Remembrance Celebration - Lampe's Funeral Home

Last week on Tuesday evening (Dec 15th), we hosted here at Woodlawn Christian Church the Annual Remembrance Celebration for the local funeral home, Lampe Funeral Home.  This is a celebration of life but also a time to come together and comfort one another concerning our losses this past year. (Everyone in the community is welcome and some attend that lost loved ones years ago, after all there is no time limit nor expiration date on grief and loss)

It is an ecumenical gathering with Pastors participating from the local Catholic Church as well as from the Union Church (mixed Methodist & Presbyterian), other nearby Methodist Churches and of course our congregation the Disciples of Christ.  This year I was asked to also do the message for the service.  I didn't have the sermon video taped, but it was very well received and I have been given nothing but good feedback concerning it.  One lady told me today that they were still talking about the message at the coffee shop today and how it had helped several individuals in dealing with their grief.  I praise God that he was able to use me to aid anyone in their time of suffering.

The sermon included two bits of scripture:
First Scripture referenced: Matthew 5:4 
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Second Scripture referenced: Ecclesiastes 3:1-4

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

We will be comforted if we reach out to God for our comfort. Though in the referenced translation it doesn't specify that God is doing the comforting, other translations go farther and say that we will be comforted by God.  This though, being a part of the beatitudes would imply that it is God doing the comforting.  Again some translations want to make this more specific and do so.

Of course a great deal of God's comfort is provided by His people, this is one of the great advantages of having a close and loving Church family.  Also, we lean on our friends and our family.

One of the things that I hit upon in the sermon was that we will never be 'normal' again.  Rather we have to search for a 'new normal'.  We aren't (or shouldn't be) looking to completely forget and get over the loss of our loved one.  Rather we are seeking to rebuild our life around our loss and to continue on with our lives in spite of it all.

I shared with those gathered about how even now over 20 years later, I still grieve for our son that passed away shortly after birth.  How even now the day of his birth and death haunt both Gail and I.  Often I see that day looming ahead of me, sometimes a month or more in advance, and it weighs heavily on me.  We never fully recover from such a loss and as Elizabeth Kubler-Ross implies, why should I want to.  Grief is a product of loving and losing, it's impossible to avoid.  During the sermon I also shared how losing my grandmother ultimately changed everything in my life... how I did not react to the loss well and how destructive my reaction was to me, and to those who loved me.

The worst part of the loss of my grandmother Karlen was the loss of a dream, and I shared with everyone how deeply this kind of loss affects us all.  I advised them to understand that this is a major part of losing a loved one.  In fact I shared with them that just a few days prior I had been to the funeral of a friend who passed away suddenly, a woman of only 58 years of age.  I laid out how not only had her husband lost his wife, his best friend, his lover, his care taker and the mother of his child, but that he had also lost all those dreams that they had of a retirement together.  Just a little more than a hand full of years separated them from this dream and now 'poof' it's gone.  Never, ever underestimate the intense power of grief related to a lost dream.

Ultimately, the loss of the dream of seeing my grandmother hold and admire my own child, another great grandchild for her, caused me to destroy my first marriage.  Grief can make us irrational at times, and do not disregard the anger that grief can instill in our hearts.  All of us need coping mechanisms in times of grief, do not let anger be your means of coping, I can tell you from first hand knowledge that it will not end well.

Just remember that love is why you're suffering this pain, and love, God's love can help you to get through this time of adjustment to your loss.  If you are having difficulty coping with a loss I urge you to see a caring (sadly not all are) minister or to see a reputable therapist.  If any of you are in the Lake City area and are suffering, please feel free to contact me here at Woodlawn Christian Church.

I have blogged about grief and loss before and due to time constraints, I will just post up some links to these previous blog posts.  As always I highly recommend the little book "All Our Losses/All Our Griefs", and I'll provide a link to it as well.

Previous blog posts of interest:
Sad News
Steve Main Funeral
Doris DeVries Funeral
Blog post about loss and which contains all the rest of the links to my posts on grief and loss

The last link will take you to one of my blog posts which contains more links to blog posts of mine about grief and loss.

Here is the link to Amazon where you can purchase the book "All Our Losses/All our Griefs".

All Our Losses / All Our Griefs - link to Amazon

I did also share with the folks gathered at the Remembrance Service, a poem and an e-mail that I sent to my first wife several years ago after learning of her mother's passing.  She was always very close to her mother, particularly close because her father died when she was very, very young.  Knowing this and knowing that Christmas (especially the first Christmas) is a very difficult time for those grieving loved ones, I sent her this poem and this e-mail.

