So it has been awhile since my last post. I apologize for that, but I haven't really felt like posting anything until now. The last week has been draining for me and for my family. There has been a lot to process over the last week. As you know from my last post, my Uncle Kenny passed away on June 22nd. This resulted in having an unplanned flight home for a week. I had not planned on being home for another two months. Obviously, things didn't work out that way.
There are a lot of things to talk about, but I'll only be focusing on a couple of them. I should probably start off by telling you about my unexpected week at home. To be quite honest, I didn't want to be home, not for this reason. Now don't get me wrong, the vast majority of my trips home are enjoyable. It is always good to see family and worship at the little church that gave me a foundation for faith in Christ. This was different though. My return home was not a happy occasion. Instead I had come to be with my family as we buried my Uncle.
I got home on Friday night. The arrangements had already been made, so I didn't have to participate in that at all. On Sunday, I went to church. It was good to be back among them and to have familiarity in a time of mourning. This is the congregation that had nurtured me since I was a young child. It was where I was baptized, where I went to Sunday School, where I had Youth Group, where I first learned of grace. So it was a comfort to worship with them on a Sunday morning. They are like family to me. That afternoon, my family, along with some of Uncle Kenny's friends, sat with Pastor Phil and told stories about him. That evening, my dad went to play cards and my mom, sister, and I went to get ice cream. That was when it hit me. I realized that my uncle was gone. So as I was eating my ice cream, I was overcome with sadness and I was tired. If I was someone that cried, I would have been crying then. I am not someone who cries though. I can barely remember the last time that I cried. Instead, I become quiet and retreat to my own little world. That is how I mourn. I don't know if that is a healthy way of going about things, but it's how I do that. I suppose that part of that has to do with the fact that I'm a fairly private person.
I can say though, that it was good to be with family. They make me a better person. The week that I was home reminded me just how much God has blessed me with them. This past week, I spent a lot of time with them. I heard stories that I had not heard before. My dad and I got to talk more than we usually do. Living apart from family often means that we don't talk as much as we should. Yet nothing can break the bonds that tie us to our families. Nor should those ties ever be broken. Family is not easy to live with at times. Yet when the chips are down for us, I firmly believe that there is nothing better than to have family by your side.
Tuesday evening was the visitation. We had it up in Sheridan because my dad knows the funeral director there. We didn't really know how many people would show up. It was absolutely packed from the time it started until about fifteen minutes before it was supposed to end. I met relatives that I didn't even know I had. Apparently, my Grandpa Rogers was one of fourteen. The only siblings left are my great Uncle Sock and great Aunt Suk (nicknames, I have no clue what their real names are). My Uncle also had a lot of friends. He was never married and didn't have any kids, but his life was full of good friends. One of his friends had been his friend since Kindergarten. Fifty years of friendship. Wow. Just wow. Who does that anymore? Very few of us do.
On Wednesday, we had the funeral. There had to have been 150 people there, friends and family. The pall bearers dressed in Michigan shirts, because Uncle Kenny was a huge Michigan fan. He puts me to shame. Personally, I think that can take a lot to do. We had some music played and Pastor Phil gave a good funeral sermon. He talked about Uncle Kenny's bluntness, how he took pride in the work that he did, and his loyalty to those whom he loved and cared about. For someone who didn't know Uncle Kenny personally, it was a really good sermon. I appreciated it. It's not easy to do that. Preach at a funeral where you don't know the person. I'm sure that in the future, I will be in Pastor Phil's shoes as well.
On Friday, I flew back to Baldwin. My dad dropped me off at the airport in Grand Rapids at about eight in the morning. My flight was at 10:00, so I figured that I wouldn't have long to wait and I wanted to make sure that I got through security with plenty of time to spare. I didn't need to worry about that. The plane was stuck in Minneapolis due to a mechanical problem. I actually didn't get into Minneapolis until about 1:30 pm CT. Yep, that was an exercise in patience. But I got back to Baldwin safe and sound. So now I'm here for another seven weeks or so and then I will be returning to Sheridan and back to Holland for another year at WTS.
Without looking ahead and forgetting to enjoy the present, I find that I'm looking forward to being back at Western for one more year. You see, there are some things that I have come to love about Western. It's certainly not a perfect place, but I love the people there. For the first time in my life, I have an extensive network of friends. I've never really had that before. In high school, I had a couple fairly good friends, but only ever really did things outside of school with one of them. If it weren't for youth group, I would have gone crazy. In college, I had three close friends. I had other friends as well, but only three who were really close that I actually stay in touch with. Funny thing is, two of them will be clergymen, one Roman Catholic, the other Anglican. The other one is at grad school for chemistry.
Seminary has been a different experience. I use the term "network" because that's what it is. There are several different groups of people at the seminary that contain close friends of mine. There are a couple buddies that I can ring their door bell and stop in for a chat just about any time I want. Hopefully not to the consternation of their wives. They both graduated this past May and won't be there next year, but the last two bachelors that I'm really close to just got married and I'm going to be stopping by their apartments next year I'm sure. I'll have to make friends with other bachelors though. Then there's my teaching church, where the youth group is and its many leaders. These people have blessed me in many ways. Ecclesiastes 4 tells us that "though one might prevail against another, two will withstand one. A threefold cord is not quickly broken." Like my uncle did, I have a richer life because of my friends. I doubt that I would have made it so far in seminary if I hadn't had them. I am truly stronger because of the friends and family that God has given me. I am truly blessed.
Well, I said that it had been awhile. I also said that I would only talk about a couple things and I think I ended up writing a novel. So we'll have to save the rest for another time. I hope this post finds you well. May God be gracious to each of you.
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Friday, June 22, 2012
Back in Michigan
When I woke up this morning, I had no idea that I would be going to bed tonight in Sheridan. Yet here I am, I have found myself back in Michigan for a week. I don't want to be here under these circumstances. My Uncle Kenny passed away today. So now I am back here to be with my family for a week.
