Unlikely Banter

blessing

noreply@blogger.com (John, an unlikely pastor) — Sun, 12 Jun 2016 11:18:00 +0000

The Daily Office today invites me to see the context of a favorite part of worship--the blessing of Aaron. Here's the context for a beloved part of week after week worship. And it's tucked into Israel's census book in Numbers 6:22-27

the LORD bless you and keep you
the LORD make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you;
the LORD up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.
Numbers 6:24-26 NRSV

Here in the middle of a book counting who was in and who was out of the nation comes this great blessing. Words for Aaron to share with the people in God's name--on God's behalf. Word's of hope and grace right in the midst of a book about knowing who counted as part of God's people.

Sow what?

noreply@blogger.com (John, an unlikely pastor) — Tue, 24 May 2016 11:35:00 +0000

It's just about time to plant the garden. My just before Memorial Day ritual. Get dirty and sow seeds and plants in the ground. Peppers and tomatoes sprouted a few weeks ago in starter trays. The survivors of the wind this Sunday are just on the edge of being hardy enough and ready to plant. I spaded over the earth and rain's generously come--just the night after I finished. The question now: What to plant? Peas, carrots, spinach, lettuce, sweet basil, onion sets, zucchini, yellow squash, green beans and wax beans (I call them yellow beans because my girls don't want to eat wax). There's still a few spots in the plot to consider.

What to sow? In some ways it sounds like a spiritual question. What do I plant--in the ground the seed choice is obvious. In me maybe it's less obvious what gets seeded and what doesn't. Sow what? Paul talked about it in Galatians 6:7-9

Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for you reap whatever you sow. If you sow to your own flesh, you will reap corruption from the flesh; but if you sow to the Spirit, you will reap eternal life from the Spirit. So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up. Galatians 6:7-9 NRSV

Sow what? In May it's a great decision--what do I want to have on my table at the end of summer--it gets decided right now. Same goes for many other dimensions of my life.
Peace and thanks for reading

Really Present?

noreply@blogger.com (John, an unlikely pastor) — Sat, 16 Apr 2016 04:36:00 +0000

What does it mean to be present.
In communion Jesus says he'll be with us
he took bread and broke it saying take and eat, this is my body given for you.
Take this cup and drink from it this cup is the new testament in my blood she for you.
So Jesus is here with us.
But often times we are "here" for the people we share this planet with everyday.
How many times have I been focussed on my phone or a newspaper or a radio report or a TV show or a song lyric and missed something important to somebody nearby.
Jesus is here he says in communion--not like a dead corpse (Pat Keifert wisely notes)--but here for us and with us.
How about me--am I more than just a body to my family and friends. Am I here present with them in this moment.
So much to think about.

writing again

noreply@blogger.com (John, an unlikely pastor) — Thu, 14 Apr 2016 12:15:00 +0000

Ok
so I am trying this out again.
I am hoping to get writing again.
Not sure why I've been gone from writing for so long
Maybe it's that my own story has been complicated.
I have a goal, and it's simple

a little writing every few days.
Not hours just a few minutes on quiet mornings after reading the Daily Office

I hope to work on short stories, poetry, and prose.
And the reason is simple.
Words have power.
From a great lyric to sermon--political discourse to a movie words have power. And I am hoping to understand how that power works
and so i will be writing

Mary's Christmas Story: an Advent Conversation

noreply@blogger.com (John, an unlikely pastor) — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 20:02:00 +0000

Mary's Christmas story Angels have a big part in the Christmas story. Mary's meeting with God's messenger Gabriel transformed her life and ours too.

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Luke 1:26-29, NRSV

The angel's words were different than any she'd heard before. When Gabriel said, "The Lord is with you." he meant it. Mary wondered what this greeting meant. God was with Mary right there in her hometown, Nazareth. Gabriel was speaking about more than just God's presence in her life. He was speaking about God revealing himself in the world through her life.

