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God’s Power   3-6-2003

Each day when I awake, I thank God for another day of service, thank God for another day of life with my wife, thank God for the opportunity to work and review the day’s schedule.  It might be garbage day and I must remember to take the trash to the street.  It might be Saturday and I can turn off the alarm and sleep.  It might be a day to travel.  It might be a “clean the house because company is coming” day. No matter what the day, I thank God that I have the ability to plan.
 
I also know that there are times that something happens that takes all of my energy, all of my attention.  All my plans are set aside.  It might be a small matter like an airport delay.  It might be taking the wrong road and traveling 30 miles into the desert instead of to the hotel.  It might be:
 
This past weekend we left Saint Louis to travel to Columbia, MO.  Bunny was attending an Early Childhood conference and I was planning on spending the day with our youngest son, Russell.  He is a junior at the University of Missouri, Columbia.  All the preparations were made, the plans were coming together, we just had the travel left.  The drive was pleasant – I was fussing because of the traffic, Bunny was politely reminding me that I couldn’t do anything about it – deal with it. We were past the point of no return when I noticed that the “Volts” light was on.  A quick check of the owner’s manual and a phone call to Rich Buch (the best certified GM repairman I know) told us that we probably had blown out the alternator – which has only one real function – supplying power to the car.  I asked Rich what was the worst that could happen;
 
“The engine will stop.”
 
“How soon,” I wanted to know.
 
“When your battery is dead,” was his response.
 
We found out the answer rather quickly.  We were stranded on the top of the hill at exit 161, 37 miles from our destination and 80 miles from home.
 
We found out firsthand what it means to be helpless, powerless on the side of the road. We spent hours waiting for tows. We had the opportunity that every married couple should have – park in a deserted place, no lights, no distractions, cold and hungry. We enjoyed our time together – we talked, we reminisced, we cuddled, we phoned, we prayed.
 
Yes, our car’s power comes from mechanical means that break down.  Our power comes from God – Who never fails us.  His power is able to sustain us no matter what the trials, the temptations, the difficulties in which we find ourselves.  Our God is an awesome God.
 
Today I relied on God’s power again. My day started with a phone message, “Tom Lorenz passed away yesterday.”
 
Tom Lorenz was my college roommate, stood up in my wedding and was my friend.  He was still teaching.  He had dismissed his class for gym, collapsed and was gone.  The plans for my day were set aside.
 
Once again I claim God’s power in my life.  I rejoice with Tom and his family – I mourn for the separation.  I pray for Tom’s family, his school and his students.
 
I trust God’s power.

Celebrations   3-13-2003

Last Sunday St Luke’s Lutheran Church surprised Bunny with a special celebration of her 30th year in the ministry. It was a challenge to keep the secret, but we did. So, is it a sin to lie in order to surprise your wife? We faced the dilemma of how we would fill the house with family for the weekend and not have Bunny suspect something was cooking. Her adopted Ma told her she wanted to come see her and whined so much to our niece that she took her for a visit. Our children Rich and Becky showed up on the pretense of, “We just missed you, Mom, so we came to visit.”
 
When Bunny escorted her pupils into church on Sunday morning she was greeted by lots of family and friends waiting in the pews for her. Her response was one of shock, followed by the questions, “Why are you here? Am I dying?” 
 
The service was awesome. The special songs sung by St. Luke’s children, the special songs sung by St. Matthew’s choir (St. Matthew’s is another city school on the north side of St. Louis), the three baptisms (one was an infant, a rare sight at St. Luke’s), the Word read, the sermon, the Lord’s Supper and the presentation all made for a great celebration.
 
I was struck by the thought, “This is what ‘church’ is all about.” It was a special day for the family to gather together and celebrate. We celebrated as we sang songs expressing our faith. We celebrated our forgiveness of sins as we heard the absolution from the pastor. We celebrated new life with those who were baptized. We celebrated the Lord’s Supper. We rejoiced with a co-worker in the ministry.
 
But our celebration doesn’t happen just on Sunday morning. Last Friday at the funeral service of teacher Tom Lornez, the pastor asked the question, “Who here today has ever heard Tom share Jesus? Raise your hand if you heard Tom talk about Jesus, his Savior.”
 
