Wise Choices 01.05.2024

Nancy and I have a daughter, Melissa, who is a nurse, so it is understandable that she works in the healthcare field.  She has great gifts for caring for patients, but she also has quite a bit of knowledge and experience that gives her insight into the impact that life choices might have on a person’s life.  In fact, on more than one occasion I’ve heard her softly speak the words, “Make wise choices, people!” when she comes upon a situation in which there are potentially unwise choices being considered. 

One such occasion was when our family was on vacation in north central Minnesota.  Melissa and I were on a bike trail for an afternoon bike ride.  There are a number of bridges along the bike trail taking us over streams and small bodies of water.  At one bridge, kids were jumping off the railing of the bridge into the water below.  I could tell this made Melissa a bit uncomfortable, wondering if the kids knew how deep the water really was and what obstacles might be invisible under the surface of the water.  As we were riding close to this group of youth I could hear Melissa, in almost a prayer-like whisper say, “Make wise choices, people!”

What got me thinking about this is I’m reading from the Book of 2 Kings in the Old Testament of the Bible for my personal quiet time.  I’m reading in a section that gives a listing of the kings of Judah and Israel.  There is usually a brief listing of the accomplishments of the king or the way he fell short.  So often the king’s life or reign is summed up with one of two phrases.  It will say, “King So and So did what was pleasing in the eyes of the Lord.” Or “King So and So did what was evil in the eyes of the Lord.”  Whichever phrase describes the king’s leadership depends totally on the decisions and the choices the king made.

I’m reminded of one of my favorite authors and preachers that I like to listen to.  His name is Rev. Andy Stanley.  He’s written a book and given sermons on decision-making in life and faith.  In his book he shares that the secret to making good or wise decisions is to ask good questions…and to answer them honestly.  One question Andy Stanley suggests we ask ourselves regarding choices and decisions we have to make, is what he calls “The Legacy Question” which is, “What story do I want to tell?”  

In other words, when the particular moment in time one is currently dealing or wrestling with is in the rearview mirror of life, or in the past, what story do I want to tell?  He is saying that we can determine, in part, our legacy, or the way we are remembered, by the choices and decisions we make now.  Yes, it’s true there are always certain elements of life that are beyond our control.  Yet, how we respond in those moments is always within our control.  We do have choices that we make.  How life unfolds for each of us is constantly about the choices or the decisions we make.  So, a great question to continually ask ourselves is, “What story do I want to tell?”

As we begin this new year another great question to ask ourselves is, “What is the story I want to tell in 2025 about my life in 2024?”  Grab a sheet of paper or a computer.  See if you can fill up a page or a screen of what you want your story to say next year about your life this year.  Once you have a sheet or two written up, read it over and start living it out.  Our actions today will impact what happens tomorrow…which will impact the story we are able to tell next year.  As we continue on in this new year, may we hear the words of my daughter being whispered in each of our ears, “Make wise choices, people!”  Happy New Year!!!  Let’s make it a great year!!!

Pastor Keith

Happy New Year 12.29.2023

There’s an interesting passage in the Old Testament book of Joshua, that I believe can speak to us in our current moment in time in which we find ourselves with one year ending and another about to begin.  The story can be found in Joshua chapter three.  

The background of the story is that the Hebrew people have left Egypt, they have been wandering in the wilderness getting Egypt out of them. (Remember, they’d been in Egypt for over 400 years.) The time has finally come for the Hebrew people to enter the Promised Land that God has promised to Abraham so many years before.  The only thing that was in their way was the Jordan River.  Also keep in mind that Moses has just died and Joshua has been appointed as the new leader of the Hebrew people.

Joshua sends the officers, or his leadership out among the people with a simple message, “When you see the Chest of God, or the Ark of the Covenant (which represented God in their midst), move…follow it.  Then you will know the way you should go, even though you’ve never traveled this way before.” Then the rest of chapter three and four in the book of Joshua tells of the Hebrew people crossing the River Jordan (the second time a miracle happened that caused the water to be separated so the Hebrew people could walk through on dry land) and enter into the Promised Land.  

