God on the loose among us

Sue sent these photos of the ways she's seen God on the loose...

There's a female cardinal that wants to drive out another cardinal she thinks is in our basement window.  I guess we all want to protect what we feel is ours.

In the woods, there is life growing from an old dead stump.  

In the backyards of our neighborhood, there are sandhill cranes that seem to want to move in. They are so majestic and awesome!




Thanks for sharing, Sue!  


How have you seen God on the loose?  
E-mail photos to pastorkirsten(at)gmail(dot)com.

A Confirmation Day Reminder...for all of us

This is the sermon preached at the 8:00 service on Confirmation Sunday at Peace (April 29, 2012)

In a few minutes, we’ll watch Peace’s traditional Confirmation video--with pictures of the nineteen confirmands growing up.  Some of you will remember seeing those little faces.  Perhaps you have watched them play bells or soccer or sing in the school choir.  Maybe you even remember the day one was baptized, that he cried or she almost slept through the whole thing.  Some of them were baptized here at Peace, others at other places.  And today, they affirm the promises made to them in baptism.

It’s a special day for them.  A day when they are reminded of the awesome promises of God--the one who named them and claimed them and knows them each by name.  The God who loves them beyond measure.  And even though you might not be there at 10:30 when they stand before us and say their “I will and I ask God to help and guide me’s,” it’s a special day for all of us.  It’s  day when we can remember the promises that we have made over the years.  Promises to the strangers and promises to our loved ones.  Promises that we would support them as they grew.  And we remember the ones who made the promises to us.  No matter where it happened, the fact is that someone made a promise to you to help you grow in faith.

We believe we are united as the body of Christ.  So even though none of you were there on the day I was baptized, there were people who spoke for the body of Christ and made promises that they would help me grow.  And even though many of the people who have helped me understand what it means to live into the identity of child of God were not there on the day of my baptism, they have helped fulfill the promises those other brothers and sisters in Christ made.  We work together.  We speak for one another.  We are the body of Christ.  Together.  United across time and space by the God who knows us each by name.

Most of us were brought to the font by our parents.  They made promises to nurture us in faith, to help us grow and learn what it means to be a child of God.  But as Martin Marty writes to parents in his little book about baptism, “You will need all the help you can get.”

  No parent can do it alone.  We turn to others--the Sunday school teachers and choir directors and camp counselors and the person who always sits behind us in church and whose voice we miss when she’s not there.  All of those people help us grow up to begin to understand what it means to be a part of this mystical body of Christ.  To have brothers and sisters who are not biological, but spiritual.  Who are all part of this huge and amazing family of God.  

Living in community is part of what it means to be a child of God.  There are no only children in this family.  Instead, we have millions of brothers and sisters, spread across the world, most of whom we will never meet.  And yet, somehow in the marvelous mystery that is faith, when we make promises in baptism and when promises were made to us, all of those far away brothers and sister are included, too.  And when we pray for all of the baptized, we pray for a whole huge body of Christ.  It is mind boggling and amazing.  This is the stuff that makes this pastor really excited!

So what holds it all together?  God, of course.  But love has a big part to do with it, right.  Little children, John writes in our second reading today, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action.  He calls that ancient community to task.  He urges them to attempt to understand that if they have any chance of living together in harmony, they better figure out pretty quickly what it means to show love, not only speak it.  To live it out in their actions.  Every day.  Even when they didn’t like that neighbor or didn’t get along with that one.  It’s a noble and worthy goal.  And it didn’t stop with that gathered community.  It’s the command from Christ: “Love one another as I have loved you.”  It’s hard, isn’t it?  And so we pray for help.  We keep turning back to God and asking, once again, for guidance and grace.  Because we struggle, we fall short, we fail.  And we try again and succeed and turn back to God for help.  And even with this saint-sinner life, God loves us.  Every single moment of every single day.

Even though our human communities are sometimes a little messy, isn’t it also in these relationships that we see God’s work most clearly?  Isn’t in these moments when we realize, in spite of our questions and our struggles, that yes, somehow God is at work in this world?  In laughter with friends or those evenings when all of the sudden you realize hours have passed and you didn’t even realize it.  When you witness the patience of a husband with his beloved of many, many years whose mind is wracked by dementia.  When you watch as the boundaries created by assumptions are tossed aside and perhaps only for a split second you feel as if you are catching a glimpse of the kingdom to come.  God is working in the world.  Through us.  In us.  Around us.  God is working in this world.  