Christians believe that God is always present. There is never a time when you are out of God's reach. At home, work, school, traveling, playing, just hanging out you are always within God's reach. Mary's story starts with God's presence and grows into a story of God coming into her life and ours.

Talk it over: The angel announced God's presence to Mary; but God was already in her life. What difference did hearing the angel say the Lord is with you make to Mary? What difference does it make to know God is with you?

Think about it: God is always is close at hand. We like to have God close when we need help; but we don't God knowing our every move and thought. The God who can help you in a time of need knows every time you hurt another person through words or actions. The God close enough to help knows you in and out. Every time someone hurts you God knows. And God grieves in all situations where one of his children either hurts another of his children.

Mary's Baby: Jesus came to help us come back to God. His life and Mary's moved together so God could help us return to him,

The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?”Luke 1:30-34, NRSV

Mary replied with a question, How can this be?. She didn't ask “why me?” or say no way. What's the difference between asking God how? and asking why me? or just saying no?

Mary experienced God's promises coming true. When Jesus grew in Mary God was growing in her body. When she raised him her son she was raising God the Father's son who came to help us return to our heavenly Father.

Christmas starts with God coming for us and it ends when we come back to him. Jesus, God's own Son, is the real gift of Christmas. The Christmas story ends when we turn away from things that hurt ourselves and others and return to our Father through a relationship with his Son Jesus. How can we return to the Father? How can we share the Good News that God sent his son to bring us back?

Pray if you like. Father, we thank you for Jesus. We thank you for being with us at all times. We thank you for searching us out when we leave you. We thank you for giving Jesus as a our way back to you. AMEN.

What do you think? Let me know.

Joseph's Christmas Story an Advent Conversation

noreply@blogger.com (John, an unlikely pastor) — Tue, 10 Dec 2013 18:23:00 +0000

Who was Joseph? He was Jesus' dad, but God the Father, was Jesus' Father. There's no way around it, the Christmas story's messy. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph's real life complications mirror many people's stories. And that's no accident. God comes at Christmas for the world. Joseph's part in the Christmas story shows God's work in the real world where sin, death, and evil are all at work.
Matthew's tells the Christmas story,

Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. (Matthew 1:18-19 ESV)

The facts seemed very clear to Joseph. He was engaged to Mary. He counted on her faithfulness. He learned she was pregnant. Joseph knew one thing for certain, the child growing inside Mary wasn't his. His plan was simple--end this relationship with Mary and get on with his life. What do you think of Joseph at this point in the story?
Think about it: Joseph's trust in Mary just evaporated. He took Mary's faithfulness for granted. But something happened. The evidence was clear for everybody to see. Joseph lost trust--an essential part of any lasting relationship. Some argue Joseph, in his day, had reason to seek Mary's life. She dishonored him; but he sought to quietly walk away.
How can a person who's broken trust become trustworthy again?
Remember Joseph's plan was to quietly end his commitment to Mary. But somebody had a different plan for Joseph's life. Matthew tells the story this way,

But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:20-21 NIV)

Digging deeper There's no question, Joseph had a change of heart. His attitude and actions towards Mary and the child growing inside her change after meeting the angel. The facts of the situation hadn't changed: but his attitude did. Mary was still pregnant, they weren't yet married, he wasn't this babies father, and people were likely still talking behind their backs about what had happened. But Joseph saw things differently. He stopped looking for a way out of his promise to Mary stepping forward instead to help her raise this child. How would you explain Joseph's change of heart to somebody who knows about Christmas trees and Santa Claus but has never heard the whole Christmas story?
A visit from an angel changed Joseph's attitude. And God keeps speaking today through His Word read in scripture, sung about in psalm, hymns, and spiritual songs, heard from friends and family who share God Word with us. God's Word changes how we see things. At a funeral we see a dead body; but faith in God's Word helps us see new life for believers who die. The circumstances haven't changed on this earth; but a heart of faith sees something different. How does God change hearts today?
How important is Joseph's change of heart to the whole Christmas story?
Jesus finds us in the middle of our lives and dreams with both broken and healed parts of our souls. Looking at Joseph's part in the Christmas story leaves no question, our attitude towards our circumstances makes a huge difference. What would it take to change your perspective to see people you dislike as someone God very much cares about?

