Thinking about Pastor David Schultz

Sometimes people ask, "Why did you want to become a pastor?" This is my story.

I was in my junior year at Mesa High School. Great things were happening for me - making the basketball team and getting to meet and make a bunch of new friends.  As I arrived home after practice one day I found my parents sitting in our living room with a stranger.  He introduced himself at Pastor David Schultz and explained that he had just been called to serve at Pilgrim Lutheran Church.  He invited our family to worship  that Sunday.

As we talked I made an amazing discovery - he loved sports! I thought that pastors just talked about God all day.  Not only could Pastor Schultz talk sports, he played sports! Later on I discovered that he was a first class fast pitch softball hitter and pitcher and that he was a low handicap golfer.

We did attend church that Sunday and I was impressed.  Pastor Schultz was a fine preacher and, as I later learned, an outstanding Bible teacher.  We all went home that day feeling that we had found our church.

As the weeks went on Pastor Schultz took a real interest in me.  One day I was at home when the phone rang and Pastor Schultz was on the line.  He explained that he had to visit one of our members who had been hospitalized and wondered if I would like to go along with him. You bet! I enjoyed being with him and got to see him working at his vocation.  After that, he called again and again and invited me to go with him and I did.

During those visits I saw Romans 10:17 come alive: "Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message and the message is heard through the Word of Christ."

On those visits I had a front row seat and watched as Pastor Schultz used the Word of God to touch and change the lives of others.

We met a woman who had just been dumped by her husband.  The rejection hurt and I felt sorry for her but Pastor Schultz gave her more - comfort through the Word of God.

We met a man who had just been diagnosed with cancer.  Fear came over the man and I felt sorry for him but Pastor Schultz gave him more - peace through the Word of God.

We met some parents who had just discovered that their son's girlfriend was pregnant and their boy was the father.  They were broken up and I felt sorry for them but Pastor Schultz gave them more - hope through the Word of God.

I got a phone call very late one night  Sherri, I and the kids were fast asleep.  It was Pastor Schultz explaining that one of our members, a young wife and mother, had died suddenly and unexpectedly.  Would I come with him?

When we arrived we encountered a family in shock.  Some of them were hysterical.  I was a little frightened.  What could anyone do for this grieving family? Pastor Schultz asked them all to bow their heads in prayer.  When he was finished, he took the young husband and father away to speak with him privately.  I remained with the rest of the family.  There was still a great sadness in the room and tears were being shed. But I realized how that prayer, peppered with God's Word, had brought comfort to them.

I believe all that time I spent with Pastor Schultz was just a meaningful and invaluable as the time I spent as Seminary.  I came to see first hand that faith really does come from hearing the message and the message is heard though the Word of Christ.

Our catechism teaches that the Gospel is the good news of our salvation in Jesus and through the Gospel God gives forgiveness of all our sins; gives us faith to trust and believe in Jesus and all His promises to save and forgive and bless; gives us the hope of eternal life in heaven; gives us the desire to please God with good works of love and compassion to others.

It is such a privlege to share God's Word with others.  That's why I wanted to be a pastor.  I watched my pastor give the Word of God to others.  I wanted to do the same.

What is the first love of the church?  I believe it is the proclamation of God's Word and the sharing of God's gifts of grace, Baptism and the Lord's Supper.  As the church we get to tell and show the amazing love of our beautiful Savior with our neighbors and the world.  The Word gives us hope for daily living.  The Word has the power to relieve guilt consciences.  The Word provides solid direction when it seems there is nowhere else to turn. 

I can count four of five men who have been instrumental in my life, through the example they set and the time and interest they shared with me.  But none of them has been as important in my life as David Schultz - my Pastor.

A sleep that could not be any lighter

From (Luke 7:1-17) and from the son of the widow we should learn to perceive the great power which God, through Christ, will apply to us at the Last Day, when, by a Word, He will recall all men to life and give everlasting salvation to believers...

For here we have the example.  The son of the widow is dead; he has lost the gift of hearing and all other senses.  But when Christ speaks to him, he hears.  This is certainly a strange and wonderful incident.  He that does not hear, hears;and he that does not live, lives. Nothing is done but that Christ opens the mouth and bids him arise.  The single Word is so powerful that death has to vanish and life return.

Before the Lord death is not death at all.  For us it is called and is death when we die. But before God it is a light sleep which could not be any lighter.

Martin Luther, from "Treasury of Daily Prayer," page 228.

Be a soldier of the cross!

            The story is told that during the early day of the Civil War a Union soldier was arrested on charges of desertion.  He could not prove that the charges were unfounded and was declared guilty and condemned to die as a deserter.  An appeal was made on the soldier’s behalf and, as fate would have it, the paperwork ended up on President Lincoln’s desk.  The president was moved by the appeal and signed a pardon, freeing the soldier.  Then the man did a most surprising thing.  He reenlisted, returned to service and fought the entirety of the war on the side of the North.  Tragically, he was killed just as the war was coming to its conclusion.  In looking for some identification, found within the breast pocket of the soldier was the signed pardon of the president.

            Some time today, read Romans 5:1-2. In first two verses of chapter five, Paul describes the “not guilty” verdict we have received by being declared “justified by faith.”  God’s pardon of our sins has given us “peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”  Jesus’ victorious battle over sin, death and hell has brought peace for all who trust in the Lord.  We can live life without fear of God’s punishment.  We can enlist in the Lord’s service as soldiers of the cross.  We can arm ourselves for battle with the sword of the Spirit, which is God’s Holy Word.  We can share the Word with those whose hearts are troubled and confused.  May the rich grace of God move you to faithful service as a soldier of the cross of Christ Jesus!

