Look to the Heavens...

"Look to the heavens..." An exhortation from Isaiah.

Back in the 1st Century we knew quite a bit about the sky, both day and night, as we used it for time and direction. Here in the 21st Century I've noticed that few people "look up" any more. Hardly anyone even knows the simple pattern of the moon, not to mention the constellations and eclipses and much more. We didn't know as much as your scientists know now, but we knew plenty. And I still get excited about looking up. Even more so now that I know some of the things you do, and can identify so much more of what is in the heavens with your amazing telescopes - even out in space.

Today was a total lunar eclipse and next week is the peak of a meteorite shower near the constellation you call Orion's Belt.

If the weather is cloudy you can check out some amazing live shots on line at Slooh.

What an amazing world God has created!

First Lutheran, Yuba City, CA

I'm still out west, now in CA... delivered the message at First Lutheran in Yuba City this morning. Great musicians, strong leadership and lively spirit in the place. Met some folks who have been strong supporters of Wheat Ridge for a long time. Many creative ministries initiated through that support with many lives touched. Thank you!

New Song, Henderson, NV

I had the great privilege of delivering the message this past Sunday at New Song Lutheran Church in Henderson, NV. They are a lively bunch and I caught them on the first Sunday of Advent so the place we all decked out for the season.

I had lunch with the folks from their Health Committee and Stephen Ministry along with Pastor Marta. They are doing great things locally around health and wellness... and plan to do more. They are considering adding a counseling center and will approach Wheat Ridge, among others, for some funding help.

That's exactly what Wheat Ridge hopes will happen in lots of congregations... leaders getting creative about health and wellness - surveying their location, seeing what's needed and responding with the love of Jesus in concrete form. Way to go!

Hershey, PA

It has been a long time since I posted... Wow! Sure hard to keep up with all the constant electronic communication.

I was just with some great people at Holy Trinity Lutheran in Hershey, PA. Some inspiring worship, strong music and great leadership. It was a pleasure being there to proclaim the good news of Jesus.

They are at the front end of a Parish Nurse ministry. Wheat Ridge is very Parish Nurse friendly. Some great resources from a Parish Nurse in Orange, CA online.

Time and encouragement...

Those are at least two of the many things it takes to be a good parent. Check out this video of a morning 'conversation' at the breakfast table. Time and encouragement. You can see the wheels grinding as Frank figures out where he wants to go with his story. And the 'work' his little brain did during that four minutes of make-believe play is critical in helping Frank grow up to be a creative, engaged, contributing adult.

Wheat Ridge knows about the important role parents play in health and wellness and have supported many creative projects that have parents as a critically important part.

Thanks Wheat Ridge! And thanks to Frank's parents and all parents for taking time and being encouragers!

The effects start early...

This is one of those things a 1st Century person is just not going to understand well.

I blogged a few days ago about advertising and the brain... As I was looking through the rest of the magazine I found a twist of irony: an advertisement telling of the negatives of advertising. Martin Lindstrom was pushing his book "Brandwashed" with a big full page ad of his own - turns out he writes for this magazine quite a bit.

The book looks interesting. There is huge money at stake. Have you talked with your kids about...advertising?

Wheat Ridge supports some excellent projects on the whole parenting thing...

Farms in Detroit...

Check out this story about farming in Detroit. Yes, the city. You may have heard and/or read about the problems in Detroit - and they are real - but this takes an interesting turn on gardens and agriculture in an urban setting. They want to use gardens to change lives.

Wheat Ridge knows about how important it is to change lives... and Wheat Ridge has a project in Detroit. Not growing food, but helping to grow strong children.

And Wheat Ridge also has projects with gardens as an important element in Everett, WA and one in Rwanda and in Napa, CA and Glen Ellyn, IL and DeKalb, IL .

They also have an excellent project for school chapels, Sunday School offerings, VBS offerings, small group Bible Study group projects, etc called Giving Gardens. The donations buy seeds for people in various parts of the world to grow their own food.

Advertising and the Brain...

I came across an interesting article about the brain and advertising. I'm still in a bit of a daze at all the advertising a person is exposed to these days. You really can't get away from it. And apparently it is doing its job since the companies keep investing in more and more of it as we keep buying more and more of what they want us to rather than what we need.

And I'm astounded at how much your scientists are learning about the brain. Put advertising and brain research together and you get some interesting results.

The article tells about how much power advertisers have over us, when we are not aware of what they are doing - and perhaps even when we are. They are getting pretty sophisticated and, dare one say, sneaky.