What strikes me about this story from the book of Joshua, is that it is fitting for us as individuals, and also as a church family, as we are about to enter a new year.  We are about to leave something behind as we also enter into something new…that we may not fully know or realize.  

What I mean is that the past several years have been very difficult for churches.  The Covid pandemic brought new realities that many of us couldn’t anticipate or fully understand.  Our own denomination’s struggles and splintering have been very painful and even unsettling to go through.  And the fallout isn’t over yet as General Conference will be meeting in just a few months.  

For many churches this has been such a difficult time that it has been easy to lose one’s purpose while dealing with so much turmoil.  I have talked with our church leadership about this and we all feel the same, that we too have lost a bit of the sense of our purpose as a part of the Body of Christ here in Mitchell, South Dakota.  So, during 2024, we are going to be undergoing a process of asking lots of questions, praying a lot, and asking God what our purpose is to be as a part of God’s Kingdom work here on earth and in this community. 

I believe Joshua’s words are fitting for us as we prepare to enter a new year.  We all need to be watching the “presence” of God in our midst…and when we see God on the move, we need to follow along.  This way we too will know the way to go even though we’ve never traveled this way before.  I ask that we all join together in prayer as we say goodbye to 2023 and enter into 2024.  There will be a focused prayer opportunity coming up in mid-January that I invite our entire church family to participate with.   

Like the Hebrew people of old, may we be ready to move when and where we see God on the move.  And may we allow God to speak to us as we seek the purpose that God has for us as we live out God’s Kingdom here in Mitchell.  Happy New Year Everyone…it’s going to be a great adventure and journey!

Pastor Keith

Let Your Light Shine 12.22.2023

Don’t blink or you’ll miss it!!!  But it is happening!!!  You see, yesterday, Thursday, December 21, was the shortest day of the year.  That means today, Friday, December 22, the days have started getting longer.

According to a chart I found online at timeanddate.com, today will have about a second more sunlight than yesterday.  So, like I said, don’t blink or you will miss it. Tomorrow there will be about 5 seconds more, and that number will keep growing.  Before you know it, we’ll be back in the long days of summer.  

This yearly ritual of the change from days getting shorter to then getting longer is a part of our Christmas tradition.  Let me explain.  You see, Christmas has not always been celebrated on December 25.  It was only in the 4th century that the “Church” decreed that Christmas would be celebrated on a consistent date and December 25 was set, and it has been observed on that day ever since in most of the Christian world.  

Part of the reason for choosing December 25 was that it corresponded with the date of the winter solstice on the Roman Calendar.  At that time there was a big festival held at the time of the Winter Solstice.  The Church was trying to take pagan holidays and turn them into Christian or faith-based holidays for the people of the church and for society in general.  

Part of the significance of December 25 being observed as Jesus’ birthday is shrouded in the symbolism of that date…the fact that the days are getting longer.  This means there is more light or daylight filling each day.  What difference does that make, you ask??  Let me refer us all to John’s version of the Christmas Story.

Ok, right now some of you are thinking, “John doesn’t have a Christmas story.”  And generally speaking, you’d be right, at least John doesn’t have the same kind of Christmas story that Luke and Matthew have.  John’s Christmas story is wrapped in symbolism.  In John’s opening sentences, Jesus is referred to as “The Word.”  “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:1.  By the end of verse four the metaphor to describe Jesus has become “light.”  And then verse 5 states… “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overtake it.” John 1:5

So, with the Winter Solstice, there is a switch from the days getting shorter, or having more darkness, to the days getting longer, or there is more light.  Do you see the symbolism?  The light is pushing back the darkness.  The light of the world overtaking the darkness.  Thus, John 1:5 is being lived out physically in our world every Christmas Day.  Elsewhere in John Jesus refers to himself as the “light of the world.”  So, Christmas being celebrated on December 25 simply emphasizes the reality that Jesus is the light of the world, and the darkness cannot overwhelm or overtake the light…Jesus, the true light of the world.  

