It’s April on the western Minnesota prairie. This means one day it’s 81 degrees and for the next week we have blowing snow, 40 mile per hour winds with nighttime temperatures in the low teens. In Minnesota, we only need to be patient; things will change on short order. Yesterday the temperature started to rise with scattered sunshine.
The scattered sunshine seems to cause the migrating birds to begin moving again. Blackbirds are in the south field so thick the field seemed to move and oscillate as they picked the soil for some morsels of food. Birds amaze me; why do they all jump up at the same time, fly in the same direction, flowing in graceful form, coordinated in smooth flight and at whose command? Is there a first-sergeant bird who silently barks out orders to the obedient flocks?
The group of birds leap-frog over each other, out of the south field into the lawn to the east of the house. Continuous flights, continuous noise, all moving closer to the pond for water and an evening respite in our trees.
The other evening Judi came home from work just at dusk. She called and told me to get my shoes on for she was taking me for a ride. She took me down to the lake bottom where we observed over 30 plus deer frolicking and playing in the darkening shadows. What a sight! What a blessing! God’s handiwork is all around.
Today Judi and I went for a walk in the wood with our lab, Lily. The sound of the birds was impressive. It was loud, long and steady—a sure sign of hope at the end of winter on the Minnesota prairie.
This morning the sunrise broke over the horizon just north of the Long Lake Mission Cemetery on Johnnie’s hill. It reminded me of Lamentations 3:22-23: "Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” My mind went back to last night and I marveled at what a privilege it was to see God’s creation in its entire splendor. It is free for us to see and praise. I praise the Lord for His creative genius, a reminder of His generous providing hand. Psalms 19:1 - "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands."
Remember if we do not praise the Lord, the rocks will cry out. Oh Lord, may I never become so calloused as to not notice the beauty, grandeur, and magnificence of your creation. May the rocks in Section 17 of Winfield Township have no need to cry out. May we forever praise the Lord. Amen.
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Beating the drum slowly…A baby’s death in Oakdale
A story ran as headlines throughout last week about a 16 year old girl who gave birth to a baby; she stabbed the baby over 100 times and disposed of the baby in a trash can. We were outraged. We shook our heads in disgust, and said isn’t this sad. Yes, it’s easy to point the finger in a case like this; what she did is wrong, it’s unconscionable but I ask: “Why was this girl so hopeless? Why was she so afraid and lonely? Why was she so isolated that she talked to no one? Why was she so angry that she stabbed the baby over 100 times?”
As a professing Christian, I must ask myself: “Why didn’t she know the hope and love of Christ? Why didn’t someone notice this girl, have some type of relationship with her so she would be able to talk to someone she trusted? What is she angry at?”
If she was our neighbor, would we get involved in her life? If not, why? May I suggest we would not because we don’t care? Some of you may feel old Beef here is a negative old coot. I may be, but when are we going to pull our collective heads out of the sand and care about girls like this? I think I know the answer; do you really want to hear it? We will pull our head out of the sand when the girl who does this is our daughter, our neighbor or our grandchild. We will pull our heads out of the sand when it is too late. Just like the people of Oakdale.
God’s love for us should motivate us to take the message of the hope of Christ, the love of Christ, the care of Christ to a hurting world—to people like this young 16 year old girl in Oakdale. Jesus told us to go so let’s go and do.
Let’s quit playing games. Let’s be Christ to our corner of the world. Let’s show compassion where none exists. Let’s forgive when no forgiveness exists. Let’s light our light in the darkest hour. Let’s die to ourselves like Christ died. Let’s sacrifice our comfort, pride, our self-centered isolated life style, and lay them at the foot of the cross. The world is hurting and the love of Christ is the only hope. Go, go, go! Go and Do! Let’s live for Jesus. Amen.
As a professing Christian, I must ask myself: “Why didn’t she know the hope and love of Christ? Why didn’t someone notice this girl, have some type of relationship with her so she would be able to talk to someone she trusted? What is she angry at?”
If she was our neighbor, would we get involved in her life? If not, why? May I suggest we would not because we don’t care? Some of you may feel old Beef here is a negative old coot. I may be, but when are we going to pull our collective heads out of the sand and care about girls like this? I think I know the answer; do you really want to hear it? We will pull our head out of the sand when the girl who does this is our daughter, our neighbor or our grandchild. We will pull our heads out of the sand when it is too late. Just like the people of Oakdale.
God’s love for us should motivate us to take the message of the hope of Christ, the love of Christ, the care of Christ to a hurting world—to people like this young 16 year old girl in Oakdale. Jesus told us to go so let’s go and do.
Let’s quit playing games. Let’s be Christ to our corner of the world. Let’s show compassion where none exists. Let’s forgive when no forgiveness exists. Let’s light our light in the darkest hour. Let’s die to ourselves like Christ died. Let’s sacrifice our comfort, pride, our self-centered isolated life style, and lay them at the foot of the cross. The world is hurting and the love of Christ is the only hope. Go, go, go! Go and Do! Let’s live for Jesus. Amen.
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Three Little Words: A Teachable Moment
Because of three words, Don Imus lost his reputation, his job and any creditability he might have had. He is “over with”—history in the eyes of the world. Don Imus’ very public sin (it was wrong what he said) was played out across the airwaves and other media. Most of us are aware of the uproar over the three “misspoken” words.
We are not public icons so when our time comes over three “misspoken words” it will not be played out on the national stage. Oh, I can criticize someone to my son on the phone but only Andy and I will have heard the spoken word. This seems safe to us, just keep the criticism contained and no one will know the difference—except God!!
In God’s word it says “But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment." (Matt. 12:36 NKJV) Every half truth, every exaggeration, every lie, every cheap shot at our neighbor, every self-righteous finger pointing moment, every repeated rumor or possible scandal shared only between two people has been and will be heard by God and God will call us to account.
Oh, we can point our self-righteous finger at Don Imus, knowing we have thought or said things of similar nature ourselves. God hears our words and knows our thoughts from afar. This ought to make us weak in the knees. We all need some time of individual and collective soul searching. Lord help us. Lord help us. Amen.
We are not public icons so when our time comes over three “misspoken words” it will not be played out on the national stage. Oh, I can criticize someone to my son on the phone but only Andy and I will have heard the spoken word. This seems safe to us, just keep the criticism contained and no one will know the difference—except God!!
In God’s word it says “But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment." (Matt. 12:36 NKJV) Every half truth, every exaggeration, every lie, every cheap shot at our neighbor, every self-righteous finger pointing moment, every repeated rumor or possible scandal shared only between two people has been and will be heard by God and God will call us to account.
Oh, we can point our self-righteous finger at Don Imus, knowing we have thought or said things of similar nature ourselves. God hears our words and knows our thoughts from afar. This ought to make us weak in the knees. We all need some time of individual and collective soul searching. Lord help us. Lord help us. Amen.
Thursday, April 12, 2007
What do we think about when we have nothing to think about?
I just read a news report about Pope Benedict’s concern for the future of Europe. The concern expressed was in response to a study that looked at the ever decreasing birth rate in the European Union countries. The Pope said many of the people in the EU have become self-centered, viewing children as a hindrance to their own pursuits.
Should we be surprised? When the Lord is pushed out as the center of our lives, we get busy and rush in to fill the vacuum. We become our own god. Sound familiar?
What is the center of your life, the Lord or other things? The easiest test to take to find out what truly is the center of our life is to ask this question. What do I think about when I have nothing to think about? This may sound silly at first glance, but I believe this to be a powerful question. Whatever the answer is, it is more than likely the center of our lives.
In response to the previous question, did you like what you found? I believe we Americans are as self-centered as the Europeans. Listen to how we converse with one another; most of the time our discussions are about what we do. We talk about our kids, our grandkids, our jobs, and our personal world. We talk superficially almost all the time. We talk about $30,000 cars, $800 purses and all the while we have full bellies and empty hearts.
Do any of us have a vision for our families, our communities, our churches, our country, our world beyond those driven by our own vested self-interest?
This week a woman at my home church asked a great question. “Jerry what are you seeing out there when you preach at those other churches?" I told her God has his people everywhere and many of them are lonely, worried and hurting people.
I spoke at a church from part of Mark 8, it’s about “Some people” who bring a blind man to Jesus and beg Jesus just to touch him. Not heal him, just touch him. When I finished preaching, I was greeting people when an 80 year old widow came by and asked “Could you just give me a hug?” I gave her a hug; we had a long warm conversation.
Are we pursuing our own self-centered pursuits, while people around us just need a hug? Are we distracted while studying “Ten easy steps to Victorious Christian Living” while in our presence lonely, hurting people are in need of just a hug? Do we even notice them?
In utter darkness, the littlest light shines the brightest. This woman taught me an important lesson. Am I going through the motions, or do I truly care about my fellow man?
Do I take time for the children that come into my presence? Do I make an effort to talk and hug Annie even though she can’t lift her head anymore?
Do I use my home as my castle? Do I retreat behind its walls to escape a hurting and needy world I don’t want to understand? Do I get irritated when someone calls to chat when I’m watching March Madness?
