By Rev. Mark Lepper (a colleague – serving at St. John Lutheran Church in MN)
Pastor Mark Lepper’s blog link: http://pastormarksday.blogspot.com/
My life has become much easier since the concept of GPS has been introduced to my life. I'm not quite sure how I really got much of anywhere before I had a little computerized person in my car telling me where and when to turn. Especially since moving up here closer to the Twin Cities where I'm often required to drive into Minneapolis or the suburbs for various synod events and committee meetings. I jokingly tell people that if it weren't for my GPS I would probably still be driving around trying to find my way home.
But, because of my GPS system, I now have a nice, British woman guiding me to my destination. She tells me where to turn, and even alerts me when my next turn is coming up. If, for some reason, I am unable to turn when she tells me, or take the exit off of the highway that she wanted me to, she'll quickly figure out a different route. It has been pretty great to have that service at my finger tips.
Sometimes I wish that God would give me a GPS for my life. It would be there to guide me, tell me what decisions to make, which way to go. I wouldn't have to worry about what to do and when to do it, because the GPS (Godly Positioning System) would tell me. I wouldn't have to wonder and worry if I'm lost, if I'm somehow not on the path intended for me, or that I might have made a wrong turn back there at Albequerque.
It would make life's decisions pretty easy, I think. There'd be no risk. I'd always know, for certain, that I was on the right road because there would be that nice, British voice telling me so.
But, when I think about it, maybe that's not such a good thing. Sometimes the joy of driving is just seeing where you end up. There is adventure in trying to find a place on your own. And one thing I've noticed is that if I rely on my GPS to give me turn by turn directions, I often don't pay as close attention as I should to where I'm going, and I miss street names and landmarks that could help me figure out how I got there in the first place.
So, maybe we're not given a GPS from God because the destination isn't what's important. It's the journey there that is.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Sing!!
I remember worshiping in Suriname, South America during the Lent season. In Lent it’s a liturgical rule not to say Alleluia. It makes the Easter morning Alleluia even more magnificent. As we were gathered in Suriname, in a little church about to worship, the opening song had so many Alleluias in it I didn’t know what to do. We aren’t supposed to say Alleluia, it’s Lent. I thought, “Maybe I should not sing.”
Then my heart sank as those thoughts ran through my head. It’s Lent and I’m worshipping with my brothers and sisters from Suriname! I couldn’t think of a better reason to belt Alleluia from the top of my lungs! So I sang.
If I hadn’t sang that day I wonder what my brothers and sisters would have thought my actions were saying. Sure I was breaking a Lenten rule but it was out of joy and love. It was about an encounter with God in a new place with new people.
I often find when talking to people about who God is and how God works in their life we often get caught up with a God of “morals” and “right vs. wrong.” Yet, God asks us to do one thing – Love your neighbor! I hope on this year’s Lenten journey you encounter the living and transforming God of grace and love. Now that’s something to SING about!
Then my heart sank as those thoughts ran through my head. It’s Lent and I’m worshipping with my brothers and sisters from Suriname! I couldn’t think of a better reason to belt Alleluia from the top of my lungs! So I sang.
If I hadn’t sang that day I wonder what my brothers and sisters would have thought my actions were saying. Sure I was breaking a Lenten rule but it was out of joy and love. It was about an encounter with God in a new place with new people.
I often find when talking to people about who God is and how God works in their life we often get caught up with a God of “morals” and “right vs. wrong.” Yet, God asks us to do one thing – Love your neighbor! I hope on this year’s Lenten journey you encounter the living and transforming God of grace and love. Now that’s something to SING about!
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Lenten Fear
Fear is real! It is something that can paralyze us and change how we experience the world.
Something I love to do is SCUBA dive. I have had many experiences with friends and realize that SCUBA diving can be a scary thing, people feel out of control breathing underwater, but I love it. The first time in the water I honestly can say there was no fear. I was a fish waiting to get in the water, I belonged there! It is exciting the colors of the fish, sponges and coral…
I was on a dive trip in Honduras. We were there for a week doing three dives a day. I was a serious diver and had seen it all wrecks, reefs, walls… BUT I quickly learned that I had not seen it all. We were going on a cave dive. I geared up, jumped in the water with excitement of a new experience. I entered the cave – it was much smaller than I expected, I maybe had 5 inches on each side of me. There was no light in the cave so I clung to my flashlight. I began to become aware of things I wasn’t before. My senses heightened; flashlight in one hand and now my mask in the other. I didn’t want the person in front of me to kick it off. There was no way up if something went wrong and we had a good 20 of us in the cave. I now was holding onto my flashlight, mask and gage looking at it every few moments. Yep, I still have air, Yep we’re still 80 ft. under water. My goal was only to get out of the cave! My heart was racing and there was nothing that went unnoticed!