God the Father of Christmas: Part 1 of an Advent Conversation

noreply@blogger.com (John, an unlikely pastor) — Wed, 27 Nov 2013 23:05:00 +0000

God the Father and Christmas? Most people can name 3 people in the Christmas story. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. But there was a fourth individual who was part of the story long before Joseph and Mary: God the Father. Think back to the first chapter's of Genesis. God made the world and after finishing making people God said the creation—but especially people were more than good—they were very good. Women and men had been made in God's own image and likeness.

But the story twists. A snake enticed Eve and Adam. They ignored God's directions and ate food God had forbidden them to even touch. Soon after Adam's and Eve's son Cain killed their other boy Abel. The creation that was very good changed: sin, death, and evil are present in our lives even though the Father hadn't planned the world to work that way.

Talk it over: How do people experience sin, death, and evil in our world today?

DIGGING DEEPER: The Father's reaching for us. Christmas is part God the Father's plan to rewrite the human story sending his Son straight into our world. God the Father eliminated any distance between us and Him. Jesus was God's son—his direct and personal way back into our our lives.

The prophet Malachi spoke on God's behalf to his people. God understood their questions and sent Jesus as the answer.

Malachi wrote: The Lord said, “I have loved you.”

But you ask, “How have you loved us?”
Malachi 1:2a NCV

Talk it over: In what ways do experience God's love?

Why might some people think God is distant and doesn't love them?

Malachi wrote: The Lord All-Powerful says, “A child honors his father, and a servant honors his master. I am a father, so why don’t you honor me? I am a master, so why don’t you respect me? You priests do not respect me.

“But you ask, ‘How have we shown you disrespect?’
Malachi 1:6-7 NCV

Talk it over: In what ways do people disrespect God?

Malachi Wrote: You have tired the Lord with your words.

You ask, “How have we tired him?”

You did it by saying,

“The Lord thinks anyone who does evil is good, and he is pleased with them.”

Or you asked, “Where is the God who is fair?”

The Lord All-Powerful says, “I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way for me. Suddenly, the Lord you are looking for will come to his Temple; the messenger of the agreement, whom you want, will come.”

Malachi 2:17-3:1 NCV.

Talk it over: What does God's “messenger” have to do with Christmas?

3 Advent Conversations

noreply@blogger.com (John, an unlikely pastor) — Thu, 21 Nov 2013 16:40:00 +0000

A writing project waits on this pastors to do list.
It's a fun project: write 3 conversation sheets for young people and mentors. These are more than sheets of questions. The goal: start 3 significant conversations about God's coming to earth in the person we call Jesus. One mentor asked to have all this available with time to think things through in advance. So over the next 7 days my goal is to create a starting point for 3 Advent Conversations.

God the Father's plan for us at Christmas
Why God's plan meant a turned over life for Joseph
Mary's whole self participation in God's plan

Please check back in and let me know what you think.
thanks, John

Feedback requested: Come to your Senses or How do sense God?

noreply@blogger.com (John, an unlikely pastor) — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 21:48:00 +0000

Have you ever been told to, "Come to your senses" For some deep thinkers it's a common accusation, "you are being to cerebral" or "you are not in tune with what's actually going on in the world right around you";
In the next month we'll be working in churches in Fairmont, Minnesota USA toward a shared Lenten Series entitled Come to Your Senses: A Lenten Journey with God.
A possible theme verse is, The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14 NIV
I'm wondering how other people experience God through all five senses. I am most curious about the way you sense God in tangible ways through touch, taste, sight, hearing, and smell.
What has been your experience: How do you sense God?
What stories are you aware of that explore an experience of God's presence?
I am also very curious what scripture you point to as you explain experiences of God's tangible--incarnate--activity in the world.
thanks for your input. Pax, John.

