Pastor Don's Ponderings

"A voice cries: "In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken."  (Isaiah 40:3-5 NRSV) The story was recently told of a boss who, when confronted with their lack of production, absence of truthfulness, and willingness to plagiarize without thought of credit to others, simply looked at the person leveling the complaint and shouted, 'Do you know who I am?" A thousand potential answers filled the recipient's mind at that moment, but silence seemed to be the most appropriate and, given that the two Board members present offered no support, the intimidation of the bully-boss held sway. So it seems to continue in a myriad of ways in our culture today, '...

It appeared this morning on today's edition of Sunday Morning on the local CBS network, a segment about the banning of books in our school systems and, by extension, in our local libraries. Much of the segment gave credit for the bans to an organization ironically named, 'Moms for Liberty'. Liberty must certainly have a different meaning today from when I grew up, but I digress. As I viewed the segment and the related story concerning the backlash from others across the country committed to making books, all kinds of books, available to anyone who wants to read them, it occurred to me that if we do not take this kind of oppressive authoritarian behavior seriously now and try to stop it, the next thing you know they will be trying to ban lascivious flowers and their colors, wherever they may be found - because, you know, flowers include the colors of the rainbow - and so much more. Having just received some absolutely stunning pictures of Spring flowers at Diamond Valley La...

 It is Pentecost Sunday, the day the Church of Jesus Christ celebrates being birthed in the wind and fires of Ruah, the Holy Spirit. On that day the disciples were gathered together and the sound of a rushing wind surrounded them and fires as of flames danced on their heads. Their hearts were opened and their lips were inspired to proclaim the Goodness of God through Jesus Christ in the languages of all those who were present around them.  In an instant, these Galileans who were mostly undereducated and unworldly became the purveyors of Wisdom beyond their knowing and Faith beyond their understanding. God was doing a new thing in that moment and, for those who hearts remain open today, God is still at work birthing the Good News in wonderful ways.  Nancy and I recently returned from a vacation given to us by our children as a gift to honor our wedding anniversary and my retirement from fulltime ministry. This trip took us on an eight day, seven night cruise to Alaska, beg...

 For today's blog post I am bringing back one of the most requested reprintings of an article I wrote for the St. Paul UCC, Lebanon, newsletter, 'The Caller', in 2002. The picture here was not included then, but is courtesy of Pixabay Free Photos and just seemed appropriate. This article is being revisited today to set the stage for an upcoming blog post which just seems, in my heart, to need this prequel told. I hope you find this story something to ponder on your journey: Superman has left the house. We took Raymond to the University of Kansas last Sunday and helped him move into his new room. Six round trips of about a quarter mile each way to bring all of his earthly possessions to the dorm, then up five flights of stairs with each load, joining with about a thousand other students and their parents (just in his dorm building) to set up a new way of life uniquely designed to last only nine months. Somehow, there must be a correlation between the nine months of pregn...

  Believe it or not, I remember a day when, driving from Red Bud, Illinois, to Marissa, Illinois, you would see little more than farm ground, blue sky and farmhouses. Today, on that same drive you can easily observe two exhaust plumes, or steam plumes - as I was corrected, rising into the skies from two coal-burning power plants, located approximately twelve miles apart, as the crow flies. Why tell you this? Because I have recently been made aware that my stories are more aligned with a Geezer mindset than that of a Pastor. Something about, 'I remember a day when . . .' as an introduction to telling stories has become a warning to others, either to politely find other things to do or settle in for a history lesson from a person who has lived the ancient experience they are going to describe in great detail for you. Well, after pondering on that revelation for a while, it occurred to me to just gratefully and gracefully embrace it - for I have now apparently lived long enough to...

 I stepped out of our home early this morning just to breathe in the dawning moments of the day when, unexpectedly, it struck me, 'Spring!' There was something about the very smell of the air, whether in something which is budding or blooming, something in the nearing weather system that my arthritis is pinging on, or something of the very day itself, my mind just instantly nearly yelled the word, 'Spring!', and I was transported back to when I was a kid growing up on our family dairy farm. As I stood outside our home this morning, my heart transported me to the twelve year old boy standing at the water hydrant waiting for a five gallon bucket to fill with water to be carried to the calves. It was there this morning's air was first consciously thought of as 'Spring!', overflowing with the sound of robins, cardinals, redwings, finches and blackbirds singing at the top of their lungs, layered with nearby wheat fields greening and pastures rising out of dormanc...

Today is Shrove Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday and the beginning of the Lenten season throughout the Christian community. Many are the parties and much is the 'fat' which is being enjoyed today before the period of 40 days, not including Sundays, begins. There is nothing quite like the suggestion of scarcity which will make us take in and hoard as much as we can, then add to that thought the notion of spirituality, repentance and humility - and, well, it is no wonder Mardi Gras is at its height today. Make hay while the sun shines, party while the food is abundant, sin before the confession starts, and give yourself a good reason to be repentant before the Lord - it is all just our way of giving Easter Sunday morning more meaning. Oy! Through the years, I have come to truly value the Lenten season, if for no other reason than the intentional journey of faith this time calls each of us to be on. Huckleberry Finn's adventures on the mighty Mississippi were all about th...

 "Inherit the kingdom that was prepared for you before the world began. I was hungry and you gave me food to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger and you welcomed me. I was naked and you gave me clothes to wear. I was sick and you took care of me. I was in prison and your visited me. . . . . I assure you that when you have done it for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you have done it for me." Matthew 25.35-36, 40b CEB This is the parable by which Jesus completes the fifth and last major block of His teachings in the Gospel of Matthew. The first major teaching block in Matthew is known as the Sermon on the Mount and begins with Jesus addressing the crowds with what we now commonly call The Beatitudes, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven . . . " From the first teaching block to the last, from blessings to judgment on the lips of God's Son - and I am caused to ponder: Have you ever wond...

