Catching Up

It’s amazing how fast summers fly by. I’m also suffering from internet accessibility issues. Anyway, while I’m only able to get online every few days I’ve been documenting the summer in photos. This week I was at Calvary Lutheran in Rapid City for Day Camp.



When Aaron and I were in Ohio we celebrated Shannon’s 24th birthday at Mom’s.



1-3 Pre-party pics.
4-6 The 38. This pickup has been in my family for a few decades. Great Uncle Kenny found it rusting in a West Virginia field and restored it. It’s for sale now – only $10,000 and worth every penny!
7-9 The Party!
7 The cakes were baked and decorated by Amber.
8 Some years ago Wes had to stand on a corner with a sign like we’re holding because he got the worse bowling score. Wes, this one’s for you.
9 It was Shan’s birthday and her last day of school. Time for a big drink!

The Rock

Last night Aaron got a call from Audra (his sis) - she's engaged to Jake! The rock is large and breathtaking. Congratulations!

Country Living

Aaron and I arrived in Presho for his summer job. Yesterday I found an upside to every downside.

We have a three-bedroom two-bath house, but no dressers. We have two skylights but there is a dead stuffed pheasant on the entertainment center. We have a dishwasher, washer and dryer but the washer leaks (supposedly only for the first few loads because it hasn’t been used in months). We have two TV’s and a VCR but no cable, internet, stereo or DVD player. Luckily Aaron brought his Play Station 2 which doubles as a DVD player, but at 1:15AM we lost power because wind so we couldn’t finish the episode of West Wing where Josh Lyman is shot. The greatest shock for me was grocery shopping. Aaron was told the town 10 miles away has the best grocery selection so I went there. I’m pretty sure that of the available produce I bought half of each possible fruit and vegetable. I couldn’t get cilantro, asparagus, garlic, wine, eggbeaters, vegetable bouillon, couscous or tortellini (dry or fresh), and I spent $150 on 5 bags of groceries, 1 case of soda and a 18-pack of domestic beer.

Outlaw

The first week of staff training is almost over and Aaron and I are having a blast. Wednesday morning we were in a van by 5:30AM to tour Custer State Park and Wind Cave National Forest on the Wildlife Loop. We saw jackrabbits, deer, antelope, prairie dogs, elk, buffalo and blue birds. Many of the pictures are from that adventure. The bottom row and the third row on the right are from Outlaw.

Summer Camp: Round 3

An hour ago, I was offered a job at Outlaw Ranch in the Black Hills of South Dakota, which I accepted. I’ll be traveling with Day Camps again. This time I had to negotiate a part-time schedule because Aaron will be in Presho, SD - about 3 hours away from most Day Camps. Right now I’m in my last class of the year, so I better get back to paying attention.

Saturday Night Nerd

I’m at home supposedly writing my pastoral care final. Obviously, it’s time for a break. I have the perfect finals writing setup – many many candles and Pavarotti belting out hits like Nessun Dorma. Things are going rather quickly for Aaron and I - classes end Tuesday! We’re in the middle of writing finals (no objective tests this time, yeah) and trying to spend as much time with friends as possible. This morning we joined 8 friends for brunch. At an auction we (10 Luther students) bought brunch made and served by three of our favorite professors. Tonight it’s exorcism movie night, I’m going to a friend’s for the second movie, The Exorcism of Emily Rose. Last night was canasta night with Wicked, Evita and Phantom of the Opera (yes, we’re in love with Andrew Lloyd Webber) blaring in the dorms. Thursday was Lori’s birthday - see the pictures below! Tomorrow has been set aside as a day of grief as West Wing ends. We’re hosting a little wake for our mourning friends. Wednesday I met my internship pastor, he seems awesome. I’m also gearing up for a fight with an assistant to the bishop in Ohio. According to my friendly Luther staff, "it’ll all blow over", but right now my internship is a ‘no go’ from my synod’s eyes. Oh the joys of seminary.

Susan and Judy

This weekend Aaron and I went to Milwaukee for Susan and Judy’s wedding (Susan and I were housemates during our LVC year). The wedding was beautiful and reception was a blast. There were a host of former LVCers to catchup with and lots of Contra dancing. Plus, we got to eat lunch at Lake Michigan on our way out of the city on a bright sunny day!





Photos
1 – People drawn carriage
2 – Cutting the cake. It was Judy’s niece’s first birthday, so she got the first bite of cake.
3 – Claire, Susan and I. Claire was my LVC roomie.
4 – Contra dancing

Mayo

Today Aaron and I had sandwiches for lunch. He said the mayo is past the expiration date but he hates to waste two pieces of bread. I've never heard of using sandwich spreads on both pieces of bread. What do you think? When making a bologna sandwich would you spread mayo on one side or two?