I woke up this morning and went downstairs, neglecting to take my cell phone with me as I often do. I ate my breakfast, checked a couple things on my computer and relaxed for a little while before I went back upstairs and showered. I checked my cell phone then. I had five missed calls, three from my mom. I knew immediately that something was wrong. When I called back, my mom said that Uncle Kenny would probably not make it through the day. So I went with Pastor Tim to the office on our day off. We bought a ticket home on an early evening flight from Minneapolis to Grand Rapids. My afternoon consisted of getting ready to come home. This included getting rid of perishable food items and canceling dinner with the family I was supposed to eat with that night. Then I was dropped off at the airport and caught my flight. I got back and my mom and one of her friends were there to meet me at the gate. So now I'm home.
The funeral arrangements have been made and it'll be on Wednesday. So now its just a waiting game and next week will be a long week. Right now, I'm pretty tired. My family though is exhausted, for it's been an even longer day for them. This is especially so for my dad. He spent the night at the nursing home with my uncle last night and didn't really get much sleep. It's got to be extremely hard on him to lose his brother. I ask you to pray for my family in the weeks and months ahead. Do this especially for my dad.
Pray for comfort in this time of loss. Thank you my friends. May the Lord bless you and keep you.
I woke up this morning and went downstairs, neglecting to take my cell phone with me as I often do. I ate my breakfast, checked a couple things on my computer and relaxed for a little while before I went back upstairs and showered. I checked my cell phone then. I had five missed calls, three from my mom. I knew immediately that something was wrong. When I called back, my mom said that Uncle Kenny would probably not make it through the day. So I went with Pastor Tim to the office on our day off. We bought a ticket home on an early evening flight from Minneapolis to Grand Rapids. My afternoon consisted of getting ready to come home. This included getting rid of perishable food items and canceling dinner with the family I was supposed to eat with that night. Then I was dropped off at the airport and caught my flight. I got back and my mom and one of her friends were there to meet me at the gate. So now I'm home.
The funeral arrangements have been made and it'll be on Wednesday. So now its just a waiting game and next week will be a long week. Right now, I'm pretty tired. My family though is exhausted, for it's been an even longer day for them. This is especially so for my dad. He spent the night at the nursing home with my uncle last night and didn't really get much sleep. It's got to be extremely hard on him to lose his brother. I ask you to pray for my family in the weeks and months ahead. Do this especially for my dad.
Pray for comfort in this time of loss. Thank you my friends. May the Lord bless you and keep you.
Monday, June 18, 2012
Preaching and other things
Yesterday was my second Sunday here in Baldwin. It was also my first time preaching before the people here. So here it is, I preach to a congregation that I know very little about. I don't actually know the atmosphere that I'm stepping out into. Is the air toxic? Or is it more pristine than a mountain breeze? So there were many unknowns yesterday morning. I believe that I did pretty well. There was a little concern heading into yesterday because it was a new congregation. I think that it will be like that wherever I go. This will especially be the case when I come to a new call. There will not be any such thing as easing into the position. I will have to dive right on in.
I was also trying something new myself, figuring that it would be okay in this setting if I fell flat on my face. I'm the intern after all. I have always been a manuscript preacher. I have always wrote out my sermons and stuck to the script. Part of this comes from how preaching class was set up for us our junior year of seminary. Part of that comes from my own worries and anxieties when it comes to forgetting stuff and freezing up there in the pulpit. In many ways, a manuscript was my security blanket. The problem with this is, that if you stick to your script, you end up just reading your sermon to a congregation. A sermon should be something a bit more interactive than that. Also, you are saying that your word is the final word on a passage. You're not leaving any room for the Spirit to speak. Thing is, when you step into that pulpit and deliver the message, it's not supposed to be you that's speaking, rather it is God speaking through you to the people. I'm just a mouthpiece.
So what did I do that was different? I did not bother to write out a manuscript. Instead, I wrote an outline. I wrote it down on small sheets of paper and taped it inside the bible that I was using. This allowed me to do something else, I also did not use a pulpit. There was nothing in front of me. It was me preaching to the congregation, consulting my notes a bit, and doing my best to let the Spirit take care of it and trusting that the words I spoke were what the people needed to hear. It was certainly a liberating experience. After yesterday, I feel much more confident when it comes to the act of preaching. I also found that it added more flexibility to changing things in preparation. When you write a manuscript, you are loathe to make any great changes later in the week as Sunday looms closer. With an outline, you are better able to do this as I swapped one illustration for another in my final run through on Saturday night. I just felt it fit better, so I went ahead and switched it out. Something I may not have done with a manuscript.
So preaching went well. How have things been going overall though? They haven't been too bad. I've been here two weeks already, so time has certainly flown by. Yesterday afternoon was a little hard though. It was Fathers' Day. I didn't get to celebrate it with my dad. That makes two Fathers' Days in a row now where I haven't been with the family. Last year, I was in Iowa. This year, I'm in Wisconsin. I'm not sure how important Fathers' Day really is to my dad. Yet it is certainly good to recognize that he is a good father. You see, I have truly been blessed in my life to have a dad who is involved in my life. I remember as a little kid in little league, how he was my coach every year from t-ball up to majors. I remember that he would always come to my sporting events and whatever else I was in. He was willing to clear other things out of the way and support me. Even on those cold and rainy nights in the fall as I stood on the sidelines in football to possibly get my garbage time in high school. It is deeper than that though. My dad also taught me a lot of things that I hope make me a good man. He taught me to accept responsibility for your actions. If you screw up, own up to it. Be honest and upfront in how you deal with others. Be modest and don't let praise go to your head. I could say other things as well. But I know that he'll read this or my mom will read it to him. So I don't want to embarrass him too much. Now my dad is not perfect, we've had our disagreements over the years. Yet, I have truly been blessed to have Jim Rogers as a father.
