Ultratrax

My daughter found this hiking challenge called Ultratrax. They have events all around the country. This weekend we went to the one at the Wintergreen Resort in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. It was quite beautiful!

The hiking challenge is to complete 1, 2, 3, or 4 loops of 7 miles each. There were two courses - one loop was a more challenging course (rated 7) and one was a moderate course (rated 4). Both had lots of up and down as we were in the mountains. The more challenging course had more wooded trails with side slopes, rocks, and uneven footing, and a few areas of pretty challenging rock scrambling. 

When we signed up, we decided to stay at the resort, which, with the discount we got for participating, wasn't really more than a hotel would have been. The great thing about that was that our rooms were literally right by the start/finish line, which made it super easy for us! (Especially important at the end when we limped back to our rooms!)

The temps were in the 40s starting out and went into the 50s - perfect weather! They also had a photographer taking pictures all day, so we were able to download some pictures.

At the starting line, waiting to be waved out.

And some pictures out on the trail . . .

My daughter getting ready to start another loop.

I am smiling in these pictures, but don't let that fool you! The challenging course was indeed just that! My daughter and I both signed up to try to complete four loops. She did! I did not! I managed to stay with her for almost two full laps on the challenging course, but I knew I wasn't going to be able to do all four, so I sent her on to go faster without me. I did manage to complete a third loop on the moderate course, qualifying me for a medal at the end. It wasn't easy, but I'm glad I powered through the pain!

My wife came out to walk with me the last little bit at the completion of my third, and last, loop. (She completed one loop on the challenging course - that's what she signed up for and was enough for her!) At the end of each loop was a really long and steep hill - tough way to end each loop!

My daughter, much younger and in much better shape that I, did all four loops! Very proud of her! This is her finishing up:

And here we are at the end with our medals . . . 

(And yes, that's snow-making equipment you can see in the background! This is a ski resort in the winter, so there were lots of hills for us to hike!

There were 702 folks on the finishers list. There were two in my age group (60-69) who finished four loops - both female! I finished 9th in my age group for those who completed three laps - 6 male and 2 female ahead of me. (Around 125th overall.) Not bad! Especially for the first time I've ever tried this. My daughter finished 25th overall! Only 37 competed four loops. So that's quite an accomplishment. Also, some of the people only did the moderate course - the results didn't keep track of who did what loops. My daughter did 2.5 loops on the challenging course (which definitely had less people on it!) so her accomplishment was even better, I think.

And REAL cudos to the people who rucked extra weight! That was part of this challenge as well. You could carry extra weight for extra recognition at the end - 10, 20, or 35 pounds. We saw this man carrying a wooden cross:

I'm not sure, but I want to say that was one of the 35 pounders! Even on the moderate course, you got to hand it to those folks!

Would I do another one of these events? Maybe. I didn't really prepare for this one (though I had plans to that never came to fruition!) - just my usual biking and cardio. We'll see. I'm getting old. I have to keep reminding myself of that! Hard to keep up with the youngsters!

The Votes Are In

A bit of a longer post today . . .

You may have seen my previous posts encouraging a NO vote to VA Constitutional Amendment ballot questions. Below is my meditation after the voting yesterday approving all the amendments. Kyrie Eleison!

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Reading: Philippians 3:17-21

Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

Meditation:

Yesterday, a majority of Virginians voted to glory in their shame by enshrining no-limit abortion and same-sex marriage in the Virginia constitution. With minds set on earthly things they have approved the destruction of our children and families. Perhaps some were deceived by good sounding words. Others believing these amendments to be a matter of fairness, or a matter of rights. And still others insisting that these things are, in fact, good. 

The apostle Paul faced similar challenges in his day and age. Abortion and same-sex activity is nothing new. And what was his response to this? Tears. For as he wrote to the Philippian Christians, For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Strong words. But true. For the cross of Christ is not about taking life, but giving life. It is Jesus laying down His life for the life of the world. But in a world where the fleshly desires of belly and heart are not only king but god, self-preservation, self-satisfaction, self-justification, self-righteousness, self-approval, and self-gratification are going to win the day.

So what do we do? Paul had good advice for us today, when he said, Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. Paul could write those words because he was imitating and walking according to the example of Christ Jesus. And what example was that? When He was reviled, He did not revile in return. When He suffered, He did not threaten. No deceit was found in His mouth. He bore our sins in His body on the tree. And to what end? By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls (1 Peter 2:21-25).