I then saw the light at the end of the cave. In a moment I would be out and free! As I swam out of the cave my heart didn’t stop beating fast, it started beating faster. Suddenly there was nothing when I swam out of that cave. No bottom below me and I could barely see light at the top. There was nothing in front of me or at my sides; no people, no fish, no coral. I was literally floating in what felt like an abyss of endless depth. I didn’t know where everyone went and I froze, helpless, I froze.
My diving buddy noticed my stillness from behind and he knows I love to dive. He swam in front of me and gestured to see if I was okay. I thought about it for a moment and didn’t want to freak him out because I was still breathing and gestured back, I’m okay. He then gestured to me to turn around.
When I turned, my world changed! I saw the most beautiful wall of sponges and corals, there were schools of vibrant colored fish everywhere. I honestly believed I had never seen anything so beautiful! The fear I experienced enhanced my senses – enhanced the colors – the experience. Why? Because I chose before, when diving, to do only what was comfortable. I always had a bottom and always could see the top. The fear from that dive opened my eyes to something I was not willing to see in the water before. It was the part of the water I always had my back to or ignored. Experiencing those parts enhanced the beauty of what I had seen 50 times before.
Fear enhances what is good in life. We are told to take up our cross in Matthew 10 & 16 – and if we want to save our lives we must lose it and if we lose our life we will save it. WHAT? Isn’t that the ultimate fear? Losing our life?
It’s what Jesus did and what did we do with him? We buried him in a tomb. But the story doesn’t end there because three days later Jesus breaks out of the tomb – and overcomes for each Child of God the ultimate fear - death.
Something I love to do is SCUBA dive. I have had many experiences with friends and realize that SCUBA diving can be a scary thing, people feel out of control breathing underwater, but I love it. The first time in the water I honestly can say there was no fear. I was a fish waiting to get in the water, I belonged there! It is exciting the colors of the fish, sponges and coral…
I was on a dive trip in Honduras. We were there for a week doing three dives a day. I was a serious diver and had seen it all wrecks, reefs, walls… BUT I quickly learned that I had not seen it all. We were going on a cave dive. I geared up, jumped in the water with excitement of a new experience. I entered the cave – it was much smaller than I expected, I maybe had 5 inches on each side of me. There was no light in the cave so I clung to my flashlight. I began to become aware of things I wasn’t before. My senses heightened; flashlight in one hand and now my mask in the other. I didn’t want the person in front of me to kick it off. There was no way up if something went wrong and we had a good 20 of us in the cave. I now was holding onto my flashlight, mask and gage looking at it every few moments. Yep, I still have air, Yep we’re still 80 ft. under water. My goal was only to get out of the cave! My heart was racing and there was nothing that went unnoticed!
I then saw the light at the end of the cave. In a moment I would be out and free! As I swam out of the cave my heart didn’t stop beating fast, it started beating faster. Suddenly there was nothing when I swam out of that cave. No bottom below me and I could barely see light at the top. There was nothing in front of me or at my sides; no people, no fish, no coral. I was literally floating in what felt like an abyss of endless depth. I didn’t know where everyone went and I froze, helpless, I froze.
My diving buddy noticed my stillness from behind and he knows I love to dive. He swam in front of me and gestured to see if I was okay. I thought about it for a moment and didn’t want to freak him out because I was still breathing and gestured back, I’m okay. He then gestured to me to turn around.
When I turned, my world changed! I saw the most beautiful wall of sponges and corals, there were schools of vibrant colored fish everywhere. I honestly believed I had never seen anything so beautiful! The fear I experienced enhanced my senses – enhanced the colors – the experience. Why? Because I chose before, when diving, to do only what was comfortable. I always had a bottom and always could see the top. The fear from that dive opened my eyes to something I was not willing to see in the water before. It was the part of the water I always had my back to or ignored. Experiencing those parts enhanced the beauty of what I had seen 50 times before.
