06.27.08
Posted in General Blog Post at 6:57 pm by Pastor Don
Dear Friends:
I’m standing here by my good friend, Al Roedecker. Al is a veteran, as am I. Al is from the WWII era, while I am a Vietnam War vet. I wanted to take this picture with Al, and with the ribbon, because it’s symbolic of our country. Here you have different generations, yet common bonds, seeking to preserve and celebrate freedom. On the upcoming 4th, I give thanks for Al and the many like him, whose sacrifice has allowed me and many others to enjoy so many freedoms.
Nevertheless, as I celebrate the freedom I have as a U.S. citizen, I celebrate even more the freedom I have as a believer in and a follower of Jesus Christ. In Christ, I find the freedom to be the person that God created me to be. In Christ, I find the freedom to be disentangled from the grips of guilt and the past. In Christ, I find the freedom to understand that Christ looks not so much at what I’ve been, as to what I can be.
As I celebrate the gifts of freedom this July 4th, and give thanks for the many who have helped to pay the price for it, I give an even greater thanks to Jesus Christ. While I have this earthly existence to celebrate the freedoms made possible by veterans like Al and current U.S. soldiers now serving, I give thanks for my eternal existence made possible by Jesus Christ, there on the Cross, and there at the Empty Tomb. For that I say, THANK YOU.
My blessings to you who read this piece. Celebrate your freedom, both now and forever. Do stop by, the coffee’s fresh, and the light’s on. I’d love to see you. Also, anyone needing a new Bible, come on by. I’d love to give you one, as I celebrate my freedom.
Your friend, Pastor Don
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06.12.08
Posted in General Blog Post at 6:25 pm by Pastor Don
Dear Friends,
Here’s a picture of some of my friends. They’re cooking a meal so that later they can serve it at the Simpson Homeless Shelter. This is something that our church does regularly, both cooking and serving.
Serving Christ brings many opportunities to reach out and be a blessing and in the process be blessed. Christ even said, “When you feed the hungry in my name, you in a very real way feed me.” However, this doing things for others, for the joy of serving Christ, and the joy of serving others, goes against a popular cultural thought. It’s a thought that says, “I don’t do nothing for nothing” (as someone once told me).
Given the economic times, it’s so easy to think only of what’s going on in my life and to be totally blind to the needs of others. But a person wrapped up in him/her self makes a very small package. The Bible calls us to “feed the hungry,” “care for the sick,” and “help the homeless.” In addition, it describes the joy that comes when a person is in the “giving to others” mode, as opposed to the “give me” mode.
In what mode does this blog find you? Are you obsessed with self, or with a passion to reach out to others and serve Christ in the process? I wish for you the latter, for therein you will find peace, joy, purpose, and fulfillment, and therein is the blessing of God Almighty.
I’d be happy to talk with you about it. Come on by. The coffee’s fresh. The light is on.
Blessings to you, Pastor Don
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05.27.08
Posted in General Blog Post at 5:35 pm by Pastor Don
Dear Friends,
While in the BWCA last week, I sat for this picture. Talk about a confusing look…a canoer sitting on a snowmobile. Just what is it that I’m trying to do?
The words are haunting…”Be true to thyself.” As people of the Christian faith, what signal do we give off? Do we say one thing, and do another? I must admit, I have to watch myself. I need to be honest and make time for the things that I know are spiritually good for me, or I’m looking forever like a canoer on a snowmobile. Just what in the world am I doing? Does my verbal confession of Jesus Christ as Lord of my life match the outward lifestyle that I have? Even more, is my heart in tune with my words?
In a day when it seems as if a person could be worrying about all sorts of things, does incessant worry match the call to “Trust in the Lord with all thy heart and lean not unto thy own understanding.”? Does my spiritual life look confusing? Am I a good witness to the Power of God, and to the leadership of Jesus Christ in my life? I pray it may be so, but I must say that there are days that I fall short.
God is good…all the time. Hopefully, I get that across most of the time, and live the life to which God has called me, and not be like the picture above…confusing and leaving people wondering. Blessings to you. Stop by. The light is on. The coffee is hot. Would love to visit with you.
Your friend, Pastor Don
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05.12.08
Posted in General Blog Post at 6:06 pm by Pastor Don
Dear Friends:
And here he is, my good little friend, Karl, and his grandma, Tammy. You’ve seen him before sitting on the floor. Only now, he’s walking, he’s moving around. He’s getting at it. And ain’t it great???
