Last Sunday (October 16) First Lutheran Church in Milford, Iowa hosted the celebration of my 25th year in pastoral ministry. It was a day I will never forget! My wife Dee secretly sent invitations to family, old friends, mentors and members of congregations I served in Sioux City and Sibley, Iowa.
The day included the renewal of my ordination vows that I first made on June 8, 1986 at my home congregation of Trinity Lutheran in Mason City, Iowa. Pastor Peter Soli, the Assistant to Bishop Michael Last in the Western Iowa Synod officiated at the renewal service. Also present were Pastor Woody Clauson (my internship supervisor from our year in Sibley back in 1984) and Pastor Glenn Savage, a retired pastor at First Lutheran in Milford. I was quite surpised when all three of my boys came up and read scipture together, looking so handsome and grown up. Talk about a major "lump in the throat."
The day also included special music, the celebration of Holy Communion, and a festive meal with program after the worship service. It was emotionally quite overwhelming as I sat there listening to letters of tribute/roast sent from friends who were not able to attend. Then, to hit me while I was down, my wife Dee ran a powerpoint presentation of my 25+ years in ministry including very incriminating photos of my tender years as a camp counselor at Ingham Okoboji Bible Camp.
I could have never dreamed up such an uplifting day of celebration. It took many people, working secretly behind the scenes, to pull this whole thing off. It was a little bit of heaven right here on earth.
When the idea of a celebration was first mentioned to me, I felt kind of funny about it. The Norwegian in me shys away from being put on center stage. But in speaking with a fellow pastor, he convinced me that such a celebration is more a focus on ministry and the common mission we share with God's people. Pastors and other professional ministers come and go. But the Gospel of Jesus Christ carries on from one generation to another. The 25th Anniversary of my ordination reminded me of all the amazing people God has placed in my life - fellow brothers and sisters in Christ who have been there to help me grow spiritually.
25 years in ministry is a cool vantage point! I can see from here all the twists and turns in my own spiritual journey and also the winding road that lies ahead. Some days I feel like I am just getting off "training wheels" and other days it seems like I'm finally starting to get it.
Over all, this past week was a humbling experience of God's grace. I was ambused by the love and encouragement of so many special people. My empty cup was filled to overflowing! Thanks be to God for his abundant mercy and many blessings!
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Monday, October 3, 2011
Where's the Bun?
Where’s the Bun?
(This is an article I was asked to write for preachers through the Luther Seminary "Working Preacher .org" online resource).
The approach of a new school year brings renewed hope as people begin finding their way back into our sanctuaries.
Many congregations experience a nosedive in worship attendance during the "lazy hazy days of summer," and so the approach of the fall program season creates new energy and excitement. Some of us actually look forward to the onset of cooler weather and shorter days since many of our members get plugged back into the congregation with new routines and commitments. This also includes "seekers" who may be visiting our congregations for the first time.How do we then take advantage of this small window of opportunity to reach some of the seekers who will be visiting our congregations during the early weeks of September? Do we preach differently on Rally Day and the Sundays following?
Many congregations already have plans to reach potential new members with exciting Rally Day activities, ramped up hospitality, and follow-up strategies. All of this is well and good. But what about our preaching plans? Do we make a special effort to address that vague restlessness that many seekers experience? Do we let their needs and concerns help shape both the content and style of our preaching?
I remember well the advice I received from a homiletics professor back in my days at Luther Seminary. He told me after listening to one of my sermons, "Vaage, have you seen the new Wendy's commercial? The one with the little old lady always asking, "Where's the beef?" When I indicated that I had, he continued, "Well, that's not your problem! Your sermons have plenty of beef...what you need is more bun."
"Where's the bun?" That question continues to replay in my mind as I construct sermons some twenty-five years later. That lesson taught me to place myself in the shoes of my listeners – to find points of contact in their everyday lives that will make the Gospel ring true for them. Sometimes we choke our listeners with too much "theological meat" and not enough "contextual bun."
People need to hear illustrations and images that speak to their daily experience. They need vital, life-giving points of connection to help them digest all the good theological food we hope to share with them.
