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.  

Octoberfest

Happy Friday!  It is a beautiful cool breezy fall day here, and not only is it Friday; it is also Octoberfest here at the seminary.  I am super excited for good Schlafly's keg beer, brats, and of course wonderful fellowship.  I have had a pretty good week all in all.  Wednesday I had Historical Theology and Pastoral Ministry.  In History we talked about Aquinas, who is of course a major early church writer.  However, what I got from the reading and what we talked about in class were two completely different things.  This meant that my paper I was about to turn in from the readings was completely wrong.  So I kindly asked for the professor's mercy, and he gave it to me.  He let me rewrite the paper so I didn't fail it.  I was very happy that one I didn't fail, and two that I got to go back and look through the text again with the right view in mind.  Then Pastoral Ministry was all about how a Pastor gambles on making decisions.  

Wednesday afternoon our group went to the Sherbrook Village nursing home as always.  Hunter, the one guy in our group, was having a terrible day and did not want to go.  To tell you the truth I actually thought about not going too.  However, we both went and we were both extremely glad we did.  He went back and talked to a guy he had already visited once, and it made his entire day better and all the bad stuff seem not so bad.  I went back and visited with Carl again.  I was so glad I went, because praise the Lord he gets to go home tomorrow.  I would have been very upset with myself if I had missed the chance to get to talk more in depth with him.  We talked a full hour and then some.  I could have sat there and talked with him (well actually I just mostly listened) for another three hours had I been able to.  He is such an awesome man, and I am so glad the Lord blessed my getting to know him.  He started out with his excitement about getting to go home, but then followed with his concerns about not falling again.  After this we started talking about his family and then he spent the rest of our time talking about his childhood, his brothers, his father, and so forth.  He is third out of thirteen. He listed all six boys by name in order, (which when he got to the third and listed Carl, he said, "That's me."  Made me chuckle) but then after listing all six boys by name, he said, "And I can't remember how many girls."  I take it he wasn't nearly as close to his sisters as he was with his brothers.  He told me his praises of the type of woman his mother was.  He told me all about his father.  He was a smart guy and an entrepreneur.  He was always coming up with new ways trying to make money and better himself.  However, he was greedy, a heavy drinker, and a big fighter.  Carl told me about how his neighbors would be talking to him, and all of a sudden his dad would be wanting to fist fight.  It was interesting because I think Carl had a lot of respect for his father, but certainly did not approve of his drinking and fighting.  He did tell me one story that I still laugh about, and the way he told it was priceless.  Carl told me he had done something that he got in trouble for and his mother said, "Wait until your father gets home."  So Carl told me he ran to the barn and climbed to the very top were the chickens roosted. When his father got home, he came in the barn and yelled, "Is anyone in here?"  

Carl told me, "I said, 'Nobody's up here but us chickens."  He stopped to just let a genuine rumble of laughter chuckle out and he slapped his knee almost in tears when he said, "How stupid could I be, what a dummy I was."  He continued to tell me he heard his dad coming up the ladder so he went down the back way and took off running through the fields.  He said his father never did catch him.  We both laughed for quite awhile. Carl would also during our talk, stop and say, “Aren’t you suppose to do the talking?”  I would tell him I was enjoying his stories and then he would also stop and say, “Am I boring you yet?”

It was such a great talk, and he told me that he could tell I was going to make a good pastor because I honestly believe my faith instead of just talking about it.  He also told me he considered me a friend, which made my day.  As I had to go I told him I was glad to meet him and wish the Lord’s blessings for him as he heads home.  I asked to close in prayer.  He told me he would love that so I did.  However, the cool part was as soon as I said amen, without waiting a second he started to pray.  I wish I could remember exactly how he said it, but he finished by saying something to the effect of, “Amen. Praise the Lord. Amen.”  I can’t remember exactly how he said the middle part but it was definitely an emphatic Amen!  I know he believes deep down in his heart, and I was glad to see my friend Ben and I could help him remember that faith.  I am going to miss him as we go back and he is not there; however, I know he is at home wife his wife where he belongs.

Rev. Roger told me that Celeste, the lady I had visited with for a very short while the week before, had told him at Bible study how much she greatly appreciated me talking to her.  I guess he said I must have really made an impression on her, because she is not the type to normally say anything about how something made her feel.  I was touched to hear this, because I hadn’t thought much about our visit since it was so short.  I guess a quick chat with a prayer can have just as much effect as a long conversation.   

Then Wednesday night, after work, I went to a lecture held by Dr. Beirmann.  It is a four week, two hours every Wednesday night, lecture about politics and Lutheranism.  Basically he is diving into the details of the two realms.  It was super fascinating, and it gave the four of us guys who went a lot to discuss and talk about after the lecture.  I plan to go to the rest of the Wednesday nights and hear the rest of what he has to say. 

Thursday was also a great day.  I went to all four classes, and the only downfall was that we didn’t get our Greek tests back.  Monday, however, we will get to see how we did.  I think I did pretty well, but will wait for the official results.  Last night I watched more baseball, and just hung out with the guys. 

Today is going to be an exciting day.  One of my friends from Seward, who is from St Louis, is home for fall break.  So she and I plan to hang out this afternoon.  Then tonight I work for a little bit and then Octoberfest. 

