Christmas is almost here!

Hello to everyone.  This week is almost officially over.  I only have two classes left to sit through and them I am north bound.  I have the car packed up so I can take off right after classes and head for the sweet life of Nebraska.  Speaking of my car, it cost me quite a bit of money this week.  Last weekend it decided to spring a leak and leak out all the coolant.  So I took it to the mechanic.   They had to replace two gaskets, a gasket cover, the water pump, and drive belt.  It was not cheap; however, they did give me twenty percent off for being a seminary student.  They have a seminary student who normally works for them, but he is on vicarage.  Also, many students and even professors go to this mechanic so they have decided to do the discount which is really nice.  The guy at the front desk who I got to talk to several times told me he and his wife are LCMS Lutherans.  It is also nice because I feel like I can trust them to do a good job and be honest about it.  It is fixed and ready to make the drive home and Lord willing nothing else goes wrong with it for a very long time. 

This week has been a really good week with friends.  I spent most of the week playing board games, hanging out, and watching movies with the guys.  This meant that I had a lot of homework to get done yesterday and today.  However, I did get it all done and done well in my opinion.  I think I did really well on my test I had today.  I also had to write four essays for it outside of class, which I did last night and this morning and feel they are very well written. 

Tomorrow is FINALLY moving day for Bill and Jami.  For those of you who do not know this story, let me fill you in.  I met Bill through working maintenance and grounds at Concordia, Seward my sophomore year.  We worked together almost every day and got to be pretty good friends.  It was not long until I was helping him outside of work with whatever he needed help with.  He has been remodeling an old house he moved onto a new foundation for six years now I think.  I started helping him on Saturdays with mostly demolition, but also most of the new construction too.  I helped him shingle it two summers ago too.  I eventually grew to know all of Bill’s family and was slowly adopted by them all.  They are the family I go hunting with every fall.  They have been a blessing in my life.  Well this last summer when I lived in Nebraska while working for the state, Bill and Jami, his fiancé, gave me a free place to live.  I lived in the basement of this house they are remodeling.  There was power and water in the house; however, no air conditioning, no toilets and no showers.  It was literally a gutted house that over the summer got dry walled, painted, plumbing and electricity ran officially, and everything else done.  However, the basement was cool enough without air conditioning, and all the construction upstairs never bothered my bed in the basement.  Bill always laughs when he can say he let a broke pastor-to-be live in the basement of his abandoned house for a summer.  I would go to the house where Bill and Jami are renting to shower, eat supper, and hang out with them.  Literally all I did in the house that was being remodeled was sleep and store my clothes.  It was quite the experience and definitely a story I can tell my kids when they think times are rough.  Well anyways, now that you know that whole story, the exciting part is the house is officially finished and they are moving in for good.  They also just so happened to time it the week I came back to Nebraska.  But I really don’t mind helping them move and am excited to see them living in it finally. 

The rest of the week I am excited to see many of my friends in Nebraska that I didn’t get to see at Thanksgiving because I was hunting the whole time.  Monday I am going to run out to Grand Island and see my friends Ben and Shalee whose wedding I was in two summers ago.  They just bought a new house and are fixing it up too, so it will be good to see them and their progress.  Then Tuesday night I plan to go to York to see my friends Robbie and Jen, whose wedding I was in this last summer.  I worked with Robbie at grounds in Seward, and he is the one who got me the state job.  I also hope to see my friends Ally and Matt whose wedding I am fortunate enough to be in this coming fall.  It will be a busy week, but definitely good to see so many friends I have been missing. 

My thought for the day may seem simple, but it is a message that can never be expressed enough.  As Advent winds down and Christmas quickly approaches, do not forget the true meaning of Christmas.  Christmas is not just the birth of our Lord.  It is His birth, but with that we must remember all that this includes.  Jesus was king reigning in Heaven on His throne, but left to be born of a virgin, taking on flesh, becoming the incarnated Christ.  He lived a life on this earth among God’s people, being tempted by the Devil, teaching and preaching to people who did not accept Him.  His life from birth to ascension is the story of our salvation.  It is not two events, Christmas and Easter, but one solid story for thirty-three years from the birth to ascension.  It is the one event of Jesus walking this earth for so many years that is the entire reason we are able to be claimed as children of God.  So December 25^th will come and go.  You may spend it with family or friends, eating good food, and enjoying the day.  This is indeed a great way to spend the day once you get out of the glorious church service praising our God for sending His Son.  However, December 26^th please do not think Christmas is over.  Do not forget the story of our savior until Lent and Easter.  We must daily remember what our gracious God has done for us, His sinful children.  Christmas is a day of celebration as we praise the Father for sending us His Son as our Redeemer, but each and every day of our lives should be a day of celebration that we are forgiven, baptized children of God, who do have the hope and promise to one day be home with Him in Heaven.  All Praise be to Him who decided out of His love and mercy to save us through His Son, by the power of the Holy Spirit. 

These three prayers were one essay I had to write for my test so I decided to include all three of them.

Dear Heavenly Father,

You created this world, the whole universe, and even the great heavens all with Your words.  You formed man with Your hands in Your own image, and gave him life with Your own breath.  When man destroyed his relationship with You, it was Your love and mercy that set forth to restore the bond, rather than wipe man off the face of Your created earth.  You restored the relationship with the use of Your One and only Son.  He paid the price man never could.  Not only did Your restoration include complete salvation through Your Son, but You also gave man Your Spirit to strengthen his faith in You.  Your creation continues through the power of the Spirit, through Your Son, bringing man back to You.  Amen.   

Dear Jesus Christ,

You were sent by Your Father to His creation.  You were born in the flesh.  You lived amongst creation, teaching them Yours and Your Father’s ways.  You through the power of the Spirit, whom descended upon You at Your baptism, healed the sick. You knew man could never repair the broken relationship between him and Your Father.  So You came to be the Ultimate Sacrifice, the perfect Lamb that would pay the price for all sins.  You were beaten, nailed to a cross, and died for the sake of all sinners. Then You arose again by the power of the Spirit and ascended into Your Father’s kingdom, where You reclaimed Your throne.  There You sit and wait for Your second coming when You will rise all of us with You to take home all who have believe in You.  Amen.   

Dear Holy Spirit,

You who have been sent by the Father and Son dwell in the hearts of all believers.  Without Your presence, no man can ever believe in the Father who created all things or in the Son who came to earth, died, and arose again to save this earth from sin, death, and the devil.  You descended upon Jesus at His baptism, just as we received You through our baptism.  The men at Pentecost could not understand the disciples until You came down as flames on their heads and opened the hearts for all to believe, just as we did not know the Father, Son, or You until You opened our hearts to believe.  It is by Your power that the Son is our Savior who restores us back to the Father.  Amen.  

Just keep shoveling!

This is my second thought for the day as I promised in the last blog. I received this in an email from my friend Aaron Hannemann.
The ox analogy: 

This is a story of a man who wants to get into agriculture. He starts cultivating the soil and realizes that this is a lot of work. So to take some ease off of his shoulders he buys an ox. He then has to build a barn for his ox. He puts his ox in the barn. Everything is great until the man realizes that the ox’s poop is piling up in the barn. So he grabs his shovel and starts to scoop out all the crap. He then realizes that this is a lot of work too and that it won’t end any time soon.
What is the man to do?
He could avoid the situation and leave the ox to his shit. This is what a lot of men do today with the shit in their life. They take long “business trips,” go to the bars and the clubs while their wives and children are at home. Or maybe he is consumed with his fantasy football league, video games or some other hobby. Does this take care of the shit?
He could abuse the situation and beat the ox with the shovel. Many men will try this out. The shit will pile up at work or in the home and they will verbally or physically abuse their family or destroy their body. Is this going to take care of the big heaping pile of feces?
What has God called us to do?
God encourages us to keep shoveling. He said that we would toil in this life. And when you are about to complain about all the hard work, just remember the crap, i.e. sin we have piled on God and His creation. Thankfully he doesn’t avoid us. Thankfully he doesn’t hit us over the head with a shovel. No. He sent His Son to die for our sins instead. Thank You Jesus!

Definitely thought this was worth passing on to all of you.  The "shit" of daily life seems sometimes to be unbearable, but remember Jesus' words, "For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (Matt 11:30).  Jesus wore the hardest yoke and heaviest burden of all, EVERY SIN OF EVERY SINNER, and He wore it proudly knowing that we could never handle it, and thanks be to Him we never have to.  All Praise be to Him!

LSB Collect 172

Gracious Lord, we give thanks for the day, especially for the good we were permitted to give and receive.  The day is now past, and we commit to You.  We entrust to You the night and rest in Your peace, for You are our help, and You neither slumber nor sleep.  Hear us for the sake of Your name.  Amen 

NY's resolution

Greetings to you all.  I know it has been almost a week since I wrote last.  I do apologize.  Also, I was looking at my old posts and realized that I only had three posts in November and only three posts so far in December.  As I come up on a busy week and then another two weeks of break, I am realizing it is going to be hard to keep up with this for the rest of the year.  However, my goal of this blog is going to change slightly in 2012.  I really did enjoy it when I was writing daily, but it is not really practical with my school work, work, and time with friends.  So my New Year's resolution is to shoot for at least twice but hopes for three times a week.  That is my plan of attack.  Hope you guys continue to enjoy this blog.   

