Greetings to you in Christ's Holy name. January was a blur. I cannot believe Lent starts next week already! I am in one of those times where Christmas feels like it was literally just yesterday, but at the very exact same time feels like it was six months ago already. So just to catch you up quick, in January, we hosted the blood drive, I went on an ice fishing trip, all of our small groups started back up, as well as all of the normal stuff. The blood drive went alright. It did not goes as well as I had hoped, we had twenty people come through that day. However, this was the first time Peace in Christ has ever hosted a blood drive so I guess you have to start somewhere. Next year, when we do it again, we plan to get a committee together and do both a phonathon asking for people to pledge to come give, as well as send out reminders the day before. I really just assumed with as large a congregation as we have, we would have no problem filling the time slots. However, that was still twenty more people than if we didn't have one and we learned from it.
The ice fishing trip was a blast. Eight of us guys left around 1 on a Friday afternoon and drove up four hours to the Lake of the Woods which is right on the Canadian border. We stayed in a lodge, more like a motel, where two rooms each had four single beds. It was nice though. We went out to eat Friday night and then played cards in one of the rooms. However, everyone was pretty tired from working all week and the drive, so we called it a night fairly early. Then we were up at 6 on Saturday morning to get ready, get coffee, and head out to the lake. We were able to drive our vehicles right out onto the lake. You drive across the four mile harbor, and then across a strip of ground and then out onto the big lake. We drove about six miles out onto the ice. I have driven on frozen lakes before, but this was crazy how there was a road system leading to all kinds of little villages out on the ice. We all felt like ice road truckers. Then we had rented two houses from the lodge. Luckily they were pretty close to each other so we could walk back and forth to share food and check out each other's fish all day. It was a fairly nice day in the 20's, but the wind was blowing making it a little colder. The nice thing about renting the houses was the fact that they leave the heaters on all night so they are nice and warm, but also the holes are still clean and ready to go. So we pretty much walked into the houses, got our lines ready and were fishing early. Sure beat having to drill holes, clean them out, set up tents, etc. Don't get me wrong, I still like to rough it fishing, but when you drive that far to fish one day, you want to spend as much time as possible actually fishing. Our house caught a lot fo little 8 or 9 inch walleye and saugers. We caught a couple bigger tullibee which everyone said they aren't good for eating, but us newbies kept them anyway. Then Joe, one of the guys in my house caught a 23 and half inch walleye which was an exciting battle. The other house had all the luck and caught 11 keepers. We packed up about 4:30 and headed back in. The guides cleaned our fish for us and we took them to a local restaurant where they cook up your fish for you. So we did appetizers, the fish, and pizza family style so everybody got to enjoy some. We had a few drinks and then went back to the lodge which had a heated garage with tables and chairs. We started playing cards and ended up playing until 1 in the morning. It was a blast of laughing, poking fun at each other, and getting to know everyone better. Then we packed up and came home first thing Sunday morning. We already have plans to go back next year, except we are going to rent a cabin which can sleep ten guys and we plan to fish two days. I am already excited for it even though it is a year away.
The other men's retreat is coming up at the end of February, but I have to preach that weekend since Pastor preached the weekend I went on my fishing trip. I will still get to go up Friday night and hang out, but then will have to come home Saturday to do services.
We started our small groups back up. So I am now either leading or attending five Bible studies a week. There are actually two more that I don't attend, but I love the fact that we have that many options a week for people to attend. Sunday morning between services, I am leading the Bible study as we work through Romans. It has been awesome. One, because I love Romans, and two, because it is very well attended. Then Sunday evening, Ruth the DCE, leads a small group of young couples through a parenting class at 4. I lead a small group at 5:30 and right now we are working through the book
Spirituality of the Cross. Our two groups ea supper together at 5 as our group is just starting and their group is finishing up. It works nicely and is a pot luck style meal every week. Then Wednesday mornings at 7 at Perkins the men's club meets for breakfast and Bible study. I try to make that one, but sometimes sleeping in wins. Pastor Ludwig leads that one, I simply attend to start my day off with the men. I'll tell you what though, eating out even just that one time every week adds up in a hurry. It's well worth the money though and is always a good breakfast. Then Wednesday mornings at 9:30 is normally our women's Bible study. Pastor Ludwig had been leading that one and I would attend once in a while. However, right now a member is leading a Love and Logic class on parenting. It is awesome. If you ever have the opportunity to attend a Love and Logic class, I would highly recommend it. And it works for grandparents just as much for parents. So I am attending that every week right now. Then Wednesday evenings at 5:30 I lead another small group that is currently working through C.S.Lewis'
Mere Christianity. That group grew quite a bit when we decided to work through that book. It has been a great group with awesome discussion. I love being a part of so many different groups with different people.
Now with Lent starting, our Wednesday night group will pause from meeting, but this works out because I am up to teach a couple units for the confirmation class. So life is good and really is not near as busy as it sounds. Most days, I secretly wish I was doing even more, maybe just cause I am crazy. (Don't tell my boss that though)! I know Lent will add to the busyness. I am also getting excited to go to Phoenix here in two weeks. The DCE, the two preschool teachers, and myself are flying down for the Best Practices conference. A couple of our members who are sisters and their husbands own a house in Phoenix and they have kindly agreed to let us stay there and use their car. My friend Chris is going to stay with us as well so we will have five adults and Chloe, the DCE's one year old, all in one house. It will be a blast to see all my classmates and friends who will be there, plus I hope to see all of my cousins, aunts and uncles that all live down there. Pastor Ludwig and I have agreed to take turns going every other year so after I go this year, I wont get to go back for another two years.
I have been reading through 1 and 2 Peter, 1,2, and 3 John, and Jude. You know those lesser know books. For being so short, they are filled with some very wise words. It amazes me how they warn what the enemy will try to do to hinder the Gospel and how all of those things are really happening in our world right now. God's Word truly is active and speaks to our current situation just as much as it did in the beginning of the church life. Beware of the false teachers trying to lead you astray with their words of deceit, like all those trying to get you accept what society deems as acceptable rather than God's Word. Stand fast in the true confession of Christ, be strengthen in His Spirit and through His Word. My prayers are for the salvation and safety of you all. In Christ, Amen.
