LANE'S WORLD

 

November 2008   Lane's World It is the political season. This is the most important election ever, just like four years ago, and four years before that, and four years before that and so on. I was at the Houston Library variety fundraiser and enjoyed hearing quotes n-om Will Rogers on elections that are just as true today as they were in the 1930's. Of course, there are always the smear attacks that happen. Negative campaigning, everyone talks about how terrible it is. The issue is that it does work and works for both sides. Let's admit, both sides like to hurl mud and dirty laundry at the other side. This, too, is nothing new in politics. It seems we like to elect the person with the least mud on them. The confirmation youth have begun studying the Old Testament. We have been examining the Patriarch stories of Genesis. What we are finding is that they were not perfect by any means. Abraham and Sarah's faith wavers, which causes great problems. Isaac lets Jacob and Rachel fool him into giving the blessing to the wrong son. Jacob gets renamed Israel because he wrestles with God and people. And yet God works his grace through them. I am probably somewhat naive, but I like to think that the people who run for political office do so for the best of reasons. I like to think that they are sincere in their political stance and they want the best for our country. Even though it doesn't sound like it during the campaigns. God continues to work through imperfect people like you and me and even politicians.   October 2008 (Click to read)   May 2008   I just finished teaching confirmation. As part of the class i told the youth that the food we eat at each meal travels an average of 1500 miles. We buy it at the grocery store locally. But the food travels quite a ways to get to the store or restaurant. We eat such things a bananas or salad in the winter. Our food sees more of the world than we do!   Food, like other commodities, is getting expensive. Some of us are fortunate if we have space to plant gardens to help with some of the costs. But it seems like everything is going to be more expensive. one confirmation student asked how what we eat affects other people. I didn't have a good answer at the time. The more I think about it though the more affective those decisions are. If we buy local products we help the local economy. Minnesota has a Minnesota grown label which can help, who else, Minnesotans! If you buy food products grown in Minnesota you help the local economy. If you buy food products from say a mega store you don't help the local economy as much.   Another thing to consider is our local food shelf. There are many families that depend o it. Our SE MN Synod Assembly stressed that we are a Synod at Table with the poor. We are called to feed the poor, clothe the naked, heal the sick and preach the Good News  - Jesus Lord and Savior. Jesus didn't ask us to do this only when it was convenient or when we had what we thought was extra money. As Christians we are called to do this especially when times are difficult even for us. Because when the economy fizzles like it is there is greater need for us to step up to the plate.

March 2008   I went to hear Bishop Mark Hanson at Zumbro Lutheran in Rochester. He is the presiding bishop of the ELCA. One of the questions he asked of us was where and how did we encounter God in our lives this past week. Then we had to turn to the person next to us and tell them! This was a lot for us shy Lutherans. Here are some of the other questions he asked. What God is up to in the life of the congregation? What signs of God at work do we see? How is God at work in your congregation?   They are intriguing questions. How would you answer them? I have been answering them ever since in my mind. (So you know I am not absent-minded.) How would you answer them?   We are a body of believers, a church because of Jesus ministry to us. Our ministry is a response to the love and grace God has given us through Jesus Christ. Ponder these questions and ask how God would have you do ministry here at Cross of Christ.   In Christ, Pastor Lane

February, 2008   As I write this it is very cold outside. This winter reminds me of the winters I lived through when I was a child. I think of the verse from I Corinthians 13:11c ‘when I became an adult, I put an end to childish ways. Too bad we couldn’t put child memories of winter behind as well. But the silver lining is that cold is needed to keep the Maple Syrup project working right and it does keep a lot of people out of Minnesota.   I have a pile of seed catalogs handy to scour while eating a snack or waiting for people. It is a sign of spring in the depth of winter. Winter is break time for nature in our area. Many seeds need to freeze before they can sprout. Many hardwoods need the cold and rest as well. God’s creation has adapted to our Minnesota weather. Fruit trees and grapes that grow in Minnesota are called hardy. The term implies strength and hope in the midst of the hardship of weather. The term hardy is applied to us as well. We are hardy people because we live in Minnesota. We are hardy because God has made us resilient.  We survive cold, floods, heat, humidity and all kinds of weather. We also live through many of life trials of suffering and loss (death)  as well as high points of joy and gain (marriage, children). Like nature God has given us the ability to adapt to all sorts of surroundings.  Our God is a creative and redeeming God. Created in God’s likeness, we too, can be creative and redeeming.   Pastor Lane

November 2008

As November rolls around and we come to the end of another Church Year, I have  been reflecting on the events of the past  year. I realize that I have a lot for which to be thankful. Some of those things are the usual blessings that we often take for  granted - home, family, food, clothing, Blessings etc. But I realize that there are other reasons to be grateful this year.

We are coming to the end of our flood recovery work and putting HCIL TRO into an inactive mode. I am thankful for all the things we were able to do to help those who lost so much in the floods of 2007 and 2008. Of course I wish we could have done more, but we can be thankful as we look around at the healing that has occurred. I am also thankful that the flood did not happen this fall given the current state of the economy and the changes in attitude it has brought.

This past year brought health challenges for my husband, Jim, my father, Lloyd Spielman and myself. I am thankful for the healing and health that we do have alI our ability to learn to deal with the losses we have experienced. Many of you know that Jim has lost all the hearing in his right ear and it will never return. This has brought other challenges. The noise of a crowded room causes unbearable sounds (like the snapping of a loose wire on a microphone) in his head. He no longer feels comfortable singing or playing his baritone in a group because he can't trust his hearing. When this happened he also discovered that his heart was beating out of rhythm - a serious problem. We are thankful that it is now back in rhythm and has stayed there for 8 months.

My father is in the midst of health issues and I am thankful for the prayer support for him. I am also thankful that I was able to make a trip to see him on short notice. We are hopeful that the infection he has is on the mend and that they will be able to give him another pacemaker so he can resume his normal routine.

My wrist surgery has healed so that I can resume most of my normal activities. I nevertheless have limitations on actions that require stress on the wrist. This is still frustrating. The cyst that started the whole problem has reappeared and will need to be watched. Hopefully it will not grow down into the joint again. I give thanks for the healing God provides.

I am also very thankful for the faithful people of Cross of Christ Lutheran Church. When we looked for people to pray for our congregation as a part of our stewardship program, 20 people gladly said yes! Others have willingly stepped forward this past year to fill many needs and help with our ministry. We had all our Sunday School teachers by the end of July so we could prepare early. Fall Supper was another example of everyone working together to create a successful event. Space does not allow me to list all the examples of faithfulness that I witness every week.

But the greatest cause for thanksgiving is still the steadfast love and mercy of our God who redeemed us from our sin by the death and resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ. In the words of Paul I can only say: "Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!"

May God bless you with his grace and a thankful heart to praise our Lord.
Peace, Pastor Louise