Today is an important day for the confirmands.  And will tomorrow and the next day be.  And so will they be for you.  We don’t have to wait for confirmation day to role around again to remember the promises and affirm them.  Unlike baptism, which happens only once, we can affirm the promises every day.  It doesn’t take a special day to remind ourselves of the promises “to live among God’s faithful people, to hear the word of God and share in the Lord’s supper, to proclaim the good news of God in Christ through word and deed, to serve all people, following the example of Jesus, and to strive for justice and peace in all the earth.”  Our faith does not play out only within the walls of this church.  The love of Christ is embodied in each one of us, the children he knows each by name.  And we carry that love out into the world.  And it makes a difference.

God’s love, which we have the honor and privilege and responsibility to share, makes a difference in this world.  It makes a difference when God’s love causes us to love the stranger or enemy or friend.  It makes a difference when it causes us to visit the sick or feed the hungry or see the homeless person on the street as a fellow human being.  It makes a difference when we take the time to see God’s image reflected in the folks we meet.  We don’t live our lives in individual bubbles.  We live them in community.  Most often, we probably live our lives among people we know and trust and love.  But every once in awhile, stop and ponder the promise that we also live our lives as a part of a great community of saints.  People of every time and place whose lives are intertwined with ours simply because we are called child of God.

At each of our baptisms a different community represented the whole body of Christ, promising to help us grow.  And that process takes a life time.  It involves questions and struggle and moments of clarity and moments of doubt.  It involves turning to trusted loved ones and sometimes total strangers.  It requires love, both given and received.  

We love because God first loved us.  We are bound together because God calls us to live not as individuals, but as community.  We are witnesses to the love of God that weaves through all of history.  We are members of the body of Christ.  We are known and we are loved.  And we are, each and every one of us, called child of God.  Amen.

God sightings guest blogger: Hannah T.

Hannah Terpening is a Freshmen UW-Platteville, majoring in Criminal Justice with a minor in Psychology and emphasis in Forensic Investigation.  She is a member at Peace and has worked on the summer staff, been on two mission trips, and played with the Radical Ringers.

God has been working in many different ways through me in the past few months.

Over Easter I went home to be with my family and celebrate the remembrance of our Lord Savior Jesus Christ. And as we were all together on Easter morning waiting for my Mother to finish cooking a delicious ham meal, which we are grateful that we can fill out bellies, we were watching the Master Golf Tournament.

Quick history about my family, My Grandfather, known to us as Bumpa was diagnosed with the number one killing cancer, Lung, in April of 2009. Nine short months, and a vigorous battle with this cancer, he left us on earth to join God in Heaven in July of 2010. My Bumpa was one of my best friends. He taught me how to golf, came to sporting events, and always had a smile no matter what. 

While watching the Masters it made me just think about him, and how he must have the best view on the whole entire golf course. I wish everyday that I could have spent just one more day with him, but then I think about him and passing away and he taught me a valuable lesson. 

I learned that just because you are ill, doesn’t mean that you should stop living your life. There are going to be bumps in the road, but that’s the trick of life. If you can hit a bump and get over it, you will strive at anything you put your mind to, if you hit that bump and get a flat tire it may take sometime to fill that tire up but keep on going because that tire will inflate again and you will be on your way. 

“My righteousness draws near speedily, my salvation is on the way” Isaiah 51:5.

There are a few things that I remember every night. First, my favorite quote that I recite every night. It gives me the courage I need to let me clear my head and get good nights sleep no matter how good or bad my day was. “There is a God to carry us through the bad times and encourage us through the good!” Last but certainly not the least, God may have taken my Bumpa off this planet but it is because I needed a Guardian angel. Grandfather, Guardian angel, Best friend, Father, Listener, and finally, my hero. As I continue on through college I often have times where I am very busy and forget exactly what I am supposed to be doing with my life. But at that moment when I am feeling over whelmed, I close my eyes, and remember My Bumpa and all the happy times that we have shared together. 

Going to church and praising God our Father makes me feel closer to God, which I have always prayed and hoped for. I knew that God had a plan for all of us and that I would do anything for our Lord and Savior. Even if I do something that he disproves of I know he will always love me and I will go, and do then what he asks of me. Isaiah 6:8 says that “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”” And I said, “Here I am. Send me!" Bumpa was not willing to say goodbye to his family and friends, but he knows that we all miss him, and think of him everyday. I know my Grandma, Nana, really misses him. It has hurt her the worst. Her best friend of 55 years, and husband for 52 years is gone. I know it is good for her to talk about him, and to grief but it is hard to keep it together because we all miss him so dearly. 