I am glad that the days are getting longer, even if it is just by 1 second today.  It gives me the hope that spring and summer are coming, and our world will be filled with more and more light.  Our world seems to have quite a bit of darkness in it these days.  Christmas, being celebrated in just a few days, is a simple yet powerful reminder that the light of the world has come…and no matter how dark it may seem, the darkness CANNOT and WILL NOT overtake the light.  In the end, Jesus, the light of the world, will overwhelm and defeat the darkness of our day.  That is the great hope of Christmas!!  The light of the world has come!!  It is our task as followers of Jesus to do our part to keep the light shining, growing, and pushing back the darkness.  Maybe a Christmas tradition needs to be that we sing a special children’s song, “This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine.  Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!!!”  My friends…let’s let our light shine!!!  Merry Christmas!!!

Pastor Keith

A Little Bit of Heaven on Earth 12.15.2023

It was just a week ago that I believe I experienced a bit of heaven here on earth!!!  No, Chocolate was not involved.  Well, there was one cookie that had some chocolate in it…but that was just a bonus to what was going on.  After several years of talking about it, Nancy, Mom and I finally found a free evening to take in the Nora Store Christmas experience.  

In case you aren’t sure what the Nora Store Christmas is all about it, I’ll tell you.  You can also go to Facebook and do a search of Nora Store Christmas.  Nora is a tiny community about 12 miles southeast of Beresford, SD.  The Nora Store was an actual functioning general store from 1907 until 1962.  The current owner, Mike, purchased the building in the mid 1980’s.  Mike happens to be a music lover and he had the opportunity to acquire a pipe organ from USD in Vermillion.  He decided to have the pipe organ assembled in his “store” front room.  That would be sort of like putting a pipe organ in the Gathering Area space of our church.  

Mike decided, since the organ had been a gift to him, he decided that he would give back to the community, thus, the Nora Store Christmas experience came to be.  So, for three to four weekends before Christmas, Mike opens up his store to anyone who shows up, to sing Christmas Carols and simply share in the joy and love of Christmas.  Mike said that this was the 34th year that he has been doing this and over those thirty-four years, he has never missed a weekend due to sickness, etc.  

We arrived at 5:30, expecting the program to begin at 6:30.  Everyone says that if you want a seat, you’ve got to get there early.  So, we did, and we weren’t the first to arrive.  Yes, we got seats for the three of us, but within 15 minutes of our arrival, all the seats that were set up were filled.  Then they started pulling out folding chairs and setting them up anywhere there was an opening.  And people kept coming!  What struck me as so wonderful is that the crowd that gathered last Friday evening, and it was a crowd, all appeared to be in such a good mood.  

The joy and spirit of the singing was truly infectious.  In fact, why I say I experienced a bit of heaven in the moment is that everyone involved seemed focus on one thing…Christmas.  There was no sense of…Ok, Methodists sit here, Lutherans over there, Catholics in this section, Baptists in that area, etc., etc.  No, we all sat together, young and old alike, shoulder to shoulder, and I do mean it was shoulder to shoulder.  We didn’t talk politics, the economy, or global events.  We simply sang Christmas songs and allowed the joy of the moment to fill us and inspire us.  I didn’t see a frowning face as people left the store.  There were smiles all around with words of “Merry Christmas!” and “Happy Holidays!”

As the evening progressed, Mike, the master musician and master of ceremonies for the evening, even commented at one point that the one thing we all had in common that evening was Jesus…and that’s all that mattered.  I know, in a crowd of that size, it is likely there were different understandings and beliefs about who Jesus was (and is).  But that’s OK.  Because that is a part of the Christmas Story too…not everyone in Matthew or Luke’s story of Christmas understood or even accepted who or what this tiny baby represented.  But still, Jesus came…for one and for all, making God’s love and presence real in this world.  