Jesus said “what you do unto the least of these you do unto me”. I do not believe the Europeans have a corner on the “self-centeredness” market. I believe it’s alive and well in our American culture and sadly, alive and well inside our churches.
Lord forgive us for our self-centeredness, Lord help us, wake us up. May we use our gifts as a blessing to a hurting world, and in the end may you, Lord truly get all the Glory - Amen.
Should we be surprised? When the Lord is pushed out as the center of our lives, we get busy and rush in to fill the vacuum. We become our own god. Sound familiar?
What is the center of your life, the Lord or other things? The easiest test to take to find out what truly is the center of our life is to ask this question. What do I think about when I have nothing to think about? This may sound silly at first glance, but I believe this to be a powerful question. Whatever the answer is, it is more than likely the center of our lives.
In response to the previous question, did you like what you found? I believe we Americans are as self-centered as the Europeans. Listen to how we converse with one another; most of the time our discussions are about what we do. We talk about our kids, our grandkids, our jobs, and our personal world. We talk superficially almost all the time. We talk about $30,000 cars, $800 purses and all the while we have full bellies and empty hearts.
Do any of us have a vision for our families, our communities, our churches, our country, our world beyond those driven by our own vested self-interest?
This week a woman at my home church asked a great question. “Jerry what are you seeing out there when you preach at those other churches?" I told her God has his people everywhere and many of them are lonely, worried and hurting people.
I spoke at a church from part of Mark 8, it’s about “Some people” who bring a blind man to Jesus and beg Jesus just to touch him. Not heal him, just touch him. When I finished preaching, I was greeting people when an 80 year old widow came by and asked “Could you just give me a hug?” I gave her a hug; we had a long warm conversation.
Are we pursuing our own self-centered pursuits, while people around us just need a hug? Are we distracted while studying “Ten easy steps to Victorious Christian Living” while in our presence lonely, hurting people are in need of just a hug? Do we even notice them?
In utter darkness, the littlest light shines the brightest. This woman taught me an important lesson. Am I going through the motions, or do I truly care about my fellow man?
Do I take time for the children that come into my presence? Do I make an effort to talk and hug Annie even though she can’t lift her head anymore?
Do I use my home as my castle? Do I retreat behind its walls to escape a hurting and needy world I don’t want to understand? Do I get irritated when someone calls to chat when I’m watching March Madness?
Jesus said “what you do unto the least of these you do unto me”. I do not believe the Europeans have a corner on the “self-centeredness” market. I believe it’s alive and well in our American culture and sadly, alive and well inside our churches.
Lord forgive us for our self-centeredness, Lord help us, wake us up. May we use our gifts as a blessing to a hurting world, and in the end may you, Lord truly get all the Glory - Amen.
Thursday, April 05, 2007
Easter Week Thoughts
When talk shows and the like talk about Jesus, the most popular title for Him is prophet. Prophets usually are considered weird people; we can listen and ignore them because most really aren’t prophets, they are frauds. Therefore, there are no consequences for what they say. We like it that way. Oh, they might ruffle our feathers but on the whole, we don’t take them seriously. So, when it comes to the claims of Jesus, let’s ignore them, just keep Him a prophet.
People say times change, sometimes they don’t. When Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, the crowds rolled out to welcome Him. In Luke 19:37 it says in part…”the whole crowd of disciples began singing joyfully to God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: Blessed is he King who comes in the name of the Lord…” Notice why they were praising Him: “for all the miracles they had seen.” These disciples quoted scripture; they knew who He was.
In Matthew 21 scripture about the triumphal entry says this: (verse 10) “When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city stirred and asked, “Who is this?” vs.11, the crowds answered “This is Jesus the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.” The crowds saw Him as prophet not as King, Lord or Savior.
Deep down, who is Jesus to you; just a prophet or Lord, Savior and King? In Matt. 16:13, Jesus asked, “Who do the people say the Son of Man is? Verse 14 they replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets. Jesus asked His disciples “Who do you say I am?” And Peter replied “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” Peter confirmed and believed he was the Son of God.
From that time on, Jesus begins to explain to His disciples that He must be killed. Peter takes Jesus aside and says, “Never Lord, this shall never happen to you.”
The world can tolerate Him as a prophet. But when we call Him “Christ, the Son of the living God” things change. This being killed, tortured, beaten beyond human recognition stuff (Is. 52) having to die a miserable death stuff just doesn’t seem to fit into the worlds plan.. I mean this really sounds messy. It’s easier for us if He just stays a prophet. That way we don’t have to struggle with guilt and sin and all that other messy stuff.
We can sit around, be cool, contemplate and discuss who we are; why are we here; and where are we going? We can debate evil, the reality of it. We desire to seek human justice (making everything right in this world); we all hunger for love, desiring to know we are all of value. We want all of this to “work out” some way. We want an end to this misery…we know deep down, left to itself, it won’t work out; history proves that. In our heart we long for a Savior but because of pressure from the world, we only accept Him as prophet, not Lord and Savior. Just a prophet.
On Calvary, the one act of the God/man Jesus dying for our sin addresses evil and deals with it. Justice is achieved, not in a human way, but in a supernatural way, “the just (Jesus) dying for the unjust (us)." Oh, what a thought.
Romans 5:6-11 "You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation."
Our hunger for love is played out in our writings, poems, movies and music. We know deep down these things will not satisfy. Oh we are blessed with faithful husbands and wives, moms and dads, loving children and grandchildren. This is good but it does not fill the God shaped hole in our heart…only Christ Jesus, dying for us on the cross, can grant forgiveness and reconciliation and fill that God shaped hole. Nothing else can satisfy our hunger for love. This one act was played out on a hill called Calvary, where the Son of God was skewered to the cross so you and I could be free from sin and guilt and be made right with God once and for all. No, He is not just a prophet; He is our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen. Praise God from whom all blessings flow.
People say times change, sometimes they don’t. When Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, the crowds rolled out to welcome Him. In Luke 19:37 it says in part…”the whole crowd of disciples began singing joyfully to God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: Blessed is he King who comes in the name of the Lord…” Notice why they were praising Him: “for all the miracles they had seen.” These disciples quoted scripture; they knew who He was.
In Matthew 21 scripture about the triumphal entry says this: (verse 10) “When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city stirred and asked, “Who is this?” vs.11, the crowds answered “This is Jesus the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.” The crowds saw Him as prophet not as King, Lord or Savior.
Deep down, who is Jesus to you; just a prophet or Lord, Savior and King? In Matt. 16:13, Jesus asked, “Who do the people say the Son of Man is? Verse 14 they replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets. Jesus asked His disciples “Who do you say I am?” And Peter replied “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” Peter confirmed and believed he was the Son of God.
From that time on, Jesus begins to explain to His disciples that He must be killed. Peter takes Jesus aside and says, “Never Lord, this shall never happen to you.”
The world can tolerate Him as a prophet. But when we call Him “Christ, the Son of the living God” things change. This being killed, tortured, beaten beyond human recognition stuff (Is. 52) having to die a miserable death stuff just doesn’t seem to fit into the worlds plan.. I mean this really sounds messy. It’s easier for us if He just stays a prophet. That way we don’t have to struggle with guilt and sin and all that other messy stuff.
We can sit around, be cool, contemplate and discuss who we are; why are we here; and where are we going? We can debate evil, the reality of it. We desire to seek human justice (making everything right in this world); we all hunger for love, desiring to know we are all of value. We want all of this to “work out” some way. We want an end to this misery…we know deep down, left to itself, it won’t work out; history proves that. In our heart we long for a Savior but because of pressure from the world, we only accept Him as prophet, not Lord and Savior. Just a prophet.
On Calvary, the one act of the God/man Jesus dying for our sin addresses evil and deals with it. Justice is achieved, not in a human way, but in a supernatural way, “the just (Jesus) dying for the unjust (us)." Oh, what a thought.
Romans 5:6-11 "You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation."
Our hunger for love is played out in our writings, poems, movies and music. We know deep down these things will not satisfy. Oh we are blessed with faithful husbands and wives, moms and dads, loving children and grandchildren. This is good but it does not fill the God shaped hole in our heart…only Christ Jesus, dying for us on the cross, can grant forgiveness and reconciliation and fill that God shaped hole. Nothing else can satisfy our hunger for love. This one act was played out on a hill called Calvary, where the Son of God was skewered to the cross so you and I could be free from sin and guilt and be made right with God once and for all. No, He is not just a prophet; He is our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen. Praise God from whom all blessings flow.
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Family Secrets—sweeping the past under the rug
Last night as I watched the news, I learned that Winona Judd’s husband was arrested for sexual abuse with a child under thirteen. I thought, how tragic; why this epidemic of sexual abuse and exploitation? I wondered how sad that the Judd family has to face its sin in such a public manner. What about the child? I thought a little bit more, at least it can’t be swept under the rug, and probably the public exposure should be viewed as a blessing.