How are you Holy?

noreply@blogger.com (John, an unlikely pastor) — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 18:13:00 +0000

We struggle as sinners to appreciate both the calling, out of our sins to faith, and the freedom that faith give us to live. Our trouble starts when we look for proof–for evidence–not of what God has done for us in Christ but of what we are doing for God. And this is where simple faith always stands strong and works always fail.
We sinners by our very nature need a redeemer–and no matter how hard we try to be pious or righteous we are still sinners saved simply by grace. One of the clearest teachers I've ever had was Gerhard Forde. And Dr. Forde pointed to Hans Joachim Iwand as a clear teacher about the nature of faith, grace, and salvation. When Dr. Forde wrote, “Justification and Sanctification” in the section Christian Life of Braaten and Jenson’s Christian Dogmatics (P 438-439) he was wrestling with these very real questions of personal identity as a follower of Jesus Christ. Dr Forde wrote,

Being holy or saintly in that sense cannot be identified with being Christian. The Reformation means a complete break with such thinking.

Here it finally dawns on one why Reformation comes about, because here it is not merely mistakes and shortcomings that are repaired, but here the ideal that shaped the entire life of the Middle Ages is rejected: “Therefore one is not called a Christian because one accomplishes much; something higher is here. Rather it is because one takes something from, draws from, Christ, and simply lets oneself be given to. When one no longer takes from Christ, then one is no longer a Christian. The name Christian stays only in the taking and not in the giving or the doing, and that one takes from no one except from Christ. When you begin to regard what you have done then you have already lost the name of Christian." [Hans Joachim Iwand Nachgellassene Werke, vol 5 Luthers Theologie]
Such a view is preposterous to the world and the old Adam, but this is exactly what it means to die to the old and be born again to the new. One must simply be still and listen where God enters the scene—and believe, for only such faith will save. This rejection of the ancient ideal of piety and sanctity is what lies behind Luther's shocking advice to Melancthon: “Be a sinner and sin boldly, but believe even more boldly and rejoice in Christ, who is victor over sin, death and the world.” The point is that when one begins to be grasped by the overwhelming gift of grace, when one is beginning to die to the old, the temptation (Anfectung) will always sound: “Is it not dangerous?” “Are you not going to far?” “Is not this grace too cheap?” “If you lose your 'virtue' what will protect you then?” Luther's advice in such situations was: “Be a sinner and sin boldly, but believe even more boldly.” The point is not to go out and find some sins to commit. The point is rather not to be deceived by the glitter of ideals, of sanctity and piety, by the quest for the Holy Grail. Christ and Christ alone has dealt with sin and saves sinners. It is impossible for there to be any sin which is not removed by him and by him alone. “Be a sinner and sin boldly, but believe more boldly” is simply a stance of a faith which know that Christ alone saves sinners. Out of such faith good works come. Sanctification happens. The good works come out of the spontaneity, the freedom, the “hilaritas“ of faith. They come out of love and the hope that begin to dawn when one realizes the unconditionality of grace, when the old self dies. Gerhard Forde "Justification and Sanctification" 11th Locus: Christian Life Vol. 2 Christian Dogmatics ed. Braaten C., Jenson R. (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1984) p438-439

Freedom in Christ starts always in faith. Faith that God's Word is for us because of what Jesus has done. Faith that the Cross is for us us becuase of what Jesus has done. Faith that new life is for us because of what Jesus has done.

Thanks for the freedom

Election Day 2012 vote for your neighbor

noreply@blogger.com (John, an unlikely pastor) — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 13:17:00 +0000

It's election day in the United States of America.
It's a day of honor and privilege for all citizens in our republic. It's also the beautiful day when billions spent on advertising on television, internet, radio, print ads, bill boards, and phone calls comes to a blessed end. And it's a day to remember our neighbors.
Christians are called to honor God first in their lives and God calls on us to honor our neighbor's lives and well being as we honor our own. Election day is no different for Jesus followers. When we vote we vote for our neighbor's good as much as our own.

