postings from prairie hill

Reflections on May 1, 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor David) — Mon, 02 May 2011 06:10:00 +0000

There is a lot going on right now! Last Wednesday the Southeast US was ravaged by tornadoes and storms. This morning, we kicked off our 90 Day Challenge. I have many things I want to share with you. But all of that was overshadowed tonight by the news that US Special Forces had killed Osama Bin Laden.

I don't know that I can put into words my reaction to this news. It is overwhelming. I know that there are more terrorists out there, and that this not the end of threats to our country. But Bin Laden, the architect of 9/11, is a powerful symbol of how our lives have changed since that September day.

I am relieved that Osama bin Laden is dead. Its my earnest prayer that his death allows some of the scars & pain of 9/11 to heal, and brings some closure to ten years of grief. I believe that is a good thing that his evil can no longer affect the world.

I am also immensely grateful for & proud of our military, who have and who continue to risk their lives for our safety. May God bring you all safely home to your families.

I am also reminded of Jesus' command to pray for enemies. That's not easy for me, especially when I think of someone as evil as Bin Laden and those who continue his work. And so I start by asking God to give me the strength to pray for those I call enemies.

Pastor David

What's Going On

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor David) — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 17:57:00 +0000

For the past 5 years, this blog has served multiple functions. It has been a professional blog, used for announcements and news for the congregation of St. John. It has been a personal blog, where I have shared news about my family and life. And, it has lived in the twilight in-between where much of a pastor's life is lived.

As my fifth year as the Pastor of St. John - Prairie Hill draws to a close, my use of this blog has evolved. Postings from Prairie Hill will remain and will become more intentionally the blog of the congregation of St. John. It will be used for news, announcements, and information for our congregation -- sort of an extension of our Facebook page.

I have set up a new blog, Called to Passion, which will be my personal blog. It will be the space for my writings, thoughts, and ideas. Some previous posts from this blog will be migrating over there in the months ahead.

Again, Postings from Prairie Hill will not be going away. It will just be slightly more focused in purpose.

Bach's Coffee Cantada

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor David) — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 22:36:00 +0000

In honor of the 326th birthday of the Fifth Evangelist, here is J.S. Bach's Coffee Cantata (Schweigt stille, plaudert nicht, BWV 211).

Written for and performed by Bach's Collegium Musicum, at Zimmerman's Coffee House in Leipzig. The libretto (text) was penned by Bach's frequent collaborator, Christian Friedrich Henrici.

Narrator (Recitative): Be quiet, stop chattering, and pay attention to what's taking place: here comes Herr Schlendrian with his daughter Lieschen; he's growling like a honey bear. Hear for yourselves, what she has done to him!

Schlendrian (Aria): Don't one's children cause one endless trials & tribulations! What I say each day to my daughter Lieschen falls on stony ground.

Schlendrian (Aria): You wicked child, you disobedient girl, oh!; When will I get my way? Give up coffee!

Lieschen (Aria): Father, don't be so severe!; If I can't drink my bowl of coffee three times daily, then in my torment I will shrivel up like a piece of roast goat.

Lieschen: Mm! how sweet the coffee tastes,; more delicious than a thousand kisses, mellower than muscatel wine.; Coffee, coffee I must have, and if someone wishes to give me a treat, ah, then pour me out some coffee!

Schlendrian (Recitative): If you don't give up drinking coffee then you shan't go to any wedding feast, nor go out walking.; Oh! when will I get my way? Give up coffee!

Lieschen: Oh well! Just leave me my coffee!

Schlendrian: Now I've got the little minx! I won't get you a whalebone skirt in the latest fashion.

Lieschen: I can easily live with that.

Schlendrian: You're not to stand at the window and watch people pass by!

Lieschen: That as well, only I beg of you, leave me my coffee!

Schlendrian: Furthermore, you shan't be getting any silver or gold ribbon for your bonnet from me!

Lieschen: Yes, yes! only leave me to my pleasure!

Schlendrian: You disobedient Lieschen you, so you go along with it all!

Schlendrian (Aria): Hard-hearted girls are not so easily won over.; Yet if one finds their weak spot, ah! then one comes away successful.

Schlendrian (Recitative): Now take heed what your father says!

Lieschen: In everything but the coffee.

Schlendrian: Well then, you'll have to resign yourself to never taking a husband.

Lieschen: Oh yes! Father, a husband!

Schlendrian: I swear it won't happen.

Lieschen: Until I can forgo coffee?; From now on, coffee, remain forever untouched! Father, listen, I won't drink any.

Schlendrian: Then you shall have a husband at last!

Lieschen (Aria): Today even dear father, see to it! Oh, a husband!; Really, that suits me splendidly!; If it could only happen soon that at last, before I go to bed, instead of coffee I were to get a proper lover!

Narrator (Aria): Old Schlendrian goes off to see if he can find a husband forthwith for his daughter Lieschen;; but Lieschen secretly lets it be known:; no suitor is to come to my house unless he promises me, and it is also written into the marriage contract,; that I will be permitted to make myself coffee whenever I want.

