This week I write to you thanks to a slow internet connection from Colorado Springs on our family vacation. We've rented a house for the week in the historic Broadmoor area as a home base for the entire Petersen clan. We've hiked mountain trails, climbed to see waterfalls, and gone to royal gorges just for starters.
While we've done a lot of fun things like white-water rafting, my favorite part of the trip so far was our visit to the Air Force Academy where we attended church. And maybe you know what this chapel, this church looks like because it's one of the most famous and architectually stunning places of worship in the country.
If you haven't seen or heard about this church, it resembles a giant A-frame building with numerous points across the top. It is so big it can be seen from miles away. Once inside your eyes are automatically drawn upwards. The side windows provide a view of the nearby mountains. The giant silver cross hanging near the front boldly declares this as a place of worship.
Over the years on our family vacations we've attended services at a number of iconic churches. We've been to the Crystal Cathedral in Los Angeles, Southwest in Nashville ( one of the ten largest churches in America), oh and maybe my favorite, a small Missouri Synod Lutheran church in the heart of Atlanta led by Pastor Pete. Going to church is an important part of our family vacations.
Sunday, I wondered as I sat in worship, if Jesus were to return to earth to attend church, if He might pick a place like the Academy Chapel. Surely He would I guessed. Then I considered that church really is never a building, it's the people. Where Jesus would attend church certainly wouldn't be determined by the beauty of the building I decided. Better yet, I know that He does attend every service where two or more gather in His name. So I decided to strike that question.
Thinking about it now, I realize that I worshipped Him this week in another even more awesome cathedral than the Cadet Chapel as I spent time in the Rockies. This week I and my family have explored the proof of Romans 1- that God's great creation speaks to His presence. His creation is His cathedral and I have been blessed to get to view its awesome majesty.
Hey, I think a nice church building is a wonderful thing. By the power of the Holy Spirit it can inspire those who pass by to think about God. I even wish we were still building great cathedrals in His honor but that doesn't happen much anymore. The good news is we don't need cathedrals to worship our loving God. We can step into the great cathedral of His creation, our world, and give Him thanks anytime. And we can step into a small church in Keystone on this Sunday- another awesome place where He promises to be. See you fellow cadets there!
Blest Regards,
Keith
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
A Different View
Sherri wrote a very nice article about her father for our upcoming paper newsletter but I wanted to share it with all of you here as well- mostly because I am very proud of my talented writer wife! kp
When mom died, Keith wrote a beautiful story about the week we spent on the cancer floor of Immanuel Hospital. The large window of the family waiting room looked out on the parking lot, surrounded by fields of trees and grass gently covered with snow. He told of the 2000 piece puzzle which we mindlessly worked in an effort to think past the painful reason we gathered. He shared the significance of the single puzzle piece missing at the end of the week when the puzzle lay completed on the table as we grieved the loss of my mom. This past week, I feared that another story would be written about the untimely death of someone I love, my father.
Dad has always been a "health nut". He works out at the YMCA on the treadmill and exercise bikes and lifts weights. His diet usually consists of food considered to be healthy and he certainly keeps the vitamin industry afloat with his lengthy list of supplements. He subscribes to four healthy-living magazines and follows closely the latest trends and medical breakthroughs.
The last two years have been rough on Dad. First he lost Mom. Then his grandson, Christopher. In addition to his mental anguish, his very tall frame (6'7") began to experience some problems. The bones in his neck broke down and resulted in terrible headaches. The discs in his back caused great pain in his legs. He was unable to do many of the things that he enjoyed previously: attending ball games, driving the car and playing golf. He eventually discovered the source of the problems and waited impatiently for the surgeries to cure what ailed him. First Dad had cataract surgery which went very well and gave him 20/20 vision for the first time in 70 years. The neck surgery in May was successful, also, eliminating the headaches. He eagerly awaited the back surgery. The night before, he planned to throw the first pitch at our family softball game, because he felt he could. Dad wasn't sure how quickly he would heal and did not want the season to end without his participation in at least one game, lest he ruin his long-standing record. Unfortunately, we were rained out and he will have to wait until the end of the season to float one home.
The surgery went better than expected and within days he was walking, without pain and without a cane. A few days later, his recovery took an abrupt turn for the worse when he was rushed by ambulance into the hospital, barely able to breathe. After many tests and scary moments, the doctor discovered a large "saddle" pulmonary embolism, bigger than most he had ever seen. The doctor delivered grave news: Dad was very ill; they could not sugar-coat it: the next 2-3 days would be critical.
We discovered many things about embolisms during the hours and days to follow. 50% of all those with pulmonary embolisms die. A vast majority of those with saddle embolisms never make it to the hospital. We credit fast response by family, emergency personnel and doctors and of course, answered prayers, for the miracle that put Dad in ICU instead of the morgue.
The waiting room for ICU was a nice large room, big enough for my 40+ family members, plus the families and friends of other patients. This time, the scenery was not as pleasant as the window looked out onto the roof of another section of the hospital. Boxes of puzzles sat on a table in the corner, untouched. I do not consider myself to be superstitious, yet I was uncomfortable even looking at them that first day. Eventually the fear of repeating the events of Mom's hospital stay lessened and a Star Wars battle scene began to form, piece by piece. Everyone who came to visit took turns searching for the piece which would fit into their designated section. By Sunday night, the puzzle was completed, with the exception of one single piece. The facial expressions of all those present confirmed that we were all thinking the same thought: Coincidence or not, the missing piece had to be found! The entire group began to scan the floor. We all prayed that the piece was hidden under the table leg, or a chair. None of us wanted that puzzle to become a representation of another loss, another missing piece of our family puzzle.