Jesus called his first followers to do onto others as they would have done onto themselves. His direction to honor neighbors and look out for their well being isn't novel. Jesus joined the great line of ancient Hebrew prophets who called on God's people Israel to honor God with lives of simple worship--lives in which the poor--specifically widows, orphans, and aliens in the midst of the nation--who were cared for by the people.
It's a day to look ahead as much as behind. The good thing about our republic is that we are moving into the future together. Even through great struggles like economic depression and natural disasters we have moved forward for nearly 225 years as a republic. Some say there is too much resistence in our age--but looking back at the incredible resistance of the civil war in the 1860s and civil rights struggle in the 1960s it's clear that our republic is moving into the future together as imperfect as ever.
So go and vote--vote for what's good for you and for your neighbor.
Pax, John
publish simultaneously at http://unlikelyj.tumblr.com/post/35124234741/election-day-2012-vote-for-your-neighbor

Building a new garage

noreply@blogger.com (John, an unlikely pastor) — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 02:53:00 +0000

There's been a little adventure for me this fall. Tearing down two old garages to build one new. About 2 months ago many good things came together; and we're able to build a garage. After months of talking and cad work to design I've started framing this week.
3 weeks ago the work got going as good friends James, Peter, Dan, and Tim came to help. Demolition was quite fun. Thanks especially to Pete,who brought the splitting maul and really got the demolition going. This picture is priceless
The demolition is over and now comes to construction. 3 10 yard dump trailers were hauled away full before the floor. Dean, Donna and Greg do great work with concrete and really gave us a great surface to work with as we build.

As a pastor I get some funny looks when people find I'm taking a vacation at home to build a new garage. There's a lot of curiosity and a lot of support too. There's something wonderful it all of it--wondering if this was part of Jesus experience. He had all the creative energy of the universe and yet chose to work as a carpenter. I don't have all his ability or strength--but I do wonder if he thought through the problems of laying out and creatively building.

The past 2 days have been framing days for me. I'm about 2/3's done. Tomorrow I'll hopefully get everything lined up to hoist trusses on Saturday. I'm hoping for lots of friends will make up a healthy crew.
Peace, John
published simultaneously unlikelybanter.blogspot.com and unlikelyj.tumblr.com

Norah's Playhouse part 1

noreply@blogger.com (John, an unlikely pastor) — Sun, 22 Jul 2012 20:53:00 +0000

My summer includes building a playhouse this year. As our youngest daughter will be the one who has the most chance to play with it I decided to name it Norah'. The older two girls have protested the name so right now its just the playhouse for Norah and the club house for Faith and Gracia
The Floor:
Every building starts someplace and this one starts with a floor built up on concrete piers. This playhouse sits on the wettest spot on our lot and the piers should keep it high and dry.

The floor is a 6 foot span with 4x6 lumber on the sides and 6 2x6 joists in the middle. I had a great deal of help from Faith setting screws for the floor. She didn't quite understand why dad was insistent on drawing so many straight lines though.

I started work on the floor about 10 days ago. Now its up been up 8 days and the walls which took about a week of evenings to construct are just about ready to go on. If things go well the walls will be up before nightfall thanks to friends coming to help raise the sides of this little house.

The plans for this house are from a book with some alterations most especially for the roof but I will explain that in a later post.

Look back for more updates as the progress continues.

take care, John

Real presence

noreply@blogger.com (John, an unlikely pastor) — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 21:19:00 +0000

Good Afternoon
After a long hiatus I am back to this underused blog with a great topic. How do Lutherans understand Christ's real presence in communion.

I am inviting comments in response to Stephan who wrote in a string at steadfastlutherans.com about decision theology about the way that Lutherans understand Christ presence in Communion and how that understanding is different tham transubstiation. Here's my response to Stephan.