Bumpa, you mean the world to me and I know that you are watching my up there high in the heaven clouds. “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” 2 Corinthians 5:7

Online Bible Study--1 John 3:16-24

We continue with our study of 1 John.  The "rules" for the discussion are posted below.  Folks have been shy about posting, which is okay, but it can be fun to engage some online conversation, too.  Remember, there aren't right or wrong answers.  The purpose is to engage in discussion!  Thanks for participating.

1 John 3:16-24


We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us—and we ought to lay down our lives for one another. How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help? 

Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. And by this we will know that we are from the truth and will reassure our hearts before him whenever our hearts condemn us; for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have boldness before God; and we receive from him whatever we ask, because we obey his commandments and do what pleases him.

And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. All who obey his commandments abide in him, and he abides in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit that he has given us.








On Sunday, our ninth graders will affirm the promises made to them at baptism.  What a great text for that day, right?


What does it mean for you to "love in truth and action"?
What questions does this text raise for you?
What good news do you see?
Why do you think John stresses love so much?










During the season of Easter, you are invited to join with me in an online study of 1 John.  We'll be looking at the texts selected for the Second Lesson for the weekends during Easter.  One of the big themes in 1 John is love and what it means for us as believers.  To learn more about 1 John, check out Enter the Bible (maintained by Luther Seminary).  On Sunday, I'll post a reflection on the text from 1 John.

The "rules" for this on-line Bible study are as follows:
1.  There aren't necessarily "right" or "wrong" answers.  That said, all comments should be respectful. 
2.  You can post comments or questions or respond to posts by others.
3.  The more the merrier!  Even if you're unsure about your thoughts, please post.  Your comments will add to the conversation and help make for better learning and engagement for all of us.
4.  The pastor (ie ME) doesn't have all the answers!
5.  Don't be shy.
6.  Have fun!

Children of God--a reflection on 1 John 3:1-7

A reflection on 1 John 3:1-7.

This week, like most weeks, was a week filled with good news...and sad.  I saw a story about a 100 year old teacher who isn’t quite ready to retire.  I saw wedding pictures that made me a little misty eyed and received daily photos of our 2 week old nephew from New York.  My grandmother and father-in-law both spent time in the hospital and the grandmothers of two of my good friends died.  It’s part of this life we live--the ups and downs and all arounds, isn’t it?  

Through these moments--both the happy and the sad--I take comfort in the promise before us in 1 John 3: See what the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God.  Wow.  This is an amazing promise.  We are children of God.  We are wrapped in God’s love, held in God’s light, given the promise of new life in Christ.  Now.  Not in the distant, far-off, unknown future, but now.  Today.  And forever.

The community to which John wrote, not unlike our own, struggled to figure out what it meant to live in a world where we are simultaneously children of God (Lutherans like to say saints) and people who still turn away from God (ie sinners).  If we’re children of God, we can live like that now, John says.  There’s no need to wait.  Not a single one of us is perfect.  We can’t be.  We will sin.  It’s what humans do.  But I think John is trying to remind those people to whom he wrote so long ago that they don’t have to wait to live into that incredible, amazing identity of child of God.  We can hear that message loud and clear today, too.

You are child of God.  Period.  No ifs, ands, or buts about it.  Whether you are two or twelve or eighty-seven or one hundred and four.  You are a child of God.  Name it.  Claim it.  See the beauty and grace in it.  You are a child of God.  Now.  Today.  And forever.

For a couple of weeks, I’ve seen this video floating around on Facebook.  But I didn’t actually watch it until earlier this week.  “Caine’s Arcade” tells the story of a little boy with a big imagination who creates a cardboard arcade in his dad’s auto-supply store in LA.  His first customer happened to be a film maker who asked permission to make a short film about the arcade.  “Well, it’s kind of a joke,” said his dad, “you’re his only customer.”  The filmmaker set about changing that.  Using social media, he created an event during which tons of people came out to play at Caine’s arcade.  It is SO worth the 10 minutes it takes to watch it.

Now, I don’t know anything about Caine’s family’s religious background, or the beliefs of the filmmaker or any of the people who came out that day to play, but here’s what I do know.  In their faces, I saw reflections of children of God.  I saw awe and wonder and creativity in Caine and kindness, generosity, and childlike playfulness in the folks who lined up to play.  I saw a whole bunch of children of God, throwing away assumptions about perfection and convention and embracing life.  They laughed and smiled and cheered.  And the smile on Caine’s face when he sees the line was precious and heartwarming.  My husband and I both got a little choked up watching it.  On that day, a whole bunch of people in LA embraced life.  And their joy is contagious.  The video has been viewed over 2 million times on YouTube.  That’s a lot of God’s children who saw a promise of new life, even though they might not have even realized it.  But I bet they realized that they saw joy and goodness and grace.  And that, my friends, is a glimpse into being a child of God.

