The Heart of a Pastor

Sunday morning prayer - 06/08/08

Thank you for all your prayers this week.  Those big storms the so-called "weather experts" were predicting never happened around here.  The severe weather tracked to the west of us, but even that weather wasn't anything too bad.  I did hear of some farm trees being blown down and that's about it.  Fortunately those Oklahoma storm chasers that traveled to our area didn't have any tornadoes to chase.  Right we are praying for dry weather.  It has been unseasonably wet this spring.  With the wet ground we can't start our ramp construction project here at Salem.

Sermon prep
This I have been captivated by Hosea's words from God that say, "I desire mercy not sacrifice..." (NIV translation...the translation we use in worship), but I like how the NRSV translates this verse, "I desire STEADFAST LOVE, not mercy...".  I like the NRSV because earlier God is saying to the people that their LOVE is like the morning cloud; like the morning dew that quickly disappears.  Connecting these two verses together by using "steadfast love" drives home the point better.  We are good at showing love...at times...when it is convenient.  But God desires STEADFAST love; a love that is never ending.  The Israelites were doing all (or almost all) the "right" things according to the law, but they were not loving their neighbor.  They were more focused on their acts of worship than on people.  I guess we can still relate to that today...can't we?

Let us pray...
God of mercy you have given your one and only Son so we may live.  Help us to show that mercy to others so people may come to know you.  And help us to daily learn what this means, "I desire steadfast love, not sacrifice...".  Amen.

Praise be to God always and forever!

-edh-

Not so concerned...

...I know, I know...the night is still young, but it seems that the serious stuff is done. But I also know that some of the worst storms have come during the night hours. So I will keep praying...and thanking God for getting us through the afternoon. God is indeed awesome...there is no question. I just don't want to let my guard down and start relying on my own power; thinking that I don't need God.

"God...help me not to grow complacent. I don't want this lull to be an excuse for me to turn away from you; to stop relying on you. I need you through the storms and the calm. In Christ's name I pray, AMEN!"

-edh-

Getting a little concerned -- UPDATE

As of 2:45pm, the severe weather as drifted just to the west of Jackson, but my wife is in the midst of the storms up where she works in the Windom area.  So far things are going alright, but we still have a long night ahead of us.  Thank you all for your prayers.

-edh-

Getting a little concerned

For the past few days, the "weather experts" have been forecasting severe weather to hit SW MN today; into tonight and tomorrow morning.  Normally I get excited about thunderstorms but I am not excited today.  I am actually getting a little concerned.  My wife called me from work this morning and said that in Lakefield, MN (10 miles NW of Jackson) there are a number of storm chasers from Oklahoma waiting for the tornado outbreak that is expected to hit our area.  These people are the serious chasers, so when they come to your area, it means they expect something big.

The logical and faithful thing to do is pray for God's protection as these storms develop and rumble ever closer.  But yet I find myself thinking of the worst.  I am worried about my wife who is in Windom (20 miles away).  I am worried about my friends and parishioners (Jenna and her dad are traveling to Sioux Falls today).  I am worried about our house and all the stuff we have.  I am worried about the church building (if anything, I hope the sanctuary ramp is destroyed but the building spared.  The ramp is coming out anyway).  Basically...I am worried.  Please pray for all those in the path of these storms. 

I know we have an almighty God who is in control.  I know we have a loving God who wants nothing but the best for us.  I know we have a God who will never leave us.  And even though I am worried about what the day may bring; whether it is a devastating tornado or minor storm damage, I know God will be with us through it all.  But I still cannot help but be a little concerned.  "Oh God...I believe, help my unbelief."

-edh-

Loon Cam

Check out this website my mom just told me about.  It's the Minnesota Bound (www.mnbound.com) site.  When you get there click on "Live Loon Cam" link and enjoy.  For some reason I have been fascinated with watching this mother loon sit on a nest (of course I am doing some work in the mean time).  But I wonder, though, if my fascination comes from my discombobulation.  Or...maybe...I am just feeling a little loony right now.  In any case...enjoy.