So how do we find and then make those key points of contact? That's easy – old fashioned visitation. Nothing helps you get into the hearts and souls of seekers better than talking with them. Maybe you strike up a conversation with a family camping next to you at a state park or visit with someone at a tourist attraction while you are on vacation. Taking the time to engage seekers in conversation by listening well and asking good questions is one way to prepare for preaching to their felt needs and personal concerns.
Preaching to the felt needs of people is certainly a style of preaching Jesus engaged in. The gospels are full of examples of Jesus hanging out where the action was – meeting with people on their turf and in their natural environments. There was a ring of authenticity in Jesus' preaching that resounded from his many encounters with people both inside and outside the worshipping community.
Where's the bun? That's a question that helps us do a better job of preaching to the seeker by including content that lifts up their real needs and hurts.
Where's the bun? is a question that relates not only to content but also style.
Maybe the "bun" represents using a different delivery of the sermon.
Perhaps a tag-team or dialog sermon would be worth trying or perhaps a style of preaching that engages the congregation with hands-on activities. I know one rural pastor in Nebraska who finds all kinds of items from her Oriental Trading magazine and uses them as object lessons for her sermons. Her favorite is the flying frogs. Watch out, they may be coming to your church soon!
There is no doubt about it. Fall is a very good time to connect with people who are ready for a change in their lives. The lazy hazy days of summer are great. We all need that time for renewal, rest and a change of routine, but by the end of August we are ready for more structure and new ways to invest our energies. Many people we label "seekers" will be among the regular flock of worshippers this fall. Will we be ready to engage them with God's life-giving promises and love?
There are no shortages of good ideas on Rally Day and the Sundays that follow in most congregations. My hope is we will do some extra reflecting on our preaching schedule for September – to consider the needs of the seeker in planning both the content and the delivery of our sermons.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Life Lessons from Vince
My wife Dee and I enjoyed a recent ten-day vacation that included a quick stop-over in Green Bay, Wisconsin on our way to Door County. I grew up a Packers fan in the days of Bart Starr, Ray Nitschke, Willie Wood and Jim Taylor. In fact, I still have mint condition football cards of these and many other Packer greats from the 1960's.
So you can imagine my joy in taking Dee, a born and bred Vikings fan, on a tour of Lambeau Field and the Green Bay Packer Hall of Fame. She was thrilled - spell-bound by my recital of Packer triumphs and glories as we walked hand in hand through legendary coach Vince Lombardi's old office. Dee even took a picture of me sitting on Vince's chair with my feet up on the desk and my hands folded behind my head. I was in heaven!
What struck me the most was hearing old audio tape recordings of player interviews, describing Vince Lombardi's coaching style and approach to the game. He was a no-nonsense Italian American who had a deep devotion to God and family. He expected hard work and a commitment to team above self-promotion.
He was a working-class, blue-collar coach that demanded respect. Not every player bought into his "system," and some thought he was too harsh. But those who gave their best eventually discovered how much he truly loved them!
Vince was also a stickler for the fundamentals. The legendary "Packer Sweep" was one of the most simple plays in football and yet the team worked on this play until each player could do his part to perfection. This pursuit of excellence was a hallmark of Lombardi's teams and their success ratio was second to none. They dominated the decade of the 60's like no other team in the history of football.
Sometimes I think leaders/coaches today are too worried about what others think. They also turn to gimmicks and shortcuts to achieve success instead of working on the little things that produce long-term sustainable growth and development. Leaders also too often reward personality over character - flash and show over honesty and reliability. Although Vince Lombardi died of cancer at a relatively young age, he is still very much alive in the lessons he taught and the legacy he left behind. I hope that maybe in someways a little of his insight and perspective rubbed off during my trip back to "Titletown."
My day in Green Bay was a real highlight on our vacation odyssey through Wisconsin and the UP of Michigan. Dee will tell you that in a moment of weakness, she almost converted over to Packer Green and Gold. She told me that running through the tunnel and out onto Lambeau Field was like a religious experience. In a moment of weakness, Dee almost became a Cheese Head as she began to chant the Packer mantra: Go Pack Go! But alas, the spell of Fran Tarkington, Alan Page and the other Viking icons of the past was too strong to shake. By the time we crossed over into Door Country, she was already telling me how badly the Vikings were going to beat the Pack this fall.