 "The desert and the dry land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom like the crocus . . . The will see the Lord's glory, the splendor of our God." Isaiah 35:1, 2c Most days, I have only to walk in the house and it becomes apparent that our good friend, Mellanie Portz, has been by. Usually the tell-tale sign is a flower from her garden in a simple bottle or small vase, sometimes it is something on which to nibble and yet at other times it is a mention of something which she has read and is recommending for us to consider. Always the gift. Always the smile. Always the thoughtfulness. This particular vestige of a recent visit was sitting on our counter when I arrived home after a long day at the office. Maybe I am deluding myself, but in my heart I believe that many folk imagine that Pastors just sit in their offices all day, read scripture, play their favorite music, consider the lilies of the valley, ponder the open tomb, then prepare for next Sunday inspir...

 Looking at this picture of our granddaughter, Liza, and grandniece, Lily, it occurs to me that our culture spends far too much time insisting on giving children answers, rather than inviting them to imagine, inquire and explore. Maybe if we spent more time considering the place of the princess or prince in our life, and less time insisting that we be named king of all there is forevermore, we would find more joy and laughter in life and less stress on our heart. In these days of Covid-19, nearing elections, the causes of injustice and inequality in our world, and the general malaise concerning the care and welfare of anyone other than the person in the mirror, take a moment to step back from all of your pat and certain answers and watch a child at play . . . and learn. As much as most of us disdain the inevitable youngster's questions of, 'Why?' or 'How much longer?', perhaps it is time we look to our Parent God and, as the child, ask the question . . . then wait f...

Sometimes it seems that our American culture has become so obsessed with rooting out the worst seen in each other that we have lost our own sense of the good God has placed in each one of God's own children. It is as if the Kingdom can only be that which we approve it as being. When Jesus speaks in parables concerning the Kingdom of God in the Gospel according to Matthew, He teaches about the tiny mustard seed, the beautiful pearl, the hidden treasure, the yeast . . . and of a Sower who casts seeds about willy-nilly, and of a Landowner willing to allow the weeds to grow up along with the wheat until the day of harvest. In telling His parables, I wonder if Jesus ever took into account the possibility that the created would one day weary of searching for the plantings of the Creator? That rather than seek the mustard seed we would only be happy with the full-grown bush? That instead of treasuring the found pearl we would insist on the full jewelry store? That instead of committing ou...

Jeremiah received the Lord’s word: Go down to the potter’s house, and I’ll give you instructions about what to do there. So I went down to the potter’s house; he was working on the potter’s wheel.  But the piece he was making was flawed while still in his hands, so the potter started on another, as seemed best to him.  Then the Lord’s word came to me: House of Israel,  can’t I deal with you like this potter, declares the Lord?  Like clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in mine, house of Israel! Jeremiah 18:1-6 CEB   The good news is this: We are in God’s hands. We may be cracked, flawed, weak, unprepared, seemingly unusable, unstable or even outright broken, yet we are still in God’s hands. I don’t know about you, but I am clinging to that good news with all my heart, mind and spirit!! Pulling down statues does not change history. Changing your heart and being molded by the Potter transforms the present and the future. Covid-19 exploits our weaknesses...

What appears below is my most recent 'Pastor Don's Corner' article in the St. Paul UCC newsletter, The Caller. I pray you find it helpful on the journey. Blessings of Health, Strength and Faith in all your pondering! Pastor Don’s Corner . . . 23  When Jesus got into a boat, his disciples followed him.  24  A huge storm arose on the lake so that waves were sloshing over the boat. But Jesus was asleep.  25  They came and woke him, saying, “Lord, rescue us! We’re going to drown!” 26  He said to them, “Why are you afraid, you people of weak faith?” Then he got up and gave orders to the winds and the lake, and there was a great calm. 27  The people were amazed and said, “What kind of person is this? Even the winds and the lake obey him!”   Matthew 8:23-27 CEB Today I am thinking of stories which make me smile – and this story makes me smile. Imagine, if you can, Jesus as a child playing with the lightning in the same way other chi...

Do you remember how deep and foreboding the woods could be at night? Or maybe even a single tree, just when the light from the crescent moon illuminated the branches from the odd angle? Do you recall the sound of the coyotes howling into the darkness far down the field? Or the sound of raccoons fighting for dominance in the creek bed? Can you feel the tingle run up your spine when it felt like a hot breath breathing down your neck from behind as you walked, then ran towards the house with only the light in the faraway windows to guide you home? Or the goose pimples which covered your body as the wind, before the night rain, swept you towards safety? The words, "Do not be afraid", are said to be in the Bible 365 times. Yet, there are times when the last thing I am hearing in my parental/pastoral ears is, "Do not be afraid". Maybe it is not so much now, now that the woods and I have become companions, the various night sounds of animals give me comfort and wi...

In June of 2017 Nancy and I had the good fortune to share in a trip with her brother, Bill, and his wife, Cathy, to visit their son and our nephew, Andrew, and his lovely wife, Christine, while they were stationed in Germany with the Air Force. Christine and Andrew had arranged time off to travel with us and planned a comprehensive and thorough trip around the country which included an overnight stay in the walled castle town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber. Rothenburg ob der Tauber, the red roofed city above the Tauber River, was officially founded in 1274, though its roots are believed to date back into the 10th century. It was an amazing place to visit and wander through the streets, shops, restaurants and on the covered wall which circles nearly the entire community, allowing the history and enduring beauty of this piece of God's creation to seep into your soul.  While there we had the good fortune to take a tour of the oldest part of the town near sunset of our first day. Gui...