Families have secrets, families have a past, sometimes they are unseemly. We like to keep certain things about our past secret because we fear it would embarrass us; we would appear less to our fellowman. Our response is to sweep it under the rug but we continue to see the bump under the rug and it bothers us. We keep sweeping more under the rug and pretty soon someone in the family trips on the bump. They get hurt but we keep right on sweeping.
Along the way, a family member gets tired of seeing the bump under the rug and gets tired of seeing people tripping over the bump, falling and getting hurt. This family member gets tired of seeing fellow family members lying on the floor wounded, being judged for "their" failure when in reality they tripped and fell over all the garbage that has been swept under the rug for generations.
So, this truth seeking family member finally picks up the rug to see what’s there. They are chastised for seeking the truth and are quickly labeled “the problem”. The person who wants to find out the truth about the garbage under the rug is labeled a trouble maker, the problem, just because they desire the truth.
We all can act like we are waltzing through life, but a day comes when we must deal with our past or our family secrets. Look at King David. A king, powerful, anointed by God, distracted from his real job (being king he should have been in battle with his soldiers) but he stays back, becomes a peeping Tom and because he is king, orders Bathsheba to his bedroom, you know the rest. If not, read I Samuel 16-I Kings 2:11, I Chronicles 11-29). King David, forgiven as he was, still suffered the consequences of his sins.
Two things we need to learn from this: our sin will be found out AND we need to deal with it. It happened to David with the Prophet Nathan and it will happen to us. If it doesn’t happen in this life, it will be revealed on Judgment Day.
We, as a people, cannot ignore our personal or collective past. I see too many people who have tripped over the bump under the rug and are lying on the floor of life deeply hurt and wounded. Pick up the rug; deal with the stuff under the rug. Stop labeling the Truth Seeker, the trouble maker. We need to get rid of our pride and our over inflated image of ourselves.
Life is miserable when we won’t face our past and our sin. I know from experience.
Practical advice: We need to pray for courage to stand up to, address, and face our sin and our family’s sin. We need to stop making the Truth Seeker the problem. We need to address the past honestly and live with expectation remembering what the Apostle Paul said, “God will do more than we can ever imagine” (Ephesians 3:20). Our goal should be forgiveness and restoration, not revenge. We need to humbly thank the Truth Seeker for his courage. What will you be, a sweeper or a Truth Seeker? We must do the right thing. Come Holy Spirit, help us.
Families have secrets, families have a past, sometimes they are unseemly. We like to keep certain things about our past secret because we fear it would embarrass us; we would appear less to our fellowman. Our response is to sweep it under the rug but we continue to see the bump under the rug and it bothers us. We keep sweeping more under the rug and pretty soon someone in the family trips on the bump. They get hurt but we keep right on sweeping.
Along the way, a family member gets tired of seeing the bump under the rug and gets tired of seeing people tripping over the bump, falling and getting hurt. This family member gets tired of seeing fellow family members lying on the floor wounded, being judged for "their" failure when in reality they tripped and fell over all the garbage that has been swept under the rug for generations.
So, this truth seeking family member finally picks up the rug to see what’s there. They are chastised for seeking the truth and are quickly labeled “the problem”. The person who wants to find out the truth about the garbage under the rug is labeled a trouble maker, the problem, just because they desire the truth.
We all can act like we are waltzing through life, but a day comes when we must deal with our past or our family secrets. Look at King David. A king, powerful, anointed by God, distracted from his real job (being king he should have been in battle with his soldiers) but he stays back, becomes a peeping Tom and because he is king, orders Bathsheba to his bedroom, you know the rest. If not, read I Samuel 16-I Kings 2:11, I Chronicles 11-29). King David, forgiven as he was, still suffered the consequences of his sins.
Two things we need to learn from this: our sin will be found out AND we need to deal with it. It happened to David with the Prophet Nathan and it will happen to us. If it doesn’t happen in this life, it will be revealed on Judgment Day.
We, as a people, cannot ignore our personal or collective past. I see too many people who have tripped over the bump under the rug and are lying on the floor of life deeply hurt and wounded. Pick up the rug; deal with the stuff under the rug. Stop labeling the Truth Seeker, the trouble maker. We need to get rid of our pride and our over inflated image of ourselves.
Life is miserable when we won’t face our past and our sin. I know from experience.
Practical advice: We need to pray for courage to stand up to, address, and face our sin and our family’s sin. We need to stop making the Truth Seeker the problem. We need to address the past honestly and live with expectation remembering what the Apostle Paul said, “God will do more than we can ever imagine” (Ephesians 3:20). Our goal should be forgiveness and restoration, not revenge. We need to humbly thank the Truth Seeker for his courage. What will you be, a sweeper or a Truth Seeker? We must do the right thing. Come Holy Spirit, help us.
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Repost from Sunday, June 18, 2006
For some of you new to the blog, we will repost a few of the older blogs during the week. Look for a new post from Beef this Thursday or Friday.
Sunday, June 18, 2006
Meet Myrtle from "Mrs. Beef"
Let me tell you about Myrtle. Myrtle is the sweet, lovely lady who used to live across the street from us when our children were growing up. She’s the one where the children would always visit to get candy, see pictures and hear stories of her family, and always learn more about Jesus; she was everyone’s “adopted Grandma.” And what a testimony she is. If you would see Myrtle when she was out walking, Myrtle never waved and I believe everyone knew why--she was busy praying for everyone that lived in the houses that she passed. She prayed for everyone in the neighborhood by name every day and continues to do so today.
One day Beef received a phone call from Myrtle. She knew that he had a men’s Bible study that met once a week in our home and she told him about someone that was in desperate need of help. She told Beef he needed to call this young man immediately and invite him to his group and she would be praying for them and hung up. It made no difference that Beef did not know this young man but Myrtle did and she knew that God wanted this young man on His team! Even if most people had given up on him, it was no surprise to Myrtle that this man would become a happy, vibrant Christian who loves the Lord and has even participated in several mission trips sharing that love with others in need. Myrtle’s faith is unstoppable!
Myrtle has a vision—she takes seriously Christ’s command to us to “Go and make disciples of all the world.” Her single-handed (NO, I should say FOLDED-hands!) prayer ministry and been her mission all her life. She is fulfilling her purpose. Read on…
This weekend I was at a wedding of one of the neighbor kids and what a delightful surprise to see Myrtle. She is now living in Albert Lea, is close to 90 years old, extremely tiny and walking with a walker BUT she is not just curled up in a chair at the nursing home, playing cards, or knitting or sleeping; she has a RADIO MINISTRY!! A call in show where she prays for people!! How many of us will be doing anything close to that when we are her age? (How many of us do anything close to that TODAY???) Let Myrtle’s vision be a challenge for you!!
~ Mrs. Beef
Sunday, June 18, 2006
Meet Myrtle from "Mrs. Beef"
Let me tell you about Myrtle. Myrtle is the sweet, lovely lady who used to live across the street from us when our children were growing up. She’s the one where the children would always visit to get candy, see pictures and hear stories of her family, and always learn more about Jesus; she was everyone’s “adopted Grandma.” And what a testimony she is. If you would see Myrtle when she was out walking, Myrtle never waved and I believe everyone knew why--she was busy praying for everyone that lived in the houses that she passed. She prayed for everyone in the neighborhood by name every day and continues to do so today.
One day Beef received a phone call from Myrtle. She knew that he had a men’s Bible study that met once a week in our home and she told him about someone that was in desperate need of help. She told Beef he needed to call this young man immediately and invite him to his group and she would be praying for them and hung up. It made no difference that Beef did not know this young man but Myrtle did and she knew that God wanted this young man on His team! Even if most people had given up on him, it was no surprise to Myrtle that this man would become a happy, vibrant Christian who loves the Lord and has even participated in several mission trips sharing that love with others in need. Myrtle’s faith is unstoppable!
Myrtle has a vision—she takes seriously Christ’s command to us to “Go and make disciples of all the world.” Her single-handed (NO, I should say FOLDED-hands!) prayer ministry and been her mission all her life. She is fulfilling her purpose. Read on…
This weekend I was at a wedding of one of the neighbor kids and what a delightful surprise to see Myrtle. She is now living in Albert Lea, is close to 90 years old, extremely tiny and walking with a walker BUT she is not just curled up in a chair at the nursing home, playing cards, or knitting or sleeping; she has a RADIO MINISTRY!! A call in show where she prays for people!! How many of us will be doing anything close to that when we are her age? (How many of us do anything close to that TODAY???) Let Myrtle’s vision be a challenge for you!!
~ Mrs. Beef
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Worrying About Worry
The ads on TV have changed over the years. Many of the ads are for legal drugs. If you weren’t sick, after watching some of these ads, a person can begin to believe we must have a myriad of undiagnosed diseases. Drug manufacturers have become relentless in promoting their products. They ask questions and prompt you with questions to ask your doctor. The TV ads are backed up with two page ads in magazines with more detail than we need to know.
