A Healthy Diet for a New Year - Humble Pie

Pastoral Pondering

by Pastor Keith Larson

Southeastern Iowa Synod Bishop Burk just returned from a trip with several other ELCA Bishops to Palestine. Last winter over 40 bishops from the ELCA and Canada visited Palestine. These visits were in part, to show our solidarity with the Lutheran Church and other Christians in Palestine. Palestine, known officially as the West Bank is occupied and controlled illegally by Israel. Israel has erected 20-foot high cement walls around many parts of Palestine. Where there are not imposing walls, there are various barbed wire, sandbag and other barriers. Currently, to visit Bethlehem, a person must pass through one of 3 checkpoints guarded by well-armed Israeli soldiers. While this is not too problematic for tourists, it adds hours and days to travel times for local Palestinian residents of Bethlehem who wish to visit family and friends or do business outside of this walled town. It is choking their livelihoods and their very existence.

But in the heart of Bethlehem is a church built over the site that is the supposed birthplace of Jesus. While one could never prove that this is really the place, for over 1800 years it is believed to be the place, and it certainly must be close to the place. And where it actually happened really is not so terribly important. But to stand in that little underground chapel was an awesome, spirit-filled experience for me as it is for most who visit the place.

Bishop Burk reflected recently on the main door to the Church of the Nativity. The main entrance of this church, which receives thousands of visitors each year, is but a few feet high. Any adult must stoop quite low to enter. Bishop Burk reflected that:

“The entrance to that Bethlehem church requires a change in our physical posture. A humbling reminder of precisely what God does for us in Jesus Christ. Our God stoops down, bends low, and with a love that throws caution to the wind, pursues us. Reaches us. Embraces us,...so that together, we might do the same. So that we might in all humility stand for and with those whose lives are made better by our standing with one another”.

Bishop Burk went on to say that this posture of humility is a good one for all of us to maintain in the new year.

We live in a world with too little humility. Too many people are too sure and certain of too many things, feeling right and righteous, stifling meaningful conversation and discussion. It is only with humility that we can truly engage one another and work for solutions to the complex problems and difficulties in our world.

Yes, the door to the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem forces one into a posture of humility. But so does listening to the weather forecast. As I sit in my office on Tuesday morning, December 22, I realize I have very little control. It is frustrating. I so much want to celebrate Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with the people of Bethlehem and Saint Mark Lutheran. But if the roads are impassable, I cannot do anything about it.

The familiar prayer written by Lutheran pastor and theologian Reinhold Niebuhr is a wonderful prayer for all of us to start a new year and a new decade.

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.

The remainder of the prayer is not quite as familiar but every much as important:

Living one day at a time; Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as God did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that God will make all things right if I surrender to God’s Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with God Forever in the next. Amen. (paraphrased)

Communicating Electronically and In-the-Flesh

Pastoral Pondering

by Pastor Keith Larson

I just started the process of uploading Sunday's sermon to Bethlehem's website. It takes a few minutes, so I need to flip to another screen to work on other projects. In a few minutes, anyone in the world can go to Bethlehem's website and listen to Sunday's sermon. I do not know how many of you ever listen to sermons when you cannot be present, or go back and listen to something you missed – or have told a relative or friend about it. But there have been over 2500 persons who have visited our sermon site in 2 years.

This all is – on one hand – most incredible – and other the other hand – almost a little scary. So much information is available "on-line" these days. Sometimes I wonder why I should ever buy another book because with the click of a few keys I can learn almost anything on the internet. Technology is changing at such a fast pace, one barely can keep up with it. But we grandparents and great-grandparents find we have to be a little bit savvy just to stay in touch. A few years ago, it wasn't even a word, but today how many of us "Skype" with our grandkids?

Last month I signed up for a free service called "Google Voice." If you ever really need to get in touch with me in case of an emergency, you can call 563-447-0652. All of my phones will ring at once – the office phone (in the mornings), the parsonage phone, the Wildwood phone, and my cell phone. If I do not answer, you can leave a message, which will be on my cell phone whenever I am in cell range and it will also be transcribed as a email. (You still will not get in touch with me if I'm in the woods cutting logs, or fishing by the lake, etc.)

My cell phone is just a cell phone. My kids have sent me a few text messages and pictures on it. But many people have cell phone-like devices on which they have instant access to the internet and not only make phone calls but check their emails, catch up with Face Book friends, monitor bank accounts or buy and sell stock, bonds or commodities all by their cell phone. Back when I was a kid, there was a regular cartoon feature – Dick Tracy – a futuristic detective who wore a wristwatch by which he could communicate with others. Well that future is here.

A few weeks ago I was at the Lutheran Outdoor Ministry Conference on behalf of Ewalu and those of us congregations who own Ewalu. I attended a couple of workshops about how all of this technology ties in with camping. No parents just want to drop their kids off at camp on Sunday and be out of touch until Friday in today's world, so many camps are creating video and picture pages during the week so that parents can go on line and see their kids in action during the week. Advertising and marketing also must take advantage of not only the old-fashioned print ads, also be done effectively on the radio, television, internet, Facebook and Twitter,

And if camps need to be up to date technologically speaking, so do congregations. But it can be a daunting task. While I try to keep up a little bit, it is quite another thing to know how to effectively use all of this technology as tools. Again, it is the case where the larger camps, the larger churches will have an edge because they will have either a bigger pool of volunteers, or will have the resources to hire folks who know how to best utilize these tools. As a parish pastor, I simply do not have the time, nor the ability to become an expert in all things technological, related to communication, advertising and marketing.