Trio: A cat won't stop from catching mice, and maidens remain faithful to their coffee.; The mother holds her coffee dear.; The grandmother drank it also.; Who can thus rebuke the daughters?

(Translation found on Wikisource, and assumed to be public domain)

A Prayer in time of Tragedy

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor David) — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 18:13:00 +0000

A prayer, offered in response to the earthquake off the shores of Japan and the resulting tsunami.

O God, we stand in awe of the power of your creation; deal mercifully with your world, especially this day the people of Japan and all affected by the waves of destruction. Comfort those who have lost loved ones, give courage to those filled with fear, and stir up all your children to respond with the love and justice of your Son, who lives & reigns with you & the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Amen.

Lent: Repentance

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor David) — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 17:13:00 +0000

"The world, as we live in it, is like a shop window into which some mischievous person has got overnight, and shifted all the price-labels so that the cheap things have the the high price-labels on them and the really precious things are priced low. We let ourselves be taken in. Repentance means getting those price labels back in the right place."

-- William Temple

Fear Not!

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor David) — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 18:14:00 +0000

Groundhog Day. Punxsutawney Phil comes out his burrow; if he is frightened by his shadow we are in for more winter, if he is not, then spring is coming. This day has me thinking about fear, and how we are like that rodential harbinger of springtime. It seems to me that much of our life is dominated by fear in one way or another. So much so that, as we run from place to place seeking safety and security, we seem to even be scared of our own shadows.

There is everyday worry and anxiety. Will we make enough this month to pay the house note? Will my boss be impressed with my work? Will I be able to get that project done one time? Every day, there a thousand and one little doubts that fill our hearts and minds with worry.

Then there are the big things of life. Fear of abandonment and loneliness. Fear of rejection. Fear of death. Fear of the loss of loved ones. We may not consciously think about these as often - but they loom large in our lives nonetheless.

Between the little worries and the big fears, how much of our lives are devoted to our fears? How much of our time and energy is spent on fear and worry? And how much are we able to really be attentive to the people in our lives and to our faith while the background music of fear is running through our minds?

The question I have is this: What does fear have to do with faith?

Certainly, there is a certain expression of Christianity that I would call a religion of fear. You know the type. "You could die at any moment - are you right with God". Religion that uses fear of hell, fear of damnation as the primary motivating factor. "Or else" religion. Of course, it does not have to be that overt, I think this religion of fear creeps into faith in lots of different ways. Do you rightly understand the sacrament? Do you have enough faith, or strong enough faith? Do you rightly understand the creed? And on and on.

So what has fear to do with faith?

__________________________________________________

When dealing with the fears of life, I conclude that fear and worry are a first commandment issue. Luther says of the first commandment:

A "god" is the term for that to which we are to look for all good and in which we are to find refuge in all need. Therefore, to have a god is nothing else than to trust and believe in that one with your whole heart ... The intention of this commandment, therefore, is to require true faith and confidence of the heart, which fly straight to the one true God and cling to him alone.

We worry because we look for security from our jobs, from our income, from our retirement accounts. But as people of faith, we are called to turn to God alone for our security. We worry because we gauge our worth on acceptance by others, or on our accomplishments. But as people of faith, our worth comes from being adopted as children of God.

You see? Worry and fear are what result when the things of life supplant the place of God in our hearts and minds. Not that they aren't good things - family, vocation, friendship. But when those good things take the place of God in our lives - when they become the things we cling to and turn to for worth and security and comfort, then they have become our gods. Isn't this what Jesus is getting at?

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? If then you are not able to do so small a thing as that, why do you worry about the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these.
But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you-- you of little faith! And do not keep striving for what you are to eat and what you are to drink, and do not keep worrying. For it is the nations of the world that strive after all these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, strive for his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
(Luke 12:22-32)

So, the worries and fears of life are really what happens when we turn from God and toward our idols. That much seems to be fairly clear to me. But what about fear in the house of faith? What about fear used in the name of God? After all, aren't we taught that "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom"? Doesn't Jesus preach about those who are cast into the outer darkness, where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth?

If, by fear, we mean respect, reverence, and awe - then yes, I think there is a place for such fear in the life of faith. But that is not how most of us mean fear. I come to rest in the words of 1 John:

God is love ... There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.

If God is love, then God must be perfect love. And perfect love casts out fear. And, as children of God, we dwell in God and God dwells in us. Therefore ...

Simply put, I distrust people who peddle fear - whether it is the politics of fear, the marketing of fear, or the religion of fear. We worship the God who created all things, and provides us with all that we need. We worship the God who conquered sin and death by the power of the cross. We worship the God who has called us beloved children. We worship the God who is love, who casts out all fear.

Fear Not!

Saint Nicholas

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor David) — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 18:42:00 +0000

I love the feast of Saint Nicholas, for many reasons.

First, this day marks the beginning of Christmas celebrations for me. Yes, we have usually had one or two Sundays of Advent before the Feast of St. Nick, but Advent is not Christmas. No, with the feast of St. Nicholas, we have the coming of the gift-bringer and wonder worker - the beginning of the season of miracles, wonder, and generosity.

