Unplug and Reconnect 03.15.2024

The other evening, I was doing some work in my home office.  I was doing some research on the internet from my computer.  Suddenly, the screen went blank, and a little box appeared in the bottom corner of the screen that said, “You are not connected.”  A moment later the same basic message appeared on another device I was carrying.  I went upstairs to see if Nancy had done something with our internet connection.  Nope, she was sitting there reading a book.  

I went to the room where all the computer and internet connection equipment is located.  I stood there looking at the boxes and jumble of cords.  What to do…what to do…what to do???  Then the voice of my son rang in my head, “Dad, the first thing you do with technology, if there’s a problem, is unplug it and then plug it back in.”  So, that is what I did.  Unplugged things, waited a minute or so, and then plugged it all back in.  And that seemed to take care of the issue.  We were once again connected.

I wish my spiritual life came with those sorts of pop-up messages. You know, like what happened with my computer the other night.  I wish there would be a message box that would appear saying something like, “Your connection with God is weak!”  Or that it would just say flat out, “No Connection with God!”

If there were those sorts of messages that would appear in our lives, would we know what to do?  Now that is a great question!  Would we know what to do?  The advice of my son doesn’t seem to apply – Unplug everything.  Or does it apply??  Maybe we, or at least I, really do need to “unplug.”  Unplug is a word used in our day to mean to rely less on technology.  That’s probably not bad advice.  

This season of Lent is, in a sense, a time of unplugging – a time for resetting things, in order to reconnect with what is really important in life and what is really important in our faith.  The focus of Lent isn’t so much on giving up stuff, as it is considering what the barriers are that slow down, interfere, or even block the connection that we have with God.  Giving something up for Lent isn’t so much about sacrifice, in my opinion, it’s more about removing the distractions that get in the way of our faith connection and our growing in God.

For me, one of the things I’ve been cutting back on during Lent is my use of social media on my smartphone.  An interesting feature my phone has is that it will tell me how much time I use the various apps or programs on my phone.  After the first week of Lent my phone reported that my usage had dropped 79%.  Oh my goodness!!!!  That means there’s more time each day for other things, like my relationship with my spouse and my connection with God.  I hadn’t realized just how much time I spend looking at the screen in my hand.

The truth of the matter is, I think there are dialogue boxes within us that try to give us messages about our connection with God, but the question becomes, do we pay any attention to those messages?  Maybe it’s that little nagging feeling that I should, or shouldn’t, do something.  Maybe it’s the feeling that I should slow down.  Maybe it’s the sense of emptiness that I feel within.  Maybe it’s the little voice calling me to open my Bible or simply talk to God. Maybe it’s the feeling of needing to just go outside for a quiet walk without anything playing on our earbuds or headphones. There probably really are a lot of Message Boxes in our faith journey…it’s just that they get overlooked or maybe even ignored.

Today, or in the coming week, what if we each took a moment to unplug and reconnect with our God who knows us best and loves us the most.  That is what the journey of Lent is all about!!

Pastor Keith

Blessings 03.08.2024

I was blessed the other night.  I was blessed by the privilege to speak to our church’s youth group and share in communion with them during their Overflow worship service.  Yes, that was a blessing.  But actually that isn’t the blessing I’m speaking of.  There was a blessing that took place just before my time with the youth.

As happens occasionally, there was an individual who was passing by the church and stopped in for a moment.  He found me in the chapel and we visited for a little bit.  I’ll admit, I was busily getting ready for the Overflow service with the youth so I wasn’t giving the individual my full attention.  I’ll also admit, there was a part of me thinking, I don’t have time for this.  Looking back on it, if I had just pushed the gentleman out the door I would have missed out on the blessing.

Yes, this was someone that I recognized.  He’d been here to the church before.  Yes, he was of a different ethnicity than me.  Yes, it was apparent that he wasn’t in full control of his faculties and that he was under the influence of something.  We visited for a moment, and then I told him I was getting ready for another activity. As we talked, I slowly started moving him toward the front door. 

Then he asked me the question.  “Do you have anything to eat here.”  Well, the youth had pizza for their meal, but it was already devoured and there were no leftovers.  I told him I didn’t think we did.  Then I remembered our small office refrigerator and some crackers that someone had donated to the church that were on the back counter.  I told the man to wait for a moment.  I went to the refrigerator and found a yogurt cup and some apple slices (sorry Tonya, Short, or Becky if they were yours).  I grabbed a couple of the individual bags of crackers.  I took it all to the individual and he was so happy.  It wasn’t that much, but he was thrilled.  