Lest we become discouraged, we all have an incredible resource. We have the Gospel. Gospel means "good news". We have good news – the message that God loves us. As we move toward the manger at Christmas, we have news that God's love is born into our lives. Deep down this is what most people want and need to hear – that they are loved – by God and by us. That news is best shared in the same way God shared it with us – by becoming human and living with us. We share the Good News of God's love by telling those about us they are loved and inviting them into a deeper relationship with God – telling and inviting – in person, by phone or text message, on Facebook, or by "Twittering." What better time – than now – to invite that friend or neighbor to get to know God's love better by worshiping with you in Advent or Christmas, or dropping off a plate of cookies and actually meeting that neighbor you have not met.

Time Flies

Pastoral Pondering

    

I often recall and share the story of how as a teenager – before I could drive by myself – I would sometimes ride my bicycle down the road and visit my older neighbor Gus Gilbertson. Gus was the brother of my great-grandmother, the one I have told about, who was born on a ship from Norway, and whose parents' hometown and church we visited in Norway last spring. Gus was in his 90's when I visited. We would visit and play checkers. His wife Annie would fix some cookies and lemonade. When I thought about Gus and Annie's life in their old age, it seemed boring to me – a young teenager. I asked him if days went by quickly or slowly for him. He looked at me and he told me, "When I look back, my first forty years passed very quickly. But my next forty years flew by even faster, and after I passed 80, I just don't know where the time has gone."

 

Well, I thought Gus was an ancient old man then, but I realize that now I am closer to the age that he was then, than I am to that young teenager I was then. And you know what? Time is spinning by for me too. I cannot believe it is November. It took me weeks and months before I finally remembered to change 2008 to 2009. Why it was just yesterday those dates began with 19…, not 20…. And even 2009 will shortly give way to 2010. Wow!! And when we were back at Luther College for Homecoming, I realized that some of those college kids were closer in age to my oldest grandson than to my oldest son.

 

So time seems to pass very quickly for me. But perhaps it does for all of us. I know people who retire, tell me often, how much busier their lives seems to get once they retire. And young families seem to have to be even busier than we were back in the day, as their children's lives seem even busier today than ours were 25 years ago. And all those "labor-saving" devices and new technological advances don't always save as much time as we thought. How often do we "waste" time booting up a computer that seems to be possessed by demons on certain day?

 

This time of the year, we are forced to think about time. Astronomically and climatologically, we cannot help it. The days grow shorter and colder. Liturgically we pushed by the weekly lessons to consider time. The lessons push us to look to the end-times and the judgment that God promises. At the same time, the lessons ask us to reflect on our past, to repent – to turn around from a life of self-declared independence from God to a life of dependence on God. All the time scriptures call us to live in the here and now, serving one another with a spirit of love, justice and peace, even as Jesus lived among us and served others.

 

Time passes quickly when you are having fun, says the old cliché. And sometimes it passes quickly in times of stress and trouble. Yet, regardless, time always passes quickly. It rushes by "like an ever-rolling stream," says the great hymn by Isaac Watts.

 

Our challenge as bothers and sisters of Christ is to use our gift of time, like all good gifts from God, in ways that honor and praise God and serve the good of all humanity. This means finding ways of living in healthy rhythms of work and rest, play and reflection, prayer and service. It means sharing the gift of time with those around us in life-giving ways. How blessed our lives would be if everyone would make it a priority to spend an hour a week in corporate worship and another hour or two in personal prayer, devotions or Bible reading each week and another hour or two or more in service through the church each week.

 

During November, you will each be asked to consider how you might share your time and talents through the congregation. In the next few weeks, some of you will get invitations to consider sharing your time in leadership positions on Council and Mission Endowment Committee. We all feel like I have felt lately – that time seems to be getting away from us. But prayerfully consider how to use this gift of time wisely and prudently – what things are really necessary and what are not. What activities will bless others as much as they will bless you? What activities will really bring joy or enrichment to others and therefore make you even more enriched?

 

May God richly bless all of your days – and hours!

What's A Good Meal Worth?

Pastoral Pondering

Sunday I went to EWALU for a quilt auction. I have done many things at EWALU in 45 years but I have never been to a quilt auction. Taking my turn on the Board of Directors, I figured I should probably go to a quilt auction. I have always led worship until 11:30 or later. I always had an excuse. Glad to have Barb and Matt to help out this year.

Many of you know that I like auctions. However there are two kinds of auctions – there are the farm sale/ estate auctions where I go and see how much I can get for as little money as possible. I do all right. Some of you know Ginger does much better. Then there are charity auctions. That takes a completely different mindset. There you see how much money you can donate to a good cause and still have some fun and maybe end up with something that might be a little useful. I guess I do alright there. I really like my purple cap that says Lost Nation, Iowa on it. I paid $75.00 for it. (Oh did I say it came with $80.00 cash in it – and no I did not donate the cash back to the Scoop. I bought lots of other "stuff" of lesser value and have spent enough at 7 Scoop auctions to pay for over 20 subscriptions. It would be much cheaper to stay home and buy a subscription – even though it comes free. But then where is the fun in that?)

So I was at the quilt auction. That wasn't so much fun. I do not feel qualified buying quilts – maybe one for me – but not for others. There were some quilts that I thought looked nice and no one bid much. Others quilts were so – so, in my opinion and everyone would gasp and ooh and aah, and they would sell for $800 or $1400.

Well I would have been okay if there were had just been quilts on auction – but I got taken in by a gourmet meal for 10 offered by Assistant Director Paul Little and his wife Director of Food Service Megan Little. I honestly just was bidding because I sensed the group who bought it last year was out to get it again – and they were. And I kept going and finally dropped out and let them get the meal at quite a hefty price. Good for EWALU! But then the auctioneer looked right at me and said, "The donors will provide a second meal, if you will pay the same price." What's the Board President to do at that point? There was a moment of silence and then, "Sure," I said, "why not!" Gulp! Call Ginger soon. Confess to her how much money I spent. Figure out what to cut out for the next 6 months to pay for this binge.