Now that I have probably thoroughly embarrassed my dad. He's not someone who likes to hear his praises sung. Hmm, wonder where I get that from? There are other reasons why I miss the family. They've been going through a bit of a rough patch the last few months. As many of you know, my uncle has not been well. Naturally, this creates a lot of uncertainty and anxiety for me. Yet here in Wisconsin, I'm a bit more removed from the situation. My family has to live in it every day. Part of me does wish I could at least be closer. I also don't know if any of the kids from youth group at Second Reformed are reading this, but I also miss them as well. They're a funny (and fun) group of kids. During the school year, the most enjoyable parts of the week are often the Wednesday activities and Sunday night youth group.
Having said that though, I know that I'm where I'm supposed to be right now. The last couple weeks have been good ones for me. Yesterday morning was a rewarding experience. Indeed, I am more excited for when I arrive at that first call, hopefully next summer. The people here have been friendly and welcoming. They try not to mistake me for Matt, but it occasionally slips out. Matt, if you're reading this, I think they really liked you last summer. The older ladies of the church like me. That seems to be a trend wherever I go. Starting in July, I'll be preaching much more frequently. It'll be good to get into that routine. I'm preaching from Romans, so this week will be a lot of preparation for that. So there is a lot to look forward to this summer. I told the congregation yesterday that I know that I'm here in Baldwin for a reason. God has something to teach me this summer. As the weeks go by, I'll learn more and more. I hope that as you read this post that you are doing well. God bless you and keep you. I'll try to write some more on Thursday.
I was also trying something new myself, figuring that it would be okay in this setting if I fell flat on my face. I'm the intern after all. I have always been a manuscript preacher. I have always wrote out my sermons and stuck to the script. Part of this comes from how preaching class was set up for us our junior year of seminary. Part of that comes from my own worries and anxieties when it comes to forgetting stuff and freezing up there in the pulpit. In many ways, a manuscript was my security blanket. The problem with this is, that if you stick to your script, you end up just reading your sermon to a congregation. A sermon should be something a bit more interactive than that. Also, you are saying that your word is the final word on a passage. You're not leaving any room for the Spirit to speak. Thing is, when you step into that pulpit and deliver the message, it's not supposed to be you that's speaking, rather it is God speaking through you to the people. I'm just a mouthpiece.
So what did I do that was different? I did not bother to write out a manuscript. Instead, I wrote an outline. I wrote it down on small sheets of paper and taped it inside the bible that I was using. This allowed me to do something else, I also did not use a pulpit. There was nothing in front of me. It was me preaching to the congregation, consulting my notes a bit, and doing my best to let the Spirit take care of it and trusting that the words I spoke were what the people needed to hear. It was certainly a liberating experience. After yesterday, I feel much more confident when it comes to the act of preaching. I also found that it added more flexibility to changing things in preparation. When you write a manuscript, you are loathe to make any great changes later in the week as Sunday looms closer. With an outline, you are better able to do this as I swapped one illustration for another in my final run through on Saturday night. I just felt it fit better, so I went ahead and switched it out. Something I may not have done with a manuscript.
So preaching went well. How have things been going overall though? They haven't been too bad. I've been here two weeks already, so time has certainly flown by. Yesterday afternoon was a little hard though. It was Fathers' Day. I didn't get to celebrate it with my dad. That makes two Fathers' Days in a row now where I haven't been with the family. Last year, I was in Iowa. This year, I'm in Wisconsin. I'm not sure how important Fathers' Day really is to my dad. Yet it is certainly good to recognize that he is a good father. You see, I have truly been blessed in my life to have a dad who is involved in my life. I remember as a little kid in little league, how he was my coach every year from t-ball up to majors. I remember that he would always come to my sporting events and whatever else I was in. He was willing to clear other things out of the way and support me. Even on those cold and rainy nights in the fall as I stood on the sidelines in football to possibly get my garbage time in high school. It is deeper than that though. My dad also taught me a lot of things that I hope make me a good man. He taught me to accept responsibility for your actions. If you screw up, own up to it. Be honest and upfront in how you deal with others. Be modest and don't let praise go to your head. I could say other things as well. But I know that he'll read this or my mom will read it to him. So I don't want to embarrass him too much. Now my dad is not perfect, we've had our disagreements over the years. Yet, I have truly been blessed to have Jim Rogers as a father.
Now that I have probably thoroughly embarrassed my dad. He's not someone who likes to hear his praises sung. Hmm, wonder where I get that from? There are other reasons why I miss the family. They've been going through a bit of a rough patch the last few months. As many of you know, my uncle has not been well. Naturally, this creates a lot of uncertainty and anxiety for me. Yet here in Wisconsin, I'm a bit more removed from the situation. My family has to live in it every day. Part of me does wish I could at least be closer. I also don't know if any of the kids from youth group at Second Reformed are reading this, but I also miss them as well. They're a funny (and fun) group of kids. During the school year, the most enjoyable parts of the week are often the Wednesday activities and Sunday night youth group.
Having said that though, I know that I'm where I'm supposed to be right now. The last couple weeks have been good ones for me. Yesterday morning was a rewarding experience. Indeed, I am more excited for when I arrive at that first call, hopefully next summer. The people here have been friendly and welcoming. They try not to mistake me for Matt, but it occasionally slips out. Matt, if you're reading this, I think they really liked you last summer. The older ladies of the church like me. That seems to be a trend wherever I go. Starting in July, I'll be preaching much more frequently. It'll be good to get into that routine. I'm preaching from Romans, so this week will be a lot of preparation for that. So there is a lot to look forward to this summer. I told the congregation yesterday that I know that I'm here in Baldwin for a reason. God has something to teach me this summer. As the weeks go by, I'll learn more and more. I hope that as you read this post that you are doing well. God bless you and keep you. I'll try to write some more on Thursday.