When I saw this the other day for some reason I immediately thought of your Mother, you, Tom, Deb and all of your families.

Though I'm certain your Mother would very much love to be here with all of you, this year she is celebrating Christmas in Heaven.  How beautiful a thing that must be, and after waiting nearly 45 years she once again gets to spend Christmas with your Father.  Praise God!

On Christmas Eve when we come before God in worship and celebration, perhaps we are just a breath away from Heaven ourselves.  Certainly when I attend midnight Mass at St Cecilia's on Christmas Eve I'm convinced that Heaven is truly there.  It's there all around me, but 'just' beyond my human reach...

Have a wonderful Christmas, filled with all the joy that life brings.  Remember fondly Christmases past, look forward with anticipation to Christmases still to come, but rest assured that someday on some far distant Christmas you will once again feel the tender and caring arms of both your parents around you.  Until then may the loving arms of your husband, children and your Lord carry you to that blessed day.

God's Love & Blessings to you always.

Perhaps, the poem or the words in the e-mail will help some other soul who is suffering at this wonderful, but all too often painful time of year.  I pray with all my heart and soul that you all will have a very blessed and joy filled Christmas this year.  May our loving and grace filled God bless you in abundance this coming year.

In His Joy & Love,
Roy

Sermons for November 1st and 8th

It's been a bit crazy the last two weeks.  Last week due to preparing for the wedding that we performed here at the Church on Saturday.  I was back into Lake City on Friday afternoon rather than on Saturday evening as I generally am.  My time in Omaha was cut very short this week with leaving Lake City late Wednesday night and then getting back here about 4 pm.

I discovered that we had several members with health issues while I was gone and on Monday morning one of them passed away.  Unfortunately, I had not learned that she was ill until Sunday evening and I went up to the hospital to see her Monday morning only to find that she had passed before I got to the hospital.  Shirley Winter passed away that morning and honestly I feel awful as I had been to the hospital on Sunday afternoon visiting another member and had I known that Shirley was there also I would have stopped in and seen her.

All of our prayers are with the Winter family as they go through this time of mourning the loss of their mother and grandmother.  May God's comforting hand guide them through these days of grief.

I will put up another post concerning the wedding later but for now I wanted to get up the videos for the last two Sunday's sermons.

May God bless you all!

In His Grace & Care,

Pastor Roy

Sermon given November 8th, 2015

Sermon given November 1st, 2015

Random Thoughts.... funerals, death, marriage, life & love.

This week and next we have the High School students using our building to finish off the school year.  As I reported earlier, the High School was damaged beyond use during the tornado that hit Lake City on Mothers Day.  Hopefully, the building will be completely repaired before late summer and school starting up once again.  It's going to be a very busy summer for the school administrators.

This week I attended the funeral for the mother of one of our church members.  Marilyn Seeden, mother of Donna Westcott passed away suddenly last Friday.  Her funeral was at the Pilgrim Lutheran Missouri Synod Church here in Lake City.  Fortunately, they are not one of the locations that the High School is using for classes, so there was no interference in the planning of the ceremony.

https://www.facebook.com/prairiesanctuaries?fref=ts

I've always been a big believer in attending funerals, and even though I never met Marilyn I attended the service to support her daughter and son in law Clyde.  There are in my opinion several reasons to attend a funeral.  First is to show your respect and commitment to the individual that has passed away, second and I believe more importantly, is to show support and love to those that have survived the individual.  The primary thing we need to remember at a funeral is that we're celebrating our loved ones new life in God's Heavenly Kingdom.  Our loss is painful, but it should be more than offset by our joy that our friend or family member has been reunited and reconciled to our Creator.

I have of course blogged about death and grief before in this blog.  Here are a couple links to posts about death and grieving.

Past Post About Death and Grief
Lowell Surat's Funeral and Thoughts on Death

A thought on grief:
“Within each of us there is a cemetery of sorrow. It is a legitimate place where the losses throughout our lives accumulate and one we must visit repeatedly to do our grief work. Grief is often untidy. We can’t wrap our losses in fine stationery and tie it up with a bow. Instead, they come layered in memories, regrets, and unresolved conflicts. So to revisit our cemetery is healthy because grief is often ongoing and done in seasons. Visits are necessary for our well-being, as long as we don’t’ take up residency among the tombs……..We serve a gracious and compassionate Savior, who understands our heartbreak. And while we must grieve he doesn’t want us to live in the cemetery. Christ longs to help us expand our zip code that we might reenter life more able to offer grace.”