-edh-

Monday morning check in - "Eric in a fog"

Sorry to those who stopped by yesterday for the Sunday morning prayer and found none.  I was running a little behind yesterday morning.  Actually I felt a little discombobulated (Wow...I can't believe I actually used that word.  Pretty cool).  Anyway...an hour before I was to leave for Belmont to lead worship I was in the Salem sanctuary to practice my sermon one last time.  As I was running through the sermon I came to a realization:  "This sermon is crap."  So I changed it (I am still not sure if that was a good idea or not), but I think that is what started me down the road to discombobluation. 

Worship at Belmont went fine, but I still found myself feeling my way through the sermon; a little unsure of it.  During worship at Salem things did not get better for me.  I was leading the congregation in the Nicene Creed and about half way through I caught myself thinking ahead about what was coming up next in worship (communion).  That right there was a mistake because as the congregation continued with the NICENE Creed I started into the APOSTLE'S Creed around the third article.  Of course people were slightly confused but luckily I caught myself after "...the Holy catholic church...".  But before that, though, I got confused as I was standing up front during the last few words of the hymn of the day.  "What's next?" I pondered.  There was an awkward pause for a couple seconds until I realized I should be facing the congregation and not the altar to lead them in the Nicene Creed.  I have no clue where my head was.  Right now I am chalking it up to the fact that I am still getting used to the ELW.  Yea...that's sounds good :)  But hopefully I am not the only one who has have ever gotten confused while leading worship.  Please share a funny story of your own about worship confusion so I don't feel alone.

So with that I am going to end this post to make sure I am out of my fog.  At least I don't have anything too major on my calendar today.  But then again, maybe I do.  Hmmm...

-edh-

Unwelcoming party

I wonder what it means when one encounters a group of turkey vultures 6 1/2 miles into a 10 mile run.

-edh-

The coffee shop and the Gospel

The coffee shop feels a little more crowded and busy today…more so than last week when I dined here.  Maybe there is more gossip to chew on.  Maybe it is because summer has unofficially begun and more people are around.  Maybe, just maybe, word has gotten out that I dine here on Thursdays to be among the “congregation”.  LOL (laugh out loud)…Surely I jest.

 

Once again I am at Coffee Choices; among the “congregation”, trying to hear, listen and respond to a Word from God.  I am trying to be careful to not think that this is a magical place where God’s Word is transmitted more powerfully than other places.  After all…this is only a coffee shop.  But then I am reminded of a bumper sticker I have seen on some blogs I read that says, “I drink coffee so I can do dumb things faster” or hear the gospel faster perhaps.  LOL!  Maybe I am more “amped up” on caffeine here and thus feel more energetic and alive.  Hmmm….  

 

(Excuse me…my hands are starting to shake.  Maybe I should stop at six cups of coffee.)

 

Anyway…this week I am being lead into Paul’s letter to the Romans where Paul boldly proclaims, for I am not ashamed of the gospel; it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes… 

 

(I wonder what Paul would have been like on six cups of coffee.  Hmmm…)

 

Paul’s bold proclamation is received by a group of people with plenty to fear (and maybe to be ashamed of).  Christians feared for their lives.  They had to be secretive.  There was no public worship.  And among this environment Paul reminds the people that even though the powers that be may take his life, he has a greater power with him…the POWER OF GOD.  This same power he enjoyed in his life was also theirs and it is also ours.  And because of this power there is no need to be ashamed.

 

But now, as I hear the murmur of voices all around me, I wonder what is stopping me from speaking a Word to the people here and now.  I wonder how people would respond if I gave a loud whistle and asked if I could pray with them; read from scripture; or lead a biblical discussion.  I wonder what is stopping me.  Am I ashamed?  I don’t think that is the right word.  Maybe it is…but I don’t think so.  And even though I amped up on six cups of coffee, my fast moving brain has no answers.  So I pause and ponder…and I still have no answers.