Oh well, true conversions take time. I'll keep working on her!
So you can imagine my joy in taking Dee, a born and bred Vikings fan, on a tour of Lambeau Field and the Green Bay Packer Hall of Fame. She was thrilled - spell-bound by my recital of Packer triumphs and glories as we walked hand in hand through legendary coach Vince Lombardi's old office. Dee even took a picture of me sitting on Vince's chair with my feet up on the desk and my hands folded behind my head. I was in heaven!
What struck me the most was hearing old audio tape recordings of player interviews, describing Vince Lombardi's coaching style and approach to the game. He was a no-nonsense Italian American who had a deep devotion to God and family. He expected hard work and a commitment to team above self-promotion.
He was a working-class, blue-collar coach that demanded respect. Not every player bought into his "system," and some thought he was too harsh. But those who gave their best eventually discovered how much he truly loved them!
Vince was also a stickler for the fundamentals. The legendary "Packer Sweep" was one of the most simple plays in football and yet the team worked on this play until each player could do his part to perfection. This pursuit of excellence was a hallmark of Lombardi's teams and their success ratio was second to none. They dominated the decade of the 60's like no other team in the history of football.
Sometimes I think leaders/coaches today are too worried about what others think. They also turn to gimmicks and shortcuts to achieve success instead of working on the little things that produce long-term sustainable growth and development. Leaders also too often reward personality over character - flash and show over honesty and reliability. Although Vince Lombardi died of cancer at a relatively young age, he is still very much alive in the lessons he taught and the legacy he left behind. I hope that maybe in someways a little of his insight and perspective rubbed off during my trip back to "Titletown."
My day in Green Bay was a real highlight on our vacation odyssey through Wisconsin and the UP of Michigan. Dee will tell you that in a moment of weakness, she almost converted over to Packer Green and Gold. She told me that running through the tunnel and out onto Lambeau Field was like a religious experience. In a moment of weakness, Dee almost became a Cheese Head as she began to chant the Packer mantra: Go Pack Go! But alas, the spell of Fran Tarkington, Alan Page and the other Viking icons of the past was too strong to shake. By the time we crossed over into Door Country, she was already telling me how badly the Vikings were going to beat the Pack this fall.
Oh well, true conversions take time. I'll keep working on her!
Thursday, July 7, 2011
The Body is a Unit
The following is my church "lead article" for the July newsletter of First Lutheran Church, West Okoboji, Iowa:
“The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body.”
- I Corinthians 12:12
The Apostle Paul understood that the Church of Jesus Christ is most healthy, most effective in its mission, when all the parts are working properly as God designed them. Every part (member) has a gift to offer, a talent to share for the common good. Like any human body, the Church functions best when all the parts are working in concert with one another. Paul writes, “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.”
This past year I have been reflecting deeply on the nature of Christ’s church. Through the struggle and transition, I have been deeply blessed by the variety of members who have stepped forward to share their gifts/talents/passions to help make the body of Christ at First Lutheran stronger. It truly is a joy to witness the members of our congregation working together in harmony, all for the common good. As Paul describes so colorfully, “The eye cannot say to the ear, I don’t need you...or the foot cannot say to the hand, I don’t need you.” We all have a place! We all have a function! We all find our greatest fulfillment in relation to one another.
I would like to dedicate this edition of the Proclaim to the humble servants who continue to extend themselves with joy for the work and ministry of Christ’s church, Christ’s body. I know that if I single out a few, many will be left out. If I single out many, I will still miss some very important folks who have given so much.
Dee and I have been carried along this past year by your prayers, affection and sincere willingness to go beyond the call of duty. The cards, letters, emails, and personal words of encouragement have meant so much. My 25th year of ministry may not have been my easiest year, but it was one of the most tender and meaningful. I am honored to be your pastor and look forward to many new adventures together.
The Church has been around for a long time. It was instituted by Jesus Christ and empowered by the Holy Spirit. There will be peaks and valleys. There will be highs and lows, good times and bad times. The church will be attacked by enemies within and without. But as the old hymn says, “The church’s one foundation is Jesus Christ her Lord.” It will not be shaken!
Yes, we are the body of Christ! We’re not all the same. We have different functions. But when we work together in love, GET OUT OF THE WAY! There’s no telling what God can do in and through us.