My thought for the day comes from Carl.  As he was sitting in his wheelchair talking to me, he was in such a better mood from the last time I talked to him.  The last time I had talked to him I believe he thought he was in the nursing home for good.  This week he had gotten the news that he was heading home.  He was in a better mood, his spirit was higher, and he was more willing to just openly talk.  This is a reminder of our faith.  Sometimes we forget that we are children of God.  We start to believe that this life on earth is the only thing that matters.  We get swamped with things to do, places to be, and concerns and worries fill the back of our mind.  We feel like we are stuck here.  Just like Carl thought he was stuck in that nursing home for the rest of his days, we start to think we are stuck in this life and then that’s it.  However, Carl got the good news that he would be going home.  This is the reminder we all need when we begin to feel trapped in this earthly life.  We need to hear the good news that even though we are here in this life, we are only here a short while before we get to go home.  Only difference is, instead of home being a house in St Louis, our home is Heaven.  We are children of God, we have been claimed by Him, and He placed His name on us in our baptism.  We live this live to the best of our ability, always praising and worshipping Him.  Then after this life is over, we are not stuck or trapped, but called home to Him.  Then we can recline at His table and eat in His presence while singing and praising His holy name.  All praise be to Him!

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you so much for the people we meet here on this earth that remind us that we are all Your children.  I thank you especially for the chance to meet and talk with Carl.  Please be with him Lord as he goes home to be with his wife.  Help them both to be happy, healthy, and strong in their faith and love for You.  Please be with all of us as we hear Your good news, and remember that Your name has been placed on us.  We are not stuck in this world because You are with us, and You will one day call us all home. We pray this and all other prayers in our heart through the name of Your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.   

Yesterday' Final Post I forgot to put up!

Hello for the third time today.  I told you I wanted to play catch up and write a couple extra posts.  I only have one or two more things I want to get off my mind and out in the open for all of you to read and ponder on. 

The first is from Pastoral Ministry class on Monday.  We were discussing things dealing with the call process.  We got on the topic of once you are at a church and receive a call to another church and what is proper procedure for the whole thing including letting your current church know.  This is when Dr. Utech started explaining that once you have accepted the call to the next church, you get the heck out of dodge from your previous church.  Once you have informed your current church you are leaving, you leave town, and cut all church ties as you go.  Now this I can understand, because once you leave, the new pastor is now their spiritual guide.  He is their pastor now, and they need to turn to him for their questions or advice.  If a previous pastor keeps contact with the church, he is going to make it very hard for that new pastor to feel like it is his church.  (I don’t literally mean his church because we all know it’s God’s church, but just in the sense of he is in control).  So like I said, I agree with this.  Once a pastor leaves a church, he can stay friends with those members he is already close too, and can even come visit them on vacations and stuff.  However, they need to keep their conversations to weather, sports, beer, or hunting.  All church matters are no longer your business as an ex-pastor.  This sits fine with me.  What sat so rotten in my gut was the last part he included in this discussion: retired pastors.  I have always had the idea (since I am a major day dreamer for those who don’t know this about me) that when I am getting up in the years, and realizing my retirement is coming soon, I want to accept a call somewhere (Lord willingly I get one) either back in Nebraska or Iowa where I have family and lifelong friends.  So when I get that final call, I will accept it, return to my old stomping grounds of the beautiful Midwest, and realize I am home.  This is when I can finally build a house of my own, on an acreage I have bought, and set my roots in one final place.  As a seminary student I am already aware of the fact, that a pastor never really has a permanent home (Other than Heaven).  A pastor takes a call, moves into the parsonage, and makes that his family’s home while they are there.  However, very few pastors ever stay at one church their entire life of ministry.  So it is only a matter of time before a call comes along and you know the Lord is telling you to go.  So you take it and move your family into the new parsonage and make that your home while you are there.  Moving to new churches and new places is just part of the life of a pastor.  However, someday I want a house I can call home before I die.  I want to build my dream house I designed myself many years ago.  I want either my acreage in the Midwest (or my small ranch on the Mountain front prairie; another dream of mine).  I want to settle in a spot that I know is the final place for me and my family.  This is the last time we have to unpack those boxes, the last time we have to decide where everything goes, and the last time I have to go out and meet people and make relationships in the community.  At the age of late 60’s or early 70’s, when I finally will have my student loans paid off (that’s a joke), I am going to be ready to already be a regular member of the town’s coffee group.  I will be set with the friends I already have, rather than having to go out and make all new ones.  So when I retire from a church, I am not going to be very happy remembering Dr. Utech’s advice that even then I need to get the heck out of dodge.  I am not going to want to up and move my wife and I, assuming I have one by then, and move our life again to a another new home.  I don’t see why I can’t retire, live out on my acreage with my wife, stay active in a community where I already know everyone, and just keep going to church under a new pastor.  I won’t even be on the voter’s council or board if they don’t want me to be.  I will be content just living out my final years as a semi-active member rather than the pastor.  Because in my mind, no matter where you go as a retired pastor you could cause problems for the church if you try to still be a pastor, rather than stepping back, admitting you are no longer a called minister, and just let the actual Pastor do his thing.  Maybe I am making way too big of a deal out of this; however, it really just sat wrong as I swallowed it in class the other day.  But I know that it is a long, long ways from now and by then maybe the Lord will have completely changed me into wanting to retire on a golf course in the south.   I will just put my trust in Him, and know He will lead me to do the right thing when I get there. 
Dear Heavenly Father, 

I know You are with me here at the seminary as I form into the pastor You want me to be.  I know you will be with me the rest of my life as I get called to Your church and do my best to serve You there.  I know You will bless me with many wonderful relationships along the way.  I thank you so much for being there with me through all of this.  I ask that You give me peace in my heart as I look forward to the future You have in store for me.  I ask that you always be and abide with me and all my loved ones, keeping us in the true faith always.   In Your Son's most holy name I pray, Amen.    