Stefan
I am sure grateful to see this conversation continue. If you like we can continue on my underused blog unlikelybanter.blogspot.com or if one of the powers that be behind the Steadfast Lutheran's site is ready it might be continued here as well.
You ask if Lutheran's believe in transubtantiation. We don't; but we do believe that Jesus is present for us in the bread and wine just as he promised to be present.
I was raised as a Catholic and even attended a Catholic University for my undergraduate degree. I have always believed that Christ is present in communion, the difference between a belief in real presence and a belief in transubtation is in no small part how we accept the mystery of Jesus' presence in communion. Here's where Luther just makes more sense (at least for my simple brain) by letting the ambiguity be that others try to explain away through their doctrines of Transubstatiation. The Catholic belief in Transubstatiation, as I was taught it, is an attempt to logically explain a mystery of God coming into our midst.
Martin Luther was bold in saying yes Jesus is present; but he was equally bold in encouraging people to just let the mystery of God's presence stand

So against all reason and hairsplitting logic I hold that two diverse substances may well be, in reality and in name, one substance. These are my reasons: First, when we are dealing with the works and words of God, reason and all human wisdom must submit to being taken captive, as St. Paul teaches in II Corinthians 10[:5], must allow themselves to be blinded and led, directed, taught, and instructed, lest we presume to be God’s judges in his words, for we shall surely lose out when we try to judge him in his words as Psalm 50 [51:4] testifies.
Secondly, if we take ourselves captive to him and confess that we do not comprehend his words and works, we should be satisfied. We should speak of his works simply using his words as he has pronounced them for us and prescribed that we speak them after him, and not presume to use our own words as if they were better than his. Martin Luther, vol. 37, Luther's Works, Vol. 37 : Word and Sacrament III, ( ed. Jaroslav Jan Pelikan et al.;, Luther's Works Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1999, c1961), Vol. 37, Page 296.

Thanks Stefan for this great discussion of one of the great mysteries of faith. I trust that God's Word is always fruitful and that you and I both may be strengthened in our trust of Christ through such great conversation.

Pax
John

NPR fires Juan Williams

noreply@blogger.com (John, an unlikely pastor) — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 03:12:00 +0000

Right when Minnesota Public Radio has pladge week National Public Radio makes a major mistake: letting go of a good reporter for sharing his honest opinion while he was on a cable commentary show.
In a story in The New York Times:
"One Comment, Two Takes at NPR and Fox" you can read the details of the firing of Juan Williams.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/22/business/media/22williams.html

Pax, John.

U.S. National Debt

noreply@blogger.com (John, an unlikely pastor) — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 02:29:00 +0000

The U.S. National Debt as of 10/19/2010 is $13,676,109,536,322.09!
That's $44,546.64 each! Uggh and to think neither major national party has a plan fo a balanced budget in the next 5 years.

You can track it yourself using the app National Debt, available for free from LukeWalker Apps, only on webOS!

Pax, John.

Christian Humility Luke 17:5-10

noreply@blogger.com (John, an unlikely pastor) — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 20:33:00 +0000

Just a note,
many in our town have had some water in their basement after significant rains in excess of 6 inches last week. Folks in other towns near by have faced even greater flooding and even greater challenges in the aftermath. Truman Minnesota just to our north had over a foot of rain last week. Please keep those who have lost some property so quickly to this surprising fall flooding in your prayers.
+++++
Jesus' friends asked for help to grow in faith. But looking at the reading I don't think they knew what they were asking for when they said, "...to the Lord, "Increase our faith.""
Jesus wasn't inviting his friends to grow in faith for their own sake. He was inviting them to grow in faith for the sake of the Kingdom of God. The same thing goes for us. We are called to be God's servants. Jesus drove the point home asking

“Who among you would say to your slave who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field, ‘Come here at once and take your place at the table’? 8 Would you not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me, put on your apron and serve me while I eat and drink; later you may eat and drink’? 9 Do you thank the slave for doing what was commanded? 10 So you also, when you have done all that you were ordered to do, say, ‘We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have done!’ ” Luke 17:7-10 NRSV.