May God continue to bless and keep us in grace! May God’s Spirit bring out our best gifts and use them for the work of his kingdom!
In Christ’s power,
Pastor Bob
Friday, April 29, 2011
New Maps for a New World
I am currently reading a book that I highly recommend. It's entitled Missional Map - Making "Skills for Leading in Times of Transition" written by Alan Roxburgh.
This book helps give language to the vague sense of dislocation and anxiety many people feel in today's constantly changing world. The author claims, and I agree, we are facing a massive cultural shift and transition similar to the dramatic changes in the 4th and 17th centuries. Many authors have already described this change as a "world view" shift from the modern age to post-modernism.
This has great implications for the church and its mission. Here are some quotes I'd like to share with you and let you add your comments or questions. I am not quite done with the book, but I need to process what I have read so far.
The author's premise is simple: The old maps no longer help us navigate effectively into this changing environment. Most churches simply use new versions of the old maps and get frustrated because their efforts don't seem to make a difference to people "outside" the traditional church. What we need to help us reach new people in this fluid society are new maps.
Here are some words from the book:
If we have crossed such a threshold into a new space, what are the maps that will enable us to navigate this other world into which we have been brought? What does it look like to form God's people in a place where the maps that once guided us so well no longer help us make sense of the terrritory in which we find ourselves?
By the late 1980s, it had become clear to me that the environment in which the church functioned had changed; it was like a weather pattern that had held for a very long time suddenly being swept away by winds off the lake; we were in a new atmosphere. The simplest way I could describe that transformation was to say that all our attention to the internal variables (vital worship, small groups, fellowship, leadership, evangelism etc.) of church life no longer helped us understand and engage this changed context. That didn't mean they were unimportant; it meant they no longer correlated or connected to what was happening in the lives of the people of the neighborhoods and communities in which we live.
I started to realize I needed a different imagination for what it means to be a church in a community and what it means to lead in such a church. One of the things this growing realization meant was that it would be possible to be a faithful community of God's people only by reengaging the neighborhoods and communities where we live and learning to ask what was happening among the people of the neighborhood, attending to their stories and cultivating receptiveness to being surprised by what God might already be up to among all these people who aren't thinking about church or even God. How would I do that?
It seems to me that Alan Roxburgh is very concerned that "good church folk" really don't know what hit them. Many of us have not accepted the fact the world we live in needs new maps if we are going to connect with the next generations of potential Christ followers.
What will those maps look like? What goals and strategies will further the Kingdom in this time of transition?
It seems to me that we are entering a time of listening and reengaging our local communities to better understand and serve them with the love of Christ.
"Neither is new wine put into old wineskins; otherwise, the skins burst, and the wine is spilled, and the skins are destroyed; but new wine is put into fresh wineskins, and so both are preserved."
- Matthew 9:17
Please add your comments or questions for discussion.
Bob
This book helps give language to the vague sense of dislocation and anxiety many people feel in today's constantly changing world. The author claims, and I agree, we are facing a massive cultural shift and transition similar to the dramatic changes in the 4th and 17th centuries. Many authors have already described this change as a "world view" shift from the modern age to post-modernism.
This has great implications for the church and its mission. Here are some quotes I'd like to share with you and let you add your comments or questions. I am not quite done with the book, but I need to process what I have read so far.
The author's premise is simple: The old maps no longer help us navigate effectively into this changing environment. Most churches simply use new versions of the old maps and get frustrated because their efforts don't seem to make a difference to people "outside" the traditional church. What we need to help us reach new people in this fluid society are new maps.
Here are some words from the book:
If we have crossed such a threshold into a new space, what are the maps that will enable us to navigate this other world into which we have been brought? What does it look like to form God's people in a place where the maps that once guided us so well no longer help us make sense of the terrritory in which we find ourselves?
By the late 1980s, it had become clear to me that the environment in which the church functioned had changed; it was like a weather pattern that had held for a very long time suddenly being swept away by winds off the lake; we were in a new atmosphere. The simplest way I could describe that transformation was to say that all our attention to the internal variables (vital worship, small groups, fellowship, leadership, evangelism etc.) of church life no longer helped us understand and engage this changed context. That didn't mean they were unimportant; it meant they no longer correlated or connected to what was happening in the lives of the people of the neighborhoods and communities in which we live.