Focus on the Truth

Hello again to everyone.  I know I filled you in about my past few days with my last post, but I want to use this post to talk about a few things that have been on my mind.
I will tell you very quickly about my uneventful day today.  I went to Lutheran Mind this morning which as always, had my mind at work the entire time.  That’s one thing I love about that class; it is impossible to forget what we talk about in it, because it is so fascinating my mind keeps thinking about it for several days to follow.  After class, I took a four hour nap.  Then when I woke up, after a shower, I ran to Walmart for a few errands.  Now I am using the rest of my day, since I didn’t have to work today, to catch up on blogs and write my paper for class tomorrow.    
The first thing I want to talk about is Friday’s chapel sermon.  Dr. Gibbs preached again, because the guy who was assigned to preach couldn’t make it.  He used this example to tell us, “As pastors if you ever get asked to do something last minute to help out a fellow brother, just man up and do it.”  This was only the beginning of his motivational sermon.  I can’t remember everything he preached on, but I certainly remember the emotions he has us all feeling by the end.  He gave a wonderful sermon on the text of 1 Thessalonians 5:12-22.  It is a great passage reminding us how to live our faith.  Dr. Gibbs’ main theme was that while we do not know when Jesus is coming, we can be sure He will come again for us all.  We can always proclaim the truth that Jesus lived, Jesus died, and yet Jesus is alive again.  We can live our faith because we have the promising truth that Jesus is coming back for all of us.   He was preaching with such emphasis and force that it really got me pumped up.  My emotions were running pretty high, I had chills down my back, and I was ready to literally run out of the chapel sharing the good news with everyone I met.  My favorite part was when he finished by yelling as loudly and firmly as he could, “WE DO ALL THIS IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, THE SON, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT!  WE STAND AND SING OUR HYMN!”  Our hymn was “The Threefold Truth.” For those of you who don’t know it, it is a pretty rare, but beautiful hymn.  Its chorus is the threefold truth that Jesus was born, Jesus died, and Jesus still lives.  It fit perfect with Dr. Gibbs sermon, and even though it was a rare hymn that not many of us knew, we belted it out with the same force Dr. Gibbs had just preached.  It was just one of those services you walk out of feeling like you are ready to take on the world. 
The second thing I want to talk about comes from church Sunday. Tim, the fourth year seminary student, preached on the text in Matthew where Jesus and Peter walk on the water.  The twist he put on it which fits well was the baseball saying “keep your eye on the ball.”  He talked about how when Jesus says to Peter, “O you of little faith”, it doesn’t actually mean Peter didn’t have faith.  Peter had more faith than any of the disciples on the boat to step out of the boat and actually believe he could walk on water just like Jesus.  However, even though he had faith, the reason he began to sink was because he lost focus.  It was his lack of focus on Jesus where he failed, not his lack of faith.  Then he used this appropriately to show how we daily lose focus on Jesus.  We all sink, because we take our eye off the ball, Jesus, and lose focus even when we have faith.  The thing Peter did right was as soon as he started to sink, he cried out for Jesus.  He knew the only one who could actually save him was his Lord.  This is what we need to remember when we lose focus and begin to sink.  We need to remember the one who can truly save us, the one who never takes His eye off of us, and is always there ready to grab us by the hand and pull us out.  He is our Savior because he died on the cross to forgive us of our sins, but He is also our Savior because He daily reaches out and grabs us by the hand and keeps us from sinking in our sin.  I just really liked that analogy, plus the idea of Peter didn’t lack faith, but focus.  We have faith; we know we are claimed children of God.  We just don’t always keep our focus on that fact, and that’s what causes us to see the waves and wind around us, rather than our Lord standing right there in front of us. 
All praise be to Him that we can live our faith in the comfort of the threefold truth.  Our Savior came to earth to live among sinful humans, was killed by sinful humans, but rose again and is alive to grab us sinful humans by our hand and pull us out from sinking in our sin when we call His name.  We can proclaim His name because He is alive and does promise to come back again to prove His focus has never once left us.  All praise be to Him! 
Dear Heavenly Father,
We know we are Your children, we know You love us and claim us.  However, help us keep our focus on You, that we may live our lives according to Your Word and Your will, help us proclaim Your name as the Threefold truth.  Then, when we lose our focus, help us to always remember to call out Your saving name.  Remind us, that even when we lose our focus on you, You have never once lost Your focus on us.  Thank you for always being there for us, saving us, and claiming us as Your own.  In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, we bow before You, praising and worshiping Your name, and praying all of this.  Amen.              