This world is crazy.  Sin makes a big mess of a beautiful thing.  There’s no question that we all fall short.  We turn in on ourselves.  We turn away from one another.  We think we can do it on our own and turn away from God.  And God gets that.  And loves us anyway.  In spite of the messes we make, God calls us God’s children anyway.

I try to grasp this concept, but it’s hard.  And that’s the thing.  So much of God is pure and complete and utter mystery.  We can’t understand how God would see a mess and call it a masterpiece.  We can’t understand how God can hear all of our prayers or love us all or give us life everlasting, but we trust that God does.  We trust, in this Easter season, and in every season of our lives, that God is constantly at work making all things new.  That God is, somehow, working in and through and around us.  That God knows us and loves us and calls us by name.

See what love the Father has give us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are.

Amen.

God on the Loose Among Us

Your challenge during this Easter season is to watch for signs of new life, resurrection, and God on the loose among us.  If you can capture God's work on your camera screen, send photos my way.  We'd love to share them here and on our Facebook page.

Route 78 Food Pantry Scavenger Hunt
Rick

My favorite spring flower, the trillium
Kirsten

This one needs a bit of explanation.  I was on a bike ride this week and passed this gross, polluted water.  "Yuck," I thought, "God is NOT working in that."  But then I thought some more (I do that a lot when I ride).  "Maybe God is working in that by calling me to work harder to preserve water and keep it clean.  Maybe God is on the loose by calling me to keep an eye out for ways to care for creation."
Kirsten

Our nephew, Rocco, 2 weeks old
Kirsten & Justin

My mom took this assignment to heart this week when she visited a farm owned by some family friends.  Here are her images of God on the loose among us...

Aaron and mama cat

In the dandelions

Lilacs

Maple branch

Violet

Wind turbines

Hens and cat

Pigs

The Egg

God sightings guest blogger: Allie M.

Allie Marshall has been a member of Peace Lutheran Church for most of her life alongside her parents, Paul and Karen, and her brother, David. She grew up involved with Sunday school, Bible school, and various musical groups, and during her college years came on staff at Peace to help with summer programming. She has been on multiple high school mission trips and has a passion for youth. She is still actively involved with JuBELLation Ringers. Allie currently works as Communications Assistant for the International Student Ministry Department of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship in Madison. She is an InterVarsity alumna from Carthage College, where she graduated in 2011 with degrees in both Religion and Communications. In her free time, she loves running and being outside, playing tennis, reading, writing, painting, and spending time with her family and dogs.

As a writer, or at least someone with a passion for writing, I can appreciate a good book. I love when all of the plot lines come together in the end. I love when the details add up to a surprise ending. I love the character development, the language, and the mystery that comes as you turn page after page. And as a writer, I have always viewed my life from this angle. I see my life as a book that is writing itself day by day…one that has many completed chapters, but many more yet to be written. My life is a story being written by God and revealed to me one page, one line, one word at a time.

Six years ago, I stood at the front of the church at First Presbyterian sharing my testimony of a life-changing moment that I had in Mexico. While my actual testimony was significantly longer, what I shared with the congregation that day was essentially this:

“The first drive through Tijuana was absolutely breathtaking! It is a city amongst the mountains with no natural resources, and therefore blanketed with poverty. It is so heartbreaking, yet beautiful in its humble simplicity. I have never felt a closer and deeper connection with God than I did down in Mexico. In the most deserted, barren place I’ve ever seen, God’s presence was unmistakable. While I was down there, I experienced this sense of ‘rightness’. It was as if I was where God wanted me to be doing just exactly what he wanted me to do. 

One of the mornings that we were here, things just seemed to fall into place in my head and in my heart. I started to pray. I was thinking about all of the things that had influenced my being there in Mexico. I was realizing that I had traveled a long way on my faith journey, but I was unsure of where it was headed. All of a sudden, I felt this longing to devote my life to God – this passion to give Him everything that I could. It was no longer just a feeling of excitement, but rather more of a calling. I realized that all of my struggles had led me to exactly where I was. 

This experience of feeling such a defined sense of purpose set up a new framework for my life. I began seeing things from the other side. In my younger years at the high school, all I could think was “why me?” and now I had realized that it wasn’t about me at all, but rather about what I could do to help make the world more like God originally intended it to be. 

