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.