Monday's Post

I wrote this yesterday and forgot to post it up for you. My apologies.
I send my greetings to everyone who is reading this.  I know it has been five days since I wrote last; however, I had midterms for both Greek and Hebrew.  I also had several papers for all the other classes, so it has been a busy five days.  I took my Hebrew test last Thursday, and I got it back today.  I received a B on it, which is pretty good in my opinion.  However the professor’s exact quote was, “Your scores were too high.”  He told us we should have all gotten low B’s instead of so many high B’s and A’s.  So he is going to make the next test harder to make sure we all get low B’s.  This literally infuriated me, as well as much of the rest of the class.  It just doesn’t make sense to us that a teacher would be upset with us doing well, and promising us it won’t happen again next test.   However, I am taking better notes and know exactly what to study now so hopefully I can still do well on the next one as well.  I have been getting A’s on all my papers that I have been getting back so far, so it feels good to know I can write quality grad school papers. 
Friday was a pretty good day for me.  I had to work that evening, and then after I got off work a few of us guys went down to a bar where one of our friends works.  The Cardinal’s, for those of you who don’t know they are in the playoffs, played Friday night.  We watched them play which was fun, and just had a good time with friends.  
Saturday morning I woke up and watched the hunting channel which I haven’t done for a long time.  Then I played in our intramural sand volleyball tournament.  That was a lot of fun with a great group of guys all just having a good time.  I worked lunch, went and watched the Preachers’ tennis match, and then worked again for supper.  Watching the tennis team play made me want to play tennis so bad; however, they are redoing our campus’s courts so we can’t play on them yet.  This new cashier supervisor job has been really good so far.  I am getting lots of hours, training all the new guys, and get free suppers on top of it.  Plus it just feels good to be trusted with the responsibility of the whole process.  I know my bosses enjoy it, because they can dump all the time consuming paper work and tasks on me, but I am glad to help them out. 
After all of that, Saturday night I thought I was going to have a stroke watching my Huskers.  I seriously think I am losing several years off my life each game I watch them play.  They did come back to win it, but it was nerve racking.  If Ohio State still didn’t had suspended players plus the injury of Braxton Miller, I think my Huskers would have gotten seriously trounced.  However, we put the full load on Rex Burkehead’s shoulders, and he carried it all the way to a 21 point comeback for the win.  Rex is my favorite player probably since Barry Sanders.  
Sunday was another great day at my field work church.  The fourth year preached and the second year did the liturgy, so Pastor sat in the pews with me.  It was exciting to see them up there and think about my chances coming very soon to begin helping with the service.  I am taking Worship class this next quarter and then after that I can do the liturgy.  This means I have to buy an alb, but I can handle that. 
Sunday afternoon and evening after we got back from church and lunch, I spent my time studying Greek for my test today. 
Today was a pretty good day.  I worked breakfast and supper today, but both of them were pretty slow so I did catch up on some reading.  My classes went well, besides the Hebrew predictions for the next test.  Pastoral Ministry covered more about our calls and how to properly handle the process.  I did have one thing from this that really kind of sat wrong in my gut; however, I will talk about it later.
So that is what I have been doing the past few days while you haven’t heard from me.  I hope this fills in the gaps and hope you can all understand that I will try to always keep up with this, but tests and papers properly take precedence.   I am just going to end this one with prayer, and then plan to write at least one, if not two more of things that have been on my mind lately.  Please be patient with me, always keep me in your prayers, and feel free to call me or email me anytime.
Be near me Lord Jesus, I ask you to stay, close by me forever and love me I pray.  Bless all the dear children in thy tender care, and take me to Heaven to be with thee there. 
Jesus Savior wash away, all that has been wrong today.  Help me every day to be good and gentle more like thee.  Amen.        

Carl

God's blessings on your day.  Hope you all had a wonderful day.  My day went really well.  I went to Historical Theology where we learned mostly about the Middle Ages struggling with the battle over church and state and they are to work together.  Then I went and met with my boss, and got the good news she is promoting me to Student Supervisor for the whole cashier system.  I will still be working my general labor hours, but then also now in charge of this.  It should give me about 15 solid hours every week, of work.  It did come with a few other benefits, but I am not suppose to directly tell about those.  It will be good, plus Kim my boss, knows she can trust me with any job, and says she loves my work attitude.  Thank you to all the people who have helped me learn how to not be too proud for any job, and to do any job with a smile.  As my boss at Concordia always use to say, "Be thankful for the thankless job you have."  So that was a highlight of my day.  Then I went to chapel and lunch.  After that was Pastoral Ministry where Dr. Utech actually taught us again.  We discussed the entire process of getting and accepting calls, and went into a lot of details on how the "placement" procedure works after we graduate from here.  This had a lot of guys shaken up, but I figure I have enough to worry about for today, tomorrow and this weekend, that a call in four years will be there if and when I get to it.  

So I was having a pretty good day.  Then I met with the guys for our Wednesday ritual of Institutional Module, and we headed to the nursing home.  I first got to meet with a very nice lady in the apartments named Celeste.  She seemed to be doing very well, and she admitted had her husband still been alive she wouldn't be there.  She did express that no matter how long she was there, it would never be home.  I think most people feel that way about any nursing home.  Just because they put home in the title, doesn't make it true.  We had a very nice chat just getting to know each other, but nothing to deep.  Then she began to give me the signs and clues that she was done visiting.  So I respected her wishes, ended in prayer and left.  I went back and asked Rev. Roger if he wanted me to visit with someone else with my remaining time.  He set me up with Carl.  Now I had heard very good things from my friend Ben that had already visited with Carl.  So I was all excited to talk with him and get to know him.  I was actually a little worried I would run out of time.  However, I started visiting with him, and my heart broke instantly for this man.  

