Time to get ready!

On Monday I made ‘the list.’  I’ve checked it twice…but it has nothing to do with naughtiness!  This is the cleaning list!  We’re hosting Shannon’s side of the family this year, and that means our house will hold 11 people, including two 1 ½ year olds and two pregnant women.  Our house was in pretty good shape…but not good enough for a couple busy little kids!  Every day I’ve gotten a few things off the list: cleaning showers, cleaning floors, washing towels, dusting, moving knick-knacks, baking Christmas cookies…  I don’t want to get rushed at the end.  When everyone shows up on Saturday I’ll be fully ready.  If I raced around like a maniac on Friday night I’d wear myself out and wouldn’t fully enjoy the Christmas weekend.   I’ve put a lot of time and planning into getting organized, but in just a few days I’ll be ready.  I’m looking forward to spending time with people I enjoy.  I don’t want a messy house to get in the way of that!  It’s nearly time to welcome a houseful of people into my home.  Only a couple days to go.  

Last week at Peace I began a different list: things to get done before Christmas Eve and Christmas Day worship services.  Every day I’ve gotten a few things off the list: sermons to write, songs to choose, orders of service to organize… I don’t want to get rushed at the end.  When everyone shows up on Saturday I’ll be fully ready.  If I run around like a maniac at the last minute I’ll wear myself out and won’t fully enjoy the worship services.  I’ve put a lot of time and planning into getting organized, but in just a few days I’ll be ready.  I’m looking forward to celebrating Jesus’ birth with people I enjoy.  It’s nearly time to welcome a crowd of people into our new church home.  Only a couple days to go.  

Amid all the planning…all the organizing…and the preparing…on Saturday we’ll once again celebrate God coming to earth to live among us.  I’m rushing around getting ready for the celebration.  It’s time to add a few things to ‘the list:’ some quiet time in prayer…some time reading Scripture…singing Christmas carols with the youth.  Getting ready for Jesus simply involves nurturing the relationship that God desires for me.  It’s nearly time to welcome Jesus into our world…and our lives.  Only a couple days to go.

A Little Christmas Honesty

Have a holly, jolly Christmas;
It's the best time of the year
I don't know if there'll be snow
but have a cup of cheer
Have a holly, jolly Christmas;
And when you walk down the street
Say Hello to friends you know
and everyone you meet.



Oh Ho the mistletoe
hung where you can see;
Somebody waits for you;
Kiss her once for me
Have a holly jolly Christmas
and in case you didn't hear
Oh by golly have a holly jolly Xmas this year

These classic words clearly explain the expected Christmas mood.  This is a season for love, joy, and family.  It’s a time to be merry and excited about life.  It’s a time for warm, cozy feelings.  We expect our days to be merry and bright.

It can be hard to live up to those high expectations.   The truth for many people is that Christmas becomes a time of disappointment, anxiety, and depression.    

A number of years ago I found myself leading a Christmas service at a funeral home.   It wasn’t a time to talk about ‘a cup of cheer’!  For those who have lost loved ones, Christmas abounds in loneliness.  Memories of those who no longer gather around the Christmas tree bring tears to people’s eyes. 

Many families get together to celebrate Christmas.  Quite often these Christmas gatherings produce more anxiety and hurt feelings than ‘comfort and joy.’  People who avoid each other all year long suddenly sit together expecting everyone to be happy.  It doesn’t happen.  Old resentments bubble over (or simmer under the surface).  People wonder, “Why can’t I have a NORMAL family?”  Perhaps this family anxiety IS normal!!

Many people will spend Christmas alone, far from family and friends.  They will feel that ‘everyone is happy except me.’ 

Some couples will acutely feel the pain of infertility as they imagine presents for little ones under a tree.  “If only we had children to celebrate with.”

Some divorced families will experience the frustration of the battle over ‘who gets the kids on Christmas Eve.’

How do we learn to manage expectations?  We SO want Christmas to be perfect in every way.  We want happiness and joy at every turn.  Let’s be honest with ourselves: Christmas doesn’t always live up to the hype.

We live in a broken world.  We live in a world where relationships are strained, where death rips people away, where loneliness abounds.   We can’t just wish someone ‘Merry Christmas’ and expect all that pain to go away.

2000 years ago God chose to come into this broken world.  His parents had to leave home to travel to Bethlehem.  They couldn’t even find a decent place to spend the night.   The baby Jesus entered that anxiety to bring hope.

God lives among us even as we suffer.  As we focus on the Christ who came to live with us, we can look at the Christmas season with honesty.  Jesus did not come to have it be ‘perfect.’  Jesus came to live with us, wherever we might find ourselves.

This Christmas, feel free to lay before your newborn king your joys & sorrows, your excitement & pain, your contentment & loneliness. 

Welcome to the manger!  Unto us a child has been born!

