Moments

Wow!  My wife turned 50!  Okay, so did I.  Our birthdays are one day apart.  She is the older one.

We had a great weekend with family.  I will talk about that at another time.

Here’s the deal.  Things start breaking at 50.  I had some nice video to share, but now the new software for my flip video won’t let me save my videos.  Software is broken.  I wanted to share some video of my Pastor Chuck bobble-head.  I love it because he always says yes to my questions.  My office is filled with balloons and streamers.  But you will just have to picture them in your mind until my software works again.

Abby and Jon are feeling sick.  They are broken in a way.  We were planning our 100th geochache, but the clouds broke open and rain is coming down too heavy.  Our birthday plans are broken.

I’ve got to go home and fix some broken things around the house.

Truth be told – fifty is just another day to Susan and I.  We are not grumbling or feeling old.  Our bodies are healthy for the most part.  Kids are really healthy other than cold and flu type of stuff.  We are happy.  Things are good and God is on His throne.  What could be better.  And all of  you are just a huge blessing in our life.  We couldn’t be more thankful.  (Well, a working video would be nice).  We really have no complaints.

You are our greatest gift and we thank God for you often.

I must close with the words of wise Solomon in Proverbs 16:31, “Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life.”

Busy, busy, busy!  This whole week was packed.  I returned from a conference in Chicago, only to have a District conference at Pioneer.  Then I returned to Pioneer to speak to the teachers.  Then Susan and I went to Pioneer again for the couples retreat.  Soon they will start charging me rent.

Still, it was a great week.  Here are just some of the special moments:

• Saints won!  They are 5-0.
• Susan and I got to spend time at the couples’ retreat.  Dr. Tim and Cheryl Chambers did a great job leading it.  Thanks to all who put it together.  It was wonderful.
• Saturday worship was fun because it was the first time to in the newly painted worship center.  It is really nice and just draws your attention to the cross.
• Madison was baptized at the early service on Sunday.  She is such a beautiful little girl.  I always enjoy baptisms, and then I got to talk about baptism in Bible class.  Fun!
• The worship team sounded wonderful.
• Sunday was a beautiful day.  We did a few geocaches.  We are up to 99.  We will do the 100th on my birthday.
• Saints won!

I love the response to the statement, “Memory is stronger than vision.”  The insights have been wonderful.

Memory is stronger than vision, especially for many in the church.  But vision has the power to propel us forward.  While memory has the ability to keep us anchored, vision has the power to drive us.  Perhaps another way to put it, memory keeps us rooted, vision keeps us relevant.

Memories are a powerful force.  They can hold us in bondage and prevent us from moving forward.  “I remember the good old days.”  “We’ve never done it that way before.”  And memories can stop us from carrying out the great commission in effective and relevant ways.

But memories can also help us know the faithfulness of God.  He always keeps His promises.  As we read the prayers in the Bible, we see they constantly remind God of His faithfulness.   Our memory of God’s faithfulness gives us the desire to move toward His vision for our lives.

Vision keeps us looking forward to ways we can bring the gospel to our world in relevant ways.  Vision causes us to look ahead.  What is happening in our culture?  What trends are we moving toward?  How can we reach a new generation with hope of Jesus?  How can we show our culture that God’s word is just as relevant to our lives today as it was when it was first spoken?

Vision is the ability to plan based on memory.  We can continue to look backwards and never look ahead.  That is living in the past.  Or we can look at the past, see the event and circumstances that shaped our lives, and then use what we learned to cast a vision for the future.

We have a vision for First Trinity.  We have learned from our 170 year history.  We have seen the faithfulness of God.  We are rooted in His word.  But the message we have to bring is relevant to our times.  The challenge is t0 bring His truth to our world in relevant ways.  We want to transform our world, one life at a time, through the power of God’s living word.

Different weekend for me.  Here are just a few of the special moments:

• I was out of town most of this week.  I attended a wonderful conference in Chicago.  I returned late Thursday night and came straight to church for a Ministry Council meeting.  We have such great meetings because we have a common vision.
• Friday and Saturday were times to visit people.  Some times those calls can be tough except for faith.  I get to visit with people who have such tremendous faith.  I am always blessed.
• Got to watch Jon play football and win again.  They have a really good team considering this is their first year of flag football.
• Baptism on Sunday.  Always one of my favorite things to participate in.
• Jason did a great job.  Of course, I expect nothing less.  He is a gifted preacher.  (Should I be worried?)
• We had a visitor on Sunday, a church mouse.  Funny!  It is amazing how such a little critter can distract from worship.  I am glad I stayed for the second service.
• Bills lost!  What can I say.  It was terrible.
• Now it is off to the next conference.  This week is our District Pastors’ conference.

I am at a conference in Chicago with about 20 other Lutheran pastors.  I always learn so much when I gather with brothers.  I am challenged in my thinking and strategic planning.  This week we are talking about the Reveal study from Willow Creek, about effective church branding, and understanding the culture in our community.  All good stuff.

Anyway,  a comment was made by our instructor, J. David Smith.  He said, “Memory is stronger than vision.”  I found that to be a great statement.  But before I go on about what it means to me, I am curious about how you might interpret that comment.  Do you agree?  Disagree?  Are you clear about our vision?  I am anxious to hear from you and look forward to a fun discussion.

