"Lutheran" Commandments?

Just yesterday friends from Bethel (both of them former presidents of the congregation--Cindy and Doug Boese) gave me a gift that they had found while on vacation.  Hilarious. 

Martin Luther once gave a comprehensive explanation of the Ten Commandments.  In Minnesota, I guess we need an even shorter explanation.  Hence, this shirt.  On the front, the logo reads, "Minnesota Style".  On the back we read these commandments (and please note that the numbering is one off what we normally consider in the Lutheran church, but a numbering that is accepted by a wide range of Christians--for instance, our commandment four, "Honor your father and your mother," will in this listing be number five):

1. Der's only one God, ya know.
2. Don't make that fish on your mantle an idol.
3. Cussin' ain't Minnesota nice.
4. Go to church even when your up nort.
5. Honor your folks.
6. Don't kill.  Catch & Release.
7. There is only one Lena for every Ole.  No cheatin'.
8. If it ain't your Lutefisk, don't take it.
9. Dont be braggin' about how much snow ya shoveled.
10. Keep your mid off your neighbor's hotdish.

So, der ya go.  Easy, ain't it?

You're Thankful for What?

Every week we have a staff devotional time before our staff meeting.  This week one of our office staff, Judy Gittus, offered us some wisdom about thankfulness as we approach a season of Thanksgiving.  Here is her list:

... the taxes I pay because it means I'm employed

... The clothes that fit a little too snug because it means I have enough to eat

... my shadow who watches me work because it means I am out in the sunshine

... A lawn that needs mowing, windows that need cleaning and gutters that need fixing because it means I have a home.

... the spot I find at the end of the parking lot because it means I am capable of walking

... all the complaining I hear about the government because it means we have freedom of speech

... my huge heating bill because it means I am warm

... the lady behind me in church who sings off key because it means that I can hear

... the piles of laundry and ironing because it means my loved ones are near

... weariness and aching muscles at the end of the day because it means I've been productive

... the alarm that goes off in the morning hours because it means I'm alive

... the friends and family I can share this message with to remind us all what is important in life.

I imagine we could quibble about one or two of those.  So often we grumble about most of them.  But in the blessed part of the world in which we live, even the things we might grumble about can bring blessings.

For what will you be thankful in this season?

The Canvas of Creation

Recently I was Augsburg College for two days of Board of Regents meetings.  On a brilliantly beautiful October Friday morning, I came out of the chapel building and saw twenty or so students painting or drawing.

I asked the students if I could see what they were working on (and if I could take their pictures).  They all happily agreed.  Of course, there were varying levels of skill in the class.

But one thing was consistent--they were painting the creation we have been given in this world.

I admired some of their work.  Others were a bit too abstract for me.  Then I would look up from the art work and compare with what God has given to us.

There really was no comparison.  God's handiwork will always remain supreme, no matter how hard we try to copy what comes naturally in his great gifts to us.

Joyce Kilmer has written a poem that says, "I think that I shall never see a poem as lovely as a tree."  Will we ever seen a piece of art that is as beautiful as the tree God has already created?

We are so blessed to live in this canvas of southeastern Minnesota.  Of course, I might write that no matter where I might be if I had grown in that place and had come to love it.  God's creation is even more varied than our ability to copy it.

May you enjoy these last days of fall as we have opportunity to look out every day onto the most beautiful art possible.

Connected

Most of us are connected in multiple ways.  Even the church is connected to the world and to each other in so many, many ways.  The first picture you see here is a welcome luncheon for new Rochester Chamber of Commerce members.  While I have been an individual member for over five years, recently the chamber made it affordable for the church to join as a business member.  We are able to make connections in new ways with a cross section of our community.  In some ways, Bethel is a business and has to be run like a business.  If we do not meet our monthly obligations, like all businesses, we would have to close the doors.  We need to be smart in our use of technology and in using media (like this blog?) to reach out to people.  Being connected in a chamber of commerce is one way to extend our reach.

The second picture is even more exciting.  On the same day of the luncheon our normal confirmation group came together in Bethel Hall.  More than 110 students.  Some 16-20 adult leaders who serve as small group leaders at the tables.  Four to five staff
members who devote their time so that our confirmation students are

afforded the best possible confirmation program. 

Have you ever been in a room with 110 excited 7th, 8th, and 9th graders?  The energy, even at 6pm, is palpable.  They may have just spent a long day at school, and they might have been to a sports practice or music group in the late afternoon.  Yet they show up faithfully, Wednesday after Wednesday, to learn about God's great love for them and our response in love to God.

The students are connecting, and they are connected.  This is just one of the programs the church offers to ensure that youth know they belong, that they are loved by God.

They are connected because you have helped to connect them.  You promised that you would support them in baptism.  You are making the promises come true.  I pray for you the connection that these youth feel week after week.  There is a God who wants to connect with you and offer his best.  We are the body of Christ.  Connected from head to toe.

Harmon Killebrew and Jesus

Last night Kathy and I saw our second Twins game at Target Field in Minneapolis.  Taking a different route into the stadium, we saw the statue of Harmon Killebrew--my favorite Twin as I grew up in the 1960's.  You might have guessed that since in the picture I am wearing a Killebrew jersey which I received for my birthday (a month early!).

Like so many children, I hoped that I would one day play professional baseball.  I matured earlier than classmates, and I could hit the ball a long ways.  I fashioned myself as a home run hitter like Killebrew.