 

(Wow…I can’t believe I just turned down another cup of coffee.)

 

Well…my coffee shop time is coming to a close.  It’s like that zone that one gets into (where everything around seems to disappear and quiet a couple decibels) and then all of a sudden you drop out of it; like the Enterprise dropping out of warp.  Then you realize all that you have gotten done and say “Wow!”  Now I feel much more aware of what is going on around me; as if the voices have gotten louder.  I feel myself “creeping along” now so I guess I should move on.  I guess should move on before I am tempted to drink cup-of-coffee number 7.

 

But as I creep along, I am still pondering coffee shops and the gospel…

 

-edh-

Bird man of Jackson

Believe me...I don't embrace this title, but I can't help but chuckle after our little visitor this afternoon...

Connie and I were in the kitchen getting ready do some grilling for supper when I heard a strange noise by our main door (from the kitchen there is a door that leads to three steps that takes you down to a landing.  A left turn takes you outside and a right turn leads you down into the basement).  When I opened the kitchen door to investigate the strange noise...low and behold...there was a bird trying to get out.  Of course my first response was to slam the door to prevent the bird from coming into the main part of the house.  That reaction caused my wife to get a little excited; thinking someone was trying to break into our house to kill us.  But after I assured her that the bird was not going to peck us to death, I entered the landing area to open the outside door.  That, of course, freaked the bird out and it headed downstairs to the basement.  What happened next can only be described as a wild chase trying to convince my feathered visitor that I meant it no harm.  I can't believe it would not trust me.  Eventually I chased it up stairs where Connie had the outside door open and our flying friend found its way to freedom.

[Later that evening]

Connie and I were sitting on the couch watching the news when we started recalling our wild bird adventure.  She then said, "I suppose you have a blog post for tomorrow".  I hadn't really thought about it but now I did.  Later in the evening Connie said, "I think I have an anology for you about the bird.  The bird is like us trying to find our way to freedom and God is trying to guide us to freedom.  Just like the bird who didn't trust you, we often don't trust that God has our best interests at heart.  But all God wants is for us to enjoy freedom...just like what you wanted for that bird." 

Wow...I think my wife is on to something here.  I think she should have a blog as well. 

-edh-

Sunday morning prayer

Memorial weekend is here.  For many people it means the unofficial start of summer.  For some it means graduation.  For others it means a longer weekend.  But hopefully, for all of us, Memorial weekend also means a time to remember all those who have given their lives for our country.  It is also a time to remember those who won't be home for a long weekend because they are currently serving our country in some capacity and location.  So take some time on Monday to attend your local Memorial Day program.  Say a prayer for those who are serving.  Say "Thank you" to a veteran(s).  Basically...don't forget.

Yesterday (May 24) Connie and I attended the graduation of one of her cousins.  The class was around 60 graduates.  During the principle's presentation of the class of 2008 he was giving some statistics of where the class was going.  A large number were going to a 4 year college and some were going to 2 year colleges or technical schools.  But there was 1 who was going into the military.  The principle had this young man stand up and thanked him for serving our country in this time of war.  And we all followed suit in thanking him as well. 

Thank you to those who serve and to those who have given their lives so we can enjoy the freedoms we often times take for granted.  THANK YOU!

Let us pray...
God of peace…we seek and worry about much in our lives.  We seek direction and worry if we will ever find it.  We seek meaning and worry our lives won’t be noticed.  We seek for that which is nothing more than selfish ambition and worry that we have not done enough.  But you have sent your Son, Jesus Christ to take our worries, our cares and concerns so we may find direction, meaning and peace.  Turn us from selfish pursuits to your life-giving Son so our lives may be filled with love that is never ending; so our lives can have true meaning and purpose.  Take our worries and grant us peace.  And, Lord God, let us not forget those who serve our country.  Bless those who serve and thank you for those who have gone on ahead of us to ensure us of our national freedoms.  In the name of Jesus Christ we pray…Amen.

God bless you and have a very safe holiday weekend.

-edh-