~From Twirl...A Fresh Spin At Life

I have also discussed one of my favorite books on this blog before, the book is entitled "All Our Losses / All Our Griefs" and it is by Kenneth Mitchell and Herbert Anderson.  I have multiple copies of this book in my personal library and I tend to loan them out frequently.  Currently, I do have two copies which have been returned.  If anyone nearby would like to read this book just let me know and I'll be happy to loan you a copy.  If you'd like to purchase a copy (I'd suggest you do as it's a great book) here is a link:

Book "All Our Losses / All Our Griefs"

I found this book to be very revelatory, especially in how we are all sculpted by past grief.  It not only helped me to understand others in my life, but it made me finally understand many of the things I've gone through and done myself.  

I have blogged a fair amount about this book in the past, and even started posting an outline of the Chapters.  I got as far as Chapter Four before I just got too busy (and distracted) to finish.  Here are links to past posts about this fantastic little book.

All Our Losses / All Our Griefs
Chapter 1: All Our Losses / All Our Griefs
Chapter 2: All Our Losses / All Our Griefs
Chapter 3: All Our Losses / All Our Griefs
Chapter 4: All Our Losses / All Our Griefs

One of the things that this wonderful book points out is that grief isn't only about death.  Grief can and does originate from any sort of loss real or perceived.  A major form of loss comes from divorce, which is another subject (along with marriage) that I have blogged about in the past.

Past blog posts concerning marriage and/or divorce:

Reflections on marriage and divorce
Another bloggers reflections on marriage (very good)
Solemn Vows and Oaths

Here is a great and moving video that has been going around online for a while now.  It comes out of China but it has subtitles and it is very impactful.  The scenario that the young woman utilizes in the story would in my opinion be one that all couples contemplating divorce should perform as a part of counseling.  I hate the idea that any couple goes into divorce proceedings without exhausting all avenues of counseling.  My opinions on divorce and marriage are pretty stringent and are outlined in the links 'Reflection on marriage and divorce' and 'Solemn Vows and Oaths' above, so I won't retype them here.

There's really no end to the articles online concerning how to have a good marriage; I think that these all have valid points and are worth reading and considering.  They're also good for us old married folks to read and be reminded about a thing or two.

Two traits needed for a successful marriage

Woman realizes what she's doing to her marriage

Men this is what we tend to do wrong

This one is very good also but, be forewarned there is some rough language in this article.  Of course, I'm not at all certain that a little rough language isn't needed in a frank discussion of compatibility and long term survivability in a marriage.

Love is not enough

One thing that I think is absolutely required in a marriage is something that I don't believe any of the above articles sufficiently relay.  The one thing we absolutely cannot get around is the need for grace and forgiveness.  During a marriage we're all going to come up short from time to time and without grace and forgiveness we won't last long.  Depending on the severity of the failure, the couple may well find themselves in counseling to repair the damage.  I'm of the mind that couples need to make a commitment to each other from the very beginning, that if a need arises later in a marriage for some counseling, that both parties agree to pursue that avenue.  Of course, I'm not naive and I certainly realize that folks might well renege on this agreement when confronted with actually going to counseling; but having discussed and agreed prior just might make it more likely that the couple will actively pursue counseling.

Another area that I'm a big believer in is personality compatibility.  We are often swept away with the idea that in love opposites attract and that one spouse can fill in for what the other might be lacking.  The reality in my experience is that opposites just tend to drive each other a bit batty.  I think a very helpful tool would be for both partners to take an actual (I mean the full blown, not an online mini version) Myers Briggs Test.  I've actually formally taken this test twice and I have always come in as an INTP (I've also taken it once online with the same result).  Armed with this information and also knowing the test results for the rest of my family I know why and how we make each other crazy.  This information is invaluable in working out differences as they arise.  

Here is a link to a site online where you can learn more about this particular test and even make arrangements to take the formal test.

Myers Briggs Test

Of course, I absolutely believe that there has to be a great deal of romantic love involved in a marriage.  There is no way a marriage will last if there is no 'spark' to light a fire so to say.  But one has to be in love with the other individual spiritually, mentally, and emotionally as well as physically.  If there is love on all of these levels the love will remain no matter how or how much we age.  I envy those among us who found their true loves early in life and who have stayed together for so many years.  Too few of us in my generation can lay claim to this gift.

Science has discovered that a woman retains cellular material from their sexual partners.  These men's cells literally become a part of the woman for the remainder of her life.  This is a startling realization... that one-night stand or poor decision remains with one for a lifetime.  On the other hand, for those among us who waited for marriage to become sexually active, have a beautiful (even spiritual in a real sense) connection with their spouse.  For these spouses are literally a part of one another, their purity one to the other is real and emotionally and spiritually touching.  This purity is a beautiful and honestly sacred thing, again something that far too few in my generation can lay claim to.

