What a cool worship on Sunday! Not that other Sundays are cool too, but this past Sunday had an extra cool factor. We got to confirm 7 wonderful teenagers. It was the culmination of a year's worth of blood, sweat and tears...mostly from me! I'm only kidding. They really were a great bunch of kids, and I miss seeing them regularly on Sunday mornings. Here's hoping they don't become strangers!
I do confirmation a little bit different here at Minden UCC. As I talked about in my sermon I try to stress relationship and how our faith should/does have an impact on our lives. I don't spend a lot of time drilling the kids on the order of the books of the Bible, dates, names and history facts. I find that boring, and I know the kids would too. Plus I always have in the back of my mind that I went through that type of confirmation where we filled in answers in a book, and it didn't help me and I went on to seminary!
I want the kids to have an experience that they can look back upon when they're young adults and starting a new life and say, "boy that Pastor Brian wasn't too weird...church wasn't a horribly boring place...maybe I should check a church out now." I would much rather have them say that then be able to recite books of the Bible and dates and names. Now, we do talk a lot about the Bible and faith, but I try and take the stories and relate their meaning to the kids' lives. We open the Bible and read some verses to see how they can direct us today. Some meetings we'll spend the whole time talking about an incident at school and how we as Christians should respond. We most definitely laugh a lot, and I try to get the kids to see that the Bible isn't some dry book, because if you read through the Bible you'll certainly see there are some wild stories in there.
Most importantly I want the kids to connect their faith with their lives. The Bible verse I used for confirmation Sunday was from John 15 when Jesus is talking about the vine and the branch and how if the branch is disconnected it withers and dies. If these kids, and us, don't connect our faith with our daily lives then it isn't relevant to us and it dries up. I wanted them, and I want you, to know that going to church, connecting with the Spirit through daily devotions and prayer is vital to your vibrant life. We need that connection so we can keep our faith growing and alive. If we aren't growing and live then we are stagnant and dying. I certainly don't want to be called stagnant. As I try to stress with the confirmands, and I want us to see too, you need to see how your faith influences your life. Let God into your life, try to live by God's commands, and see the blessings that flow. We aren't going to miss all of life's bumps just because we are plugged in, but we'll certainly have more strength to get through the bumps if we are connected the life giving vine of Jesus Christ.
Monday, September 17, 2012
Monday, September 10, 2012
Perfect football weekend
I am going to write this weekend down in the history books. I am not sure it can ever be repeated. It was the perfect football weekend for the Wohlhuter house. Let me explain...first the Gophers won, then the Hawkeyes lost, then the Huskers lost, then the Vikings won, and then the Packers lost. Folks, life doesn't get any better than that! The perfect football weekend was had. There was dancing in the streets, champagne corks being popped, and fun and frivolity happening all around the parsonage. Ok, maybe not all that, but I don't think the perfect football weekend has happened before, and it may never happen again so I enjoyed it.
Now I have an exercise for you. I want you to close your eyes and imagine the perfect weekend. Can you see it...what is the perfect weekend? And does that perfect weekend include a worship service at church? I can hear the tires screeching to a halt...church and perfect weekend?!?! Is that an oxymoron? I would be curious to know how many people had worship plans in their perfect weekend? If I'm honest, I'm not sure I had a church worship service in mind when I was dreaming about the perfect weekend either. Why don't we include church in our idea of a perfect weekend? Is it because church is something we do if we have time instead of making time for it? Is it because church is pretty low on the priority list for weekend projects?
Ok, I admit I might be stretching it a bit thinking a church worship service should be included in our thoughts of a perfect weekend, but I don't think I'm stretching it too much to ask us to think where Sunday worship is on our weekend priority list. Sunday worship is one of the primary ways we can grow our relationship with God, so why is it so easy to blow it off? If we want our relationship with God to improve wouldn't it be prudent to move one of the primary ways we can connect with and learn more about the Spirit in our lives up the priority list? I would certainly think so. If you want to get better at cooking, playing the piano, etc. how do you do it? You go to classes to learn. You practice using the skill, and more than likely you seek out people who already are good at the thing you want to learn. Well, if you want more of God in your life then the same principles apply. You need to work on making the connection and growing your faith. A very good way to do that is to attend a worship service with people who are seeking the same thing. Too often it is way to easy to blow off Sunday worship. Then when we want that deep meaningful connection with God we wonder why we can't connect so easily. Well, when you don't practice it's hard to pick something up and be good at it right away isn't it. Work at connecting with God and you will be be amazed at how the relationship can grow. Sunday worship is a great place to start.
