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

Costumes 10.27.2023

In just a few days my golden retriever, Sophie, will be celebrating her favorite holiday.  Oh yes, Sophie has a favorite holiday…it’s Halloween!!   For Sophie, Halloween isn’t about spooks, candy, costumes or anything like that.  Halloween, from her perspective, is about kids coming to our house to pet her!!!  Yep, Sophie loves Halloween and all the attention she gets.  

Now from my perspective it is always interesting to see all the costumes that come up our driveway.  There’s usually a lot of the favorite superheroes of the day. In recent years there have been a few tall walking dinosaurs that have strolled by our house.  There’s always some ghosts, skeletons, and witches.  There are usually a few zombies, princesses, Elsas, and cowboys.  I’ve seen some pop and rock stars come to our front steps.  There are always a few babies or toddlers dressed as jack-o-lanterns in strollers or pulled in wagons.  There are always police officers, space aliens, and monsters of unknown origin.  It also seems the older I get the more there are costumes or characters that come by, but I have no clue who or what they are.  I wonder how many “Taylor Swifts” I’ll have stopping by to give Sophie a quick pet?  

But speaking of dressing up or putting on costumes, we all tend to do this.  We all get dressed up every day, and I’m not just speaking of the clothing we wear.  Did you know the word “costume” comes from Italian and also Latin.  The older Latin word is “conseuetudinem” which means “custom or habit.”  Isn’t that interesting.  So, you might say that the costumes we put on in life at times represent the customs or the habits that we regularly make a part of our lives.  Give that some thought!  What would you say…what would I say are the customs or habits that I consistently make a part of my life?  That might be an interesting question for each of us to reflect on and maybe even grab a piece of paper and make a list of the costumes that we wear, especially the ones that maybe aren’t so uplifting or helpful to bring about the life we really want.  

In the New Testament letter of Romans, the Apostle Paul is writing to the Christians in Rome.  He’s writing a letter laying out his thoughts and beliefs as it relates to the Gospel, or Good News, of Jesus Christ and what God has done and is doing in the world.  Paul reminds us that as followers of Jesus we are to no longer be a part of the darkness of the world.  He mentions just a few of the more common costumes of darkness in their day; drunkenness, debauchery, quarreling, jealousy, etc.  

What Paul reminds the Christians of his day, and us yet today, to do is to “put on the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Rom 13:14.  Paul expresses what that looks like is putting on love, a non-judging spirit, to not intentionally cause others to stumble in their faith, to be a blessing to others, even to those who do evil to you, to live peacefully with others, etc.  In other words, Paul is saying that “putting on Christ” means putting on the characteristics that Jesus lived out in his life and ministry while he walked the earth.  These are the customs and habits that are intended to mark our lives as followers of Jesus in our world today.  

But putting on Christ isn’t just something we do once a year or just once a week, and then we put away the costume until next year (like a Halloween costume).  No, this is a “costume” that is to truly represent what we are trying to live into more and more or what is something we are seeking to characterize our life now.  So, as we see various costumes roaming our community over the next few days, remember to put on your own “customs or habits” that represent Jesus in our lives today.  And be sure to put on Christ every day!!

On Halloween night, you’re welcome to stop by our home on Sawgrass Avenue to see the happiest dog on earth, plus you’ll see a great Halloween display in the yard across the street from us.  Happy Halloween, everyone!   And don’t forget your costume!!!

Pastor Keith

Your Pictures 10.20.2023

There’s a unique building in our community – in fact, it’s referred to as the “world’s only.”  This building is decorated annually with items, corn, other grains, and grasses, that are produced right here in our area.  Plus, the decorations on the outside and inside of this building form pictures or murals made out of these area “crops.”  Yes, we all know it well.  This building I am referring to is our own world’s only Corn Palace.  

Each year we here in this community get to watch as the transformation takes place with the old murals coming down and the new ones going up.  And again, the pictures are totally designed to be made up of corn and the “other grains and grasses” grown from the area. 

With this in mind, the other day as I was looking at the corn palace the thought came to mind, “What are the pictures that the materials from my life are creating, that others see?”  The truth is, whether we like it or not, our lives are telling a story, just like the murals on the corn palace tell a story.  This past year the corn palace’s theme was “Scenes from the Big Top.”  This year’s theme is “Famous South Dakotans.”  But again, the question to consider is, “What are the pictures that the materials from my life are creating, that others see?”

