18. July 2008 by Pastor John.

Climbing the tower and using a zip line to come down.  Closing the day with a dance.  Going “whale watching” and through the “meat grinder.”  Cooking over an open fire.  Spending the night under the stars.  Feeding fram animals.  Counselors who compliment the behavior of our children.  Showing kindness to a person who needs to know she has value despite a diagnosis that has caused her problems all of her life. 

This is how we closed our last full day of camp.  It will have been a good week at Lutherdale.  Hope you are enjoying the pictures.

Posted in Keeping up with our Kids, Uncategorized | 4 Comments »

16. July 2008 by Pastor John.

During Highs and Lows several of the kids had multiple “highs” and the lowest they could muster is that it was hot.  Canoeing did get cancelled too, due to the safety/spotting boat breaking down.

This morning after our worship, the CLC youth with about eight other kids had to travel across the “acid river,” a low ropes activity calling for cooperation and planning.  After Ben had incurred all kinds of disabilities for infractions (largely of the showing off type) the kids got everyone over, including Ben who was blind, mute and had two unusable legs.  It was a fun activity. 

Bible Study dealt with forgiveness and used the story from Matthew 18:21-35.  Some very thought provoking questions were raised, including the one: “Should we forgive someone who intentionally does something to hurt us and has no remorse?”  Likewise, the reflections were insightful.  The kids seemed to get the connection that forgiveness and justice must both be involved in the making of peace.

This afternoon our groups took on the high ropes challenge.  Most everyone attempted this and at least addressed their fears by trying something.  I was very proud, and I think you will find the pictures wonderful.

All camp activity was a talent show, in which Allison and the other rappers told about their week.  Counselors, of course, added humor and brevity to the scene.  This was followed by a living enactment of the Gospel, as counselors reenacted scenes of Jesus’ life, concluding with his crucifixion.  I anticipate a resurrection in our morning Alpha.

Some of the kids will be sleeping out under the stars tonight.  It is a beautiful night.  The moon is nearly full and the weather cooled off about 5:00 this afternoon.  Hopefully the mosquitos won’t be bad.

Good night to all.  Hope you enjoy the pictures.  Please feel free to respond to the blog.

Posted in Keeping up with our Kids | No Comments »

15. July 2008 by Pastor John.

One of the things I most appreciate about camp is that kids are somewhat removed from life as they know it, and able to experience other joys they would normally not be experienced.  They are encouraged to develop relationships.  They see role models of college aged staff counselors who they admire able to talk about their faith.  They will experience that the most outcast kid has a gift to offer, and the coolest kid has needs of his/her own.

I am most appreciative of the way our kids have both supported one another and interacted with new friends.  Lutherdale is run differently from LOMC, so it is a different experience, not better or worse.  It is encouraging them to interact with more kids from other churches.

The theme they are discussing is “Just for Life.”  The theme based on Amos 5:24 is talking about the justice Jesus seeks and the justice that we, as Christians, need to seek as well.  Monday’s theme dealt with persistence, and used the story of the unjust judge and the widow in Luke 18 as the discussion starter.  Today, we spoke about fairness and how Jesus’ justice is not based or fairness, but on faithful people creating justice.  We will discuss how 1/5’s of the world’s population controls 83% of the world’s resources, and how 3/5’s of the world’s population has control over less than 2% of the world’s resources.  Most of our kids fit among the first group.  The question to them and to us is what does justice mean?  What does grace mean?  It makes our moaning about $4.00 per gallon of gas different in light of a world that does not have personal motorized vehicles and economies which pay people less than $1 a day.

Study is interspersed with fun.  Last night included a “Gold Rush” water balloon fight.  Kids had to barter for balloons, which could be unjustly stolen or graciously given away, all in anticipation of the big moment when everyone could let loose on everyone else.  Good clean fun.

Posted in Keeping up with our Kids | No Comments »

12. July 2008 by Pastor John.

I just received this poem attributed to Maya Angelou via my e-mail.  I thought it was worth sharing.  It is very powerful and very moving.  Please see my comments which follow the poem.

Beautiful Christian Sister
By Maya Angelou

‘A woman’s heart should be so hidden in Christ
That a man should have to seek Him first to find her.’

When I say… ‘I am a Christian’
I’m not shouting ‘I’m clean livin”
I’m whispering ‘I was lost,
Now I’m found and forgiven.’

When I say… ‘I am a Christian’
I don’t speak of this with pride.
I’m confessing that I stumble
and need Christ to be my guide.

When I say… ‘I am a Christian’
I’m not trying to be strong.
I’m professing that I’m weak and
need His strength to carry on.

When I say… ‘I am a Christian’
I’m not bragging of success.
I’m admitting I have failed and
need God to clean my mess.

When I say… ‘I am a Christian’
I’m not claiming to be perfect,
My flaws are far too visible but,
God believes I am worth it.

When I say… ‘I am a Christian’
I still feel the sting of pain..
I have my share of heartaches,
so I call upon His name.

When I say… ‘I am a Christian’
I’m not holier than thou,
I’m just a simple sinner
Who received God’s good grace, somehow!

Last week I spoke about Christianity embracing paradox-two competing concepts which seem to negate one another, and unable to be held simultaneously.  I bet Maya Angelou could write an equally moving poem about the pride I feel (not of my own, but of that owned by knowing of a loving parent), the good I’m compelled to do, the power I feel to tell others of God’s saving power, and the righteousness Christ has clothed me with.