And as I moved forward into the next chapter of my life, I knew that I would face more change than I had ever encountered. There would be new people around me and I would have the opportunity to become anyone that I wanted to be. But I knew then that I only wanted to become myself. God had a purpose for me. And although there would be bumps in the road, I would continually feel this sense of purpose. I was excited to keep traveling along this journey of faith. I couldn’t wait to see what God had in store for my life and who He had in mind for me to meet next. Whatever the future held for me, I knew then that I had to live with purpose because it was not a matter of why I had to go through the struggles that I did, but rather a realization that my struggles had shaped who I was back then.”

This was the first of what I like to think of as “book-end” moments in my life. It marked the start of a significant chapter, taught me lessons that will stay with me forever, and opened up my heart to a whole new world of possibility and uncertainty. It was certainly not the first chapter in the story that has been my life, but it was the beginning of the one with the most significance and meaning, at least so far.

At the time when I gave my testimony, I felt that my future would be easier. I hoped that following in Christ’s footsteps would mean that I wouldn’t have to struggle nearly as much. I envisioned a future full of hope, promise, and happiness.

Now don’t get me wrong, there was a lot of hope, a lot of promise, and a lot of happiness along the way, but there have been a lot of struggles too. I have experienced more pain and heartache in the last six years than I could have ever imagined when I stood at the front of that church so confidently just a few years prior.

I struggled with the normal teenager stuff: rocky friendships, relationships that didn’t go the way I had hoped, conflict with parents, etc. But there was even more going on than that. I experienced significant loss in so many ways. Loss of people, but also loss that had nothing to do with death. It was a very hard time in my life. In fact, even just a few months ago, I recall a phone conversation with a great friend. I asked him “when will this end?...when will the pain go away?...when will bad things stop happening?” and of course, he couldn’t give me an answer, because only God knew those answers…but he comforted me and reassured me that things would get better in time. As we continued talking he asked me about my experiences in Mexico. This conversation with him allowed me to relive that testimony that I had given years back. It gave me a small glimmer of hope and encouraged me that I was on the right path. It reminded me of that wonderful “book-end” moment that I experienced in Tijuana and had me looking forward to the next moment like that…the one that would end this difficult chapter in my life.

As God usually does, He surprised me. No more than a day or two later, that moment came. It was not a day that I would have expected, and it was not in a way that I could have planned for…but it was perfect, because it was on God’s watch…not mine.

I attended a Listening Prayer Workshop at my job…and although I attended hoping to learn a thing or two about prayer, I will admit that I did not have very high hopes for the afternoon. But as the afternoon went on and we spent time listening, learning, and praying, God presented Himself to me through prayer just as He had done in Mexico almost exactly six years ago. Through a series of events, God showed me that He continues to have a plan for my life. He made the path ahead of me clear. It was as if my life were a giant “connect-the-dots” and every struggle in my life had, until that moment, been a singular dot on a piece of paper, but throughout this workshop, God connected the dots and allowed me to see the whole picture. And the picture that it created was beautiful. It no longer felt broken or disjointed or faltering. It no longer felt heavy. I was no longer burdened. The lesson that I had learned six years ago was reconfirmed…I knew that my struggles had all happened for a reason. My heartache had made me stronger. Lost and broken relationships taught me things about myself and about how God works among us. Every little painful thing that I endured had shaped me into the woman that I have become…and throughout this long six-year process of ups and downs, highs and lows, triumphs and trials, God has given me the tools to fulfill the next chapter of His plan for my life.

While I am still in the midst of a cloud of uncertainty about exactly what steps to take next, I feel a definite sense of direction. I have many decisions to make, but know that God is guiding me. 

I again know that I am standing at the beginning of the next chapter. As I look out, all I can see are blank pages. Yet, this time, that does not scare me. I have been through some very hard things…and have not only survived them, but have thrived, have grown as a person and grown closer to God because of them. I have had amazing “book-end” moments that have shown me firsthand how God is at work in my life. And I have seen what amazing things are possible when I surrender control over to Him. Yes, as a writer, that can be hard. It is easy to envision the fairy-tale ending. It is easy to dream up what the next chapter might hold. It is easy to want to write my own story. But the truth is that it isn’t up to me to write my own story…it isn’t even up to me to write the next sentence. The only thing I can do is listen to God and give Him the time and space to write the story that He has planned for me. And I know that the next chapters of that story will be even more beautiful, more surprising, and more perfect than anything I could ever write for myself.

God on the loose among us...

My mom just sent me a WHOLE bunch of pictures of how she saw God on the loose on a visit to a family friend's farm today.  How have you seen God on the loose lately?  Send photos to pastorkirsten(at)gmail(dot)com.  Photos will be posted on Friday here and on the Facebook page.

Maybe you've seen God at work in creation?  Or in your kids or grandkids?  Or at work?  Or school?