Too few individuals in my new profession have adequate knowledge of science to know this little tidbit, and those in the science world rarely have enough of a spiritual and religious base to understand or appreciate the spiritual side of this phenomenon.  I find this hopelessly sad, as it has great meaning to a relationship for those that were committed enough and wise enough to have accomplished it through their youthful and continued morality.   These individuals, God bless them, have accomplished this hallmark absent the knowledge that we have today thanks to modern science.

As an aside, women also bear in their bodies cells from each of the children which they have carried in the womb.  This is also a very beautiful thing and for those that have lost children they can perhaps find some tiny bit of comfort knowing that a part of that child is with them for the remainder of their lives.

In closing, I look forward to the days ahead when I have the chance to work with couples asking to be married.  Hopefully, with God's guidance I'll be able to provide them with the tools and proper expectations that they need in order to have a long and happy marriage.

May you all find yourselves well and richly blessed.

In His Love and Grace,
Roy

https://www.facebook.com/prairiesanctuaries?fref=ts

Church photos from:
https://www.facebook.com/prairiesanctuaries?fref=ts

First Service at Woodlawn Christian Church

Woodlawn Christian Church, Lake City, Iowa

It was a great first Sunday here at Woodlawn Christian Church.  And we are all looking forward to many, many, many more Sunday's here.  The building is just absolutely gorgeous and the people are so excited for us to be here.  I'm certain it's where I'm supposed to be and I'm excited to see what God has in store for all of us here in Lake City.

I've attached a copy of the sermon manuscript to the bottom of this blog post.

Here are some more photos of Woodlawn Christian Church in Lake City, Iowa.

God's Blessings!
Roy

Woodlawn Chrisitan Church, Lake City, Iowa

Woodlawn Christian Church, Lake City, Iowa

Chapel Mosiac at Woodlawn Christian Church, Lake City, Iowa

Window in the Chapel
Woodlawn Christian Church, Iowa

Chapel Window
Woodlawn Christian Church, Lake City, Iowa

Chapel Window
Woodlawn Christian Church, Lake City, Iowa

Chapel Window
Woodlawn Christian Church, Lake City, Iowa

Good morning, I really cannot possibly tell you all how pleased Gail, Maddie and I are to be here with you.  It's been a long process for us in searching for a church to serve, and I know it's been a very long process for you all in finding a settled pastor as well.  Praise God that he has brought us all together and I pray that ours shall be a long and mutually beneficial as well as an enjoyable relationship.  Gail and I look forward to growing spiritually here with you all, and to developing many deep and loving friendships as well.

During the time that I have been searching, I've maintained a blog called “The Path to the Pulpit”.  Well, the path has led me here, and what an incredibly beautiful pulpit the Lord has led me to.  What an incredibly beautiful Church, and what wonderful Christ-filled people. I am so looking forward to celebrating with all of you the wonderful heritage of this congregation as we celebrate together 150 years of service by the Woodlawn Christian Church here in Lake City.  It's a remarkable accomplishment and one that is worthy of a grand celebration.

As I said I have maintained, and I'll continue to maintain a personal blog.  If you're interested in looking at it please feel free to do so.  I've left some of my old cards along with some of my new cards by the back door leading to the hallway to the fellowship hall.  Please feel free to grab one or more of either or both cards.  My old cards have the address to my blog printed on them.  I will normally post the manuscript of my sermons on the blog, and you can go back and look to see how far I strayed in my presentation.  Perhaps you'll find yourselves saying “If only he'd have stayed on script, it would have been a decent sermon...”

Now... before I get into our sermon I should tell you a bit about my general style of preaching.  First of all I don't consider myself an eloquent nor polished speaker, but I do preach from the heart.  I have and will always consider myself to be more of a teacher than a preacher, and therefore generally my sermons contain some element of teaching within them.  I will also try in my sermons to leave you with something that you can use in your faith walk, or perhaps something that as you ponder it, will draw you nearer to the Almighty.

But, before I dive too deeply into this sermon... let's go before the Lord in a moment of prayer, please bow your heads and open your hearts...

O' God we desire your presence with us here today.  Lord, still our restless spirits, that with quiet minds and reverent hearts we may hear your voice and genuinely worship you.

Prepare our minds and hearts O' God, that through your word, read and proclaimed, Christ may come to dwell within us, and ever rule over our thoughts and affections as the Lord of our lives.     AMEN


All right now... today we're going to be looking at a passage in the Gospel of Luke.  Luke is of course one of the three synoptic gospels; Mark, Matthew and Luke.