Helping the Needy from an Arm's Length

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for one another.  If any one of you has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in you? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.

1 John 3:16-18

The red kettles of the Salvation Army have become a part of Christmas tradition here in America.   It seems like every store has a smiling bell ringer clanging away, encouraging people to generosity.

On Saturday Shannon and I had the chance to ring those bells at Wal-Mart in Rochester.  For an hour we chimed away, humming and ringing to the beat of all kinds of classics (we found that Jingle Bells worked best…but we could also jingle out the beat to the Minnesota Rouser!) 

People streamed past us on their way to their serious Christmas shopping.  They pushed carts piled with toys & goodies for young and old.  Despite all the talk of recession and tough times, people still came to Wal-Mart to shop.

As the hour jingled past, money continually poured into the kettle.  Parents taught their kids the importance of generosity, encouraging them to reach up and put money in the open hole.  People on their way out the door tossed in the change that the cashier had just given them.  Others went out of their way to fold larger bills and stuff them into the kettle.   

Generosity ran rampant.  While people came to Wal-Mart to buy presents for their families and loved ones, they didn’t forget those in need.  They gave money to feed the hungry and house the homeless.  As the bell clanged in my ear I felt a sense of accomplishment and pride.  I was part of something special.  Those dollars and coins make a difference in many people’s lives. Shannon and I helped encourage that. 

Salvation Army bell ringing is a wonderful thing, yet as I drove home something troubled me…I did not come in contact with the people I hoped to help.  The homeless and hungry remained nameless and faceless.  I had the freedom to hop in my car, do some good, get a little shopping done on the side, and drive home.    I dabbled in helping people in need … but did it from an arm’s length.

I feel that I am, by nature, a generous person.  I give money to Lutheran World Relief.  I support a congregation that supports places like the Salvation Army Dental Clinic, Rochester Women’s Shelter, and the Channel One food bank.   I take part in the Cardboard Box City where I experience what it’s like to sleep in the cold.  I try to make a difference in the world…but I live in a bubble.  I live my happy middle class life in my warm house with my warm clothes and good food.  I rarely have actual contact with the people in need.  I can help them without being inconvenienced.  I don’t have to feel uncomfortable with actual personal interaction with people who are struggling in life. 

Is that what it means ‘see a brother or a sister in need?’  Do I actually see them or do I know in theory that they exist and that something should be done to help? 

Does anyone else struggle with this?

Time for Rest...I think God means it!

Last week we headed to Shannon’s folks to celebrate Thanksgiving.  While we were there some strange events unfolded.  I played several games of Hearts.  I joined others in watching Jeopardy (without multi-tasking once).  I slept in.  I relaxed.  I even laughed at REALLY bad jokes (What is green, has 4 legs, and will hurt you if it falls out of a tree on you???  A pool table!  What is brown, has 4 legs, and sees just as well out of either end?  A horse with its eyes closed!!  Yes, my mother-in-law’s jokes!).

I love playing cards with others.  I enjoy hanging out and telling fun stories.   I don’t even mind groaning at really bad jokes.  Shouldn’t these be normal activities in my life?  Shouldn’t they be things I do on a regular basis?  Why did it feel so strange to let my hair down (figuratively, of course) to relax and enjoy life?

Sadly, last Friday was probably the first real ‘day off’ that I’d taken in months.  I’ve been caught up in the myth of busyness!  No matter how hard I’ve worked, the to-do list has not gotten smaller.

It’s been quite a fall: completing and moving into a new building at Peace Lutheran Church, kick-starting a myriad of fall ministry opportunities, working with new ministries throughout the synod, travelling to several overnight conferences from Omaha to LaCrosse to Watertown, SD (in a one month span I slept in 9 beds!).  Throw in some cross country meets, my niece’s confirmation, and the usual ‘need to get done’ home activities and it’s gotten out of control. 

I’ve coped with it all by entering ‘purpose mode.’  I’ve focused on getting things DONE.   Every day felt like a success or failure based on how much I got done.  I became a working machine with no spare minute wasted.  I plowed through an amazing amount of work.  I’m really good at this!  Success, right? 

Not so much!  I didn’t have time for people…I only had time for projects.  I didn’t have time for relationships…I only had time to ‘accomplish things.’  Frankly, life became pretty lonely!  A to-do list is a pretty poor substitute for actual friends and family.

I truly believe that God used the fun and relaxation of last Friday to open my eyes, reminding me that life is not lived to simply accomplish many tasks.  God calls me a life filled with rest and joy…not a life with my nose to the grindstone.  In August on this blog I wrote about the importance of taking time to rest.  Apparently God needs to keep sending reminders. 

I’m looking forward to more games of Hearts…and more bad jokes!  Thank you Jesus!

Time for Thanks

It’s nearly Thanksgiving…time to pause to give thanks to God!