This last week has been a pretty good week.  I got through all my classes and homework last week, minus a few reading assignments.  This weekend was really fun, just spent most of it with friends.  Then this week has had its ups and downs already.  I worked a bar tending job last night and it was a very high profile event.  However, we pulled it off very successfully and got many compliments.  Then after we cleaned up, we sat around with a few bottles of left over wine and champagne, some left over plates of food, and we ate, drank, and just had a good time.  We laughed the entire time and it was a blast.  Then today I didn't get much accomplished, other than taking my car to the mechanic.  It was leaking coolant, so I took it in.  Then at six o'clock tonight my phone decided to finally receive my voice mail that the mechanic had left at four.  Some times technology makes me so angry.  So now I will have to call them back in the morning and find out what they know about my car.  Hopes and prays are that it is something simple.  

So I have two thoughts for the day.  One comes from an email from my friend.  The second one comes from my own original thinking.  I will put the second one in its own post right after this one.  My own thought for the day is from a comment that I made to a friend.  He was talking about being ready to go out in the world and start sharing the Gospel.  He wants to see if he can get a job with a church, and all his job would be is to go out, meet people, share the Gospel, and recommend the church he is working for.  He made the comment that he doesn't need a four year education to witness to people.  I told him that if that is what he wants to do, good for him.  I also told him I do not feel adequate and prepared to be out there working yet.  Then I thought about it to myself.  How lazy could I be?  What an incredibly terrible excuse for me to hide behind!  Here I am writing several times in this blog, and telling people I meet that it is EVERY Christians' duty to be a witness and spread the Word of our Lord.  And yet, even still I find an excuse to not go out and do it myself.  I use my education as a wall to hide behind instead of a tool for bettering my spreading the Gospel.  I tell myself I am not ready just because I haven't finished my classes here, when ninety-eight percent of all Christians never take a single class here.  I just wanted to look in the mirror and say, "Satin, get behind me."  But that doesn't work since I am Satin in that scenario.  I am the one who is hindering the spread of the Gospel, when I am suppose to be doing everything in my power to support and increase it.  So my thought is this, you do not have to be an ordained pastor, you do not have to be a theology major, you do not even have to be a highly educated person to tell others that Jesus loves them.  Any Christian who knows that they are a forgiven, baptized child of God can and should tell everyone about our Lord and Savior, including me.  It was a good reminder that as a pastor, if I really expect people to listen to me, I must be a witness to it through my actions first.  I do not want to be a hypocrite or Pharisee telling others to live a different way than I do.  So I am ready to be out there telling others about Jesus, because by His Spirit, I do know His love and forgiveness.  I love what I am learning here, and I do need the education to be a good pastor, however, to be a good Christian I just need to remember all my Lord has done for me and have the courage to tell others.  All Praise be to Him who has forgiven me and does indeed love me.  

My prayer is a hymn I love:

LSB 826

Hark the voice of Jesus crying, “Who will go and work for me today?

Fields are white and harvests waiting- Who will bear the sheaves away?”

Loud and long the Master calleth; Rich reward He offers thee

Who will answer, gladly saying “Here am I, send me, send me?”

If you cannot speak like angels, if you cannot preach like Paul,

You can tell the love of Jesus, You can say He died for all.

If you cannot rouse the wicked With the judgment’s dread alarms,

You can lead the little children To the Savior’s waiting arms

If you cannot be a watchman, Standing high on Zion’s wall

Pointing out the path to heaven, Offering life and peace to all

With your prayers and with your bounties, You can do what God commands;

You can be like faithful Aaron, Holding up the prophet’s hands.

Let none hear you idly say, “There is nothing I can do,”

While the multitudes are dying And the Master calls for you.

Take the task He gives you gladly, Let His work your be;

Answer quickly when He calleth, “Here I am, send me, send me!” Amen.  

Not Quite a Monk

Greetings to you all in the name of our loving Father.  Today was a very busy day, I am just now sitting down in my room for the first time all day.  I had my four classes, chapel and lunch, work, Inter-mural basketball, and then Preacher basketball.  Worship class was good this morning.  We covered vestments and then moved on to prayers.  One fun fact I never knew happened during Sem X happened here in the 70's, (if you don't know what this is, I can explain it more to you but it was not a highlight in our history here at the seminary), but I guess when the walk out occurred they took with them our campus vestments, chapel Crucifix, and several pieces of art work from all around campus with them.  We have one cope, which is a vestment, left from before the walk out.  Not really life shattering news, but a fact I didn't know until today.

Confessions was great again.  We continued to discuss the Trinity and how the seven councils effected the creeds.  I got a letter from one of my Adopt-A-Student donors, and I was so excited to read it, that I read it during the first five minutes of class.  The letter was a great letter and I am so glad to be communicating back and forth with several of them now.  Also, the first five minutes was only review so I didn't miss anything.  

The afternoon classes, Missions and Reformation, went well too.  Missions is still a struggle to get anything out of his lecture, but I think I am getting all the important stuff.  Reformation is more time covering the most random side topics one could imagine, however, it is pretty cool to see how the professor is able to relate those random topics back to the Reformation to get us back on track.   

Then I went to work, which was really not much at all.  I had to help the mail room deliver some extra packages and set up chairs in the Presidents room.  Nothing hard at all.  Plus I got it all done in time to make our IM's basketball game.  I didn't get to play a whole lot, but did get several rebounds while I was in.  I think I impressed my teammates if nothing else.  I don't know when all of a sudden I became half way decent at basketball because I haven't played since sophomore year of high school.  However, playing both pick up games and IM's I have been able to at least hold my own out on the court.  Maybe I'll tell myself I will try out for the team next year just to push myself to get into shape.  

Then after IM's and a quick walk over to Subway for a small bite to eat, we watched the Preachers actual basketball team.  They lost, but played very well against a really good team.  They are a really fun team to watch.  We try to make most home games and support them.  I know they put in a lot of time with practice and games on top of there classes and studies.  

Now I am writing this quick, need to do some reading of course, and then hit the hay.  My thought for the day   is from my Worship class's extra credit project.  Our professor gave us several different ways to get extra credit in the class.  Not because the class is hard, but because more or less it is his way of challenging us to try some of these things.  Some include attending chapel everyday, which most students do anyways, or else go to other denominations services, or chanting through the service for him.  The one I am specifically doing is reading all 150 Psalms in the quarter as personal payers.  His extra credit only requires us to read all 150 once through the ten weeks of the quarter.  I am personally raising that challenge to as many times as I can in one quarter.  In two days I am already through 20.  Now I do take the time to pray each one in a very sincere, prayer to the Lord.  However, it only takes a minute roughly for each one.  It is not hard to find time  between classes, first thing in the morning, or last thing at night, and make five minutes to pray two or three of them.  Luther as a monk used to pray all 150 each week.  The reason he knew Scripture so well was because as a monk he spent the majority of his time reading it over and over.  After a year or two of saying every Psalm every week, I bet he had all 150 memorized.  I am not trying to memorize them, and am glad I am not a monk in a dark cell reading only Scripture.  However, one thing Luther and the monks got right is, one can NEVER spend enough time reading the Word of the Lord. So I am not trying to memorize them, but if I can get in the habit of reading them regularly and daily as prayers, I could get to know them much better.  I am also using the half hour between class and work or between lunch and next class to just open my Bible and read.  I use the excuse that thirty minutes is not enough to pull out my texts books and notebooks and read very much of the assigned reading while taking notes in only thirty minutes.  However, today I got through nine chapters of Exodus in a half hour break.  If I train myself to use every free second I have to stick my nose in my pocket Bible and just read, I could possibly make my way through the entire Bible once or twice a year.  If I can do that starting now, by the time I am thirty or even forty I should know Scripture very well.  It is something that I am realizing is very easy to do, a great way to spend that time instead of wasting it, and a great way to always become more familiar to my Lord's Word.  I am setting the bar high and hoping I stick with it.  All Praise be to Him who gave us His word and revealed Himself to us in it.  

Since I am talking praying Psalms, I will use Psalm 20 (ESV) for my Prayer:

 May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble!

May the name of the God of Jacob protect you!

May he send you help from the sanctuary 

and give you support from Zion!

May he remember all your offerings 

and regard with favor your burnt sacrifices!

May he grant you your heart's desire 

and fulfill all your plans!

May we shout for joy over your salvation,

and in the name of our God set up our banners!

May the LORD fulfill all your petitions!

Now I know that the LORD saves his anointed;

he will answer him from his holy heaven

with the saving might of his right hand.

Some trust in chariots and some in horses,

but we trust in the name of our LORD God.