Fear enhances what is good in life. We are told to take up our cross in Matthew 10 & 16 – and if we want to save our lives we must lose it and if we lose our life we will save it. WHAT? Isn’t that the ultimate fear? Losing our life?
It’s what Jesus did and what did we do with him? We buried him in a tomb. But the story doesn’t end there because three days later Jesus breaks out of the tomb – and overcomes for each Child of God the ultimate fear - death.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
"Follow Me"
By Sarah Teichmann
The other day I was on the phone with a friend. She was flying into the area and we were making plans for her visit. She planned to rent a car and drive to Naples, but she didn’t know how to get from the airport to my home. I offered to meet her at the airport so that she could follow me. There was a pause—a hesitation of sorts. I could tell that she was a bit nervous about this plan, so I asked her what was wrong. “I’m nervous about following your car, losing sight of you.”
I could totally understand her nervousness. How often have we tried to follow someone, lost sight of them, lost track, and ended up just plain lost. There is something very basic in our make-up that fears getting lost. Think back to when you were a child and out on a shopping expedition with a parent or guardian. Your attention is diverted, you turn around to look at something else, turn back and you realize with dread that you are alone. You cannot see your loved ones. Oh no you’re lost!
No one wants to be lost—regardless of age, wisdom, or experience.
Sometimes the dread and fear of being lost keeps us from moving forward. We know where we are, so why can’t we just stay there. However, life is about moving forward. God’s call in our life is about moving and growing, as well. There are several times in Jesus’ ministry that he calls to people and says, “Follow me.” Some passages that come to mind are:
We are invited to follow Jesus, but are you like me and sometimes feel that little child inside of you who fears where you may go or if you may get lost?
I find comfort in the John 10:27 verse where Jesus is the good shepherd—protecting his beloved flock. There is a deep relationship between the shepherd and those for whom he cares and protects. Remember the comforting words from Psalm 23.
Have you ever been on a trip or a tour with a good guide or leader? That guide knows the terrain and the surroundings. They will walk backwards ahead of you so that you never lose sight of their face-so that you may always be in their view. They guide you to places where you may rest and find shelter.
When Jesus says “Follow me” he invites us to part of an incredible journey through life, faith, and love. God will never forsake us. We are treasured children in the eyes of God!
May you feel the blessing of God’s goodness this day and every day in your journey!
The other day I was on the phone with a friend. She was flying into the area and we were making plans for her visit. She planned to rent a car and drive to Naples, but she didn’t know how to get from the airport to my home. I offered to meet her at the airport so that she could follow me. There was a pause—a hesitation of sorts. I could tell that she was a bit nervous about this plan, so I asked her what was wrong. “I’m nervous about following your car, losing sight of you.”
I could totally understand her nervousness. How often have we tried to follow someone, lost sight of them, lost track, and ended up just plain lost. There is something very basic in our make-up that fears getting lost. Think back to when you were a child and out on a shopping expedition with a parent or guardian. Your attention is diverted, you turn around to look at something else, turn back and you realize with dread that you are alone. You cannot see your loved ones. Oh no you’re lost!
No one wants to be lost—regardless of age, wisdom, or experience.
Sometimes the dread and fear of being lost keeps us from moving forward. We know where we are, so why can’t we just stay there. However, life is about moving forward. God’s call in our life is about moving and growing, as well. There are several times in Jesus’ ministry that he calls to people and says, “Follow me.” Some passages that come to mind are:
“Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men.” Matthew 4:19
Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” Mark 8:34
“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” John 10:27
We are invited to follow Jesus, but are you like me and sometimes feel that little child inside of you who fears where you may go or if you may get lost?
I find comfort in the John 10:27 verse where Jesus is the good shepherd—protecting his beloved flock. There is a deep relationship between the shepherd and those for whom he cares and protects. Remember the comforting words from Psalm 23.
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want…He leads me beside quiet waters…Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
Have you ever been on a trip or a tour with a good guide or leader? That guide knows the terrain and the surroundings. They will walk backwards ahead of you so that you never lose sight of their face-so that you may always be in their view. They guide you to places where you may rest and find shelter.
When Jesus says “Follow me” he invites us to part of an incredible journey through life, faith, and love. God will never forsake us. We are treasured children in the eyes of God!
May you feel the blessing of God’s goodness this day and every day in your journey!
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