St Paul, Weston, FL

Had a great morning yesterday at St Paul Lutheran in Weston, FL. Delivered the message and led the Bible Class time with adults. Very warm reception from the members and a great lunch with Pastor Tim and his wife Laurie who serves as Pre-School director. Laurie is a cancer survivor and recently ended up with sky high cholesterol numbers. She is attacking it with major lifestyle changes one of which includes a standing desk. I'm cheering her on and hoping for much lower numbers on the next visit to the Doc!

Gardens in the City

Also finding many congregations who are finding ways to do a gardening experience. Many of those are right in the heart of the city. Three such places are:
1. St Paul Lutheran School, New Orleans - they send their third graders a block down the street to the community garden to get their hands dirty and their brains full of experience with the earth. Thanks to Pastor Kevin Kieschnick and Principal Chuck Schiller for a great visit.
2. Bethlehem Lutheran, New Orleans - they have two different locations for a garden around the edges of their parking lot. And that space produces many pounds of food. They made a nice 'green' space in a narrow walkway behind the church - a very nice oasis in the city. Thanks to Pastor Patrick Keen for a great tour and a friendly visit.
3. Lamb of God Lutheran, Flower Mound, TX - They have a "Garden of Eat'n" and produce many pounds of produce for the local Food Bank each year. Thanks to Pastor Phil Cook for introducing me.

Way to go! These keep people connected close to nature so they can make good stewardship decisions when caring for God's creation. And they produce some excellent, healthy food for those in need.

Wheat Ridge has one of their many projects at Trinity College in Everett, WA - a very creative rooftop garden. Thanks to Dave Ellingson for the tour.

Exercise

I visited a couple congregations recently and one a while back that take 'stewardship of the body' seriously. Trinity Lutheran in Spring (Klein), TX and Salem Lutheran in Tomball, TX both have an exercise room for member's use so they can get/stay healthy. Salem Lutheran is doing creative things to add to that exercise ministry as well.

And Christ Memorial in St Louis, MO is involved with Wheat Ridge in a project called R.E.H.A.B - Rehab, Energy, Health and Blessing. It is a ministry that is changing lives in the name of Jesus.

"...heart, soul, mind and strength..." It all comes from God and he wants it all back - in good shape for service. We are the tools in his tool box to bring the message of Jesus to the world. He changes our hearts through forgiveness. He's given us an incredible body that can do amazing things - when we care for it well. It is not rocket science - but it does need to be intentional. How are you doing caring for your body? Small steps are great - and so are the benefits!

Time flies

I understand that phrase more and more these days as I try to keep up with the electronic world you have built here in the 21st Century. One month since my last post. Back in the day it took that long to get a letter from Jerusalem to Rome. I know young people who have posted thousands of facebook updates and tweets in that time... and who knows how many text messages!

No posts, but I have been busy:
I lead a chapel and delivered the message at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church and School in Anaheim, CA.
I delivered the message at Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in Sacramento, CA.
I delivered the message at Zion Lutheran Church, also in Anaheim, CA
I visited with lots of visionary leaders in Grass Valley, CA area, Los Angeles metro and Phoenix metro and am getting ready to move on to Houston, TX. (Still amazed at the speed of movement now - and I'm adjusting to not having the long travel time to think and process and watch and learn; not sure I like the trade off!)

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!