As we again, started heading toward the door, he stopped and asked if I prayed.  I told him I do.  He asked if I would pray for him.  (Head slap to myself!!)  Why didn’t I offer that to him without his gentle reminder??  So, we stood in the hallway, and I prayed for the man that God’s peace, and hope, and love would surround him on his journey.  He thanked me and then asked if he could pray for me.  Now that was a first!  I don’t think I’ve ever had someone who was asking for help ask if they could pray for me.  I told him absolutely and he started praying in his native language.  He would pause every so often to explain a word or two or to tell me what he was praying.  But he prayed for me!

That was the blessing I almost didn’t receive.  As I said, this was the first time in my ministry that someone I was helping asked to and then prayed for me.  Here I thought I was the one doing the blessing.  But God spoke to the individual in front of me and God spoke to me in the moment, too, saying that I was the one that needed the blessing in the moment.  And to think I almost missed it because of my feeling busy and rushed.

You know, this is how God so often works.  It’s those who go on the mission trip who often return home feeling they received the greater blessing.  It’s those who help lead Sunday School, Love Feast, and other ministries that often say they are the ones who receive the greater blessing.  We may not always see the faces of those who benefit from our monthly One Thing or our mission giving, but I often hear how blessed people feel knowing that their donated box of hamburger helper or laundry detergent, etc. will make a difference in someone’s life.  

Sometimes as Christians or as a part of the church, we think that we are the one’s always doing the blessing.  However, if we’re willing and open, there is often a blessing being given back that we miss.  We may not always recognize it or we may just rush by the moments of blessing, but often it is there…if we are willing to receive it. May we always be receptive to the blessing that is offered to us, even when it comes from someone we least expect it from.  To the gentleman that was just passing by…Thank you for the prayer and blessing!  And thank you for the reminder that God was not only present in the faces of the youth group I shared worship with.  God was also present in the face of the one just passing by.  

Pastor Keith

Planting Trees, Planting Seeds 03.01.2024

Trees are such a beautiful part of our world.  In our current season, late winter, the trees in the yard of our home and community, don’t look like much.  They don’t provide shade.  I guess they would provide space for nests, but the birds aren’t around that want nests…and the trees don’t provide much shelter or protection currently anyway.  The area of Mitchell that we live in is a newer area, which means there aren’t many mature trees.  The trees in the area are growing, but most trees are rather small.  

One of the first things Nancy and I did upon moving into our home, once the boxes were unpacked, was to plant a couple trees in our yard, thus doubling the number of trees on our property.  Even though these trees are now several years old, we realize that it is likely that we won’t be around (or on this earth) to enjoy them when they are in their full glory of maturing.  So, a question has come up, “Why?”  Why do we plant trees when we aren’t going to enjoy them when they are mature and most beautiful?  For the answer to that question, I look to a previous generation….my Great Grandfather, Swan Nelson.  He’s the one who settled on the “home” place that I grew up on north of White Lake.  I believe he’s the one who planted many of the trees in the shelter belt west of the house I grew up in.  

Great Grandpa Nelson must have known that he wouldn’t be around to see or experience the fullness of how those trees would look or how they’d protect the house and farmyard from the South Dakota winds and blizzards, yet he planted the trees because he knew it wasn’t just about him.  He also knew it was about future generations that would live and work on that farm.  Certainly, Swan Nelson was able to experience some of the benefits of those trees he planted, but he knew those trees weren’t just for him.  Those trees were intended for others yet to come.

Today I’m asking myself, and all of us as a part of our local church and the greater Church, what are the “trees” that we are planting?  What are the things that we are starting or doing now that none of us in this church today may experience the benefits of or even see the fullness of?  I believe the greater Church of our day needs to be planting more “trees,” taking more risks, and taking the attitude of Great Grandpa Swan….it is not about me.  And of course, the reason for planting these kinds of spiritual trees is so that others, in generations to come, will experience and know the love and grace of Jesus that we know today.  

In order for future generations to experience the beauty, joy, peace, and hope of our faith, we need to be planting “trees” or seeds of faith today.  Seeds that take time to mature and produce fruit, but seeds that if cared for, will provide fruit and benefit for generations to come.  Yes, it takes us, the followers of Jesus to plant and nurture the seeds of faith today in order for the harvest and full benefit of the growth and maturity to be realized tomorrow…or the next day…or the next.  