There's no hiding our humble position compared to God's. Still the same Jesus who asks humility of his friends bowed down before them to wash their feet the night before he died.
Read Luke 17:8 in contrast to the great invitation we receive from God to His table. We come unworthy and ill-prepared. We come as sinners undeserving who meet God in flesh at the table. We come warts and all. And the maker of the universe who could sternly keep us away welcomes us. We could be pushed aside because the blood of the lamb is on our hands; but the lamb who was slain welcomes us with scared hands to eat and drink with him.
Thanks be to God that Jesus calls us to his table. AMEN.

Independent Election Thoughts for 2010

noreply@blogger.com (John, an unlikely pastor) — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 04:55:00 +0000

I'm an independent voter. And as I contemplate who I will vote for I have some thoughts.

This fall's election ought not be about party or personality. It ought to be about tough decisions and choosing candidates who are willing to make tough decisions.

Unfortunately in this election neither major national party has the guts to go on record ready to make tough decisions. Oddly both parties have chosen George W. Bush as their scapegoat but for very different reasons. Blaming Bush is easy; but blaming him doesn't come even close to accepting responsibility for the actions of both parties that lead to our current state of affairs.

The Democrats blame Bush for cutting revenues by cutting taxes without cutting spending. They seem to get that we need more money coming in. The Peterson Institute says that we will need both growth to actually meet the current debt obligations with the current tax structure and reductions in health care costs. Unfortunately the Democrats keep growing the government showing no sign of shrinking it significantly (to the point where current receipts or current receipts plus tax increases will pay the tab) and there's no evidence that health care costs have started to decline as a result of the first round of reform.
The Tea Party folks blame Bush for spending on medicare drug benefits and the TARP plan. The concern of the now fiscally responsible GOP comes after years of endorsing Bush's plans. It's easy for Republicans to say they get that government has to shrink but they have no specific plan just like Bush had no plan to create a smaller government. The GOP may say that the debt is a problem but they insist against the most basic principles of economics that our economy will grow enough to pay the debt.

Could we please get serious as a nation? The debt is in the trillions and will not go down because of the GOP's best wishes for sky high growth or because of a little tax hike by the Democrats. Here's what I am looking for.

Someone has to pay and the sooner that repayment starts the better. That means a tax increase (ideally a progressive Value Added Tax) is in order.
The sooner health cost reform happens the better. Once costs stop increasing we'll finally see the debt stop growing.
Someone who will tell me what cuts they will make in order to make government smaller.

Maybe I am dreaming; but hey it's this kind of honest conversation that will save the republic from bankruptcy.

Why call a church?

noreply@blogger.com (John, an unlikely pastor) — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 03:35:00 +0000

A woman asked during a parade, while I was riding in the vehicle pulling the church float, if I'd help with her wedding. I asked her to call me during the week so that we could visit for a while. We finally spoke today.
Her words were familiar. Other people have told me they wanted a pastor for their wedding but who don't want to be part of the church. "I believe in God and pray, but I don't believe in church."
She's picked a date and booked a park to get married in; now all she needs, she thinks, is a pastor. She called the congregation located a few blocks from the park. They're part of a denomination that's pretty strict about marrying members only.
Not sure who to call next she tried us. The plan is to sit down tomorrow and see what they have in mind.

Summer Time Adventures

noreply@blogger.com (John, an unlikely pastor) — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 04:14:00 +0000

Summer rhythms are different for our family than school year life.
The thing I notice most with our kids this year is that they have more time to just be kids.
We see them on the porch drawing at the easel for an hour at a time. We see them playing with the neighbors and with each other. There's time throughout the day to read whatever, draw whatever, think about and talk about whatever.
We banter back and forth as parents about how much TV they ought to watch or how many video games they ought to play. But the truth is our girls are
Garrison Keillor in a monologue recently said that kids can just lay under a tree and look at it rather than thinking about what it is and what it's doing scientifically they can take in the beauty of the tree.
Summer's a gift the more I think about it.