Second, Nicholas serves as a reminder that what we see celebrated as "Christmas" all around us is simply nothing more than crass commercialism; Americans worshiping at the Baal of capitalism. No, St. Nick does not fly through the sky, or live at the North Pole, or drop in at the local mall. He was a very real person, who lived a life shaped by the values of the Gospel. He does not endorse your favorite brand, and he does not keep a list of who is naughty or nice. Instead, he strove to love his neighbor as himself.

Finally, Nicholas represents in many ways what I believe the Christian faith should look like. His was a life of compassion: caring for "the least of these." Making sure that those on the edges of the society had what they needed; caring for children, handing out money to keep families off the street. The acts for which Nicholas is known are what might be called social liberalism today. And yet, he was also a firm defender of orthodoxy - best known through his encounter with Arius at Nicea (aka, the Santa smack-down). For me, Nicholas shows us that orthodox faith - i.e., truly following the Gospel - leads to compassionate living.

Questions for God

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor David) — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 22:41:00 +0000

Recently, while meeting with a small group in our congregation, I asked the participants what one question they would ask of God if they had the opportunity. I found their questions to be very insightful, and thought I would share some of them with you.

* Why do bad people seem to get good things in life?

* How long do you expect me to turn the other cheek?

* Why do bad things happen to children – and how do you deal with the people who do those things?

* I know we will spend eternity with you – why do we have to spend a lifetime on earth first?

* How can I hear your voice?

* How am I doing?

* How long will I be here?

* How much of the Bible is written the way it actually happened?

* Why my dad?

* How can I know what to do?

* How can you love me so much? And why do you seem to not love others as much?

* You said the first shall be last. I look at the world, and I wonder, when I get to see you, will I be last?

* What is my purpose?

* Why are you like we were taught when we were children?

* Why is there suffering?

* Why is there cruelty?

* Why did you make me so that I love sin so much?

* Why is there disease?

* How can I know what to do in life?

From the mouths of babes

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor David) — Sat, 02 Oct 2010 16:36:00 +0000

Hanging out with my 3 year old:

"You have coffee at church - it makes you feel better. You're so happy."

This is most certainly true.

Shack Discussion Guide

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor David) — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 16:57:00 +0000

I have started reading Wm Paul Young's The Shack with two groups at Prairie Hill. In anticipation of our time together, I am putting together a little study / discussion guide to give shape to our conversation. While I did look at other guides out there, ultimately I decided to just write my own questions.

Those of you in the Pastor's Book Club will find updates to the guide here, as I write questions for our future discussion sessions (just return to this link - hit reload on your browser if the new questions don't show up at first).

Other pastors and friends who happen upon this discussion guide are free to use or modify this material as suits their situation (for those who pay attention, I release this under a cc-by-sa-nc).

Reading The Shack: A guide for discussion and study

Welcome! This study guide is written to help you get the most out of your reading of The Shack by William P. Young, and to facilitate our discussions together.

Some of you may have read The Shack already, some of you may have read it in anticipation of this study, some of you may be reading as we move through the book together. That’s ok. Those of you reading as we go, please make sure that you keep up with the reading.

Due to time limitations, when we get together to discuss we will usually not have time to discuss all of the questions in this guide. I hope that you will still find them beneficial in thinking about your own faith. Before our group meetings, think about what you might like to spend the most time talking about.

A couple of thoughts before you get started. First, The Shack is a work of fiction. It is not a statement of theological doctrine, nor is it inspired Scripture. I have personally found the book to be helpful and insightful – and I certainly hope that you will, too – just be sure to check that insight with what we know to be true about God as made known to us in the Bible. Or, you may find that you greatly disagree with this book, that’s ok too.

Second, this book deals with tragedy and faith. As we explore our own understandings of tragedy, faith, and how they are related, you will be invited to share your own experiences and thoughts. Please be respectful of the experiences of others as they share them, and know that you will never be asked to share more than you are comfortable with.

Then the man said to Jacob, “You shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have
wrestled with God and with humans and have prevailed.” ~~Genesis 32:28

But Mack had already left the room to wrestle with his dreams; maybe tonight there would be
no nightmares, only visions. ~~ p. 23

A we read the story of Mack’s wrestling match with God I pray that you will find your own shack, a space in your life where you can fully encounter God, experience the reality of what God desires for your life, and wrestle with the God who called you as his own.

Pastor David

Forward

* The author admits that the story that follows is fantastic, unproven, and even difficult to believe. In life, are there important truths that you cannot “prove”?

* How do you decide that some one is reliable or credible?

* The author describes Mack’s early, very bad experiences in the church (and the horrible experiences at the hands of his “church-going” father). Are we (the church) responsible when people experience the church in this way? How can the church share the Gospel with people who have experiences like this?

* Despite the experiences of his early life, Mack is a pretty ordinary guy – living in the world we know, working a job, spending time with friends and family. What do you like or dislike about Mack as he is described here? How can you relate with him?

* Mack and the author seem to be quite good friends. Who are those friends that you talk about everything with? Do you have friends that you talk about your faith with?

