Pastor Don's Ponderings

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...

This is an open letter to the Lebanon Area Ministerial Council of Churches and some key Lebanon Leaders. Though the contents are for prayerful consideration in Lebanon, perhaps others in neighboring communities or states will resonate with some of that which we are attempting to do in meeting the needs of the present age. Please read on and, if you choose, share with others as is appropriate. God's richest blessings in this difficult and challenging time. My sisters and brothers in Christ’s Service, A blessed Wednesday to you all. There are a couple of things we need to have on the collective Table of the Lebanon Community Council of Churches: The United States Census forms are coming out. Your parishioners can fill them out and mail them in OR do them online. Either way, these forms are critical for the City of Lebanon in terms of funding, services and voices in legislative matters, both in our State and in our Nation. Be sure to underscore ...

My Dad, Melvin, is 94 years of age. He is the youngest man I know in both mind and spirit. Every day he rises early, eats breakfast, tends to the chores around his place, drives from his place to the main farm to confer with my brother, Larry, on what things need to be accomplished that day then, depending on the outcome of that conversation, heads out to whatever is next on his list. Usually around 5:00 p.m. he wraps up his day and heads home for the evening. For as long as I can remember on our family dairy farm, which now hosts a black Angus cow/calf herd instead of the Holsteins I once knew, Dad got up before sunrise and worked until he was done for the day, whenever that may be. Now, as then, by his example he sets a standard of accomplishment which guides my daily life and witness in ministry. Funny thing, though, at the tender age of 94 Dad apologizes for not putting in more than about 8 or 9 hours a day helping on the farm . . . and I smile when I hear young folk today lob...

OUR WORLD WOULD DO WELL TO REMEMBER THAT ASCENDING TO THE KINGDOM IS NOT ACCOMPLISHED BY STANDING ON THE SHOULDERS OF OTHERS, BUT BY BOWING DOWN BEFORE OTHERS IN HUMBLE SERVICE, EVEN WHEN YOU KNOW THEY WILL BETRAY YOU. STILL YOU HAVE FAITH, STILL YOU BOW DOWN, STILL YOU SERVE. ALLOW GOD TO TAKE CARE OF THE REST. (c)dcw2020

I love the photography of my friend and colleague, Fr. Jerry Schweitzer, who resides in Northern Indiana. He publishes a daily meditation which includes his photographs and, truth be told, most days I find myself just looking into the pictures he provides and imagining my place in each setting. Jerry, and so many others like him, have the God-given capacity to see with God's eyes, to intuitively capture a moment, an event or an environment, and then invite others to marvel with them at the sight. This scene holds me fast . . . On the shoreline of Lake Michigan, at a place where once someone sat and took in its beauty and power, where a fence divides the land to the place where the waters cannot be divided, and where under snow and blustery winds there still resides the vestiges of summers past: The windswept grasses tell their tales and shifting sands reveal their secrets. Here we meet ourselves. Here we see our reflections. Here we tremble, not for Winter's wind, but fo...

I grew up in a family who attended Sunday morning worship every week, no questions asked. Mom played the organ, Dad taught Sunday School and was on the Church Council, Mom was part of the Women's Fellowship, we kids were part of the choirs and youth groups and everyone in our family was expected not only to show up, but also to participate. It was, and in many ways still is, who we were and are.  Going to Sunday morning worship no more makes you a Christian than standing in a garage makes you a car. Yet, if you never stand in a garage you will never know how a car feels when it is cared for and protected from the elements, just as if you never go to Sunday worship you will have a hard time experiencing the Love and Care of God made manifest in the gathering of the congregation. This may not be perfect imagery, but you get the idea. The Church, the gathered faith community, the congregation, the faith family, whatever you want to call God's people gathered together in the...