Most scholars consider Mark to be the oldest of the three, likely written after the destruction of the Temple in 70 ad.  Matthew and Luke were most probably written somewhere around 10 years after the writing of Mark.  John is considered the most recent of the four gospels that we find in our New Testament and most likely penned just prior to the end of the first century.

The author of the gospel of Luke is unknown though Church tradition assigns it's authorship to the physician Luke who traveled with Paul.  Nearly all scholars agree that whoever it was that wrote Luke, that person also wrote the book of Acts.  Luke and Acts contain what is regarded as the second best Greek in the New Testament.  Which book contains the best?  Well as strange as it may sound, that would be Hebrews.  But we'll go into that on another day in another sermon.

I will tell you that the gospel of Luke is my personal favorite of the four Gospels, and I like to call the author of Luke the 'Peace Maker'.  There are a number of reasons for this and I'll share them with you as we go from sermon to sermon.  Just realize that just like today the early church was made up of people, and where you have people you occasionally will have discord.  There were differences of opinions in the early church, just as there are today.  Reconciliation was a key part of this author's motive for writing these two books and soon enough you'll learn that reconciliation is a key part of my own personal theological beliefs.

Today we're going to be looking at the story in the 24th Chapter of Luke concerning the two people that are traveling back to Emmaus from Jerusalem.  They encounter Jesus along the way and in what is one of the more surprising verses in Luke, they don't recognize Christ even though they were apparently, close followers of his ministry.

How can this be that they don't recognize him?  And if you're like me and you suffer from a bit of an attention deficit disorder mindset, and your mind likes to make big jumps then, one of the things that pops into your busy mind is well... I wonder what Jesus actually did look like?

The New Testament tells us virtually nothing about Jesus' appearance.  We can surmise though that as a first century Jewish male he wouldn't have been overly tall, he would have had a darker complexion than we normally portray him as having, he would almost certainly have had brown eyes and dark brown hair.  The fashion for Jewish men at the time was to wear their hair short and to have a short to moderate beard.  He would have likely had a beard more like mine, or a bit longer than say a beard like the fellows in ZZ Top.

Though it is worth noting that as I told the children the earliest depiction that we can identify as being of Christ  shows him with short curly hair and no beard.

We know that Jesus was a carpenter, but the Greek word for carpenter can also mean a stone worker and given the region where Jesus lived it's much more likely that he worked with stone.  Now these wouldn't have been little stones, they would have been stones that were physically challenging to work with.  Therefore, it's a reasonable assumption to think that Jesus would have been a fairly muscular and well-built man.

Now I said that there is virtually nothing about Jesus appearance in the New Testament and that's true.  But there is one place that just might, just maybe, and it's a long drawn out maybe, tells us something about his appearance.

That verse is found here in Luke in Chapter 19.  Do you remember the story about Zacchaeus, the short little tax collector.  Remember that he heard Jesus was passing by, and in wanting to see him he climbed a tree... he climbed a tree we are told 'for he was short'.  Well, in this passage where the Greek tells us that 'he was short' it is impossible for us to know if it's telling us that Zacchaeus was short or that Jesus was short.  So just possibly, Jesus was shorter than the average male in the first-century Jewish population.

At any rate it doesn't seem that Jesus' appearance was of little concern to the writers of the New Testament, it is obvious that Jesus' appearance... was of NO concern to these writers.

This also reveals to us just how charismatic Jesus must have been.  It doesn't seem that he drew people to him because of his rugged good looks but rather because of his message and how effectively he delivered that message.

Now let's take a look at the scripture verses.
Luke 24:13-35 
New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
The Walk to Emmaus
13 Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14 and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15 While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, 16 but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17 And he said to them, “What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?” They stood still, looking sad. 18 Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?” 19 He asked them, “What things?” They replied, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. 21 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel.  Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. 22 Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, 23 and when they did not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. 24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but they did not see him.” 25 Then he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! 26 Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?” 27 Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures.
28 As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. 29 But they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.” So he went in to stay with them. 30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. 32 They said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?” 33 That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. 34 They were saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!” 35 Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.

So now, let's break this down just a little bit.  What do we have going on in this story.  Well, the first thing that stands out to me is that we have another in the long line of stories in the Gospels about not seeing, or not seeing correctly.  These two who are identified as 'two of them' in other words two of Jesus' followers don't even recognize the Christ when he's walking along with them.  This is a continuation of an ongoing theme, tales about the healing of the blind men, the Disciples even Peter not understanding what Jesus was all about, and Peter drawing a sword in the garden, because he did not understand how the Kingdom was coming to be.  Blindness, an inability to see or understand. Now here we again have two of Jesus followers blind to what is right before them.  They were in the very presence of Christ and did not realize it.  