Chapter 1: A Confluence of Paths

* “There is something joyful about storms that interrupt routine. Snow or freezing rain suddenly releases you from expectations, performance demands, and the tyranny of appointments and schedules.” If we dislike all the demands, expectations, and schedules of life, why do we continue to live busier and busier lives?

* Have you ever wished you could hit the “pause” button on life? What do you do to slow your life down when it gets going too fast?

* When your life gets busy, are you able to hear God’s voice?

* Read the story of the call of Moses. Do you see any similarity between the story of Moses and the story of Mack?

* To get his attention, God sends Mack a letter. How does God get your attention? Is it gentle, or jarring? Obvious or subtle? How do you verify that the message is from God, and not from Tony the mailman?

* “There it was. Papa was Nan’s favorite name for God and it expressed her delight in the intimate friendship she had with him.” How is the similar or different from the way that Jesus addresses God (c.f. Mark 14:36)? Is it acceptable to use our own language/names to talk to God? How do you picture God in your mind when you pray or worship?

* Nan talks about wishing that God would hurry up with the answer to her prayer. When we pray for God’s will to be done, do you think we really mean it? Are we content with God’s schedule, or do we try to put God on the schedule of our busy lives?

* Can you see how – despite her impatience and without her knowledge – God was already answering her prayer? How can we learn to trust in God’s will, instead of our schedules?

Chapter 2: The Gathering Dark

* Mack describes “The Great Sadness.” Have you experienced a “Great Sadness” in your life?

* Mack & his family have many traditions, including telling stories. What traditions does your family have?

* What are the similarities between the story of the Indian Princess and Jesus? Missy asks about the truth of the story of the Indian Princess. Does it matter if the story is true?

* Missy & Mack talk about the similarities between “Papa” and the “Great Spirit.” How do you understand the relationship between our God and other religions?

* So is Jesus dying a legend? How do we share the faith so that our children know the difference between the legends of childhood (Santa, Easter Bunny, etc) and the Gospel?

* Missy has many questions, about the legend and about Jesus. What questions do you have about God and faith? Is it ok to have doubts?

* Will God ask me jump off the cliff to prove my love? How would you answer a child like Missy’s question? What if an adult asked that question?

* He was a rich man, he thought to himself, in all the ways that mattered …He prayed a silent thanks to God. At the end of a hard day, what can you thank God for? Do you?

Chapter 3: The Tipping Point

* Mack, his children, and their new friends all seem to be drawn closer by their shared experiences on this trip. It is often outside of “everyday life” that we are most able to connect with others and God. What are some experiences in your life that have drawn you closer to friends and family?

* As Mack describes Nan to his new friends, she seems like Super Woman, without any flaws. Do you think we most often seem the positive or negative traits in our family and friends? What about coworkers? What about those we have conflict with? How do you think those same people would describe you? Which way would you want to be described?

* In many places, Scripture uses the analogy of family to talk about our relationships with God and one another. Mack points out that this is difficult for those who came from difficult family experiences. Do any of the biblical ways of speaking of God give you difficulty? Should the church change how we talk about God for the sake of those who have trouble with it? Why or why not?

* Overnight, things went from great to rotten for Mack. Life often changes suddenly, and tragic most often comes in an instant. How do you prepare yourself for the sudden changes of life?

* In the canoe, Josh’s panicked struggle to save himself almost prevented Mack from being able to rescue him. How do we try to save ourselves? How does it prevent God from saving us?

* After the incident with the canoe, Emil apologizes repeatedly to Mack. Was he in any way responsible for what had happened?

Chapter 4: The Great Sadness

* This is a difficult chapter to read. Give yourself time to read it, and really absorb it.

* The “if-only” game (p.64) is a common response by the survivors of tragic events. Do Mack’s if-only questions help him in any way? Why do you think we spend so much time asking ourselves “What if …”?

* Mack asks God how this could have happened (p. 53). Implied in that question is how / why did God let this happen? If you were Mack’s friend, how would you answer his questions?

* Missy’s siblings respond very differently to the tragedy, almost becoming the opposite of their normal personalities: Josh becomes more emotional, Kate becomes more in control. How would you have responded? How do you prepare for something like this? Why do you think people respond so differently in crises?

* Life would never be normal again, if any time is ever normal (p. 65). Think about what is “normal” in your life; How has it changed from the “normal” of your life ten years ago?

* God’s voice had been reduced to paper … Nobody wanted God in a box, just in a book (p. 65-66) Mack was taught that God no longer speaks directly to us, but only through the Bible. What do you think? Does God write notes? How does God speak to us today?

* Even as he grows further from God, Mack wants more from God – and that more is not what he sees in church – the little religious social clubs that didn’t seem to make any real difference. What do you think of Mack’s opinion of the church? Do you share it? Do you think others do?

* Have you experienced God’s voice in your life? How?

Luther: Preface to 1 Corinthians

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor David) — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 17:17:00 +0000

Came across this in my devotions this morning, and it spoke to me.