Well when I got home that night, I was a bit stuffed up. Blamed it on being outdoors in the woods all afternoon Sunday. Then by Sunday night, I was really stuffed up. Tuesday I coughed a lot so Wednesday morning I was really hoarse. Now I think I am on the downhill side. Maybe it was allergy related – maybe it was just my annual fall cold. It is really disgusting. I hate it when I do not feel well – even with just a cold. I feel I need to curtail visits, especially to hospitals and care centers when I am coughing and sniffling. Things go slower. I get tired more easily. So I don't like to be sick – even with a cold. I know I should be grateful that I am ill so little. When I am sick – things seem out of my control. I can't simply will myself better. I would rather go to an auction. Things are more under my control there – but maybe some would argue that!

Usually when I start rambling on like this, a great theological connection begins percolating. But no great insights into God's grace seem to be evolving from my reflections on auctions and a common cold. However, I am reminded of Jesus' stories of the man who discovered a buried treasure in a field and spent his entire savings to buy the field, and another man who spent all he had to buy a fascinating pearl of great value. While EWALU is not the kingdom of God, it is certainly a place where God's kingdom has been visible for me. It is worth my auction binge and even an allergy-related cold.

P.S. For those who were concerned about my safety or the safety of others when I drove to EWALU, I was reasonable in my driving. I believe I did set a record for myself – but it was notbecause of excessive speed. I figure on most open highways, law enforcement will allow me 5 or 6 miles over the limit, or maybe even 7 or so. But more than speed, I have to say I was intense – never dawdling. So I made it in plenty of time to meet and have a few words with Leo Greco, someone I have heard on the radio since I was very little boy.

Reflections on ELCA Decisions

Pastoral Pondering

by Pastor Keith Larson

I once again spent several days as a visitor at our ELCA Churchwide Assembly. A pastoral colleague said to me, "You are like an Assembly 'groupie,' aren't you?" I affirmed she was right in her observation. I have been present at many of Assemblies over the years. I value these events somewhat like many of you value Sunday mornings. Bethlehem or St. Mark is your home – you are comfortable there – you know folks there. You come to see them as much as you come for Word and Sacrament. Bethlehem and St. Mark are home for me too. But the ELCA is home, too. I am a pastor of these congregations of Bethlehem and St. Mark. But, I am also a pastor of the ELCA. The ELCA is my home. These gatherings of every two years give a chance to connect and reconnect with people I know and meet folks I do not know. I have had the privilege of connecting with Lutherans around the world and in many capacities in our ELCA so attending an Assembly or other churchwide events is 'coming home'.

This Assembly took historic steps. How that history plays out remains to be seen. Some would have us believe we marked the beginning of the end of the ELCA – that the steps we took were so contrary to God's will we have no future – or the future will be full of division and separation. Others believe we now stand at the door of a new brighter church, more open to the gifts of all, regardless of sexual orientation. Some saw God's Spirit blowing through the Assembly, filling our church with new life. One radio station saw the small tornado that hit the Assembly Hall while we met as a sign of God's judgment on us. But sometimes it takes a while to see how God will work.

I could not help but recall that almost 40 years ago at similar conventions (no I was not at that one) a very controversial radical move was made when the predecessor churches voted to allow for the ordination of women. It passed by 57% vote – hardly an overwhelming majority. People have said that allowing gay and lesbian persons in partnered relationship to be pastors is a very different issue. However, most of the arguments 40 years ago were similar to the arguments we heard at this Assembly. "The Bible speaks clearly against this. It is against God's will." Some people believed then, that the end of the Lutheran church was near. However, that did not occur. Most (but certainly not all) would point how our church has been blessed these last 40 years by the inclusion of women as pastors. Now we have voted by 55% to allow for the possibility of ordination (and "rostering") of partnered gay and lesbian persons. Only time will tell whether God will look kindly on our actions, or whether we will see we did indeed cross the line of impropriety.

I fully agree with another observer at the Assembly from the Quad-Cities who was quoted in the Times and said, "I am confident of two things: One, if you are in a congregation that does not see the need to change your practices in response to these votes, no one will force you to do so. Number two, if you are in a congregation that sees aligning with these changes as an opportunity to grow your ministry, no one will prohibit you from doing so."

As someone who has attended at least parts of many of these Assemblies, I can say that this recent decision has certainly come from the grassroots rather than from the top down. Over the years, decisions made or votes taken have brought our church closer to last week's decision. I was certain that it was just a matter of time, and was not sure whether this year would be the time or not. No one can predict the outcome of these Assemblies, for anyone of the over 1000 voting members can take the floor and say anything or propose most anything "germane" to the business at hand. The fact that this Assembly had proposals presented to them is a result of someone rising two years ago and moving that a committee provide the 2009 Assembly with proposals to vote yes or no on. I commend Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson for his fair, even-handed, helpful pastoral way he presided over the week's proceedings that were contentious and spirited.

Some have already talked to me about your thoughts and concerns on these matters. I am willing to visit with anyone and will respect your opinions and feelings, whatever they are.

Dealing With the “Uncomfortables”

Last month, at the urging of my physician, I had a colonoscopy. I think the medical community encourages us to have the first one when we are 50. I was only 8 years late. I put off things that are uncomfortable. Actually, the procedure itself is not so uncomfortable. I have had enough church members over the years who had told me that. It is the day ahead of time and drinking the "stuff" that cleans one's insides out. And now, a month later I can say that even that wasn't so bad. No I am not rushing out to sign up to do it again either. Something deep in my subconscious must remember the gallon of "chalk water." But everything checked out so the doc said I do not need to do it again for another 5 years (or may 6 or 7 or 8 yeas if my subconscious still remembers).