Celebrating 7 Years

noreply@blogger.com (John, an unlikely pastor) — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 03:54:00 +0000

Our older two girls turned 7 today.
It's a great moment in their lives and ours. We celebrated a little with a day built all around the joys of 7 year-olds.
Donuts for breakfast eaten on the go, sticky and oh so satisfying.
Stopping strangers to announce, "It's our birthday. We're seven." Usually met with joy by the people who heard the news and said, "That's great,"
Baking cupcakes after lunch and frosting them too.
A midday dip in the pool.
Time with each other and neighbors sharing cupcakes just before heading in for bed.
Overall a good way to turn 7 with a birthday party with friends planned next weekend.

Life has Value

noreply@blogger.com (John, an unlikely pastor) — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 03:48:00 +0000

There are some people who like to provoke conversation. Peter Singer; who I rarely agree with in either his logic or his conclusions, has a knack for provoking conversation challenging his readers to bring out their best arguments to refute his writing. It's interesting to note that Singer doesn't always agree with the most extreme conclusions of his logic; but he does raise troubling questions for us as a culture.
Singer's most recent commentary in the New York Times called, "Should This Be the Last Generation" is a challenge to believers and humanists alike to see and name value in life. Singer's basic question, "Is life worth living?" invites two distinct response

Theological responses like comments on a discussion site frequented by Lutheran Pastors look to God as both the source and purpose of life.
Atheistic responses like those found in responses to Singer's article on n the Times website speaks of the chilling emptiness known in a life without God.

Singer's question is a worthy opening for us to bring both love and logic to our conversations about value, life, the environment, ethics, medicine and every other human endeavor. Meeting someone like Singer with logical arguments is good; but it's inadequate to the real task at hand for the church in our age. We have something better than logic; God's love made known to us in the person of Jesus crucified and risen.

One weekend two ends of life

noreply@blogger.com (John, an unlikely pastor) — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 04:02:00 +0000

On Saturday I went to a funeral for a man named Albion who died at 91.
On Sunday my beloved, our girls, and I attended the baptism of a 2nd cousin's baby girl, Mariah.
It was wonderful to see God's place, the families place, and the churches place in each of these events and the way that God, life, family, church, death, and baptism overlap. Baptism is about death first and then about life. It's hard to admit it really works this way because we deeply care for earthly life; but we as Christians are already dead because of baptism and we are alive now because of Christ.
Seeing Albion's funeral and Mariah's baptism reassures me that these two events are really connected. The pastor at Albion's funeral told a story about the Wednesday night after worship when Albion came to him as he was gathering up the communion elements. Al was singing the final hymn of the night as a question, "How can I keep from singing." The framed copy of the Beatitudes that hangs on my wall from Al reassures me that Al had faith and hope in the power of God's love. And in faith and hope he hasn't stopped singing.
The promise of Baptism assures me that Mariah's just begun to sing and that her singing and the singing of all who trust in Christ will not end.

Saying Goodbye to Albion

noreply@blogger.com (John, an unlikely pastor) — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 03:00:00 +0000

I went back to Kenyon today.
I've been part of Kenyon twice.
Once as a Pastor for two and a half years and again as a stay at home dad for about 8 months after our older two girls were born.
It's a tight knit town, who today said good-bye to Al Rodde. He was known in town as a man who laughed, told a lot of stories, was ready to debate, had a deep faith, and befriended lots of people including me and my family.
Albion could be found 5 days a week, except major holidays, at the grill in town having coffee at 10:15. I joined him and a group of about a dozen others to debate the issues of the day, tell old jokes, and laugh together. Today it was a blessing to watch that same group of guys serve as pallbearers for Albion.
I found out today that I'm not the only pastor who has a framed copy of the Beatitudes with a single spaced note of thanks and encouragement hanging in his office from Al.

Summer Time

noreply@blogger.com (John, an unlikely pastor) — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 03:17:00 +0000

There's warm air in the house tonight. I was cool all day until about 6pm.
The windows are open to let the night wind come in for a minute or two.
The kids are in bed with no alarm clock required for them until September.
It's summertime.