I heard an ad about anxiety attacks or panic attacks. I wondered what produces worry and anxiousness--the future, our health, finances, concerns about extended family and such. The ad implied if I’m anxious I only need to take a dose of “Bluesblasta” and everything will be ok; medicate myself into drug induced tranquility.
We are a nation that wants the pain killers first. Emergency room doctors and nurses will verify this. Our first demand when we come into the emergency room is “Give me something for the pain!” rather than “What’s wrong?”
Has this shift in cultural values made us a nation of worry warts? Do we want tranquility at any cost? Have we as Christians bought into the worry and also the drug tranquility which is a temporary solution until we pop the next pill.
Jesus said in Matthew 6:25-34: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
I believe Jesus main point is “Do not be anxious; do not worry.” John Piper wrote about that very thing in his book What Jesus Demands from this World. "We ought not be anxious about food and clothing because food and clothing cannot provide the great things of life--the enjoyment of God, the pursuit of his gracious favor, the hope of eternity in his presence. We get anxious about food and clothing to the same degree that we lose sight of the great purposes of a God-centered life." Lord, may we grow in knowledge to have a greater depth of relationship with you to know you and trust you. Continue in your work in us. Come Holy Spirit. Amen
I heard an ad about anxiety attacks or panic attacks. I wondered what produces worry and anxiousness--the future, our health, finances, concerns about extended family and such. The ad implied if I’m anxious I only need to take a dose of “Bluesblasta” and everything will be ok; medicate myself into drug induced tranquility.
We are a nation that wants the pain killers first. Emergency room doctors and nurses will verify this. Our first demand when we come into the emergency room is “Give me something for the pain!” rather than “What’s wrong?”
Has this shift in cultural values made us a nation of worry warts? Do we want tranquility at any cost? Have we as Christians bought into the worry and also the drug tranquility which is a temporary solution until we pop the next pill.
Jesus said in Matthew 6:25-34: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
I believe Jesus main point is “Do not be anxious; do not worry.” John Piper wrote about that very thing in his book What Jesus Demands from this World. "We ought not be anxious about food and clothing because food and clothing cannot provide the great things of life--the enjoyment of God, the pursuit of his gracious favor, the hope of eternity in his presence. We get anxious about food and clothing to the same degree that we lose sight of the great purposes of a God-centered life." Lord, may we grow in knowledge to have a greater depth of relationship with you to know you and trust you. Continue in your work in us. Come Holy Spirit. Amen
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Just do your job
Early every morning my partner or I walk through all the properties we manage. We feel it’s important to have “eyes on the ground” as it were.
About three weeks ago, I was in the passenger elevator when I noticed the floor indicator lights were not working. The replacement of all indicator lights is under a contract for all our elevator maintenance. We pay $2300 a month for elevator maintenance in this building. I made a note to call the maintenance company.
As I worked through my “to do” list, the phone rang; it was a satisfaction survey from the elevator maintenance company. I told him I wasn’t very satisfied since we have had continual on-going “simple” problems. The maintenance company has not carried out the basic maintenance procedures as required in the contract.
Within the hour, our elevator company representative, a young lady named Leslie, called. She wanted to bring her supervisor and have a sit-down meeting to discuss these problems. I told Leslie, “We don’t need a meeting, waste numerous man hours. All I ask is that the bulbs are replaced and all agreed to terms of the contract are adhered to.” Promises were made, assurances given; it wouldn’t happen again.
On my early rounds Monday, I noticed the indicator lights had not been changed. This was the third instance Monday morning when sub-contractors were not adhering to terms of their contract.
I called Leslie again except I wasn’t as nice as the first time. After that, supervisors called, vice presidents called, meetings were suggested, incentives offered. Much time was wasted, tempers and emotions frayed and all I want is the indicator lights changed! Please, just change the indicator lights, just do your job. Please, I’m a simple man with a simple request.
Spin doctoring and fluff and mush are a major part of our business world, our society and sadly, even our churches. If I bring a simple down to earth “tell it like it is” sermon, sometimes I feel it is not taken well but I am to preach the truth not conduct a popularity contest. As for me, I need my toes stepped on once in a while; I welcome it. I personally feel that it’s ok. A steady diet of “toe stepping” is not good either but we love “spiritual mush.”
Spiritual mush is rooted in an easy faith; all the blessings but no sacrifice. Jesus said, "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33
Let’s tell each other the truth. No spin doctors required. Let’s just do our jobs. No fluff, no excuses, no corporate gobbledygook no mushy psycho-babble.
Jesus said in Matthew 5:37, “Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.” And in James 5:12 it says: “Above all, my brothers, do not swear--not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. Let your "Yes" be yes, and your "No," no, or you will be condemned.”
Amen.
About three weeks ago, I was in the passenger elevator when I noticed the floor indicator lights were not working. The replacement of all indicator lights is under a contract for all our elevator maintenance. We pay $2300 a month for elevator maintenance in this building. I made a note to call the maintenance company.
As I worked through my “to do” list, the phone rang; it was a satisfaction survey from the elevator maintenance company. I told him I wasn’t very satisfied since we have had continual on-going “simple” problems. The maintenance company has not carried out the basic maintenance procedures as required in the contract.
Within the hour, our elevator company representative, a young lady named Leslie, called. She wanted to bring her supervisor and have a sit-down meeting to discuss these problems. I told Leslie, “We don’t need a meeting, waste numerous man hours. All I ask is that the bulbs are replaced and all agreed to terms of the contract are adhered to.” Promises were made, assurances given; it wouldn’t happen again.
On my early rounds Monday, I noticed the indicator lights had not been changed. This was the third instance Monday morning when sub-contractors were not adhering to terms of their contract.
I called Leslie again except I wasn’t as nice as the first time. After that, supervisors called, vice presidents called, meetings were suggested, incentives offered. Much time was wasted, tempers and emotions frayed and all I want is the indicator lights changed! Please, just change the indicator lights, just do your job. Please, I’m a simple man with a simple request.
Spin doctoring and fluff and mush are a major part of our business world, our society and sadly, even our churches. If I bring a simple down to earth “tell it like it is” sermon, sometimes I feel it is not taken well but I am to preach the truth not conduct a popularity contest. As for me, I need my toes stepped on once in a while; I welcome it. I personally feel that it’s ok. A steady diet of “toe stepping” is not good either but we love “spiritual mush.”
Spiritual mush is rooted in an easy faith; all the blessings but no sacrifice. Jesus said, "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33
Let’s tell each other the truth. No spin doctors required. Let’s just do our jobs. No fluff, no excuses, no corporate gobbledygook no mushy psycho-babble.
Jesus said in Matthew 5:37, “Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.” And in James 5:12 it says: “Above all, my brothers, do not swear--not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. Let your "Yes" be yes, and your "No," no, or you will be condemned.”
Amen.
Friday, March 09, 2007
If chickens had teeth -- Ruth 2:10-12
When I was young, it seemed more summer storms came out of the northwest. We had a large grove of trees to the northwest which blocked our view of approaching summer storms in the prairie. I was home alone one summer day when a storm rolled in from the northwest and was upon me before I knew it.
Our job in the yard was to secure all the doors on all the barns and other buildings so the wind would not rip the doors off. I ran and ran making all the rounds to end up in the dairy barn, looking out a south window to see a hen with chicks trying to move towards the brooder house in the ever increasing wind. The old hen made a wise choice. She sat down in the middle of the yard, turned her butt into the wind, sat down spread out her wings, and gathered her chicks close beside her, put down her head and protected her little chicks from the vicious wind. As the storm grew in intensity, I found myself rooting for the old hen and her chicks. The wind buffeted her, she rocked and moved some but her claws must have been grabbing for all the Winfield Township dirt she could muster. If chickens had teeth, she was gritting them.
The storm ended; she still sat there with her chicks under her wings protected and when she was sure it was over, stood up, ruffled her feathers, checked that all her chicks were ok, and went about her business of being a mom to 7 little chicks.
Why did she do what she did? Because of instinct; yes, God at creation put that instinct in the chickens. I know it was instinct but she protected these little chicks because they were hers. Yes, because they were hers. She protected them not for recognition or any other benefit (she didn’t even know I was watching and 50 years later relating the story to you). She protected the chicks because they were HERS. I love that.
In the Book of Ruth, Ruth, a Moabite woman, comes back to Judah with her Jewish mother-in-law Naomi. Things had not gone well in Moab for Naomi and her daughter-in-law. Naomi lost her husband and two sons, and one daughter-in-law stayed in Moab. But her daughter-in-law Ruth stayed with Naomi and returned to Judah when they heard “there was food in the land.” Ruth goes to work gleaning in a barley field belonging to a man named Boaz, a relative of her dead father-in-law. Boaz watches out for her, making provision to help Ruth in numerous ways. He is a good man.
Ruth, the foreigner without a husband or children and little hope of a good future, responsible for a mother-in-law, is overcome with Boaz’s kindness and provision. In Ruth 2:10-12 it says: “At this, she bowed down with her face to the ground. She exclaimed, "Why have I found such favor in your eyes that you notice me--a foreigner?" Boaz replied, "I've been told all about what you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband--how you left your father and mother and your homeland and came to live with a people you did not know before. May the Lord repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge."