Online Bible Study--1 John 3:1-7

During the season of Easter, you are invited to join with me in an online study of 1 John.  We'll be looking at the texts selected for the Second Lesson for the weekends during Easter.  One of the big themes in 1 John is love and what it means for us as believers.  To learn more about 1 John, check out Enter the Bible (maintained by Luther Seminary).  On Sunday, I'll post a reflection on the text from 1 John.

The "rules" for this on-line Bible study are as follows:
1.  There aren't necessarily "right" or "wrong" answers.  That said, all comments should be respectful. 
2.  You can post comments or questions or respond to posts by others.
3.  The more the merrier!  Even if you're unsure about your thoughts, please post.  Your comments will add to the conversation and help make for better learning and engagement for all of us.
4.  The pastor (ie ME) doesn't have all the answers!
5.  Don't be shy.
6.  Have fun!










This week: 1 John 3:1-7

See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is. And all who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.

Everyone who commits sin is guilty of lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. You know that he was revealed to take away sins, and in him there is no sin.  No one who abides in him sins; no one who sins has either seen him or known him. Little children, let no one deceive you. Everyone who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous.










-What stands out for you in this reading?
-What questions do you have?
-What does it mean to you to be a child of God?  
-This language about sin is rather confusing.  Here are a few words of wisdom from the Lutheran Study Bible: "People are born with a tendency to be self-centered, to live apart from God, and to do evil.  But being God's children and receiving the Holy Spirit empowers us to love and do good" (p. 2015).  Is that helpful?

This weekend's readings are:

Acts 3:12-19

1 John 3:1-7

Luke 24:36b-48

What about church?: A reflection on 1 John 1:1-2:2 on the Second Sunday of Easter

A reflection on 1 John 1:1-2:2.

“Forget the church, follow Jesus,” was the cover story in the April 8 edition of Newsweek magazine.  In the article, Andrew Sullivan argues that the church has been corrupted by politics and misguided theology and that, in order to get away from all of that messiness, Christians should simply follow Jesus.  He thinks that Thomas Jefferson had it right when he cut out the miracle stories and kept the teachings of Jesus.  Sullivan writes, “[Jefferson] believed that stripped of the doctrines of the Incarnation, Resurrection, and the various miracles, the message of Jesus was the deepest miracle.”

That’s all well and good, except for that fact that I’m not quite ready to shun the wonder of last weekend.  I’m not quite ready to shed the astonishment that hits every Easter when the proclamation is made “Alleluia!  Christ is risen!”  It is amazing, isn’t it?  Sure, it’s puzzling and defies human reason.  And it is the cornerstone of our faith.  That promise--that Christ has conquered death--is what has carried me through grief at the loss of friends and family.  That proclamation that we make every Easter, and, really, every Sunday, that Christ has conquered death, and in doing so promises us new life, too, carries us in the dark moments of life.  It gives us life.  It is the foundation of our faith.

But how does that carry out in every day life?  What does it mean for us as Easter people to believe in the promise that Christ is victorious and promises us new life for today, not just in the life eternal?  This by no means is a new question.  It’s the question pondered by the writer (or writers?) of 1 John.  Though it’s called a letter, 1 John is really more like an essay intended for a whole community to hear.  That community, not unlike us, was trying to figure out what it meant to live in this time after Christ had come.  What did it mean to live together?  What did it mean to live in the mean time?  What did it mean to live in the hope that Christ’s promise was true, for today and tomorrow and for life eternal?  What did it mean to live in a world that still kept turning, that wasn’t perfect, that was still captive to sin?  What did it mean to live?

One could attempt to live as spiritual a life as possible.  One could hunker down and live in a little spiritual hole and try to forget that other people--and thus the stuff that came along with other people--existed.  But that’s not God’s intent for us, is it?  God created us to live together.  God gave us the gift of one another.  And most days, that’s a beautiful gift, isn’t it?

So what does that mean?  It means that life together is messy.  It means that because we’re human, we will sin.  And if we say we don’t sin, we deceive ourselves (if those lines in 1 John sound familiar it’s because we often recite them in our confession of sin).  Turning in on ourselves and away from God will always be a part of our human tendency because we’re not God.  But, because God is God, God will forgive our sins and cleanse us from unrighteousness.  God will keep on making us new--God will keep giving us new life--in this life.  Because that’s what God does.