You see, Paul knows what it means to walk as an enemy of the cross of Christ. He did in spades! Persecuting, imprisoning, and probably also responsible for the killing of Christians. And we, too, were not only born dead in our trespasses and sins, but have walked those well-worn roads as well, following the destructive desires of our bellies and hearts instead of the life-giving Word of God. But instead of hating Paul, Jesus loved Paul, appeared to Paul, took Paul to be His own, and used him to proclaim His Word of life! And He was done the same for us. Washing us clean in baptism and making us citizens of heaven. And from there we await the Day when Jesus comes again in glory and we and our world are transformed. A new heaven, a new earth, and a new you and me.

So until that day, we will imitate Paul who imitated Christ. We will shed tears at the destruction of our world by sin and those who glory in their shame, but we will also proclaim and live the Gospel of life. We will be salt and light in the world (Matthew 5:13-16). We will love and forgive, we will care for and lay down our lives for others - whether they are in the womb or near the tomb. We will pray for those who persecute us and revile us (Matthew 4:55). Not because we have to, but because the Christ who did so for us now lives in us and through us; because His love controls us (2 Corinthians 5:14).

It won’t be easy. Those who won the vote yesterday are rejoicing and most certainly will not stop trying to advance their agenda even farther. But the victory will not come by legislation or vote or Law - for the victory has already been won by Christ risen from the dead! It may not look it, but in the end we will see and we will know. So we will not despair or lose hope. Sin might have its day, but eternity belongs to Christ. And we belong to Him. 

Reasons to Vote NO on Ballot Question #1

Here are some reasons to vote NO on Ballot Question #1 - the unlimited, no guardrails access to abortion Virginia constitutional amendment:

I will vote NO on amendment #1 because . . . 

. . . I don't want Virginia parents to lose the right to protect their pregnant daughters from a risky abortion decision. 

. . . I want to make sure that the women of Virginia only receive care from Licensed Doctors and medical professionals.

. . . the state of Virginia should not allow unregulated abortions up to birth. 

. . . I believe that Virginia must be able to prosecute anyone who harms a woman during an abortion or coerces her to have one. 

. . . Virginia must be able to pass a law that ensures that Babies Born alive after an abortion get medical care. 

. . . making Virginia a place where predators and traffickers cannot be held accountable is dangerous. 

. . . unlimited abortion doesn’t help women or protect their babies, it only serves abortion promoters. 

. . . the ballot question is deceptive and doesn’t tell us how risky this amendment really is. It’s vague and removes legitimate regulations that keep women safe. 

VOTE NO!

A Good Read

Luther Classical College publishes a little tract called Ad Fontes once a month, usually worth taking the time to read. Here is the link to the October publication, on what the Reformation is all about, and what it means that the church is always reforming. Well said.
Check it out.

What Happened?

So I uploaded a video yesterday about voting NO to ballot question #1 in Virginia. This video has been taken down, it says, "by the uploader." Who is "the uploader?" It wasn't me. The people who made the video want it shared widely. So . . . ? Anyway, to view the video, click here. And STILL VOTE NO to ballot question #1!

Vote NO on Ballot Question #1

 

Florida

Seems like all I've been posting about are travels . . . but so be it! I had a trip to Florida this week for a Pastors Conference and a Board meeting. I flew down a day early to visit with my brother who lives just south of Jacksonville. It's been a while since we've been together, so we had a nice visit. Short, but nice. A few pictures . . .

Having breakfast by the ocean at the Funky Pelican. (What a great name!)

He has two dogs. This is Willow (Great Dane) on her favorite couch.

And this is Weston, a little Westie.

Willow enjoying some pets!

No pictures from the conference, but glad to be home, AND no travel for the next five weeks! Yay!

Wednesday to Saint Louis

So Wednesday morning we visited with our friends a bit more, then it was back to Milwaukee to fly out - me to Saint Louis and my wife back home. Of course, since she was flying into Reagan National, her flight was delayed! My flight to Saint Louis was pretty quick and easy. The rental car . . . not so much! Turns out this is an extremely busy week in Saint Louis with lots of special events, and I got one of the last rental cars available! (And yes, it cost an arm and a leg!) But hopefully, since I was asked to rent it to help transport the Board around, the Synod will reimburse in full.

Thursday was the first Board for International Mission meeting of the new triennium. That means Board elections. The man who served as our chair for the past number of years got elected to the Synod Board of Directors, meaning a new chair had to be elected. And yes, yours truly was elected. What does this mean? Not exactly sure! Some of my responsibilities I know, some I will discover, and some will come about as I settle into this position. In chapel that morning, President Harrison made a pretty funny comment as he introduced people at the end. When he asked who was elected our chair and I just smiled at him, he said, "Well that didn't go the way I was hoping!" It was pretty funny. Here's the link to the service - check it our for yourself. :-)

Tuesday in Wisconsin

Our second day in Wisconsin . . . Went out to a nice breakfast, followed by a trip to one of the four corners of the earth! What's that (and where's that), you ask?