How about it…are you ready to grab a shovel?  Are you ready to plant a couple of “trees” for God’s Kingdom??  I believe there are people in the future that will experience the love and presence of God, then look back to us today, even though they won’t know us, and give thanks for the trees we planted for them!

Pastor Keith

Giving 02.23.2024

What is it costing you to give in this season of Lent?  Actually, that’s a great question to ask any time of year, but since Lent is a season of reflection, it seems like an especially fitting question for each of us to reflect on today. What is it costing you/me to give in this season?  Now the “giving” that I’m speaking of is that of our giving to God.  What is it costing me?

This question came to light in a story involving King David in the Old Testament book of 1 Chronicles.  David has just done something that dishonors and displeases God.  (No, it’s not the Bathsheba story.  Yes, David messes up numerous times in the Old Testament.)  God sends judgment or punishment upon the people of Israel because of David’s disobedience.  Part of the punishment was God sending an angel of destruction to destroy Jerusalem.  God relented and stopped the angel of destruction, but the angel stood beside Jerusalem awaiting further instructions.  

David was told to erect an altar on the site where the angel of destruction was standing.  The farmer who owned the land was threshing wheat at that spot.  David asked this individual, his name was Ornan, to sell him the land so that David could build an altar to God.  Ornan first said that he’d just give him the land and all that was needed out of respect for the king and to be of service.  But David refused saying, “I will not take what belongs to you, and I will not offer a sacrifice to God that costs me nothing.”  

Take notice of that last phrase.  “I will not offer a sacrifice to God that costs me nothing.”   David has recognized that a part of following the ways of God is that there is a cost involved.  It requires something of the person, not just a mindless act or a meaningless gift…no, there is a cost involved.  It costs us something! 

Jesus was getting at the same thing when he told some who were interested in him to leave their families, their work, their certainty and come follow him.  This is why Jesus pointed out the incredible gift of the widow at the temple.  Jesus said most of the offerings given to God at the temple were given out of people’s excess, or in a sense, their pocket change.  However, the widow gave everything she had to offer.  It cost her something…and she knew it.  

I am really struck by David’s words to Ornan. “I will not offer a sacrifice to God that costs me nothing.”  I’m going to be chewing on that simple phrase and what it means for me today.  It would have been so easy for David to take the land and everything he wanted for the sacrifice, but it wouldn’t have cost him anything.  It wouldn’t have been as meaningful to David to make that offering because he really didn’t have any skin in the game, as they say.  

We are a blessed people.  I am very blessed in so many ways.  So often I give out of my excess…it’s easy to do, but does it cost me anything?  Does it cost me anything that I really notice or miss?  In this season of reflection and examining our faith, this is a great question to wrestle with.  Does my/our giving to God cost us anything that would be considered a sacrifice? 

David’s words are a great statement for each of us to consider.  “I will not offer a sacrifice to God that costs me nothing.”  God’s gift of love and forgiveness to us cost God his son.  As we move closer toward the cross in this holy season, may we consider what our giving to God costs us.  What does that kind of giving represent in our lives?  It’s true we can never outgive God, but our giving is something that can be, and like David reflects, it needs to be something that we notice, something that gets our attention.  Yes, in our giving to God…it needs to cost us something that helps us give honor and glory to God.

Pastor Keith

40 Days 02.16.2024

Lent is a season of 40 days, not counting Sundays, in which there is an intentional focus on reflection, repentance, and an openness to the Spirit of God shaping us into the person and servant that God sees us to be.  40 days seems like a familiar number doesn’t it.  Where else do we hear of 40 days in our faith tradition?  

In Genesis 7 when the earth was flooded, it rained for 40 days and 40 nights. Moses spent 40 days and 40 nights on Mt. Horeb in the presence of God receiving the 10 Commandments-Exodus 24.  When the spies went into the Promised Land to check it all out, they gathered information for 40 days-Numbers 13.  In the story of David and Goliath, it was 40 days that Goliath kept coming to the battle line and called out the Israelites to send someone to fight him-1 Samuel 17.  When Elijah was exhausted, overwhelmed and depressed because of a threat from Jezebel, he ate a simple meal and then ran 40 days and 40 nights to the Mountain of God to be in God’s presence-1 Kings 19.  Jonah the prophet, when he finally made it to Nineveh, proclaimed the message, “40 more days and Nineveh will be overthrown.” Jonah 3:4   Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness being tempted by satan. Matthew 4/Mark 1/Luke 4. Jesus appeared to the disciples for 40 days after his resurrection-Acts 1:3.