They collapse and fall,

 but we will rise and stand upright.

O LORD, save the king!

May he answer us when we call.

Amen.

Pastors are human?

Hello again, so I know I could have just included this post in with the last one, but for length reasons I decided to break it up. Plus, I am trying to keep up with this blog as best I can with my busy schedule, but since this week I didn't do that well with it, I decided two posts looked better than one. 

Today was another great Sunday. Tim, the fourth year at my field work church, and I went to church together. James, the second year at our church, is in Nebraska for his Grandpa's funeral. Please keep him and his family in your prayers. Since it was communion Sunday, I read the readings. Pastor gave a great sermon on the Old Testament Reading, about how God gives us double pay back for all of our sins. However, the point is the double pay back is not negative or revenge, but double blessings that we don't deserve for all our sins which should condemn us. The Gospel is always so good to hear each week.
Then after church, the Sunday School was preparing for their Christmas service so we just sat back and watched. The ladies group of the church did stop us after church and give us an early and very generous Christmas present. They told us they truly appreciate having us as a part of their church, which is always nice to hear. I really have been blessed by being assigned to Hope Lutheran.

Then we had lunch with Pastor like always.  We began discussing one kid who comes to Youth group over lunch.  He has had a rough home life, and now lives with his Grandma who is his legal guardian.  She does not come to church, however, she does fortunately bring him for church on Sundays he is an acolyte or for youth group other Sundays.  Pastor was telling us how the youth group were working on the Ten Commandments.  They were specifically looking at the last few commandments by the end of the session.  Pastor was explaining how according to these commandments even our thoughts can be sins.  This boy looked at Pastor and said, "Wow, Jesus really did A LOT for us when He died for us didn't He."  It hit a soft spot in me for a second as I silently gave thanks for this boy understanding the Gospel.  We all agreed that as Pastors it is always nice to have those moments when you see the light bulb turn on and someone really gets all that unfolds with the Gospel.  Here is this teenage boy who only comes once in awhile, is really just now working on his faith since he was never given the chance as a younger child, and the light bulb clicked on for him.  He understood that Jesus died for ALL of our sins.  Even a single bad thought that crosses our minds, even if we never once speak it or tell anyone else, it is still a sin that should make us imperfect and send us straight to our death and to Hell.  However, the Gospel lets us know that Jesus died for every sin, no matter how small or how big, they all fell on Jesus' shoulders as He hung there nailed to that cross.  That is definitely A LOT Jesus died for.  Thanks be to Him who makes us 100% pure and blameless, and because of His victory over the sin even our thoughts are forgiven and forgotten by Him.   

After church and lunch, I came back, changed, and Chris and I went to the gym. We played three games of one-on-one basketball. I beat him the first game, but then he went on a hot three pointers streak and beat me the next two games. We played some pool and ping pong on the stage which is the temporary game room to cool off. Just as we finished ping pong, two other guys showed up so we decided to play them in two-on-two basketball. Tennis Thursday, racquetball and tennis Saturday, and now basketball Sunday, I am exercising more this quarter than I have the last year. I also plan to play basketball for Inter-murals every Tuesday and volleyball for IM's every Thursday. So hopefully, just maybe, I can actually start losing some weight and be in a little better shape for once.
Tonight I am working on a bunch of Thank You's, these posts, some reading and homework, and then hopefully a good night sleep after playing so much basketball.
My other thought I wanted to include is an issue I have been thinking about a lot lately.  As I sit in class and look around the room, or when I am eating at the cafeteria and I scan across the faces, or even the other night at the faculty party as I watched the many professors all mingle together, I realized a huge fact.  Even though we are all here to worship one God, even though we are all taking the same classes, even though we graduate with the same degree, we are all our own individual self.  There are roughly six hundred students attending the seminary here in St. Louis, and several hundred more at Fort Wayne.  And yet, every pastor at every church is still his own unique self.  We use the same liturgy every Sunday, and we preach on the same text each Sunday, and yet no two services are exactly the same neither are any two sermons exactly the same.  God has given us each our own gifts and talents to use to be our selves as pastors.  So yes it is true, pastors are humans.  They have their strengths and weaknesses just like anyone else.  However, that is a pretty amazing thing in my view.  The fact that six hundred different people, who have had different back grounds and different up bringings, can all come together and work together to all serve one God.  I really appreciated it as I began mentally listing each professor's strengths.  They are all such amazing, intelligent, faithful men and yet each have their own gifts in teaching us.  Each class is its own class, offering its own education partly because each class is taught by a different man who uses his gifts to best teach us students.  Just as pastors use the gifts God has given them to best serve and guide the faith of their congregation.  Church would be pretty boring if each pastor came out of this institution a robot trained and programmed to say the same thing.  It is the personality and humanity of pastors that allows them to make personal relationships with their congregants which makes the Gospel personal and more meaningful.  If a robot tells you the Lord loves you and forgives you, or a pastor who has known you  for years, knows your whole family on first name basis, and has watched your children grow up, been there in times of death or times of celebrations like weddings and baptisms tells you the same thing, which one will actually make you feel loved and forgiven?  I think it is pretty awesome the Lord can use thousands of individuals to make up one body of believers.  All Praise be to Him that He loves us each enough to make us a special individual child of His.  

Dear Heavenly Father, 

You created every animal, bird, fish, and plant by your Word.  You created Adam and Eve with Your hands and breath and made them in Your image.  Thank you for also making us Your special children in Your image.  Please never let us forget who our loving Father that provides for and sustains us is, never let us forget ALL that our Savior, Your Son did for us as He died and rose again to forgive ALL of our sins, and keep Your Spirit with us always, that we may remain strong in the one true faith.  In Jesus name, who we worship with You and Your Spirit forever and always. Amen.  

Getting Story Time Straight!

Hello everyone. I started this post Thursday, but left the computer and never finished it. Thursday was an absolutely beautiful day here in St. Louis. It was sunny with just that perfect cool crisp air, but warm in the sun light temperature. I had my one class that morning, and then had to work lunch again. Then to celebrate the beautiful weather outside I played tennis with my friend Chris. It was an enjoyable afternoon. The rest of the day I spent reading with short periods of resting my eyes.
So far this quarter looks like all my classes are going to be enjoyable, and I think I only have three or four tests. However, I do have two or three projects/papers per class and enough reading to last me all of 2012. For most of you who know I do not enjoy reading at all and have spent all of my life avoiding these things called books at all costs, this is definitely a challenge and new experience for me. I am trying to keep up with it all and actually find the time to indeed do the readings.
Friday was another nice day, but I only knew from looking out the windows. Tuesday's and Friday's I am in class from 8 A.M. until 3:30 P.M. so I don't get to spend much time outside. Friday morning I did thoroughly enjoy one of my classes more than the rest. Lutheran Confessions 1 was the class. We started with the Seven Councils, and then began to fully dive into the Trinity. I really enjoyed it because it felt like a real theology class. I felt like I was finally attending the seminary. I mean Lutheran Mind was a good class for that, but it never covered anything as specifically as we began to cover the Trinity. I was fascinated with the entire lecture. Then that night I bar tended for the Faculty Christmas party with my friend Mark who is a second career Alternate Route Student. It was a blast because I got to introduce myself to many of my professors I had not yet met, while serving them wine and beer. Then the president's wife, who was in charge of the whole thing, sent food and a bottle of wine home with each of us.
Saturday I got up "early" (by my definition on a Saturday morning) and played racquetball with a friend. Forest Park, which is right next to the seminary, has free courts so we played over there. Then my funny story of the day began. Right as Jason, the guy I played racquetball with, and I got back to campus and were walking to the dorms, a couple stopped us and asked us where the Re-Sell It Shop was. So instead of trying to give them directions, we both led them down there. Since both the Re-Sell It Shop and Food Bank just moved into their new locations, the Re-Sell It Shop wasn't open. However, now they know where it is. The funny part of the story starts here. As we walked by the Food Bank, I saw a few students inside. Since I never went to shop at the Food Bank last quarter, I decided I would give it a try and pick up a few snacks for the room. So I walked in, and the lady who runs it met me at the door. I said, "I have never done this before." I meant I had never shopped there. She said great and led me to a huge pile of canned goods and told me they all needed to be sorted by vegetables, fruits, etc. I didn't realize they weren't open, and the students who were there were volunteering to help them get organized. She took my statement, "I have never done this before," as meaning I had never volunteered there before. That meaning was also true though. So rather than admitting that's not what I meant and feeling embarrassed, I just decided to sort those cans like a champion. I got through the whole pile and moved on to the Jell-O and pudding pile. I ended up spending two hours there helping them out. It was actually kind of fun and got to work with a great group of volunteers spending their Saturday morning helping out. I don't know if you can actually call it volunteer work though because I did get a few items of free food, plus a gift card for helping. The side scene in this story was played by my friends. They were all at brunch thinking I was supposed to be working and something might be wrong since I was skipping work. They kept calling my phone, but I wasn't getting a signal in the basement where the Food Bank is located. So I never answered which only made them more worried. When I went upstairs to eat and saw all of them, everybody new that I saw made some kind of "Glad your OK, we were worried about you, the guys are all looking for you" comment. The point of the story, I learned volunteering at the Food Bank is a pretty good way to spend Saturday mornings, and I have awesome friends who do care about me. Oh, also I really wasn't supposed to be working, so please don't think I missed work.
My thought for the day Thursday was a good one and I still want to discuss it, so I will say it here. I think I will write another post right after this with another thought or two. This thought comes from Hermeneutics class. One of our Reading Focus Questions, which is the daily questions over the readings, was from an article about how to properly interpret Scripture. The question was this, "Discuss the difference between making Scripture's story a part of your story versus making your story a part of Scripture's story." Now since you are reading this at your own pace it is OK if you want to stop here and think about that yourself before you continue reading how I took it and what we discussed in class.
My answer that I turned is was as follows: "If we see Scripture’s story as part of our story, we are making our personal story larger and more important than Scripture’s story. We are taking God’s story from creation to the second coming and trying to shrink it and cram it into our limited years of life. This doesn’t work. We must remember that the Bible, even though it is a book that is completed and published already, is the story, the whole story from creation to the second coming. The Bible is God’s story of what He has done, what He is doing, and what He promises to do. Our story is a part of this whole story."
This is pretty close to what we discussed in class with a few added ideas. One point Dr. Oschwald made that I really liked was that when we try to make Scripture's story fit into our lives, we look at the Bible and its stories specifically trying to make them fit into our lives. Rather than reading and learning the Bible as real events that did happen and show how our Father works, loves, and takes care of His children, we try to reach each section as if it has answers or keys for our lives. Also, when we remind ourselves that we are a part of Scripture’s story, it reminds us that we are indeed characters in His story. We matter to Him, because we are His children, we are a part of His story and that makes us pretty special. Not only does it give value to our lives, but also should remind us our Lord loves and takes care of us, just like He did for King David or Apostle Paul. We are His children; we are part of Scripture’s story that is still being told, because we are a part of God’s story. Even though our lives and stories will not be written down and added to the Bible, we can know we still matter greatly to our Father. It is the greatest story ever told, and each and every one of us has a lead role. All because we have a Father who loves us, forgives us, and claims us as His own. All Praise be to Him. 