Well, turns out there are four points on the globe where 45 degrees latitude and 90 degrees longitude meet, marking the center of the four hemispheres of the earth. One of these is in the mountains of Tibet, one in the Pacific Ocean, one in the Indian Ocean, and one in Wisconsin! So we went and now we are members of the 45x90 club. :-)  Some pictures . . .

After that excitement :-)  it was off to our next visit in Tomah, a couple hour drive again through the "wilds" of Wisconsin. We had a very nice dinner with our dear friends and got to catch up.

And we got to see this awesome sunset after dinner . . .

Tomorrow: Goodbye to Wisconsin and off to our next stops.

More Travels!

I haven't forgotten to post, just on the road again . . .

First stop last week was Milwaukee. Flew in late Sunday night. Well, really early Monday morning! It wasn't supposed to be that late, but all my flights out of Reagan National seemed to be delayed these days.

Anyway, Monday morning went to Concordia University-Wisconsin and preached for the Monday chapel service. (Click here to watch) Then lunch with my daughter, and then left to drive upstate to Merril, WI, where two former members live. We hadn't seen them in a while so wanted to visit. It was a nice drive through the "wilds" of Wisconsin. :-)  They have a beautiful home and we had a wonderful dinner and visit with them. Glad they are doing well and good to catch up.

Tomorrow: The 45x90 club and our next stop . . .

Back from Travels . . .

Just got back from two trips and two weeks away.

First was a drive to Detroit, Mequon WI, Grand Rapids, Detroit, and then home again. This was to take my daughter back to school at Concordia University, Wisconsin. On the way there and back, we stopped at my in-laws in Detroit to visit my mother-in-law (in Memory Care) and help my father-in-law with the house and other things he needed to get done. On the way back to Detroit, we stopped in Grand Rapids to visit a pastor who I knew but never met before! So we stopped by for dinner to meet him and his wife and had a nice time. And Shirley, the blueberry pie so so good!

Then it was off to Florida for the Lutheran Haven Board of Trustees retreat and meeting. That was a long three days! Much discussion about the future of the Haven and how to move into the future. Had a tough time getting home. We tried to depart before storms moved in at the airport, but didn't quite make it. We sat on the plane for about two hours, after which we had to deplane due to "tarmac rules" about how long they can leave us there without actually leaving. So we sat in the terminal a while longer, then back on the plane and finally departed about four hours late. But I did get home! And now I'm here for a few weeks until my next couple of trips in September.

Re-elected

One thing to update you all on is that I was re-elected to serve on the Synod's Board for International Mission for another six year term. Elected on the first ballot, so no drama. ;-)  Last convention, there were some very close votes (3-4 vote margins!) with one of our incumbents being unseated and one just barely getting re-elected, so I didn't take this for granted. But I enjoy serving so was glad to be chosen. Now it's back to work.

Update?

Yeah, I haven't posted again for a couple weeks . . . Not that I haven't been thinking about it! Just nothing newsworthy, I didn't think. Just got my nose to the grindstone, trying to get things done, especially since I've got a couple trips coming up. I'll try to post about them a little. 

As for our gardens, the blueberries are done. We did get a good crop this year, even though we were late getting our net up and the birds got a lot at the beginning! The tomatoes are coming in now. Some big zucchinis, purple peppers (?), and some watermelon. The first watermelon wasn't quite ripe - hopefully the next one will be better. 

We're taking my daughter back to school. Her junior year! Time flies. She had a good summer. Worked a lot and made some good money. She'll be happy to be back with her friends. We're helping more with my wife's parents now, too, as they are getting older. We'll stop and see them and do some things for them while we're out that direction. 

Been trying to ride regularly and stay in shape, though it's been a challenge with so much going on. I think something I'd like to do is ride Skyline Drive through the Shenandoah. It's approx. 105 miles. Hilly. I could try to do it as a fundraiser - for LFL, missionaries, something. I think it might be a fun ride. Before that, though, I have the hiking competition with my daughter in November. Ultratrax. We're going to try to win the "Wolf medal" by doing four loops (28 miles) in the ten hours alotted. I think we can do it, though maybe I am underestimating how hard it will be. We'll see. 

That's it for now, I guess. Stay tuned for updates!

Higher Things - Part Deux

So I spent last week at the Higher Things Conference at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, CO. This time without my youth, serving as Conference Chaplain. It's a lot of work! But a great group of very dedicated and caring people. And serving the youth is great.

A few pictures . . .

The chapel set-up in the main ballroom. Nice view of the mountains in the background!

We had almost 900 youth in attendance.

With President Bruss of the Fort Wayne Seminary, getting ready for Matins.

A view of the mountains as we drove to the airport.