One of my commentaries tries to explain away this 'blindness' as being caused by the fact that they were traveling west and into the sunset.  They go on to proclaim that since it was resurrection day the sunset would have been particularly brilliant and this brilliance blinded the two followers. Well there are several problems with this, first of all we don't actually know where Emmaus was located.  There is speculation as to what village it identified, and even the distance quoted in the scripture is debated, so we don't know if it was east or west, north or south of Jerusalem.

Frankly, trying to explain away this blindness as being something mechanical is done at the cost of the deep theological meaning that it is meant to portray in the scripture.  These followers are blind to the significance of what has transpired and it is through the instruction of Jesus himself that their 'eyes' are opened to him.  This 'sunset explanation' also totally misses the point that they have gone inside and they still don't recognize Christ until, he breaks and blesses the bread.

Which brings us to the second point, here we also have another of a long line of dinner or food oriented stories.  There is so much power in the sharing of a meal, in breaking bread and the act of community that comes from this act.  I can scarcely believe that the very first sermon I am to give as a Pastor in a Disciples of Christ Church is this very passage of scripture.  These verses that essentially underline, mark in bold letters, and draw a great big red circle around the importance of the last supper.  The importance of this remembrance as an ongoing and regular act and not as an occasional sacrament.

William Barclay in his well known and often utilized commentary says that this meal at Emmaus isn't a sacrament like the Last Supper but just a normal meal.  I really, really could not disagree with him more.  The scripture says “whenever you eat of the loaf or drink of the cup”, it doesn't say that whenever you sit down for communion in Church.  We need to bear in mind that in Paul's letters to the church in Corinth we learn that this meal originally was an actual meal, and not just a symbolic remembrance.  And in Acts the community is actually living together and taking all their meals together.

It's my opinion and you're completely free to disagree, but I'll ask you to consider that we're supposed to 'remember' Christ, his life, his ministry, his repeated emphasis on meal ministry whenever we sit down together with fellow followers of Christ and 'break bread'.  Unfortunately, it our modern rush, rush, rush world we've really forgotten this remembrance.

We've forgotten to remember the miracle at the wedding, the feeding of the 4 and 5 thousand.  All of the meals with sinners and tax collectors.  The meal with  Zacchaeus, where his eyes were opened and he came to see Christ and his ways.  His ways which would become “The Way”, as Christians were first identified.  This shared meal where Zacchaeus was forever changed.

It is here at this table that these two followers of Christ discover him for who he is, just like Zacchaeus before them.  The very reason that this table is such an integral part of our way of worship here as Disciples, is because it was such an integral part of Jesus ministry.  This meal that we share weekly is one of the ways through which Christ reveals himself to us.  But please consider that it isn't just during this meal, taken here as one body when we are to remember Christ and his work.  Rather I feel, it's in every meal that we share with fellow believers.  In each of these meals we are re-enacting the meal ministry of Christ.  Let us do this in remembrance of 'Him'.

We also need to bear in mind that this brings another meaning to these meals.  It's not just about the blood and the body, but also about the community.  We are all together one body, we are together in Christ.  Let us always remember this in our actions and interactions with each other.  We are all connected parts of one body, the followers of the way of Christ.

As I told the children, we as believers carry Christ with us each day.  He lives, he lives within our hearts.  And our eyes and our actions should display this living Christ to each other and to the world at large.  I see him alive and well as I look out across this loving congregation.
As I said earlier, too often in today's world we're so focused on our busy, busy schedule that we forget our fellow travelers.  We're so very focused on this journey, this journey to Emmaus.  We're focused on getting to Emmaus and we all too often don't recognize just who we're traveling with.  Let's try and pay less attention to the road and more attention to our fellow travelers.  Look around you, do you see Jesus in the hearts and eyes around you?  It's never about the destination, it's always about the journey... and we're taking this journey with Jesus.  Praise God!!

Let us close with a word of prayer, please bow your heads and open your hearts and minds.

Dear Father, Abba, we come to you humbly, and freely accept the grace that you provide to us, grace given despite our sins against you in thought, word and deed.  Lord, we thank you for your love and forgiveness and we cherish above all else our relationship to you, we also thank you for the relationships that you have blessed us with in our families, our friends, our fellow believers and all our fellow human beings.  Truly, all are a part of your grand design and creation.  Dear God, let us always be mindful of your directions in this world and let us be your hands and feet in this place.  Father, we look forward to the day when through your direction all shall be reconciled to you and to each other.
We pray this in your most Holy and Blessed name, AMEN.