As you can see, 40 days has a significant place in God’s story.  So, the reason Lent is 40 days is because it is patterned after Jesus’ time in the Wilderness.  Since Jesus’ wilderness experience was spent fasting, praying, and being tested, Lent still today focuses on fasting, praying, testing, and repentance in order for us to draw closer to God.  

Now in our culture and church tradition, Lent is often seen as a very heavy season.  There’s a “Woe is me!” attitude about the season because we tend to focus on our brokenness and sinfulness.  We start out Lent hearing the message, “From dust you have come and to dust you shall return.” Those aren’t light words either. 

But just recently I heard a preacher make a comment about what happened immediately before Jesus’ time in the wilderness and how that might have impacted him during his time of testing.  Just before the wilderness, Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist.  The heavens opened and a voice was heard to say, “This is my beloved son, with you I am well pleased.”  Think of how those words might have encouraged and helped Jesus through the time of testing.  Consider how Jesus might have clung to those words, repeated them to himself when the physical, emotional, and spiritual pressure of testing was getting to him.  “This is my beloved son; with you I am well pleased.” Those are life giving words.  I still remember the words of “blessing” my father gave to me shortly before he died.  Powerful words that still strengthen me when I feel the pressure of life.  

What if this year as we begin this season of Lent that rather than feeling, “Woe is Me!”, that we might remember and cling to the words, “I am a beloved child of God!”  Certainly, repentance is needed in each of our lives to turn back to God.  It is likely we all need to give up or fast from something to draw closer to God.  Yes, we all could probably spend more time in prayer and reading God’s Word to listen for God’s Spirit stirring in our lives.  But maybe we should start this journey from a place of love – God’s love for us, rather than from a place of fearfulness and thinking God is angry with us.  After all, John 3:16 reminds us – “For God so loved the world..”  That’s all of us!!

During this season of Lent, hang on to God’s message of love for you, me, and all of us.  I feel it gives repentance and fasting a new focus when it’s based out of love rather than fear!

Pastor Keith

Serving 02.09.2024

Did you know that the Shrove Tuesday Pancake Feed and Love Feast have something in common?  They do, and it’s more than both dealing with something edible.  Actually, Shrove Tuesday, Love Feast, our One Thing, our Mission Giving, and Meals on Wheels all have something in common!  Plus, you can throw into this mix part of our United Methodist belief about the Sacrament of Baptism.  Now you’re really wondering what on earth all these things have in common.  The answer is one simple word, “Service.”

One of my favorite activities at our church is the annual Shrove Tuesday Pancake Feed.  It’s not just about the pancakes, though I really do like pancakes.  It’s not just about Chris’s Cakes and the fun the pancake flippers have with the guests coming to eat, though that is really fun to watch.  It isn’t just about the smiles and the enjoyment that the people coming to eat seem to be expressing and experiencing.  All of that is a part of what makes Shrove Tuesday a special event.  But what I really like about Shrove Tuesday is watching our church family work and serve together to make the event happen…and to serve the community.

The same is true with Love Feast.  It’s great to see guests come and share in the meal.  It’s great to talk with the guests and hear stories of how their day is going.  It’s great to visit with the different people that come to help prepare and serve the meal.  It’s fun to hear the banter among the drivers and delivery helpers as they get their allotment of meals to take into the community. But what is really great is to see the way people from the community and different churches work together to serve the Mitchell community.  

Even our One Thing and Mission Giving opportunities are a way for us to work and serve together to make a difference in the community.  That’s also what is so great to experience on Sunday mornings.  We all enjoy the sounds of the children in the hallways and classrooms, but I also appreciate the faces and faithfulness of all the adults and youth that arrive before the children to make sure the classrooms are set up, the lessons are prepared, copies made, and the welcoming smiles and hugs are ready when the children show up.  It’s how we as a church family work together to serve one another…and this is where baptism enters the picture.  

You see, the United Methodist understanding of baptism is that we are baptized or born anew “for” something not just “into” something.  Some traditions hold that baptism is about being born into salvation.  And that’s OK…that’s a piece of it.  Some traditions emphasize being born into a new family.  Again, yes that is a piece of our understanding.  But we hold that baptism is about being born anew for service.  This is in part why we generally don’t do private baptisms because every time we celebrate a baptism, it is a reminder to us all that we are baptized into a life and family of service.  After all, this is why Jesus came to this earth, to show a better way to understand God’s love and what it truly means to serve.