Dear Heavenly Father,
You spoke at Jesus’ baptism saying You were well pleased with your Son, please let all of us as Your children live lives that are pleasing to Your sight as well. For we strive to be witnesses of Your love so all may come to You. In the name of our Savior, Your Son, Jesus Christ who lives and reigns with You and the Spirit, one God now and forever more. Amen.

Back to the old grind stone!

Greetings and God's blessings to you all.  I know I did a terrible job of keeping up with this blog over break.  However, while I was in Nebraska, deer hunting was the number one priority.  Then while I was in Adair, my parents still live in the stone ages and do not have the internet.  So it made it kind of hard to write to you all.  Plus, I enjoyed shutting my brain off for two weeks, although it is hurting a little right now trying to turn it back on.  

Before I get into the new quarter, I just want to say I had an amazing break.  Like I said I spent one week in Nebraska deer hunting and got one little buck that I thought was a doe.  I had a few shots at some pretty nice bucks, however, they were all on the run and I am not yet that good of a shot with rifle and scope.  I did enjoy being back in the creeks and stands and just enjoying the wonderful gift of nature the Good Lord has given us.  I also got to see quite a few friends, although not as many as I would have liked.  I plan to make a schedule a head of time for Christmas break to make sure I see more people.  Then I came home to Iowa for the second week.  I spent some time with friends, again not as much as I would have liked, and caught up on my relaxing and sleeping in.  I watched quite a few movies and was over all just a lazy bum.  I thoroughly enjoyed sleeping in, moving to the couch to watch a movie, and being completely unproductive.  

Thanksgiving was spent at home with my Ma and Pa.  Mom cooked a turkey and the sides while Dad and I hung a few Christmas lights.  It was an enjoyable day with a small portion of the family.  Then Friday (my birthday) I had an AMAZING day.  I took off early and went to Omaha where I met JoAnna.  We then went to Lincoln to watch our Huskers beat up those silly Hawkeyes.  We had awesome seats.  We were ten rows up from the west end zone and it was the closest I had ever sat at a Huskers game.  The game was a blast, and I am so excited for what may be the best rivalry in football history.  I then spent the rest of the day and that night with JoAnna and her friends in Lincoln and Omaha. It was just a really fun birthday.  With such a good birthday so close to Thanksgiving, I really had to stop and realize how much the Good Lord has blessed and spoiled me.  I have an amazing family who loves me, awesome friends, so many I can't even see them all when I go back, and just a wonderful life.  I cannot say thanks enough to Him who not only gives me His salvation and eternal life, but also every good thing that's in my life too. 

Sunday I went to church and then packed up the car and headed back down south.  I safely made it to the seminary and had the task of finding room in my tiny dorm room for all the winter clothes I brought back with me.  However, my creativity managed and it all found a place to call home for the next couple months.  

On Monday classes started again.  Monday's, Wednesday's, and Thursday's I only have one class at 8 in the morning.  However, Tuesday's and Friday's I am in class from 8 A.M. until 3:30 P.M.  I think I am going to really enjoy most of my classes.  I have one I am worried about simply because I can barely understand the professor's accent.  Monday's class was Biblical Hermeneutics.  We started discussing how and why language can be the number one obstacle for us as pastors.  The one exercise we worked through that was kind of fun and challenging was this:  You are approached by the government with this challenge.  They had buried radioactive waste in the desert.  It will remain radioactive for 10,000 years.  You are in charge of making sure that no matter what happens in the next 10,000 years the civilians living in this area (including the possibility of alien life form) will not be harmed by the radioactive waste.  So the challenge is how or what do you use that will be understood by all of human kind and all other possible life forms that there is a dangerous material there.  Our groups that discussed this challenge came up with all kinds of answers from titanium plates with every known language on it to booby trapped treasure beside it to distract the new civilians.  It was just a fun exercise.  I think it will be a fun class learning how to properly choose the exact terms and language that portray the same meaning to our hearers that we want to portray to them.  The professor seems to be a really good and passionate guy too.  

Today, I had all of my four other classes, starting with Worship, followed by Confessions, then Theology of Missions, and finally Lutheran Reformation.  I have Worship class with the Dean of Chapel, and he is very passionate and intentional about worship services and liturgy.  I know he has a huge knowledge bank on this subject, and I am excited to learn from him.  

Confessions had a great introduction session.  The professor admitted he fell in love with Confessions when he took the class as an M-Div. student.  He started explaining why we learn confessions before we dive into the exegetical classes (the classes that focus on Scripture, its meanings and definitions).  He said we all have "lenses" or "filters" that we use when we read the Bible.  We cannot help but already have them and use them from our life's experiences.  So we learn confessions first to hopefully help us see what the Lutheran "filters" are, and hopefully if we agree with those set "filters", then we can read the Bible using them.  One example he used was a puzzle.  As we read the Bible, we are trying to put together the puzzle of our faith and beliefs.  The confessions are the puzzle box cover that gives us a picture of what the puzzle should hopefully look like.  It is not the puzzle itself, and it does not replace or become more important than the puzzle, but is simply an aid to the puzzle.  Just as confessions do not replace or should not be held higher than Scripture, but are simply an aid while reading Scripture.  He then began to talk about how culture has shaped Jesus over history.  This was very fascinating and I am not going to type it all out, but would be more than happy to discuss it with any of you anytime.  

Theology of Missions is the class where I have a hard time understanding the professor.  He is from India and has a very unique way of speaking.  Also the class was right after lunch, so I had a very full stomach since lunch was extra good today.  Plus all the class rooms are a hundred degrees since they have the heat on full blast and it’s not really that cold out yet. The final knockout punch was the fact that he did not turn the lights on in the classroom.  I guess he must of thought the windows were enough light.  So a dark warm classroom while I sat there with a full stomach is not the ideal situation for a class where you really have to focus to understand what the professor is saying.  I never fell asleep, but I do not think I got very much out of the syllabus, which the only thing we covered today.  

Lutheran Reformation was the final class of the day.  The professor for this class is a very unique guy.  I had heard a lot of discouraging comments about him; however, I think I will actually enjoy his class.  He has a very unique way of lecturing with several side speeches and comments and a very dry but corky sense of humor.  I think it will be a good class to end the days I have four classes.  Plus I do think he will teach us some interesting stories and facts that text books do not take the time to include.  

Then after classes I bought my books and then had to work this evening.  So far it has been a good two days of classes.  It is really nice knowing I only have three weeks of classes and then another two week break for Christmas.  