We maybe don’t always realize it, but our lives do tell a story.  In fact, we each have certain natural talents, we have gifts and abilities, we have spiritual gifts given by God, we have personality traits, we have life experiences, we have intelligence traits, we have strengths, as Jesus followers we have the Fruit of the Spirit, etc.  We have all these things, and so much more, that all goes into creating the pictures or murals about who we are and what is important to us.  And these pictures that are created by what is “produced” in and from our lives; these pictures are available for the rest of the world to see.

Recently I was listening to a sermon on life.  The pastor was speaking about the Fruit of the Spirit.  The preacher made the comment that the Fruit of the Spirit are an overflow of God’s Spirit at work in our lives.  An overflow…I like that.  In fact, I believe that the pictures others see about our lives are indeed an “overflow” of the produce of our lives. 

In Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount found in Matthew 5-7, Jesus makes the comment, “A good tree doesn’t produce bad fruit and a bad tree doesn’t produce good fruit.”  Jesus ends this teaching by saying, “Thus you will know them by their fruits.”  Now of course, we realize Jesus isn’t just talking about fruit trees.  He’s talking about people and the “fruit” of their/our lives.  And again, it is a combination of the overflow or the fruit of our lives that create the pictures that others see.  

From time to time it would probably be a wise thing to ask our friends, our trusted friends, just what the pictures of our lives are that others see?  And when truthful answers are shared, the second question becomes, are these the pictures that I want displayed about who I am?  The neat thing is, just as the murals on the corn palace exterior are changed yearly, so it is that the pictures displayed by of our lives are not permanent.  They too are changeable.  It just takes desire, time, and effort on our part to grow a new crop of the “fruit” we want our life defined by.  Because remember, the pictures of our lives are created by the “corn, other grains, and grasses” from our lives.  

Now, none of us are perfect, thus we don’t live perfect lives.  This means the pictures reflecting our life will never be perfect.  But by continuing to improve the overflow, the produce of our lives, we will be able to create pictures/murals that reflect more and more the Lord and master that we follow.  

I’ve never really considered myself an artist, but maybe I am through the pictures I create through the fruit of my life.  How about you?  What pictures are you creating?  Let’s all commit to creating beautiful images that tell the story of Jesus in our lives.  

Pastor Keith

Consequences 10.13.2023

Consequences.  Rarely do we really think about the consequences of our actions.  Today I live with the consequences of my actions from my days on the farm.  We never thought much about hearing protection when I was growing up on the farm and helping out with the farm work.  All the grinders, choppers, revved up tractor engines, etc.  There was a lot of noise on the farm. I didn’t think about the potential damage it was doing to my inner ears.  Yet today I am dealing with the reality of damaged hearing that has worsened in the last six months.  Thank goodness for the technology that goes into hearing aids.  It helps.  It can’t and won’t restore my hearing to what it used to be, but it is helping me overcome the issues I am currently dealing with.

 Even more rare is the thought about the long-term impact, or the consequences, of our actions affecting generations later on.  Is it really possible that my actions today could impact my children, my grandchildren, my great grandchildren, or even my great great grandchildren? The truth is, in my ministry experiences, I have seen behaviors passed down multiple generations and yes, this impact can be both positive and negative.

Today, once again our world is witnessing the consequences of actions from centuries and generations in the past.  This past Sunday morning many of us woke up to the news that attacks had been carried out by Hamas against Israel.  Yes, Hamas is a Palestinian Militant group that many nations, including the USA, consider a terrorist organization.  Please know that not all Palestinians are represented by or believe in Hamas.  Not all Palestinians are Muslims; some are Christians.  Not all Palestinians can be lumped into one, just as all Israelis cannot be lumped into one, just as all American’s cannot be lumped into one.  

The last time Nancy and I were in the Holy Land we had dinner with a wonderful Palestinian family.  The food was great, and the conversation was filled with hope, love, laughter, and friendship.  In fact, one of my treasured pieces from that trip is a chalice (made from wood) with the scene of the “Last Supper” carved in it.  