There’s a great story in the Bible, it’s found in both Matthew and Mark’s story of Jesus’ life.  Jesus is heading toward Jerusalem to offer the greatest act of service for all humankind.  The disciples are arguing as they travel about who will be the greatest when Jesus establishes his kingdom.  Jesus calls them on it and tells them very pointedly that his kingdom is not about power and authority, his kingdom is about service.  

I’m looking forward to Shrove Tuesday. I’ll have all the pancakes I can eat that day!!  But what will really fill my soul is seeing our church family work and have fun together through serving.  So, if you haven’t been able or won’t be able to help with Shrove Tuesday, that’s OK.  There are so many other opportunities for us to work and serve together.  And just remember, every time we serve here in our church, in the community, or out in the world, we live out the meaning of our baptism and the real presence of God’s Kingdom here on earth.  
Pastor Keith

Season of Reflection 02.02.2024

A part of my morning routine most days consists of doing some morning exercises and running 3 miles.  Of course, my preference is to run outside but in these colder months I run on the treadmill in our basement.   I’ve noticed, while on the treadmill doing my thing, one of our cats almost always walks by and heads into one of the rooms in our basement.  Yes, it’s where the litter box is.  

Then just a bit later the cat comes tearing out of that room and skirts the outer edge of the family room; running behind the entertainment center, in front of the fireplace, under a table, and finally runs upstairs.  My question is always, “Why does she do that every time?”  Of course, maybe our cat is looking at me and thinking, “Why does he run on that thing and not go anywhere?”  Fair question!

The truth is we all have habits and rituals that we have made a part of our lives and part of our faith.  Sometimes we have good reasons for the habits we practice…and sometimes we just do them because we are used to doing them without really thinking about the why or the meaning.  

In just a matter of ten days, our church along with many of the churches of our community, will be celebrating Ash Wednesday, which represents the beginning of the Church Season of Lent.  When Lent is mentioned most often people think of “giving something up” such as coffee, candy, chocolate, soda, social media, etc.  This is supposed to represent our “sacrifice” or “penitence” to go along with Jesus’ time of wrestling with temptation and his “humanness” in the wilderness.  

Maybe this year a better practice would be to make a list of the habits that are present in our lives and then ask the question “Why?”  Why do we do these things?  Is there meaning behind it?  Is it a harmful or unhealthy addiction? Is it just meaningless repetition? Is there purposeful development taking place?  But what is the why??

You see, Lent is intended to be a season of reflection and self-examination for Jesus followers to consider our personal faith growth.  Jesus successfully dealt with some obstacles and temptations during his 40 days in the wilderness that helped prepare him for his public ministry.  For us the 40 days of Lent are about asking God to show us where we need to weed out meaningless habits and replace them with meaningful faith practices intended to help us grow closer to God.

On February 14, 2024, Valentines Day and Ash Wednesday, our church will be holding Ash Wednesday services at 6:30 pm.  I invite you to attend our service to receive the imposition of ashes and to reflect on your faith journey…and your faith habits.  If you attend our service, you will hear the Bible verse Isaiah 51:10, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.”  Good words to hear and reflect on during Lent as we consider our faith habits.  May God’s voice nudge us all to grow deeper in our faith and draw closer to God’s presence through the disciplines of our faith and the habits of our life.

Pastor Keith

Connections 01.26.2024

Every now and then I mention in this Friday Reflection, my own personal bible reading and how it is speaking to me.  Usually, I tell of some story that I’ve read or something that Jesus said that really speaks to me, or something the disciples are wrestling with that I can relate to…because I’m wrestling with a similar issue or reality myself.  There is really so much “good stuff” in the Bible to help us all grow in our faith and reflect on God’s wisdom for our lives.  

However, there are some sections of the Bible that at times I wonder what the point of it is and why it’s included in the scriptures.  It doesn’t seem to have anything important or relevant to say.  I’ve come across such a section in my current reading.  You see, I’m currently reading in the Old Testament book of 1 Chronicles.  Now there are a lot of great stories in 1 and 2 Chronicles.  But the part that I’m reading now, is the first chapters of 1 Chronicles, which contains a listing of people’s names and genealogies.  

