8.31.2005
Home: In St. Paul
After an excruciating 14.5-hour drive - that should have been 12 hours, Aaron and I arrived in the cities. It is good to have spent our first night in out new 70’s style place. There is of course, much to be done. Today we’ll grab our belongings from friends who were gracious enough to store our personal items as well as wedding gifts. Also in this time of moving we both have an important essay due to our synods. Let the fun begin!
8.28.2005
Us
This pic has to be my favorite of the summer. Finally, we're married and able to enjoy a life together. This photo was taken outside of the Ohio Theater (facing the Ohio State House) where we saw the touring Broadway version of the Phantom of the Opera.
8.24.2005
Pietism
During my last day in the Lutheran Outdoors of Ohio Outreach office, I stumbled across “Renewing the Passion: a guide to spiritual revival” sent to the camp by the Division for Congregational Ministries. For an ELCA publication this looked pretty racy. The background section included a quote from an article by Professor Walter (Skip) Sundberg as well as the link to the article.
After my History of the Reformation, course I have dismissed pietism as fundagelical (fundamental + evangelical) Christianity and non-confessional Lutheranism. Skip, as usual, has challenged my ideas while remaining true to Lutheran doctrine.
How can awakening and God coming down be preached at the same time? Aren’t these two mutually exclusive? According to Skip, “to be awakened is to know that Jesus Christ alone is Savior and that the purpose of life is to love God and love the neighbor before satisfying the desires of the self.” In class lecture, he manages to talk about God coming down in a way that is personal.
I have found this to be true. “Unfortunately, many major Lutheran theologians writing today are unsympathetic to the heritage of Pietism. This is especially true of European Lutherans who, despite the fact that the church is in severe decline in lands such as Germany, Norway, and Sweden, continue to draw on old, narrow arguments to dismiss the Pietist critique of the church… He [Oswald Bayer] considers that movement as one of the most dangerous and destructive illusions of modern secular life, culminating in “Marxism.” This analysis, certainly typical of intellectuals in the church, is patently ridiculous.”
“Mission is what the church is called into being to do. Unless a church is in mission, it is no church.” Powerful! More over, “the mission of the church requires awakened souls. Awakened individuals and Lutheran congregations built the church in America from colonial times to the great flowering of membership after the Second World War. Since the 1960s, however, Lutherans seem to have entered 40 years (a long time in the Bible) of membership decline and doctrinal drift. Perhaps, once again it is time for our synod committees, who are charged with the responsibility for examining ministerial candidates, to ask them about their “awakening” in the faith! If our ministers and members could give personal testimony to the work of Christ, we would be in a much different place as a church.”
What are we afraid of? Why doesn’t this take place in our pews today? Is it the laity who frequently preach themselves going to God? Could it be that we are not secure in our Lutheran identity and therefore we must protect it? Is this reaction what is killing our Lutheran identity? Is this what keeps Lutherans from evangelizing? When will it be safe to open our mouths and risk saying something not “theologically sound” for the sake of Christ? When was the last time I talked about what God was doing? When will I get out of my head and into my heart? I am proposing using both mind and soul to proclaim Christ. This is radical! We have what the world needs, why can’t we share?
After my History of the Reformation, course I have dismissed pietism as fundagelical (fundamental + evangelical) Christianity and non-confessional Lutheranism. Skip, as usual, has challenged my ideas while remaining true to Lutheran doctrine.
How can awakening and God coming down be preached at the same time? Aren’t these two mutually exclusive? According to Skip, “to be awakened is to know that Jesus Christ alone is Savior and that the purpose of life is to love God and love the neighbor before satisfying the desires of the self.” In class lecture, he manages to talk about God coming down in a way that is personal.
I have found this to be true. “Unfortunately, many major Lutheran theologians writing today are unsympathetic to the heritage of Pietism. This is especially true of European Lutherans who, despite the fact that the church is in severe decline in lands such as Germany, Norway, and Sweden, continue to draw on old, narrow arguments to dismiss the Pietist critique of the church… He [Oswald Bayer] considers that movement as one of the most dangerous and destructive illusions of modern secular life, culminating in “Marxism.” This analysis, certainly typical of intellectuals in the church, is patently ridiculous.”
