Refreshing Rain

“Let my teaching fall like rain and my words descend like dew, like showers on new grass, like abundant rain on tender plants.” Deuteronomy 32:2

I've been thinking about rain. Today my home town of Worthington encountered severe weather with tornadoes. While Alaska does not get storms like that we did have interesting weather ranging from sun, to rain, to snow and everything in-between.

This week has been busy in preparation for the church's 50th anniversary celebration. Long days and early mornings and it's all coming together. This afternoon I left the office but did not leave work. Errands in Anchorage for last minute items as final pieces of the puzzle.

Exhausted and feeling little desire to do anything but nap I ignored my fatigue and opted to go for a run. I put on a sweatshirt and shorts amidst the low 40 degree temperatures.

Photo credit: Google Images

As I ran the weather shifted. Cloudy, to raining, to sleet, to hard ice balls almost like Styrofoam shattering atop my skin. There is a saying in Alaska "If you don't like the weather wait five minutes". Well during my run it was more like "If you don't like the weather travel 1/4 mile". The mountains play a huge role in the weather. My running path parallels the Chugach mountains. When I was adjacent to a valley point of the mountains to my left, there was rain. When I saw a peak to my left it was snow.

Styrofoam-like snowflakes on my car window

This picture was not taken today but it does show how the clouds get "caught" in the mountain pass seen here clouds stuck at Hatcher Pass.

I continued to run, my lungs screaming with the cold air breathed deep. My run turned into a jog as I arrived near the Chugiak Fire station. The clouds settled low over the inlet as they bubbled with moisture. I bent over with my hand braced upon my knees and I breathed in that unforgettable scent. The smell of rain.

Sunset after the storm passes as seen from my doorway.

It is a life-giving fragrance, clean and laden with the promise of refreshing. It comes to us in the moments before and after a spring shower, a lingering reminder that God can wash away anything unclean, even the dusty residue of all the gravel from winter.

The precious rain beads upon my skin and coats the bike path below my feet. I stand in the rain and allow the heavy drops to descend upon my face. I am tired but refreshed!

Little buds starting to form. Finally spring in Alaska

I love the rain. I am sad that Alaska does not get Thunderstorms because I love them, but I enjoy the rain and everything that comes with it. The smell, the green, the hope, the life; just like God's Word.

Deuteronomy 32:2 says: “Let my teaching fall like rain and my words descend like dew, like showers on new grass, like abundant rain on tender plants.” Sometimes my heart is like a drought. Parched. In need of refreshing. This new life in me yearns for moisture to soften the hard soil around my tender roots and the new growth that pushes upward. I need the rain. I need God’s word to nourish me like showers on new grass and abundant rain on tender plants. I’ve seen what happens when a tender shoot, fresh from the soil, shrivels for lack of water.

May we absorb the word of Word of God this day like a thirsty plant that waits for rain. May our hearts swell with refreshing as we immerse ourselves in the truth we find on the pages of scripture.

"The Bible is meant to be bread for daily use, not cake for special occasions"

-Unknown

The Squeaky Doors of Life

My internship congregation is preparing for their big 50th anniversary. The church is young in comparison to most but yet shows signs of age. Chipped paint, worn electrical ballasts, stained carpet, and squeaky doors. For the church one thing that is noticeable, at least to me is the front door. It's hinges are worn and squeak. This is due to the shifting of the ground with frost, freeze, thaw, repeat and the normal wear and tear of the building. The squeaky door is one familiar sound that I can recognize even in my distant back room office.

No matter how loudly no matter how softly I try to close it or how slowly. It didn’t matter. It sque—eak—ed! I decided to take a can of WD-40 and fix the squeak. A quick spray on each hinge and the top door arm did the trick.

The thought lodged in my mind, and I couldn't help but wonder, how many times do we as believers squeak? Now I’m not talking about “squeaking for Jesus”. I’m talking about how many times we may be an irritating squeak that others hear. Our lives should flow in love and grace, peace and joy as we walk through our daily routines, both at home and at work or play. But how many of us are “out of tune”, “rusted and scraping”, “squeaky and moaning”? None of us are perfect, but we should be pressing forward, increasing in faith, and growing in the knowledge and grace of the Lord. What happens many times instead? We encounter a trial or difficulty, and it begins to grate on our spiritual nerves, and if we don’t put a watch on our mouth, we can “lose” it right then. And that’s when we begin to squeak. And the squeaking isn't just on our doors (what we say); it’s on the floors we walk along (where we go). If we could hear the world walk by us – the folks around us who walk in the world – I think we would hear the sad, moaning squeaks of people who don’t have the oil of gladness for the spirit of heaviness. They haven’t discovered that Jesus relieves the squeaks, the groans and moans in our lives.