When someone shouted "There it is!" Caleb lunged forward, almost knocking heads with the "finder", and quickly locked it into place and we all shared a collective sigh of relief. Later, as Dad recalled Mom's hospital stay and his great loss just a few floors away, we shared the puzzle story. We wanted to assure him that even though he was in the same hospital; even though his family was gathered together praying for him; even though friends and relatives filtered in and out; even though the doctors could not offer any guarantees, this time was different.
And indeed, this time the miracle we prayed for did happen. This time our news was favorable. This time the end result was the blessed opportunity to spend more time here on earth with my Dad. This time, our puzzle remained intact. This time, the view from the 4th floor thankfully is completely different as we view it through the God-given lens of a healing miracle. This time we return to the ground floor of life with my father healed and my faith strengthened!
When mom died, Keith wrote a beautiful story about the week we spent on the cancer floor of Immanuel Hospital. The large window of the family waiting room looked out on the parking lot, surrounded by fields of trees and grass gently covered with snow. He told of the 2000 piece puzzle which we mindlessly worked in an effort to think past the painful reason we gathered. He shared the significance of the single puzzle piece missing at the end of the week when the puzzle lay completed on the table as we grieved the loss of my mom. This past week, I feared that another story would be written about the untimely death of someone I love, my father.
Dad has always been a "health nut". He works out at the YMCA on the treadmill and exercise bikes and lifts weights. His diet usually consists of food considered to be healthy and he certainly keeps the vitamin industry afloat with his lengthy list of supplements. He subscribes to four healthy-living magazines and follows closely the latest trends and medical breakthroughs.
The last two years have been rough on Dad. First he lost Mom. Then his grandson, Christopher. In addition to his mental anguish, his very tall frame (6'7") began to experience some problems. The bones in his neck broke down and resulted in terrible headaches. The discs in his back caused great pain in his legs. He was unable to do many of the things that he enjoyed previously: attending ball games, driving the car and playing golf. He eventually discovered the source of the problems and waited impatiently for the surgeries to cure what ailed him. First Dad had cataract surgery which went very well and gave him 20/20 vision for the first time in 70 years. The neck surgery in May was successful, also, eliminating the headaches. He eagerly awaited the back surgery. The night before, he planned to throw the first pitch at our family softball game, because he felt he could. Dad wasn't sure how quickly he would heal and did not want the season to end without his participation in at least one game, lest he ruin his long-standing record. Unfortunately, we were rained out and he will have to wait until the end of the season to float one home.
The surgery went better than expected and within days he was walking, without pain and without a cane. A few days later, his recovery took an abrupt turn for the worse when he was rushed by ambulance into the hospital, barely able to breathe. After many tests and scary moments, the doctor discovered a large "saddle" pulmonary embolism, bigger than most he had ever seen. The doctor delivered grave news: Dad was very ill; they could not sugar-coat it: the next 2-3 days would be critical.
We discovered many things about embolisms during the hours and days to follow. 50% of all those with pulmonary embolisms die. A vast majority of those with saddle embolisms never make it to the hospital. We credit fast response by family, emergency personnel and doctors and of course, answered prayers, for the miracle that put Dad in ICU instead of the morgue.
The waiting room for ICU was a nice large room, big enough for my 40+ family members, plus the families and friends of other patients. This time, the scenery was not as pleasant as the window looked out onto the roof of another section of the hospital. Boxes of puzzles sat on a table in the corner, untouched. I do not consider myself to be superstitious, yet I was uncomfortable even looking at them that first day. Eventually the fear of repeating the events of Mom's hospital stay lessened and a Star Wars battle scene began to form, piece by piece. Everyone who came to visit took turns searching for the piece which would fit into their designated section. By Sunday night, the puzzle was completed, with the exception of one single piece. The facial expressions of all those present confirmed that we were all thinking the same thought: Coincidence or not, the missing piece had to be found! The entire group began to scan the floor. We all prayed that the piece was hidden under the table leg, or a chair. None of us wanted that puzzle to become a representation of another loss, another missing piece of our family puzzle.
When someone shouted "There it is!" Caleb lunged forward, almost knocking heads with the "finder", and quickly locked it into place and we all shared a collective sigh of relief. Later, as Dad recalled Mom's hospital stay and his great loss just a few floors away, we shared the puzzle story. We wanted to assure him that even though he was in the same hospital; even though his family was gathered together praying for him; even though friends and relatives filtered in and out; even though the doctors could not offer any guarantees, this time was different.
And indeed, this time the miracle we prayed for did happen. This time our news was favorable. This time the end result was the blessed opportunity to spend more time here on earth with my Dad. This time, our puzzle remained intact. This time, the view from the 4th floor thankfully is completely different as we view it through the God-given lens of a healing miracle. This time we return to the ground floor of life with my father healed and my faith strengthened!
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
God Has Helped!
Our family is working puzzles again. And that's never a good thing because we only work puzzles as we nervously wait in hospitals. This past week we worked three big puzzles which means we've been at Immanuel nonstop for some time now. The good news is our puzzle-working days are numbered (just a few more) as Sherri's dad Howard is on the road to recovery.