In this epistle St. Paul exhorts the Corinthians to be one in faith and love, and to see to it that they learn well the chief thing, namely, that Christ is our salvation, the thing over which all reason and wisdom stumbles.

For it was as in our day, when the gospel has come to light. There are many mad saints (we call them factious spirits, fanatics, and heretics) who have become wise and learned all too quickly and, because of their great knowledge and wisdom, cannot live in harmony with anybody. One wants to go this way, another that way, as though it would be a great shame if each were not to undertake something special and to put forth his own wisdom. No one can make them out to be fools—though at bottom they neither know nor understand anything about that which is really the chief thing, even though they jabber much about it with their mouths.

So it was with St. Paul too. He had taught his Corinthians Christian faith and freedom from the law. But then the mad saints came along, and the immature know-it-alls. They broke up the unity of the doctrine and caused division among the believers. One claimed to belong to Paul, the other to Apollos; one to Peter, the other to Christ. One wanted circumcision, the other not; one wanted marriage, the other not; one wanted to eat food offered to idols, the other not. Some wanted to be outwardly free [leiblich frey]; some of the women wanted to go with uncovered hair, and so on. They went so far that one man abused his liberty and married his father’s wife, some did not believe in the resurrection of the dead, and some thought lightly of the sacrament.

In short, things got so wild and disorderly that everyone wanted to be the expert and do the teaching and make what he pleased of the gospel, the sacrament, and faith. Meanwhile they let the main thing drop—namely, that Christ is our salvation, righteousness, and redemption—as if they had long since outgrown it. This truth can never remain intact when people begin to imagine they are wise and know it all.

This is exactly what is now happening to us. Now that we, by God’s grace, have opened the gospel to the Germans, everyone claims that he is the top expert and alone has the Holy Spirit—as if the gospel had been preached in order that in it we should show off our cleverness and reason, and strive for a reputation. Those Corinthians may well be an example or illustration of our people in these days, who also certainly need an epistle of this kind. But this is the way things have to go with the gospel; mad saints and immature know-it-alls have to create disturbances and offenses, so that those who are “tested,” as St. Paul also says here [I Cor. 3:13], may be revealed.

Therefore St. Paul most severely rebukes and condemns this shameful wisdom, and makes these connoisseur saints out to be fools. He says outright that they know nothing of Christ, or of the Spirit and gifts of God given to us in Christ, and that they had better begin to learn. It takes spiritual folk to understand this. The desire to be wise and the pretense of cleverness in the gospel are the very things that really give offense and hinder the knowledge of Christ and God, and create disturbances and contentions. This clever wisdom and reason can well serve to make for nothing but mad saints and wild Christians. Yet such people can never know our Lord Christ, unless they first become fools again and humbly let themselves be taught and led by the simple word of God.

Luther, Martin: Pelikan, Jaroslav Jan (Hrsg.) ; Oswald, Hilton C. (Hrsg.) ; Lehmann, Helmut T. (Hrsg.): Luther's Works, Vol. 35 : Word and Sacrament I. Philadelphia : Fortress Press, 1999, c1960 (Luther's Works 35), S. 35:III-382

The Lord's Prayer: re-imagined

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor David) — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 16:40:00 +0000

I think we miss it with the Lord's Prayer. It has become the symbol of formalized religion - using language to no one talks in anymore, to pray to a God that no one talks about anymore. As I pondered my sermon for this morning, I wondered what the Lord's Prayer might sound like with the radical intimacy that Jesus calls us to have with God.

"Daddy, you are so special, you are so great;
Wouldn't it be wonderful if everyone could have a daddy like you? I hope that everyone can be that lucky.

Daddy, thanks for all the great meals you've given me day after day. Will you please fix me supper again tonight?

Um ... Daddy? You know that thing you asked me not to do? I did it. But I know that you still love me -- you always love me.

And Daddy, you remember that fight I had with my sister? Well, we're friends again. I always try to be friends with her, even if she is sometimes mean to me.

Daddy, please keep me safe. I get scared sometimes; will you hold me tight and let me know that you are always there for me?

Thanks Daddy! You're the best."

Friends of Hyvenson

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor David) — Tue, 18 May 2010 03:38:00 +0000

It has been four months since a magnitude 7.5 earthquake rocked Haiti, causing devastating destruction in an already struggling country. It is easy to forget. The world spins on, our lives carry on. It is easy - it is natural - for the country and the people of Haiti to slide toward the back of our minds.

But the people of Haiti are still there. Still struggling. Still hurting. Still suffering.

I received a letter yesterday from one of my seminary roommates from the School of Theology of the University of the South. Hyvenson is an Episcopal priest, born and raised in Haiti. With his mother and some of his siblings, Hyvenson came to America to pursue his education and his vocation. But the rest of his extended family - siblings, aunts and uncles, cousins - are still in Haiti.

Hyvenson's family lost four people in the earthquake. His letter went on to describe 6 family units of his extended family still in Haiti. All 6 lost their homes in the earthquake. 2 are living in tents; 2 are living in temporary communal housing; to are living in the boarded up remnants of their homes. The rainy season is coming to Haiti, bringing with it the threat of disease and epidemic caused by the poor living conditions of all those displaced by the earthquake. These families represent the whole spectrum of life - from seventy year old retirees to an 18 month old infant.