My thought for the day comes from Confessions.  One thing we talked about in our discussion of how culture shapes our view of Jesus is how Americans who admire so highly their celebrities view Jesus.  It is easy to see both on T.V. with shows like Entertainment Tonight, and in magazines like People or Us Weekly, that Americans cannot get enough of their celebrities.  But what is it we really want to know about those celebrities?  Their personal lives right, including both the good and the bad, with everything from their kids, fashion, and religion to the scandals and affairs.  Well we Americans who want to know everything about all of these celebrities’ personal lives are looking to know the same thing about Jesus.  We want to know about His personal life, all the gossip both good and bad.  We focus on this so much more than the reason He came to earth.  We tend to overlook the reason He took flesh, was born of a virgin, lived teaching and preaching His Father's Word, and then died and rose again.  However, if we overlook the “what” and the “why”, only wanting to know the “who”, we are missing the whole message of the Gospel.  I am not trying to say it is a bad thing to want to know Jesus the man, but we also need to know Jesus the Triune God.  When we know this Jesus, then we know of our sins, our deserving Hell and death, God's plan of salvation, God's forgiveness, and God's eternal life.  This is the Gospel message and I do not know why anyone in any culture would ever want to over look that.  All praise be to Him.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you so much for a wonderful break, a wonderful Thanksgiving to remind me all that You do for me, a wonderful birthday, and a safe return to the seminary.  I ask that You be with me this quarter and help me to grow in my faith and education as I form into the pastor You want me to be.  I ask that You would bless all Your children with the graciousness and kindness that You have always blessed me with.  Help this Advent season be a time of preparing our hearts for the coming of Your Son, our Savior, in whose name we pray. Amen. 

Hit the breaks on this break!

Good afternoon to everyone.  I was hoping to be able to write sooner during the break than now, however, hunting has been my primary focus.  I feel bad because I really haven't gotten to see a lot of people I was hoping to see, but I haven't gotten my deer yet either.  I did get one small "doe".  I saw the deer laying in the grass about two hundred yards out, so I shot it and got it.  I thought it was a decent size doe. But when I got up to it, it was a tiny (the size of a dog) buck.  He doesn't have antlers so he still counts as my doe.  I am still trying to get my buck.  I have had a few shots at a couple but they were all running and I am not that good of shot yet with a rifle to pick them off on the run. I still have today and tomorrow to get my buck.
I left St. Louis Friday morning and drove all day.  I got to Adair, home, about 5.  I ate supper and grabbed my winter clothes and hunting clothes.  Then I went the rest of the way to Nebraska.  I got here and saw one friend. Then I met up with Bill and Jami and saw all the improvements on the house.  The abandoned house I lived in this summer now looks like a million dollar home.  The only thing they have left is a little trim, counter tops, and carpet.  Then they have to go through and clean everything and they will be ready to move in.  It will be an awesome new home for them and I am excited to see them in it.
Saturday we pretty much hunted all day.  Sunday, we hunted all morning, and then that afternoon and evening I got really sick.  I had a stomach ache all afternoon and then that evening by the time I got to the deer blind the pain was so bad I couldn't stand it.  I walked back tot he Jeep early and was burping up all kinds of acid and gross stuff.  Then that night when I got back to their house, I was puking and sick all night.  Monday I didn't go sit that morning, but by the afternoon I felt well enough to go back out with them.  I am feeling completely normal again and back to my full eating habits.
I plan to continue to hunt and see friends in Nebraska this week.  Friday morning I am going to go to Omaha to see JoAnna, and spend most the day with her.  Then Friday night I am headed back to Iowa because Nate and Kari and the boys will be at the parents.  Then I will spend the rest of that week in Iowa.  It has been a great break so far, minus being sick, but is going by way to fast.
I just wanted to give an update and let you know I haven't forgotten about you all.  Thank you for your continued support.  Hope all is well with all of you.
Dear Heavenly Father, 
Thank you so much for this wonderful break full of fun, hunting, and time with friends.  I thank you for keep me safe while hunting and thank you for helping me get over my sickness.  I appreciate all You do for me and all my loved ones.  Please be and abide with us all, now and forevermore.  In Your Son's most holy and precious name. Amen.

To Be Continued...

Hello to you all.  I am extremely sorry I have really been slacking with this blog.  However, it is the tenth week of the quarter which means papers and text to the max.  I started the week with five papers, four tests, a vocab quiz, and a reading quiz.   However, I am now down to two papers and three tests.  The tests are all on Thursday and the two papers are due Friday.  I plan to get both papers done today and tomorrow, and then take all three tests Thursday of course.
I can't believe the first quarter is three and a half days away from being done.  It has went so fast, but has been enjoyable.  I have learned so much, and at the same time realized how much I have left to learn.  I really haven't been extremely cramped for time this past week, because I have still been able to enjoy Bible studies, tennis on the brand new courts, a movie with the guys, and enough time to not be completely deprived of sleep.  So it is not like I just did not have time to keep up with this blog.  However, after writing as many papers as I have written in the past week, and still two left to write, I am more or less just burnt out on writing.  My fingers have definitely gotten a great workout typing everything, and I have just needed the break from here to give them a rest too.  I do promise to write over my two week break as much as I can, and then next quarter start again with daily posts.  So I will most likely not write again until Saturday or Sunday, but will get back into after that.  Thank you for your patience.
My plan for break as of now is to go to class Friday, turn in my papers, then I have to work for an hour or so.  Then I will hopefully have the car packed so I can jump in and drive home.  I have to go to Iowa first to get my warm clothes, drop off my dirty laundry for mother, and eat supper of course.  Then depending on time, and how sick of driving I am, I would like to continue on to Nebraska yet Friday night.  I want to get to Nebraska so that I can get up about five A.M. Saturday morning, take the four wheeler, rifle, cup of coffee, and flash light to the creek, and then walk to my bin top and wait for sun rise. There is nothing better than sitting in your blind, tree stand, or in my case old roof of a grain bin, and waiting for the sun to rise.  Then as you watch the sun rise, you wait for the deer to walk past you and hope you get the shot at the big buck.  Last year I shot the first buck I saw, which was only a small four by three.  This year I am going to have a little more patience and wait for a decent size one.  I probably still wont be extremely picky, but hopefully at least hit a decent four by four.
Other than hunting, I will be busy hanging out with all my friends from college at Seward and trying to catch up with as many of them as possible. I also have some reading I would like to catch up on from this quarter.  Then the second half of my break will be spent back in Iowa with the family and friends there.  I think it is going to be great break, but fear it will be gone as soon as it starts.  Time only seems to go faster and faster.  
That is all I really wanted to write about.  I just wanted to let you know why I haven't been writing, reaffirm that I will be writing again very soon, and let you know my plans for break.  Thank you again for your patience and continued support.
Dear Heavenly Father, 
Please be with me as I finish my papers and tests this week.  Help me to finish the quarter strongly with good grades.  Thank you so much for the blessing to be here learning and growing in Your word and faith.  Please be with all of us seminary guys who will be traveling this weekend and grant us safe travels.  Thank you for every thing You continually give us.  We pray these things and all other prayers in our hearts in the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.  

Catch Up

Hello again to you all.  I know it has been almost a week since I have written, but it was one busy week.  I wrote several papers, and on Friday when I was officially done with all the week’s assignments and papers, I was burnt out on writing.  It was still a great week, even though it was busy.  I believe Tuesday was the last day I wrote, so I will try to fill in from there.  Wednesday I went to History class in the morning.  Then after class I went to the library and read for awhile, and then went to the cafeteria to write the remainder of one of my papers.  I went to my second class, Pastoral Ministry.  Then as usual on Wednesday's, our group went to the nursing home.  I got to visit with an awesome guy named Bob.  We talked about his time in the navy, and then his life long career in the dairy industry.  He was a truck driver, then a salesman for the ice cream division.  We had a very nice visit.  We only have one Wednesday left of our module, and I will miss getting to visit with the people there.  

Thursday I went to Lutheran Mind, which we just talked about different scenarios and how to handle them in the church.  Then Hebrew class was cancelled because Dr. Adams was sick.  We were all very glad, that class was cancelled, not that he was sick.  I went to chapel and lunch, and then to Pastoral Ministry.  We have been reading a book for P Min, all about the role of a pastor being an imitator of Paul who was an imitator of Christ.  Before each class period we have to read two chapters, and then in class we have quizzes over each chapter followed by a case study.  The case studies are real life examples from Dr. Utech's ministry, and they deal with the same topic as the chapter of the book we are looking at.  Then we met in our small group assinged for P Min, which we still do twice a week every week.  We normally just talk about classes, papers, the readings, life, or anything that is on our minds and then end in prayer.  I still enjoy the time we spend in these groups.  Final class of the day Thursday was Greek Readings.  We are into parts of Romans, Galatians, and Corinthians.  These are not the easiest books to translate, because Paul was a very complex writer.  However, I believe Luther was quoted as saying that a person can never spend too much time reading Paul's writings, and I strongly agree.  Then Thursday night, my one night of the week I don't have to work supper or general labor, I just hung out with the guys and did nothing productive.  We didn't have anything due for class on Friday, I had accomplished all my papers and assignments for the week, and I just decided to take the night off.  We had a group of guys in the cafeteria watching game six of the World Series on the 72" flat screen TV with surround sound.  It was such a thrilling game, going into extra innings, the Cardinals coming back twice, both times one strike away from losing it.  It was exciting.  A group of us guys went and got pizza.  Actually it was five of us guys, four my size or bigger and then one skinny guy.  We decided to take the skinny guy’s Ford Focus, which is tiny, and of course that meant he drove.  You should have seen three of us try to literally cram ourselves in the back seat.  I bet we looked like a clown car going down the road.  