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Thoughts on Gamaliel and other things
I'm preaching this Sunday. Preaching to a congregation that I don't yet really know. Actually, come August, I still won't know who they are. I have found that ten weeks gives you very little time to develop relationships with the people you are working with and serving. I do remember it being said in Counsel and Care that five years even, is not enough time to get to know the congregation. I'm told that the most effective time for ministry for most pastors is year seven to ten at a parish. Given that, it's little wonder that these summer internships make me feel as if I'm a peace corps volunteer being parachuted into a remote village, only to be withdrawn soon after. Like I said, building trust and relationships takes time. It is one of the many reasons why I hope to not move around much as a pastor. I would love to be able to stay at least ten years at each church I serve. So, if I remain a pastor my whole adult life, I'm looking at serving in maybe three or four churches. That's the plan that I have.
The passage from scripture that I'm preaching on this Sunday could have something to say concerning that plan. I'm preaching from Acts 5:27-42. It is a story about how the Apostles were dragged before the Sanhedrin, the ruling council of the Jews. Now the reason for this is simple. For the Jewish leaders, the Apostles were preaching a teaching that was heretical, that Jesus was the messiah. Now this can't be the case, since "cursed is the one who hangs on the tree (Deuteronomy 21:23)." So this teaching was quite threatening and it had to be stopped. There is also a political dimension as well. The people of first century Judea were under occupation by the Romans. At the first sign of trouble, Caesar's Legions would march forth and crush anyone the got in their way and some of those who didn't. The Sanhedrin was afraid that this new teaching would stir up trouble. If the Romans marched in, the Sanhedrin was also afraid that it would lose the political power that it held. So they had resolved to kill the Apostles for heresy and to appease the Roman desire for order.
Then we get Gamaliel, a more moderate member of the Sanhedrin who says something quite odd. He tells them to leave the Apostles alone. He says that if what they are doing is something that they have contrived on their own, then it will fail, much like the many other false messiahs that have come along through the years. However, if what they are doing is something that is from God, then the Sanhedrin will not only be unable to stop them, they'll be opposing God. So the Apostles are flogged and told to stop preaching and stay out of trouble. We know the rest of the story, they couldn't keep themselves out of trouble. Indeed, a couple chapters later, we'll see the account of the first Christian martyr, Stephen.
But who is Gamaliel? Well Acts tells us that Gamaliel was a highly respected teacher of the Law. Later in Acts, Paul testifies that he studied at the feet of Gamaliel (Acts 22:3). There are some who believe that Gamaliel was secretly a follower of Christ, like Nicodemus, keeping his faith secret so that he might aid the Apostles. The account given to us by Acts could lead one to believe that this might possibly be the case. I tend to stand with those who are more pragmatic. I believe that Gamaliel said this in order to marginalize the Apostles. He basically told the Sanhedrin to ignore them and let this run its course. Then Jesus and his followers would go the way of Judas the Galilean and Theudas. Gamaliel was merely being practical here. For him, I believe that it was a political trick. I don't know about whether or not he eventually was baptized into the way of Christ. I hope that later on he was. Scripture doesn't tell us though.
Gamaliel was attempting to marginalize the message of Jesus here. I have no doubt about that. Yet he said something that was very profound. Acts 5:38-39 says that if we are doing things on our own, we are bound to fail. However, if what we are doing is from God, then there is nothing that can stop us. Let's first make sure though that we are listening to what God has to say, lest we go the way of Judas the Galilean or Theudas. Gamaliel said something quite wise here. Indeed, subsequent testimony from Acts shows that it is quite hard to oppose what God is doing in the world.
It is also quite hard to oppose what God is doing in our own lives as well. It was not my plan to come to Baldwin. It was actually Plan C for this summer. I had been planning on going to a church in South Dakota or working for building and grounds at Western. Both of those plans fell through on the same day back in March. This chance came up and I put in an inquiry. It worked out for me and I have ended up here. I take it that God had other ideas. There is little doubt in my mind that God has me here for a reason. One of the things that I have been asking God concerning this summer is, "what do you have to teach me this summer Lord?" There is something that the people here in Baldwin can teach me about this thing called ministry. Now later this summer, I may have a chance to reflect on that and I may end up deciding that this was the worst summer ever and that I wish I had never come here. More likely though, should I listen, I will be able to reflect on what I've learned and appreciate the people here. Either outcome though, I think, will be a reflection of what God has planned to teach me. I have a feeling that this is a summer with great potential, more so than if I were still in Holland. For there, I would only be doing pulpit supply at this point. I'm not sure how much I would be able to learn from that. I suppose my preaching would improve. Yet it is better to learn how to preach while living among the people you are preaching to. Pulpit supply doesn't always give us that opportunity.
Remember my first paragraph? About how I said that I plan on staying at least ten years in any one place and serving maybe three or four churches in my lifetime? That plan will fail if it is not what God has in store. If I stick to my plan, I will be miserable in the end. So it is imperative that I take the time to listen for what God has to say. This is done through careful study and prayer, in solitude and with others, letting the scripture master me rather than I mastering the scripture. The coming summer will be interesting. The coming years even more so. I hope that this post finds you well. I have been doing well here in Baldwin. Pray for me as I preach this coming Sunday morning. That the words of my mouth and meditations of my heart be found pleasing in the sight of Jesus. May each of you be blessed.
The passage from scripture that I'm preaching on this Sunday could have something to say concerning that plan. I'm preaching from Acts 5:27-42. It is a story about how the Apostles were dragged before the Sanhedrin, the ruling council of the Jews. Now the reason for this is simple. For the Jewish leaders, the Apostles were preaching a teaching that was heretical, that Jesus was the messiah. Now this can't be the case, since "cursed is the one who hangs on the tree (Deuteronomy 21:23)." So this teaching was quite threatening and it had to be stopped. There is also a political dimension as well. The people of first century Judea were under occupation by the Romans. At the first sign of trouble, Caesar's Legions would march forth and crush anyone the got in their way and some of those who didn't. The Sanhedrin was afraid that this new teaching would stir up trouble. If the Romans marched in, the Sanhedrin was also afraid that it would lose the political power that it held. So they had resolved to kill the Apostles for heresy and to appease the Roman desire for order.