Obviously, Karl is no longer the baby of a year ago. He’s become a little tike, a toddler, a child. He’s maturing. God is good…all the time.
How about you? Physically, as adults we probably don’t need to be growing; if anything, maybe downsizing. However, spiritually, how have you done over this past year? Are you closer to God than you were a year ago? If so, wonderful! If not, make no mistake about who has moved.
Each day is an opportunity to draw nearer to God. Each day that we have is a gift from God to make the world a better place; it’s a gift to help others, it’s a gift to honor God. Ultimately each day allows us to energize our faith, supersize our commitment to God, and grow in the grace of God. Each day is a day of possibilities given to us by a graceful God to ever become the person that God thought of when he created us.
So how does God fit into your life? Are you closer to God than you were a year ago? If not, why not do something about it? If I can help, please let me know. We can grow in God’s grace together. Stop by. The coffee’s fresh. The light is on.
Your friend, Pastor Don
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04.29.08
Posted in General Blog Post at 5:10 pm by Pastor Don
Dear Friends,
Just the other night, I watched while some of my favorite young friends put on a musical at our church entitled, The First Action Heroes, written by Pam Andrews and performed by the Normandale Hylands UMC Joy Choir. It’s a musical for children’s choirs about the power of God. The heroes lifted up were biblical people like Esther, David, Joseph, and others. And then finally, Jesus.
Today, who is your hero? Who is your role model? Who is someone that you pattern your life after? Over the years, I’ve had a number of people whom I have admired: biblical people, and then people like William Wilberforce, Scott Mortenson, and Mother Teresa.
But when it came right down to it, my ultimate hero is Jesus. And so I keep looking to Jesus. The Book of Hebrews tells me “He is the author of faith; he also makes it perfect; he put up with attacks from sinners; so think about him, he who paid no attention to the shame of the cross, suffering there because of the joy he was looking forward to. Think about him. Then you won’t lose hope and you won’t get tired.” Hebrews 12:2-3.
And so I do. Look to my hero. To whom do you look? The hymn says: “Turn your eyes upon Jesus; look full in his wonderful face; and the things of Earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of his glory and grace.” Stop by. The coffee’s fresh; the light is on.
Your friend, Pastor Don
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04.18.08
Posted in General Blog Post at 1:50 pm by Pastor Don
Dear Friends:
On April 20, Normandale Hylands United Methodist Church consecrated its new building addition. We’ve had quite a year what with a building project going on around us. I compare it to living with an elephant, lots of noise, and lots of tracks. Now, however, the end is near and a new era begins. To God be the glory.
On the 20th, I talked with the children about one of my favorite songs, Sanctuary, by John Thompson and Randy Scruggs.
Lord, prepare me, to be a sanctuary, pure and holy, tried and true;
With thanksgiving, I’ll be a living sanctuary to you.
To be a sanctuary is to be a holy place, a place where God is honored, and where the presence of God is felt. What would a person who is seeking to be a “sanctuary” look like? I have a few ideas. What are yours? Let me know. In the meantime, I will pray that the “sanctuary” blueprint for you becomes a reality, and I would ask you to do the same for me. Blessings to you on your “building project”.
Pastor Don
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04.04.08
Posted in General Blog Post at 4:30 pm by Pastor Don
Dear Friends:
Here are a few of my friends around 12:00 a.m. at the Minneapolis Airport Terminal. Don’t they look happy? I wonder why? Why the joy? If you look, the joy is spread across the generations pictured. What has happened with these people (incidentally, people taking part in an activity sponsored by our church, NHUMC)?
Actually, this is a picture of a group just returning from a week spent in a third world country, working with people in physical poverty, working with people seeking to improve their lot in life, and working with people who really appreciated what was done for and with them in the name of Jesus Christ.
I’m so glad that these 25 got overseas and were a blessing, as well as being blessed. They, over spring break, did a mission trip to Belize. There, they did physical construction, as well as giving leadership to a Children’s Bible School, senior citizen’s ministry, visiting in the community, and doing a variety of worship services.