The article is a bit long but worth the read to catch up on brain scanning technology (very portable and powerful), the differences between MRI and EEG (MRI takes 5 seconds to register, EEG is almost instantaneous - and that means it measures our subconscious reaction - what the advertisers are really after), and how the technology is used.

The second to the last paragraph offers the most promising ways to use this scanning technology for community good rather than just to sell product for a company (allowing quadriplegics to control wheelchairs by thinking alone).

This is all a very long way from 1st Century life with very low key advertising and word of mouth. And I wonder what a brain scan would register when someone thinks of Wheat Ridge.

Moving Families Forward

Check out some excited, committed and energetic ladies involved in some important work in Saginaw.

Moving Families Forward is a project Wheat Ridge has helped fund that is part of a larger community outreach effort of Peace Lutheran Church in Saginaw, MI.

Cynthia Pape, Tammy Buckler, and Sally Landeryou (otherwise known as Mustang Sally!!!!) are heavily involved in leadership roles. They have the support of the local Elementary School Principal and other local agencies. A great partnership that is changing lives. I'm looking forward to a return visit.

Gardens and more...

Here is another exciting project that Wheat Ridge is involved with: the Rwamagana Lutheran School in Rwanda. You can see how the school is changing lives in a country that is on a road to recovery.

The school is helping students learn about whole person health and are doing very practical things with gardens and raising animals and more to help them help themselves. Check it out!

Water...

When you live in a place of instant access to water it is hard to understand how important water is to staying healthy and alive. And yet many people around the world live day to day with poor access to water, and sometimes only have access to dangerous water. Imagine a stomach ache all day, every day due to contaminated water. It is often much worse than that.

Wheat Ridge stepped in to help some congregations in Slidell, LA and Chicago, IL give some tangible help to the Kuwaa people of Liberia, West Africa. The project will focus on health and wellness through digging wells, providing pumps and filtration systems and building medical clinics that provide care for various tropical diseases.

Next time I take a drink of water I'll think of this project and the people who are getting clean water because of it - and I think I'll check into supporting Wheat Ridge for projects like this and many others.

St Peter's Lutheran, Warren, MI

From St Paul's to St Peter's - from Orange, CA to Warren, MI. I had a great morning with the good folks from St Peter's in Warren, MI. And wonderful hospitality from Pastor Gies and his wife Kathy - thanks! I shared a message in worship and there was lively discussion in a 'workshop' after worship in Martin Luther Hall.

I'm looking forward to a return trip for more discussion on how St Peter's can partner with Wheat Ridge Ministry around health and wellness.

St Paul's, Orange, CA

I had the privilege of delivering the message this past weekend at St Paul's Lutheran in Orange, CA. Great bunch of people growing in their response to care for those around them in the name of Jesus.

Thanks Pastor Martin for some great hospitality!

And also met some Spirit-filled educators at the National Children's Ministry Conference at St John Lutheran in Orange, CA. Wonderful host site, excellent speakers, warm fellowship.

Wheat Ridge Projects

I visited two churches recently that are project sites for Wheat Ridge grants...

St Paul Lutheran in Los Angeles is working hard to break the cycle of violence in families.

Christ Lutheran in Costa Mesa is taking seriously stewardship of the body, helping their members make good health and wellness choices so that they can give God their best. They are calling it "Fit for Life, Fit for Him".

What is your congregation excited about initiating to help make a difference in the lives of people for whole person health in the name of Jesus? Wheat Ridge would love to help.

Church Health Center, Memphis, TN

Here is a great story of the Church rolling up its sleeves. The Church Health Center is doing some great things. Check them out. A wide variety of things happening in the name of Jesus for people who need help - and health and wellness.

Wheat Ridge helped them out with a grant to help with an educational emphasis.

I'm looking forward to a first-hand visit there sometime!

Our Savior's Lutheran, Springfield, IL

Spent the past Sunday morning with the good folks at Our Savior's Lutheran Church and School in Springfield, IL. Thanks to Matt Winkelmann for setting things up - we led the Children's message and then the Bible Class hour.

Looking forward to a return trip sometime. Thanks for the great hospitality!

LWML sets mission goals

You gotta love those Lutheran women. They set a goal of more than $1.8 Million dollars for the next two years to go to a wide variety of mission projects (these are from the last two years).

Great convention. Wonderful Gospel focus. Lots of congregations are blessed to have these women serving locally!

Maybe Wheat Ridge will be on the list of projects from 2013 Convention in Pittsburgh...

LWML in Peoria, IL

Hey!

Dr Luke will be talking with lots of the women of the LWML at their International Convention in Peoria, IL. They do some really creative and energetic mission work - and talk about 'organized' - they are the definition in the dictionary.