Now I have an exercise for you. I want you to close your eyes and imagine the perfect weekend. Can you see it...what is the perfect weekend? And does that perfect weekend include a worship service at church? I can hear the tires screeching to a halt...church and perfect weekend?!?! Is that an oxymoron? I would be curious to know how many people had worship plans in their perfect weekend? If I'm honest, I'm not sure I had a church worship service in mind when I was dreaming about the perfect weekend either. Why don't we include church in our idea of a perfect weekend? Is it because church is something we do if we have time instead of making time for it? Is it because church is pretty low on the priority list for weekend projects?
Ok, I admit I might be stretching it a bit thinking a church worship service should be included in our thoughts of a perfect weekend, but I don't think I'm stretching it too much to ask us to think where Sunday worship is on our weekend priority list. Sunday worship is one of the primary ways we can grow our relationship with God, so why is it so easy to blow it off? If we want our relationship with God to improve wouldn't it be prudent to move one of the primary ways we can connect with and learn more about the Spirit in our lives up the priority list? I would certainly think so. If you want to get better at cooking, playing the piano, etc. how do you do it? You go to classes to learn. You practice using the skill, and more than likely you seek out people who already are good at the thing you want to learn. Well, if you want more of God in your life then the same principles apply. You need to work on making the connection and growing your faith. A very good way to do that is to attend a worship service with people who are seeking the same thing. Too often it is way to easy to blow off Sunday worship. Then when we want that deep meaningful connection with God we wonder why we can't connect so easily. Well, when you don't practice it's hard to pick something up and be good at it right away isn't it. Work at connecting with God and you will be be amazed at how the relationship can grow. Sunday worship is a great place to start.
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Sniff, sneeze, cough....Repeat!
You should be in our house each morning when the boys and I get up for school. We sound like a flock of geese! It is hilarious when we all sneeze at the same time. I'm notorious for letting them rip...no sense in holding a good sneeze in...and then the boys say, "do it again daddy!" They only have to wait a couple minutes and I'll be back at it. Luckily I believe it is simply allergies and usually after an hour or so of sneezing and nose blowing things seem to calm down, but man what excitement for that first hour.
I've been told that we aren't alone is this morning ritual. I suppose we are lucky that we don't have to deal with horrible nasal congestion and red swollen eyes and all that jazz. I don't think I've ever prayed harder for a hard freeze! I'm pretty sure the crops won't mind anyway. This has been a summer of extremes. From the weather to matters of health. I have been reminded to be grateful for the health that we currently enjoy. One of Tracy's good friend's sister has a 3 year old boy battling cancer, someone else we know has a little girl battling cancer, and of course there have been some people in the community battling the disease and other health emergencies. We certainly have a lot to be grateful for.
I was praying for some of the sick people the other day and it really hit me how lucky I have been in my life. I know there is no way I will ever be appreciative or grateful enough for how blessed I've been thus far, but I decided to make sure that every time I pray to make sure to thank God for all my blessings. I think that is a wonderful challenge for all of us. Each time we pray, we need to make sure to say thank you for all of the blessings we have. Not just a generic thank you God, but try to list off everything you are thankful for...from waking up in a warm, or cool, house to being able to call up a friend and talk if need be. I bet if we really tried to say thank you for all we have and enjoy we'd be very surprised at how long the list is and how our outlook might change. Try it...for 1 month each day thank God for the blessings you have and see how your relationship with God changes and how your outlook on life changes. Let me know what happens. I will give it a try and report back in 1 month. Now help me remember!
I've been told that we aren't alone is this morning ritual. I suppose we are lucky that we don't have to deal with horrible nasal congestion and red swollen eyes and all that jazz. I don't think I've ever prayed harder for a hard freeze! I'm pretty sure the crops won't mind anyway. This has been a summer of extremes. From the weather to matters of health. I have been reminded to be grateful for the health that we currently enjoy. One of Tracy's good friend's sister has a 3 year old boy battling cancer, someone else we know has a little girl battling cancer, and of course there have been some people in the community battling the disease and other health emergencies. We certainly have a lot to be grateful for.
