I effectively worried myself into sickness. Have you ever done this? I was never blessed with children, but those of you that have them undoubtedly know this sensation. For me, I have been concerned about my own family and my husband’s family. Ahh, worry affects so many things in our system, from blood pressure to anxiety. Jesus told us not to worry, but that is much easier said than done. This is Holy Week, the week that covers the Passion of Christ. It is interesting for me to imagine what it was like in Jesus’ day; the difficulty of everyday life and the trials that faced everyone. Did Jesu ..read more

The Benediction and Sending Forth this morning in church went like this: “God loves and cares for each one of you. God knows me by name; I am fearfully and wonderfully made by him. Stand on the promises of God as you leave this place today. Amen.” This Benediction really spoke to me for a few reasons. Firstly, because we ARE all fearfully and wonderfully made! In the terrific book by that title, written by Dr. Paul Brand and Philip Yancey, they describe in detail how we are made in God’s image, from our blood to our skin to our brain-it’s a Christian and somewhat scholarly look at how we wer ..read more

So much anticipation ’til Christmas. So much waiting. Everyone in such a hurry to get to their destinations. So many weather problems. It’s Christmas Eve, and, if you live on a farm in the Midwest, you’re probably doing what we are – digging out from a large snowstorm. After a wonderful dinner, we’re shoveling, moving snow. What does this have to do with a little Savior? Absolutely everything! Because of this birth, God becomes flesh in the form of a little boy. He wants us to be an integral part of the world, to participate in it, relish it, love it, live fully in it. God’s promise to us of a ..read more

“Beautiful Saviour, King of Creation, Son of God and Son of Man! Truly I’d love thee, Truly I’d serve thee, Light of my soul, my joy, my crown.” We wait… Hymn, Munster Gesangbuch ..read more

The grain trucks are speeding by our house; the combines and dump carts are in the fields. This year’s corn and bean harvest is in full swing. It is a time of anticipation; what will the crop yield, what will the moisture be? It is a time of concern; in a time of such busyness, will everyone be safe? It is a time when parents bring their children out to ride in the combine or truck; a time for passing the tradition on. When the time for harvesting comes, the farmers move with passion. And it is a time when I always get out my Bible and look at what Jesus says about the eternal harvest. I choos ..read more

My husband, Mike, and I just got back from our trip to Colorado. I have two brothers who live in the Steamboat Springs area, and my heart was aching to see them and their loved ones. I used to live in Colorado, and love the mountain air, and, of course, the scenery. We really wanted to spend time with my family, which was accomplished. When I returned home, I had 750 emails waiting for me. One of them was a dialogue from Richard Rohr, which I want to share with you today. While away with my family, I was so struck by the depth of love that we share, and that we are so interconnected. This sens ..read more

Since I was very young, on Easter morning, my parents greeted me with the words, “He is Risen”, to which I would respond with lots of fervor, “He is Risen Indeed”. Even today, my brothers greet me with these words, whether it’s on the phone or in person. My parents’ tradition lives on through us! Yes, He is Risen! -our Lord and Savior; let us rejoice! Do you remember, in the book of John, how Jesus appeared to his disciples? Let me remind you. “On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among ..read more

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone ..read more

“Suddenly, a great company of the heaven host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men to whom his favor rests'”. Luke 2:13-14. Yes, that’s right! The Word became flesh in the form of an infant boy. The shepherds hurriedly searched and found the baby. The Old Testament prophesized about the coming of a King, but in the form of a baby? Whatever God wills, it happens. The shepherds found the baby and worshipped him. We as humans cannot understand how this all happened. All we know is that God came to us in the flesh, to live, rejoi ..read more

A few days ago, I put out one of my Nativity scenes and thought about how Advent is the Season of waiting – waiting for the One – Jesus. I thought about how our culture does not nourish the activity of waiting. Yes, it is a true activity. Rather, we cherish busyness and get-go-it-ism. As Henri Nouwen says in a writing, “For many people, waiting is an awful desert between where they are and where they want to go and people do not like such a place.” He goes on to say that we have difficulty waiting because we are afraid of this activity, and we allow fear to drive us. I know that I suffer from ..read more