This past week we've also learned new terms like embolus and thrombus. To be exact we have learned that a saddle embolism is a blockage which has moved to straddle both lungs and deep vein thrombosis is a dangerous blood clot which could become a deadly embolism (a clot on the move!). And we've learned that when you have a large saddle embolism restricting blood flow and a deep vein thrombosis you shouldn't buy green bananas if you know what I mean.
Most importantly we learned that we have experienced a miracle healing. I'd say it is a healing of Lazurus proportions. The doctors tell us they don't see many embolisms like Sherri's dad has, that really these would be much more common for a coroner to see. In fact, some have said this is the largest embolism they have ever seen survived. Doctors and nurses gather to see something they have never seen before so large on the scans and x-rays. So again I say this is a healing miracle of Lazarus proportions.
Howard does something kind of funny with each of his grandkids. He often calls them by their first name and adds his name as their middle name. A couple of the grandkids Caleb and Alex already have Howard as a middle name. For the girls it's kinda funny to hear Howard as their middle name. His great-grandchild Kenadae gets it and I'm sure new little Mia will as well. Based on this healing I'm changing Howard's middle name to Lazarus- Howard Lazarus sorta has a ring to it.
I'm sure you know the story of Lazarus. How Lazarus had died and how Jesus brought him back to life. But as Paul Harvey would say, do you know 'the rest of the story'? This amazing historical event is recorded so beautifully and is absolutely chocked full of life lessons for us. There is so much to the rest of this story that I would ask you to closely read it again (John 11). Here is a bit of the rest of the story for me, especially in light of our own miracle.
Jesus delivers some of His most powerful words for us in performing this miracle. He tells His disciples they are going to Bethany and Lazarus and that what will happen there will build their (and our) faith. Jesus also uses this occasion to provide great comfort to all those who have suffered loss saying, 'I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth on me, though he die, yet shall he live; and whosoever liveth and believeth on me shall never die.' Martha says she believes these words and adds a wonderful profession of faith. Then Jesus with a brief tear, gives us a resurrection preview of sorts, bringing Lazarus back to life. 'Lazarus' means 'God has helped' and the name certainly fits this man from Bethany and a man in Omaha some 2000 years later.
I bet Lazarus felt better than ever after his resurrection. I bet his knee didn't hurt anymore and his eyesight was perfect again. When Jesus heals, body parts listen. Some time later Jesus returns for a dinner with Lazarus and Martha and Mary. And John writes that folks come from all over to see Jesus AND Lazarus as they recline at the table. They loved seeing their old friend alive and hearing about his miracle healing. My guess is they treasured any time they could spend with him from then on. We know that exact, that very feeling now from our own personal experience.
We don't hear from or about Lazarus again. What we do know is that his earthly life did finally come to an end and that Jesus used Lazarus' healing to build faith- and to show the glory of God. I pray the same thing happens today, that all who know and love Howard Lazarus will come and visit and be strengthened in their faith because 'God has helped' him. God promises one day we will all get a resurrection experience. Until then, we give thanks for awesome miracle healings (including that of Howard Lazarus), for the gift of faith and for the blessing of God's help. I pray you experience each of these in your life.
Blest Regards,
Keith
This past week we've also learned new terms like embolus and thrombus. To be exact we have learned that a saddle embolism is a blockage which has moved to straddle both lungs and deep vein thrombosis is a dangerous blood clot which could become a deadly embolism (a clot on the move!). And we've learned that when you have a large saddle embolism restricting blood flow and a deep vein thrombosis you shouldn't buy green bananas if you know what I mean.
Most importantly we learned that we have experienced a miracle healing. I'd say it is a healing of Lazurus proportions. The doctors tell us they don't see many embolisms like Sherri's dad has, that really these would be much more common for a coroner to see. In fact, some have said this is the largest embolism they have ever seen survived. Doctors and nurses gather to see something they have never seen before so large on the scans and x-rays. So again I say this is a healing miracle of Lazarus proportions.
Howard does something kind of funny with each of his grandkids. He often calls them by their first name and adds his name as their middle name. A couple of the grandkids Caleb and Alex already have Howard as a middle name. For the girls it's kinda funny to hear Howard as their middle name. His great-grandchild Kenadae gets it and I'm sure new little Mia will as well. Based on this healing I'm changing Howard's middle name to Lazarus- Howard Lazarus sorta has a ring to it.
I'm sure you know the story of Lazarus. How Lazarus had died and how Jesus brought him back to life. But as Paul Harvey would say, do you know 'the rest of the story'? This amazing historical event is recorded so beautifully and is absolutely chocked full of life lessons for us. There is so much to the rest of this story that I would ask you to closely read it again (John 11). Here is a bit of the rest of the story for me, especially in light of our own miracle.
Jesus delivers some of His most powerful words for us in performing this miracle. He tells His disciples they are going to Bethany and Lazarus and that what will happen there will build their (and our) faith. Jesus also uses this occasion to provide great comfort to all those who have suffered loss saying, 'I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth on me, though he die, yet shall he live; and whosoever liveth and believeth on me shall never die.' Martha says she believes these words and adds a wonderful profession of faith. Then Jesus with a brief tear, gives us a resurrection preview of sorts, bringing Lazarus back to life. 'Lazarus' means 'God has helped' and the name certainly fits this man from Bethany and a man in Omaha some 2000 years later.
I bet Lazarus felt better than ever after his resurrection. I bet his knee didn't hurt anymore and his eyesight was perfect again. When Jesus heals, body parts listen. Some time later Jesus returns for a dinner with Lazarus and Martha and Mary. And John writes that folks come from all over to see Jesus AND Lazarus as they recline at the table. They loved seeing their old friend alive and hearing about his miracle healing. My guess is they treasured any time they could spend with him from then on. We know that exact, that very feeling now from our own personal experience.