Friday I had forgotten to set my alarm and slept right through class.  We didn't have anything due and I got the notes from a friend who was in class, so it wasn't really that big of deal.  However, it did ruin my perfect attendance for the quarter.  Oh well, apart from Christ, I have never been perfect in my life, so I figure why start now.  It will be the only class I miss this quarter though.  We are down to two weeks left, and I am realizing how much we have left to do in those two weeks.  Six papers, four possibly five tests, and four or five quizzes left.  That is a lot to cram into two weeks.  However, I don't doubt I can get it all done, it just simply means if you need me during the day, I will be in the library.  

Friday night two of my friends came to St Louis to go to game seven of the World Series.  They each paid a very pretty penny for their nose bleed seats, but they thought it was worth it.  I could never imagine spending that much money on a sports ticket.  Aaron Sailor, who I went to Seward with, came Friday afternoon so he and I got to hang out. He used to live at the seminary when he was in elementary because his dad was an admissions counselor. So he and I walked around campus, went to Prof and Stein, and then to the soccer game.  I took him to the Metro Link so he could get downtown for the game.  Every train car was packed to the gills and he was barely able to squeeze in.  However, he made it and then I walked back to campus to watch the game.  I watched game seven with a few friends and then waited for Aaron and my other friend Taylor to get back from the game since they were both staying with me.  It was fun to see the Cardinal’s win the World Series. 

Saturday morning, we all three slept in.  Then Taylor had to leave, so Aaron and I went to brunch and watched the Husker game.  He left to go back to Lincoln, so I continued to work and watch my Huskers play the best football they have played all season.  Then Saturday afternoon, I just hung out with a few friends until I had to work supper.  Two of my friends came with me and we played pinochle while I watched the register.  Then we all went out for supper with another friend to Applebee’s, and played pinochle there.  It was a fun evening, and I love the fact that I am getting to play cards more often. 

Sunday was another wonderful day.  The service was very nice for Reformation Sunday, and I helped by reading.  Then Sunday school was the second half of our movie we started the week before.  Then lunch with Pastor as normal, good food and conversation as normal too.  Then when we got back to campus, I took a quick nap, hung out with the guys for a short period, and then we had a study group for our Hebrew test. 

This morning I woke up and went to work at breakfast.  I was able to study the whole time for my test since we only had one guy come eat.  I took my Hebrew test after work.  I felt great about how I did, until I walked out and talked to a few other guys about their answers.  I still feel I did pretty good, just know I missed one or two.  I am just hoping to do well enough on this one to hopefully not have to take the optional final.  I went to lunch and then to Pastoral Ministry.  I got my test back and did quite well; better than I expected so I was happy about that.  Class was interesting to say the least.  We had a touchy case study and it almost led to a few battles between some of the guys.  There are a few of my classmates who take some of the stuff we are learning way to serious.  They get so worked up and worried about being an appropriate pastor according to synod policy, I fear they forget to just let the Gospel do its own thing.  There are also a few guys that are extremely book smart and just plain intelligent, however, I worry about some of their personal and social skills.  All that knowledge does them absolutely no good if they can’t use it to show God’s love and care to others.  Sometimes I wonder if they are just trying to show off in class to prove to the professor how smart they are, and then will be more humble with their congregation.  My only word of advice to them would be habits form without us always knowing.  My high school English teacher had a saying that went, “Bad habits that are practiced are turned from spider webs to cables.”  I have realized the truth behind that statement so much over the past four or five years.  I just hope they can find a way to use the gifts God has given them to best serve Him.

Then we met in our small group and continued the talk on the case study.  The only difference was the four of us all get along very well, and we were able to stay civil and under control the whole time.  Then we went to Greek class.  I got made fun of by the two guys sitting next to me, because an ant crawled onto my desk and I spent a minute or two playing with him.  They called me a big third grader, and it was actually fitting for the next thing that happened in class.  I got called on to translate and Dr. Gibbs kindly asked me to do two verses.  I started with the first one, but had miss parsed the verb so my translation was not very smooth.  Dr. Gibbs had asked called it a very “Tonto style” translation.  Realizing I had just butchered the verse, I asked him if he wanted someone smarter to do the next verse.  He along with the rest of the class all got a good laugh at my humility.  After class, I took a quick nap, and then worked supper.  I am now writing this quick, and then plan on knocking out a paper.     

My plan the rest of this week is to try to finish one paper a day, so I have my papers done this week and can study more for tests next week.  I can’t believe how quickly this quarter has gone by, and it doesn’t seem like only eight weeks ago I was moving in here.  On the other hand, this place has become so familiar and homely; it feels like it’s been longer than eight weeks at the same time. 

My thought for the day comes from our small group discussion after Pastoral Ministry.  We were talking about how serious self examination is for communion.  We started talking about closed communion, the reasons, practices, and personal experiences with it.  Then we got on the topic of how many times we have gone to the Lord’s Table with unprepared hearts, unforgiving memories, and unthankful attitudes.  We continued with how many times we have sinned immediately after or even during the Lord’s Supper.  Instead of smiling, filled with joy that we have just received the actual body and blood of our Savior, we look at who is sitting where or wearing what as we walk back to the pew.  We simply walk back somber and lack of expression, even though we just dinned with our Lord!  This brought us to three conclusions.  One, we can never self examine ourselves enough or find ourselves actually prepared enough to receive the Lord’s Supper.  The very nature that we are indeed sinners, means only by the grace of our Lord can we ever be “good” enough to receive the meal, which is itself a gift from the same God who gave us the grace that allowed us to receive it.  Everything comes from Him.  Second conclusion is we can never be without sin.  Immediately after receiving the Absolution or the Lord’s Supper from God, we IMMEDIATELY go right back to our sinful nature and sin!  We are nothing but purebred sinner’s who fail 100 percent of the time, by His grace and mercy alone are we ever seen as pure and clean in His eyes.  Third conclusion, we are not grateful enough for all He does for us.  We should be smiling ear to ear after kneeling or standing at His table receiving His body and blood.  We should be filled with joy, and want to run out of the church spread it with everyone we meet.  Instead, we walk with straight faces, silently back to our pew.  We leave the church complaining about too many hymns or the service lasting an hour and ten minutes, and completely forget what we have truly just been given.  It’s as if we only go to church to put in our hour there, and never once think about why we are there, and how we are being strengthened in our faith.  These are just three things to keep in mind next time you prepare yourself, receive, and enjoy the Lord’s Supper.  We need to prepare ourselves, cleaning our heart of all held grudges and sin, knowing our only forgiveness is from the death and resurrection of our Savior.  We need to keep our minds on what is actually happening as we stand or kneel at His table and receive his body and blood.  And then we need to celebrate what a gracious God we have and all that He has done for us, by sharing that good news.  All praise be to Him. 

Dear Heavenly Father,

We thank you so much that you are able to call us Your children.  Help us to remember that our only forgiveness and hope of salvation comes from the death and resurrection of Your Son.  It comes completely free to us, worthless undeserving beings, but at the highest cost to You.  Let us always use every second we spend in Your word, Your service, and at Your table for the purpose of strengthening our faith and allowing You to bring us closer to You.  In the name of our One true Savior, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You Father, and the Spirit, One God now and forever. Amen.  