That is the way things are in life – the best things sometimes come after discomfort, and even pain and grief. Indeed as Christians, we say the best comes after death. And sometimes we even forget the pain and discomfort. I never gave birth to a baby, nor carried one within me. But I watched my wife do it three times. I think there is a reason why God gave that task to women. It did not seem easy. But most moms soon forget – at least in a way – the pain of that experience once they hold that little bundle of life in their bosoms.

On a whole different level than either medical tests or childbirth, I found myself in an uncomfortable spot. Whenever I am in such a spot, I ask why I submit myself to it. I was sitting in a jet on a transoceanic flight from Chicago to Stockholm and then 10 days later I was on the return flight from Copenhagen to Chicago. Here I am locked inside a long aluminum tube with several hundred strangers. We each are allotted about as much space as the interior of a coffin but in a seated position. The inside of a coffin looks a lot more comfortable although I don't think they are – but inside a coffin the nerve endings in one's bottom side no longer function, nor do one's muscles cry out to be moved and flexed. Being on such a flight that can last 7 to 12 hours, one has other bodily functions that need to be exercised as well. So that means waiting in line in crowed aisles sucking up air, trying to be as thin as a toothpick so the flight attendants can get past with their carts, waiting to get into a toilet no bigger than a phone booth (anyone remember phone booths?) Well every time I am on a transcontinental flight, I ask myself, why I do this. But then I ask myself how else I how else I would get to where I am going. The experiences of the trips have always been a joy and when I get the chance I am ready to go again.

On the way home from Norway in May I had some different thoughts. Yes, I thought that I was uncomfortable – that long flights are a terrible thing to put one's body through. But I thought that the whole ordeal was pretty painless after whet my ancestors went through to get to the United States. My great-grandmother's parents left Norway as expectant newlyweds and spent over three months getting there by boat and my great-grandmother was born on the little ship. Two other babies were also born on the ship and were buried at sea. Another great-grandmother's great-grandparents left Norway for a similarly long trip with 4 little children under 9 year's old – including a 2-year old and an infant. And we wonder how to keep kids occupied for an hour in worship.

Most of our ancestors went through similar ordeals coming to this country – at least those of us who are white-skinned. The ordeals of those who came from Africa were much more horrific and were not voluntary. But would our ancestors have thought it was worth it? I am sure most were glad for the opportunities here and for the new life that they began.

So it is in all of life. New life, new opportunities come primarily after struggle, pain grief, and death. Our Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is and will be going through a struggle as we grapple, along with other Christians, with complex issues of how we live as sexual beings in life and ministry. It is not easy to deal with these topics. In many ways, it would be easier if we never got on that plane or boat. But if we do not get on, we will not know what is on the other side. And we trust that God goes with us and God will lead us to a new life on the other side – even though we do not a have a clue what it will be like.

Of Norwegian Maps and the Bible

We had an awesome trip to Norway in May. A highlight had to be visiting in the towns, churches, farms and homes of our ancestors. Were in the churches and cemeteries of half a dozen ancestors and were actually on the farms of 3 ancestors, including the home where one of Ginger's ancestors lived 150 years ago. All of this coupled with the majestic splendor of the scenery made it an unforgettable trip.

We had to decide how we would get around in southern Norway – whether to use the train and bus system which is really very well-developed – even in rural areas, or to rent a car. After spending a lot of time on the internet before we left, I decided it would be easier for me to navigate by car than trying to figure out how to understand and navigate the public transportation system. (We did pretty much park the car on the edge of Oslo and use buses and trains in that city – even I know my limits.) To say that it would be easier to navigate by car than by train or bus, does not mean that it was easy. It was a challenge. At least folks drove on the same side of the road we do. But the
signs were all different, the rules are different, and they have traffic circles.

Now traffic circles are exciting experiences. No one stops. Drivers yielded – I hoped. Once in the circle you have the right away – supposedly. And these circles are coming to a place near you. There is already a small one on Middle Road in Bettendorf, and a major one is being constructed at this time at the intersection of Iowa Highways 3 an 187 (known locally as Maryville Corner, or Starmont School corner). I actually have grown fond of traffic circles, but they are confusing on Google directions. I had "googled" some directions, but Google directions in relationship to traffic circles were confusing at best and in some cases were just wrong, I think.

In the end, my most trustworthy guides were the road map of Norway I bought at a bookstore before I left – and my patient wife. After 10 days of driving around Norway my road map is well worn, but was well worth the few dollars I paid for it. Give me a road map with highway numbers and mark the highways somewhat reasonably, and I can get around without more than a few "oops! We had better turn around and try that road." The only thing about road maps is that roads are sometimes narrower, curvier, and steeper than they actually appear on the map – especially in Norway and some parts or northeast Iowa (we realized why our ancestors settled where they did in Clayton and Winneshiek counties).

So that trusty map helped us cover 2000 kilometers of southern Norway, through dozens and dozens of tunnels (one was 12 miles long), around hairpin curves, up dirt roads on the sides of mountains, across frozen barren tundra, across fjords on ferries, through breath-taking vistas and challenging terrain and around and about hundreds of traffic circles – sometimes two or three or more times each.

Many have made the connection between roadmaps and Bibles. I can see why. Just as the road map cannot possibly show the breathtaking beauty, the challenging traffic flows or the incredible people that make up a journey, neither does the Bible show specifically every joy and every challenge of life. But both the roadmap and the Bible provide the basic routes for travel and navigation. When using both roadmaps and the Bible there are still lots of choices to make – some better and some – in the end – worse. But they both help you see where you are going and give basic directions.

Lutherans Christians as much as any are people of the Word. Our church has embarked on a "Book of Faith" journey where all are encouraged to red and study the people more frequently. Watch for many opportunities to study this "roadmap for life's journeys" this fall in our congregations.