And knowing that, John says, we can walk in the light of Christ.  And walking in the light of Christ means walking with one another.  You know, other people.  Jesus came as a human being--one who lived and breathed and ate and drank and died.  And because of that, we are most likely to see God at work in other people.  We also believe that Christ rose from the dead.  And because of that we are most likely to see new life in the people who surround us.  And, no, we’re by no means a perfect example of Christ-likeness in the world.  We forget that he said to love one another and we ignore his command to love our enemies and we don’t want to remember that thing about leaving everything behind.  And even so, we’re Christ’s body in the world.  A broken, scarred, beautiful body called to live, love, and serve in this world.

Sullivan says that we should forget the church in order to best follow Jesus.  But here’s the thing, even in all of our brokenness, the church--the gathered body of Christ in the world--is the best way for us to see Christ.  I get skeptical any time someone says we should throw it all out because I trust that, buried under all of our brokenness, there is a whole lot of beauty.  The church is no where near perfect.  Because the church is made up of people, we will mess up.  We’ll forget to welcome the stranger and we’ll make mistakes and we won’t always be the perfect example, but we’re all we’ve got.  And, sometimes, we will remember that we are the body of Christ in the world--and we will do our best to manifest that.  We’ll welcome the stranger and feed the hungry and cloth the naked and visit the imprisoned and the sick.  And we’ll proclaim the promise that Christ lives and because Christ lives so do we.  And we’ll eat some bread and drink from the cup and realize that, in doing so, we are empowered to be the body of Christ alive and at work in the world.  And we’ll remember that that promise isn’t just for us who gather, but for the whole wide world.  Because Jesus came not just for those of us who call ourselves Christians, or those of us who find ourselves sitting in church pews on Christmas and Easter and on Sundays in between, but for the world.  The whole wide world.  Which means everybody in it.  Even the people we don’t know or don’t like very much.  Jesus came for us all.  

At our best, that’s the message the church has to give the world.  But, because we’re a human institution, we bear scars of hatred and misunderstanding.  We bear the scars of sin.  If say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us, writes John.  So we confess our sin and turn back to Christ.  Again and again and again.

We’re all we’ve got.  We will sin.  We will fall short.  And, so, we will turn back to God and ask for forgiveness.  We will trust in the promise that God is faithful and just and will forgive our sins.  We will trust in the promise that new life is for today and for life eternal.  We will do our best to remember that this life is precious, and that the lives of our brothers and sisters on this earth are precious too.  We will look to the light, and in doing so, see that it is in fellowship with God and with one another that we see the beautiful manifestation of the body of Christ.  Alive and at work in the world.

Look in the mirror.  That reflection is surely one beautiful reflection of the image of God.  But then look all around you.  Not just at your friends and family, but at all of the people who surround you.  All of those people, the ones we see and the ones we don’t, all together, we make up the most beautiful image of the body of Christ.  We need each other.  In all of our messiness, we are the beautiful body of Christ.  Crazy, isn’t it?  And life-giving.  And amazing.  Bearing scars, even while we bear the good news that Christ is risen.  Alleluia.    

God on the Loose Among Us

"I believe God created me and all that exists."  Remember that little gem from the Small Catechism way back in your confirmation days?  As Christians, we believe that God is working in all kinds of marvelous ways in, through, and around us.  We can't always capture these moments, but sometimes we can.  How have you seen God at work in, through, and around you?  If you can capture it on your camera screen, send photos my way and we'll post them here and on the Facebook page.  It's a fun way to observe new life, the wonder of creation, and the beauty of the image of God as seen in others.

Spotted in the woods on the youth turkey hunt
Submitted by Rick Treadwell

God created...
Submitted by Turi Fryer

Easter morning sunrise
Submitted by Pastor Kirsten Fryer

God sightings guest blogger: Kathy V.

Kathy was born the oldest of eight children.  She and her husband, Darrell, met when they were students at UW-Stevens Point and married in 1973.  They are looking forward to being grandparents for the first time in May. Their son, Erik, and his wife, Lori, live in Chicago. Their oldest son, Bryan, moved from Arizona to Ohio and they enjoy seeing him more often.  Kathy's mother died at 50 years of age of cancer and the outpouring of sympathy and caring of neighbors and friends has made an impact on Kathy's life.  She was a stay-at-home mom for years, which she says was "the best job in the world."  Retired from the library, Kathy enjoys working in her flowerbeds while Darrell grows vegetables.  She enjoys visiting with neighbors and having coffee with friends (some since Bryan was in preschool).  She feels that many hands make less work ….  any job can get done in a shorter time if everyone pitches in to help.   

Kathy's Reflections on Easter/Spring

Spring is my favorite time of year.  I love to get out and dig in the dirt and be in my flowerbeds.  