So, if you haven’t had the Nora Store Christmas experience, I believe this is the final weekend.  You might give it a try.  If you do, by the end of the evening you’ll likely find your heart overflowing with the gift of music and the joy of the season, all because of the most incredible gift of all…Jesus.

Pastor Keith

The Christmas Story 12.8.2023

There are some that would say our faith, the Christian Faith, is built on doctrine, truths  and principles that define who we are and what we believe.  Certainly, there are doctrines or beliefs that are important to our faith.  However, I would say that our faith is built on stories.  After all, look at the Bible.  It is one story after another – it’s God’s story of God seeking to connect with and redeem humanity and all creation.  The majority of Jesus’ teaching to his followers was through stories.  Just reading through the Gospels in the New Testament (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) one can easily see that Jesus was a master storyteller.

We are currently in a season in which we are preparing for the retelling of the greatest story, the story of God coming into our world as an infant…as a human being…as one of us!!!  There are many ways that we tell this story in our homes, in our churches, in our communities, and even in our lives.  Last weekend we held the Festival of the Nativity.  Over 100 nativity scenes were on display in our church facility in the chapel, the nursery, and scattered throughout the Gathering Area.  It was wonderful to see all the displays and hear many stories of what made each nativity scene special or unique.  But of course, each nativity scene was basically telling the same story and pointing to a moment in which God entered our world and our reality.  

Of course, this earthshaking story is also told through song.  There’s the traditional Christmas Carols that we sing in worship that are so dearly loved.  O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, Away in a Manger, O Little Town of Bethlehem, Silent Night, O Come, All Ye Faithful, What Child is This, Joy to the World, Hark! the Herald Angels Sing, and so many more.  This doesn’t even include some of the more contemporary songs that have been written, such as, Mary Did You Know, the Manger, etc.  Then of course there’s the classic Hallelujah Chorus, performed in many communities each Christmas. Music has always been a powerful means of storytelling.  

Every year lights go up on our homes, additional lights from what are usually there.  We call them Christmas or Holiday Lights and they give a festive look to the inside and outside of our homes.  These shining, colorful, bright, twinkling lights are telling the story of Christmas according to what is written in the Gospel of John. John doesn’t give us the traditional Christmas story that speaks of a manger, a baby, angels and the like.  No, John simply says, “The Light shines in the dark and the darkness doesn’t extinguish the light.” John 1:5 CEB.  Elsewhere, in John’s story of Jesus’ life, Jesus refers to himself as “the Light of the World.”  So, John’s Christmas story is all about Light!

Even the Christmas presents that we exchange each year tell the story of that first Christmas.  As John 3:16 puts it, “God so loved the world that he gave his only son that everyone who believes in him won’t perish but have eternal life.” The very first Christmas gift…was Jesus.  Of course, the Christmas story will also be read multiple times over the next few weeks.  

Yes, I believe our faith is built on stories, and this incredible story can be summed up in one word, Immanuel, which means “God with us!” Indeed, this is a great story!!  Oh, I almost forgot.  The most important way this great story is told in our world is through our very lives.  How we live, how we love, how we reflect Jesus in our lives tells the story.  Yes, it is a personal story…but it is also a community story of God being with us. God’s Kingdom is about letting God’s story touch more and more of our lives and world.  So, in the coming weeks may we be storytellers, telling forth the great story of God in our midst!!  It is a story worthy of retelling!!