I was praying for some of the sick people the other day and it really hit me how lucky I have been in my life. I know there is no way I will ever be appreciative or grateful enough for how blessed I've been thus far, but I decided to make sure that every time I pray to make sure to thank God for all my blessings. I think that is a wonderful challenge for all of us. Each time we pray, we need to make sure to say thank you for all of the blessings we have. Not just a generic thank you God, but try to list off everything you are thankful for...from waking up in a warm, or cool, house to being able to call up a friend and talk if need be. I bet if we really tried to say thank you for all we have and enjoy we'd be very surprised at how long the list is and how our outlook might change. Try it...for 1 month each day thank God for the blessings you have and see how your relationship with God changes and how your outlook on life changes. Let me know what happens. I will give it a try and report back in 1 month. Now help me remember!
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
King Solomon and a new park?!?!
The Minden Park Crew did it. The new park equipment is in! A big congratulations goes out to the committee for all their hard work: having the vision, raising the money, and seeing the project through until completion. Also, a big thank you to all who helped with the construction. Pretty neat to see all the effort pay off. Now, how in the world am I going to tie Solomon into this? Read on my friends read on.
Last Sunday I gave a sermon and the subject was about King Solomon and his request for wisdom. I talked a little bit about the warts that Solomon had, and the fact that God could work around those warts. I also reminded us that King Solomon's faults also lead to his downfall so God may work around warts but that doesn't mean wrong actions don't have consequences. I pointed out some of King Solomon's faults to remind us that God doesn't call super saints to do God's work. God calls everyone, even those who aren't perfect. I also reminded us that through the power of the Spirit God can accomplish amazing things if we are willing to follow.
I preach a lot on the fact that God is waiting and more than willing to work through us, but we short circuit that power because we are afraid, we are lazy, we don't think we're qualified, etc. There are numerous examples of God using normal, everyday, even seriously flawed people to further God's work in the world. Those people God worked through, including King Solomon who was called the wisest king every, were far from perfect, but God did amazing things through them because they had a relationship with God and opened themselves up to the Spirit.
The Minden Park Crew started out with a goal in mind. They wanted new park equipment for the kids. The cost seemed insurmountable, and I imagine more than once they heard, and maybe even felt, that there was no way a town like Minden could raise that kind of money. That same attitude, we can't do this or that because...(fill in the excuse) keeps us from experiencing the full blessings God wants us to have. King David, King Solomon, Moses, the Disciples are all pillars of Christianity. They have one thing in common with all of us...they were far from perfect. Yet, God called them, as God calls us today. They had the courage to listen and open themselves up to God. Can we do the same? Can we put aside our doubts, our fears, and our laziness to see what God wants to accomplish through us? If we can then amazing things are ahead of us...just like the Park Crew who persevered and accomplished their goal. But, if we close ourselves off and/or give up then we miss out on an amazing journey and some special blessings.
Last Sunday I gave a sermon and the subject was about King Solomon and his request for wisdom. I talked a little bit about the warts that Solomon had, and the fact that God could work around those warts. I also reminded us that King Solomon's faults also lead to his downfall so God may work around warts but that doesn't mean wrong actions don't have consequences. I pointed out some of King Solomon's faults to remind us that God doesn't call super saints to do God's work. God calls everyone, even those who aren't perfect. I also reminded us that through the power of the Spirit God can accomplish amazing things if we are willing to follow.
I preach a lot on the fact that God is waiting and more than willing to work through us, but we short circuit that power because we are afraid, we are lazy, we don't think we're qualified, etc. There are numerous examples of God using normal, everyday, even seriously flawed people to further God's work in the world. Those people God worked through, including King Solomon who was called the wisest king every, were far from perfect, but God did amazing things through them because they had a relationship with God and opened themselves up to the Spirit.
