Inside Out 6-6-2002
The plane ride from Anchorage to St. Louis gave me lots of time to reflect, pray and give thanks for all of the blessings I have been given in my life. Bunny had her check-up last week and the doctor was concerned that there might be some fracturing of the bones. Her cancer is such that it eats the bones from the inside out. The bone will look healthy, but in essence it will be so weak that it will break with the smallest amount of stress. He ordered x-rays in order to assess the bone strength.
The good news is that there appears to be no further weakening of the bones. He has ordered a bone scan for later in the month. He is cautiously optimistic. Bunny is still able to teach her Kindergarteners—they will be with her through the summer as St. Luke's operates a year-round school, bake (which she is fantastic at) and continue to run the household.
As I was riding through the night, I was thinking about the doctor's words about how the cancer will eat from the inside out. Is there a lesson there? I often observe people as they are traveling through the airports. I see happy faces, expensive luggage and lots of gadgets. The people I observe have all of the outward appearances of happiness, but what about their insides? I cannot see into their hearts—there is only One who can do that. However, I would guess that some of the happy faces I see conceal a hollow inside, one eaten by a cancer of sin. It is only through Christ that the cancer of sin can make us whole again. What a great feeling—to be one with Christ, strong inside and outside! I thank God for His daily forgiveness.
The good news is that there appears to be no further weakening of the bones. He has ordered a bone scan for later in the month. He is cautiously optimistic. Bunny is still able to teach her Kindergarteners—they will be with her through the summer as St. Luke's operates a year-round school, bake (which she is fantastic at) and continue to run the household.
As I was riding through the night, I was thinking about the doctor's words about how the cancer will eat from the inside out. Is there a lesson there? I often observe people as they are traveling through the airports. I see happy faces, expensive luggage and lots of gadgets. The people I observe have all of the outward appearances of happiness, but what about their insides? I cannot see into their hearts—there is only One who can do that. However, I would guess that some of the happy faces I see conceal a hollow inside, one eaten by a cancer of sin. It is only through Christ that the cancer of sin can make us whole again. What a great feeling—to be one with Christ, strong inside and outside! I thank God for His daily forgiveness.
Pray 6-13-2002
Such a day we have had today (Wednesday). At 5:00 A.M. the phone rang at the house telling me that there was flooding in the LHM building and our phone system was down for at least three days. I was asked to bring in my cell phone for phone calls. This morning I had a tour of the damaged area. It was a mess. A hole had opened up in the wall and lots of dirt, gravel, and water poured over the phone connections. Some dedicated workmen spent most of the night rigging temporary phone lines so the Response Center, switchboard, and voice mail system could be operational. As I was planning my day, it struck me that this would be a good day to accomplish those tasks that I have been putting off – updating the calendar, sorting through non-critical mail, and cleaning off my desk. I never really realized how much of my time is spent on the phone, until I no longer have it readily available. We are fortunate. We can still communicate by E-mail, cell phone, or just walking over to someone else’s desk.
What a blessing it is that we have constant, instantaneous communication with God. We never have downtime, outages, or busy circuits. We speak and He hears. That is a tremendous comfort to me. Not only does He hear, but He responds.
I talked with my brothers last night. One brother is only 15 miles away from the fire in Denver while the other is 25 miles away. My son and his wife are also only miles away from the fire. The description they gave me of the fire gave away their concern about their property and safety. They can tell me their concerns and I listen, but cannot do anything tangible to help them. I have a hard time even visualizing an area that is dry enough to burn. It seems to me that I have not gone longer than 6 days without being in some moisture (rain or snow) since last December. The forecast is for more rain. I apologize, yes, there is something tangible that I can and did do for my family – I prayed for their safety. What a great thing we have, to be able to go directly to God in prayer!
What a blessing it is that we have constant, instantaneous communication with God. We never have downtime, outages, or busy circuits. We speak and He hears. That is a tremendous comfort to me. Not only does He hear, but He responds.
I talked with my brothers last night. One brother is only 15 miles away from the fire in Denver while the other is 25 miles away. My son and his wife are also only miles away from the fire. The description they gave me of the fire gave away their concern about their property and safety. They can tell me their concerns and I listen, but cannot do anything tangible to help them. I have a hard time even visualizing an area that is dry enough to burn. It seems to me that I have not gone longer than 6 days without being in some moisture (rain or snow) since last December. The forecast is for more rain. I apologize, yes, there is something tangible that I can and did do for my family – I prayed for their safety. What a great thing we have, to be able to go directly to God in prayer!
A Voice to Remember 6-20-2002
Some time ago I received an invitation to attend the Cardinals ballgame for today.
Late Tuesday evening, Jack Buck passed away. Growing up in Chicago, I was not as familiar with his voice. I was exposed to the virtues of KMOX radio when I moved to southern Illinois in 1971. Everyone who has ever heard a Cardinal's radio broadcast remembers Jack Buck. He was a familiar, well-loved personality. He made the evenings pass quickly with his melodious voice and his impassioned call of the game. The routine chores became exciting as Jack's voice wove the tales of the beloved ball teams. His voice was the soul of the broadcast. I remember Jack Buck's play by play as I traveled with my family through the night to visit family. His voice kept me awake as the family slept.