Exciting possibilities for partnership between Wheat Ridge and LWML...

Christ Clinic, Katy, TX

I came across a very helpful ministry in Katy, TX - Christ Clinic. It is a ministry started by Memorial Lutheran Church in Katy, and Wheat Ridge helped with a grant.

Christ Clinic is a 501(c)3 non-profit clinic that serves the uninsured and those without governmental assistance in Katy, Texas with acute and chronic care needs. Since opening their doors originally in 2000, they have served over 7,000 patients at an ever increasing rate.

I visited the place and it is really busy. Lots of patients and lots of volunteers. Good stuff.

And they do more than just treat... they help with prevention with a variety of classes like this one on in which Fralonda Anderson, a Diabetic Educator, from Texas AgriLife Extension Service, Fort Bend County is helping people learn about healthy choices.

A great way for a church to serve the community!

The Heavens Declare...

I came across another stunning video of the wonder of creation. This video is a night view of the milky way over Hawaii. (I've noticed many people in this country go day to day without ever really looking up... so many lights in the cities that you don't see much even when you do; too bad.) Check out the Hubble site for some more amazing pictures.

The video reminded me of how vast is the universe - and how great is our God. And we just celebrated Easter - a story that shows the vast love of God for his creatures. Christ is Risen!

Slow Spring

Well, it feels like a very slow Spring. I'm in Minneapolis for about 10 days and still lots of piles of snow from the winter are left, and still ice on the ponds.

In spite of that I have found a warm reception at Trinity Lone Oak in Eagan, MN and Emanuel Lutheran in Hamburg, MN. I led the chapels there for Giving Gardens project from Wheat Ridge. Also did the 'brain workshop' for the faculty at Trinity Lone Oak, and then joined them for Lenten worship.

I must say I'm anxious for more green...

Catching my breath...

Lots of posts today - after a long period of not many. I'm adjusting. In fact, truth be told, I'm overwhelmed with what I'm experiencing here in the 21st Century. I'm having trouble keeping up.

Your pace is FAST. Information is "ON" all the time. And you hear about EVERYTHING. You have to be like those guys in the commercial who live under a rock to NOT hear about all the stuff that is happening all over the world: revolutions, earthquakes, tsunamis, budget troubles, frustrated governments, frustrated people... I find it hard to get past the first three without my head exploding. You must have developed some very strong filters to keep it all out.

Trouble comes when those filters are so good they keep us from caring... and from doing something about it. About what? Anything. Lots of options. Getting involved is how we were made to be (blessed to be a blessing!). It is when life is most meaningful. Look around and find a place to get involved and roll up your sleeves.

I love Wheat Ridge Ministries because they love to help people/congregations make a difference, focused on new health and wellness ministries. One of many examples of people making a difference with the help of Wheat Ridge is Phil's Friends.

Let's Play!

In addition to exercise going to the dogs, play is getting the big squeeze too. Less and less of it in the lives of you 21st Century people, for something so important to children - and adults.

Talking about play, and giving lots of good reasons to do it, might be a bit like standing in front of a mirror trying to catch a full profile view of yourself. You can never see the side of your head - you'll always 'catch yourself looking'. That is the challenge with play. If we come to the conclusion that it is so important we have to do it, the play itself might become more like work - we are not really 'playing' because we are focused on 'getting the benefits' that play provides.

Play is the most beneficial when it is without agenda. And that kind of free-form play is actually the 'job' of young children. And Parents are the best play partners, with a little help. Play does wonderful things to the developing mind. Check out a couple previous posts on "Play". When was the last time you felt the way those two kids above look? It has been a while for me. Must be time to 'go out and play'.

Gone to the Dogs!

I don't think this is the intended user. The first dog shows the typical response many folks here in the 21st Century have about exercise from what I can tell. Too bad! So much helpful info you have here in the 21st Century that connects exercise to so many good things for our body and brain.

I've seen some recent examples of lives dramatically changed for the good through simple exercise. One example is from a recent visit to Christ Memorial Lutheran Church in St Louis. They are a current recipient of a grant from Wheat Ridge and it went towards their R.E.H.A.B ministry to their members and the community. Fitness Nurse Lisa Cunningham greets everyone with a warm smile and expert help with an appropriate rehab program - for free!

Check out a short YouTube video about lives changed through exercise - and then the people are connected to a church that has a chance to tell them the real life changing good news of Jesus.