Then we get Gamaliel, a more moderate member of the Sanhedrin who says something quite odd. He tells them to leave the Apostles alone. He says that if what they are doing is something that they have contrived on their own, then it will fail, much like the many other false messiahs that have come along through the years. However, if what they are doing is something that is from God, then the Sanhedrin will not only be unable to stop them, they'll be opposing God. So the Apostles are flogged and told to stop preaching and stay out of trouble. We know the rest of the story, they couldn't keep themselves out of trouble. Indeed, a couple chapters later, we'll see the account of the first Christian martyr, Stephen.
But who is Gamaliel? Well Acts tells us that Gamaliel was a highly respected teacher of the Law. Later in Acts, Paul testifies that he studied at the feet of Gamaliel (Acts 22:3). There are some who believe that Gamaliel was secretly a follower of Christ, like Nicodemus, keeping his faith secret so that he might aid the Apostles. The account given to us by Acts could lead one to believe that this might possibly be the case. I tend to stand with those who are more pragmatic. I believe that Gamaliel said this in order to marginalize the Apostles. He basically told the Sanhedrin to ignore them and let this run its course. Then Jesus and his followers would go the way of Judas the Galilean and Theudas. Gamaliel was merely being practical here. For him, I believe that it was a political trick. I don't know about whether or not he eventually was baptized into the way of Christ. I hope that later on he was. Scripture doesn't tell us though.
Gamaliel was attempting to marginalize the message of Jesus here. I have no doubt about that. Yet he said something that was very profound. Acts 5:38-39 says that if we are doing things on our own, we are bound to fail. However, if what we are doing is from God, then there is nothing that can stop us. Let's first make sure though that we are listening to what God has to say, lest we go the way of Judas the Galilean or Theudas. Gamaliel said something quite wise here. Indeed, subsequent testimony from Acts shows that it is quite hard to oppose what God is doing in the world.
It is also quite hard to oppose what God is doing in our own lives as well. It was not my plan to come to Baldwin. It was actually Plan C for this summer. I had been planning on going to a church in South Dakota or working for building and grounds at Western. Both of those plans fell through on the same day back in March. This chance came up and I put in an inquiry. It worked out for me and I have ended up here. I take it that God had other ideas. There is little doubt in my mind that God has me here for a reason. One of the things that I have been asking God concerning this summer is, "what do you have to teach me this summer Lord?" There is something that the people here in Baldwin can teach me about this thing called ministry. Now later this summer, I may have a chance to reflect on that and I may end up deciding that this was the worst summer ever and that I wish I had never come here. More likely though, should I listen, I will be able to reflect on what I've learned and appreciate the people here. Either outcome though, I think, will be a reflection of what God has planned to teach me. I have a feeling that this is a summer with great potential, more so than if I were still in Holland. For there, I would only be doing pulpit supply at this point. I'm not sure how much I would be able to learn from that. I suppose my preaching would improve. Yet it is better to learn how to preach while living among the people you are preaching to. Pulpit supply doesn't always give us that opportunity.
Remember my first paragraph? About how I said that I plan on staying at least ten years in any one place and serving maybe three or four churches in my lifetime? That plan will fail if it is not what God has in store. If I stick to my plan, I will be miserable in the end. So it is imperative that I take the time to listen for what God has to say. This is done through careful study and prayer, in solitude and with others, letting the scripture master me rather than I mastering the scripture. The coming summer will be interesting. The coming years even more so. I hope that this post finds you well. I have been doing well here in Baldwin. Pray for me as I preach this coming Sunday morning. That the words of my mouth and meditations of my heart be found pleasing in the sight of Jesus. May each of you be blessed.
Monday, June 11, 2012
I've been here a week already
The last week or so actually went quite fast. I have met a lot of different people and I'm sure that I will not remember names very well, only the faces. That is one dilemma when it comes to new places. Everyone else remembers my name, yet for the life of me I cannot remember many of the people that I'm introduced to. The past few days have been fairly busy. On Saturday was the big parade for Baldwin's Junebug Days. It's their yearly festival, similar in many ways to Sheridan's Springfest. The church had a truck in the parade and they passed out water bottles, little plastic footballs and basketballs, and flyers for an upcoming fundraiser to feed hungry children. I had the opportunity to walk in the parade with some of the people from church. I haven't even been here a week and I've already walked in a parade. I bet not too many pastoral interns can say that. I could be wrong though. I haven't heard a lot from others who are doing internships yet.
Yesterday was the day that I worshiped with FRC for the first time. I must say that there is quite a contrast with how Second Reformed worships and FRC does church. Second Reformed's niche in Zeeland is that of the more high church variety when it comes to worship. Worship with FRC yesterday was less formal in nature. You had to look harder for the hints that it was a worship service in the Reformed mold. This was mainly in that Pastor Tim gave opening sentences and a prayer of confession was present. It reminded me of worship at Heartland in Pella in many ways. The informal atmosphere, the praise music, the type of hymns sung. They also use the same hymnal as Heartland does I've noticed. After the service was over, I got the chance to talk to perhaps two dozen people. Many were interested in where I was from. They asked me about my family. Even talked about about sports and the teams I root for. This friendly demeanor is a common trait in small town churches. I'm also there for a purpose, people knew who I was once they saw me yesterday morning. So it was easier for people to introduce themselves to me and have conversations with me. I have been in the process of crafting a sermon that I'll be preaching to them this coming Sunday, so we'll see how that is received. It'll be good to grow as a preacher this summer. I don't get the chance to preach often enough during the school year.