Quick Hello

Greetings to you in the name of our risen Lord, Jesus Christ.  This week is the busiest week of the quarter by far.  Although the last two weeks won't be a whole lot slower either.  I did want to just spend a little time keeping up with this blog.  I hope you have patience with me, and will continue to do so.  This week alone I have five papers and three quizzes.  Those papers and quizzes include reading three books on top of the normal stuff.  However, I have two papers and one quiz done so far.  I plan to have completed another two papers tonight leaving me only one paper and three quizzes left for the week.
The rest of my weekend went just as well as it started.  Sunday, Mom and I went to my field work church.  We stayed for Sunday school, and then they had a pot luck as well.  They were very friendly to Mom which I was glad to see about my fellow church goers.  Then after the pot luck, Mom and I drove the back roads in Illinois to the Mississippi River.  We tried to find the Missouri-Mississippi River confluence, but we did not.  We did find a neat little park over looking the Mississippi River which was cool.  Then we drove back to campus.  I took a much needed nap while Mom went and walked around Forest Park.  We went and got Ted Drewes after that, which is always good.  Then I did homework for a while and she hung out around campus.  We had a late dinner and watched some of the Cardinal's game.
Monday morning, I forgot was another one of our small group Bible Study Chapel days.  This was disappointing to Mom because she wanted to go to actual chapel.  However, she took off and thankfully made it safe.  It was a nice visit with her.  Plus she brought me all kinds of goodies and even bought me some clothes from the book store.  It's true that the baby of the family is spoiled, but for good reason.  The baby is always the best child!
Monday I went to my classes, and then worked supper where I wrote one of my papers.  Then last night I was trying to do some reading, but the noise from the Card's game caught my attention.  I went and watched them and was upset with the two blown plays that pretty well cost us the game.   Last night at supper, a man came in and ate.  One of the administration guys brought him in and paid for his meal so I didn't think anything about it.  Then my boss called me and asked me to kindly talk to him to try to get his name because she couldn't remember it.  So I went and had a really nice visit with him.  He is a graduate from the seminary and originally from Iowa. Needless to say we had plenty to talk about and we talked for probably forty-five minutes.  I called my boss and told her his name.  Then I found out this morning security had to call the cops on him last night.  Apparently he was trying to get into the dorms and then ended up sneaking into the chapel to sleep for the night.  Security found him and kindly tried to talk to him.  They discovered he had no where to go and was going to sleep out side. He wouldn't accept money from them for a cab or anything, because they did offer it. Today, he was back on campus so a few higher-ups talked with him and it appears he is flat broke, nowhere to stay, but doesn't want cash or help.  He is truly a graduate from here and just wants to spend time in the library reading.  They told him he is welcome at the library during its open hours, and they gave him a meal ticket for tonight.  They did tell him however, after the library closes he is no longer welcome on campus until the next day.  I don't know where he is going to stay, or why he wants to be here, but I truly feel sorry for him.  He is a harmless guy who I think truly just has no one left in his life and no where to go.  He has two or three degrees and probably just figured he would spend more time learning. Please keep him in your prayers that he may find help and be OK.  His name is Curt.
Today was a great day.  I woke up and went to Lutheran Mind.  Then I went to the library and wrote another paper.  I was impressed how much homework I could get done when I sit done and just focus.  I think sadly enough, I am going to have to become a more frequent resident of the library.  I did quite a bit of reading this afternoon, and then worked general labor at four.  I am between jobs right now as I am bar tending again at seven tonight.  Then, after work, I plan to write my third paper, which is only five paragraphs, and my fourth paper which is only 500 words.  I think I can hopefully knock out both of those papers after work.  This will only leave me the three to five page hard paper left.  The only reason it is hard is because we have to come up with a scenario to write about and I have yet to think of one.  Lord willing I will think of one and write a well constructed paper around it.
That should fill you in on my past few days.  The weather has been extremely warm for October, and I am ready for cooler fall weather.  It is also in the back of my mind that in less than three weeks I will be back in Nebraska and Iowa with family and friends hanging out and hunting.  However, I do have quite a few papers and tests left in those two and a half weeks.  But I will survive by the Lord's blessings.
My thought for the day is just to please pray for Curt.  We all come to points in our life where we are not sure where to go and what to do.  Fortunately for most of us we have loved ones to turn to and help us out.  I believe his only family left is his mom and sister who are both in Arizona.  He probably can't afford to go that far, and figured here would be as good as any.  I plan to talk to him again if I see him around, and just ask the Lord to bless him with the help he needs.  I do believe everyone on campus has been very kind and offering as much help they can give to him.  Lord have mercy on us all!
Dear Heavenly Father, 
I pray that you be with Your child Curt.  Please help him to find whatever he is looking for, help all of us here at the seminary to show him Your kindness and love, and give him whatever we can.  Dear Lord please be with us all.  We are Your wandering sheep, drifting through this life, we all need Your guidance and direction. We pray all this and all other concerns of our hearts through the One and only Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ, Amen.  

Old friends making new memories!

I hope you have all had as many blessings in the past few days as I have.  Thursday I made it through all four classes, and then the fun began.  My classes were not very productive.  I don't know if it was my lack of sleep from Wednesday night, my anticipation of friends coming, or the million useless questions asked by a few individuals, but I literally felt I would have learned more by staying in bed.  However, like I said I made it through the day.  Then as soon as classes were over I meet my friends Andy and Katie in the book store.  We went to their hotel and waited for our friend Taylor to arrive.  Taylor was my roommate sophomore year of college.  He arrived and we all took the metro link to downtown St. Louis.  Now this weekend was full of firsts for me, and riding the metro link was one of them.  We got onto a metro car full of people wearing Cardinals gear, and we all got off right by the stadium.  I was impressed and fascinated by the atmosphere around Busch Stadium.  We meet Andy's parents at Caleco's which is a bar right by the stadium.  We watched the game there and enjoyed food and drinks.  It was a fun time.  Then we took the metro back, and all called it a night.  Friday morning, I got up and went to class.  Then after class I meet Katie and Andy at chapel.  We ate lunch and then they had scheduled stuff to do for their visit day.  So Taylor and I took the metro down town again and played tourists.  We went to the arch, and actually went all the way to the top.  It only cost ten dollars and was a blast.  It doesn't look nearly as big driving by as it does when you are standing directly underneath it.  Then we had to hurry back so I could work.  Then I went about a hundred miles an hour at work to make sure I got everything done before five.  I got done in plenty of time with the help of Tom who I was working with.  Then at five, Andy, Katie, Taylor, and I went to the Schlafly's Brewery tour.  It is a free tour with free samples at the end.  Needless to say it was a lot of fun.  The arch and the brewery were also both firsts for me.  Then Saturday night we all just hung out at the dorm with some of the guys.
This morning Taylor and I went to get breakfast.  We stopped by Sports Authority on the way because he wanted some more Cardinal gear.  I broke down and bought a Cardinal's hat so I can claim to be an official Cardinal's fan now.  Then he had to head home.  I worked brunch and then met up with Andy and Katie.  We hung out in their hotel room until, we went to Ben Riley's apartment so Andy and Katie could see what married housing looks like on campus.  We watched part of the Husker game with them.  Then mom got here and I have been hanging out with her.  She brought me all kinds of food and baked goods which is exactly what I did not need for my weight loss goal.  I will just make some good friends by sharing them with the guys, but still will enjoy several of them myself.  I am at work now typing this while mom went to walk around campus and the neighborhood.  Not sure what our plans our this evening but should be a good time.  The past few days have definitely been some of the most fun I have had since I got here.
My thought for the day is short but sweet since I am writing this at work.  Don't ever forget that the people we meet in life, and share our memories with are truly blessings from God.  He has given us each other's company because He made us to be sociable people who unite together in His name.  The devil can pick us off much easier when we are isolated.  We need good people around us at all times to hold us accountable, to enjoy the blessing of friendship and laughter, and serve Him by serving each other.  The Lord has always blessed me with the most amazing people as friends.  He gave me the ability to meet people and make friends very easily, which I am extremely grateful for.  I was thinking about that the other day.  I went to a college where I didn't know a single soul.  I went to the seminary where I knew maybe five or six people.  I was assigned a field work church where I didn't know anyone.  Yet, through every one of these moves, the Good Lord has blessed me with hundreds of new faces that I am proud to call friends.  I miss the ones I am not with, enjoy the ones here in St. Louis, and thank God for all of them.  All Praise be to Him.
Dear Heavenly Father, 
I thank you so much for the many, many wonderful people You have placed in my life.  I hope I have been able to be a blessing to them, as You have allowed them to be to me.  You sincerely do show Your love for me each and every day through blessings I don't deserve.  Help me to never forget to stop and thank you, confess my sins, and live my faith through a life pleasing in Your eyes.  All this I pray through You triune name Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, One God now and forever. Amen.  

Even on Gloomy Days You Love Shines Bright.

I send God's blessings to you all.  I know I did not write yesterday or Monday.  However, I wasn't having the best two days, and really was just not in the mood to write.  I also realized as I sat down last night to post something on here, that I do not want this blog to be a chore or obligation but rather something I enjoy.  So I didn't write the past two days because I didn't want to, and that's the only excuse I feel I need.  I hope you are all OK with that.  

The last two days were slightly downers but not even because anything terrible happened.  Part of it was the fact that the weather has been cooler, rainy, and just gloomy.  Another factor was that we got our Greek tests back Monday, and while I still did alright on it, it certainly wasn't as well as I had thought I had done on it.  It was mainly just a lot of little things that all added up to me not being my usual joyous self.  

However, today has started out much better.  I woke up in time to write the last paragraph of my paper for class.  Then I went to class and this was the first History class I was actually 110% paying attention, adding comments or questions, and fully enjoying.  We are discussing Luther and the time of the Reformation.  The main reason I was so excited during class was because I realized how much of this information I was able to recall from my undergrad classes.  I actually knew what we were talking about, and for once in my life felt smart.  Another kid and I even stayed after class to discuss the issue more with the professor, and I thoroughly enjoyed this.  Plus I hope it shows him I really am a half decent student.  After class, we walked out in to the cold drizzly rain.  I had gone to class so fast I had forgotten my coat.  I started thinking it was going to be a gloomy day again with this weather.  However, then I read Facebook and realized it is snowing in parts of Iowa.  Now if you know me at all, you will know I love snow and winter.  I am mainly excited because I would love for Nebraska to be covered with a nice thick layer of white snow for deer season.  So I will look at this gloomy rain as a sign of the joy of snow to come.  