We don't hear from or about Lazarus again. What we do know is that his earthly life did finally come to an end and that Jesus used Lazarus' healing to build faith- and to show the glory of God. I pray the same thing happens today, that all who know and love Howard Lazarus will come and visit and be strengthened in their faith because 'God has helped' him. God promises one day we will all get a resurrection experience. Until then, we give thanks for awesome miracle healings (including that of Howard Lazarus), for the gift of faith and for the blessing of God's help. I pray you experience each of these in your life.
Blest Regards,
Keith
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
My Friend Brad
I'm looking forward to this weekend. Actually I always look forward to weekends but the last weekend in June is my favorite. Why? Because the Brad Beckman Memorial Golf Scramble always happens then. This event supports a scholarship in Brad's name at UNO. And part of the reason I look forward to this is because I like to golf and spend time with my son Dan and my dad and Clyde Durham. But more importantly I like this event, this day, because it celebrates the life of a good friend, and a good family I will never forget.
Many of you may not know Brad. He and his family were members of Atonement and always will be, at least in my mind. I grew up with his older brother Rod and in fact spent a lot of time after school at Irvington at the Beckman's. Brad was 5 years younger and Brian 10 years younger. At the Beckman's house the neighborhood would gather for basketball in the driveway or football in the back yard. Later, we all played at different times on the church softball team including mom, Millie. As our dusty trophies prove, all the Beckman's were good softball players.
And though the Beckman boys were athletic, Brad was especially blessed with both talent and physical prowess. He played just about every sport but was best at basketball (a star at NW High and more importantly on our church team) and football. He played football at UNO and was drafted in the 7th round of the 1988 draft by the Minnesota Vikings. He ended up playing for the New York Giants and later for the Atlanta Falcons. On December 19, 1989 at age 24, Brad was killed in an Atlanta area car crash and we were all shocked and saddened.
To this day, I count it as one of my greatest honors in life to have served as a pall bearer for Brad on a cold snow-clad day. Over these past twenty years I have thought about Brad a number of times. Sometimes I think about how much fun we had playing sports and poker together, how fun it was to watch him play at UNO, or I think about a funny story that involved Brad, my dad and Pastor Pete and a lot of laughs. That's the way I remember Brad- as a young man who enjoyed life. And so I look forward to the last Saturday in June to see the Beckman family again and to remember and honor my friend with a round of poor golf.
God graces our life with friends that we will never forget doesn't He? Think about your best friend for example and what a blessing that person is or was to you. Friend means 'favored companion, one attached to another by affection or esteem'. Actually the word derives from the Old English word 'freon' which means 'to love'. Very 'cool' and that makes sense, friends are folks we love. Sometimes time and distance may reduce the contact, but never the heart and love we have for them. You know what I am saying.
Jesus knew all about friends. In John 15 He gives us the world's best lesson on friendship. Talking with His disciples Jesus tells them and us, 'I have called you friends'. He calls each of us friend, people He loves! He said He lays down his life for His friends. Can we comprehend the depths of this or the meaning of the old hymn title 'What a Friend We Have in Jesus'? God tells us in Jeremiah 31:3 "I have loved you with an everlasting love--a love that will last forever". Amazing- God delivered the first most meaningful BFF (best friends forever) text message more than 2000 years ago. The power of these words reminds me of the song from Aladdin where Robin Williams sings, 'You ain't never had a friend, never had a friend, You ain't never had a friend, never had a friend, You ain't never had a friend like me, You ain't never had a friend like me, hah!'
Someone said, 'True friendship is like a star, You don't see it's light in the brightness of prosperity But in the darkness of adversity'. On that first Christmas morning a star shown bright in the sky to point out our Star, our Superstar true Friend- Jesus, the One who shines bright and is with us always, even in the darkness of adversity- and with us in the loss of earthly friends as well. So this weekend I'll pay tribute to an old friend on the golf course and an eternal Friend at church. A weekend of celebrating friendships, surrounded by 'favored companions' is certainly something to look forward to - with an occasional birdie throw in for good measure- I hope!
Blest Regards from your Friend,
kp
Many of you may not know Brad. He and his family were members of Atonement and always will be, at least in my mind. I grew up with his older brother Rod and in fact spent a lot of time after school at Irvington at the Beckman's. Brad was 5 years younger and Brian 10 years younger. At the Beckman's house the neighborhood would gather for basketball in the driveway or football in the back yard. Later, we all played at different times on the church softball team including mom, Millie. As our dusty trophies prove, all the Beckman's were good softball players.
And though the Beckman boys were athletic, Brad was especially blessed with both talent and physical prowess. He played just about every sport but was best at basketball (a star at NW High and more importantly on our church team) and football. He played football at UNO and was drafted in the 7th round of the 1988 draft by the Minnesota Vikings. He ended up playing for the New York Giants and later for the Atlanta Falcons. On December 19, 1989 at age 24, Brad was killed in an Atlanta area car crash and we were all shocked and saddened.
To this day, I count it as one of my greatest honors in life to have served as a pall bearer for Brad on a cold snow-clad day. Over these past twenty years I have thought about Brad a number of times. Sometimes I think about how much fun we had playing sports and poker together, how fun it was to watch him play at UNO, or I think about a funny story that involved Brad, my dad and Pastor Pete and a lot of laughs. That's the way I remember Brad- as a young man who enjoyed life. And so I look forward to the last Saturday in June to see the Beckman family again and to remember and honor my friend with a round of poor golf.