Isaiah 61:1-3 says that Jesus was sent to “bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives, and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord….to comfort all who mourn…and those who grieve….to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair…”

In the time of trial: pray. It sounds so simple but prayer allows us to take it to God. It's like the WD-40 of life. It's great for many things and can be used in most any situation. Unlike WD-40, God never tires or runs out. He's all ears all the time. When you feel oppressed or attacked by the Enemy, when you feel that squeak of the tongue about to open pray and ask God for help. Pray or seek the Scriptures! The Devil can't stand the Word, nor the Name of Jesus.--He turns tail and runs! (James 4:7)

Prayer reminds me that I'm not in control, but it keeps me close to the one that is. 

Be aware how you’re walking today. Don’t let the cares of the world make you groan and moan as you walk. Christ has overcome walk in His overflowing joy, everlasting peace, and abiding grace. THAT will give you light feet and a bounce in your step. That’s the way to eliminate the squeaks.

Faith of a Farmer

When was the last time you wondered if spring would ever come? Not in the ironic sense - really wondered if winter might last forever, something like the 100 years of winter in Narnia. For most of us probably never.

In Alaska I sometimes feel as though spring may never come. The days growing lighter and “break-up” arrives. It’s not really winter, not yet spring, it’s just one giant ugly mess. Breakup is finally coming to an end as the snow is rapidly melting daily.

 Most of America lives in the reality of four seasons, and expect the Earth to naturally cycle from winter to spring to summer to fall. We expect trees to unfurl new leaves this time of year because they're supposed to. But what if they didn't? What if the trees bloomed in winter when their new leaves would freeze, or what if their flowers matured into hornets' nests instead of apples? What if they didn't bloom at all?

I think of my dad, the farmer. He and many like him are at the mercy of the weather. He must wait for the ground to be not too wet, not too cold, then plant! Plant like mad to get all the seed in the ground in a timely matter only to sit and wait. Hurry up and wait—that’s the farmer’s way. It’s no surprise to me that the Christian faith has much to say about farms and farmers, crops and harvests.

I often wonder why so many have such a rough time with faith. Honestly I don’t know how anyone can survive without it. As a farmer, my dad really leans on his faith. Maybe that's why I see his faith lived out daily, because as a farmer one must live a life of faith. From crops to machinery, it’s a lot of work, all done in faith.

One cannot see the end result in the beginning. When a my dad is plowing the field to plant a crop there is nothing tangible to reap. It hasn't even been seeded yet, but there's a faith that a good crop will result. There's a faith that timely rains will come during the growing season. There is faith that the machinery will not break down [too much] and delay the process. There's a faith that the harvest will be good! All faith, believing in things we cannot see at the time. But one believes and gets started.

In many ways, our churches are also like farms. We plant the seeds of belief in the hearts of our children in the hope that those seeds will become fruits of faith. We are also given ministries and missions to tend, so that Christ’s work amongst us can grow and expand in our community. And we are each expected to bring a faithful harvest to God at the end of our lives, showing Him that we have shared our faith with others, and planted new seeds of belief in the hearts and minds of those we leave behind. We are each meant to be hardworking farmers of faith, so that we might expect the bounty of God’s blessings and receive an eternal share in Christ’s Kingdom.

As I wait for spring to return to Alaska, I can't help but look outside and be amazed. There are mountains galore. When was the last time you took a look outside? Consider that "the heavens declare the glory of God" (Psalm 8:1) and the Earth is the work of his hands.

“I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." (Matthew 17:20)

ORLC 50 Years and Counting...

Things around church have been rather busy. On the top of the list is VBS planning and 50th anniversary of Our Redeemer. This mean's that I am fully swamped. Decorating, games, powerpoints, rehearsals, cleaning, arranging--but it all will come together.

50 years is quite a substantial amount when you consider that Alaska has only been a state for three years longer (Entered in statehood 1959). The history of Our Redeemer is unique. It all began with eighteen people gathered in worship back in 1960, seeking to form a place where they could share their faith together, and make an impact on their community.

The rented Emmaus Chapel during church construction 

Complete building-the iconic cross ready to go up

From small gatherings in homes, to a rented chapel, recognition by the LCMS as a congregation in December 1962, to the first service in a new building in 1964, several additions, a series of pastors and other church workers, we have now arrived at the 50th anniversary of what is known as Our Redeemer Lutheran Church.