“Mission is what the church is called into being to do. Unless a church is in mission, it is no church.” Powerful! More over, “the mission of the church requires awakened souls. Awakened individuals and Lutheran congregations built the church in America from colonial times to the great flowering of membership after the Second World War. Since the 1960s, however, Lutherans seem to have entered 40 years (a long time in the Bible) of membership decline and doctrinal drift. Perhaps, once again it is time for our synod committees, who are charged with the responsibility for examining ministerial candidates, to ask them about their “awakening” in the faith! If our ministers and members could give personal testimony to the work of Christ, we would be in a much different place as a church.”
What are we afraid of? Why doesn’t this take place in our pews today? Is it the laity who frequently preach themselves going to God? Could it be that we are not secure in our Lutheran identity and therefore we must protect it? Is this reaction what is killing our Lutheran identity? Is this what keeps Lutherans from evangelizing? When will it be safe to open our mouths and risk saying something not “theologically sound” for the sake of Christ? When was the last time I talked about what God was doing? When will I get out of my head and into my heart? I am proposing using both mind and soul to proclaim Christ. This is radical! We have what the world needs, why can’t we share?
8.16.2005
Thoughts of the Hour
Jack Update: He is heading to rehab today or tomorrow for a few days/weeks. He is feeling much better however, in addition to his physical limitations he continues to exhibit short-term memory problems.
Other than being constantly worrying about Jack and Katelynn, life is continuing. The reality that Aaron and I will not be separated again is setting in and it’s wonderful! I’m super excited for the events of this week. Lori is in an airplane on her way to Ohio from Minnesota, tomorrow night Shannon, Amber, Laurie, Lori, Aaron and I have tickets to see the Phantom of the Opera, Thursday some of the Bradley clan, Chad, Katelynn, Lori, Aaron, Shannon and I will be playing the day away at Wyandot Lake, Friday is the Ohio reception and Mike (Aaron’s best man and Shan’s new beau) flies in and Saturday is Aaron’s 25th Bonfire Birthday Bash. All this excitement would be a lot on a normal week, however, with Jack in the hospital it adds a new dimension of tiredness and stress. I find myself not wanting to deal with details of anything – I just want to go and have things happen. Unfortunately, I am the planning type and just happened to plan all the fun things for the week. Add that to my procrastination and you’ll get a reception (80+ friends/family have RSVPed) that needs a menu created, food/drinks bought. In the end it will all work beautifully, it always does.
Other than being constantly worrying about Jack and Katelynn, life is continuing. The reality that Aaron and I will not be separated again is setting in and it’s wonderful! I’m super excited for the events of this week. Lori is in an airplane on her way to Ohio from Minnesota, tomorrow night Shannon, Amber, Laurie, Lori, Aaron and I have tickets to see the Phantom of the Opera, Thursday some of the Bradley clan, Chad, Katelynn, Lori, Aaron, Shannon and I will be playing the day away at Wyandot Lake, Friday is the Ohio reception and Mike (Aaron’s best man and Shan’s new beau) flies in and Saturday is Aaron’s 25th Bonfire Birthday Bash. All this excitement would be a lot on a normal week, however, with Jack in the hospital it adds a new dimension of tiredness and stress. I find myself not wanting to deal with details of anything – I just want to go and have things happen. Unfortunately, I am the planning type and just happened to plan all the fun things for the week. Add that to my procrastination and you’ll get a reception (80+ friends/family have RSVPed) that needs a menu created, food/drinks bought. In the end it will all work beautifully, it always does.
8.13.2005
Ohio Girls
Grandma Miller sent me this joke - as a married girl it's pretty good!
________________________________
Three men were sitting together bragging about how they had given their new wives duties. The first man had married a woman from Alabama and bragged that he had told his wife she was going to do all the dishes and house cleaning that needed to be done at their house. He said that it took a couple days, but on the third day he came home to a clean house and the dishes were all washed and put away.