The Minden Park Crew started out with a goal in mind. They wanted new park equipment for the kids. The cost seemed insurmountable, and I imagine more than once they heard, and maybe even felt, that there was no way a town like Minden could raise that kind of money. That same attitude, we can't do this or that because...(fill in the excuse) keeps us from experiencing the full blessings God wants us to have. King David, King Solomon, Moses, the Disciples are all pillars of Christianity. They have one thing in common with all of us...they were far from perfect. Yet, God called them, as God calls us today. They had the courage to listen and open themselves up to God. Can we do the same? Can we put aside our doubts, our fears, and our laziness to see what God wants to accomplish through us? If we can then amazing things are ahead of us...just like the Park Crew who persevered and accomplished their goal. But, if we close ourselves off and/or give up then we miss out on an amazing journey and some special blessings.
Monday, August 13, 2012
Moment of silence please..
Thank you for that moment of silence. We are mourning the passing of summer. School starts in a couple days and football games are on TV. I don't care what the calendar says summer is kaput! It does amaze me the stark contrast in the past 2 summers in western Iowa. Last year we were waiting for the levees to fail and Council Bluffs and other towns to be washed away by the mighty Missouri River. This year we couldn't get rain out of a hurricane it is so dry around here. Like someone said, "we survived the summer of the flood and we'll survive the summer of the drought."
I know it is cliche, but where does the time really go? We just completed a very successful Vacation Bible School program here with the help of First Presbyterian in Neola. We had about 80 kids attend and I think they enjoyed themselves and they might have even learned something along the way. It always amazes me how much enthusiasm and joy the kids bring. They are so excited to come to church and play, eat, make crafts, see friends, and learn a little something about God. I've heard from more than one parent about how excited their child was to come to VBS. I've also heard from more than one kid how much fun they had too. Thank you to everyone who helped in any way!! We could not have put on such a super program without all the volunteers.
Back to the kids' joy, at what point do we lose that enthusiasm to learn about God? At what point does it become a chore to come to church...just another check mark to click off your list? If that hasn't happened to you then super, but how many people come to church bouncing off the walls with excited energy? Ok, maybe I'm being a little silly with my comparisons to young elementary kids energy and our adult energy. We'd frown upon a "seasoned" church member running up and down the aisles or crying because mom forgot the fruit snacks. My point is why do we lose that pure unbridled joy? I suppose we could blame it on our grown up sensibilities, but we should never lose that excitement to learn about the One who created and sustains us should we? Think about all that we owe to our Maker...I know all of our lives haven't been a walk in the park, but I bet we have a tremendous amount to be thankful for. Yet, we tend to reluctantly volunteer to help, we view going to church and worshiping the God who gave us life as any other chore, and oh please don't ask me to change anything about my life...am I right? Instead of being excited to worship and be able to serve our ever loving and forgiving God we turn it into a job almost. Let's hope the spark of those VBS kids reminds us to bring a lot of joy to our worship and lives lived for God.
I know it is cliche, but where does the time really go? We just completed a very successful Vacation Bible School program here with the help of First Presbyterian in Neola. We had about 80 kids attend and I think they enjoyed themselves and they might have even learned something along the way. It always amazes me how much enthusiasm and joy the kids bring. They are so excited to come to church and play, eat, make crafts, see friends, and learn a little something about God. I've heard from more than one parent about how excited their child was to come to VBS. I've also heard from more than one kid how much fun they had too. Thank you to everyone who helped in any way!! We could not have put on such a super program without all the volunteers.
Back to the kids' joy, at what point do we lose that enthusiasm to learn about God? At what point does it become a chore to come to church...just another check mark to click off your list? If that hasn't happened to you then super, but how many people come to church bouncing off the walls with excited energy? Ok, maybe I'm being a little silly with my comparisons to young elementary kids energy and our adult energy. We'd frown upon a "seasoned" church member running up and down the aisles or crying because mom forgot the fruit snacks. My point is why do we lose that pure unbridled joy? I suppose we could blame it on our grown up sensibilities, but we should never lose that excitement to learn about the One who created and sustains us should we? Think about all that we owe to our Maker...I know all of our lives haven't been a walk in the park, but I bet we have a tremendous amount to be thankful for. Yet, we tend to reluctantly volunteer to help, we view going to church and worshiping the God who gave us life as any other chore, and oh please don't ask me to change anything about my life...am I right? Instead of being excited to worship and be able to serve our ever loving and forgiving God we turn it into a job almost. Let's hope the spark of those VBS kids reminds us to bring a lot of joy to our worship and lives lived for God.
