Have alb, will travel

Have alb, will travel.  Each summer we spend in Michigan I make myself available to do pulpit supply.  Last year I preached a couple of times for a pastor friend in Grand Rapids.  But this summer I was invited to preach 13 times with 10 of them at Trinity Lutheran in Paw Paw Michigan.

I don't know what the membership of the church is but they worship anywhere from 120 to 140 per Sunday.  That puts them in the top 25 percent of churches worshipping 100 or more people in the LCMS.  Also, while it is a congregation of mostly older believers there are a number of working parents with children to attend each Sunday.  The congregation also offers a school - preschool through 8th grade.

The church offers two services - 9 am is their contemporary worship and at 11 am is the traditional service.  Bible class and Sunday school are held in between the two services.  Also two deaf members attend the early service.  Since my former congregation had an active ministry to the deaf I was able to relate to this husband and wife,  They were a delight.  I brushed up on a few phrases like "peace be with you," Jesus loves you," and "This is the day the Lord has made."

The congregation is currently without a pastor.  Last year an intentional interim pastor came and helped the congregation sort through some challenges.  Since then they have issued and had returned two calls.  They hope to send a call to a third pastor next month and if it is returned they were work through the process of having a graduate assigned to them.

The people there were so warm and friendly to Sherri and I.  They were grateful for the ministry I was able to offer them and many urged us to join them again next summer, whether it be to provide pulpit supply (hopefully not) or to worship with them and a new pastor (yes!).

It's hard for a congregation to carry out ministry without a pastor leading the way.  Join me in praying that the Lord, at just the right time, will send just the right pastor to serve this congregation by proclaiming the Gospel, administrating the sacraments and offering pastoral care and comfort.

How did God show His love to me?

How did God show His love to me just this past week? In the form of family members who laughed with me when I was happy and cried with me when I was sad.  In the from of strength against temptation, healing for a hurting body, success in some venture, and guidance for some decision.  God's love flows down on me constantly.  Every day His love sends me valentines.

From "Together with Jesus," February 14

Even with another birthday, life goes on

We added another candle to my birthday cake yesterday - 74 of them!  My cake looked like it broke out into a prairie fire!   I have been greatly blessed by so many who remembered my birthday yesterday with a card or gift or phone call or even a Facebook post!  The church that I've been serving off and on this summer wished me a happy birthday with singing and cards. What a nice surprise! This outpouring of respect and affection reminded me of something I'd written down in my journal:  Have a blessed day!

I walk through life together with others, and those others are people whom Christ has placed in my life.  They are His gifts.

Bruce Hartung, "Holding Up the Prophet's Hand," page 154

Who Builds the Church?

Just so we are clear about this...

It is not we who build.  (Christ) builds the church.  No man builds the church but Christ alone.

We must confess - He builds.  We must proclaim - He builds.  We must pray to Him - He builds.

Church - stay a church! But church, confess, confess, confess! Christ alone is your Lord; from His grace alone can you live as you are.  Christ builds.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, from "Treasury of Daily Prayer," page 841

The Happiness Advantage

Countless studies have found that social relationships are the best guarantee of heightened well-being and lowered stress, both an antidote for depression and a prescription for high performance.

Shawn Achor, "The Happiness Advantage," page 14 

The importance of our baptism

All of life is lived from the standpoint of our baptism.  It is the start and ending of our day, that event thata begins our life in Christ and will, on the day of our death, complete it.

William Weedon, "Thank, Praise, Serve, Obey," page 36.

"The Country is Under Attack"

On September 10, 2001, I flew from Hilton Head Island, SC to Washington DC to attend the New Pastors Orientation with the Southeastern District of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.  As we flew in to Reagan International Airport I was surprised how near the airport was to the Pentagon Building.  It was almost that I could reach out and touch it.

That afternoon we heard a series of presentations and enjoyed a nice dinner.  I met with a classmate and we had a enjoyable time together, sharing stories about Seminary life while we watched Monday Night Football. I slept well that night.

The next morning we met in the basement of the LCMS church in Alexandria, Va.  We were not very far into the first presentation when the secretary of the church descended the steps into the basement.  She was wiping tears from her eyes.  She was choked up as she said, "The country is under attack."

We went upstairs to the reception area.  A small television was on, the rabbit ears not providing a very clear picture.  As looked on we then learned that a plane had flown into the Pentagon, the building I thought I could reach out and touch.  It was hard to take it all in.

We went downstairs to pray and while we were gathered an Air Force pilot joined us.  She reported that there was a fourth plane that had been hijacked and was headed back to DC.  She related that the Air Force had been ordered to take the plane down if it was clear that the plane was headed toward the Capital. She asked for prayers for the pilots and the civilians on the plane.  That flight later crashed in Shanksville Penn.

As I gathered my things the church secretary came to me and said, "George, we need to find another way for you to get home.  All airports have been closed."  Fortunately, my classmate told me he could drive me to Raleigh-Durham airport and see if I could rent a car to get the rest of the way home.  And he said if we couldn't find a car he would drive me the rest of the way home.

As we drove out of Alexandra we were amazed at the number of American Flags hanging from overpasses.  People stood on the side of the road waving the Flag.  It was wonderful to see the patriotism.

We got to Raleigh-Durham and went to the Hertz desk.  No cars.  Then we drove over to the Avis lot.  They had two cars left and they gave me one.  No charge, just the promise that I would deliver it to the Hilton Head Island airport.

I kept the radio on as I drove home.  In those early hours there was very little information available.  President Bush promised that the perpetuators would be hunted down and destroyed.

I crawled into bed around 3 am.  I hugged my dear, sweet wife hard.  We gave thanks to God for His protection and asked that He comfort the families who lost loved ones and heal those who had suffered injuries.

That evening about 150 members of Congress gathered together to sing "God Bless America."  And that was our prayer in the days, weeks, months and years to come.

But I am saddened that there are those, who live both outside but inside America who celebrate this day.  One evil influencer says that America deserved 9/11.  There are pockets of people in our Country who cry out "Death to America."  What has happened to us? Why are those who enjoy life in America wish to destroy the freedoms we enjoy?

It moves me to sing with all the lung power I can muster, "God bless our native land; Firm may she very stand through storm and night.  When the wild tempests rave, Ruler of wind and wave, Do now our country save, By Thy great might."

Lord, have mercy.