In verse 12, Boaz in a sense blesses Ruth and closes by saying: “The God of Israel under whose wings you have come to take refuge.” Just like the old hen on our yard in a fierce summer storm provided refuge for her chicks at her expense and danger, she loved her chicks and was willing to sacrifice herself for their safety, God provides refuge and safety for us, not because of what we have done or because of our bloodline. He provides refuge because we are His; His creation, His child, His son and daughter of His own choosing. Boaz the man recognized Ruth faithfulness and allegiance to Naomi even when Ruth was not obligated to do that. Boaz pronounces a blessing in a sense upon Ruth because of her actions. Whether Boaz recognized Ruth’s good deeds or not made no difference to Ruth, she came to take refuge under the wings of the Almighty. Her good works were recognized but were not a requirement for her to take refuge.
Bottom line—it’s all a gift from the Almighty God—no works, no groveling required on our part; it’s grace, the undeserved gift of God. What did it cost the Father--the death and suffering of His one and only Son. Jesus came to earth, became an ovum, was born, lived a holy life, suffered, died, and rose again so we could take refuge under the wings of the Almighty God. A gift, grace, just because we are His. We ought to dance for joy.
Our job in the yard was to secure all the doors on all the barns and other buildings so the wind would not rip the doors off. I ran and ran making all the rounds to end up in the dairy barn, looking out a south window to see a hen with chicks trying to move towards the brooder house in the ever increasing wind. The old hen made a wise choice. She sat down in the middle of the yard, turned her butt into the wind, sat down spread out her wings, and gathered her chicks close beside her, put down her head and protected her little chicks from the vicious wind. As the storm grew in intensity, I found myself rooting for the old hen and her chicks. The wind buffeted her, she rocked and moved some but her claws must have been grabbing for all the Winfield Township dirt she could muster. If chickens had teeth, she was gritting them.
The storm ended; she still sat there with her chicks under her wings protected and when she was sure it was over, stood up, ruffled her feathers, checked that all her chicks were ok, and went about her business of being a mom to 7 little chicks.
Why did she do what she did? Because of instinct; yes, God at creation put that instinct in the chickens. I know it was instinct but she protected these little chicks because they were hers. Yes, because they were hers. She protected them not for recognition or any other benefit (she didn’t even know I was watching and 50 years later relating the story to you). She protected the chicks because they were HERS. I love that.
In the Book of Ruth, Ruth, a Moabite woman, comes back to Judah with her Jewish mother-in-law Naomi. Things had not gone well in Moab for Naomi and her daughter-in-law. Naomi lost her husband and two sons, and one daughter-in-law stayed in Moab. But her daughter-in-law Ruth stayed with Naomi and returned to Judah when they heard “there was food in the land.” Ruth goes to work gleaning in a barley field belonging to a man named Boaz, a relative of her dead father-in-law. Boaz watches out for her, making provision to help Ruth in numerous ways. He is a good man.
Ruth, the foreigner without a husband or children and little hope of a good future, responsible for a mother-in-law, is overcome with Boaz’s kindness and provision. In Ruth 2:10-12 it says: “At this, she bowed down with her face to the ground. She exclaimed, "Why have I found such favor in your eyes that you notice me--a foreigner?" Boaz replied, "I've been told all about what you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband--how you left your father and mother and your homeland and came to live with a people you did not know before. May the Lord repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge."
In verse 12, Boaz in a sense blesses Ruth and closes by saying: “The God of Israel under whose wings you have come to take refuge.” Just like the old hen on our yard in a fierce summer storm provided refuge for her chicks at her expense and danger, she loved her chicks and was willing to sacrifice herself for their safety, God provides refuge and safety for us, not because of what we have done or because of our bloodline. He provides refuge because we are His; His creation, His child, His son and daughter of His own choosing. Boaz the man recognized Ruth faithfulness and allegiance to Naomi even when Ruth was not obligated to do that. Boaz pronounces a blessing in a sense upon Ruth because of her actions. Whether Boaz recognized Ruth’s good deeds or not made no difference to Ruth, she came to take refuge under the wings of the Almighty. Her good works were recognized but were not a requirement for her to take refuge.
Bottom line—it’s all a gift from the Almighty God—no works, no groveling required on our part; it’s grace, the undeserved gift of God. What did it cost the Father--the death and suffering of His one and only Son. Jesus came to earth, became an ovum, was born, lived a holy life, suffered, died, and rose again so we could take refuge under the wings of the Almighty God. A gift, grace, just because we are His. We ought to dance for joy.
Friday, March 02, 2007
Fifteen Second Kiss
About three weeks ago I was asked to speak at my niece’s wedding. One of the points I made was the importance of keeping up a close physical relationship. (In case you’re wondering, I’m not just talking about sex.)
In my mini-sermon, I challenged them to give each other a 15 second kiss on the lips every day. Time it, a 15 second kiss. Why? I believe we live in a busy fractured culture and couples begin to drift apart; deep down we all long for that human touch. If we practice our 15 second kisses, we keep up that human contact plus you cannot go to bed angry with anyone if you give them a 15 second kiss.
In Mark 8:22 it says: “and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him.” Wow! “Some people,” not family, not friends, not fellow parishioners, just “some people” (These must be some special ‘some people’.). Who would bring a blind man, and beg Jesus? How long has it been since we got on our knees to beg Jesus to heal our Mom or Dad, our son or daughter, our family and friends? No, not heal them, just touch them. Touch them! Touch them! Just touch them, Jesus, and we have the faith you will heal them!
If you are blind physically or spiritually blind, have you lived your life in such a way that “some people” would bring you to Jesus to be touched or healed? How long has it been since you brought some people to Jesus to be touched or healed?
We all need to be touched. We all need to be loved. We all need to be healed…how long has it been?
I realize I am blessed to have a wife. What if I was alone? I have been alone in my life. I would have welcomed a smile, a touch on the arm, a hug, a pat on the back, a kind word. Brothers and sisters, in the proper way, let us demonstrate the touch of Jesus to a hurting, cold, distant, superficial world. I guess the old telephone ad was right—“Reach out and touch someone.” Touch the young, old, the rejected, and the indifferent and reach out and touch them with the Love of Christ.
Oh Lord, give me the courage to be “some people” who would bring the blind to you just to be touched. Give me faith to believe and persist. Come Lord Jesus; come touch my hurting blind world. Touch me; heal me. Amen.
In my mini-sermon, I challenged them to give each other a 15 second kiss on the lips every day. Time it, a 15 second kiss. Why? I believe we live in a busy fractured culture and couples begin to drift apart; deep down we all long for that human touch. If we practice our 15 second kisses, we keep up that human contact plus you cannot go to bed angry with anyone if you give them a 15 second kiss.
In Mark 8:22 it says: “and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him.” Wow! “Some people,” not family, not friends, not fellow parishioners, just “some people” (These must be some special ‘some people’.). Who would bring a blind man, and beg Jesus? How long has it been since we got on our knees to beg Jesus to heal our Mom or Dad, our son or daughter, our family and friends? No, not heal them, just touch them. Touch them! Touch them! Just touch them, Jesus, and we have the faith you will heal them!
If you are blind physically or spiritually blind, have you lived your life in such a way that “some people” would bring you to Jesus to be touched or healed? How long has it been since you brought some people to Jesus to be touched or healed?
We all need to be touched. We all need to be loved. We all need to be healed…how long has it been?
I realize I am blessed to have a wife. What if I was alone? I have been alone in my life. I would have welcomed a smile, a touch on the arm, a hug, a pat on the back, a kind word. Brothers and sisters, in the proper way, let us demonstrate the touch of Jesus to a hurting, cold, distant, superficial world. I guess the old telephone ad was right—“Reach out and touch someone.” Touch the young, old, the rejected, and the indifferent and reach out and touch them with the Love of Christ.
Oh Lord, give me the courage to be “some people” who would bring the blind to you just to be touched. Give me faith to believe and persist. Come Lord Jesus; come touch my hurting blind world. Touch me; heal me. Amen.
Thursday, March 01, 2007
Always having clothes
Have you ever thought about being naked? I do not mean being naked by choice but being naked because we have no clothes?
I was deep in the jungle in the Republic of the Philippines during my military days and we came across tribes of people who were totally naked. The old farm boy here was set back a few notches but I hadn’t ever known of anyone who was totally without clothes.
Isaiah talked about providing for the naked in Isaiah 58:6-7. "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter-- when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?”
I did not grow up rich but I never lacked for warmth, water, food or clothes and never thought about being without clothes. What I took for granted as a boy, is the biggest dream to many of the children of the world today.
If I was naked in the middle of the prairie in the cold of February, my life would continue for only a few hours at best, yet everyday I take clothes for granted.
In Acts 17 it says in part, “He gives us life and breathe and everything else” –clothes included. I need to get on my knees and thank God for always having clothes.
Thank you, Lord. May I never take your providing, sovereign and gracious hand for granted. Thank you, Lord for the reminder.