In third grade we needed to do a report on what we "wanted to do when we grew up".  On the cover of my report were two pictures.  One of them was a picture of Killebrew.  I would play baseball in the summertime.

But that would leave many months of the year to pursue my other love--the church.  The other picture on that report was of a pastor.  From my earliest days of recollection, I felt called to be a pastor in the church.  From elementary school on, people would encourage me and affirm in various ways my pursuit of being a pastor.

This picture--the Head of Christ by Warner Sallman--was hanged over my bed, along with many other Sallman lithographs that I received from perfect Sunday School attendance.

There were many people I admired when I was young (including many Minnesota Vikings players starting in 1961).  So many teachers and coaches and friends and relatives were formative in my upbringing.  But Harmon Killebrew and Jesus were on a different plane than most.

I once met Harmon Killebrew in the Minneapolis airport.  He was kind to exchange a few words with me.  It is my privilege to encounter the Risen Christ every day.  Anywhere.  All times.  Harmon remains a hero in my book.  Jesus has turned into something much more real--a Savior and Lord.

Who are your heroes?

Sunset on Sabbatical

Sabbatical has ended, and I am officially sitting at my Bethel computer. It has been a wonderful three months. As the time away for refreshment and learning has come to an end, I have reflected on those months. I have come away with three major learnings, none of which will probably surprise you.

1) God has created a world of wonders. Kathy and I had the chance to travel widely in these months. We visited Florida for a couple of days prior to a short Caribbean cruise. A ten day trip to Israel was a highlight of the summer.
Twice we visited the summer home of my sister, Carolyn (the sunset picture is a view from her home at Ham Lake near Park Rapids, MN). Napa Valley and San Francisco were home base for a week. A weekend trip to Chicago helped to prepare for the wedding of our son, Chris, to Michelle this fall. And we finally made the trip to Door County, Wisconsin, staying at Little Sweden outside of Fish Creek for a week. I cannot begin to list the many experiences we had in these various places. I can only tell you that God's world is a marvel.

2) Family is a blessing. Kathy had some doubts that we could co-exist in a house (even with extensive travel) for an entire summer. I guess I can be pretty intense. But she was an excellent partner in all that we did. I am blessed with her presence for more than 36 years now. The birth of our second grandchild in July is an incomparable blessing--all life makes other blessings seem small. Joren grows in leaps and bounds these early weeks. We have had opportunities to spend time with all three of our children and their families at various places (Ham Lake, Little Sweden, Chicago). It is a great joy to be with them. It was good and reminiscent to spend a couple of weeks with my sister. And we have had even more time with our first grandchild, Jarek. My sister says that I am "smitten" with him. She is right. He will never remember this summer, but I will cherish it forever.

3) Bethel is the place I want to be. Kathy and I worshiped at many wonderful places this summer (including the Great Synagogue in Jerusalem). The churches were near and far, big and small. Most of the time the services were very good to excellent. Out of the 13 Sundays in those three months, we were away from Bethel for 12. The exception was the Sunday after Joren's birth when we had much family in town, and we all wanted to worship together. It would be at Bethel. And that is the best Sunday we had amongst the 13. It was a time of coming together with friends--people with whom we have celebrated and cried. It was the familiar and good voices coming from the pulpit and the pew. It was home.

So it is from home that I am composing this blog today--my work and church home. It is good to be back. The sun has set on sabbatical. The sun is rising in so many new ways.

Don't Jump?

Cave Point Park in Door County is worth the drive and time to get there (and it is free!). As we explored the first bit of the park, we saw three young men in swimming trunks standing at the precipice of an abyss yet unknown to us. Drawing closer to the edge, we could see a pool of water provided by Lake Michigan.

Amazingly, we also saw one of the young men do a somersault into the shallow pool about 18 feet below. As he stood after the plunge, I could see that the water was a mere 3.5 feet deep! As well, there were rocks in that clear water. If the jumper misjudged, a rock could clearly ruin his day (week, year, life...). Additionally, there was another pool of water surrounded by underwater boulders a bit farther out to sea that required a leap. One of the jumpers preferred this landing spot.

Of course, that brought me back to my first attempt at a sabbatical eight years ago when I jumped off a 35 foot cliff into the Colorado River and broke three vertebrae. Thankfully that only ruined my summer and not my life. As I peered over the edge of this 18 foot drop, Kathy said, "Don't even think about it." And I thought about all the people who, humorously, told me before going on sabbatical not to jump off any cliffs this time.

So I didn't. I climbed down some rocks to the edge of Lake Michigan and was rewarded with all varieties of coastline--caves, boulders, sand--different around every corner. Now it is only five days to the end of my sabbatical, and I have only to survive a long weekend at my sister's lake home in northern Minnesota.

Don't jump. But we do. I recall Peter stepping out onto the Sea of Galilee. It was a leap of faith. Abraham and Sarah's jump from a secure home to wandering towards an unknown home is well documented in the Bible. As a teenager, Mary, mother of Lord, needed a huge leap of faith in her journey to motherhood.

Are we still jumping into sometimes turbulent water in our journey of faith? Sometimes the water seems too shallow, other times too dark and deep. Do rocks surround the safe pool of water in which to land? Are the risks too great?

The risks are too great for some. They would rather rely on their own strengths. Someday, however, the strengths of any one person will erode. What we need is a pool of faith. We know who can provide that. "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, lest anyone should boast."

Join in the water--sometimes turbulent water, sometimes as graceful as the waters of baptism. It is a great swim...