It was a very tiring week! I left right after church for the airport and arrived at CSU in the evening. My responsibilities: Monday was unloading the truck and setting everything up - and there's a LOT to set-up! Monday night is Service of Evening Prayer with the Staff. Tuesday the Conference begins. Final preparations and set-up, leader's meeting, the opening Divine Service, teaching a Breakaway session, Evening Prayer, Private Absolution, and Compline. Wednesday and Thursday are Matins, leader's meeting, Vespers, teaching a Breakaway session, Evening Prayer, and Compline. Friday is the closing Divine Service, followed by packing everything up, loading the truck, and then Staff dinner. Saturday is the drive to the airport and the flight home, finally getting back about 9:00 pm or so. That's a long week! But again, a good one!

A Few Days of R&R

This week we visited my older daughter in Virginia Beach and got a few days of R&R after the busy Higher Things trip last week. We had a very nice time and it was good to unplug. Thanks to our friends who let us use their condo for a couple of days! Right by the beach! Easy to walk right on. And we even got to see fireworks on Monday night. Some pics . . .

Kayaking with the dolphins

With my daughter, hiking at the State Park

There were lots of pelicans!

Interesting . . .

The Memento reading plan has a reading through the books of 1 and 2 Samuel. Two things that caught my attention this time through:

(1.) The kingdom of Israel was divided before it was split in two after Solomon's death. In 2 Samuel 2, David is "anointed king over the house of Judah," and then Ish-bosheth (a son of Saul) was made king over the rest of Israel! Then in chapter 5 the nation is united under King David.

(2.) 2 Samuel 8:18 - "and David's sons were priests." Hmmm. Only sons of Aaron were to be priests. David is from the tribe of Judah. This little phrase is just tacked onto the end of a listing of David's officials. The note in the Lutheran Study Bible says, "Or, "chief officials" (cf. LXX). Not Levitical priests but ministers of state through whom the king ruled and through whom others would do business with the king." 1 Chronicles 18 uses "chief officials" instead of priests. So I guess maybe that's so. But, hmmm. Maybe it's really pointing to Christ (THE Son of David) and then through Christ to the priesthood of the baptized?

Home!

Got home safe and sound last night. Nice to sleep in my own bed! This morning, found this next to our house . . .

. . . which looks like a spent firework to me! That's kinda scary . . . if it had fallen on our roof . . . hot? fire? Thanks be to God it didn't!

Higher Things Day 4

Last day! :-(  The week always seems to go by so fast and it's time to go home before you know it. So we had to get up early to pack up, load the van, and check out so we could leave right after the closing service to get to the airport. It was a little bumpy, but we got it done! 

After breakfast was the final plenary, before which was the announcements and one last chance for tetramorph teams to earn points and win. And we almost did! Four youths from each team (including one from our group!) got to do one final challenge - and whoever won would win the team competition. It was close, but our group cam in second. But a valiant effort.

The closing Divine Service was great, as were all the services. Already talking about next year! Thanks WashU!

Just a couple photos today . . .

Teaching my breakaway: "Rising Hope on Judgment Day"

Higher Things Day 3

Day 3 started as Day 2 did - with an early breakfast to get our choir member to practice. The we began with Matins, where I preached on the Parable of the Sower. I'll get that posted soon. A terrific plenary session followed, then lunch.

But in the morning, it was meet old friends day! 

First up was Kathryn Peperkorn. When we lived in New York, she would fly out to have a lesson from her voice coach in New York City and stay with us in our house. We haven't seen her in many, many years, so it was great to catch up a little.

Next up were the Hensleys! With me here are Mary, John, and Lucy. When their father was finishing up his Ph.D. dissertation, they lived in Virginia and attended my church. I baptized John and Lucy in those years, and now here they are attending Higher Things! They now live in Saint Louis where their father teaches at the Seminary.

Preaching at Matins.

After lunch there were two breakaway sessions with an adult/group leader thank you reception in between while the youth did a service project. I taught in the second session of the day (the final breakaway session) and it went much better than yesterday. I get to teach this twice more in Colorado. Someone took a picture of me teaching, but I didn't receive it yet.

After dinner, we went over to Concordia Seminary for Evening Prayer, free time activities, and Compline. We had two youths in the talent show, and they both did really well. The winners of points for their tetramorph teams will be announced tomorrow morning.

The Hensleys also sang with the group from their church.

But this wasn't just old friend day - we also made new friends. I met the pastor of a former member who now works as a recruiter for the Fort Wayne Seminary. We took a picture together and sent it to her.

The youth made new friends, too. And the free time activities were a lot of fun.

Had to get this giant ball around an obstacle course!

Now it's late and we have to get up early in the morning to load the van and check out before breakfast so we can get to the airport right after the Closing Divine Service. Hopefully nothing will go wrong with the flight home!