I started to realize I needed a different imagination for what it means to be a church in a community and what it means to lead in such a church. One of the things this growing realization meant was that it would be possible to be a faithful community of God's people only by reengaging the neighborhoods and communities where we live and learning to ask what was happening among the people of the neighborhood, attending to their stories and cultivating receptiveness to being surprised by what God might already be up to among all these people who aren't thinking about church or even God. How would I do that?
It seems to me that Alan Roxburgh is very concerned that "good church folk" really don't know what hit them. Many of us have not accepted the fact the world we live in needs new maps if we are going to connect with the next generations of potential Christ followers.
What will those maps look like? What goals and strategies will further the Kingdom in this time of transition?
It seems to me that we are entering a time of listening and reengaging our local communities to better understand and serve them with the love of Christ.
"Neither is new wine put into old wineskins; otherwise, the skins burst, and the wine is spilled, and the skins are destroyed; but new wine is put into fresh wineskins, and so both are preserved."
- Matthew 9:17
Please add your comments or questions for discussion.
Bob
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Married to a pretty good (Great) nurse!
My wife Dee was recently selected as one of the 100 Great Nurses in Iowa for 2011. She was honored for her excellent work in the area of Infection Control at the Spencer hospital and will be invited to a special event in Des Moines May 1st. I am, of course, extremely proud of her. She has quietly gone about her business for nearly 14 years, providing compassionate and innovative care to patients and offering creative and wise leadership in many areas at the hospital.
Most people at First Lutheran know Dee as "Pastor Bob's wife" and see her as a great compliment to the work I am called and paid to do. I don't think the congregation ever knew what kind of 2 for 1 deal they were getting. Dee so willingly shares in my ministry and the work of our congregation. But how many people really know what Dee does for a living, working 13 miles away in another community, sometimes removed from the issues and affairs of the Milford/Iowa Great Lakes area?
Her work as a nurse affords her an opportunity to express her own unique calling and vocation. The people she encounters on a daily basis provide her many opportunities to share God's gifts. She ministers hope and healing in ways I could never do sitting behind a desk or hiding behind a "clergy collar." She is out in the trenches, slugging it out with some of the nastiest infections and diseases know to humankind. She is the resident expert on all the really "bad stuff," that left unchecked, could really make life miserable for a lot of people.
As one who finds himself in the public eye/limelight often (it goes with the territory), Dee is one who faithfully works behind the scenes, doing great things and making a difference in a quiet and unassuming way. I am so very happy for her and appreciate her many gifts now more than ever before. I knew when I married this farm girl from West Central Minnesota, I had truly hit the Jackpot! God blessed me with a life mate who has compassion, wisdom and real backbone.
Congratulations Dear...Behind ever good pastor is a really GREAT nurse!
Your admiring husband,
Bob
Most people at First Lutheran know Dee as "Pastor Bob's wife" and see her as a great compliment to the work I am called and paid to do. I don't think the congregation ever knew what kind of 2 for 1 deal they were getting. Dee so willingly shares in my ministry and the work of our congregation. But how many people really know what Dee does for a living, working 13 miles away in another community, sometimes removed from the issues and affairs of the Milford/Iowa Great Lakes area?
Her work as a nurse affords her an opportunity to express her own unique calling and vocation. The people she encounters on a daily basis provide her many opportunities to share God's gifts. She ministers hope and healing in ways I could never do sitting behind a desk or hiding behind a "clergy collar." She is out in the trenches, slugging it out with some of the nastiest infections and diseases know to humankind. She is the resident expert on all the really "bad stuff," that left unchecked, could really make life miserable for a lot of people.
As one who finds himself in the public eye/limelight often (it goes with the territory), Dee is one who faithfully works behind the scenes, doing great things and making a difference in a quiet and unassuming way. I am so very happy for her and appreciate her many gifts now more than ever before. I knew when I married this farm girl from West Central Minnesota, I had truly hit the Jackpot! God blessed me with a life mate who has compassion, wisdom and real backbone.