He is 95, and has only been in the nursing home for three weeks now.  He is very low spirited about having to have help to get out of bed, get into bed, and get dressed.  He said, "A man can't last very long like that."  He started talking about how he says his prayers every day, but he feels like there is so much else going on in the whole universe and he is just a simple little man, so how could God possibly have time to think of him.  I was shocked and sad.  I just wanted to stop him from saying anything else and give him a two hour sermon based on the entire Gospel and its fullness.  However, I just let him go on and I just listened.  He went on to start talking about his wife, which again from Ben, I knew was his entire world.  He is 95 and his wife is 88.  They have been happily married for 72 years.  He brags about her non-stop, always telling the nurses, residents, and even me how beautiful she is.  He was talking about her and just so proud of her and the love he had for her.  He told me how when he dies he wants to be cremated and his ashes put in an urn.  He explained that way when she dies, he could be put in her casket with her and they could be together forever.  I could tell right then he was as true a romantic as any man hopes and dreams to be by that time in his life.  Then as we continued to talk, he looked past me and his whole face light up with the biggest, sweetest smile I have ever seen.  He practically yelled, “There’s my baby.”  I turned around to see his wife being pushed in a wheelchair towards us.  She was a beautiful lady for her age, but I know no matter how closely I looked at her, she would never come close to as beautiful in my eyes as she was in his.  They wheeled their wheel chairs side by side and gave each other a long kiss.  My heart was melting to see his whole mindset and spirit lifted as he got to kiss the love of his life and hold her hand.  I told him I wouldn’t bother him while his wife was there.  I did thank him for his time, and as I patted him on the shoulder I told him to keep saying his prayers.  I told him God is listening and hears him.  I hope it gave him some comfort, but I think his mind was already on his baby.  I do plan to go back and talk to him another week we are there, but I wasn’t about to ruin a second of his time he could be spending with the woman who you could tell was more loved by him than most women can dream of ever being.

My thought for the day comes from Pastoral Ministry.  While he was explaining how the whole call and first placement process works, Dr. Utech said that he felt this was the best possible system known to him.  He jokingly said that they could just trust the Holy Spirit to directly guide them as they threw darts with our names on it at a map to see where we would go.  Then he added, he believed God gave us brains, logic, and common sense to use to make wise decisions.  Also, I would like to argue that throwing darts to see if the Holy Spirit really guided us to our first call might be kind of like testing God.  So while I know hardly any of you have to deal with a call process for your vocation, you still make daily decisions that effect your life.  Do you just say, "Eh God will lead me where He wants me to go, so I am just going to choose the first answer cause it's easiest" or do you you say, "I will use the smarts God gave me to make an informed decision, but still pray that He will be with me"????  Hopefully you choose the second one, but I am not so sure we always do.  Dr. Meyer said in his opening sermon, "God gave you a brain, USE IT!"  Make smart, well thought out decisions, pray for comfort and peace with your decision, and then get out there and proclaim the Gospel to all the little sweet men like Carl who doubt God hears him.  All Praise be to Him!  

Dear Heavenly Father, 

Thank you so much for making us Your prized creation, so special that we are in Your image.  Thank you for giving us intelligence and the ability to think before we act.  Please be with us in all our decisions, guide us, strengthen us, and always keep us in the true faith.  We praise Your name on high for knowing that You, our almighty, superior God, hears our prayers.  Please be with Carl, as he doubts You have claimed Him as Your child.  Help Him to remember that through his baptism, You placed Your name on him, and always hear his prayers.  Be and abide with us all, now and forever more.  In You holy name, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  One God, now and forever. Amen.  

My Grandpa!

Hello, and happy Tuesday to you all. Today was a pretty good day. I got up and went to Lutheran Mind. It was a really good continuation of two kinds of righteousness. We focused more on the idea of justification and sanctification. It was a great mind opening discussion as always. Then after class I went back to my room and ordered and printed out my deer tag for deer season! I am so excited I can't wait to be back in my bin top in the crick waiting for those Nebraska deer to try to walk past me. I am so glad I get to go again this year, since it just happened perfectly that my first week of our break at the end of this quarter lines up with deer season in Nebraska. Then I went to chapel, where I sat up front and heard everything, and then went to lunch. After lunch, I hung out with some guys and listened to them jam out their guitars. My unmusical talents just listened and enjoyed. Then I took a quick nap, which was much needed after the huge amount I ate at lunch. Then I went to work which lasted five minutes. We had to move one couch, so our three hour shift was over in in the five minutes. I am going to be picking up quite a few hours with this new cashier job I think. Since I have experience with the system, I offered to be kind of like a supervisor, and while they didn't exactly like that idea, I think they have plans to use me as more than just a cashier. I have a meeting tomorrow to find out. So it will be good to be getting more hours, but I really am going to have to organize my free time. So far the last two days, my work outs have been the time crunch that got cut out; imagine that. I did; however, get two of my papers done last night, and I read almost the entire book for the third paper today. So I just have to write that one paper, and study for Hebrew test and I will be keeping up with this week. That was pretty much my day, other than watching part of the Cardinals game, since it was on in the lounge. I am not really a baseball fan, but when I have been forced to pick a team, I have always picked the Cards, so it's fun to watch them.
Last night was the highlight of my week. I called my Grandpa, who for those of you who don't know, is my entire inspiration for being here at the seminary. Growing up in a small town, where he had been a pastor in the past, I always heard how much he was able to help people, or just always been a positive influence to people, even non-church members. So I from a very young age decided the vocation of a pastor, just helping people both with their faith and in any other way you can, would be a great life for me as well. Without hearing of how wonderful of a pastor and a man he was, I probably would have never given up my dream to be a cowboy driving cattle on the open range. So it was great to hear his voice again, and to hear he is doing well. He went in for surgery today to move the dialysis tube from his chest to his arm. I haven't heard how he came out, but he was certainly in my prayers today. He was honored with a plaque from his church in San Antonio for his anniversary of 70 years in the life of ministry. The Lord has used him to reach so many lost people, I can only hope to be half as great as he has always been. He spent his first several calls and many years going to mission churches and helping to start them as established congregations. He started the first Lutheran church on the main island of Hawaii, before if was an official state of the U.S. Not only did he bring uncountable people into the faith, he was a father of seven children, and many, many grandchildren and great grandchildren. He is now 94, and he graduated from the seminary here in St. Louis in 1941. While I doubt I have any of the professors he had, we were able to talk about dorms and buildings still being the same. It was so good to be able to talk to him, and he kept telling me how happy he is I am here and doing well. If I ever once think I can't make it here, all I have to do is remember I have his support and I know I will be just fine. I haven't gotten to see him in quite a while, and I do sincerely miss him. Thank the Lord for phones, so I can call him and talk to him.