Memory is stronger than vision.

Another weekend filled with blessings.  Here are just a few special moments:

• As often the case, this weekend began on Friday with Joshua’s Men, one of our men’s life groups.  We’ve been meeting for a number of years now and we really felt it was time to renew our commitment to God and to one another.  We spent much of the evening making that commitment.  It was a great time.  I am so grateful for our men’s ministry.
• Saturday morning was an early meeting.  What was great, was even though we were dealing with a big topic, everyone was on the same page.  God’s people discussed and shared and listened, and the result, I left the meeting feeling really good about the decisions.  I left feeling good about working together in ministry.
• The Jon had a football game.  He play really well.  Had an interception and we won!
• Abby had a game and the coach said it was her best game yet.  She plays soccer and is awesome.
• Then on to worship.  The late service on Saturday was interesting.  We had many first time visitors, which is the point of that service.
• Sunday, we had another drama.  Karen and Joe are hilarious and played their parts so well.  They are a hard act to follow.  Karen puts together such appropriate and challenging dramas.  I am thankful for  her ministry.
• Then Sunday evening I had a circuit meeting at my house.  It was really nice.  I got to meet a new person and it was a very encouraging time.  I have such great hope for our circuit.
• Saints won – again!
• Bills didn’t play!!  Don’t get me started.
• Saints won!

We’ve been in this series, “People Matter” for a few weeks.  I have really enjoyed this series, especially the devotions.  Each night our family sits together and read the devotion.  It has been really fun.

This week, we are focusing on the truth that our world matters to God.  So I though it might be a good time to recap some of our missions.

This January, we will return to Haiti.  If you are interested in going with us, now is the time to sign up.  We have limited space.   We always have such a fun time and are blessed greatly.  I am excited to go again this year.  I hope and pray Lovelie and Wisken are here by then, but if not, I can’t wait to see them.

I just heard from Pastor Edriss.  He wants a team to come down.  I have the same question as always, where will we stay and how many can he handle.  It would be great to take a team of five or six and go.  They could use the encouragement.

Not everyone knows we support two church planters in India.  Between them there are four churches, two children’s Bible clubs, and two literacy programs.  We are actually having the opportunity to impact a couple of hundred people.  That is so exciting.  This January, we will send someone to India to check on those church planters and look at some other work that is going on in India.  God is doing some exciting stuff there.

We continue to support the work in Kyrgyzstan and also support the Nichols.

We send our youth to work camps in the U.S. every summer.  And now we are looking at ways to expand our mission work locally.  Our five year goal is to give 25% of our operating budget toward local and international mission work.  That is very exciting.

I am so thankful for those who support our mission work with their time, their energy and their finances.  Together we are fulfilling the Great Commission to “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you.  And lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

It’s hard to express the joy I feel at being a part of the family at First Trinity every week.  It truly is a great place to be.  Here are some of the special moments:

• Saturday Jon’s flag football team won.  They are undefeated, which is pretty impressive considering this is their first year in the league.
• Abby’s soccer team won and Abby scored, which is impressive because she doesn’t usually play forward.  It was extra special because it was her first goal of the season and it was homecoming.
• Saturday was also the “Bless My Baby” event at church.  I wish they would have had a program like that when our kids were babies.
• Worship is always great.  Sue B is such a fine organist and selects wonderful music for the themes.
• Sunday worship is also fun.  The drama was great.
• Then celebrated St. Michael’s Lutheran Church’s 150 anniversary.  It was a wonderful celebration and President Chris Wicher shared a great word.  Plus it was fun to see Eunice Foote.
• Saints won!  Sorry but someone had to win.
• Luke spit up on me while I wore my Saints jersey.

This will be a great week in the Lord.

Last night was a wonderful time of prayer.  We are so grateful to the family of First Trinity, as well as friends all over the U.S. who prayed to bring Lovelie and Wisken home.  The prayer meeting was an encouraging and uplifting.

As we prayer, the verse that kept coming to my mind was Jesus’ words, “Do not hinder the little children from coming to Me.” I feel that is what is happening.  It seems that Lovelie and Wisken are being prevented from coming home.  Granted, they are in a great Christian environment.  They are not being prevented from being in the presence of Jesus.  We are so thankful for that.  But we don’t always understand why they are not here yet.

So we trust God.  We know He is in control.  There is a spiritual battle going on.  In the mean time, Lovelie and Wisken know we love them and are doing all we can.

So thank you for entering into the battle with us and praying.

A beautiful weekend in Tonawanda.  September has been great!  Here are some of the special moments from the weekend:

• Our life group got back together after a month off.  We are looking at a program by Chip Ingram (one of my favorite preachers).  It is a great group and good to be back together with them.
• Saturday was a time of games.  Abby had a soccer game and Jon his first flag football game.  Both won.  It was a great day to watch sports.
• Lots of young families in our Discover class.  That is fun.  We talked about families in church.
• Lisa C and Christine H did a nice childrens’ message about the blessing Sue Steege is among us.  Then we had a slide show of Sue over the years.
• We had a Haiti team meeting after church.  I am excited to go again, and I am excited about some of the new people who expressed an interest in going.
• Saints won!
• Bills won!

Busy week ahead.  Still, I can’t wait to get together with the family of First Trinity again.