It's A Small Small World After All

Pastoral Pondering
by Pastor Keith Larson

We attended the President’s dinner at Wartburg Seminary last Sunday night. An international student led the table prayer. Toromare Mananato is a student at Wartburg from Madagascar. I visited with her afterwards. Her hometown is southern Madagascar where we lived. I mentioned I had just missed a reunion of missionaries in St. Paul last week. She started naming missionaries who had taught her in bible school in the years past. She mentioned one couple quite fondly. They were the parents of some of my students. I just connected with one of them this last week. She currently lives in Norway. I told Toromare I had just exchanged notes with their oldest daughter, and Toromare said, “Oh Marta! When I was married, I wore her wedding dress.”

Earlier at the same dinner, we were sitting next to a couple from Ohio. He was a recently retired pastor. We were talking about places we had been and I said I had been pastor in Pontiac, Illinois and he said his bother had been pastor in Pontiac too. Ginger and I looked at his name tag, and together we said, “Oh, you are Gabe’s brother.” Gabe was pastor in the neighboring church who drove out into the country to visit me on my first day in my office as a new pastor. He “took me under wing” as a new young pastor, became my pastor and later I literally became his pastor when he resigned at his congregation and joined our congregation. As I spent days this week sharing with other intern supervisors recalling ministry experiences, I was glad to have had a chance earlier to fondly remember Gabe.

I constantly am amazed at how small the world is. Wherever I go, I run into people who know people who I know. It reminds me even more that when we were baptized, we were baptized into a family significantly larger than the family of our birth, significantly larger than even our congregational family. I have been blessed with the chance to live in many places and have had opportunity to develop deep connections with many people as pastor, teacher, co-worker and fellow community member. But it is the same for each of us. In baptism, we become intimately connected with new brothers and sisters throughout the world. Even if we do not know them personally, we become yoked with them in their joys and sorrows, in their hopes and in their dreams. That is why story elsewhere in The Star, about the Lutheran woman in prison in Iran is significant. We may not know her personally, but somehow, just knowing she is a graduate of one of our Lutheran colleges, she becomes much more like us and our children and grandchildren.

It is indeed a joy and a privilege when the term “brothers and sisters in Christ” means indeed what is says and we can count a world full of people as our brothers and sisters.

About My Truck and Resurrection

Pastoral Pondering
by Pastor Keith Larson

Many have asked about my old truck. When all was said and done, and after I looked at dozens of cars and trucks (in the papers, on line and actually “in the paint”), kicked some tires and drove a few, I had a long conversation with the dealer/ mechanic from whom I originally bought my pick-up. I decided to let him have a chance at fixing up the old Chevy. It needed “major surgery,” but I am once again driving it. When I drove into the lot of the mechanic and saw it sitting there ready to go, it was almost like seeing an old friend again.

The promise of resurrection and new life that is message of Easter is something more significant and of infinite more importance than a “resurrection” of an old truck. But for me, the situation of being without reliable transportation was a terrible feeling, a feeling of helplessness and inadequacy. So to drive my truck again is to have a new lease on life. In the same way, the hope, the renewal that comes from being outdoors on a warm spring day, to see the robins, to clip the new pussy willows, all give us hope for the future after a cold hard winter. All these are little tastes and glimpses of the new Easter life God promises daily.

Thanks to Pauline, Dennis and Joan for loaning me their cars, to Elmer and Evelyn for offering theirs and for shuttling me about, and to all who were patient when I had to postpone or cancel visits when I was without wheels.

About Face Book and Human Relationships

Pastoral Pondering
by Pastor Keith Larson

I took a bold and somewhat frightening step a few weeks ago and set up a Face Book page for myself. For those who are not familiar, Face Book is touted as a social networking tool on the internet. I began only a few years ago as a way for college and high school students to stay connected and become connected with each other. It has mushroomed in popularity and usage. People who work with high school and college students say that it is an important way to stay connected with this age group since they do not e-mail anymore. Apparently a few other “adults” have taken the plunge because I have “seen” lots of you – although the crowd still tends to be younger adults. One of my own sons was a little disgusted with me, saying, “all of you old folks will ruin it for the rest of us.”

So far, my time on Face Book has been helpful as well as interesting. I know I will be able to connect with people in a completely new way. This will never replace, I hope, good old-fashioned face-to-face, sit down and talk to one another in the flesh conversations. However, I will learn more about many of you in ways I cannot otherwise, just in passing on Sunday mornings, or even by sitting in your living room for 45 minutes.

I have decided to set some guidelines and rules for myself. A whole lot of time can be gobbled up real fast if I don’t maintain a lot of discipline for myself. I will agree to be a “friend” to any member who asks, but I will try not to request of you to be a “friend” in case you do not wish to be. I will not use Face Book to play games with others and do not accept Easter eggs, fuzzy bears, or other such things, or join Face Book “causes” as a rule. It will usually be better to contact me personally or by e-mail that is more private if there is something you want to be sure that I know, as I cannot daily check Face Book and even when I do I have learned to is easy to miss some things. It is also very easy to hit a wrong button that quickly changes a message from very personal to very public.

As I said earlier, Face Book, My Space and other internet networks are probably around for a long time in some shape or form. Please use them to supplement and enrich your relationships with one another. But in the end, nothing is better than one-on-one face-to-face human conversation and interaction. It is part of sharing God’s love in the flesh to lend a listening ear, to share a word of congratulations or sympathy, or a to offer hug of appreciation or encouragement.

Our Daily Bread - A Midweek Lenten Sermon

The following are lessons and a sermon preached by the Rev. Keith Larson at a midweek Lenten worship and learning event at Bethlehem Lutheran Church on March 18, 2009. This was the third in a series on “The Lord’s Prayer.”

Matthew 5:45b

… for God makes the sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous.