God graces our life with friends that we will never forget doesn't He? Think about your best friend for example and what a blessing that person is or was to you. Friend means 'favored companion, one attached to another by affection or esteem'. Actually the word derives from the Old English word 'freon' which means 'to love'. Very 'cool' and that makes sense, friends are folks we love. Sometimes time and distance may reduce the contact, but never the heart and love we have for them. You know what I am saying.
Jesus knew all about friends. In John 15 He gives us the world's best lesson on friendship. Talking with His disciples Jesus tells them and us, 'I have called you friends'. He calls each of us friend, people He loves! He said He lays down his life for His friends. Can we comprehend the depths of this or the meaning of the old hymn title 'What a Friend We Have in Jesus'? God tells us in Jeremiah 31:3 "I have loved you with an everlasting love--a love that will last forever". Amazing- God delivered the first most meaningful BFF (best friends forever) text message more than 2000 years ago. The power of these words reminds me of the song from Aladdin where Robin Williams sings, 'You ain't never had a friend, never had a friend, You ain't never had a friend, never had a friend, You ain't never had a friend like me, You ain't never had a friend like me, hah!'
Someone said, 'True friendship is like a star, You don't see it's light in the brightness of prosperity But in the darkness of adversity'. On that first Christmas morning a star shown bright in the sky to point out our Star, our Superstar true Friend- Jesus, the One who shines bright and is with us always, even in the darkness of adversity- and with us in the loss of earthly friends as well. So this weekend I'll pay tribute to an old friend on the golf course and an eternal Friend at church. A weekend of celebrating friendships, surrounded by 'favored companions' is certainly something to look forward to - with an occasional birdie throw in for good measure- I hope!
Blest Regards from your Friend,
kp
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Death by Basketball- A Story of Encouragement
Maybe I was wrong in my conclusion. As I looked over my freshly planted marigolds, I noticed one poor plant had been broken and the stem with flower attached, now lay on its side, starting to wither. I concluded right away that it was another case of death by basketball- a serial flower killer has been on the loose at our house for years with his round-ball weapon of choice and now another innocent victim lay dying in the sun.
Slightly irritated I broke off the flowered stem and jammed it into the ground next to another plant. I then pulled out the rest of the plant and replanted another marigold. I watered down the bed and called it good. A couple days later I noticed the stem I had stuck in the ground wasn't giving up. Its flower still shown bright and a few new sprouts had sprung. I hadn't expected this and rewarded my colorful friend with another good dousing of water. Today stick flower continues to boldly hold its one lone bloom in spite of its fear of basketballs (just my guess- that is if flowers have the ability to fear anything in addition to rabbits).
I began to think of my stick flower as a lesson in encouragement and determination. Which then reminded me of this past Thursday's 'Portals of Prayer' devotion on encouragement- one of my favorite topics. As we all know (not), June 11 was St. Barnabas Feast Day and St. B was noted as being an encourager. Acts 11:23 is evidence of this as it tells us 'he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord.' So what can we learn about encouragement from Barnabas?
It turns out the very name 'Barnabas' means encourager, exhorter, consoler. We learn in Acts 4:36 that the disciples gave Barnabas this new name. How great to be recognized as such an encourager that your name gets changed! I can just hear the conversation:
Peter: 'Hey Joe, the boys and I have decided to change your name.'
Joe: 'Really. Why's that?'
Peter: 'Oh, just a little something Jesus started. He changed mine from Simon to Pete, and Saul's to Paul.'
Joe: 'Let me hear it first, I don't want some goofy name like Keith or Obama.'
Peter: 'Heavens no, we've decided on Barney. No, let's be a little more formal, you are now Barnabas- you know, the encourager.'
Barnabas: 'That's cool, I like that name. Thanks Rocky- by the way, great sermon you delivered on Pentecost, keep up the good work.'
Peter: 'Hey Doc, jot this down will you for that Acts book you're writing. We just changed Joe's name to Barnabas.'
Some think Barnabas was converted on Pentecost, others think Barnabas was one of Jesus' 70 disciples and his encouragement, what some call his edification, exhortation and consolation skills caused him to rise to the top. Acts 4 tells us he sold some land and laid the proceeds at the disciples' feet. Maybe that's the first part of being an encourager- buying in. Believing in something, in this case Someone, so much that you redeem your time and things to tell others all about it. To encourage others, we (by the power of the Holy Spirit) need to do just that, 'buy in', 'focus in' and 'get strong in' our faith.
Barnabas also encouraged the disciples to accept the 'new' Paul and later is an encouragement to John Mark after he fails in a missionary trip. From this we learn that encouragers help those new in the faith and lift up those who have fallen or made a mistake. I wish we were all better at being this kind of an encourager. Saint Luke goes on later to describe Barnabas as a good man full of the Holy Spirit and faith. Not many get such a wonderful description in the Bible. Clearly Barnabas was an encourager just by his everyday example- we should be too.
Church tradition holds that Barnabas was martyred for his faith. True or not, the point is that he was such an awesome encourager we now celebrate a 'Feast of Christ' day to remember the example he became for us through the power of the Holy Spirit. As our Lutheran teachings say he and other saints have 'become a kind of living "stained-glass windows" through whom the light of Christ now shines on us'. Or maybe we could say Barnabas is like a flower that continues to encourage and bloom long after it has been broken off…. by a basketball. Or maybe not. I encourage you to be an encourager this week, to bloom where you are planted and to let the light of Christ shine through you! See you at the encouraging encouragers meeting this Sunday.