Congratulations Dear...Behind ever good pastor is a really GREAT nurse!
Your admiring husband,
Bob
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Turning 52
I celebrated my 52nd birthday on Sunday, February 27th with the great folks at First Lutheran. Dee even made my favorite Red Velvet Cake and shared it with the members during coffee fellowship. It's always fun to have my birthday fall on a Sunday. The only bummer of the day came when Amy Kueper asked the children during the Kids Sermon how old they thought I was. When the first child said 70, I was ready to pull the plug on the sermon and send the little "imps" back to their pews. Thankfully, a little boy name William came to my rescue by telling everyone I was 17. He is now my BEST FRIEND!
I also had a blast bowling in the afternoon with families from both Grace Lutheran and First Lutheran. What a great event! I bowled a 155 and 161. I even got a door prize for the most strikes. Not bad for an "old guy" who hadn't thrown a bowling ball for ten years.
There was great fellowship between the two churches and we hope to do more activities together in the future. I am convinced that congregations need to partner more and shift their paradigms from competition to cooperation. It's pretty special when churches can celebrate together and provide a common witness to the community.
After that, Dee and I met up with our son Erik on my day off and we skied at Mt. Kato in Mankato, Minnesota. It was there that I really felt my age. Erik flew down the black diamonds like he was sleep walking. It was impressive! I knew right then I had entered a new chapter of life - a chapter where Dad is suddenly being schooled by his children. It was humbling, but I'm now over it.
Ok, where are all these "thoughts while shaving" heading? As I reflect on my 52nd birthday, I'm reminded that time is on a relentless march. There is no stopping it. But I have to admit, it's sort of cool watching my own children surpass old Dad on a number of fronts, athletically as well as academically. I am so very proud of them for who they are and what they are doing in the world.
52 may not be one of those Big Birthdays divisible by 5 or 10, but it has left it's mark on me. Getting older isn't so bad. The old "machine" is still in pretty good working condition, and there is still plenty of time to embark on a few more adventures. God is good! Life is rich! Be thankful for the simple gifts!
I also had a blast bowling in the afternoon with families from both Grace Lutheran and First Lutheran. What a great event! I bowled a 155 and 161. I even got a door prize for the most strikes. Not bad for an "old guy" who hadn't thrown a bowling ball for ten years.
There was great fellowship between the two churches and we hope to do more activities together in the future. I am convinced that congregations need to partner more and shift their paradigms from competition to cooperation. It's pretty special when churches can celebrate together and provide a common witness to the community.
After that, Dee and I met up with our son Erik on my day off and we skied at Mt. Kato in Mankato, Minnesota. It was there that I really felt my age. Erik flew down the black diamonds like he was sleep walking. It was impressive! I knew right then I had entered a new chapter of life - a chapter where Dad is suddenly being schooled by his children. It was humbling, but I'm now over it.
Ok, where are all these "thoughts while shaving" heading? As I reflect on my 52nd birthday, I'm reminded that time is on a relentless march. There is no stopping it. But I have to admit, it's sort of cool watching my own children surpass old Dad on a number of fronts, athletically as well as academically. I am so very proud of them for who they are and what they are doing in the world.
52 may not be one of those Big Birthdays divisible by 5 or 10, but it has left it's mark on me. Getting older isn't so bad. The old "machine" is still in pretty good working condition, and there is still plenty of time to embark on a few more adventures. God is good! Life is rich! Be thankful for the simple gifts!
Monday, February 7, 2011
Generous People
The Stewardship Team at First Lutheran is planning a year-long series on Christian giving. Our hope is to help members grow in their understanding of Biblical Stewardship. Too many times we emphasize fund raising when our focus should be on "faith raising." Giving generously to the work of Christ is an adventure in faith that reaps amazing blessings.
Most of us are familiar with the verse from 2nd Corinthians where St. Paul writes, "God loves a cheerful giver." Joy is a byproduct of generous giving and generous living. Our gifts and offerings become an expression of gratitude for all that God has done for us. Christian stewardship is really our sincere expresson of love to the God who freely gives us all good things.
It also helps to know that God already owns everything, and the little we possess is simply on loan from God. When was the last time you saw a hearse pulling a U-Haul? I know, it's a joke, but it's a great remeinder that "you can't take it with you." You might as well have fun giving it away while you can. Someone else will be dividing it up after you leave this world.