Pastor Keith

Waiting 12.1.2023

Waiting…Waiting…Waiting…  Those three words open the poem that was written by someone dear to me.  In fact, these three simple words are repeated throughout the body of the poem, emphasizing over and over again, what it feels like for this individual in the season of life in which they find themselves.  They are waiting, as patiently as possible, wondering what tomorrow will hold.  Will it bring something different…or it will be more of the same.  Waiting…Waiting…Waiting…

This weekend, specifically on Sunday, we begin the season of Advent.  This is the time period that leads up to and helps us prepare for Christmas.  So, even though Advent becomes such a busy time with concerts, baking, decorating, celebrations and parties, the season is really about waiting.  Waiting…Waiting…Waiting…

But the truth is we don’t “do waiting” well.  We have instant news alerts and notifications.  We have fast food and microwaves.  We have communication devices (cell phones) that can put us in touch with someone on the opposite side of the globe almost immediately.  We have technological capabilities that allow meetings to take place in real time even though the meeting participants are scattered all over the state, country, and even the world.  Coffee shops are placed strategically along the major routes in our community so people can get their coffee quickly and be on their way.  Yes, we definitely like things fast.  We don’t like to wait.  

Yet waiting is a part of who we are as a people of faith.  It is a part of our story and God’s story.  Abraham and Sarah were promised a baby and descendants as many as the stars…but they had to wait until they were both elderly before the promise was fulfilled.  Joseph had visions of being a leader that would make a difference in his tribe and ultimately his people.  But he had to wait years and go through some terrible experiences before he would find himself in charge.  David was anointed as a young boy to be the next king, yet the opportunity to wear the crown didn’t come until years later.  The time between the Old Testament and the New Testament of our bible or the time between when Malachi was written and Mark, the earliest gospel written, was about 400 years.  During those years people waited for a word, a messenger, anything from God.  Even in the New Testament, the disciples had to continually wait for understanding, wait for direction, wait for the Spirit, etc.  Waiting…Waiting…Waiting…

It's not easy to wait…just ask a child how hard it is to wait for Christmas, especially when it’s just a day or two away!!  Yet, waiting can be beneficial. Joseph would likely say that the waiting and enduring life’s horrible experiences made him a better leader later on.  David was able to look back to his experiences of waiting as a sheepherder and being responsible for the sheep, as part of what made him a better warrior and ultimately a better king.  Time and time again in the Bible, waiting isn’t wasted time, rather it is a time of shaping the person or people, preparing them for what is next to come.

May this Advent season for us not just be a time of passive waiting.  May we use it as a time for actively Waiting…Waiting…Waiting…for God to speak…for God to work…for God to make preparations within us/me and within our world for what is coming next.  May we be involved in allowing this season to prepare us to see, experience, and live Immanuel – God with us!!  Plus, this season of waiting is also about us preparing for the day when God’s Kingdom will come in its completeness in our world.  Until then, we keep striving to bring the “Up There Down Here”.  We keep making the Kingdom real right here in Mitchell.  Yes, we are Waiting… Waiting…Waiting.  But it is a hope-filled waiting knowing that God is at work in our midst. This December may our waiting be meaning-filled…preparing each of us for what is to come next.

Pastor Keith

Wish Lists 11.22.2023

We are getting close to the Santa Season.  Christmas lights and Christmas trees are appearing in more and more houses around town.  Because of the season we are approaching, there will be more and more kids (big ones too) filling out their “wish list” and asking for things.  So, this makes me ask the question, what is on your wishlist?  Or another way to put it is, what are you asking the “Big Guy” for?  No, not Santa…God!!!

What really got me thinking about this particular question, and asking myself this question is that just the other morning I read a story in the Old Testament (1 Kings 3) in which Solomon makes a big ask of God.  Now to give you a bit of background, Solomon is one of the sons of David, the great king of Israel.  As David was nearing death, he passed the leadership mantle (to be the next king) on to Solomon.  

Solomon, like his father David, loved the Lord and did his best to follow or live within the commands and the laws of God.  God obviously noticed how Solomon was trying to follow in his father’s footsteps regarding faithfulness.  The story tells us that one day Solomon was worshiping God and offering sacrifices at one of the holy or “high places.” This was early on in Solomon’s reign before the temple had been built, but worshiping and looking to God was certainly a good way for a new and young king to make his start.