My thought for the day is from chapel. We did something that I thought was really neat. After the sermon, we knelt to sing our hymn. The Pastor stated that we would kneel to sing, because it is also our prayer. It made me remember, we aren't singing those hymns just for any old reason. They are a serious part of the service. We are singing our praises to our Lord, and with certain hymns like today's, we are actually praying the lyrics to Him. It seems kind of obvious; however, I feel like most people who go to church every Sunday forget the little things like that. Singing a hymn may be just a chance to sit down, or a chance to think about what is on their mind since it's not an important part of the service to be listening to. Every part of our liturgical service, no matter how simple or short, is an important part. We need to be singing the hymns, loud and proud. One to remember that we are worshiping our Lord and we want to sing His praise for all He has done for us, and also that the words are pretty important themselves. They are normally either scripture based, or just straight up a prayer asking God to hear us. So I know this is a pretty quick, short point, but I think it's a good chance to remind myself, and maybe even you that we are at His service to grow in our faith and relationship with our Lord. That includes actually singing and listening to the hymns. All Praise be to Him!
Luther's Evening Prayer:
My Heavenly Father, I thank You, through Jesus Christ, Your beloved Son, that You have protected me, by Your grace. Forgive, I pray, all my sins and the evil I have done. Protect me, by Your grace, tonight. I put myself in your care, body and soul and all that I have. Let Your holy angels be with me, so that the evil enemy will not gain power over me. Amen.

My new office!

