Thursday Thoughts ...

A lot to think about this morning. Waiting to hear from someone going in for a biopsy, just got word someone else is going back to see the surgeon a week after surgery because something doesn't seem right, I will be going to a funeral home this evening for visitation for someone's brother who was killed in a car crash and I am trying to put together a sermon from the passage God has led me to use. How is that for a jumble of thoughts and emotions.

I really need to hang on to my Dad's ministry theme, "God is still God" today. Or my Pastor friend Dave who says "Our greatest days are just ahead". I guess that I am saying I really need to depend on God today. I know, I know, I am supposed to do that every day and especially since I am a pastor. How often to we really depend on God for our day's activities? I just prayed it over a couple of gals going on an 11 month ministry trip this past Sunday morning. I said that I hoped they got stretched to the place to where they had to depend on God alone. So why is this so hard to do on a daily basis? You know for just the regular stuff.

I am not speaking of fluffy, non-reality dribble that some people spout to appear pious. I am mean the real stuff, the "God is guiding me through this day" reality without fanfare. Maybe just considering this as I move through the day is a good start.

Here's hoping you are being led through whatever you are facing today. Because I know it is true that God is still God!

Sand in my shoes ...

I read a story a few years ago about a man who walked across the country. In an interview it came out that he had been hit by a car, had many other close calls of being hit, gotten ill, suffered through many blisters, went through a few pairs of shoes and some terrible weather. The interviewer asked if he had ever considered giving up before he reached his goal. He answered yes, he had considered giving up several times. He added that it probably wasn't for the reasons we might think, he said what nearly caused him to quit was the sand in his shoes. Those tiny grains of sand that just kept getting in his shoes and were a constant, though small, irritation nearly caused him to quit.

I believe that is an issue most of us face regularly. The small irritations are the ones that give us the highest level of frustration. We don't like the big stuff, but you see the big stuff, tackle it and go on. It is the "sand in my shoes" that gets to me, those small irritations that just keep rubbing at me.

The times that people say they will do something and just don't do it. Often I have to pick up the slack for them. The times that someone misquotes me to others and it spreads to become a problem that never should have happened. People being late to meetings expecting the reat of us to wait on them. Parents who refuse to be the parent and allow their child to control things, and then blame the church for the outcome. People saying they support you while doing nothing to help. Cable TV that goes out when it rains hard. Forgetting to close the windows when it rains. Sales people in stores who do nothing. Telemarketers!!!! Sound system problems during a worship service. The fact that so many good foods are now deemed unhealthy for you. Gas prices dropping ten cents an hour after I fill up. Barking dogs in the middle of the night. The fact that some of pants have shrunk while hanging in my closet.

Enough of my irritations. What are yours. Just remember that we will always have some irritants in our lives, but we have so much more for which to be thankful. But isn't it fun to just rant about our irritants once in a while?

Vacation thoughts ...

We leave on vacation next Monday and I am realizing today that my thoughts are more on vacation than the tasks at hand. While I am excited for vacation I really have to get a lot done this week before I leave. I think what I have much like senioritis. You remember, when seniors in High School, or College for that matter, have a few days or weeks until they are out of school. They have trouble concentrating listening in class and focusing on their assignments. So maybe what I have is "vacationitis".

When I am supposed to be studying I find myself thinking through what I need to pack for vacation. When I am supposed to creating something my thoughts go to what we will do on what day while on vacation.

I am confident that I am not the only one who has ever suffered from "vacationitis", so I am asking for suggestions on getting through this week, and getting the necessary things done, so I can really enjoy vacation. Let me hear your thoughts.

Now, what was I supposed to be doing instead of posting this blog ... ?

Monday Morning Musings ...

Another Monday morning and I have already traveled 80 some miles round trip to be at the hospital with someone before a heart procedure. (It went well, thank the Lord.) Now I am in my office reflecting on the most recent Sunday, which if I am accurate was yesterday. It was a great day.

We had a Ministry Job Fair during Sunday School. It was very good, people worked really hard and their booths looked great, a reasonable number of people came and some even signed up to do ministry they have not done before. Our worship was good, several children sang a special song with great energy, and the service had a great spirit about it.

Now for the crowning moment of the day. We had a baptism service late afternoon followed by a picnic. It had rained most of the day. It didn't completely stop until 4 pm, (guess when we were scheduled to start? You guessed it, 4 pm.) and then the weather was absolutely perfect. There 7 who were baptized and 82 who attended the outdoor event. The testimonies of the 7 were awesome and there were many in the crowd who shed tears of joy. (you know it is a good service when that happens.) The water in the pond was warm and we didn't lose anyone. The picnic was a big hit and people stayed and talked or fished for a couple of hours.

I absolutely love baptism services. To hear the testimonies. To see the passion and joy on people's faces. To watch parents and grandparents who are so proud (the right kind of pride) and see the smiles on the faces of those who get baptized.

Bring it on Monday, I can take you today!

Random Thoughts ...

I suppose could use random thoughts as the title of anything I write or say, but today here are some thoughts in no particular order.