God appeared to Solomon in a dream while Solomon was at this holy place and said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give to you.”  In other words, God was basically saying, “I’m granting you one wish. Ask me for anything and I’ll give it to you.”  Wow!!  What an opportunity.  If you were in Solomon’s shoes, what would you ask for?  The possibilities are overwhelming.  You could ask for good health and a long life.  You could ask for unmeasurable wealth.  You could request ultimate power.  You could ask for a stress-free life. You could ask for all your enemies to be swept away.

I’m sure Solomon thought about his response for a bit, but then he responded to God with humbleness.  Solomon wasn’t all puffed up because he was a somebody…the chosen king of Israel.  No, part of Solomon’s response was, “I am only a child and do not know how to carry out my duties.”  Then Solomon recognized that it was really God that was in charge, not him.  And finally, Solomon made the big ask.  He asked for a discerning heart to govern the people and to distinguish between right and wrong.  That was it.  That was his big ask.  You can hear some people today saying, “Solomon, ya really blew that one!”

But what God said next was amazing.  God responded to Solomon by saying, “Since you have asked for this (discernment) and not for long life, wealth, or for the death of your enemies, I will give you wisdom and these things you haven’t asked for, wealth and great honor. “ To this day, Solomon is considered the wisest and wealthiest king that Israel ever had.  

So, once again, I’ll ask the question, what are you asking for?  What are you seeking to give you guidance and direction in this journey of life and faith?  May we each learn from Solomon and ask for the things of greater value and not that which is only temporary.  Of course, it’s important to remember that when God answers these kinds of requests, I believe the answer is usually not fulfilled in one immediate moment, but rather it is fulfilled over a lifetime of seeking the wisdom, the discernment, and the loving spirit that only God can provide.  So, go ahead, make your list!  Make your ask!  Just keep in mind the spirit and the way Solomon made his request.  It wasn’t self-centered…it was focused on leading and living a God-centered life.  

Pastor Keith

Blessings 11.17.2023

What do you take for granted in your life?  Now this is a question you likely didn’t expect to be asked today.  But there it is…it is a great question.  What do you take for granted in your life?  Should we each get out a notebook or maybe open a new document in Google Docs and start writing/typing our list?  It would be amazing to see the length of the list that each of us could come up with in just 15 minutes of responding to this question…what do you take for granted in your life?

Where should I start?  I take it for granted that there’s going to be a sunrise each morning, meaning there’s going to be the gift of a new day.  I take it for granted that my lungs and heart will keep on working.  I take it for granted that my car will start each time I get in it.  I take it for granted that our refrigerator is going to keep the milk and orange juice I drink in the morning nice and cool.  I take it for granted that the food I eat each day isn’t going to make me sick.  I take it for granted that Nancy, my wife, is going to keep on loving me and helping me in the journey of life.  I take it for granted that my computer will keep on working so I can do some of my ministry work.  I take it for granted that my keys to the church and office are going to work each day. (That’s the running joke around the office…you’ll know you don’t have a job when your keys don’t work.)  

This little list above simply took me, maybe four to five minutes to come up with.  So, triple this for my 15-minute list of what I take for granted.  Even as I continue to type this, I’m thinking of more and more things that I take for granted.  Now I’m not saying we should become suspicious about everything; inspecting every chair before we sit in it, or hearing all the details about how a meal was prepared before we eat any food.  I’m sure it is true that I shouldn’t just take my relationship with my wife and her love for granted.  Doing so is not a healthy or positive thing for any relationship.

Those of you who know me well know that I like to investigate the history of hymns – to hear the backstory of what inspired their writing.  Well, one of my favorite hymns that is at times sung this time of year is the hymn, “Count Your Blessings.”  It was written by a man named Johnson Oatman in 1897.  Johnson’s father had a beautiful singing voice and Johnson, not so much.  He wished he had a voice like his dad’s but knew that would never be.  He became a Methodist Episcopal minister and in the course of his ministry he started writing hymns.  200+ hymns a year flowed from his pen and he finally realized he did have a musical gift, it just wasn’t singing; it was writing hymns.  