Last night I took a walk around Baldwin. In many ways as I walked its streets, it reminded me of Sheridan. In some places you have nicely kept lawns and next door the house will be in bad need of a new coat of paint and the lawn looks like a hay field. Sidewalks were also haphazardly placed. In that way it had the character of Sheridan. Not at all like Zeeland or Pella, where things are a little more ordered. I think that I should make a habit of taking walks through this community and become acquainted with its character. It may tell me more about the people who live here. I also imagine that conversations with Pastor Tim and others in the coming days will also reveal more about this community. I'll be able to learn more about this place than merely by sitting in a church office all day. Be good exercise too.
The last couple days have also been fairly draining. I tend to be a fairly reserved person around those that I do not know very well. I'm not the best at meeting people and getting to know them. So when I'm put in a situation where I am meeting a lot of people, I need to take time to be by myself for awhile so that I can process things. It has also been a little lonely as well. That's to be expected though when coming to a town where I know absolutely nobody at all. Those of you who know me quite well know that I am not so reserved when I'm with you. Actually, it can be hard to get me to shut up. At the seminary there's only about two or three people who can do that easily. I enjoy close fellowship with others. I haven't had that the last week or so. I have been much more reserved, yet I can't be reserved all the time, that's just not me. It will take a few weeks, but these little bumps in the road will be smoothed over as I get more comfortable with my surroundings. It takes time to do so. By the end of the summer, I doubt these things will be a problem. It's part of the transition to a new place is all.
So far it's shaping up to be a good summer. It's hard to believe that I've been here a week already. I'm settling into the house I'm staying at pretty well. It's a little big for one person, but it's a nice place. I'm grateful to have it. There are plenty of things to do here. Today will be sermon prep and this afternoon I'll be going with Pastor Tim to visit some people. This is something that I look forward to. The post later this week should update you on what I've been doing and also I will probably give some insights concerning my sermon that I'll be giving this Sunday. I hope that each of you are doing well. God bless you.
Yesterday was the day that I worshiped with FRC for the first time. I must say that there is quite a contrast with how Second Reformed worships and FRC does church. Second Reformed's niche in Zeeland is that of the more high church variety when it comes to worship. Worship with FRC yesterday was less formal in nature. You had to look harder for the hints that it was a worship service in the Reformed mold. This was mainly in that Pastor Tim gave opening sentences and a prayer of confession was present. It reminded me of worship at Heartland in Pella in many ways. The informal atmosphere, the praise music, the type of hymns sung. They also use the same hymnal as Heartland does I've noticed. After the service was over, I got the chance to talk to perhaps two dozen people. Many were interested in where I was from. They asked me about my family. Even talked about about sports and the teams I root for. This friendly demeanor is a common trait in small town churches. I'm also there for a purpose, people knew who I was once they saw me yesterday morning. So it was easier for people to introduce themselves to me and have conversations with me. I have been in the process of crafting a sermon that I'll be preaching to them this coming Sunday, so we'll see how that is received. It'll be good to grow as a preacher this summer. I don't get the chance to preach often enough during the school year.
Last night I took a walk around Baldwin. In many ways as I walked its streets, it reminded me of Sheridan. In some places you have nicely kept lawns and next door the house will be in bad need of a new coat of paint and the lawn looks like a hay field. Sidewalks were also haphazardly placed. In that way it had the character of Sheridan. Not at all like Zeeland or Pella, where things are a little more ordered. I think that I should make a habit of taking walks through this community and become acquainted with its character. It may tell me more about the people who live here. I also imagine that conversations with Pastor Tim and others in the coming days will also reveal more about this community. I'll be able to learn more about this place than merely by sitting in a church office all day. Be good exercise too.
The last couple days have also been fairly draining. I tend to be a fairly reserved person around those that I do not know very well. I'm not the best at meeting people and getting to know them. So when I'm put in a situation where I am meeting a lot of people, I need to take time to be by myself for awhile so that I can process things. It has also been a little lonely as well. That's to be expected though when coming to a town where I know absolutely nobody at all. Those of you who know me quite well know that I am not so reserved when I'm with you. Actually, it can be hard to get me to shut up. At the seminary there's only about two or three people who can do that easily. I enjoy close fellowship with others. I haven't had that the last week or so. I have been much more reserved, yet I can't be reserved all the time, that's just not me. It will take a few weeks, but these little bumps in the road will be smoothed over as I get more comfortable with my surroundings. It takes time to do so. By the end of the summer, I doubt these things will be a problem. It's part of the transition to a new place is all.
So far it's shaping up to be a good summer. It's hard to believe that I've been here a week already. I'm settling into the house I'm staying at pretty well. It's a little big for one person, but it's a nice place. I'm grateful to have it. There are plenty of things to do here. Today will be sermon prep and this afternoon I'll be going with Pastor Tim to visit some people. This is something that I look forward to. The post later this week should update you on what I've been doing and also I will probably give some insights concerning my sermon that I'll be giving this Sunday. I hope that each of you are doing well. God bless you.
Thursday, June 7, 2012
First Impressions of Baldwin
It's me again. I've been here in Baldwin now since Monday night and I must say that I have appreciated the welcome that I've received since I arrived. This includes gift cards to several local businesses. I don't think I'll have to pay for groceries for three weeks. Like any small town, Baldwin is a pretty friendly place. The people are laid back and relatively informal. I have now met several people at the church and each meeting has been good thus far. Pastor Tim has been a riot and we have had a few good laughs. Those of you that know me well, know that I loathe going without laughter for any great length of time. Pastor Tim also has two young children who are quite fun. His son is very rambunctious, no surprise for a child. I haven't met his wife yet because she's been in the Twin Cities at school.
Tuesday was a day of getting settled here. I took a tour of the town that morning and I think that I've been able to get my bearings more quickly here than I did last year in Pella. Pella can be quite confusing at first and it's also a bigger town as well. Baldwin's layout seems to be fairly straightforward. Hopefully I can get a bike soon and that will allow me to do a little more exploring. We also arranged for internet at the place I'm staying at as well. It'll be nice to have that this summer, it'll make it easier to communicate with people from back home.
