically, emotionally or spiritually tired as I was last week.  I guess that is not too surprising since Holy Week and Easter is one of my favorite times of the year (Christmas being the other).  But one thing that does make me a little nervous is that my secretary has been sick since Wednesday night.  That meant on Thursday (bulletin day) I was playing "pastor" and "secretary".  And let me tell you...I have a whole new appreciation for what Vicki does.  I have always known that she is an incredible person and does valuable ministry here, but when I was thrust into her position for a while I got to see (and feel) some of the pressure she has to deal with.  All I can say is this:  "Vicki...you are a very important and valuable person to the ministry of Salem Lutheran Church.  And if no one else says it, let me say it here for all the world to hear:  I appreciate you so much!  But don't feel you need to hurry back.  Take care of yourself, get some rest and take it easy.  I look forward to seeing you across the hallway very soon."

Quick side bar
Even though, "technically", we are not supposed to celebrate saints during Holy Week can I still wear green and not get into "trouble"?

Palm Sunday
Yesterday I continued my tradition of beginning worship with a Palm Sunday celebration and ending it with the reading of the Passion Story.  It is always a powerful time for me (and from what I hear, for others as well).  But one thing I noticed (and my wife and I talked about this afterward) is that there were a lot of kids getting a little restless during the long Passion reading.  After worship, Connie and I brainstormed the idea that next year we take the kids out before the Passion Story (on Palm Sunday) and Connie would read a children's version of the story downstairs while the parents/adults stayed with me for the Passion reading.  The thought is that as the kids processed in with palm branches they would recess out with their palm branches.  I have never been a big advocate of removing children from worship, but I think I would make an exception here.  Does any else have thoughts on this?

God blessings to you this St. Patty's Day (oops...I mean Monday of Holy Week) and I wish for you a week full of love as we hear about the Passion of our Lord and the gift of eternal life for each of us.

Take care!
-edh-