Monday, July 23, 2012
Tooth care and self care
One of my favorite post cards came in the mail the other day. "You're overdue for your dental checkup/cleaning." Those post cards look so nice and innocuous, but I think I'd rather get audited by the IRS then go to a dental checkup. The scraping, x-rays, awful tasting polish, and the wonderful news you need something done...there isn't much I would put below these visits. I'm not degrading dentists at all. I love to eat, and I'm sure food tastes much better if I'm able to chew it with healthy teeth instead of sucking it through a straw or gumming it to death. Dentists provide a much needed service, but man I hate getting that service. Anyone else feel the same way?
I've been lucky. I haven't had many cavities or any trouble with my teeth throughout my life. I'm not sure I should divulge this tidbit or not, but I've had such good teeth that I've never flossed much in my life. At all of my dental checkups, and I promise you this, they've always told me to keep doing what I've been doing. Well, what I had been doing was brushing my teeth once or twice a day and not flossing. So, for years, and I mean probably 30 some years of my life, that's what I kept hearing, "You have great teeth, keep doing what you're doing." So I did, until about a year ago. I had my first cavities, and they were two flossing cavities. Flossing cavities are the ones that form between your teeth because you don't floss and get the food out. So, you figure I'd learned my lesson and after those cavities were filled I started flossing to keep that from happening again. Nope...I'm going to the dentist today for my checkup and I know I have a couple more flossing cavities. Some habits are hard to break and some habits are even harder to start!
I was reflecting on my lack of dental hygiene and it occurred to me how this might relate to our spiritual lives. When things are going good do we tend to forget a little bit about God, and building our relationship, and continuing our daily devotions? Sometimes when things are swimming along nicely we tend to neglect somethings...as I did with my flossing all those years. But, when things get tough we immediately turn back to God and want/desire that close relationship and to feel the Spirit's presence in our lives. The kicker is...if we'd continued to build that relationship before the tough times hit then we'd have that connection built in more quickly. Just like if I'd learn to keep flossing now I could avoid these wonderful checkups where I know something is amiss with my teeth.
It is not that God won't be with us and comfort us when times get tough if we've kind of fallen away from God for awhile while times were good. It is just that like any relationship the more time we spend at the relationship the better the connection will be. The reception doesn't improve from God's end...the reception improves on our end because we've been in the habit of connecting with God already so it is easier for us to feel God's presence. When we only seek God's presence when we feel we need help then we won't be as practiced in recognizing the Spirit in our lives and it may take some time before we recognize/feel God at work. So, the moral of the story...floss and make sure you continually build your relationship with God. That way, when the checkups, and life's difficulties come you'll be more prepared to handle them.
PS-anyone's teeth hurt while reading this? Mine did while I was writing it!
I've been lucky. I haven't had many cavities or any trouble with my teeth throughout my life. I'm not sure I should divulge this tidbit or not, but I've had such good teeth that I've never flossed much in my life. At all of my dental checkups, and I promise you this, they've always told me to keep doing what I've been doing. Well, what I had been doing was brushing my teeth once or twice a day and not flossing. So, for years, and I mean probably 30 some years of my life, that's what I kept hearing, "You have great teeth, keep doing what you're doing." So I did, until about a year ago. I had my first cavities, and they were two flossing cavities. Flossing cavities are the ones that form between your teeth because you don't floss and get the food out. So, you figure I'd learned my lesson and after those cavities were filled I started flossing to keep that from happening again. Nope...I'm going to the dentist today for my checkup and I know I have a couple more flossing cavities. Some habits are hard to break and some habits are even harder to start!
I was reflecting on my lack of dental hygiene and it occurred to me how this might relate to our spiritual lives. When things are going good do we tend to forget a little bit about God, and building our relationship, and continuing our daily devotions? Sometimes when things are swimming along nicely we tend to neglect somethings...as I did with my flossing all those years. But, when things get tough we immediately turn back to God and want/desire that close relationship and to feel the Spirit's presence in our lives. The kicker is...if we'd continued to build that relationship before the tough times hit then we'd have that connection built in more quickly. Just like if I'd learn to keep flossing now I could avoid these wonderful checkups where I know something is amiss with my teeth.
