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.
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