Claimed, gathered and sent

Last week, Friday through Monday, was spent at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. I was there with approximately 12 other prospective students for their fall Seminary Sampler. It was a wonderful time and the group of us stayed in the same place and really built community together. There were panel discussions, tours of the campus and student housing, meals together and classes. Several decided by the end of our time together that Chicago was indeed the place for them to continue their studies. As for me, it was great, but I could not see myself there. It confirmed that Gettysburg was the place for me to go. Yesterday I filled out my application to Gettysburg, sent off my transcript request to Regent and sent out the various reference forms to the appropriate people. On Saturday, the 10th (Luther's birthday!) I meet with the Synod Candidacy Committee, God willing, to move forward with the process. " I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will c...

Last week I visited two seminaries, The Lutheran Theological Seminaries at Philadelphia and Gettysburg. In speaking with administrators, seminarians, and other prospective students, the subject of call invariably came up. We told our stories of God's call and how we envision that. After returning home, my sense of the significance of call and God's preparation for that increased. I have a new awareness of being in a time of preparation. I know God called me at 15 to serve him. That service has taken on numerous forms: wife, mother, missionary, employee, student. But there is now a renewed sense of call, that God is working something special in my life. And then I read today's scripture from the lectionary. 2 Timothy 2:24-26 (Today's New International Version) 24 And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. 25 Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading t...

“I believe that by my own understanding or strength I cannot believe in Jesus Christ my Lord or come to him …” [1] is one description of Paul’s teaching on grace. Grace needs greater emphasis otherwise; we fall into works righteousness, believing that what we correctly or differently do ensures success. It is all God’s work. We are saved by grace (Eph 2:5), “justified freely by his grace” (Rom 3:24), stand in grace (Rom 5:2) and commissioned by grace (Rom 1:5) for example. Good works follow God’s grace operating in our lives. My church has trouble relying on God’s grace because many do not spend time with God, hearing his voice, reading his word to know his direction, let alone rely on him to work. Individuals and churches are incapable of connecting with society’s deep needs, apart from God’s empowering grace, meaning he alone is glorified. “… Bach … was sometimes commissioned to compose music for secular occasions… whether the composition was for worship or courtly ent...

This discussion regarded Natural Church Development and which of the eight quality characteristics was the most difficult to improve. A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions (Mt 7:17-20). Passionate spirituality is the lowest quality characteristic in most of New England ’s Lutheran churches. It seems that this may be the most difficult to improve, at least for someone in the leadership of the church. Questions in the survey that indicate the level of spirituality are, “Times of prayer are an inspiring experience for me” [1] and “I am enthusiastic about my church.” [2] Many Christians do not have as vital a prayer life as they should. Despite teaching, prayer meetings, Bible studies etc., can ...

We have all been called names, some good and some bad. I remember being called fat, difficult, insubordinate, careless, slow. What about you? Sometimes you aren't actually called a name, but treated in a way that implies you are careless, stupid, a screw up? It's painful. What does God say about names? "Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To those who are victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give each of them a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it" (Rev. 2:17). Naming is very personal and intimate. We name our spouses, children, our pets. We have "pet names" for those we love: sweetie, honey, sweetheart. God names us, calls us beloved, my child, precious, holy and mine. Can you imagine the Lord having a special, pet name for us, that only he and we know? "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. 2 When you pass ...

How can be more effective in outreach or evangelism? Take a look at this brief post I wrote for Christian Ministry class. Only by knowing your target will you know what language to speak. Paul addressed Jews differently than Gentiles. Beside English speakers, we have ethnic groups speaking only Portuguese and Hispanic in this town. Cultural, intellectual, economic and other differences abound. Effective communication demands knowledge. “We were doing pretty well except … one dreadful night we tried out hip-hop worship on a bunch of white indie rocker kids.” [1] In starting a service blindly: I had failed to think missionally about who we would reach out with, who we would reach out to, or how we would reach out …I had wrongly thought only attractionally … if I had a good band and … preached a good sermon, we could put together a good event that would attract lots of people … I failed miserably. As this train wreck of a church service rolled along … it became painfully clea...

“Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD” (Ps 37:4-5a). Critical decisions require knowledge of God’s will achieved by delighting in him, knowing his voice and committing everything to him. Engaging those around us is crucial in decision making, each bringing different gifts. Our church’s confirmation program was woefully inadequate, severely flawed. It is under the umbrella of Christian Education, which I chair. As the pastor’s project, our ideas were continually discounted. He left; opportunity arrived for revamping the program ensuring our youth encountered God. “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed” (Prv 15:22). The former chair rejoined the committee. A gifted retired teacher experienced in curriculum writing, involved with the youth, and voila, a new curriculum was born. We were all involved and unanimously approved it. “One important part of organizational communications is to co...