Saying Goodbye and Celebrating Re-Birth

Last week a family friend from back home (Reliance, SD), Lowell Surat passed away quietly at his home.  There was a prayer service Sunday night, and the funeral was Monday morning, both services were in Chamberlain, SD.  After the funeral, the internment was in the cemetery near Reliance, SD and after the burial there was a luncheon and fellowship time in Reliance.

The prayer service Sunday night, was very touching; with folks sharing stories and memories of Lowell.  Lowell, was a man with a strong Christian faith, and he was likely the happiest person I've ever known.  In fact that was his nickname, from his childhood through the remainder of his life, he was known as 'Happy' or just 'Hap' to many.

Lowell's life was a great testimony of enduring during adversity.  He had suffered from poor health for many years of his life and his attitude was a testimony for those that were fortunate enough to know him.  I wasn't aware until recently, of all the struggles that he and his wife had endured due to Lowell's poor health.  But, through all these challenges everyone talked about how happy and positive he was able to remain.  I know that the few times through the years that I'd been back home visiting, and had run into Lowell, I don't remember him even once complaining about his health and he was always in a great and upbeat mood.

It is individuals such as Lowell and Connie, that we should look to as role models in our lives.  For you see it's easy to be gracious, charitable, kind and cheerful when you are in good health, fortune and without want or pain.  But, it's those people who are the model of kindness, joy, love and grace when their own lives know so much suffering that are the true reflections of what God wants us to be in this world.  Not that God wants us to suffer, (if you've read this blog at all you know that I do not subscribe to the theology that God makes us suffer) but rather that in these individuals we see genuine joy, kindness, charity and grace for it radiates from the kernel of the divine that resides in their hearts, not from their ego wishing to put on a display of their generosity.

Now please don't think that I'm saying that individuals in abundance cannot harbor the Holy Spirit within them.  By all means the wealthy can and do give out of compassion and through the grace of God working through them.  I am however, more likely to believe it's God and not ego, when their giving and charity is done as quietly as possible, or even anonymously.

I have always been one who believes in going to funerals.  To me it is a time to show respect for the loss of your friend. relative or loved one; it's a time to be there to support the family and friends who are now dealing with the loss and the grief of death; but perhaps most importantly for me I go to recognize and rejoice in the 'birth into heaven' of the one who has passed.  Funerals often are considered primarily as times of mourning but that really should not be such.  How wonderful it is that our cherished one has passed from this world into the very presence of God the Father.  Praise God!

Personally, I have told my family that at my funeral I do not want tears of grief, but tears of joy and celebration.  For I shall be having the time of my life and I want none to be filled with sadness over my passing.

Now don't get me wrong of course we mourn the loss of our loved ones, we have lost that relationship as we knew it in this world.  I still mourn the loss of my Grandmother Karlen, my Father, my Mentor Jesse, and many others.  But as I mourn them, I sing a song of praise in my heart for their presence in Heaven.

This past Monday, we gathered to celebrate Lowell's entry into Heaven and his reunion with our all gracious and all loving Lord.  Praise God!

I was happy after the funeral to have the chance to visit briefly, with an individual who was very dear to me in my youth.   This is a person who has held a place in my heart for the better part of forty years now, and it did my soul a great deal of good to learn that she is in good health and spirits.  I pray that she and her family will continue to enjoy good health and prosperity.  It was wonderful, to see that same smile that I remember from my childhood.

As I have said before in this blog, one of the things that bothers me about my life, is having lost contact with so very many of the people I have held dear through the years.  Unfortunately, staying in contact is a very difficult thing to do, and I'll confess my own personality doesn't always help to further this desire to remain in contact with friends.  I'm not one who remembers to send cards either at birthdays or Christmas for that matter.  It seems I get too busy, and I just don't think about these things.  Couple this with the fact that for most of my life, I have been a typical male who isn't free with stating his feelings for others.  I have tried to change this aspect of my personality, but I'll admit I sometimes slip back into my old ways.  We really should make sure and let others know that we care about them, and their well being, you just never know when it might be too late to do so.

With that I need to be running along.  I would ask that you all might continue to pray for;

Connie Surat - Comfort and Peace
Mary Alice Engleman - Healing and Strength
Kelly & Patti Wills - Healing and Serenity
Don & Laura Fletcher - Adjusting to new Situations
Sylvia Schafer - Peace and Comfort

Someday, I'll see old Lowell Surat again, and who knows maybe we'll work together again in the fields of heaven, or work cattle on the plains of eternity.  God Bless...