·         Thank you God for this new building for Peace Lutheran Church

·         Thank you God for an office with a door (I’ve never had once since I became a pastor in 1997).

·         Thank you God for such a fun community of faith at Peace Lutheran Church.

·         Thank you God for Dr. Prema Peethambaram of Mayo Clinic and for the drug Avastin.  Together they are keeping my wife’s ovarian cancer at bay.

·         Thank you God for a wonderful son who excels in so many ways…and is just a great guy.

·         Thank you God for warm places to go when it gets cold.

·         Thank you God for Lucy and Abby, my cats who like to sit on my lap while I watch football.

·         Thank you God for good books which help me unwind at the end of the day.

·         Thank you God for the immigrant church leaders from South Sudan who have taught me so much about the faith.

·         Thank you God for reubens…possibly the best food on earth!

·         Thank you God for cranberry sauce to go with turkey.

What do you have to thank God for?

Awesome Reality!

It feels like I’m in a dream…and I’m waiting for someone to wake me up.

I’m sitting at a clean new desk…in a new office.  A new worship space is right down the hall…with new comfortable chairs…with a new keyboard…with beautiful new windows.  The ‘new building smell’ surrounds me.  Can it possibly be true?

A part of me fully expects to go back to the old office tomorrow morning and head off to the gym for worship this Sunday.  It all seems too good to be true. 

This past Sunday over 220 people came to dedicate this place to God’s glory.   We prayed over many areas of the new building.  Bishop Usgaard proclaimed how God works through God’s people in this place.   Young and old raised their voices and instruments in God’s praise.  The kids took up a large collection to support other new ministries in our area.  Tears of joy flowed as the long anticipated day arrived!  We sat down to a Thanksgiving Feast with an abundance of pie!  I could see people busting at the seams, proud that Peace, at long last, has a home base for ministry!

This building did not happen because of the awesomeness of the people of Peace Lutheran Church (though I do think they are quite amazing!).  This building happened because of the faithfulness of God.  It’s crazy to think that a congregation made up of so many young families can put forth the effort and financial support to make a building like this happen.  Many doubted that we would ever build.  God didn’t!  God led the charge, bringing the right people to the right places to make it all happen.  There are so many times when this whole project could have been derailed, but God kept it on track.  At long last, we’ve arrived. 

It’s time to take a deep breath and revel in God’s faithfulness…and let reality sink in.   Praise God!

An Irrational Faith in the Face of Death

On Monday I took part in an entirely irrational event. 

I sat in the front row of the balcony at Pete Stellpflug’s funeral at a packed St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Rochester.  We heard reflections on Pete’s life and the legacy that he leaves behind.  Those words were poignant and meaningful.  I found it helpful to remember Pete’s humor and willingness to serve his community

That’s when the irrationality began.  While Pete’s body lay in a casket in front of everybody, Father Kurt talked as if Pete still lived.  He spoke of Pete celebrating with Jesus and all the saints.  He talked of…eternal life. 

When I stop and think about it for a bit, this all sounds like crazy talk.  In my experience death seems final.  Once people pass away we don’t see them again.  We must learn to live without their comfort and company.  We put their bodies in the ground or scatter their ashes.  I can go to the grave of my mom, Edee Reuss and know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that her remains lie in the casket beneath my feet.    Death comes as the end of life.  That’s the way the world works.  On my most cynical days, talk of eternal seems like something invented by people to take some of the pain out of death.  “While they SEEM dead…they are not REALLY dead.”  Is this faith thing just a sham?

In the face of such harsh empirical data, Father Curt proclaimed the hope of eternal life through Jesus Christ.   It’s the same hope that I mentioned last week.

Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? ⁴ We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. ⁵ If we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. (Romans 6:3-5)

How can we believe something so irrational?  On our own we can’t.  We need God’s help!  A Christians we proclaim a God who has not only come to conquer sin and death…we proclaim a God who works to give us the ability to believe it!   We all have our days of doubt and struggling, but God does not leave us alone.  God never gives up on us or leaves us alone.  God directs us forward in faith…even on days when eternal life seems too irrational to believe.

Today (November 1^st) is All Saints Day.  On this day Christians boldly proclaim that all who have died in Christ still live…and that as forgiven children of God we will live with them.  Nobody can prove that it’s true, but this is the hope that I proclaim for my mom, Edee Reuss…for my grandparents (Jim Bantz, George Reuss, Dave & Esther Meier, Charles Dodd)…for Max Cliff and Marianne Morton…and for Pete Stellpflug.  Jesus has come to be with God’s people in life…and in death.

Father Curt’s message rings true.  Death seems final, but it’s really the gate to life forever with Jesus.   That’s not just wishful thinking…that’s the promise of God!  May God work in your life (and mine) to help you believe it!