But Hyvenson has not just stood by and watched. Teaming up with a few parishes in the area,
Hyvenson drew up a plan. Using family land, Hyvenson planned a home - a place for 6 households, 39 people to live while they rebuild their lives. The intent is that the family will live there up to two years, and then move into their own homes.

And yet, even amid their hardship, this family is thinking about their obligation to their neighbors. Following the will of the family's patriarch, the long-term plan is for a portion of the family land to be used to build a eye-care facility for the community. At that point, the house built in response to the family's need will be used to house medical personel and others who
come to help staff the center.

The catch - as always - is funding. The need is pressing - can you imagine putting your family to bed each night, every night, in a tent next to hundreds of other tents? Or in a boarded up, ready for the wrecking ball building? Especially as the tropical storms of the rainy season pound around you? The cost of the building - which, remember, will house 39 people - is approximately $36,000. The first ten percent has been pledged by the members of Hyvenson's family who live here in the US. The rest? Well, that's where we come in.

I have information available at the church office for members of St. John or in the Brenham area who would like to help in this effort through our church. You can contact me directly, or you can also check out "Friends of Hyvenson" on facebook.

Praying for Louisiana

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor David) — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 18:52:00 +0000

Two short weeks ago, I was in New Orleans for the Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod Assembly. I talked with old friends, colleagues, and strangers about the slow recovery that not just New Orleans, but all of Louisiana has faced in the years since Katrina.

Now, there is a massive oil slick heading for the Louisiana coastline. How will the fishing industry - essential to the area's survival - recover from this disaster? Can you imagine getting the oil out of the bayous and backwaters of the state? And the tourism industry -- Anyone want to take a summer vacation on the beaches of Louisiana this year?

My heart breaks for the people of Louisiana - those whose livelihoods will be directly and indirectly affected by this, the families of those who lost their lives in the rig explosion, those who barely got their feet back under them after being knocked down by Katrina.

And I wonder, is this what God had in the mind in the garden when we were commanded to be stewards of God's creation? Often, the line between our careless stewardship and its effects is blurry and unclear - but here it is pretty unmistakeable. It is our unquenchable thirst for oil - cheap, plentiful, convenient oil - that put the rig in the Gulf. In the days to come, we will, undoubtedly, blame the company - the big greedy company who took safety shortcuts in the name of a profit. But it was not the company who continued to purchase gas-guzzling cars and trucks when fuel-efficient alternatives were available; they did not produce the demand, they just responded to it. They were not the ones - on bumper stickers and from political stumps - yelling "Drill here, Drill now."

No, my friends, the blame is ours - yours and mine. In many ways, we have all ignored God's call for us to be stewards and guardians of this world that has been entrusted to us. And this is what our sin looks like - a black, slimy, sludge, creeping across the beauty of creation. Kyrie Eleison.

Satellite images from NASA of the oil slick approaching
the edge of the Mississippi Delta, taken 4/29/10

Synod Assembly

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor David) — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 20:15:00 +0000

I am still unpacking from this year's synod assembly - physically, mentally, and spiritually. It was a very good assembly - in fact I have really enjoyed the last three we've had. One of the highlights of this assembly was a "Justice Immersion" - in which the voting members went out into the city, and learned about the concept of justice and about the city.

My group was dealing with recovery as an aspect of justice, and were assigned to work in a cemetery in St. Bernard Parish. In this cemetery, the poverty of the community was readily apparent -- how many headstones in your church cemetery are hand chiseled, perhaps with a screwdriver?? During the hurricane, many of the crypts (mostly cinderblocks on concrete slabs) were washed away by the wall of water. Caskets were found well outside of the cemetery, carried by the flood waters, the debris.

As we wandered through the cemetery, many of the crypts were still open -- sitting askew on their foundations, corners broken off, face-pieces not quite sealed. Among them was this crypt, cinderblocks missing, casket visible, with one of those little angels on the corner of the casket, peering out.

Not sure what to make of it, but I was quite moved. I am still unpacking.

H1N1 (Swine Flu) & Sunday Morning

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor David) — Sat, 02 May 2009 22:49:00 +0000

The following is the text of an email I sent out today:

Dear family of Saint John,

With the spread of the H1N1 virus (Swine Flu) last week, many are concerned about what impact the virus might have on church – a gathering where we are in close proximity to one another. Here are a few thoughts.

First, come to church. Fear should not keep us from worshiping our Lord. In fact, we are instructed that “perfect love casts out all fear.” Certainly, if you or someone in your family is sick, it is best to stay home – please do not put others at risk. But otherwise, there is no reason to stay away from worship. We worship every year through cold and flu season, without any great danger to any of our worshippers.