Luke 12:22-34

He said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? If then you are not able to do so small a thing as that, why do you worry about the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! And do not keep striving for what you are to eat and what you are to drink, and do not keep worrying. For it is the nations of the world that strive after all these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, strive for his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. “Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

John 6:8-13

One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to him, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are they among so many people?” Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.” Now there was a great deal of grass in the place; so they sat down, about five thousand in all. Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted. When they were satisfied, he told his disciples, “Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost.” So they gathered them up, and from the fragments of the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten, they filled twelve baskets.

Grace to you and peace from God our creator and our Lord and savior, Jesus Christ,

Give us today our daily bread.

We have prayed this prayer thousands of times. It rolls off our lips without so much of a thought. Oh, if we think about it very long, we have to say “thank you God” for God has not only provided us with bread today, but cookies, cake, a home, with at least one television and may two or three or more, and a car and maybe a truck and on and on, and probably a savings account and a retirement plan and some insurance policies. And even though the times are troublesome and worrisome, we can all look at what we have – our daily bread – and we can say “God has been good – Very good!

But like I said, we pray those words with hardly a thought. But let us look at the words mare carefully. Give us this day – give us today our daily bread. Give us today what we need today.

There is no story that better illustrates this than a story from Exodus. You remember God’s people were slaves in Egypt. Life was hard and difficult. They were the slaves who built the great Egyptian cities and pyramids. When they thrived and survived in spite of being worked almost to death, the Pharaoh instigated a genocide – calling for the killing of the all the little Hebrew baby boys. We know how Moses’ mother saved in a basket she put in the water, how Moses grew up, and by God’s hand led the people from Egypt. They crossed the sea and started into the wilderness towards freedom, and they were so happy and so thankful, right? Not!



Listen to the story.

(Exodus16:1) The whole congregation of the Israelites set out from Elim; and Israel came to the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had departed from the land of Egypt. (2) The whole congregation of the Israelites complained against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. (3) The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the fleshpots and ate our fill of bread; for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.”



(4) Then the LORD said to Moses, “I am going to rain bread from heaven for you, and each day the people shall go out and gather enough for that day. In that way I will test them, whether they will follow my instruction or not. (5) On the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather on other days.” (6) So Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites, “In the evening you shall know that it was the LORD who brought you out of the land of Egypt, (7) and in the morning you shall see the glory of the LORD, because he has heard your complaining against the LORD. For what are we, that you complain against us?” (8) And Moses said, “When the LORD gives you meat to eat in the evening and your fill of bread in the morning, because the LORD has heard the complaining that you utter against him—what are we? Your complaining is not against us but against the LORD.”

(9) Then Moses said to Aaron, “Say to the whole congregation of the Israelites, ‘Draw near to the LORD, for he has heard your complaining.’” (10) And as Aaron spoke to the whole congregation of the Israelites, they looked toward the wilderness, and the glory of the LORD appeared in the cloud. (11) The LORD spoke to Moses and said, (12) “I have heard the complaining of the Israelites; say to them, ‘At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall have your fill of bread; then you shall know that I am the LORD your God.’”

(13) In the evening quails came up and covered the camp; and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. (14) When the layer of dew lifted, there on the surface of the wilderness was a fine flaky substance, as fine as frost on the ground. (15) When the Israelites saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. Moses said to them, “It is the bread that the LORD has given you to eat. (16) This is what the LORD has commanded: ‘Gather as much of it as each of you needs, an omer to a person according to the number of persons, all providing for those in their own tents.’” (17) The Israelites did so, some gathering more, some less. (18) But when they measured it with an omer, those who gathered much had nothing over, and those who gathered little had no shortage; they gathered as much as each of them needed. (19) And Moses said to them, “Let no one leave any of it over until morning.” (20) But they did not listen to Moses; some left part of it until morning, and it bred worms and became foul. And Moses was angry with them. (21) Morning by morning they gathered it, as much as each needed; but when the sun grew hot, it melted.

(22) On the sixth day they gathered twice as much food, two omers apiece. When all the leaders of the congregation came and told Moses, (23) he said to them, “This is what the LORD has commanded: ‘Tomorrow is a day of solemn rest, a holy sabbath to the LORD; bake what you want to bake and boil what you want to boil, and all that is left over put aside to be kept until morning.’” (24) So they put it aside until morning, as Moses commanded them; and it did not become foul, and there were no worms in it. (25) Moses said, “Eat it today, for today is a sabbath to the LORD; today you will not find it in the field. (26) Six days you shall gather it; but on the seventh day, which is a sabbath, there will be none.”

(27) On the seventh day some of the people went out to gather, and they found none. (28) The LORD said to Moses, “How long will you refuse to keep my commandments and instructions? (29) See! The LORD has given you the sabbath, therefore on the sixth day he gives you food for two days; each of you stay where you are; do not leave your place on the seventh day.” (30) So the people rested on the seventh day.



(31) The house of Israel called it manna; it was like coriander seed, white, and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey. (32) Moses said, “This is what the LORD has commanded: ‘Let an omer of it be kept throughout your generations, in order that they may see the food with which I fed you in the wilderness, when I brought you out of the land of Egypt.’” (33) And Moses said to Aaron, “Take a jar, and put an omer of manna in it, and place it before the LORD, to be kept throughout your generations.” (34) As the LORD commanded Moses, so Aaron placed it before the covenant, for safekeeping. (35) The Israelites ate manna forty years, until they came to a habitable land; they ate manna, until they came to the border of the land of Canaan.