Wednesday is the day that I am going to call my first official day at the church. Mainly because it seems to be a convenient day to say that I started here. I came to the church and Pastor Tim and I outlined the preaching schedule for the summer. I will be preaching once out of Acts and then out of Romans for my time here this summer. I went home early from the church because yesterday was the day that my internet was installed at the house. I'm using an Ethernet cable, so I guess I haven't quite joined the 21st century. Pastor Tim will be looking into getting a wireless router that I can use, which would be nice. I won't be too sad if that doesn't happen though, because I have a pretty good setup. I might move my office though from the dining room table into the spare room where the modem is though, that would keep things neater. That last line should shock a few people, that I would be concerned with neatness. Last night, I went to supper at an open house that the local hospital was putting on with Pastor Tim and his kids. I met a couple church members there. This included one older gentleman who said that I should meet his granddaughter. I had to chuckle to myself when he said that. It's part of being a bachelor at a rural church I suppose and I'll probably receive a few more comments like that in the coming weeks.
Today is my first full day at the church. I have spent my time between reading Dr. Billings' book Union with Christ, and preparing for my sermon on Acts 5:33-42. I think that Dr. Billings' book may be of great help to me as I prepare for the sermon series in Romans that I will be preaching in July and August. The sermon on Acts has a few themes with great potential as well I believe. I have found that one great thing about living a short walk away from the church is that it is easy to go home for lunch. My neighbors though have a small pack of dachshunds. They seem to think that barking at me is a fun and constructive activity. In some ways though, it makes me miss Doc and Pepsi and Meesha. They haven't woken me up in the morning yet, so I don't think I mind them.
Right now, this summer is moving quite slowly. I haven't really met the congregation yet, that will take place on Sunday. Have to say that I'm actually pretty excited about that. Starting next week, things will pick up a bit more. I'll be preaching a week from Sunday so next week will involve getting a sermon ready. We also plan to put out a sign up sheet where people can feed the poor starving intern that can't cook very well. I could have as many as three dinners a week put on by people in the congregation. This will help me to meet people so I'm definitely looking forward to that. One thing about my time in Pella last summer that I felt I could have done a better job of was meeting people. I met a lot of people there, but I think I could have been more proactive at that than I was. So I hope that I can do that here in Baldwin.
I do miss my friends and family back home. I hope that each of you are doing well. Today is my Dad's 64th birthday, so I hope my mom isn't playing him the Beatles' song about that too much. Funny thing is, I still vaguely remember his 44th birthday. Mainly his apple pie and two candles shaped like fours. Odd how little things like that stick in your mind. I'll have to make sure I call him tonight and wish him a happy birthday. Again, I miss my friends and family, but I'm doing well here. God bless.
Tuesday was a day of getting settled here. I took a tour of the town that morning and I think that I've been able to get my bearings more quickly here than I did last year in Pella. Pella can be quite confusing at first and it's also a bigger town as well. Baldwin's layout seems to be fairly straightforward. Hopefully I can get a bike soon and that will allow me to do a little more exploring. We also arranged for internet at the place I'm staying at as well. It'll be nice to have that this summer, it'll make it easier to communicate with people from back home.
Wednesday is the day that I am going to call my first official day at the church. Mainly because it seems to be a convenient day to say that I started here. I came to the church and Pastor Tim and I outlined the preaching schedule for the summer. I will be preaching once out of Acts and then out of Romans for my time here this summer. I went home early from the church because yesterday was the day that my internet was installed at the house. I'm using an Ethernet cable, so I guess I haven't quite joined the 21st century. Pastor Tim will be looking into getting a wireless router that I can use, which would be nice. I won't be too sad if that doesn't happen though, because I have a pretty good setup. I might move my office though from the dining room table into the spare room where the modem is though, that would keep things neater. That last line should shock a few people, that I would be concerned with neatness. Last night, I went to supper at an open house that the local hospital was putting on with Pastor Tim and his kids. I met a couple church members there. This included one older gentleman who said that I should meet his granddaughter. I had to chuckle to myself when he said that. It's part of being a bachelor at a rural church I suppose and I'll probably receive a few more comments like that in the coming weeks.
Today is my first full day at the church. I have spent my time between reading Dr. Billings' book Union with Christ, and preparing for my sermon on Acts 5:33-42. I think that Dr. Billings' book may be of great help to me as I prepare for the sermon series in Romans that I will be preaching in July and August. The sermon on Acts has a few themes with great potential as well I believe. I have found that one great thing about living a short walk away from the church is that it is easy to go home for lunch. My neighbors though have a small pack of dachshunds. They seem to think that barking at me is a fun and constructive activity. In some ways though, it makes me miss Doc and Pepsi and Meesha. They haven't woken me up in the morning yet, so I don't think I mind them.
Right now, this summer is moving quite slowly. I haven't really met the congregation yet, that will take place on Sunday. Have to say that I'm actually pretty excited about that. Starting next week, things will pick up a bit more. I'll be preaching a week from Sunday so next week will involve getting a sermon ready. We also plan to put out a sign up sheet where people can feed the poor starving intern that can't cook very well. I could have as many as three dinners a week put on by people in the congregation. This will help me to meet people so I'm definitely looking forward to that. One thing about my time in Pella last summer that I felt I could have done a better job of was meeting people. I met a lot of people there, but I think I could have been more proactive at that than I was. So I hope that I can do that here in Baldwin.
I do miss my friends and family back home. I hope that each of you are doing well. Today is my Dad's 64th birthday, so I hope my mom isn't playing him the Beatles' song about that too much. Funny thing is, I still vaguely remember his 44th birthday. Mainly his apple pie and two candles shaped like fours. Odd how little things like that stick in your mind. I'll have to make sure I call him tonight and wish him a happy birthday. Again, I miss my friends and family, but I'm doing well here. God bless.