When I asked some of them what their highlight was of the time spent in Belize, many of them answered, “All of it.” It’s funny how joy can be found in doing hard work, whether physical, emotional, or spiritual, and doing it in the name of Jesus Christ. In addition, they paid to do it! Now they’re anxious to go again. There must be something to following Christ that leads one to wish to continue. The psalmist said, “The Joy of the Lord is my strength!” and Jesus said, “I have come that your joy might be full!” Amazing how we find that joy in serving Christ and helping others. How about you? Where do you find joy? Stop by. Let me know. The light is on and the coffee’s fresh.
Your friend, Pastor Don
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03.18.08
Posted in General Blog Post at 11:48 am by Pastor Don
Dear Friends:
I’m back, and Happy Easter! Yes, I’ve returned from a wonderful medical mission project in Sierra Leone. In the process, I again made a lot of friends, of all ages. Sitting here with me is young Daniel. He’s cute as a button, and loves to be held. He loves to hear stories. He loves to have someone’s attention. He loves to know that someone cares ABOUT HIM.
Thinking about young Daniel, don’t we all love to know that someone cares about us, that we have someone’s attention? As Christians, we live with the knowledge that someone does care for us, even to give his life for us. That person is Jesus Christ, and for that we can be eternally grateful. But now he’s alive, and he says to us, what I stated in the first sentence. He says, “I’m back, and Happy Easter.”
As we prepare to celebrate Easter this Sunday, I invite you to come and celebrate the risen Christ with us. I invite you to come and give thanks for the one who cares about us, and that one who gives us His attention. I invite you to come and be nurtured by that one who says to all, “I’m back, and Happy Easter!”
Stop by. The coffee’s fresh. The light is on.
Your friend, Pastor Don
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02.28.08
Posted in General Blog Post at 2:49 pm by Pastor Don
Dear Friends:
I’m soon to head from Africa, Sierra Leone to be exact, and I’m packing some things to bring along. What does one take? As I do this, I’m reminded of what one really needs in order to be. I’m reminded of a hymn that says, “This world is not my home, I’m just a passing through.” What do I really need to “pass through”?
I struggle at times with being suffocated by stuff, and I long to unstuff myself. I am going to a country where that issue is mute, as poverty and unemployment ravage the ideas of accumulating stuff. Instead, there is the common yearning for a warm meal, a place to lie down, a school for children to attend, and joy. What is that joy? Perhaps that joy is when I know that I’m an answer for someone’s prayer and I respond, perhaps when I’m seeking to be a pencil in the hand of God, perhaps when I’m seeking to be an instrument of God’s peace, and finally when I am that pencil, that instrument.
As I travel, it reminds me that my spiritual journey calls me to travel light, because where I’m going, all pilgrims do travel light. As I muse over these thoughts of traveling light, and using my resources to be placed in God’s hands, it’s then that I discover that for which I hunger the most: joy. Contentment, peace of mind, these are the wonderful gifts of life, and I’ve learned that I find them and receive them regularly when I’m unstuffed by stuff, when I’m traveling light, and when I’m seeking to be a pencil in the hand of God. God’s blessing to you. When I come back, stop by, the light will be on, and the coffee will be fresh. Joy to you, my friend.
Pastor Don
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02.15.08
Posted in General Blog Post at 5:44 pm by Pastor Don
Dear Friends:
Lenten greetings! I trust that you are making it through the Lenten season and allowing for a good couple of stoops in your life. I’m here pictured getting down on my knees with one fine young man, Karl. Getting down on my knees puts me at eye level with Karl, and allows me to look a little more closely at his world. Getting down on my knees has a way of also getting me out of my normal world, and allowing new opportunities to bubble into my spiritual journey.
Getting on our knees may happen in prayer, it may happen when I’m looking for something, or when I’m serving. Jesus got on his knees didn’t he? Remember that night at the Last Supper? Nobody appeared ready to wash the disciples’ feet that night, until Jesus took a basin and a towel and proceeded to take a stoop and kneel, and indulged himself in service. Then afterward, he called all his disciples to do the same. Get involved in serving and be willing to take a stoop and kneel. My own experience with this dynamic of stoop and kneel is always full of joy and purpose, for I find then in many ways, I am about the work of the Lord.
How about you? What do you find in the stoop and kneel? I trust that you will find Jesus. For Jesus also says, “As you did it to the least of these, my brethren, you did it unto me.” Lenten blessings. Stop by. The light’s on, the coffee’s fresh.
Pastor Don
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