From the beginnings of the story of God and God’s people, God’s people – our forebears and we have often lacked trust in God’s promise to care us each and every day. The people who had been enslaved under cruel taskmasters soon forgot their hard days of slavery and oppression and complained about life as free people. One of my most memorable experiences as a teacher was as a grade school teacher where we had daily bible classes. We had been working our way through the story of the Exodus, the story of the Hebrew people leaving Egypt and traveling through the wilderness. For about the 5th time we read how they complained to God and Moses about something. A 9 year-old boy rose up out of his chair and pounded his hand on the table and said, “Those stupid Israelites. After everything God did for them, and they keep complaining. God should just smash them.” “Michel, Michel, Michel,” I said (he was part French), “You are right. God should have been angry. But this is more than a story of people long ago. It is our story. And getting mad and punishing is not God’s way”.

Instead God provided food for them – daily bread – something that appeared on the ground each morning and they asked “what is it?” or Manna? in their language. So they had manna each morning and game birds each evening. Just enough for the day. If they took too more manna than they needed, it spoiled and turned nasty for them.



And so it is for us. God promises to provide for us what we need each day. And has God not done that for you? Have you ever been in want? Have you ever gone more than a day without food? I know some lived through the depression or have heard stories of the depression. Things were not good. But I have heard more stories of wonder and awe at God providence from those days. “Time were tough, I’ve heard many say, “but we always had something to eat”. I have heard stories of grad students form the 50’s living on macaroni for 3 years. I have been with families who have gone bankrupt, families whose main income earner has lost a job. And in all those cases people have told me, that somehow God provided.

And today we face some of the most dire financial times that many remember. And we become frightful and fearful. I am not immune to some of those fears. I hate to open those quarterly statements about my retirement account. It nags a bit in the back of my mind that my wife’s job ends in three months. I fret more about my kids and their jobs. One son works in a zoning office, of all places, in a county where construction has dried up in the past months.

But at the same time I have to ask myself, “Keith why would you doubt God’s goodness, God’s promises?” Why would we doubt? Why would we question or wonder that God might quit providing for what we need in our life, in our family’s life, in our congregation’s life next week, or next month or before the year is over. Bethlehem has been here in Lost Nation for 128 years and St. Mark has been in Oxford Junction for 148 years. And God has always provided what we have needed. Oh, there have been some lean years – to be sure. But we are still here. And we are not in too bad of shape – as far as our physical structures, our programs for ministry and our service to the community and world. In fact, when I look around and hear stories from our neighbors in our community, in our synod – we are thriving!

How has that been possible? God has provided. God has continued to raise up generous givers. And how could that be? In each of our congregations, no matter what has happened – in the Great Depression, during two world wars, in the farm crisis of the 80’s , after September 11, God has always provided. Oh I am sure there are plenty of times when the treasurers over the years may have wondered how he or she would write checks next week. But we have never had to close our doors.

Do you think God will quit providing what we need next week or next month?

We pray “give us today our daily bread,” as we have prayed it for years. But today we pray it in the midst of times of financial uncertainty. We pray it before we have to decide whether we should provide an opportunity for a seminary student to finish one of his or her requirements needed to become a pastor. We pray it before we decide at Bethlehem about the importance of a church basement fix-it at St. Mark before we need to make individual decisions about supporting our camp. And we have to ask as we pray, if we think God will quit providing what we need and what our Church needs.



I have to take a deep breath and gulp a bit before I continue, because I do not like the implications of what I need to say, next. This story about manna, Jesus’ sayings about the birds of the air and flowers of the field, and many other parts of scripture ought to raise for us serious questions about savings accounts and insurance policies. Now I will never say those things are bad. They are part of being financially responsible in our culture, in our world. I have them. But if we really trust that God will provide what we need each day, where is the point at which we stop fretting and fearing every potential calamity or misfortune? Where do we say, enough is enough. God will have to provide, because right now there are neighbors with needs, there is the people of God seeking to serve others through the greater church that is in need.

Each one of us will have different answers to those questions. And each time we pray the words, “give us today our daily bread,” we ought to reconsider again answers to those questions. For each one of us, the answers to those questions are related to how we have seen God at work in our lives, and how we have been shaped by experiences with money, and the attitudes about money we have learned from those before us. (I have placed on the table in the back, some questions that some of you may wish to consider in the weeks ahead and in the process develop a little money autobiography.)

And while we may come to some conclusions, as a matter of faith, others come to different conclusions because their faith has been shaped in different ways. Therefore, the big challenge for us in congregations is to come to corporate decisions when we all have differing levels and experiences of faith. May God give us all openness to one another and to God in the days ahead as we prayerfully consider these matters.

Give us today our daily bread. They may be so familiar that they just roll off our lips. But those 6 little words challenge us in just about every decision we make each day.

Let us pray. O God, when we pray, “Give us today our daily bread,” help us see your gracious abundant love and the needs of those around us, and give us the faith you live in the promises of your care. Amen.

Lenten Reflections on My Old Truck

Pastoral Pondering
by Pastor Keith Larson

I had a fun little “last trip” in my little red pick-up. Camp Ewalu has a horse program and owns a couple of horses that need to be fed over the winter. Being a good board member, I found some hay for sale and picked up 11 bales near 0tter Creek. I delivered them to Ewalu and continued on to Elgin. We had a gathering of my brother and sisters and two of our spouses at my parents’ home. It was the first time we had all been there in quite some time. We had a fund day catching up on each other’s lives, and families, reminiscing and celebrating my sister and mother’s birthdays.

The trouble started on the way home. The temperature in my truck started to get colder, the temperature gauge started up, and I was about ready to turn around and head back to the last little town when all of a sudden the gauge started down and the temperature inside got warmer. Fluctuations up and down continued on the way home. I made it to OJ on Sunday morning, went to a Food Pantry board meeting in Elwood on Monday and by the time I got to the mechanic, my exhaust was blue. The mechanic said there was no hope without expensive surgery, or perhaps an engine transplant (head gasket replacement or cracked head). By the time I got back to my garage, a huge blue cloud followed me.