I love talking with people about their conversion experience. We will have a baptism service tomorrow afternoon (if the rain holds off), so this week I have been talking with those who desire to get baptized. The first question is, "Tell me how you came to faith in Christ?". I love hearing those stories. Yesterday a teenager, who is relatively new to our church just popped into my office and asked if it was too late to get on the baptism list. I was smiling from ear to ear after hearing her story and being reminded once again that I have a great job (most of the time).

"God is still God", that was my Dad's theme for his 44 years of pastoral ministry. I love that phrase. One because it always reminds me of Dad. Two because it is so true, that God is still God no matter what happens. And three because I love to give people that reminder when they are discouraged or wondering if God is listening.

I love vacations. The wife and I are going to take a week away. We will leave in about 9 days. It will just be us, on a cottage at the edge of lake up north for a week. I can't wait. For you see I not only love vacations, I love my wife very much and get to have her to myself for a week. Of course she might be looking to be by herself part of that time, but it will be great anyway.

My grandkids make me smile. If I see a picture of them, hear their names mentioned, talk with them on the phone or have someone ask me about them. I always smile. I love being a grandpa.

Enjoy your own random thoughts and thanks for reading mine.

Thanks for ...

In response to my daughter-in-law's challenge here are my 5 things I am most thankful for (by way of a protest only 5 is impossible, but for the sake of those who happen to read this I will attempt to limit it to 5).

1. The realization that God loves me.

2. My family - my awesome wife of 31 years, my kids (I am so proud of you), my daughter and son-in-law (you are real family) my 4 incredible grandkids and my soon to be incredible grandchild, my Dad (you have taught me so much), a big brother.

3. To be doing what you know you are supposed to be doing - being a pastor.

4. Laughter - isn't it great to laugh and hear people really laughing?

5. Worship

My not so serious list ...

1. Good food - especially off the grill.

2. Fantasy baseball - it is one of my great outlets, especially the trash talking when I am winning.

3. In golf a drive that lands in the fairway - who am I kidding, any of my shots that go where they are supposed to go.

4. High school basketball - especially in Indiana.

5. The smell of coffee.

So what are you thankful for?

Thanks for ...

In response to my daughter-in-law's challenge here are my 5 things I am most thankful for (by way of a protest only 5 is impossible, but for the sake of those who happen to read this I will attempt to limit it to 5).

1. The realization that God loves me.

2. My family - my awesome wife of 31 years, my kids (I am so proud of you), my daughter and son-in-law (you are real family) my 4 incredible grandkids and my soon to be incredible grandchild, my Dad (you have taught me so much), a big brother.

3. To be doing what you know you are supposed to be doing - being a pastor.

4. Laughter - isn't it great to laugh and hear people really laughing?

5. Worship

My not so serious list ...

1. Good food - especially off the grill.

2. Fantasy baseball - it is one of my great outlets, especially the trash talking when I am winning.

3. In golf a drive that lands in the fairway - who am I kidding, any of my shots that go where they are supposed to go.

4. High school basketball - especially in Indiana.

5. The smell of coffee.

So what are you thankful for?

Is it experience, or age?

I guess it really doesn't matter whether it is my experience or my age (soon to be 51 if you must know) that causes me to view something differently, but I certainly see things from a different perspective now. I suppose it was seeing pictures of my oldest grandchild, Bee, as he headed off to this first day in the 3rd Grade!

What a good looking kid, excuse me young man, he is. He sure looks so much older than he did just a couple of months ago. I know that is a good thing as he matures, and especially since he is such a good kid. His mom and dad are doing a good job raising him. I say that without the least bit of bias. But I guess with my experience/age I also hope that he enjoys the ride of getting older.

It seems that for too long in most of our lives we are in such a hurry for the next phase of our lives that we don't enjoy the present stage as much as could. Wow, that sounded awfully philosophical for me. I suppose that even includes me. Am I enjoying where I am right now as much as I could? I want to.

So here's to Bee and his inspiration to his grandpa to enjoy where you are as you go. Don't stop growing and learning, but make sure you get all there is to get out of where you are at the moment. Because the next phase will be here soon enough.

Monday mornings are interesting moments for a pastor. There is the satisfaction of having gone through another Sunday. There is the fatigue of having gone through another Sunday. There is the frustration (sometimes this first in line) of having gone through another Sunday. There is the replay of everything that happened on Sunday. There is the evaluation of everything that happened on Sunday. There is the "what if" of what could have happened on Sunday, including all of your "regulars" (I can't decide if I like the in quotes things or not, so for today I will use it and see what happens) that were gone.

Monday mornings are often difficult times for Pastors but they are also times to reflect and enjoy what has been. This Monday morning was one of the good ones. Okay technically I writing this on Monday evening, and part of the reason it is a good one is because of somethings that happened later in the day. I had the thrill of meeting with two different people who are interested in being baptized and I got to hear their personal testimonies. What a thrill! I met with the mom of a youth who has recently begun attending and had some questions. This was my first meeting with this mom and what a blast to help someone who wasn't expecting it and is still trying to figure out why you would listen. Also, the reflection from this past Sunday was good, as we saw people seeking help and heard their cries as God met with them and saw the smiles afterward.

This was a good Monday. Thanks for reading. Here's hoping your next Monday, whenever your "Monday" is (I realize that for most of you your "Monday" may be on a different day depending on your circumstances), goes well.