It is not that God won't be with us and comfort us when times get tough if we've kind of fallen away from God for awhile while times were good. It is just that like any relationship the more time we spend at the relationship the better the connection will be. The reception doesn't improve from God's end...the reception improves on our end because we've been in the habit of connecting with God already so it is easier for us to feel God's presence. When we only seek God's presence when we feel we need help then we won't be as practiced in recognizing the Spirit in our lives and it may take some time before we recognize/feel God at work. So, the moral of the story...floss and make sure you continually build your relationship with God. That way, when the checkups, and life's difficulties come you'll be more prepared to handle them.
PS-anyone's teeth hurt while reading this? Mine did while I was writing it!
Monday, July 16, 2012
Quiet weekend...
It has been a quiet few days around our house. Friday the boys went to my parents place for a few days so Tracy and I had just ourselves to keep us company. 3 days without kids! What were we going to do?!? I was certainly looking forward to some time off from chasing the rugrats around. We spent some time shopping and Tracy had the quote of the weekend. We were in Target and she was just aimlessly wondering up and down the aisles and I asked her what she was doing. Her reply, "I'm just looking. I never get a chance to just look around." I laughed. She was right. When you're toting around two boys you don't really have the luxury to just look around.
As I said earlier I was looking forward to the peace and quiet, but honestly that lasted to about Saturday morning. I already missed the little buggers jumping into bed and waking me up. I even missed watching Mickey Mouse Club House and fixing the little guys break fast. Funny how you think you are so looking forward to the time off , and then when it finally arrives you find yourself missing the noise and energy. It wasn't nearly as fun waking up this morning without Alex climbing on the bed and making sure I was going to open his fruit snack and turn the TV on. That's right...they get fruit snacks in the morning...its dad's little treat.
Contemplating this I was reminded of the saying that you really don't know what you've got until it's gone. The sermon yesterday was on the 10th commandment which tells us not to covet stuff we don't have. I talked about learning to be content with what you have and to count the blessings you already have without being consumed and preoccupied with stuff you want and think you need to be happy. I know I take for granted my life and all the blessings I have. How can I be thankful enough for a wonderful and healthy family, a church that I love to serve, a community we love to live in and rallies around one of its own, and the freedom to do what we want? Is it possible to be thankful enough for all of that and not take it for granted? I don't think so, but I'm going to try. I do my best to thank God every day for all that I have, and I try to not take for granted the opportunities I and my family have. While the hooligans were gone I was reminded how much I love them and how I can't take for granted the time we get to spend together.
I think the challenge for me is to be reminded in the daily grind how blessed I am. I think that is a challenge for all of us. I know some are struggling, but I bet if we thought about it we all could find something to be thankful for. Let's take some time to thank God right now for all the blessings in our life. Even if this might be a tough time in your life...think of the blessings you do have. They are there, and you don't want to miss them!
As I said earlier I was looking forward to the peace and quiet, but honestly that lasted to about Saturday morning. I already missed the little buggers jumping into bed and waking me up. I even missed watching Mickey Mouse Club House and fixing the little guys break fast. Funny how you think you are so looking forward to the time off , and then when it finally arrives you find yourself missing the noise and energy. It wasn't nearly as fun waking up this morning without Alex climbing on the bed and making sure I was going to open his fruit snack and turn the TV on. That's right...they get fruit snacks in the morning...its dad's little treat.
Contemplating this I was reminded of the saying that you really don't know what you've got until it's gone. The sermon yesterday was on the 10th commandment which tells us not to covet stuff we don't have. I talked about learning to be content with what you have and to count the blessings you already have without being consumed and preoccupied with stuff you want and think you need to be happy. I know I take for granted my life and all the blessings I have. How can I be thankful enough for a wonderful and healthy family, a church that I love to serve, a community we love to live in and rallies around one of its own, and the freedom to do what we want? Is it possible to be thankful enough for all of that and not take it for granted? I don't think so, but I'm going to try. I do my best to thank God every day for all that I have, and I try to not take for granted the opportunities I and my family have. While the hooligans were gone I was reminded how much I love them and how I can't take for granted the time we get to spend together.
I think the challenge for me is to be reminded in the daily grind how blessed I am. I think that is a challenge for all of us. I know some are struggling, but I bet if we thought about it we all could find something to be thankful for. Let's take some time to thank God right now for all the blessings in our life. Even if this might be a tough time in your life...think of the blessings you do have. They are there, and you don't want to miss them!
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