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
So why a blog?
I am not someone who writes a lot unless I have to for school. Writing has never been my thing, just ask the teachers I had in grade school who probably had a headache or two from trying to teach me the basic principles of grammar. So why would I decide to do a silly thing such as write a blog for the whole wide world to see? Well, there are several reasons:
1. I find myself in Wisconsin for the summer, away from friends and family. This blog is a good way to inform people of what I am doing here in Baldwin.
2. Writing is a good activity that can help to sort thoughts so that I'm not ruminating over the same things each and every day. I get tired of repeating myself.
3. I have heard that a lot of pastors write and that it is a good life practice. It also serves as an aid for composing sermons if done regularly.
4. Writing is a good spiritual discipline. When I read scripture, it can aid in wrestling with some of the things that are encountered. As Christians, we shouldn't just read scripture. We have to interact with it and wrestle with it. It has to convict us and we have to internalize it and let it master us and who we are.
5. Maybe my everyday vocabulary will improve. Quite honestly, it needs some improvement.
Now that I have given you a list of reasons why I should write, I suppose I should let you know how the last couple of days have been. Yesterday morning I left Sheridan for Baldwin. Dogs seem to be quite perceptive creatures because I swear that Pepsi did what she could to delay my leaving since she would walk really slowly in front of me as I finished packing my car. She is also very good at giving mournful looks, a basset hound could take lessons from her. From there I went up to the school and said bye to my Mom and Dad. I got to see a former teacher of mine as well, which was quite a nice surprise.
The journey itself was uneventful. I got across the Mackinac Bridge and decided to stop in St. Ignace for lunch before I began the trek across the U.P. While there, I made a wrong turn and ended up taking a tour of Main St. in St. Ignace. I ended up at Subway and had lunch there. It's a good thing that I stopped there, otherwise lunch would not have come until I hit Manistique. That was about two hours later. There was absolutely nothing in between. It was beautiful drive on US 2. Very heavily forested, with few towns to slow me down. I ended up crossing over into Wisconsin at about a quarter after 4 ET. Much of the drive across the state was through forest as well, with little towns the size of Fenwick or Vickeryville for the most part. Barron just edged out Ladysmith as the largest town I drove through until I reached Turtle Lake. Most of the towns were a gas station, bar, church, and a dozen or so houses.
I got into Baldwin about 8:15 CT and was welcomed by Pastor Tim and his two very energetic children. I am staying at a house across from the parsonage, I'm sure it's so they can keep an eye on me. I have the house to myself and it's a pretty nice little place. My car will get to be in a garage. That's a first. So far, I have felt quite welcomed by this church. I have been given numerous gift cards and told multiple times that if I need anything, to just ask. I get to meet the congregation this coming Sunday, I can definitely say that I'm excited for that.
This has been a lot of writing so far. I wouldn't be surprised though if I have longer posts later. I will try to update this twice a week with how things are going. It'll often be a mix of things that are written here. Anything from my daily activities to meditations on the pieces of scripture that I've been reading. I am excited to see what God has in store this summer. Hope that each of you are doing well. God bless.
1. I find myself in Wisconsin for the summer, away from friends and family. This blog is a good way to inform people of what I am doing here in Baldwin.
2. Writing is a good activity that can help to sort thoughts so that I'm not ruminating over the same things each and every day. I get tired of repeating myself.
3. I have heard that a lot of pastors write and that it is a good life practice. It also serves as an aid for composing sermons if done regularly.
4. Writing is a good spiritual discipline. When I read scripture, it can aid in wrestling with some of the things that are encountered. As Christians, we shouldn't just read scripture. We have to interact with it and wrestle with it. It has to convict us and we have to internalize it and let it master us and who we are.
5. Maybe my everyday vocabulary will improve. Quite honestly, it needs some improvement.
Now that I have given you a list of reasons why I should write, I suppose I should let you know how the last couple of days have been. Yesterday morning I left Sheridan for Baldwin. Dogs seem to be quite perceptive creatures because I swear that Pepsi did what she could to delay my leaving since she would walk really slowly in front of me as I finished packing my car. She is also very good at giving mournful looks, a basset hound could take lessons from her. From there I went up to the school and said bye to my Mom and Dad. I got to see a former teacher of mine as well, which was quite a nice surprise.
The journey itself was uneventful. I got across the Mackinac Bridge and decided to stop in St. Ignace for lunch before I began the trek across the U.P. While there, I made a wrong turn and ended up taking a tour of Main St. in St. Ignace. I ended up at Subway and had lunch there. It's a good thing that I stopped there, otherwise lunch would not have come until I hit Manistique. That was about two hours later. There was absolutely nothing in between. It was beautiful drive on US 2. Very heavily forested, with few towns to slow me down. I ended up crossing over into Wisconsin at about a quarter after 4 ET. Much of the drive across the state was through forest as well, with little towns the size of Fenwick or Vickeryville for the most part. Barron just edged out Ladysmith as the largest town I drove through until I reached Turtle Lake. Most of the towns were a gas station, bar, church, and a dozen or so houses.
I got into Baldwin about 8:15 CT and was welcomed by Pastor Tim and his two very energetic children. I am staying at a house across from the parsonage, I'm sure it's so they can keep an eye on me. I have the house to myself and it's a pretty nice little place. My car will get to be in a garage. That's a first. So far, I have felt quite welcomed by this church. I have been given numerous gift cards and told multiple times that if I need anything, to just ask. I get to meet the congregation this coming Sunday, I can definitely say that I'm excited for that.
This has been a lot of writing so far. I wouldn't be surprised though if I have longer posts later. I will try to update this twice a week with how things are going. It'll often be a mix of things that are written here. Anything from my daily activities to meditations on the pieces of scripture that I've been reading. I am excited to see what God has in store this summer. Hope that each of you are doing well. God bless.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)