We went to visit my in-laws last week on our way to Concordia University-Wisconsin to take my daughter to college. While there, we celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary with them. 60 years! Wow. How to imagine. (Their wedding photos are in the foreground.)
Yesterday in church, we heard the story of Elijah fleeing from Queen Jezebel after he had killed all the false prophets of Baal and the Queen threatened his life (1 Kings 19). After he got away, he laid down under a tree and wished to die. God fed him - twice. Gave him food and drink that sustained him for 40 days and 40 nights!
I was talking to one of my members afterwards, who told me the meaning of this story (that he himself had heard from someone else):
Now that's great advice! :-)
HT: Kyle West
I went to visit one of my members for a pre-surgery communion service. After we visited a little bit, we started the service. Her dog, Oliver, then climbed up on the loveseat I was sitting on and curled up behind me for the duration of the service. :-) What a good dog!
Five years ago yesterday was my Dad's birthday into heaven. Can't believe it's been five years. Still miss him . . .
A couple of weeks ago, we went indoor skydiving down in Virginia Beach with my daughter who likes to skydive. Now, while I doubt you'll ever get me to jump out of an airplane willingly - I'm far too chicken for that! - this was fun to try. Not at all what I expected.
We didn't get a lot of time. We each had two turns for just a couple minutes each. The first time you're in there, you're just trying to figure out what's going on! Then the second time you can actually try to do something and are much more comfortable. So I'd be open to going back and seeing what else I could do.
The instructors that are in there with you are amazing. Very encouraging, and you should see the tricks they are able to do!
Some pictures . . . First a couple of me:
The Old Testament reading for this morning from the Treasury of Daily Prayer spoke of Samuel going to Jesse to anoint one of his sons as king over Israel (1 Samuel 16). Jesse brings seven of his sons before Samuel, but none of them is the one whom God had selected. It was the youngest, David, who was anointed king. Okay. So far, so good. But what I had never thought about before this morning, as I was reading these words, is that David was the eighth son of Jesse.
Why does that matter? Well, because the number 8 is significant in the Scriptures and in theology. The 8th day is the new day of eternity, ushered in with Jesus' resurrection. Little boys in Israel were circumcised on the 8th day. 8 people were saved for a new day in Noah's ark. So David is the eighth son of Jesse, and under David's kingship, Israel enjoyed the height of prosperity and peace. But even more, one of his descendants (Jesus) would be the one to usher in the new day of perfection, peace, and prosperity for all people through His death and resurrection.
So David . . . the eighth son . . . a coincidence? I don't think so.
So the weekend before going to Higher Things was the National Celebrate Life Conference in DC. This was a gathering of pro-life groups from all over the country to celebrate the 2nd anniversary of the Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade and to encourage one another to continue the work of fighting for life - all life. The LCMS was a sponsor for this conference (the only church body to do so!). I wasn't able to attend the entire conference, but did talk to lots of folks and learned about a lot of organizations doing fantastic work! Like one group that helps folks leaving employment at Planned Parenthood find a job elsewhere, and another that helps women who have received a negative pre-natal diagnosis deal with the decision making and emotions. Seven Weeks Coffee was there, as was Everylife - check them out!
I was privileged to give the Opening Devotion on Saturday morning. Click here to read.
Sorry it took me so long to post about the final two days!
For the final day this year, a slightly different schedule. Usually we have Matins, then a plenary session, lunch, packing time, and then the closing Divine Service in the afternoon - which means departure around 3 pm or so. This year, they did away with the final Matins and simply had the final plenary followed by the closing Divine Service and lunch. That meant we pulled out around 1 pm, which made the drive home a LOT easier! It was still a long drive - especially with a ONE HOUR back-up through Chicago! But we made it. :-) We drove to just outside Youngstown, Ohio on Friday, and then the rest of the way home on Saturday, dropping folks off along the way.
Some pictures from the final day . . .
Today was our second full day of the conference, which meant Matins, Plenary speaker, Vespers, Breakways, Evening Prayer, Free Time, Compline, and much more! These are full and busy days, but good, as we receive the gifts of God, learn, grow, have fun, and make new friends. Always a few hiccups, but not too many. :-)
Some pictures . . .
Today was an absolutely beautiful day here on the shores of Lake Michigan. After the sun went down it actually got cold last night! Quite a change from our temps back home.
Conference-wise, two excellent sermons, the plenary speaker, Flame, really held the youth's attention while he spoke and not only told his story of his journey to the church and then later, Lutheranism, but also helped them understand the difference between the denominations and why it matters. There was a panel discussion with lots of good questions asked by the youth. Two breakaway sessions, too - I taught my second one. It went much better this time with one already under my belt. Lots and lots for the youth to do during free time - you can't get bored! Oh, and I've impressed some youth with both my ping pong and pool playing abilities (they forget I was young once!).
Anyway, some pictures for you . . .
Yes, it's Higher Things week again! We're in Wisconsin at Concordia University, right on Lake Michigan. How is it here? Well, it was hot yesterday! But we're settling in and getting going . . .
Monday was the big travel day, picking everyone up, and then heading west. The drive was mostly uneventful. Just long. We pulled into the Ft. Wayne Seminary around 7 pm. The ever-so-gracious and patient and newly-elected president Jon Bruss gave our group a quick tour before dinner. How great is that! We also saw lots of friends at dinner - the Broaddus, Hoverson, and Hall families, and the Nus children. So we had a full room to eat pizza an unwind after the drive. Sadly, it was such a long day and things were so hectic, I didn't even think to take pictures. UGH!
So Monday morning back on the road early to finish our drive. Had some torrential rain in western Indiana, then a lot of traffic through Chicago (of course, and in the picture above), but got to campus to check in around 12:45. After a couple of hiccups, we got everyone to their rooms and settled in, then over to the chapel for the 2:00 Opening Service.
The chapel was jam packed! Which is nice to see, except we were on the later side of getting there, so very little seating left. So we didn't get the greatest seats and couldn't all sit together. The service was good, though! As always.
I taught my first breakaway at 7 pm, which was just meh. I can do better. Hopefully I will today on my second go 'round.
For now, a few more pictures until tomorrow, many, as usual, of friends I see and get to catch up with . . .
This morning, as we were arriving back at Reagan National and coming up the Potomac, my daughter took this cool picture out the window of the shadow of our airplane in the water. :-)
So, flew back to Milwaukee yesterday for an orientation/welcome session at Concordia University-Wisconsin with my youngest, and guess who was at the airport with us?
Yup, that's his plane (was he on it?) sitting right behind ours and blocking the way! So, we were a bit late taking off. Not sure it was all his fault or not, but we weren't in a hurry so it was all good.
But that's not the end of the story . . . (well, it is of the Trump story!) When we got to our hotel where we had reserved a room, the hotel wasn't there! I mean, the building was, but it was now owned by a different company. Fortunately they still had our reservation and we got a very nice room (though I found out this morning the bike is the exercise room only half works :-(.
Now it's off to breakfast and the campus. Beautiful day for it here - sunny and high around 70 degrees!
We have three blueberry plants in our backyard and if we can keep the birds and critters out, we actually harvest a good amount of berries. Today we got a bunch and my wife made a blueberry pie for us! Very yummy indeed. (And how blessed I am to have a wife who is such a good cook!)
Some pictures from our trip to Wisconsin last weekend for the wedding of two of our members. We were able to have a couple of days for some family time . . .
No, really!
We're in Milwaukee for the wedding of two of my members. We arrived this morning and went for a stroll along Lake Michigan to get some fresh air. And lo and behold . . .