Then pastor asked us to look around. Every hand was raised. That is a celebration of life. Tom shared the story of Jesus with those who knew him. Tom shared Jesus with those who just met him.  Tom celebrated his faith by sharing the joy, peace and comfort he knew in Christ with others.
 
Sometimes we celebrate with a dance. A good friend impressed that upon me more than once. We dance our life away. Sometimes it is a slow dance of a waltz, sometimes it is the fast paced jitterbug, and sometimes it is the convulsions of a slam dance. We dance with one another as we celebrate our faith; celebrate our life; celebrate God with us. Today I celebrate with all of you. We celebrate the redemptive work of Jesus.

​War   3-20-2003

​“War!”  That is a word that fills me with emotion. It is a word that brings to mind visions of soldiers marching, bombs dropping and tanks rumbling into position. I also see in my mind the civilians affected. I can see mothers weeping and children crying.

However, I must acknowledge that war is often necessary. My country was born out of a war. Many times throughout history nations have found it necessary to fight for survival. It is my prayer that this war will be swift and insomuch as possible inflict as few human casualties as possible.

This war brings with it the very real threat of attacks on America. The Department of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Homeland Security Council, has made the decision to raise the national threat level from an Elevated to High risk of terrorist attack or Level Orange. The Intelligence Community believes that terrorists will attempt multiple attacks against U.S. and Coalition targets worldwide in the event of a U.S.-led military campaign against Saddam Hussein. A large volume of reporting across a range of sources, some of which are highly reliable, indicates that Al-Qaida probably would attempt to launch terrorist attacks against U.S. interests, claiming they were defending Muslims or the "Iraqi people" rather than Saddam Hussein's regime.

So what does this mean? I will have to allow extra time when traveling by air. I will have to endure extra security measures to visit the Arch. The baseball season may be delayed. I have been instructed to listen for the sirens in case of a terrorist attack. I am facing an uncertain future. My routine is challenged, my time is tasked, and my TV viewing is unusual. My prayers have increased and the emphasis has changed – somewhat. I have always prayed for our leaders, our military, our pastors, and our church – but now there seems to be an urgent need for prayers for safety.

As I write this message – the war is officially started. The first shots were fired. The fighting is started. I bend my knees in prayer. 

Yet I must not lose sight of the fact that every day I am engaged in another war – a war against a foe more deadly than any human foe. I fight daily against Satan. Human foes can only take my life – Satan fights for my soul. I thank God that He sustains me in my fight – He strengthens me – daily. I thank Him that I have another day – another opportunity to strive in His name.
 
May His peace strengthen you.

Peace     3-27-2003

I asked a co-worker, “So what’s the word for today?”
He answered, “peace.”
Peace – a powerful word.  Peace – often hard to find, but always searched for.  Peace – subject of prayers.
 
Bunny was on the playground watching her young lambs when one of her students ran up to her and pleaded, “Come – see, come – now.” 
The child was excited.  Bunny thought something was terribly wrong. 
“Come see what I found,” the child grabbed hold and started dragging Bunny.
 
Soon they were at the base of the playground equipment. The child plopped down in the pea gravel surrounding the play structure. She scooped up a handful of small rocks and carefully poured them out. Over and over again this action was repeated.
 
“Look, teacher. Look at what I found.”
 
“What did you find?”
 
“Peace and quiet,” the young child responded as more small rocks were scooped up and dumped out. “I found peace and quiet.”
 
This five-year-old found “peace and quiet” in the sounds of rocks being scooped up and dumped out. This child also found “peace and quiet” in an activity away from all others, sitting in the sun, enjoying the feel and sound of the rocks.
 
I envy this child. I search for peace and it often eludes me.
 
I am surrounded with strife – with discord – with doubt – with fear.  I am not at peace. Health issues, money concerns and concerns about the future invade my thoughts. I feel out of control. I panic.
 
Then I sit and listen to the Passion story. The struggle on the cross was not for some generic people – it was for me, personally. He paid the price for my sins. He rose for me – personally. I no longer need to fear sin, death or the power of Satan. Their hold on me has been broken.
 
So I sit in my backyard and contemplate. What need I fear? Sickness? Death? Bankruptcy? Loss of job? All worldly things will pass away – no matter how hard I try to hold on to things of this world – they will disappear. What is left?
 
Heaven!
 
I still pray for peace – the peace that is of this world. I hold fast to peace – the peace that passes all understanding. 
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