Blest Regards,
kp
Slightly irritated I broke off the flowered stem and jammed it into the ground next to another plant. I then pulled out the rest of the plant and replanted another marigold. I watered down the bed and called it good. A couple days later I noticed the stem I had stuck in the ground wasn't giving up. Its flower still shown bright and a few new sprouts had sprung. I hadn't expected this and rewarded my colorful friend with another good dousing of water. Today stick flower continues to boldly hold its one lone bloom in spite of its fear of basketballs (just my guess- that is if flowers have the ability to fear anything in addition to rabbits).
I began to think of my stick flower as a lesson in encouragement and determination. Which then reminded me of this past Thursday's 'Portals of Prayer' devotion on encouragement- one of my favorite topics. As we all know (not), June 11 was St. Barnabas Feast Day and St. B was noted as being an encourager. Acts 11:23 is evidence of this as it tells us 'he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord.' So what can we learn about encouragement from Barnabas?
It turns out the very name 'Barnabas' means encourager, exhorter, consoler. We learn in Acts 4:36 that the disciples gave Barnabas this new name. How great to be recognized as such an encourager that your name gets changed! I can just hear the conversation:
Peter: 'Hey Joe, the boys and I have decided to change your name.'
Joe: 'Really. Why's that?'
Peter: 'Oh, just a little something Jesus started. He changed mine from Simon to Pete, and Saul's to Paul.'
Joe: 'Let me hear it first, I don't want some goofy name like Keith or Obama.'
Peter: 'Heavens no, we've decided on Barney. No, let's be a little more formal, you are now Barnabas- you know, the encourager.'
Barnabas: 'That's cool, I like that name. Thanks Rocky- by the way, great sermon you delivered on Pentecost, keep up the good work.'
Peter: 'Hey Doc, jot this down will you for that Acts book you're writing. We just changed Joe's name to Barnabas.'
Some think Barnabas was converted on Pentecost, others think Barnabas was one of Jesus' 70 disciples and his encouragement, what some call his edification, exhortation and consolation skills caused him to rise to the top. Acts 4 tells us he sold some land and laid the proceeds at the disciples' feet. Maybe that's the first part of being an encourager- buying in. Believing in something, in this case Someone, so much that you redeem your time and things to tell others all about it. To encourage others, we (by the power of the Holy Spirit) need to do just that, 'buy in', 'focus in' and 'get strong in' our faith.
Barnabas also encouraged the disciples to accept the 'new' Paul and later is an encouragement to John Mark after he fails in a missionary trip. From this we learn that encouragers help those new in the faith and lift up those who have fallen or made a mistake. I wish we were all better at being this kind of an encourager. Saint Luke goes on later to describe Barnabas as a good man full of the Holy Spirit and faith. Not many get such a wonderful description in the Bible. Clearly Barnabas was an encourager just by his everyday example- we should be too.
Church tradition holds that Barnabas was martyred for his faith. True or not, the point is that he was such an awesome encourager we now celebrate a 'Feast of Christ' day to remember the example he became for us through the power of the Holy Spirit. As our Lutheran teachings say he and other saints have 'become a kind of living "stained-glass windows" through whom the light of Christ now shines on us'. Or maybe we could say Barnabas is like a flower that continues to encourage and bloom long after it has been broken off…. by a basketball. Or maybe not. I encourage you to be an encourager this week, to bloom where you are planted and to let the light of Christ shine through you! See you at the encouraging encouragers meeting this Sunday.
Blest Regards,
kp
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
I Wanna Give My All and NO Less
"Don't wish it was easier. Wish you were stronger." These are the words I read as I walk into the West YMCA to workout. They are part of an advertisement for a YMCA boot camp to build self-esteem, strength and confidence. I like these words, they motivate me to workout a little harder.
When Jake was looking at colleges for basketball he paid very little attention to NAIA schools like Concordia who made him very lucrative offers. Jake only considered his highest level offers including a walk-on invite at Nebraska. In the end he accepted the scholarship offer from NW Missouri State where he would most likely still have to redshirt (sit out for an entire year) to get bigger and stronger. That didn't happen. Instead Jake worked hard and proved that though he wasn't the biggest guard on the team he was the most intense and very talented. He got more and more playing time as the season went on and ended up starting the last two games of the year.
It was fun to watch Jake play at this high level. Big crowds, bands, radio and television coverage, game announcers, and cheerleaders create an aura of excitement. I could quickly see why Jake wanted to play here. But it wasn't easy. The competition was very tough and the conference NW Missouri plays in includes UNO and other high ranking national basketball powers. The very first game during warm-ups Jake walked by a 7-foot opponent and Sherri and I looked at each other with a 'you got to be kidding me' look.
At the end of the season Jake won the 'Most Improved Player' award. And on the award is a picture I think fits the 'Don't wish it was easier' slogan. In the picture Jake is driving with the basketball, pushing up against two very big, strong and athletic opponents. These guys represent the reason Jake wanted to play 'up'- to the toughest level of basketball where someone would give him a real shot at competing. In short, Jake wanted to play the best. He never wished it was easier, instead he made himself stronger and as a result of his hard work he had a fantastic freshman season.