As we do throughout the season of Easter, we will be celebrating the sacrament of Holy Communion at both services tomorrow. It may ease your mind that I keep a bottle of hand sanitizer on my bench, which I use numerous times during the service – especially prior to the celebration of Holy Communion. Bishop Mike Rinehart included the following comment in a recent email to clergy: “Everything I have read points to common cup being the safest and most “clean” method of distribution. Why? Because our hands carry more germs than our mouths. In common cup, wine goes from bottle to cup to mouth. No hands. With little cups, hands put the cups in trays and in some congregations hand take them out. Everything I have read supports common cup.” My information is the same as Bishop Mike’s – I know it runs counter to what we would assume, but common cup is the safest method of receiving Holy Communion.

When it is time to share the peace with one another, it is not necessary to shake hands – especially not if that makes you uncomfortable because of what we have been watching on the news. Feel free to great one another with a smile and a nod. (I will say the same thing tomorrow). Of course, the issue is not hand-to-hand contact, it is what you do with your hands after – when you put them to your face, especially to your mouth, nose, and eyes. It will also not hurt my feelings if you don’t shake my hand before or after the service – although I will also have hand sanitizer in the narthex which I will be using.

Finally, remember to pray. For those who are sick now. For those who have dealt with the sickness of a family member. For those who are paralyzed by fears. This may quickly blow over, and nothing may come of it – or it may escalate into a crisis. Either way, we are people who pray. And just as we are taking precautions to not spread the flu, take precautions to not spread fear. Watch for facts, and stay level-headed.

We are the church. We worship God, we share in God’s sacraments of grace, and we pray. Our trust and security is not in what we hear on the evening news, but in the one who promises to be our Good Shepherd. Indeed, it is fitting that tomorrow morning we will hear about the Good Shepherd and read together the 23rd Psalm: “I will fear no evil.”

God’s blessings, and I will see you tomorrow.

Pastor David

(Please feel free to forward this message)

H1N1 (Swine Flu) & Churches

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor David) — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 18:54:00 +0000

The H1N1 Virus (known as the Swine Flu) has landed solidly in Texas, with 26 cases currently. An outbreak like this raises peculiar questions for churches. I am reminded of a visit with my daughter's pediatrician when we were fighting an infection. She said: Avoiding an infection for your child is easy - just avoid public places like ... church.

The ELCA has posted some information about dealing with the flu. There are certainly steps we can make to help keep the disease from spreading at worship. But the real question, for me and I suspect for others, is when do you make that call? What point is serious enough to start making first minor, and then major, changes to our worship practices?

Of course, the question of ministry in and to communities affected by the flu is a non-starter for me. As followers of Jesus, our ministry is especially to communities in such need. But the question is all about timing in terms of our life together.

Vacation

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor David) — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 15:13:00 +0000

It is vacation week for the Pastor!

Holy Week & Easter were amazing at Prairie Hill. During Holy Week we experienced the mystery of our salvation through liturgy, music, and proclamation. It is part of the power of Holy Week that we do not just hear the story, we truly re-live it. The highlight for me, personally, is Good Friday worship. The contemplation of the cross, the solemn reproaches, and the beauty of the music helps me to experience the true gift that was given to us on the cross.

Easter also was astounding. We had close to 400 people in worship on Easter Sunday, and the Youth hosted us for a great breakfast. We added two new services this year: an evening service on both Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Both services were smaller, and had a very nice intimate feel to them.

Now this week is a chance for my family to rest. Very often, we overlook the importance of Sabbath rest. Yet all of us, no matter our vocation, need time to re-charge and just rest.

Hope you all have a great week - and thanks for a great Easter!

Alleluia! Christ is Risen!

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor David) — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 08:21:00 +0000

A blessed Easter morning to you all. As you head out to celebrate the power of the resurrection, let me share with you two older posts from Easter. The greatest Easter sermon ever preached, the Paschal Homily of Saint John Chrysostom, and NFS Grundvig's Easter hymn (Peace to Soothe our Bitter Woes).

Enjoy.

"Christian Seder"

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor David) — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 14:51:00 +0000

This post has moved to

"Christian Seder"

Please update your links appropriately.

Good Friday

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor David) — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 15:28:00 +0000

Sing, My Tongue the Glorious Battle (Pange Lingua Gloriosi Proelium Certaminis) remains, after nearly 1500 years, one of the most beautiful and moving tellings of the Good Friday message. Penned by Venantius Honorius Fortunatus in honor of a piece of the true cross being brought to his monastary, and translated by the gifted John Mason Neale. (The text is public domain, I believe).

Sing my tongue, the glorious battle;
tell the triumph far and wide,
tell aloud the wondrous story
of the cross, the Crucified;
tell how Christ, the world's redeemer,
vanquished death the day he died.

God in mercy saw us fallen,
sunk in shame and misery,
felled to death in Eden's garden,
where in pride we claimed the tree;
then another tree was chosen,
which the world from death would free.

Tell how, when at length the fullness
of the appointed time was come,
Christ, the Word, was born of woman,
left for us his heav'nly home,
blazed the path of true obedience,
shone as light amidst the gloom.

Thirty years among us dwelling,
Jesus went from Nazareth,
destined, dedicated, willing,
did his work and met his death;
like a lamb he humbly yielded
on the cross his dying breath.

(People complain about "long hymns" in the church today - the Latin original included ten stanzas).