Count Your Blessings wasn’t Johnson’s favorite hymn, but it quickly became his most popular hymn.  It was a reminder to Johnson, and the world, that blessings abound and that too often we do take so much in life for granted.  Even back in 1897 when Count Your Blessings was written, Johnson realized there were so many blessings in life.  And as we look around ourselves today in 2023, we can see the same thing that Johnson did in 1897; that too often our eyes are closed to the blessings that daily surround us. 

May we each open our eyes or take off our blinders and truly see the blessings around us.  May we recognize and even try counting our blessings.  Just think of what that would do to the attitude in our community, our state, our nation, our world if we took time to truly recognize the blessings in life.  This is a great time of year to give thanks and to count our blessings.  Go ahead and do it.  Take out a pen and paper or open that Google or Word doc and start your list… “name them one by one.”

Pastor Keith

Prayer 11.10.2023

Prayer…it’s a pretty important topic in our faith as followers of Jesus.  Prayer is one of those things that Jesus modeled for us.  He set aside time throughout his time here on earth to be alone and to be present with God and to talk and listen to God.  Jesus even gave us a pattern for prayer.  It’s what we know today as the Lord’s Prayer, something that we share in together once a week during worship.  

There are many Jesus followers who claim Philippians 4:6-7 as one of their favorite passages from the Bible.  I would be one of those people.  This passage from Philippians speaks of prayer; “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.   And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”  This is a beautiful passage that reminds us to continually do as Jesus did and find time in our days to simply be with God to talk, listen, and be present.  In and through these moments, we can find peace.

Some of you may remember me talking about how our focus or a “win” for our congregation is through “Building connections with God, others, and ourselves.”  Our emphasis this year is building our connection with God through prayer.  This is part of the reason why just recently we did a survey on a Sunday morning about people’s feelings and thoughts about prayer.  I was pleased to see that the majority of the responders prayed multiple times a day, they felt they knew how to pray, and they believed that prayer makes a difference.  I felt this was all good news as people were utilizing prayer as a part of their faith experience.

But the struggle with prayer, at least that I have in my prayer life and I’ve heard others wrestle with it too, is that sometimes I wonder why my prayers aren’t answered as I had hoped.  It’s then that I’m reminded once again, that prayer isn’t transactional…prayer is really transformational.  Let me explain.

Sometimes we, or I should say I, get into the thought pattern that since I prayed for something, God will answer my prayer in the way I want, right??!!  That is a transactional attitude about prayer.  It’s like putting coins in the vending machine, pushing the button, and you get what you want out.  I pray the prayer and God has to respond the way I want.  But that isn’t the way God works.

As I continue to grow in my faith and walk more closely to Jesus, I find that prayer is really a conversation.  And truthfully, prayer is more transformational – me being transformed into the likeness of Jesus by listening, thinking, and acting more in line with who Jesus is. Prayer is even more about living out or reflecting God’s Kingdom in this moment and situation.  

There’s a friend I have who shared that a while back he was dealing with some difficult things in life.  His prayer had become, “God, help me through this!”  It wasn’t until several months later that he realized that that prayer had been answered.  Things had been dealt with and resolved.  There was more of a peaceful presence in his life and work, and he realized that God had helped him through…quietly…and really out of sight.  But indeed, as my friend put it, God was there – God helped me through!”  

As we all continue to live in and with the practice of prayer, may we know that God is always with us and often God is calling us aside for some moments of connection and transformation through prayer.  May we remember that God does answer prayer.  Sometimes the answer is “Yes.” Sometimes the answer is “No.” and sometimes the answer is “Not yet.”  But one answer to prayer is that God is always with us!  God is always present in and through the storms and struggles of life and not just the good or easy times.  

