The text I received about 2:30 pm today was, “The spiders here are on steroids! Huge spider in the sleeping quarters…and it was carrying babies, too…” Big enough that “the guys were jumping, too.” It probably found its way inside to escape the torrential rains that came down today. Between that and being hot and sweaty all the time, the conditions are difficult to say the least. Just imagine living there in a tent, or less. The generator goes out frequently, so power for the fan and showers is unpredictable. I don’t think the clinic will be open on Saturday, so tomorrow will be the last full day of seeing patients. It’s a little dangerous to leave the compound, so I don’t know what they’ll do before they leave on Sunday. It will be interesting to hear her reflections on the whole experience, which I am sure will not be her last.
Category: Life
Happy birthday, Dad!
Just got off the phone with my dad, who turned 86 today. He’s doing great, the snow’s all melted in Philadelphia, his crocuses are up and beautiful, and baseball season is just around the corner. Life is good.
The problem with living that long is that you outlive a lot of people. My mom’s already been gone for five years, he’s outlived all his brothers and sisters, many of his good friends from church and a lot of neighbors. He’s still got a good church family, a few of my cousins to keep an eye on him, and the Phillies who have been very worth watching these last few years.
My brother and I send him sermons and he really likes that. When you have a CD to listen to, you can go back and listen to the parts you didn’t understand the first time. He never got to hear me preach that much over the years, so this is something he really enjoys. Adam is taking his first preaching class at the seminary, so I’ll have him preach this summer, and then my dad can hear yet another generation in the pulpit. That will be cool. Not just because I can get a day off, but because I have a feeling Adam is going to be very good in the pulpit. That’s my unbiased, objective opinion, of course.
An old friend
A few weeks ago I received an invitation to the 50th anniversary of Luther Memorial in Tinton Falls, NJ, the church I attended when was living in New Jersey and working for Bell Labs before I went to the seminary. It’s been twenty-eight years since I’ve been there, so I am flattered that they remembered me and sent me an invitation. Unfortunately, the celebration is on Palm Sunday, and I am working. But I took a few minutes to write with my my greetings and record a few memories for them.
Just out of college, working my first job, living in my first apartment, I decided to search out a church in Monmouth County, NJ. The first one I tried didn’t even notice I was there. The second one, Lutheran Memorial, embraced me as one of their own from the moment I stepped in the door. The first Sunday there, someone took me to lunch. The next week, they got me involved with the choir and playing trumpet. The third week they invited me to help teach the high school class. And from there, grew to love ministry much more than my profession. The love of that congregation propelled me towards the pastoral ministry in a big way. And for that I will always fondly remember and thank God for my time with them.
My wife is in Haiti (part 3)
My wife is in Haiti (part 3). At least once a month, someone forgets to turn off their cell phone and they get a call during a worship service. Today, it was my cell phone. Actually, I set this up ahead off time with my wife. We timed it just right so that her call came right in the middle of my sermon. You should have seen people’s faces, first, when it was my phone going off, second, when I answered it, and third, when they learned it was Lisa calling from Haiti! So many were glad to hear her voice and update on her work with the medical team in Haiti! BTW, Don’t try to call me during the sermon in the future, though. I never have my phone with me like I did today. The real work begins tomorrow. They expect to see 300 patients. Today after church some of the team went to an orphanage to do health checkups. Lots of children, some of whom lost their parents in the earthquake. The pictures she posted on Facebook were pretty moving. She really enjoyed sharing with the children some of the toys our Sunday School helped purchase from their offerings. Something as simple as a beach ball goes a long way when you have nothing else to play with.
Just between you and me
In the current issue of the Lutheran Witness, there is an article about private confession and absolution. This practice is probably unfamiliar to many of the readers of my blog. Why would you need to do it privately? Don’t we do it every Sunday in church, publicly? Isn’t that a Roman Catholic practice? Who would do that anyway? Most Lutherans probably don’t realize it’s something that is available to you with your pastor. As a called and ordained servant of the Lord, I have the responsibility and authority to tell you that you are forgiven when sin and guilt and Satan just won’t leave you alone. When I can look you in the eye, remind you of what Jesus suffered and died for on the cross, and tell you you’re free from your sin, it is a powerful and liberating moment. And just so you know, I have had people come to me for this very reason. Old and young, teens and octogenarians. No matter where you are in life, it is a precious gift from our Lord.