In God's Absolute Love & Grace,
Roy

A bit down this evening... and some ramblings....

I have a few things that I will be blogging about later this week, and honestly tonight I'm not in the mood to get too philosophical, nor overly theological.

Today I helped out at Benson Baptist by doing the prayers at both services.  At the early service they had the choir perform, and that meant, that my old friend Edsel was there, since his daughter and her husband both are members of the choir.  As soon as I saw Edsel, I immediately went over to him to shake his hand and to wish him well.  It absolutely broke my heart, but he did not recognize me.  You could tell in his mind I was somebody else, and I believe he called me 'Howard'.  Up until now Edsel has always recognized me and known exactly who I was.  

After the second service I saw another friend Rev. Dick Peterson and I told him about my encounter with Edsel.  Dick told me that Edsel's Alzheimer's is progressing and that sometimes he doesn't recognize his own daughter.  My heart is heavy for him and his family, Alzheimer's is such a horrible disease.  In the case of Edsel it is all the more horrible as he lost his wife to Alzheimer's a number of years ago.  No family should have to endure losing two family members to this insidious disease.

I'd like any who read this blog, to please lift up a prayer for strength and peace for Edsel's family as well as for Edsel.  Thank you.

This past week I was also greatly saddened to learn that a longtime friend of my family and myself is suffering from a serious health issue.  Lowell Surat's niece Gayle informed me that Lowell suffers from a terminal heart condition, he is currently in the hospital and honestly I don't know any details beyond that.  Lowell worked for my father back when I was a teen, and I shared a number of adventures and more misadventures with him back in the 'day'.

I'd like to ask any and all who are reading this to add Lowell and his wife Connie to their prayers.  Please pray for peace, comfort, faith and strength for their extended family.  Thank you so very much for your prayers.

Please remember to continue to pray for the Hunzeker family, the Humboldt community, and for my friend Pastor Howard Blecha, as well as all of those in ministry in the Humboldt area.  I plan to call Howard tomorrow to check on him and find out how the rest of the community is coping.

Blog Post about the accident concerning Devon Hunzeker

I apologize for being a bit maudlin this evening but I'm saddened by these illnesses and death.

It's been a while since I mentioned my lifting and partially that's because I've had difficulty training legs heavy due to a re-injury to my lower back that I suffered a few months back.  I've had to be a bit creative training legs for a while now, but this last Friday night I felt good enough to do some heavy leg presses.  I was happy to see that I really haven't lost much strength on this movement.  Purposely, I kept my weights below 1,000 lbs but I felt very strong ,and I could have likely put another 150 lbs on the machine and kept going.

Even with my ailing back I have continued to train hard, and I am likely carrying more muscle mass than I ever have in this life.  I'm feeling very strong and I was happy that a younger lifter (and who there isn't younger than I, LOL) came up to me the other night and asked me if I was training for a powerlifting meet.  I told him 'no' but that I had done powerlifting back in my twenties.  Today after second service Pastor Paul introduced me to a couple of older gentlemen and the one said to me "you look very fit, how often do you workout".  I told him about four nights a week and he turned to his friend and said "see I told you so".

Roy Karlen, November 2014
Forgive the blurry photo.  It's nearly impossible to take a
photo that isn't blurry when you have an essential tremor.
Wm Roy Karlen photo

I am well aware that I'm a bit of an aberration for a man that is staring down his 55th birthday, but I am far from satisfied with myself.  Lately, I have been kicking around in my head trying to compete in a physique competition this next summer or fall.  The only problem is that I would certainly need to drop 30 lbs or a bit more, and that means being very, very disciplined.  This is enormously compounded by the fact that within the last few months it has become obvious, that my essential tremor is greatly aggravated if I go too long without eating.  This means I need to eat approximately every three hours.  I have to eat something just before retiring for the night and then immediately upon waking up.

Up until now I have been reticent to go the route of medication to control my tremors, but lately I have also begun to realize that the day will come soon when I will have no other choice.  I half jokingly will say frequently to Gail, that by the time I'm 70 she will have to feed me.  She is adamant that she will not feed me, she tells me everytime "well I guess you'll starve then".

When I see and learn about the things others are enduring, I am always reminded that a bit of a shake is not a big deal.  I can certainly deal with this inconvenience in light of the burdens I see others bearing.

Well, it is getting late and I'm going to eat something quickly and hit the hay.  May you all be well and blessed... have a wonderful week ahead.

In God's Absolute Love & Grace,
Roy