I was deep in the jungle in the Republic of the Philippines during my military days and we came across tribes of people who were totally naked. The old farm boy here was set back a few notches but I hadn’t ever known of anyone who was totally without clothes.
Isaiah talked about providing for the naked in Isaiah 58:6-7. "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter-- when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?”
I did not grow up rich but I never lacked for warmth, water, food or clothes and never thought about being without clothes. What I took for granted as a boy, is the biggest dream to many of the children of the world today.
If I was naked in the middle of the prairie in the cold of February, my life would continue for only a few hours at best, yet everyday I take clothes for granted.
In Acts 17 it says in part, “He gives us life and breathe and everything else” –clothes included. I need to get on my knees and thank God for always having clothes.
Thank you, Lord. May I never take your providing, sovereign and gracious hand for granted. Thank you, Lord for the reminder.
Thursday, February 22, 2007
Why are believers so afraid of the world?
"Because we don’t believe Jesus has overcome the world" is my short answer.
John 16 :33 says: "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
I spoke awhile ago in the Village of Splatsville (names and places have been changed to protect the innocent) and I asked the question: “How long has it been since the village drunk in Splatsville has been saved?” Blank, pale faces stared back at me with no response.
After the service a young man came by and said “We have been concerned about ourselves, we don’t even know the name of the town drunk”. They had become so isolated from their community at large they didn’t know who the town drunk was. Not that knowing the name of the town drunk is the measure of a church's influence in a community, but what influence do we have, if any?
Christians wake up! Quit worrying about global warming, we aren’t going to survive until that becomes a serious problem because our Western culture will be long gone before that point.
I know and discuss things with people with a myriad of views. I know this sounds trite, and you’ve heard it before - “They like our Jesus, but they don’t like us, His followers. I am including myself as one of His followers.
As I wrote “His Followers” I realized I may have put my finger on the problem unintentionally. We are followers, not Disciples. To me a follower of someone does not paint a passionate picture. I envision people quietly trudging across a desert in a long silent line.
Now Disciples make me nervous. Disciples are doers. They are serious about their beliefs. They put themselves on the line, stand for truth and have courage. I don’t have to agree with them, but I respect them because they live out their passion.
Over the last two weeks I heard Christians decry Anna Nicole Smith and Britney Spears. We are quick to point out that Ms. Smith was in Playboy and her only accomplishment was that she married some 86 year old rich man. We lollygagged while Anna Nicole Smith may have very well slid into Hell for eternity but did any of us give a damn?
A pastor friend called me and told me he shared with his church his burden for Britney Spears (the one who shaved her head). As I see it she is crying out for help. She needs Christ, she needs a dad, she needs a mom, she needs the unconditional love of Christ. Are any of us besides this pastor praying for Britney Spears?
We here in rural Minnesota will most likely not rub shoulders with the likes of Britney Spears, but we can pray. We need to pray for her but also pray that our hearts would be tendered towards the “unlovely people” all around us.
We as believers are sitting in huddles, in little groups called churches, tentatively looking out our stain glassed windows, hoping the town drunk does not show up and disrupt our church service as it is printed in the church bulletin.
God helps us to be courageous, gives us strength to go “into” the world, but being “not of it.” We must go into the world and be the sweet fragrance of Christ’s love, hope and forgiveness. Jesus said, “Go”, we say “Come”. And the truth is, they never come because they do not know what they will find inside our church. They don’t know us, and we don’t know them. We are scared of "Them" and "They" are scared of us.
Jesus said he overcame the world! Do we believe it? Jesus prayed for us in John 17: 13-19: "I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified." If that’s what Jesus said and prayed, what are we afraid of? Notice we are to stay here and do what? Minister to people, be a servant to others.
In Acts 1, at the ascension of Christ, Christ ascends and His disciples stand around looking into the sky. "They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven." Acts 1: 10-11. "Why are we standing around and looking into the sky?" May I suggest, because it’s the easy way out. Keep my hands clean and keep my Holy Huddle secure while the world around me goes to Hell.
Mount up Christians, let’s march into Hell for a Heavenly cause. It’s later than we think. Go to the hurting people in our communities and minister to them.
We need to ask ourselves -
John 16 :33 says: "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
I spoke awhile ago in the Village of Splatsville (names and places have been changed to protect the innocent) and I asked the question: “How long has it been since the village drunk in Splatsville has been saved?” Blank, pale faces stared back at me with no response.
After the service a young man came by and said “We have been concerned about ourselves, we don’t even know the name of the town drunk”. They had become so isolated from their community at large they didn’t know who the town drunk was. Not that knowing the name of the town drunk is the measure of a church's influence in a community, but what influence do we have, if any?
Christians wake up! Quit worrying about global warming, we aren’t going to survive until that becomes a serious problem because our Western culture will be long gone before that point.
I know and discuss things with people with a myriad of views. I know this sounds trite, and you’ve heard it before - “They like our Jesus, but they don’t like us, His followers. I am including myself as one of His followers.
As I wrote “His Followers” I realized I may have put my finger on the problem unintentionally. We are followers, not Disciples. To me a follower of someone does not paint a passionate picture. I envision people quietly trudging across a desert in a long silent line.
Now Disciples make me nervous. Disciples are doers. They are serious about their beliefs. They put themselves on the line, stand for truth and have courage. I don’t have to agree with them, but I respect them because they live out their passion.
Over the last two weeks I heard Christians decry Anna Nicole Smith and Britney Spears. We are quick to point out that Ms. Smith was in Playboy and her only accomplishment was that she married some 86 year old rich man. We lollygagged while Anna Nicole Smith may have very well slid into Hell for eternity but did any of us give a damn?
A pastor friend called me and told me he shared with his church his burden for Britney Spears (the one who shaved her head). As I see it she is crying out for help. She needs Christ, she needs a dad, she needs a mom, she needs the unconditional love of Christ. Are any of us besides this pastor praying for Britney Spears?
We here in rural Minnesota will most likely not rub shoulders with the likes of Britney Spears, but we can pray. We need to pray for her but also pray that our hearts would be tendered towards the “unlovely people” all around us.
We as believers are sitting in huddles, in little groups called churches, tentatively looking out our stain glassed windows, hoping the town drunk does not show up and disrupt our church service as it is printed in the church bulletin.
God helps us to be courageous, gives us strength to go “into” the world, but being “not of it.” We must go into the world and be the sweet fragrance of Christ’s love, hope and forgiveness. Jesus said, “Go”, we say “Come”. And the truth is, they never come because they do not know what they will find inside our church. They don’t know us, and we don’t know them. We are scared of "Them" and "They" are scared of us.
Jesus said he overcame the world! Do we believe it? Jesus prayed for us in John 17: 13-19: "I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified." If that’s what Jesus said and prayed, what are we afraid of? Notice we are to stay here and do what? Minister to people, be a servant to others.
In Acts 1, at the ascension of Christ, Christ ascends and His disciples stand around looking into the sky. "They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven." Acts 1: 10-11. "Why are we standing around and looking into the sky?" May I suggest, because it’s the easy way out. Keep my hands clean and keep my Holy Huddle secure while the world around me goes to Hell.
Mount up Christians, let’s march into Hell for a Heavenly cause. It’s later than we think. Go to the hurting people in our communities and minister to them.
We need to ask ourselves -
- What have we done with the gifts God has given us?
- How will we as Christians answer for our loss of impact on our society?
- How do we continue to justify our spiritual deadness?
“Quit bugging me Jerry! Pass me a coke, I just want to watch American Idol.” Ya baby. Slumber on Church, slumber on.
Friday, February 16, 2007
Saying Goodbye to Tillie
Tillie Seehusen was married to my Dad’s cousin Fred but she was more like an aunt to me; and in these last years, she became a special friend. Her husband died a number of years ago and in 2003, she buried her only son, Larry. Tillie shared with me that as a woman, you expect to bury your husband but not your son. When she talked about Larry, her eyes would water over but she wasn’t bitter. Tillie wasn’t into being bitter, resentful or petty. I never saw any of that in her spirit.
Tillie died on Saturday at the age of 95. Today as we sat in the church in Clara City, my mind wandered as I thought about Tillie. Many times when I introduced myself, people would ask “How are you related to Tillie?” Tillie and Freddie were not rich by worldly standards but Tillie’s influence in the lives of her neighbors and Sunday school students is priceless. In the last couple of years I have run into neighbor girls of Tillie’s who are now adult women. The mention of Tillie’s name always elicits the same response, “Oh Tillie.” Oh Tillie; she was a special woman. Today, one of Tillie’s Sunday school students was at the funeral—she is now 65 years old and still remembers Tillie as a special teacher. (If you are or have been a Sunday school teacher, will any of your students remember you 50 years later??)