I was thinking about the sign and Jake as I was working through a Bible study on suffering. The bottom line is that sometimes life is hard, real hard. Our sin has made it so. God could have made us perfect people with no free will. Instead we are playing in a higher league- a league, a life, with great highs and sad lows. God has told us we will never get more than we can handle- in short, we can play at this level. So don't wish life was easier, by the power of the Holy Spirit, make yourself stronger.
Listening to my IPOD as I was working out and mulling over my thoughts on this subject, I heard the Joy Williams song 'No Less'. The chorus hit at the attitude we need to have towards life which can be hard and fit what I'm trying to encourage us towards this week. Here are the words:'I wanna give my all and no less,I wanna live my life with no regrets. I'll listen to the call, Cause You gave it all. So when You put me to the test I'm gonna give You no less.'
This week in Mass the Priest was talking about the Holy Trinity and he delivered some words I will never forget. He said, 'God is for us, Jesus is with us and the Holy Spirit is in us'. Knowing this, we don't need to wish life would be easier, we just need to keep getting stronger in Him! We are blessed through Him to live confidently and with Hope. So get stronger, get in the Word, get in prayer, worship and service. Listen to His call, give it your all and no less. Knowing God is for us, with us and in us, we say to life, bring it on, this is a great adventure! And best of all, thanks to Him, we look forward to playing at an even higher level when we graduate from here!
Blest Regards,
kp
When Jake was looking at colleges for basketball he paid very little attention to NAIA schools like Concordia who made him very lucrative offers. Jake only considered his highest level offers including a walk-on invite at Nebraska. In the end he accepted the scholarship offer from NW Missouri State where he would most likely still have to redshirt (sit out for an entire year) to get bigger and stronger. That didn't happen. Instead Jake worked hard and proved that though he wasn't the biggest guard on the team he was the most intense and very talented. He got more and more playing time as the season went on and ended up starting the last two games of the year.
It was fun to watch Jake play at this high level. Big crowds, bands, radio and television coverage, game announcers, and cheerleaders create an aura of excitement. I could quickly see why Jake wanted to play here. But it wasn't easy. The competition was very tough and the conference NW Missouri plays in includes UNO and other high ranking national basketball powers. The very first game during warm-ups Jake walked by a 7-foot opponent and Sherri and I looked at each other with a 'you got to be kidding me' look.
At the end of the season Jake won the 'Most Improved Player' award. And on the award is a picture I think fits the 'Don't wish it was easier' slogan. In the picture Jake is driving with the basketball, pushing up against two very big, strong and athletic opponents. These guys represent the reason Jake wanted to play 'up'- to the toughest level of basketball where someone would give him a real shot at competing. In short, Jake wanted to play the best. He never wished it was easier, instead he made himself stronger and as a result of his hard work he had a fantastic freshman season.
I was thinking about the sign and Jake as I was working through a Bible study on suffering. The bottom line is that sometimes life is hard, real hard. Our sin has made it so. God could have made us perfect people with no free will. Instead we are playing in a higher league- a league, a life, with great highs and sad lows. God has told us we will never get more than we can handle- in short, we can play at this level. So don't wish life was easier, by the power of the Holy Spirit, make yourself stronger.
Listening to my IPOD as I was working out and mulling over my thoughts on this subject, I heard the Joy Williams song 'No Less'. The chorus hit at the attitude we need to have towards life which can be hard and fit what I'm trying to encourage us towards this week. Here are the words:'I wanna give my all and no less,I wanna live my life with no regrets. I'll listen to the call, Cause You gave it all. So when You put me to the test I'm gonna give You no less.'
This week in Mass the Priest was talking about the Holy Trinity and he delivered some words I will never forget. He said, 'God is for us, Jesus is with us and the Holy Spirit is in us'. Knowing this, we don't need to wish life would be easier, we just need to keep getting stronger in Him! We are blessed through Him to live confidently and with Hope. So get stronger, get in the Word, get in prayer, worship and service. Listen to His call, give it your all and no less. Knowing God is for us, with us and in us, we say to life, bring it on, this is a great adventure! And best of all, thanks to Him, we look forward to playing at an even higher level when we graduate from here!
Blest Regards,
kp
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Coram Deo
An abortion doctor was killed last week in a Lutheran church as he ushered. And I'm going to be very honest here and admit that I struggle with what happened there on a number of fronts. I don't often wade into the waters of social issues in this column but I'm going to today- I keep thinking about this. Maybe you do too.
I firmly believe the Bible is clear on a couple of issues here. First, that anyone who has had an abortion or conducted abortions can be forgiven. God's forgiveness, His grace is wide and deep and for everyone who sincerely seeks it. What a blessing, what a gift and how reassuring it is for every one of us to have our sins 'remembered no more'. Secondly, the Bible is clear that life begins in the womb. From our little heart to our little brains to our little toes we are alive, we are small humans in the womb and best of all, even as curled up little balls of humanity, we are loved by God!
I struggle as I consider the Lutheran church which accepted a member with this on-going practice. I know we are all habitual sinners and as I comment on the sins of others I do so only by looking around the log in my own eye. In short, we all sin and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). And I also know we are to be repentant and by the power of the Holy Spirit turn from those sins we find ourselves in. Are the ELCA and this church okay with late term abortions? Evidently. Does the LCMS and our own church take the same stance? No. Our position on 'life' is clear and clearly different. It can be found on the Synod website and would mandate a change in the heart of a 'doctor' like this.