So, the consequences that I am thinking of today goes back to Genesis 16 in which Abram is promised to have descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky…by his wife, Sarai, who is unable to have children.  Yet, God has made the promise to Abram about his future and his extended family.  Sarai takes matters into her own hands and takes her Egyptian servant and tells Abram to have children with her.  The thought is the child will be Sarai’s because Hagar is Sarai’s servant.  Abram unfortunately says yes to this arrangement.  Hagar does bear a child, but then Sarai despises the child, Ishmael, and treats Hagar and the child with contempt and abuse.  Then Sarai becomes pregnant. By this time God has renamed her Sarah, and she gives birth to Isaac. 

Long story short and simplifying things a bit, Ishmael and Isaac live very different lives and in constant tension.  From Isaac comes the nation of Israel and from Ishmael comes the people we today refer to as Palestinians.  And the consequences, tension, and even hatred that started so long ago is still being lived out today.  My heart breaks…lives are lost on both sides…and the circle of meaningless violence continues on.  

Today may our prayers and our actions be for that of peace in our world.  In great part, God’s Kingdom is about peace; the lion and the lamb lying down together.  Isaiah 11 and 65 both speak of this image as a part of God’s new creation, God’s new order, and God’s Kingdom made real.  May the consequences of our actions, short term and long term be about bringing God’s peace here on earth.  As the song says, “Let there be peace on earth…and let it begin with me.”

Pastor Keith

Changes 10.06.2023

It came in the mail a few weeks ago.  It’s easy to spot…but also easy to ignore.  It’s the bright orange postcard that comes from a local business telling me that they’ll be in our neighborhood on a certain date blowing out sprinkler systems in preparation for winter, and they want to know if they should schedule us in on that day. It’s easy to spot because of the color…but it is easy to ignore because when it arrives it seems like we’ve got so much of summer and fall to get through before winter really arrives.  

However, as I write this reflection, I am aware that we, here in Mitchell, are under a Freeze Watch for Saturday morning.  This is the first potential frost or sub-32-degree temperatures of this season.  And yes, I did get my name on the list to have the in-ground sprinkler lines at our home blown out in preparation for winter.  

That orange card got me thinking about what needs to be done In the midst of the changes taking place and as colder weather approaches.  Are there other tasks that need to be completed?  What preparations need to happen now to be ready when the snow flies?  I’ve started my list.

There are some other orange cards that I’ve been receiving lately too.  These “attention” cards aren’t coming in the mail, but are orange cards, or attention grabbers, that are coming from different realms of the world, but are still telling me changes are taking place and am I or are we prepared, or at least preparing, for what is happening all around us? 

One of those orange cards is a newly released book entitled, “The Great De-Churching of America.” A study done over several years is showing that we are in the midst of a great shift, faith wise, in America.  After WWII, there was a great shift of the American population to attending and involvement in church.  We are now in another great shift in America that is church related, but it is not a positive shift.  It is a negative shift of people leaving church and organized religion.  

Another orange card is the fact that volunteerism in America is way down.  This is a reality and a problem in many clubs, non-profit organizations, and even the church.  This is a critical issue in ours and most churches in America today.  It is challenging to get people to volunteer to be a part of the ministries of the church.  

Yet another attention grabber is the fact that we are living in a time of great Biblical illiteracy.  Even a question like, “What are the two sections that make up the Bible?” The answer is not readily known. Of course, this all makes sense when you realize that the predictions of the past several years are coming true in that America is following in the footsteps of Europe and Canada, and entering into what is known as a Post-Christian, or even Pre-Christian, era.  (I’ll write/talk more about this another time.)

What I, and I believe all of us are realizing, is that things in our world…and even things in the church are changing.  And the question becomes are we aware?  Are we preparing?  How will following Jesus look different in the days and years ahead?  I am reminded of Paul’s words to the church in Rome when they were in the midst of persecution and great societal change.  Paul wrote, “Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of the mind, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

May the “orange cards” of our day help us be prepared as individuals and as a faith community to consider what transforming work God is up to in our midst. I do believe God is wanting to “renew” our mind in order to make God’s Kingdom more real today, tomorrow, and in the years to come. These are days filled with great possibility and opportunity!

Pastor Keith