My Mom died when I was 13 after a long battle with cancer. My Mom asked Tillie to pray for me and keep track of me. As a young man, I didn’t always take kindly to what I perceived as “Tillie’s meddling”. As an old man, I am blessed to have known her. Thank you, Tillie; thank you Lord Jesus, for I believe Tillie’s prayers and a gracious and forgiving God is the only reason I’m alive today and able to call myself a son of the Living God. Tillie was a prayer warrior and always showed concern, even when I wasn’t interested. I Samuel 12:23-24 says: “As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you. And I will teach you the way that is good and right. But be sure to fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you.” Do we realize the affect we can have on the life of young people just by being a prayer warrior?
God has been good to me to put people like Tillie in my life. I was preaching at Raymond one Sunday about six years ago when she surprised me with her presence. At the end of the service we hugged and cried. I remember what Tillie said, “The Lord is good. The Lord is good.” He sure is. Thank you Tillie for your love and example.
She was buried on St. Luke’s hill north of Danube on the banks of Beaver Creek. It was 6 degrees with a biting west wind. It was cold Friday afternoon but remember this, last Saturday the sweet chariot swung low and the band of angels welcomed Tillie home as she crossed the Jordan River. Well done, well done, my good and faithful servant.
Tillie died on Saturday at the age of 95. Today as we sat in the church in Clara City, my mind wandered as I thought about Tillie. Many times when I introduced myself, people would ask “How are you related to Tillie?” Tillie and Freddie were not rich by worldly standards but Tillie’s influence in the lives of her neighbors and Sunday school students is priceless. In the last couple of years I have run into neighbor girls of Tillie’s who are now adult women. The mention of Tillie’s name always elicits the same response, “Oh Tillie.” Oh Tillie; she was a special woman. Today, one of Tillie’s Sunday school students was at the funeral—she is now 65 years old and still remembers Tillie as a special teacher. (If you are or have been a Sunday school teacher, will any of your students remember you 50 years later??)
My Mom died when I was 13 after a long battle with cancer. My Mom asked Tillie to pray for me and keep track of me. As a young man, I didn’t always take kindly to what I perceived as “Tillie’s meddling”. As an old man, I am blessed to have known her. Thank you, Tillie; thank you Lord Jesus, for I believe Tillie’s prayers and a gracious and forgiving God is the only reason I’m alive today and able to call myself a son of the Living God. Tillie was a prayer warrior and always showed concern, even when I wasn’t interested. I Samuel 12:23-24 says: “As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you. And I will teach you the way that is good and right. But be sure to fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you.” Do we realize the affect we can have on the life of young people just by being a prayer warrior?
God has been good to me to put people like Tillie in my life. I was preaching at Raymond one Sunday about six years ago when she surprised me with her presence. At the end of the service we hugged and cried. I remember what Tillie said, “The Lord is good. The Lord is good.” He sure is. Thank you Tillie for your love and example.
She was buried on St. Luke’s hill north of Danube on the banks of Beaver Creek. It was 6 degrees with a biting west wind. It was cold Friday afternoon but remember this, last Saturday the sweet chariot swung low and the band of angels welcomed Tillie home as she crossed the Jordan River. Well done, well done, my good and faithful servant.
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Having it all, yet having nothing
A friend of mine is an accountant and consultant. He has done work for a famous man; now he only meets occasionally with this man directly but he works a lot with “his people.” We “average Joes” may consider certain celebrities and businessmen show offs when they have “their people.” By “their people” I mean personal assistants, security people, lawyers, and accountants, consultants of various types, gardeners, service help and the like.
After a business meeting, my friend had dinner with “Mr. Big’s” accountant and personal assistant. It is a world few people ever get to see, much less gain valuable insight into the workings of such a life style. The group travels on private jets and move around in private limos. Dinners are held in the finest places. The places where this man works-out are the best in the world. His yearly income is over $50 million dollars. Some of us would consider this type of lifestyle to be intriguing but is it?
The “employees” told my friend that they have to move on private jets since “Mr. Big’s” presence in a public airport would make such a ruckus. Dinners at the finest restaurants have to be private so no one could turn the place into an autograph-seeking circus. Movement from the hotel to the gym is done in tinted glass limos so no one can see inside. When this man moves, his whole staff moves and they are on call 24 hours a day. Security has to be cleared in almost every move. Security must be coordinated with local police; business meeting sites must be discrete less any rumor be started about a merger or whatever, being seen with certain influential people, having impact on stock prices. Busy, busy, busy.
As his accountant said, it can be intriguing, traveling all over the world, meeting other famous people, staying in the finest hotels, eating in the finest restaurants, etc. but he said sadly, “It’s all work, and it gets old very fast.” He has no wife, no children; he said he doesn’t even have a goldfish or a dog. Any relationship he has never lasts because of his “constantly–on-the-move lifestyle.” As he looks ahead he said, “When I get old, I’ll have a lot of money but when I get sick, no one will be there except the hired help.”
This is what he told my friend, “You wouldn’t want my life or Mr. Big’s life. We have everything the world has to offer at our finger tips but we’re lonely and cold inside.” The personal assistant said, “You can talk to very few people in confidence because you don’t know who you can trust, so all your relationships become cold and distant and shallow. You ask yourself, “Is he a true friend or is he just trying to get close to Mr. Big?”
To us, sometimes the grass seems greener on the other side of the fence. But many times once we experience the other side; it’s not as green as we once thought.
What a sad life. In the eyes of the world you have everything; in reality you have nothing.
O, Lord Jesus, thank you for the simple life. Help me to appreciate my position in life. Take away my desire to have it all when in reality I have it all in you. Come Lord Jesus, Come.
Ecclesiastes 12:1-7 -- Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, "I find no pleasure in them"— before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars grow dark, and the clouds return after the rain; when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men stoop, when the grinders cease because they are few, and those looking through the windows grow dim; when the doors to the street are closed and the sound of grinding fades; when men rise up at the sound of birds, but all their songs grow faint; when men are afraid of heights and of dangers in the streets; when the almond tree blossoms and the grasshopper drags himself along and desire no longer is stirred. Then man goes to his eternal home and mourners go about the streets. Remember him--before the silver cord is severed, or the golden bowl is broken; before the pitcher is shattered at the spring, or the wheel broken at the well, and the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
Ecclesiastes 3:9-14 -- What does the worker gain from his toil? I have seen the burden God has laid on men. He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil--this is the gift of God. I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere him.
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 -- Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandment, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.
After a business meeting, my friend had dinner with “Mr. Big’s” accountant and personal assistant. It is a world few people ever get to see, much less gain valuable insight into the workings of such a life style. The group travels on private jets and move around in private limos. Dinners are held in the finest places. The places where this man works-out are the best in the world. His yearly income is over $50 million dollars. Some of us would consider this type of lifestyle to be intriguing but is it?
The “employees” told my friend that they have to move on private jets since “Mr. Big’s” presence in a public airport would make such a ruckus. Dinners at the finest restaurants have to be private so no one could turn the place into an autograph-seeking circus. Movement from the hotel to the gym is done in tinted glass limos so no one can see inside. When this man moves, his whole staff moves and they are on call 24 hours a day. Security has to be cleared in almost every move. Security must be coordinated with local police; business meeting sites must be discrete less any rumor be started about a merger or whatever, being seen with certain influential people, having impact on stock prices. Busy, busy, busy.
As his accountant said, it can be intriguing, traveling all over the world, meeting other famous people, staying in the finest hotels, eating in the finest restaurants, etc. but he said sadly, “It’s all work, and it gets old very fast.” He has no wife, no children; he said he doesn’t even have a goldfish or a dog. Any relationship he has never lasts because of his “constantly–on-the-move lifestyle.” As he looks ahead he said, “When I get old, I’ll have a lot of money but when I get sick, no one will be there except the hired help.”
This is what he told my friend, “You wouldn’t want my life or Mr. Big’s life. We have everything the world has to offer at our finger tips but we’re lonely and cold inside.” The personal assistant said, “You can talk to very few people in confidence because you don’t know who you can trust, so all your relationships become cold and distant and shallow. You ask yourself, “Is he a true friend or is he just trying to get close to Mr. Big?”
To us, sometimes the grass seems greener on the other side of the fence. But many times once we experience the other side; it’s not as green as we once thought.
What a sad life. In the eyes of the world you have everything; in reality you have nothing.
O, Lord Jesus, thank you for the simple life. Help me to appreciate my position in life. Take away my desire to have it all when in reality I have it all in you. Come Lord Jesus, Come.
Ecclesiastes 12:1-7 -- Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, "I find no pleasure in them"— before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars grow dark, and the clouds return after the rain; when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men stoop, when the grinders cease because they are few, and those looking through the windows grow dim; when the doors to the street are closed and the sound of grinding fades; when men rise up at the sound of birds, but all their songs grow faint; when men are afraid of heights and of dangers in the streets; when the almond tree blossoms and the grasshopper drags himself along and desire no longer is stirred. Then man goes to his eternal home and mourners go about the streets. Remember him--before the silver cord is severed, or the golden bowl is broken; before the pitcher is shattered at the spring, or the wheel broken at the well, and the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
Ecclesiastes 3:9-14 -- What does the worker gain from his toil? I have seen the burden God has laid on men. He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil--this is the gift of God. I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere him.