So, as I’ve been reading through this section I’ve been wondering, “What is the point? What is there for me to gain in these names? What does God have to say through genealogies?”  As I was pondering these questions, an online resource came to mind.  It’s called “The Bible Project.”  You can google it and go to the website.  It’s a great resource providing videos, articles, and even online classes that give insights and explanations for the books of the Bible.  

The video from the Bible Project on 1 Chronicles talked about the genealogy being a bridge or a connection in God’s great story from Adam all the way to David.  And the end of 2 Chronicles (The 2 books at one point were just considered one book) is pointing forward to the Messiah.  So, the genealogy is showing that God’s plan is at work and being carried out through people in the world.  

But as I’ve thought more about it, I feel there are several other things going on in this and other genealogies given in the Bible.  In part it shows that God works through lots of kinds of people.  Sometimes we have an image in our mind of what we think the kind of people God uses look like, but God’s story is such that God uses all sorts of people…even imperfect people.  

If you follow the family line, I believe the genealogy is also telling us that it isn’t just major stories that God works through, it’s also the small stories, stories that maybe never get recorded or retold, yet God is still at work and those stories are also important and necessary as a part of God’s plan.

Finally, what struck me about this genealogy is that it tells us we are all connected.  A number of years ago my son was very interested in genetics, so he had us all do DNA testing.  Once the testing was done it showed us the hundreds, thousands, even millions of people we were related to – past and present.   Really this is such an important truth, we are all connected.  Just as what the genealogy shows in 1 Chronicles, family members didn’t always see eye to eye or even get along…but they were still connected.  

The same is true in our world today.  We may not always see eye to eye, as they say, with other people in this world.  We may not always get along.  But we are connected.  We are connected as Children of God.  We are connected as people God loves and continues to work through…even yet today.  These days, that is an important truth to hear and remember. God is at work AND we are connected!!!

Pastor Keith

Influences 1.19.2024

What do you do when there is a negative influence in your life?  Do you talk about it? Do you admit and recognize its presence? Do you ignore it and hope it goes away?  Do you come up with a strategy to deal with it?  Do you tell others for support and accountability?? There are so many possibilities!  Yet this is such an important question to ask, especially now at the beginning of a New Year during a time in which people are often striving to make changes in their life.  So again, what do you do when you identify a negative influence in your life??

I found myself pondering this question just a day or two ago because of a chapter that I read in the Bible during my devotion time with God.  I’m currently reading from 2 Kings in the Old Testament.  The book of 2 Kings tells the story of the various kings that served in Israel and Judah.  Some served for many years.  Others served just a short time.  The shortest I’ve found so far is just 3 months.  

What struck me is how one king, Josiah, ruled in Judah.  The simple summation that is given is that he did what was pleasing in the sight of the Lord.  Now for Josiah’s story to make sense you have to understand that the Torah, or the holy scrolls authored by Moses and given by God, had been lost in the temple for many years.  They were covered over and forgotten about.  But during Josiah’s reign, some attention was being given to the Temple and the scrolls were uncovered.  Whether it was the entire Torah or Book of the Law, or just part of it, that was read, we don't know.  But Josiah tore his robes (a sign of deep mourning) because he realized he and the nation had not been following God’s Law.  

Josiah made the commitment that he and the nation would follow the direction of God, but it wasn’t just a commitment of words.  Josiah went about tearing down and destroying all the other altars, shrines, poles, and other emblems and places that pointed to the various other god’s that the people had been worshiping.  In fact, 2 Kings 23 tells that in many cases Josiah tore down the “sacred” objects for the false gods, burned them, ground up what remained turning it into dust, and then sometimes scattered the dust in a cemetery.  This was the ultimate desecration or doing away with a foreign god.  In other words, Josiah was serious about making changes.  

What struck me about this is that some of the other kings also made a commitment to return to God, and sometimes they destroyed a few of the “sacred places.”  But a lot of times they just left the little shrines and idols in place that were scattered around the region.  In fact, the story tells of one king actually saying he and the nation would serve Yahweh (God), but then he also offers a sacrifice at one of the pagan altars still in place.  God was not pleased or amused!  But Josiah took a different approach.  He did everything within his power to get rid of the influence that was pulling the people away from God.  He wasn’t half hearted about it…he was serious and fully committed to getting rid of the negative influences in their lives.  And because of his commitment, effort, and faithfulness, God smiled upon Josiah.  