The greater issue I struggle with is my reaction to this murder. I know it is wrong to kill. I know this 'doctor' is a child of God, a man whom I should love no matter how evil I perceive his actions to be. And yet I feel very little sympathy or outrage. My heart doesn't break for him - I am at best, at my very best, indifferent. Even worse, every time I hear someone say how awful the shooting was, how mean, how senseless, how evil- I can't help but think these same comments could be said about the children who lost their lives at the hands of this victim. I'm not proud of this reaction, not trying to be holier-than-thou, I'm just honestly telling you how I feel and trying to understand why.
Maybe you could say I have a guilty conscience about the way I feel. Or is it possible that maybe my conscience is causing this reaction? Conscience is a pretty complex subject and lovers of knowledge (philosophers) have been contemplating its existence and workings for thousands of years. Luther uses Holy Scripture to give the most insightful description and purpose of 'conscience' in a sermon on Romans, 'Conscience is not the power to do works, but to judge them. The proper work of conscience (as Paul says in Romans 2[:15]), is to accuse or excuse, to make guilty or guiltless, uncertain or certain. Its purpose is not to do, but to pass judgment on what has been done and what should be done, and this judgment makes us stand accused or saved in God's sight.'
Maybe you remember Flip Wilson saying (as only he could say), 'Here come da judge, here come da judge!' Could it be our conscience is a small hint of the perfect Judge and judgment to come? As we act and react in the world, we do so as Luther put it 'Coram Deo'- in front of, before, in plain sight of God. Our conscience helps us act and judge and form opinions with this in mind. The Catholic church wrote in her Second Vatican Council, 'Conscience is the most secret core and sanctuary of a person. There he is alone with God whose voice echoes in his depths'. Echoing in my depths, in my conscience, God's voice calls me to love all. I am working on that. Thankfully God does not judge me as quickly as I judge others.
I usually like to provide you an insight with a smile and encouragement in this column. Today I know I didn't really do that. Maybe today's column was more for me than for you. I just needed to think with you for a moment as I write and struggle to hear God's voice in this event. May God grant each of us a 'coram deo' conscience about all of life's big issues. May His voice, His Holy Spirit, echo within the depths of you. God's richest blessings to you this week.
Blest Regards,
kp
I firmly believe the Bible is clear on a couple of issues here. First, that anyone who has had an abortion or conducted abortions can be forgiven. God's forgiveness, His grace is wide and deep and for everyone who sincerely seeks it. What a blessing, what a gift and how reassuring it is for every one of us to have our sins 'remembered no more'. Secondly, the Bible is clear that life begins in the womb. From our little heart to our little brains to our little toes we are alive, we are small humans in the womb and best of all, even as curled up little balls of humanity, we are loved by God!
I struggle as I consider the Lutheran church which accepted a member with this on-going practice. I know we are all habitual sinners and as I comment on the sins of others I do so only by looking around the log in my own eye. In short, we all sin and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). And I also know we are to be repentant and by the power of the Holy Spirit turn from those sins we find ourselves in. Are the ELCA and this church okay with late term abortions? Evidently. Does the LCMS and our own church take the same stance? No. Our position on 'life' is clear and clearly different. It can be found on the Synod website and would mandate a change in the heart of a 'doctor' like this.
The greater issue I struggle with is my reaction to this murder. I know it is wrong to kill. I know this 'doctor' is a child of God, a man whom I should love no matter how evil I perceive his actions to be. And yet I feel very little sympathy or outrage. My heart doesn't break for him - I am at best, at my very best, indifferent. Even worse, every time I hear someone say how awful the shooting was, how mean, how senseless, how evil- I can't help but think these same comments could be said about the children who lost their lives at the hands of this victim. I'm not proud of this reaction, not trying to be holier-than-thou, I'm just honestly telling you how I feel and trying to understand why.
Maybe you could say I have a guilty conscience about the way I feel. Or is it possible that maybe my conscience is causing this reaction? Conscience is a pretty complex subject and lovers of knowledge (philosophers) have been contemplating its existence and workings for thousands of years. Luther uses Holy Scripture to give the most insightful description and purpose of 'conscience' in a sermon on Romans, 'Conscience is not the power to do works, but to judge them. The proper work of conscience (as Paul says in Romans 2[:15]), is to accuse or excuse, to make guilty or guiltless, uncertain or certain. Its purpose is not to do, but to pass judgment on what has been done and what should be done, and this judgment makes us stand accused or saved in God's sight.'
Maybe you remember Flip Wilson saying (as only he could say), 'Here come da judge, here come da judge!' Could it be our conscience is a small hint of the perfect Judge and judgment to come? As we act and react in the world, we do so as Luther put it 'Coram Deo'- in front of, before, in plain sight of God. Our conscience helps us act and judge and form opinions with this in mind. The Catholic church wrote in her Second Vatican Council, 'Conscience is the most secret core and sanctuary of a person. There he is alone with God whose voice echoes in his depths'. Echoing in my depths, in my conscience, God's voice calls me to love all. I am working on that. Thankfully God does not judge me as quickly as I judge others.
I usually like to provide you an insight with a smile and encouragement in this column. Today I know I didn't really do that. Maybe today's column was more for me than for you. I just needed to think with you for a moment as I write and struggle to hear God's voice in this event. May God grant each of us a 'coram deo' conscience about all of life's big issues. May His voice, His Holy Spirit, echo within the depths of you. God's richest blessings to you this week.
Blest Regards,
kp
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