Some people grow attached to pets; some grow attached to clothes; some grow attached to furniture or other possessions. I get attached to my vehicles. My vehicle is an extension of me. I was proud of what I could haul in my pick-up and where I could go with it. A year ago, when the four-wheel drive wasn’t working, I felt helpless. Hauling hay bales on that last trip connected with farming in my roots.

Now I have to look for a different vehicle. It throws my schedule way off kilter, taking time to do that when I already had lots to do. But looking for a different vehicle is also a time to take stock of my life situation. What do I need? What are my resources? What don’t I need to do any longer? What can I do better? What could I do more of?

In a more spiritual, soul-searching way, this is also the task of lent. Lent is when we take stock of our lives. What is going well? What needs improving? What are our resources? What liabilities do we carry? What changes can we make to improve our relationship with God, with others, with our environment?

Tools to help us in this Lenten task include worship and gathering regularly with other Christians during Lent. Be sure to see the schedule for worship in the church newsletter.

Inaugaration Thoughts on Christian Hope

Pastoral Pondering
by Pastor Keith Larson

I watched the inauguration of President Obama today. I have watched inaugurations with fascination for many years. I have a bit of politics in my blood, it seems. I was not very old when John Kennedy was inaugurated. But that inauguration, like the one today, seemed to capture the imagination, wonder and awe of millions of Americans and people around the world. The day of inauguration, then and today, seemed instill hope for new beginnings and a better world for many people – even across partisan lines. For so many of us who grew up in a nation and world divided by racial barriers, tensions and unrest, it is indeed heartening to see some of that begin to crumble.

I too am hopeful about the future. That is more of a faith statement than a political statement. There are too many wars in our world. There is too much poverty – too many children going to bed hungry – too many children and adults dying because of the lack of food or appropriate medical care. There are too many people out of work. Too many people are fearful of the future. I am not so naïve as to believe that one man – even though he is President of the United States of America – can completely fix all that is wrong in the world. I am not so naïve as to believe that we have completely broken down the racial barriers that divide. For much racial prejudice and bias still needs to be overcome, even as there are gender and cultural biases to overcome.

But I am hopeful because I am a Christian. As Christians we believe that God is ultimately in charge – that God is working relentlessly against the forces of evil that cause hatred, division, violence, greed, and all that works against God’s intentions for a peaceful just world where all enjoy a life of health and fullness. And we believe that in the end, the power of God will over-come. However, I am also hopeful as more and more people work on God’s side to bring about wholeness and healing in our world. I am proud of our congregations when we financially support causes that improve the lives of others. I am grateful for all in our congregations who serve on boards or committees or work in groups to bring positive change in our neighborhoods, community and world – providing adequate food resources, educational opportunities, health care and even warm quilts for those in need.

The needs of the world are great and complex. A new President may be able to influence some important changes. But the biggest changes happen when hundreds, thousands, millions of individuals clamor for change and do whatever they can in their power to bring about change. And that begins with me and you. May we not tire or waver from doing our parts to care for one another around us.

On inauguration day, I was also fascinated by the pageantry, the pomp and circumstance. Certainly, a President could be “sworn in” with less fanfare, in simpler, less expensive fashion. The President would be no less a President. But it is also is important from time to time for all of us to be reminded of the grander, bigger picture – and of our connection to the past and to the future. That is the function of rites and rituals, pomp and circumstance.

In the same way when we receive the bread and wine, the body and blood or Holy Communion, in some way it matters not whether the wine is in a beautiful expensive cup or in a plastic mug. It is still what God says it is. We would still receive God’s grace and forgiveness. But the familiar words that have been recited for 2000 years, the cup that was used by our parents and grandparents, all these remind us, necessarily that we are connected to something much bigger, much grander than anything routine.

At this time of another new beginning in our nation’s history, may we all commit ourselves to praying for our President and for all leaders of government in our land and in the world. Also may we commit ourselves, as God’s people, to do our part to make the world a better, safer place for all.

On Making and Keeping New Year's Resolutions - Not!

Pastoral Pondering
by Pastor Keith Larson

Every year at this time people ask about New Year’s resolutions. “What are going to be your New Year’s resolutions?”

Well some years back I made a resolution that I have always kept since. That was to make no more New Year’s resolutions. That does not mean I have quit making goals or given up on trying to improve myself. I have a long list of things to improve or change. I want to keep trying to get more and consistent exercise and to lose more weight (I am proud that I have reduced my pant waist size from 46 to 42 in a couple of years). I always want to get out and visit more often (you can help with that by inviting me for coffee sometime – but no cookies – see above). The list could go on and on for some pages.

The beginning of a new year is probably one good time to set some new goals. Another time when we can take stock of where we have been and where we want to go is on our birthdays. Married couples can do this on the anniversary of their marriage. For me the anniversary of the beginning of our ministry together is December 1 so it coincides with the beginning of the calendar year – sort of.

The reality for Christians is that each week, each day is an opportunity to start new, start fresh. That is what we mean by the forgiveness of sins. We can begin each day fresh with a clean slate. God’s forgiveness erases away yesterday’s failures and shortcomings. Every time we as a congregation say together, “We confess that we are captive to sin … forgive us, renew us, and lead us,” we are saying we want to make some changes. Every time we hear the words, “your sins are forgiven,” or “I declare to you the entire forgiveness of your sins,” it is a new start for us. In Christian faith, each day is literally, as the old adage says, the first day of the rest of your life.

So if you choose to make the beginning of the new year as a time to take stock and resolve to make changes that is okay and fine. If you choose other times or numerous times during the year that is good too. Whenever you take stock and make resolutions consider your spiritual disciples – are you satisfied with your involvement in the Christian community? Are you satisfied with your prayer and devotional life? Are you doing what you are able in terms of service to God, family, neighbor, the world and creation?

God’s richest blessings to you at the beginning of a new year.