The second man had married a woman from Florida. He bragged that he had given his wife orders that she was to do all the cleaning, dishes and the cooking. He told them that the first day he didn't see any results, but the next day it was better. By the third day, his house was clean, the dishes were done and he had a huge dinner on the table.
The third man had married a Ohio girl. He boasted that he told her that her duties were to keep the house clean, dishes washed, lawn mowed, laundry washed and hot meals on the table for every meal. He said the first day he didn't see anything, the second day he didn't see anything; but by the third day, most of the swelling had gone down and he could see a little out of his left eye -- enough to fix himself a bite to eat, load the dishwasher and telephone a lawn service.
Gotta love them Ohio Girls
________________________________
Three men were sitting together bragging about how they had given their new wives duties. The first man had married a woman from Alabama and bragged that he had told his wife she was going to do all the dishes and house cleaning that needed to be done at their house. He said that it took a couple days, but on the third day he came home to a clean house and the dishes were all washed and put away.
The second man had married a woman from Florida. He bragged that he had given his wife orders that she was to do all the cleaning, dishes and the cooking. He told them that the first day he didn't see any results, but the next day it was better. By the third day, his house was clean, the dishes were done and he had a huge dinner on the table.
The third man had married a Ohio girl. He boasted that he told her that her duties were to keep the house clean, dishes washed, lawn mowed, laundry washed and hot meals on the table for every meal. He said the first day he didn't see anything, the second day he didn't see anything; but by the third day, most of the swelling had gone down and he could see a little out of his left eye -- enough to fix himself a bite to eat, load the dishwasher and telephone a lawn service.
Gotta love them Ohio Girls
Jack Update
Yesterday’s surgery (this is #2 folks) went very well. Less than an hour after he returned to his room, he was sitting up in bed and eating clear liquids – both firsts since the accident! Today his goal is to sit in a chair for 4 hours. Due to the removal of a drainage tube in his back, his morphine intake has been decreased significantly. He fully participated in a 30 minute conversation with six visitors - increased concentration level with the decrease of pain medications. Aaron, Shannon and I are headed up for another day of fun at The Ohio State University Medical Center – yeah!
8.11.2005
The wedding and my brother
At noon on Saturday, the wedding ceremony began. The wedding itself and the reception afterwards was beautiful and wonderful. Check out a few of the early pictures on the Aaron ‘n’ Chris, my latest blog. However, at midnight we learned that my brother, lil Jack, was being taken by life flight to a hospital in Ohio. Mom, Jack, Chad and Grandma left at 1am to be with him. He suffered a cut in the back of his head that required staples, a few pieces of glass in his neck and vertebrae numbers 5-12 were crushed. It is a miracle that he is not paralyzed. On Tuesday, he had two metal rods put in his back. Today we learned that one of the screws is pressing on his aorta and tomorrow morning he will be back in surgery to shorten the screw. Even before today’s setback, he was looking at a lengthy recovery. Tonight Aaron and I were with his daughter/ our Goddaughter, Katelynn. She is constantly talking about her daddy, as she hasn’t seen him since Saturday. I took pictures of our evening together for Jack, and they are available on the Pics Page for you.
8.02.2005
Tomorrow
Tomorrow at this time I will be leaving for the airport to fly to Aberdeen, SD to marry Aaron. Right now, I’m at the office feeling the most unfocused I ever have. Mel just called and we ended the conversation almost crying. It’s one of those times that the friends and family I have are shining through. Saturday 25-30 women gathered to throw me a beautiful wedding shower, Sunday I preached and received more hugs than handshakes as the 180ish worshipers left the sanctuary, that night I had drinks with my brother, Jack who can’t make the trip to SD, yesterday Diane, Sarah and Casey took me to Brio for dinner and then I went to Diane’s for a glass of wine and to view Office Space. I am excited, overwhelmed and anxious. Tomorrow I get to fly to my Aaron, ahh, tomorrow.
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