Posted in Soul Searching | No Comments »

27. April 2008 by Pastor John.

Last week Pastor Cynthia Hileman from the Metropolitan Chicago Synod preached.  She talked about how churches were being reinvented, resurrected and thriving.  She also mentioned much about the sacrifice such change can cost.  She closed her sermon with this quote from Annie Dillard’s “Teaching a Stone to Talk.”  I find it exhilirating to think about.
 On the whole, I do not find Christians, outside of the catacombs,
sufficiently sensible of conditions. Does anyone have the foggiest idea what
sort of power we so blithely invoke? Or, as I suspect, does no one believe a
word of it? The churches are children playing on the floor with their
chemistry sets, making up a batch of TNT to kill a Sunday morning. It is
madness to wear ladies hats and straw hats and velvet hats to church; we
should all be wearing crash helmets. Ushers should issue life preservers and
signal flares; they should lash us to our pews. For the sleeping god may wake
someday and take offence, or the waking god may draw us out to where we
can never  return.

from Annie Dillard Teaching a Stone to Talk  p40

Posted in Changing Church, Developing a Vision | No Comments »

2. April 2008 by Pastor John.

Jean Lunt, a member at Living Christ Lutheran Church in Hanover Park, spoke at worship last Sunday morning.  She shared the ministry of Living Christ, which is reaching into the community as it is addressing the needs of people in its community, through their Wednesday evening kid’s club, their combined Bible study with the Assemblies of God, through partnership with the schools, village and community groups, and by offering Spanish services through the Salvation Army.  It appears that the willingness to serve and the needs of the community continues to energize the church, and thus to strengthen it, while calling it into partnership with others.

As I have spoken to Pastor Jennie in the past, I have said that I envy the clarity of the mission Living Christ has.  The physical and safety needs of the community seem so evident, and they provide the opportunity for Living Christ to be able to touch people’s lives, and especially their spiritual lives in a meaningful way.  On the other hand, maybe it is not just the need that is presented, but the spiritual energy and commitment of the church to address what is so evident which gives such power to their mission.

As Christ Lutheran  continues to struggle to find God’s purpose, I wonder why we are not so focused.  Certainly our area doesn’t appear to have the financial needs, the safety concerns or the needs of a multi-cultural and impoverished people in our midst.  And yet there is terrible addiction problems all around us, whether it be to alcohol, leagal and illeagal drugs, pornography, gambling and a host of other demons which infests youth and adults alike.  We have a small community, where the police chief had told me several years ago, that they are called out daily to address domestic violence.  We live in a society where our youth have such stress that many develop maladaptive ways of dealing with it. And we live in a community where the privilege of plenty is spiritually choking some of the greatest virtues of the human spirit, causing a “me first” attitude.

So is it that the need is not so evident, or at least acknowledged that confuses CLC about its mission?  Or is the vision of Christ Lutheran less than clear, because we do not have the spiritual focus and energy?  Are we more focused on the survival of our congregation than on how God empowers and calls us to address those around us?  Are we not called into cooperation because we are more worried about our competition having an edge, rather than recognizing that the needs of the community need the combined resources of all that we have?

In mission, which comes first?  The egg of a clear mission or the chicken of an energized people whose spirit is strong and ready and available to God’s call?  Do we need to focus on finding the greatest needs of the community, or should we be focusing on our own spiritual readiness?  I don’t know there is an “either” or an “or”.  What I am sure we need to do is make the dominant culture of those who are at Christ Lutheran one of embedding us in deep spirituality which includes Bible Study, prayer and significant relationships where we enter into one another’s lives in a deeper way, and care for physical and spiritual needs of one another.

Posted in Developing a Vision | 2 Comments »

1. April 2008 by Pastor John.

We have decided that we need to beef up our web site, and that this should be a major initiative for this year.  We are learning that this will be a complicated process. 

Many have thoughts about what should be included, and maybe, what should not.  How do you present the church?  For whom are is the web site primarily intended?  Certainly we think that it should be visitor friendly, but we also know that it should provide members with useful information. 

Being late with informaiton or out of date is a serious issue that we will have to address.  How do we address that.  We have come to realize that depending on one volunteer to post everything is too much for one person.  It would be best for multiple people to be able to post, but then one loses certain control issues.  Issues such as “are we representing the church, especially for the visitor, with a consistent message”  or if linking to other websites, are those sites theologically consistent with the church’s theology.

Other issues will deal with the flow and artistic look of the site.  What some people think flows nicely, others will think is cumbersome and difficult.  What some people think is important information about the church, others will look at and think is “insider” speak that will disenfranchise the visitor.  Some may think we should have less information, but what does that do for the inquiring visitor who is looking for the meat the church has to offer.  Even if a primary emphasis is for the visitor, shouldn’t the website be a primary place for people to see if Sunday School is held this week or what time people are needed for the clean up following the rummage sale?  There will also be differences of opinion about the artistry.  Should we be simple and use two primary colors, or maybe use the pastels with a rolling screen and a calendar link page.

As we work to develop a website, the biggest problems I see are 1) agreeing as to how to put this together and developing a similar philosophy, and 2) providing material to our web designer in a timely manner.  Any thoughts as to how to clarify and provide this? 

Posted in Web Site | 1 Comment »

8. March 2008 by Pastor John.

Why a blog?

1. Our job is primarily to communicate God’s love & power in life. John (the evangelist) felt so strongly about this, he identifies Christ with “the Word”

2. Provides dialog. Faith grows with the development of thoughs, feelings and ideas. The Holy Spirit’s work is to connect people of faith. People of long ago, who wrote the scriptures, with historical people who have responded to scripture, prayer and society, to people today, who are doing the same, and interacting with one another as the Church.

3. To invite a broader community. Jesus brought the word to the people by living with them. Luther made the word accessible by putting it in the vernacular (German). Blogging is a way to get the word out there, even as church attendance is dwindling. Even though church attendance is still getting smaller, spiritual hunger is increasing. People are looking to the web to be fed and get ideas.

Posted in Using a Blog | 1 Comment »