The church in 1972

This upcoming weekend is the big shindig. We are anticipating upwards of 200 people to which we will have to use every space the church building has. The celebration begins with a potluck dinner (of course we are Lutheran so pot-luck is a must). From there we go into activities and games for the kids and a live polka band.

The church today

This past Saturday I made a run to Lowes to get 20 baby spruce trees. I fit them all in my little two door, ford escort. None of them fit in the trunk because the trees were too tall so I had 20 trees in my back and passenger seats. Who needs air freshener when you can have 20 live spruce trees? Why did I put 20 spruce trees in my car? For the 50th anniversary of course.

Such potential I just pray the ground is not still frozen when we dig on Saturday

Each year ORLC cuts down a live Christmas tree, a tradition that has been going on since the start of the congregation. A much as the 50th anniversary is about looking toward the past it is also a time of forward looking to the future of this congregation.

On Saturday as part of the festivities I have coordinated the youth to plant these twenty trees as a way of looking toward the future for twenty Christmas and beyond. The anniversary as a time to look forward; a time to prayerfully consider where God would take this congregation in the next 50, 100, or however many years He intends Our Redeemer to exist.

The future is in God’s hands; in fact, God is our future. As Christians, we look forward to an amazing day when we will be with God. Jesus, our Savior, has given us an everlasting opportunity to enter God’s Kingdom here on earth. May the Lord bless the future of Our Redeemer and the future that He has for your life.

Mother’s Day Creations

This past Sunday was one of finger painting. Red, yellow, purple green paint on over a dozen little hands. Call me crazy but I think the stress of managing tiny humans with paint on their hands outweighs the fun and excitement when it’s all done.

With mother’s day a couple weeks away the kids were busy on their mother’s day creations. This year it’s a reusable canvas bag with the handprints of the children. There is one bag made for each family that way a mother of four does not end up with four of the same craft. This gift, I feel, is one that is both practical and sentimental.

Adding yellow and red thumb prints for bumble bees & lady bugs

Each of the handprints serve as the top of a flower. The children also put thumb prints of yellow and red which will be transformed into bumble bees, and lady bugs.

Next week—after the paint has dried—the children will draw on the stems to the handprints, and fill out the bugs. In the meantime Ericka and I are going to iron on the quote “Mothers hold their children’s hands for a while, but their hearts forever”. I think it will turn out very cute and the mothers will cherish it as they can look back at how tiny their son or daughter’s hands once were.

Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him. ~ Psalm 127:3

Winkle in Kenai

Yesterday was a big day. Having come straight off the three day middle school retreat I awoke at 5:00am to meet Jamie and Larry to head 4 hours south to the town of Kenai. Once a month the pastors and DCE’s of Alaska’s LCMS congregations gather for a meeting called Winkle. We share our thoughts, struggles, and ideas in ministry, and have a time of fellowship. The place of meeting this month was in Kenai.

We left at 6:00am and began the beautiful drive south. Along the way we saw many mountains with receding snowlines. In the fall I watched the snow march from the top peaks downward to mainland. With spring arriving the opposite is happening.

"Ghost Forest" All those dead trees are from the great earthquake of 1964. The land dropped 15 feet and the trees were preserved due to salt water.

We also happened upon a Boar Tide. This is the second Boar Tide I have seen since being in Alaska which is rare as one must be in the right place at the right time. A Boar Tide is a tidal phenomenon in which the leading edge of the incoming tide forms a wave of water that travels up a river or narrow bay against the direction of the river or bay's current. As such, it is a true tidal wave and not to be confused with a tsunami, which is a large ocean wave traveling primarily on the open ocean. Bores are unique in that they occur in relatively few locations worldwide. Lucky for me, the Turnagin Arm of Alaska is one such place.

Boar Tide!

We were driving faster than the Boar Tide

Four hours later and we arrived in the town of Kenai.

We met for our Winkle meeting at Star of the North Lutheran Church. This month we shared what curriculum/resources we use in ministry. Sermon series, confirmation, Bible Studies, VBS, Sunday School etc. It was good to hear, and I got some ideas for future ministry when I take a full call. After Winkle we headed out to Louie’s for lunch as a group.

Following full stomachs our carload drove to the shoreline to catch a glimpse of the three volcanoes that are within 90 miles of Kenai—Mt. Redoubt (Which recently erupted in 2009), Mt. Iliamna, and Augustine (last erupted in 2006). I also got to see the immense amount of glacial silt along the coast. This fine silt often gets caught in cars as it’s so fine it goes right through the filters.

Mr. Redoubt

Glacial Silt

We drove back another 4 hour ride of breathtaking scenery. It was a long day but one with stunning views.