Greetings my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.  Today was a pretty good day.  I got up nice and early to go to work at my breakfast shift.  The two hour shift was very tough since I had a whole total of one customer.  The rest of the time I got paid to read while enjoying a nice breakfast for a change.  Then I went to classes which consisted of Hebrew Readings, Pastoral Ministry, and Greek Readings.  Hebrew Readings started off awesome.  He was talking about pushing our test back a week, which would have been perfect since it is one of four things due this week.  However, then one kid asked the wrong question that showed him we could still have it this week.  So now the test, along with my three papers being due, is still on Thursday.  We all just looked at that kid, and I really wanted to throw something at him.  However, this way it will be done and over with.  Then chapel was good, except I sat in back for the first time and realized I cannot hear well enough back there.  It didn't help it was Dr. Gibbs who is soft spoken, but his is one you do not want to miss anything.  So from now on I will be sitting closer to the front like usual to make sure I can hear.  Then we had our lunch with the new food and it was delicious again.  I am so glad we finally are getting great tasting, healthy food.  Then I went to Pastoral Ministry which was another presentation.  However, Dr. Utech was actually there for this one, and it was really interesting.  He was a church planter who had started his own church, and then branched off to start two more new churches from that one.  I do not think I would want to be the guy actually starting these new churches; however, I would love to use what ever established church I am called to, to fund and support a plant-mission pastor who is willing to start these new churches.  Especially since quite a few of my friends and classmates are the ones wanting to do plant-mission churches.  It would be great to work with several of them and be able to use each others strengths and weaknesses.
Then Greek Readings was just textual criticism, and translations.  However Dr. Gibbs did give us one word of his very strong opinions.  He reminded us to never get up and walk out, or walk in to church while the Word is being read.  If you have to get up to walk out or walk in late wait for a hymn or something.  Any movement directly disrupts the congregations attention to listening to the Word.  He reminded us of the importance of truly hearing His Word when it is being read.  So I will pass that on to you.  If you walk in late either sit in back, or wait for a hymn to walk in.  And if you absolutely have to walk out, wait until the reading is done.  Dr. Gibbs thanks you.
Then after classes, I decided to put my plan into motion.  The other day when I was roaming our dorm, I realized we have quite a few extra empty rooms.  I was thinking how nice it would be if I could use one of them, but they are all locked shut.  You may ask how do I know they are empty if they are locked, and the answer is every door has a mail slot on it about eye level, that you can flip open and look in.  However, I did find one room in the building that was propped open.  I let it go a few days to see if they would come by and shut it.  They didn't.  So now, with a little jimmy rigging over the door closure (absolutely not damaging the door in anyway) I can now shut the door, but it doesn't lock.  So now when anyone else walks by they will assume its been locked up, but really it is my office.  I don't plan on leaving anything in there, just in case it does get locked for real.  But it is a great spot to get out of my room and actually focus on homework.  I put the desk in front of the window so I can look out as I type, and placed the other furniture to best suit my open books and study needs.  I think it will extremely help me get a lot more reading and studying accomplished.  And if they ever need the room, its not like any of my stuff is in there, and the door is a two second fix to be locked.  So if you need me, I'll be in my office.  (That's fun to say, but I am sure that will wear off very quickly.)
My thought for the day very quickly since I have a ton of reading and homework left, comes from Hebrew Readings.  We are translating Genesis 3, which is the narration of the fall of mankind.  I am going to propose two main thoughts to you.  One I will elaborate on and use for a quick reminder to all of us.  The second is just something merely to ponder on.  First, did the devil lie to Eve when he told her that surely she would not die when she ate the fruit, and that God didn't want her to eat it because he knew that when she did, she would be like God and know good and evil?  While the devil is the father of all lies, I do not believe he directly lied to her on this one.  He did lie when he said she wouldn't die, because even though she didn't die immediately, she did die.  However, the second part I do not feel is a lie.  Now the important part to remember is Adam and Eve didn't know good and evil.  Why not?  Because everything God made in the garden was good.  They only knew good.  So what the devil is really saying is by eating this fruit you will know good (which they already knew) and evil (which they didn't know).  So the only thing they are really learning by eating the fruit is evil.  He didn't lie, but he worded the truth in a way that made a bad consequence sound good.  He made learning evil seem like a good thing in her mind.  This is the same way the devil tricks and tempts us.  Dr. Meehl used to always say that the devil doesn't tempt us with things we don't like.  He uses what we do like and what is appealing to us to trick us into sin.  So the next time something that seems really good,  and seems like it might be just worth doing something you know is just a little wrong, remember the devil whispers nothing but sweet soothing temptations into our ears.
The second thing to ponder on, which really has no importance what so ever other than it is just fun to think about, but what if Eve had eaten the fruit but not Adam?  Would she have known evil and sin, but he wouldn't have?  Would we have a bunch of men living forever, not having to work hard, and not knowing they are naked, while women are wearing clothes, having pain in labor and die?  Dr. Adams (who I asked to waste class time still hoping to get the test pushed back) stated that he believed the disobedience of Eve to God's direct command would have still caused the fall of all mankind to sin.  However, like I said, just ponder on it, but then remember both men and women alike are sinners who need the saving grace of our Lord Jesus.  Fortunately, He died and arose for all of us, men and women alike.  All Praise be to Him!
Dear Heavenly Father, 
We remind ourselves that we are sinful beings who directly disobey You daily.  We listen to the devil and his sweet lies, and we give in to them.  However, because we are still Your children, we know we are saved by Your grace.  We thank You for the death and resurrection of Your Son, by which is the only means we can be seen as clean in Your eyes, and know we are redeemed and one day headed home to You.  Please give us the strength to resist the devil, and fellow brothers and sisters in Christ to help keep us accountable to our faith.  In Your Son's most holy and precious name we pray. Amen.  

"Wild" Grapes?