Just a few days ago I was outside thinking of reflections on Easter/spring as I was picking leaves off the plants since returning from vacation in Texas.  The plants have shot up so much and crocus, squills, daffodils and now hyacinths are blooming.  Usually this part of March is rather dreary and drab outside, the snow is dirty looking and we have some snow left.  It reminds me of Lent and how it is a somber time, a time to contemplate and think.  As the plants nudge out of the ground I think about how growth happens in our lives too.  I REALLY LIKE the idea of ADDING something versus giving up something for Lent.  I was brought up Catholic and we would not eat meat on Fridays, give up chocolate, etc. for Lent but the idea of ADDING SOMETHING is so positive and has so much more meaning to me.  I LOVE being a Lutheran and the great concept that we are saved by grace.  I just do not see God giving out “brownie points”.  Our God is compassionate and we can start with a new slate each day.  He saves us and not our works.  He forgives us when we stumble along the way.  God nurtures us through His word and the people around us as we nurture our plants and gardens by feeding them and weeding.  Flowers have a new slate each year too…frost may nip the buds one year but the next the plant blooms wonderfully.

God brightens our world and opens up so much for us to enjoy each day as a new day arises.  Just as the many different flowers and colors and hues of flowers brighten our days, God too is always there for us and His love has no limit.  As I was picking leaves off by hand in the potentilla bushes, I also took the dead wood out, pruning would do this too.  This reminded me of Lent and the time of renewal in our lives.  The new growth I see popping out all over as the trees bud out now too with their emergence and as more plants rise up to the surface, I think of the resurrection and the light and the promise of all that God has to offer in our life.  

Soon we will be singing joyous songs with Easter’s approach.  As Pastor Karen mentioned at a Lenten Service how she notes the different emotions and tone of the songs being practiced by the choir….they are changing from being solemn and sad to energetic and joyful.   THANKS BE TO GOD.

Pastor Doug talked in a sermon of how God nudges us in the right direction and how we continue to fail and He picks us up again and again.  It is human nature to do this.  There are times when I might do something for someone out of the blue and not be sure what made me think of doing whatever I did.  Perhaps it was God nudging me?

1st John--an online Bible study for the season of Easter

During the season of Easter, you are invited to join with me in an online study of 1 John.  We'll be looking at the texts selected for the Second Lesson on Sundays during Easter.  One of the big themes in 1 John is love and what it means for us as believers.  To learn more about 1 John, check out Enter the Bible (maintained by Luther Seminary).  On Sunday, I'll post a reflection on the text from 1 John.

The "rules" for this on-line Bible study are as follows:
1.  There aren't necessarily "right" or "wrong" answers.  That said, all comments should be respectful.
2.  You can post comments or questions or respond to posts by others.
3.  The more the merrier!  Even if you're unsure about your thoughts, please post.  Your comments will add to the conversation and help make for better learning and engagement for all of us.
4.  The pastor (ie ME) doesn't have all the answers!
5.  Have fun!



SO...let's start with 1 John 1:1-2:2.

Photo by Dan Hille (April 2007)

We declare to you what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life-- ² this life was revealed, and we have seen it and testify to it, and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us-- ³ we declare to you what we have seen and heard so that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. ⁴ We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete. 

⁵ This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all. ⁶ If we say that we have fellowship with him while we are walking in darkness, we lie and do not do what is true; ⁷ but if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. ⁸ If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. ⁹ If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ¹⁰ If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

2:1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; ² and he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

The following are questions to start our conversation...
What is familiar to you in this text?
Are there surprises?
What images stick out for you?
What questions do you have?

An Easter message from Bishop Hanson

Video message

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

Christ is risen! Imagine the power in those words of promise.

When the disciples first heard Jesus speak of his death and resurrection, "they kept the matter to themselves" (Mark 9:10). But the news is too good to keep to ourselves. The life of Jesus Christ has been unleashed into the world.

Because Christ is risen, you can embrace life's complexities and uncertainties with a living, daring confidence in God's grace. The risen Christ goes ahead of you, meeting you in the most surprising faces and unexpected places. Christ's resurrection puts us right where God wants us to be -- in the thick of life.

Because Christ is risen, you have a word of hope. To those weary from mourning loss and fearing death, the assurance is given that nothing in all creation will separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.

The life of Jesus, God's own life, has burst into the world, restoring community. At the barriers we erect to divide us, the risen Christ meets us, turning those walls into tables of reconciliation. To those who live in fear and feel unworthy, the promise is given. "You are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God" (Ephesians 2:19).

Every morning you awaken with the mark of Jesus' death on your forehead and the promise of Christ's resurrection on your lips.

Christ is risen! Alleluia!

In God's grace,

The Rev. Mark S. Hanson
Presiding Bishop
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America