Salem Lutheran School, Farrar, MO

Big things from a small Lutheran School in Farrar, MO. Ethan and Joel Koenig present a check from the students and staff of Salem Lutheran School for $500, with a goal of $700 for the year. This supports the Giving Gardens, Hearts for Jesus chapel project from Wheat Ridge. Thanks Salem Lutheran School!

It was fun doing chapel with you all. Remember: God Multiplies! I hope you have had some fun with riddles - and sharing the good news of Jesus!

We don't want the King's grub...

I was able to visit Redeemer Lutheran Church and School in Austin, TX and watch the Kindergarten class lead chapel based on the book of Daniel...
It was great fun to her them chant: "We don't want the King's grub! We just need God's love!"

Well done! And I was glad to have a chance to say "thanks" to Redeemer for their great support of Wheat Ridge Ministries.

Palm Valley Lutheran

Had the opportunity to preach again this past Sunday in Round Rock, TX at Palm Valley Lutheran. Lively place - been around a while too - since 1870. Great history (they still even have the cowboy hat racks under the pews) and a great future, focused on being God's hands and feet and voice in Round Rock and beyond.

Thanks to Pastor Dave Koppel and the members of Palm Valley for great hospitality, and I pray God's rich blessings on your work there.

Keep up the pace

How do they do it? I can't sustain the pace of posts that I see around the web. Too much! Whew! I need a break (O.K, I've been on a break!).

How do they do it? How do they post so often and so much? And who has time to read it all? Pace of life is very fast in the 21st Century.

Murphys, San Francisco and Salinas

I just completed a wonderful trip to some beautiful country. First, in the foothills east of San Francisco, at Murphys CA to visit one of the current Wheat Ridge Projects - a Senior Center in Murphys. Thanks to Steve, Vivian and Bob for great hospitality and the tour. They help lead some creative ministry with older adults in the area.

I then had a chance to meet with local Pastors in San Francisco, visit another project focused on the homeless in San Francisco and preach at Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in Salinas, CA on a wet and rainy morning. Some Spirit-filled people in all these places. A pleasure to spend time with them all. Always enjoy spending time with fellow Christians - anywhere that happens. A common bond that unites us as brothers and sisters of Christ. And thanks to Dave and Jane Kretzmann for the warm hospitality.

I love to see the creative ministries that Wheat Ridge supports all over the world.

Fuels for our Cars and Bodies

It is interesting to watch. I'm getting a handle on the whole 'car' thing. Pretty amazing how many of them there are in this country. And interesting to watch how they get cared for in comparison to the care for the driver... for the people.

There are two clear choices for fuel: Gas or Diesel. No one puts the wrong kind of fuel in their vehicle, even if it is much less expensive. You know it just won't work.

There are of course many more options for food. It is not just about more expensive vs less expensive, but clearly, some of the things people eat are not good for them. The feedback is not as fast as diesel fuel in a car that needs unleaded gasoline, which makes the engine quickly stop and lots of damage is done. Our bodies are quite a bit more forgiving - they don't just immediately stop working with bad fuel... but damage is done none-the-less.

From another perspective with cars, I came across an interesting Tweet: "What would car insurance cost -- if you never changed the oil & every time the engine breaks down, your insurance covers the repair?"

God clearly has given his followers an important task to do - tell the world the Good news of Jesus. The way we take care of our bodies - or not - makes a big difference in our readiness to carry out that task.

Wheat Ridge helps congregations that want to help people do just that - take care of the bodies we've been given. Christ Memorial Lutheran in St Louis is a great example of a congregation helping people to be healthy.

Faith Lutheran, Eustis, FL

I had a chance to share the message of Jesus this past Sunday at Faith Lutheran Church and School in Eustis, FL. Thanks for great hospitality from Pastor Kappel, and the members and for great hosting from Alice Marie and Paul Olsen.

Fun to be with God's people there. A friendly place where they are serious about serving with joy! And thanks for the generous support of Wheat Ridge Ministries.

And congratulations to Pastor Eric and Kara Lynn Eichinger on the birth of their second child!

Wheat Ridge Weekly Devotions

Check out the Weekly Online Devotion from Wheat Ridge. I wrote it this week but writing duties are shared by many people. You can sign up to receive it regularly by email too.

Holy Trinity, Lutz FL

Had a chance to bring the message and worship with the good folks from Holy Trinity Lutheran in Lutz, FL. They are taking seriously God's call to share the good news of Jesus.

And thanks to Ronald for his help during the Children's message about "God Multiplies". He had some great riddles of his own.

God multiplies the generous gifts made to Wheat Ridge Ministries into creative health and wellness ministries all over the world. Check them out!