My wife is going to Haiti (part 2)
Actually she’s there. Rev. Glenn Merritt, who heads disaster response for LCMS World Relief, said in a recent Lutheran Witness article that it is too unstable and dangerous for any volunteers apart from medical teams. That is the situation my wife has stepped into with great excitement and a little fear (mostly from reports about tarantula spiders she may see there). Lisa landed there a few hours ago (as I wrote this), and as I think about her next 9 days there, I realize God’s been preparing her for this her whole life. Just consider her experience: a vicarage in inner city Baltimore, a social worker job there, labor and delivery experience, working for an urgent care provider in Daytona Beach. Eventually she’d end up somewhere like this “for just a time as this.” You can read some about it here. The amazing thing is, who would have ever seen this coming? When Lisa was going to nursing school in Ft. Wayne, the University of Connecticut, Grandview College in Des Moines, Iowa, and Graceland University headquartered in Lamoni, Iowa, who would have imagined God was preparing her for an assignment in Haiti? Not me. We didn’t even hardly know where Haiti was until today. But I’m sure we’ll never forget.
I talked with Lisa some this afternoon. It is hot there, in the 90’s. They saw about 100 patients today. In the midst of all this they are trying to get the pharmacy organized. After only drinking some lukewarm water, she said a cold Coke was probably the best she’s ever tasted. And she’s glad she went with Lutherans. The leaders went out to get some beer and wine for tonight. Tomorrow they will go to church. I’m not sure if the clinic is open tomorrow.
On a sad note, the men who founded the Lutheran church in Haiti, Pastor Doris Jean Louis was killed last night. He was accosted outside of his home and beaten. He studied at the sem in Ft. Wayne in the late 70’s – early 80’s, and was a blessing to so many.
Huh?
At Adam’s first homiletics (preaching) class this semester, the professor, Dr. Dale Meyer, said, “Just because you said it doesn’t mean they heard it.” That’s a good thing to keep in mind. Communication seems simple enough. Preach the word, and watch the Holy Spirit work, right? Well, kind of. Jesus told that story about the different kinds of soil. Sometimes the word takes root and changes lives. But not always. Rock, weeks, birds, and whatever get in the way. Even for Jesus.
It reminds me a little of watching a movie or some TV, when someone leans over and says, “What did he say?” There’s a lot we hear that we don’t understand. We don’t understand what was said, or we don’t understand what the words mean, or we don’t understand what the speaker is talking about. I don’t understand everything I hear. I often ask, “What are you talking about?” Wouldn’t you like to ask me that question sometime? Feel free. You have my permission. How about if I leave my phone out on the pulpit and you can text me, “Huh?”
My wife’s going to Haiti (part 1)
Why not a journal of my wife’s upcoming trip to Haiti through the eyes of us who will say goodbye in just a few days and anxiously await her return from this medical mission trip? Lisa is going with 16 other doctors, nurses, practitioners, and pastors to work in a Port-au-Prince hospital and clinic with LCMS World Relief. Her nurse practitioner skills, honed over the past year in an urgent care office, will be very helpful to the many Haitians still in need of medical care after the January 12 earthquake. It’s hard to believe it’s been two months already.
After learning that she had been selected for this trip, the last two weeks have been a whirlwind of getting things together to go. From a few shots at the health department to some medical things to take along, the challenge has been to not take too much. All you’ve got is two small carry-ons for your own stuff. The big check-through suitcase is for medical supplies.
An exciting opportunity? Absolutely. Frightening? Oh, a little, especially when you starting reading about tropical diseases, looking at pictures of insects, and checking out the blogs of those who are there. The trip begins on Thursday with a drive to Miami, where she’ll meet the team.
It is so cool that she gets to go and do this. And it is equally cool that our church has gotten into sending people on trips like this with both financial and prayer support. It adds a whole new dimension to what we do.
All the time
Do you know what I forget sometimes? I forget that not everyone’s life revolves around the church. Conversely, I’ll bet a lot of people don’t even realize that most pastors’ live do. Revolve around the church, that is.
Here’s what I mean. An average member of the church who attends say twice a month, may only actually think about the church a couple of hours on those two days. That’s it. Another member of the church, who serves on a committee, is a member of a small group, are part of a music group or participates in a community ministry may think about church a couple of hours each week. Some in positions of leadership may spend as much as 3-4 hours a week with church responsibilities. If you have a job and a family, I wouldn’t expect much more.
Enter the pastor. I think about the church every day. I think about the church most of my waking hours. I’m not always doing church stuff, but even when I’m not, I’ve got sermon thoughts running around in my head, I’ve got people on my mind who I need to talk to or visit, and I’m always wondering how those in the hospital or recovering at home are doing.
I’m not saying this is bad. After all, it is my job and it’s not yours. I just think the extremes are interesting. There was a time when I wasn’t a pastor and wasn’t thinking about church all the time, but that was a long time ago. It’s hard to remember. And those outside the role (and the family) have no idea what it’s like to be immersed in it all the time.
Wouldn’t it be interesting (and probably healthy) to walk in each other’s shoes once in a while?
Waite for it... 