There’s a great lesson for us all in King Josiah’s actions.  He didn’t ignore the negative influences in their midst.  He acknowledged them and removed them, even to the point of destroying them so they could never be put back in place or have the same level of influence or importance in people’s lives.  Today, as we make changes in our own lives to love and serve God, may we consider the path that Josiah took.  May we be as committed to removing the negative influences from our lives, even to the point of making it impossible for them to be restored.  Sometimes that will mean getting rid of something, and sometimes that will mean bringing in others to offer support, encouragement, and accountability too, or doing both…and more!!

Yes, change and self-growth can be hard, especially when it means giving up something that we’ve become comfortable with in our lives.  But that doesn’t mean it’s healthy or a positive influence in our lives.  As we seek to take positive steps in life and faith, may we remember Josiah; take action, remove the negative influence, bring in outside support, and move forward in a new direction.  I believe God will smile upon each of us too when we show our level of commitment to make positive change as we seek to love God, love our neighbors, and love ourselves.  

Pastor Keith

Epiphany 1.12.2024

About 25 miles from Mitchell is the little community of Epiphany, South Dakota.  I don’t believe Epiphany’s population breaks the 100-person mark these days.  But did you know that years back, in the early 1900s, the town of Epiphany at times had 300-400 guests, not residents…but guests, staying wherever they could find shelter, just to receive treatment at the famous Epiphany Clinic.

The clinic was started by Father William Kroeger who also happened to be a trained physician.  Fr. Kroeger came to South Dakota to get away from the stress and struggles of life (and ministry) that he was experiencing in Ohio and Indiana.  He began serving the parish in Epiphany and soon discovered that Epiphany and the surrounding area had no medical doctor and thus very limited medical care.  Kroeger’s Bishop, Fr. Martin Marty in Sioux Falls, encouraged Fr. Kroeger to not waste his medical knowledge but to put it to good use by caring for the sick and poor in the region.  

That’s exactly what the good Father / Doctor did.  He started treating the people of the community…and they started telling others of their being cured at the hands of Fr. Kroeger, and word began to spread, and spread, and spread.  People began flocking to Epiphany, South Dakota to experience the healing of the miracle worker.

Epiphany is more than just a town; it is also a date and season in the Church year.  Epiphany is always January 6, though in the Church it is often celebrated on the Sunday closest to January 6.  This view of Epiphany focuses on one of two things.  1) The arrival of the Magi/three kings in Bethlehem and finding the “newborn king.” That’s the Western Church tradition.  2) Epiphany focuses on the baptism of Jesus and the voice from heaven declaring, “This is my beloved son, with him I am pleased.”  This is the Eastern Church tradition.

But Epiphany is more than a location, still present here in South Dakota, and it is more than just a date in the church year.  Epiphany is also an encounter…an experience…a moment in time in which something is revealed or made clear.  The word means manifestation or appearance.  

Technically, from a Church Calendar perspective, we are in the season of Epiphanytide, or the Sundays after Epiphany until Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, which this year is on February 14, Valentines Day. Yet, an important realization for each of us to make is that we are to be living in “Epiphany” all year round.  As followers of Jesus and as ones connected to the Church, part of what our faith is about is helping people see, understand, or realize who Jesus is through how we live our lives and live out our faith.  

You see, at Jesus’ baptism, God announced to the world, “This is my Son…”  But the rest of the New Testament is filled with story after story of people making this realization for themselves of who Jesus is.  This usually happens through the person’s encounter with other Christ followers and how they tell or live their unique faith story.  This is why God wants and needs each of us to be telling and living our story and sharing our gifts, because it just might be that through our unique story, or through the use of the gifts that we have, that someone might see or experience Jesus and have their own Epiphany moment.  

So, don’t be surprised if at some point in May, July, or September, or whenever, that I wish you a Happy Epiphany.  No, I’m not losing touch with reality…I’m just taking the time to remind myself and each of us that we are to constantly be an “Epiphany People,” living our lives is such a way that someone might come to see, understand, and realize just who Jesus really is.  I have a feeling that Fr. Kroeger would have said that Jesus is the real healer and miracle worker…it’s just that Jesus gave him special abilities to use to reflect the presence and the power of Christ in the world today.  The same is true for each of us!  Let’s keep on reflecting Jesus in this community and world.  We just might help someone else experience…Epiphany!!

Pastor Keith

PS…Fun trivia fact - Epiphany, South Dakota is the only town in the WORLD named as such…Epiphany!