Today is going to be a busy day.  I have chapel and lunch of course, and then Pastoral Ministry class.  I guess we have a test tomorrow in that class according to my friend Adam.  I am not too worried about it though, but I will still study tonight.  I then have my institutional module at the nursing home.  Then I work supper tonight.  We register for next quarter’s classes tonight at 7. Then as soon as I am officially registered, a group of us guys are going to hurry over to Dr. Beirmann's part two lecture of Politics and Lutherans.  I also have a paper to write and a test to study for.

However, one benefit to my job at supper is I can take my laptop and do homework. So I am going to write my paper at work and then study after Dr. Beirmann's lecture. It will be a busy day, but should be a great day.  I am super excited for the second half of this week.  My friends Katie and Andy are coming to visit the seminary.  He plans to attend the seminary next year, which will be an awesome addition to have them around here.  He was on the golf team with me at Concordia.  Then since they are going to be here, my old roommate who lives in Kansas City is going to drive over to hang out with us as well.  I will spend time with them Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.  Then Saturday night, mom gets here for the rest of the weekend.  It should be a busy but fun weekend.

My thought for the day comes from my friend’s blog.  He was writing about how his church’s meetings do not get anything accomplished and they just delay actions to their problems.  He rightly added that they seem to be worried and focused on the wrong issues anyways.  I have already written a couple times about how important it is that a church and its members do not focus inward, but rather that they accept their calling as Christians and turn their focus outward.  We as Christians are all missionaries.  Now does this mean we have to all sell our possessions and travel to a foreign land?  Absolutely not! (Pauline style there for those of you who didn’t catch that).  However, does this mean we are held responsible and accountable for the spread of our faith to those around us?  Absolutely! 

Our church building is important to most of us.  The financial means to keep that building up and running is an important item in most of our minds.  However, the people who fill that church and even more importantly the people who could be actually FILLING that building should be the main concern of our faith.  We come to that church to hear the Gospel, receive the Sacraments, and strengthen our faith.  Why?  So that when we leave that church, we can begin to go attend to the needs of the Church!  If Pastoral Ministry has taught me one thing, it is the importance of capital letters on our terms.  Call versus call, and Ministry versus ministry are indeed big differences.  The same is true for Church and church.  The term church with a lower case “c” is merely a building with walls and lights and decorations.  Now this is the house of the Lord; although, scripture tells us anywhere two or three are gathered in His name, there His Spirit is also.  So while the church is the home of the Lord, it’s only because it’s where His people gather. If an old church building is sold to someone who turns it into an office for their business, is it still the house of the Lord?  No. And why not, because His people no longer gather there, so it is just a building.  The term Church with a capital “C” is the whole Church, meaning all Christians together in the world.  It’s the collection of all His people.  This should be our main goal and focus.  A building can be torn down or destroyed.  A building can become too small or run down.  A building is simply a building.  However, the Church can never be destroyed, because it is protected by the Hand of the God it worships.  Think of all the persecution of Christians in the world.  Think of all the trials and troubles, the dark years and tough times Christians have already been though.  Did God ever let His people be wiped out or completely destroyed?  Absolutely not!  The Church is protected by the Hand of God, because it is important to Him.  It is His loved one.  Therefore, it should also be our loved one!  Put your trusts in the Lord, and He will provide the building and financial means to run it.  Put your trust in the Lord, and then go take care of His Church.  We are all one body in Christ!  We need to use that body to spread His love and faith.  That body needs to grow by reaching all those who do not know His love and name.  That is our calling, and we need to do a better job of accepting it and accomplishing it.  He will give us the strength along the way, so we need to use that strength to get out there and do our duty as Christians.  Then we can truly rejoice over every lost sheep, every lost coin, or the prodigal son.  Just as Heaven and its entire accompaniment rejoice over that one saved soul, so shall we.  Let us leave the 99 sheep behind and go find that one lost one.  Then we truly can rejoice because the Lord has used us to do His will.  All praise be to Him. 

Dear Heavenly Father,

We thank you so much for the blessings you give us, even on gloomy days. Let us never forget Your love shines bright especially in the darkness.  Help us to use Your strength and love to go out and reach Your children that do not know You.  Please be with us always and remind us to put our trust in You.  In Your Son’s most holy and precious name we pray. Amen.  

Best Reward

This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.  Hope every one had a wonderful weekend, and is ready to take on another week.  I had a pretty great weekend.  Friday night was Octoberfest as you heard.  I didn't get to eat any food because by the time I got there all 450 servings were gone.  The soccer team we played against brought a ton of fans because they heard we were having free food and beer.  However, I guess it's a great witness opportunity to serve them too.  I did get plenty of the free beer, so I was less upset about that.  It was a blast just listening to the live band (Polka Band), and drinking free beer with friends, professors, and staff all together.
Saturday morning I got up and worked brunch.  Then my friend Aaron suggested we should use the beautiful day to go down town and be tourist for the day.  I haven't had much chance to go explore all the cool things of St. Louis, so I was super excited to go exploring with him.  A couple more guys agreed to go with us after their college football game was over.  However, they didn't want to go do the arch, so we settled and agreed on Schlafly's beer tour.  However, when we got there all the tours were full.  So we went to Ted Drewes.  Ted Drewes is a famous soft serve ice cream place in St. Louis.  It was absolutely delicious, and we still had fun even though that was the most touristy thing we got accomplished.  We did however discover that three out of the four of us play pinochle.  We taught the fourth guy quick and played a couple games.  I haven't played pinochle for a long time so it was so much fun to be playing again.  They did have slightly different rules then I grew up with; however, I adapted quickly and it was exciting.
This morning I woke up and went to church as usual.  It was LWML Sunday, so one of the ladies read the messages instead of me.  Then after church I went to the nursery and spent the after church time with the little ones.  It was fun, but they were unusually restless according to the regular teacher.  I think the big 260 pound guy trying to sit in the miniature chair probably had a lot to do with it.  Then we ate lunch with Pastor as always, which I can never complain about.
When I got back was when the real fun of my day started.  My friend Matt, who is one of our dorm counselors (we call them our dorm moms) and my other friend Chris and I all went to the driving range.  We had a blast all realizing how long it had been since we had swung clubs and watching the rust come out in full clouds.  Then Matt told us about his usual routine after the driving range.  He tells himself that as long as he hit a few good shots at the range, he is allowed to stop at Krispy Kreme on the way home.  We all agreed we had all had at least a few good shots worthy of a reward.  In actuality, I think my best hit was when I was trying to prove I can still successfully Happy Gilmore the ball. (If you don't get this, it is from an Adam Sandler movie where he runs up to hit the ball).  I hit it probably 260 yards or a little further and straight as an arrow.  However, we all went to Krispy Kreme and got a doughnut and coffee.  Then I came back and started on homework for the week.
My thought for the day comes from enjoying a delicious doughnut after a fun hour at the driving range.  I think we all knew in our head that whether we did awesome or horrible, either way we were going to Krispy Kreme for our reward.  We told ourselves we had some good shots just to feel better about enjoying the delicious desserts, even though we mostly likely didn't earn it.  We tried our best, fell short, but went and enjoyed a whipped cream filled, chocolate glazed pastry anyways.  This is the same as our faith in life.  We go out and try our best to live our faith every day; however, every day we fall short by a long shot.  We deserve no reward for our efforts or results.  But the good Lord still gives us the best reward we could ever ask for.  YES, even better than that delicious doughnut.  He gives us the promise and hope of eternal salvation; not because of our efforts or attempt to live right, but because His one and only Son paid the price for all of our short comings on the cross and by the empty tomb.  Just as every slice, chunk, whiff, or worm burner   seemed to be taking us farther from earning our reward, our every effort to live like Christ is never enough to earn His mercy and love.  It is simply a gift from Him that He gives to us out of His love for us.  So Krispy Kreme is probably a ritual we will continue to enjoy after each occasional trip to the driving range, just as we can know that we are continually blessed by our Good Lord simply because He loves us, His children. All Praise be to Him!
Dear Heavenly Father, 
Thank you so much for the beautiful weather this weekend, and all the joy You brought to us.  We know that as sinful beings, we most certainly deserve nothing from You.  However, because You loved us so much, You sent Your one and only Son to save us from our sins.  We can live in the hope and comfort that You have forgiven us, and You have paid for our sins through the death and resurrection of Your Son.  We ask that You be with us this week.  Guide us to make wise decisions, stay strong in our faith, and live lives pleasing to Your eyes.  In the name of Your holy and precious Son, we pray. Amen.