A note that hangs in my office reminds me daily that I am responsible for faithfulness…and God is responsible for outcomes.  Most often my faithfulness needs to begin with prayer.  May God’s transforming presence continue to work in our lives and touch and guide us in this journey of life and faith.  And yes, this transformation often begins with prayer!

Pastor Keith

Goodbyes 11.3.2023

How do you say goodbye?  The joke here in the Midwest is that one stands up and says something like, “Well, I suppose we should be going…”  But then conversation continues for at least another half hour.  There certainly is some truth in that description.  I remember as a child feeling like my parents would never get around to the good-bye when we were at a church gathering or at a neighbor’s house visiting.  

Some good-byes are relatively easy, such as when you find yourself in a job, a relationship, or a situation that isn’t what you thought it would be.  In those situations, it might be easy, or easier, to say goodbye and simply walk away.  I remember once many years ago I was invited to a meeting in which a specific topic was going to be talked about just between a couple of us.  When I arrived at the meeting, there were a lot more people present than I had been told would be there and it quickly became evident that they had an agenda, not to discuss, but to intimidate and “convince” me that I was wrong on a certain subject.  I quickly assessed things, stood up, said good-bye, and walked out the door.  

Then there are the expected goodbyes that you know must happen, but it doesn’t make them any easier.  I remember the day of saying “Goodbye” to our children as we took them to college and left them there.  Of course, we knew we’d see them again, but it was more symbolic that this was the beginning of their leaving home and heading out on their own.  There were tears shed in each of those moments, especially by Nancy and me…and I believe each time we drowned our sorrows in a DQ Blizzard.  Good old comfort food!!

But then there are the difficult ones, maybe even the unexpected goodbyes.  You’re never quite ready for the moment and you feel like you didn’t get to say goodbye in the way you wanted.  Over the course of my ministry I have stood or sat with many families who were experiencing a tragic, a sudden, an unexpected, or a difficult goodbye.  Those are so heartbreaking.  In these kinds of situations, I always encourage those who are deeply feeling the loss, to find some way or take a moment to say the goodbye they want and need to say.  Whether that goodbye is at the funeral home, during the funeral, at the cemetery, standing alone in a park or a pasture or some private place, find the way to say the goodbye.  It can be so important to do so.

Now you might be wondering what is bringing this topic of saying goodbye to my mind.  It’s because over the past two weeks I’ve made a difficult trip to Sioux Fall as a part of my saying goodbye to a dear friend.  My friend and colleague in ministry, Rev. Roy Caudill, had been under hospice care for the last several weeks, and then he died on Wednesday morning, All Saints Day.  

Both those trips to Sioux Falls to see Roy in his closing days here on earth were difficult and sad visits, but I also knew that I was doing what I needed to do to say goodbye.  Yet I’m reminded of a church member from my very first church who refused to say goodbye.  His philosophy was that “Goodbye” meant forever.  However, “so long” was temporary.  I’ll never forget, the last time I saw him, his words to me were, “So long, Keith.  So long.  Until me meet again.” 

I have two reminders for us all today.  1.  Take the moment to be with someone you care about when you have the opportunity.  (I had been saying for at least 2-3 months that I was going to come have coffee with Roy in SF. It never happened.) 2.   Take the time to say goodbye when someone you care about is in their final weeks/days on earth.  It is important for both you and the other person to have those moments of connection and celebrating the relationship you’ve shared.  Tears Shed…that’s OK.  It’s a sign of the connection that was shared.  

Today I celebrate that Roy is a part of the “great cloud of witnesses” that surrounds us followers of Jesus here on earth.  His presence has helped shape my life, faith, and ministry.  And because our faith is in Jesus and all that he has accomplished through his life, death, and resurrection, I have the hope and belief that death is not final. The grave is not the end.  There is life in the love and presence of God.  So, in the spirit of my previous friend, so long Roy, so long.  Until we meet again!

Pastor Keith