Think of all the lives we can touch through wise and generous stewardship. It really is an adventure!
It really is a matter of the heart, an expression of joy!
Pastor Bob
Most of us are familiar with the verse from 2nd Corinthians where St. Paul writes, "God loves a cheerful giver." Joy is a byproduct of generous giving and generous living. Our gifts and offerings become an expression of gratitude for all that God has done for us. Christian stewardship is really our sincere expresson of love to the God who freely gives us all good things.
It also helps to know that God already owns everything, and the little we possess is simply on loan from God. When was the last time you saw a hearse pulling a U-Haul? I know, it's a joke, but it's a great remeinder that "you can't take it with you." You might as well have fun giving it away while you can. Someone else will be dividing it up after you leave this world.
Think of all the lives we can touch through wise and generous stewardship. It really is an adventure!
It really is a matter of the heart, an expression of joy!
Pastor Bob
Monday, January 3, 2011
My Favorite Books of 2010
Most pastors are scavengers for good ideas and illustrations. The Bible is clearly the starting point and source for all good preaching. But observing people and reading good books helps to give me an endless supply of illustrations for my sermons. I have found that reading a wide variety of books helps me stay in tune with the issues and ideas that are important to folks.
Here is a top ten list of really good books I have read this past year:
Life Among the Lutherans by Garrison Keillor
Highest Duty by Capt. "Sully" Sullenberger
The Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennen Manning
Coming Back Stronger: Unleashing the hidden power of adversity by Drew Brees
Generous Orthodoxy: Why I Am a Missional, Evangelical, Post/Protestant, Liberal/Conservative,
Mystical/Poetic, Biblical, Charismatic/Contemplative, Fundamentalist/Calvinist, Anabaptist/Anglican, Methodist, Catholic, Green, Incarnational, Depressed-yet-Hopeful, Emergent, Unfinished CHRISTIAN by Brian McClaren
Messy Spirituality: God's Annoying Love for Imperfect People by Mike Yaconelli
Thrive: Finding Happiness the Blue Zones Way by Dan Buettner
Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus by Ann Spangler and Lois Tverberg
Coming of Age: Exploring the Identity and Spirituality of Younger Men by Roland Martinson and others.
UnChristian by the George Barna Group
If you have read any of these books, feel free to send me your comments and reactions. If you are thinking of reading one of these books and need a quick review, just let me know.
I would love to hear what your favorite book of 2010 was. I am already running out of book ideas for 2011 and your recommendations will be much appreciated.
Happy Reading! What else can we do on these long, cold Iowa winter nights?
Oh, I forgot...I read the new book on Deitrich Bonhoeffer this past summer. It was excellent!
Here is a top ten list of really good books I have read this past year:
Life Among the Lutherans by Garrison Keillor
Highest Duty by Capt. "Sully" Sullenberger
The Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennen Manning
Coming Back Stronger: Unleashing the hidden power of adversity by Drew Brees
Generous Orthodoxy: Why I Am a Missional, Evangelical, Post/Protestant, Liberal/Conservative,
Mystical/Poetic, Biblical, Charismatic/Contemplative, Fundamentalist/Calvinist, Anabaptist/Anglican, Methodist, Catholic, Green, Incarnational, Depressed-yet-Hopeful, Emergent, Unfinished CHRISTIAN by Brian McClaren
Messy Spirituality: God's Annoying Love for Imperfect People by Mike Yaconelli
Thrive: Finding Happiness the Blue Zones Way by Dan Buettner
Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus by Ann Spangler and Lois Tverberg
Coming of Age: Exploring the Identity and Spirituality of Younger Men by Roland Martinson and others.
UnChristian by the George Barna Group
If you have read any of these books, feel free to send me your comments and reactions. If you are thinking of reading one of these books and need a quick review, just let me know.
I would love to hear what your favorite book of 2010 was. I am already running out of book ideas for 2011 and your recommendations will be much appreciated.
Happy Reading! What else can we do on these long, cold Iowa winter nights?
Oh, I forgot...I read the new book on Deitrich Bonhoeffer this past summer. It was excellent!
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