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 -- Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandment, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Bonhoeffer Movie
Jerry & I recently watched a DVD documentary on the life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer entitled “Bonhoeffer.” He was a German theologian, pacifist, Nazi resistor. We got the movie from the library and it is well worth getting. It was very moving and we’d like to share the following quotes with you. We can all learn from them. ~ Mrs. Beef
Compassion & Action
“We have for once learned to see the great events of world history from below, from the perspective of the outcast, the suspects, the mal-treated, the powerless, the oppressed, the reviled, in short, from the perspective of those who suffer. Mere waiting and looking on is not Christian behavior. Christians are called to compassion and action.”
After Ten Years
“We have been silent witnesses of evil deeds…we have been drenched by many storms…we have learned the art of equivocation and pretense…Experience has made us suspicious of others, and kept us from being truthful and open…are we still of any use?”
Compassion & Action
“We have for once learned to see the great events of world history from below, from the perspective of the outcast, the suspects, the mal-treated, the powerless, the oppressed, the reviled, in short, from the perspective of those who suffer. Mere waiting and looking on is not Christian behavior. Christians are called to compassion and action.”
After Ten Years
“We have been silent witnesses of evil deeds…we have been drenched by many storms…we have learned the art of equivocation and pretense…Experience has made us suspicious of others, and kept us from being truthful and open…are we still of any use?”
Thursday, February 08, 2007
Esteem others more highly then yourselves
A friend of mine was not looking forward to a meeting with a friend with whom he had a serious disagreement. He examined himself, prayed hard to get rid of his judgmental attitudes and all the other negative emotions associated with the proposed encounter. He was struggling.
He came across the verse “esteem others more highly than yourself” Philippians 2:3 (KJV).
He realized he never esteemed his friend higher than himself; he never thought of him in these terms. He sat down and wrote two pages of how his friend is more talented, more creative and should be more esteemed than himself. His resentment and judgmental attitude melted away. The Word of God has power but the measure of a man is when he obeys it.
Thank you, Carl, for the reminder and your Godly example…be reconciled to one another.
He came across the verse “esteem others more highly than yourself” Philippians 2:3 (KJV).
He realized he never esteemed his friend higher than himself; he never thought of him in these terms. He sat down and wrote two pages of how his friend is more talented, more creative and should be more esteemed than himself. His resentment and judgmental attitude melted away. The Word of God has power but the measure of a man is when he obeys it.
Thank you, Carl, for the reminder and your Godly example…be reconciled to one another.
A tribute to Gail Schwandt
We heard it first on WCCO radio, a serious head on crash by the High School between Dassel and Cokato, one dead, one seriously injured. After living there for 17 years, our immediate response was “I’m sure we know who was involved.”
Emails flew back and forth, radios and TV’s listened to, news websites checked. Then the news came out, it was Gail Schwandt who was killed.
Gail Schwandt was the Family and Consumer Science teacher at Dassel-Cokato School for 15 years (FACS is Home Ec. to us old timers). Her example and impact on the lives of her students was widespread but I wonder if she knew that.
Our daughter, Katie is a teacher largely because of Gail Schwandt’s encouragement and example. To Gail, teaching was not a job but a passion. If she saw a flicker of passion for teaching in someone, she would fan that flicker into a flame.
When Gail was married, Katie was in charge of the guest book. When Katie graduated from high school, Gail stopped by and we visited for a long time. She and Katie had developed a special friendship. Gail was a genuine, caring teacher. Gail did it all with a calm assurance, impeccable organization, underlying sense of humor, and a beautiful smile.
Our son Andy called his friend Tommy to let him know that Ms. Schwandt had been killed. Tommy was a student of great talent with an irrepressible chip on is shoulder which did not endear him to many teachers. Tommy was labeled, he knew it, and took his lumps for it. But Gail saw under that hard shell and cajoled, encouraged and expected the best for Tommy and she was rewarded for her faith and patience.
When Andy told Tommy about Ms. Schwandt, Tommy did not respond immediately but when he did, the macho man, and all around American man said it best, “Ms. Schwandt loved me.” Tommy knew he had been blessed for knowing her.
Students gathered from all over to attend her funeral in Litchfield. I wonder if she fully understood the impact she had on her students.
So, the former Meeker County Dairy Princess turned teacher never lost her beautiful smile and unassuming easy going way. She was a mentor and yes, like Tommy said, she loved her students.
As I sit here writing, how sad it is that I never wrote to her when she was living to tell her all this…O Lord, may we encourage and lift up our brothers and sisters when there is still time.
To Gail Schwandt, Thank you for a life well lived. Amen.
Emails flew back and forth, radios and TV’s listened to, news websites checked. Then the news came out, it was Gail Schwandt who was killed.
Gail Schwandt was the Family and Consumer Science teacher at Dassel-Cokato School for 15 years (FACS is Home Ec. to us old timers). Her example and impact on the lives of her students was widespread but I wonder if she knew that.
Our daughter, Katie is a teacher largely because of Gail Schwandt’s encouragement and example. To Gail, teaching was not a job but a passion. If she saw a flicker of passion for teaching in someone, she would fan that flicker into a flame.
When Gail was married, Katie was in charge of the guest book. When Katie graduated from high school, Gail stopped by and we visited for a long time. She and Katie had developed a special friendship. Gail was a genuine, caring teacher. Gail did it all with a calm assurance, impeccable organization, underlying sense of humor, and a beautiful smile.
Our son Andy called his friend Tommy to let him know that Ms. Schwandt had been killed. Tommy was a student of great talent with an irrepressible chip on is shoulder which did not endear him to many teachers. Tommy was labeled, he knew it, and took his lumps for it. But Gail saw under that hard shell and cajoled, encouraged and expected the best for Tommy and she was rewarded for her faith and patience.
When Andy told Tommy about Ms. Schwandt, Tommy did not respond immediately but when he did, the macho man, and all around American man said it best, “Ms. Schwandt loved me.” Tommy knew he had been blessed for knowing her.
Students gathered from all over to attend her funeral in Litchfield. I wonder if she fully understood the impact she had on her students.
So, the former Meeker County Dairy Princess turned teacher never lost her beautiful smile and unassuming easy going way. She was a mentor and yes, like Tommy said, she loved her students.
As I sit here writing, how sad it is that I never wrote to her when she was living to tell her all this…O Lord, may we encourage and lift up our brothers and sisters when there is still time.
To Gail Schwandt, Thank you for a life well lived. Amen.
Sunday, February 04, 2007
Please Notice the New Link
I'd like to call your attention to a new link that I have added to this website. It is called Hewed Pillars and the author is Andrew Seehusen (this is the young man that I call Andrew the 3rd; he is not our son). His site is definitely worth reading. ~ Beef
Saturday, February 03, 2007
Quote from William Henry Biederwolf’s Sermon, “The Logic of the Cross”
"What a strange and distorted idea of life some people have! Even the Christian life has been misunderstood by some whom the world has been pleased to number among its holiest men. They have thought they could best live that life in the seclusion of a mountain cave or a monastery cell, out of touch with and unmindful of the confused and distracted world round about them so full of heartache and of need.
"Cloistered visions and mountain-top experiences may enrich the soul, but the vision dims and the blessing will not stay if heavenly experience is not translated into earnest service for a needy humanity. After all, this is where Christ was always found.
The village priest of austerity
Climbed up in a high church steeple;
To be nearer God, so that he might
Hand His word down to the people.
And so in sermon script he daily wrote
What he thought came from heaven;
And dropped it down on the people’s heads
Two times one day in seven.
In his age God cried, “Come down and die,”
And he cried from out the steeple,
“Where art Thou Lord,” and the Lord replied,
“Down here among my people.”
"All too much we fail to realize the place that self-sacrifice and service hold in the religion of Jesus Christ. They are the very heart of it. They are the religion of Jesus Christ. Christ’s whole existence, all the way from heaven to earth and back again by way of Calvary, was a continual outpouring of Himself for the sake of others. And He says, “If any man will be my disciple, let him take up his cross and follow me” (Mark 8:34)."
"Cloistered visions and mountain-top experiences may enrich the soul, but the vision dims and the blessing will not stay if heavenly experience is not translated into earnest service for a needy humanity. After all, this is where Christ was always found.
The village priest of austerity
Climbed up in a high church steeple;
To be nearer God, so that he might
Hand His word down to the people.
And so in sermon script he daily wrote
What he thought came from heaven;
And dropped it down on the people’s heads
Two times one day in seven.
In his age God cried, “Come down and die,”
And he cried from out the steeple,
“Where art Thou Lord,” and the Lord replied,
“Down here among my people.”
"All too much we fail to realize the place that self-sacrifice and service hold in the religion of Jesus Christ. They are the very heart of it. They are the religion of Jesus Christ. Christ’s whole existence, all the way from heaven to earth and back again by way of Calvary, was a continual outpouring of Himself for the sake of others. And He says, “If any man will be my disciple, let him take up his cross and follow me” (Mark 8:34)."
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