It happens that there is a memorial service before today's game for Jack. I will be present as he is remembered by great and small. I will also be present for the ballgame afterwards. His passing has occasioned me to think back to my childhood and remember those great voices that stay in the corners of my mind.
I remember my mom's voice as she called out, " Get up, sleepy head, time to get to school."
I remember my dad's voice as he shared his stories of the war.
I remember Mrs. Singenberger's voice as she patiently introduced me to the world of fractions in her fifth grade math class.
I remember Pastor Lehman's voice as he instructed me in the mysteries of the Small Catechism. He struggled to keep our attention as we met on Saturday morning -- for three years. We were his "public school Confirmation class." I will never forget the authority in pastor's voice. I believe that part of the authority came not from his booming bass voice, but rather from the authority of the Word from which he taught. He made the Bible come alive for me. He spoke of an all-powerful, yet loving Father. He told us about an all-seeing, yet forgiving Lord, God. He thundered at our sins and wept at our forgiveness through Christ.
His words were more impressed as he repeated the stories I heard at the dinner table from mom and dad. They were conscientious about instructing me in the Bible stories.
I pray that we each have a voice that will be remembered as one that instructed someone in the Bible. Jack Buck may be remembered as the voice of the Cardinals; we can be remembered as the voice of the Gospel.
Late Tuesday evening, Jack Buck passed away. Growing up in Chicago, I was not as familiar with his voice. I was exposed to the virtues of KMOX radio when I moved to southern Illinois in 1971. Everyone who has ever heard a Cardinal's radio broadcast remembers Jack Buck. He was a familiar, well-loved personality. He made the evenings pass quickly with his melodious voice and his impassioned call of the game. The routine chores became exciting as Jack's voice wove the tales of the beloved ball teams. His voice was the soul of the broadcast. I remember Jack Buck's play by play as I traveled with my family through the night to visit family. His voice kept me awake as the family slept.
It happens that there is a memorial service before today's game for Jack. I will be present as he is remembered by great and small. I will also be present for the ballgame afterwards. His passing has occasioned me to think back to my childhood and remember those great voices that stay in the corners of my mind.
I remember my mom's voice as she called out, " Get up, sleepy head, time to get to school."
I remember my dad's voice as he shared his stories of the war.
I remember Mrs. Singenberger's voice as she patiently introduced me to the world of fractions in her fifth grade math class.
I remember Pastor Lehman's voice as he instructed me in the mysteries of the Small Catechism. He struggled to keep our attention as we met on Saturday morning -- for three years. We were his "public school Confirmation class." I will never forget the authority in pastor's voice. I believe that part of the authority came not from his booming bass voice, but rather from the authority of the Word from which he taught. He made the Bible come alive for me. He spoke of an all-powerful, yet loving Father. He told us about an all-seeing, yet forgiving Lord, God. He thundered at our sins and wept at our forgiveness through Christ.
His words were more impressed as he repeated the stories I heard at the dinner table from mom and dad. They were conscientious about instructing me in the Bible stories.
I pray that we each have a voice that will be remembered as one that instructed someone in the Bible. Jack Buck may be remembered as the voice of the Cardinals; we can be remembered as the voice of the Gospel.
Heart Disease 6-27-2002
As most of you know, tragedy struck the Cardinals baseball team again last week with the sudden death of pitcher Darryl Kile. He died in his sleep from heart problems. The team was shaken, the town was shaken as we all mourn the loss of a young talented athlete. The death of Darryl Kile reminded me of my own father’s death.
It was just a little over a year ago that I was at work and received a phone call telling me that Dad had died. He wasn’t young, but he appeared to be in good health. We were looking forward to many more years of Dad’s stories, arguments and cheer. He also died from heart disease. He was working in the yard planting a bush and died before he could hit the ground.
Sudden death is hard to deal with. When a loved one dies suddenly, we are hit with strong emotions. We feel anger, sadness, grief, loneliness along with shock. We become numb. We continue to go through our lives on auto-pilot.
As I reflected on Darryl’s life and death, it struck me that I suffer from a form of heart disease. Sin washes over me and turns my heart black. No amount of pills, no amount of procedures or surgeries can cure my sin-sick heart. It is only through Christ that my heart becomes healthy. Christ cures my sin-sick heart and washes it white as snow. That is such a great comfort. No matter what I face in the world, I am prepared for the next world. I am assured a place in heaven. This gives me not only comfort, but peace.
It was just a little over a year ago that I was at work and received a phone call telling me that Dad had died. He wasn’t young, but he appeared to be in good health. We were looking forward to many more years of Dad’s stories, arguments and cheer. He also died from heart disease. He was working in the yard planting a bush and died before he could hit the ground.
Sudden death is hard to deal with. When a loved one dies suddenly, we are hit with strong emotions. We feel anger, sadness, grief, loneliness along with shock. We become numb. We continue to go through our lives on auto-pilot.
As I reflected on Darryl’s life and death, it struck me that I suffer from a form of heart disease. Sin washes over me and turns my heart black. No amount of pills, no amount of procedures or surgeries can cure my sin-sick heart. It is only through Christ that my heart becomes healthy. Christ cures my sin-sick heart and washes it white as snow. That is such a great comfort. No matter what I face in the world, I am prepared for the next world. I am assured a place in heaven. This gives me not only comfort, but peace.
