The Road Less Traveled

Pastor Issues Challenge to Congregation

In my sermon on Sunday, Nov. 30th, I challenged the married couples in our congregation (Our Savior Lutheran Church, Lansing ,MI) to pray together, out loud with and for one another everyday for a week starting Sunday, Dec. 7th. Nothing truly earth shattering or news worthy, but I do believe that Jesus will bless these marriages. Many times in Scripture, Jesus tells of the importance of prayer, specifically this day in our Gospel reading from Mark 13.

 As a pastor, the importance of prayer in marriage, especially healthy marriages, is key. Speaking with other brothers in the ministry, spouses who pray together seem to be few and far between. I have no doubt that when husband and wife spend time together praying with and for one another, they will be blessed.

Prayer is a vital part of our Christian walk. How much more important is this to one of the greatest institutions created by God,marriage. I have even encouraged children to "bug" their parents as not only a way for children to encourage their parents, but also that through their example, the parents might demonstrate to their children the importance of prayer.

Please share your thoughts and experiences in the comment section so that others might grow through the shared experience.

THE CHALLENGE BEGINS SUNDAY DEC. 7. Join us and strengthen your marriage.

Baby Erik Sees and Feels Snow for First Time

You should have seen the look on his face this morning. He just sat there in my arms staring into space watching and wondering. If I only knew what his little brain was thinking at almost 10 months now as the snow fell around him and on his face, "What in the world are these white things that are cold? The sky is falling!!" If we could all have that wonder, and fear, of God's creation again. I love watching life through the eyes of my children; 10 months and 10 years.

  Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts.
Psalm 105:2

Food Bank - Going Strong in Tough Times

I spent some time at the Our Savior Lutheran Church Food Bank this last week to see how I could help. I try to get over there every couple of weeks and spend some time helping out. What I found there today was certainly a great blessing. There were more workers in the Food Bank than there has been in years! Some new faces and some that have been there a while.

Johnny, pictured left, celebrated her 89th birthday on the day I visited. Wonderful woman and dear child of God, she grew up with 15 brothers and sisters in Arkansas where her father was a "preacher man." She comes to help out regularly.

There are other great "characters" that work together for the people in Ingham County.Michigan who need the basic necessities of life. All of these people, working in the back, putting packages together and many other things they do, help to share the love of God with people in desperate need of some sort of hope. Some people have special needs, some have disabilities, some with mental hardships, and some with many children but no jobs. Sharon Miller, the leader of this caring team, said this is the busiest that she has seen it in years. Last week there were so many donations from the community, that the local Red Cross Food Bank truck that delivers food, had to be canceled because there was no more room to put all the food! PRAISE GOD!

May we all continue to pray not only for this necessary ministry, but for the people that are without these basic needs of life. Our congregation has moved it's church and school facilities to the Grand Ledge area, but the heart of much of the people still lies with those in the south Lansing area and we pray that God will continue to bless this vital ministry.

Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these
brothers of mine, you did for me." 
Matthew 25:40

Baptism and blessing - Young and Old

November 9, 2008. A day to remember as two more of God's children were welcomed into His family, a birth of water and spirit. Little Matthew (pictured here) was baptized along with another brother who is a grown man. What a wonderful gift it is as pastor to baptize. To just be a part of this wonderful gift of water and the spirit, is a joy that a pastor truly lives for. (If you were in that late service, you probably heard this in my voice during the prayer...Those there know what I mean. Sometimes it is hard to contain the joy and it chokes us up a little.)

Yes, life goes on, the news reports, people go to the grocery store, football games and tailgates were getting under way, people raking leaves, but for this moment God's spirit rested upon the very heart, soul and life of these two men, one young and one older. Time didn't stand still,it didn't make the headlines, and no one made a great discovery, but for a short moment we caught a glimpse of what awaits those who believe and baptized in Jesus Christ as the Gospel of Mark says. These small moments are treasured, for they are unfortunately to few and far between. May God continue to grant us this glimpse into the joy set before us more often and may we continue to cling to the promise we have in our baptism.

Welcome to the family Matthew and Lewis.

  We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.  If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection.
Romans 6:4-5

Funeral Service - Service of Victory

I just got back from a meal following a funeral service and internment of a dear sister in Christ. What a beautiful day! Yes it is sunny. Yes, it is 60 degrees. But that is not what I am talking about. It was a beautiful day because at that service we celebrated the victory that was won for Marsha by her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, through His death and His resurrection. The comment that I kept hearing from many family and friends was, "I do not know how people who don't have the hope that we have make it?"

Yes, there were tears, a sister, a mom, a grandmother, and even a daughter was buried. Death is not natural. It was never part of the perfect plan. But these people, pastors included, did not mourn as those without hope. As God's Word was spoken, as His Word preached in all the boldness of the Law and Gospel by Pastor Maier, as the music of the contemporary band, yes I said band, filled the sanctuary, the Spirit of the Lord moved in that place. Marsha wanted a victory service. She wanted people to know of the joy she would be experiencing and she wanted everyone to know how to have the joy she now enjoys. And that the only way to attain that joy is through Jesus Christ; the way, the truth and the life.

If you do not know of this joy, of this hope, of this life, that these people in this service on this day heard, just open His book, the Bible, and let God speak to you and then speak to Him. May you come to know the joy that these people had today each and everyday of your life. Click here to learn of this Savior come to love you, who won the victory for you, now and forever. AMEN.

  "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.  But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:55-57

Young and Old, Members of God's Family, Come Together

Recently on one of my shut-in visits, I took my son, Erik, with me to visit with some dear friends, Paul and Elsa. I am not sure who had more fun, the 9 month old, or the 90 year olds! Paul and Elsa are dear people of God who have dedicated their lives to God and to His church. It pains them that they are not able to come to God's House anymore. So I thought I would bring one of the smallest members of the church, their family, to visit with them.(How interesting it often is that those who so long to come to church can't, and those who can often don't or take it for granted.)

Here you see Paul and Erik playing together. I truly believe that this is what the church is, the very young, together with the older, and those in between, sharing a bond in Christ, through their baptism, that will stand for all time. I plan on sharing this picture with Erik as he gets older and may even put it in a frame for him so that he might also remember the importance of the entire body of Christ, the family of God and that one day, long after Paul and Elsa are gone, they will play together again. We need to remember, pray for, thank God and even visit our home bound family members.

Since this visit and picture, Paul and Elsa had to move out of only their second home in their lifetime, to an assisted living facility. Please keep them in your prayers as they make a new adjustment to their life.

 "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the
heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ."
Ephesians 1:3