How your pastor will appreciate you

I am reading reading the third book in Katie Schuermann's series, "The Harvest Raise."  She tells the story about a mid-western rural church and its colorful cast of characters.  At the center of the series is a love story between a young woman who has lost her husband and has come to the town of Bradbury to heal.  She connects with Zion Lutheran Church and, over time, the single pastor and she fall in love and marry.  Schuermann portrays there relationship in a sweet way.

One reason I like the series is because she describes what life is like for a parish pastor.  She writes how pastors are often under pressure from the members (some well meaning and some not) and how that pressure comes to bear on family members.

As I'm reading along, the pastor finds his wife at home, obviously discouraged and hurt.  He finally learns that she was treated very unfairly by a spiteful troublemaker. He wants to deal with the person right away but his wife counsels against taking action.  He realizes that she's right; a confrontation would only make things worse.

During a moment of silence, the pastor thinks to himself, "...this was the special cross that pastors and, consequently, their families carried through all of life.  Every time they walked into the church, they had to share space with people who hated them and blamed them and despised them and criticized them and hurt them. It was the very essence of Church Stress, this constant bearing of people's scorn.  The world mocked and spit upon Christ Himself.  It most certainly would do the same to His servants."

My beloved administrative assistant, Connie Kanzler, often tells me how loved I am by my congregation.  And that's a wonderful thought.  But it's not true.

The above sentence in italics resonated with me.  All those things I have experienced and still experience.  The pastor is an easy target.  And since we all are given to believe at one time or another that our problems and disappointments are not our fault, who best to blame? The pastor!

In my own case, I know that the majority of the congregants love and support me.  It's only a few that hate and blame and despise and criticize and hurt.  Oh, but the wounds they cause. 

In my opinion, the greatest gift a congregation can give its pastor is to pray for him every day.  Pray that he would be faithful to his calling...pray that he would receive joy in serving the Lord...pray that the attacks of the old, evil foe would be blunted...pray that he would receive the Lord's strength when faced with stressful days...pray that he would not be distracted by those who want to hurt him and his family and ruin his ministry.

Every October is Pastor Appreciation Month.  But the pastor will appreciate you when you pray for him every day.

What do you say?

I opened up my email and saw the usual junk.  But there was one email marked "urgent."  It was a friend who had suffered a great disappointment and was asking for prayer.

I wanted to respond with some comforting, helpful words.  I couldn't find them.  The Bible had just what I needed.  I'll be preaching at all four services and I'll share with you what I learned.

Today at 5 pm; tomorrow at 8, 9:30 and 11 am.  Hope to see you at Life in Christ!

Can we trust the Bible?

I copied the following quote in my journal from the Christianity Today website.  I believe it was noteworthy to me because it came from a British theologian. Given the apathy among so many Brits toward God, Jesus, and the Bible (just to name a few), I was impressed by this testimony from Amy Orr-Ewing.  What she said was simple, straight forward and true:

The Gospels contain verifiable details about names, geography, culture, architicture, botany, leading us to conclude that the New Testament ought to be taken seriously.

From the article, "Oxford's Unapologetic Female Apologist," Christianity Today website, April 8, 2015

Thinking about Rod Pigg

It was a luncheon invitation.  Rod Pigg and I had never done lunch before.  And usually a free lunch often came either with a complaint about something the church was doing or a pitch for something the church ought to be doing.  Quite often I left the table with a bad case of indigestion.

But this was different.  Rod said, "Pastor, I have no hidden agenda.  But I am concerned about you."

Rod told me about his professional career.  He had been a highly successful insurance executive.  At one time he had managed over 200 agents.  He said, "As you can imagine, it takes a lot of time and effort to lead a sales force like that."

His success came with a price.  "I was working so hard and putting in so many hours that I began neglecting my health," said Rod.  He was certain that the stress of work had led to a couple of heart attacks.

Then Rod said, "Pastor, I see how hard you work.  Please take care of yourself.  Don't be afraid to retire.  I don't want you to do to yourself what I did."

I am blessed with a very supportive congregation.  During my struggles with depression many have reached out to me with their love and support.

But here was a man who I didn't yet know very well who did have an agenda of sorts - his concern for my health.  I left the table that day thanking God for a luncheon that didn't give me indigestion but something much, much greater.

We had more of those lunch time meetings over the past few years.  There was no church business to be done.  Instead, we talked about our families, summer traveling, Rod's golf game (his was so much more interesting to talk about than mine!).  We fought over the check.  Rod would say, "This was my invitation - I should get the check."  But God had given me a wonderful gift - Rod's friendship.  I was glad to pay for our meal.  My little way of saying "thank you" for the special time we had together.

I was shocked when I heard the news that Rod had passed away last Friday.  Since his retirement he was devoted to his health, getting lots of exercise, watching his diet.  It is hard to estimate just how much he will be missed by his dear family and the many friends he had made over the years.

My consolation is Rod's confession of Jesus Christ, his Lord and Savior.  Rod and LaVonna, his wife, faithfully attended worship every Sunday.  Rod loved hearing the Word of God read and proclaimed.  He appreciated Jesus' invitation to come to the altar to partake of a meal like none other.  Rod believed that Jesus had saved him from sin and death. Being in the Lord's house was so important to him.

Now, Rod rests in the arms of Jesus.  One day Jesus will come again.  He will raise our lowly bodies and they will be new - no more tears, no more disease, no more depression.  And all those who confessed Jesus will be gathered up and taken into eternity where we will be with the Lord forever. 

The Bible doesn't tell us everything about heaven and what we can expect.  But if I am able, I'll be looking to stand shoulder to shoulder with Rod, singing praises forever to God and the Lamb.

What a reunion that will be!