A treat for you

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor David) — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 19:10:00 +0000

In preparation for Holy Week (And April Fool's Day):

Lutheran Study Bible: Apocrypha?

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor David) — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 18:01:00 +0000

In reading the introductory essays in the new Lutheran Study Bible from Augsburg Fortress, there is a fair amount of ink spent on the apocryphal/deuterocanonical books. Questions like how we came to have differing Old Testament canons within Christianity, how the different canons are read and viewed by various traditions, etc - including the place that Luther retained for the Apocrypha in his translation (placed between the OT and NT).

And then you go to look, and ... no Apocrypha is included in this Bible. The obvious question: Why not? So I set off to find out, and received a prompt and thorough reply from Scott Tunseth, the editor in charge of this project at Augsburg (say what you want about Augsburg, they are very accessible to their constituency - a big plus in my book).

I know that for many people the inclusion of the Apocrypha is a non-issue. For me, not having it makes the LSB slightly less useful for my personal use (but I don't know how many of my congregants would miss it). I'll have more comments about the book in general in a forthcoming post. For now, here is Scott's reply to my question:

Pastor Hansen:
We’ve had this question more than once, and it’s a good one. Here are couple of reasons why it was not included:

1. In our market research, we asked about the inclusion of Apocrypha. Because it had not been included in the student version we have been carrying, it did not rise high on the wish list for responders.
2. We determined that we wanted to provide an open “feel” to the Bible by using one column for the Bible text with notes along the side. This layout option is invited and easy to read and follow. But it also added a few hundred extra pages. Adding the apocrypha with notes would have made the book at least another 400 pages long. It’s already pretty thick. And we wanted the price to be very competitive (as it is), so churches and individuals in churches could afford it.
3. Since the Apocrypha is not used in the church’s lectionary (with the exception of a few alternate readings), we felt we could leave it out for now. This does not mean that we couldn’t consider adding it in the future. With any new venture like this, we can evaluate and modify as we hear from customers.
4. I also think adding the writing of the notes for the Apocrypha presents a unique challenge. We have good Bible scholars who know about these books, but few actually teach them on a regular basis. I think we would have had to lengthen our development time to produce these notes for inclusion. Some of the people who wrote notes for the study Bible may have been the best candidates to tackle the notes for Apocrypha as well, and we couldn’t really double up their assignments based on the schedule we were working under.

We appreciate this question, and we know we will hear it again. We did include the Apocrypha in our recent publication called The Peoples’ Bible. The introductions and articles that accompany this project were written by scholars from several cultural perspectives—African American, Hispanic, Native American, East Asian, and more. This project did not contain as many sidebar notes and was set in two columns, so we were able to fit the Apocrypha in more comfortably. This Bible is being used in more academic settings, while we really designed LSB for use in the church.

Grace and peace,
Scott

Lutheran Study Bible: First Impressions

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor David) — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 02:49:00 +0000

I am always looking for new resources, for myself & for members of my congregation. In terms of Bible translations, I tend to rely on the NRSV, mainly because it is the translation used in worship in most ELCA churches and it is academically pretty solid - although it is also quite dry. In college, I used the Oxford Annotated Study Bible, NRSV, and have gotten quite a few miles out of it. A couple of years ago, I picked up the New Interpreter's Study Bible (NRSV), found it pretty darn helpful, but the material is too heavy for me to feel good about recommending it to most people.

On March 1, Augsburg Fortress released its new Lutheran Study Bible. The LSB uses the NRSV text, and is integrated in the ELCA's on-going Book of Faith initiative. I received my copy yesterday, ordered along with some adult Sunday School materials for this Sunday. I have not yet had a chance to really wade through all that is in this new study Bible, but I am already forming some impressions.

First, it's big. I ordered a hardcover ($35.00), because I just find paperback Bibles hard to handle (LSB is available in paperback for $25 - both editions have quantity discounts). Perhaps the paperback feels smaller, but I doubt it is much smaller. There is just a lot of material here. The inter-textual notes are not as extensive as the Oxford Annotated or the New Interpreters', but there are essays, introductions, and articles galore. To the positive, there is lots of good, easily accesible info. To the negative, the LSB is too bulky to be considered portable, and if you are on the road it will take up lots of suitcase space.

Second, it's easy to navigate. With all of the material in LSB, it would be easy to get bogged down, but it is all laid out very well. The print is large and readable (which also adds to the bulk). There is a logic to the layout and articles that is easy to follow.

Third, the graphics are great. There are some great maps, images, and graphics throughout the LSB. In addition, the inter-textual note have a sort of graphic key or guide, to distinguish types of notes.

In all, I am pleased so far. There are so many Bibles out there, but the vast majority have theological biases that do not mesh with the Lutheran tradition. Many of our members are unaware of the theological tilt of various study Bibles. But here we have a study Bible explicitly out of the Lutheran tradition, and usable not only for academic study but also for devotional reading.

I will write more on this when I have unpacked more of the resources, and spent some time with the LSB. So far, so good.

A Journey of Faith

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor David) — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 20:18:00 +0000