The Lord's blessing's be with you.  Hopefully you noticed my blog's face lift!  I had a few constructive suggestions that the dark green was too hard to read on.  When I made it the first time I couldn't figure out how to get a picture for the background, but I found that possibility so hopefully you all like the new look.  I also got a suggestive hint from a helpful brother that my daily blog is turning into a weekly blog, so I will try to do better with that as well.  Although, this week is going to be a busy, busy week so I apologize in advance if I still fall short.  (As Dr. Gibbs would say, "It's ok, you are still baptized!")
This weekend proved to be almost as good as I had hoped for.  Friday was a blast.  I got my oil changed, then went to prof and stein.  We went to the Preachers soccer game here on campus.  They lost but it was fun to cheer for them, and I think they do appreciate us there cheering for them.  Then we went to Isofest, which was really good food, good beer, and fun times.  We went bowling after that, and it was a blast.  We had a group of about fifteen of us there, and only about a million laughs.  We also realized that Steven Jackson was bowling only two lanes down from us.  For those of you who don't know, (I didn't either) it is the Ram's running back.  Some of the guys talked to him, and he was really nice about it.  He just didn't want any pictures or give any autographs.
Saturday I had breakfast with my brother Nathan.  It was good to see him and catch up on everything he is doing.  He gave me the best birthday present ever.  I now officially have a ticket for the Hawkeyes Huskers game on my birthday in Lincoln.  I cannot wait to be back in Memorial Stadium hopefully watching my Huskers beating up the Hawkeyes.  Then I had to go to training for my new job.  I am the breakfast cashier one day a week.  For those of you who didn't hear, our kitchen was being redone, and while it was being worked on we had a catering service feeding us.  I don't mean to be rude but out of the tree weeks I ate there, I believe I had one meal I actually thought was good.  We were not disappointed to see them leave.  Saturday was the first day for the new kitchen and its food.  They do all their cooking in conventional (steam cooking I believe) ovens and there is not one fat fryer in the whole kitchen.  I love that because I think its fryer grease that normally bothers me when I eat it everyday.  However, this is suppose to be much healthier.  So we had training on working the new system, and then we ate the brunch.  It was absolutely delicious.  I was very impressed.  Then I had to work supper Saturday night because the other cashier couldn't make it, and so I ate supper there again, and it was also very good.  I am excited for good food again.  We get lunches everyday, they are included in our room and board.  We have to pay with cash or credit card for breakfast and supper, but they are very reasonably priced for the amount of food and the quality of food you get.  I don't normally eat breakfast, but I will days I work.  Then I don't plan on buying supper every night, but it will be good to have as an option if I don't feel like fixing anything, and its better than fast food.
Then I went with some of the guys over to one of the married guys house to watch the Husker game.  They played terrible and lost.  I am still a hundred percent behind them, but I was thoroughly disappointed with their performance and especially with the play calling.  Our running game was actually doing quite well, and our quarter back is definitely not a throwing quarter back!  So what do we do, decide we should only throw the ball, and end up throwing three interceptions.  I don't mind Martines because he does have his strengths, but he also has his weaknesses and its the coaches job to know those and organize around them.  Oh well, we still have plenty of chances to prove ourselves in the Big Ten.
Today went really well.  Went to church, and I read the lessons.  Then I sat in on one of the Sunday School classes.  I loved it, and wish everyone would go back and hear the lesson from a child's point of view.  After all, Jesus said nobody can come to Him unless they have the mindset of a child.  I just love to watch little kids learn about Jesus, because they are still excited to be learning the stories.  I don't know why at some point kids and even most adults get bored with their faith.  Then we went to lunch with Pastor as always.
When we got home I took my Sunday nap, and then got up and started homework.  Like I said this week is going to be a busy week.  On top of my usual classes, work, nursing home visit, and homework, I also have my new cashier job, two papers, a book report, and a test as well as continuing to work out hopefully.  We will see how it goes, but I am not worried.  Just a matter of getting time management down.
My thought for the day comes from this morning's lessons/sermon.  For those of you who went to church and your church is on Series A readings, you should have heard about the beloved vineyard.  Isaiah 5:1-7 and Matthew 21:33-46.  What I want to especially point out is one time knowing Hebrew actually helps.  Almost all English translations use the word "wild" to describe the bad grapes that produced.  He plants the best grape vines he can, and yet it was bad grapes that grew on them.  Rather than just bad though Pastor used putrid, or I like nasty for the adjective. One, wild does not fully express how bad the grapes where, and two when I heard wild grapes grew, I thought of whole new wild vines growing and overtaking the good vines.  However, it was still the choice vines that produced the rotten, nasty grapes.  This fits properly because the vineyard is a metaphor for us, God's people.  God created the world, the elaborate,awesome, beloved vineyard, and planted His choice vines, us His choice children.  He sat back and waited for His beloved creation to produce a wonderful harvest the best grapes which makes the best wine, or in our case, best service to Him which makes the best praise and worship to Him.  However, we His children, His choice vines only produced putrid, rotten, nasty grapes, or sins!  We weren't the choice vines who were overtaken by wild vines growing up around us.  Some Christians would say this is more fitting.   They are still the choice vine who would produce the best grapes if those wild vines around them weren't stopping them.  This use of wild and its implication here makes it seems as if unbelievers are the ones to blame for our grapes being nasty.  However, this is completely wrong.  It is us, His choice vines, producing the nasty grapes.  We have no one to blame but ourselves.  We were His choice vines, placed in His beloved vineyard, with a hedge, wall, and tower for protection.  We we placed in the best place we could be, overlooked on by our master who truly loved us.  And yet, all we did was produce nasty, rotten grapes.  We were His prize creation, created in His image.  Placed in the garden of Eden, watched over and protected by our Master who truly loves us.  And yet all we did was fall into sin, and produce terrible, nasty service to Him.  However, instead of destroying us or giving up on His love for us, He decided to save us.  He sent His Son to gather the harvest from His tenants.  (Matthew reference now.)  Then when we killed His Son, who came to save the harvest, He still did not give up on His love for us.  Rather He rose His son from the dead, and claimed us as His forgiven children.  Now someday, we can be brought home to Him as His harvest, not because we produced anything worthy, all we did was continue to produce our rotten, nasty fruits.  But because we are His beloved, because He saved us, redeemed us, and washed us clean of our nastiness, through the death and resurrection of His Son, He will consider us His harvest.  What a wonderful and gracious God we have to love even us, to see past our nastiness, to the choice wine we are through the saving grace of Jesus Christ.  All praise be to Him!
Dear Heavenly Father, 
Thank you so much for not giving up on us when we produced a putrid harvest.  Thank you for sending Your One and only Son to come and save us, Your choice vines gone bad.  We do not deserve Your grace and love, but through the death and resurrection of Your Son, and the power of the Holy Spirit, our nasty harvest can still be made into a plentiful harvest for You.  For this blessing of grace, and all other blessings You give us, we do truly thank you.  We ask that You continue to be and abide with us all, until You call us home to You. In You holy name, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, One God now and forever more, we pray. Amen.