Everyone can leave a comment - there's no need for a username or password.

Thanks for helping settle this mystery.

United 93

Tonight Aaron and I ventured from the comfort of our apartment to a theater 15 wet miles away. We saw was a film depicting the morning hours of 9/11. We walked out silently holding hands.

I still don’t know what I feel and think. This blog is an attempt to put words to something inside me. My response is immediately fearful. The attacks on 9/11 were evil and horrific, but how do they lead us to where we are? Our country was attacked so we attacked Afghanistan then Iraq. When I remember late 2001, I remember thinking that we’d fight wars, first Afghanistan, then Iraq, Iran and finally Saudi Arabia. Right now, we’re fighting and killing thousands, as thousands more American soldiers are killed. Somehow the thousands killed on 9/11 caused our nation to go into mourning and our way of life is changed, but those dying of hunger one every 3.6 seconds, goes unnoticed. I don’t mean that the carnage that happened on 9/11 is forgettable or doesn’t matter, but somehow because it happened to people like me, people who were going about their daily routines good people who had jobs, spouses, parents and children. They were friends and uncles and they died. People like my friends and family, people like me died. It could happen to me. If it could happen to me then we must take action. Someone must die to avenge the deaths. Someone must die to make me feel safe. I’ll deal with hunger and poverty later, right now I’m not safe. At least I don't feel safe.

I write this realizing that I only want to protect myself by protecting those I care about. I don’t care who is hurt and what it will cost. I want to feel safe and secure. It is so easy to make the enemy the other to say they are pure evil. But, the hijackers didn’t birth themselves they must have parents and they probably have spouses and children too. They cry and love and pray. This is not to say that they were not wrong, but they were human too. They were created in God’s image just like me and just like you.

Open Letter to My Friends with Meth Labs

Dear Friends,

Will you please stop using OTC drugs like Claritin D to make your meth? Tonight I went to Target to get a few items for the week. I stepped up to the pharmacy counter and asked for two boxes of non-drowsy 24- hour Claritin D for Aaron and I. The pharmacist politely informed me that only one box may be purchased at a time. I thought, okay, that'’s fine, I'’ll come back in a five days. I handed over my drivers license and the pharmacist respectfully asks, "Have you bought these within the past month?" I said that I had. Then she informed me that I may only purchase one box per month. I wanted to scream, "one box per month? There are only 10 days worth in a box! I'm sorry, but maybe you haven't heard ,it's spring and allergy/sinus problems last longer than 10 days a month! I wish they didn't, but they do, give me my medicine! Oh, by the way, the system'’s screwed I purchased one box Monday morning and another Tuesday because I forgot to take a pill before I went to work. So why can't get around the system again?"

This letter goes out to my friends who make it impossible for Aaron and I to legally feel okay during the spring. Thanks to you, I had to research pseudoephedrine laws for Minnesota, Wisconsin and Ohio. This weekend Aaron and I will be traveling to Susan and Judy's wedding in Wisconsin and can purchase Claritin D there, but only one package each. My research informed me that Ohio will have the same restrictions beginning May 17. So, I called Mom. By next Monday, we'll have a month'’s supply of the Claritin D. Friends, please, stop the insanity, I want to be able to buy 30 days worth of Claritin D in 30 days, not 90!

Sincerely,
Springtime Allergy/Sinus Sufferer

More IS Better

Easter Sunday I decided to have many and various kinds of meat to end my Lenten disciple. In 12 hours, I had 7 kinds of meat – of course I had to make sure I had the holy number. It all started at Mom’s brunch with bacon and sausage links. After that, it was the Wernicke dinner with smoked Turkey. The last stop was supper at Spagio with lobster, shrimp, crab and smoked duck.

Today I binged with movies You, Me and Everyone We Know, Elizabethtown, the Legend of Zorro and Memoirs of a Geisha. That's right, four movies in one day. Gotta love Blockbuster and Hollywood Video!

I don’t know what’s up with the numbers thing – I can’t stop counting and doing things many times over. Today I did 6 Sudoku puzzles and now I’m trying to make sure I get 100 blogs done by May 10 – the date of my first entry. 100 blogs, that’s pretty impressive considering I started out to procrastinate end of the year stuff last May.

Solidarity March for Immigration Rights

On Sunday, I joined over 30,000 marchers fighting for immigration reform. I went for many reasons – I went because of our broken system, because of my friends in Mexico and El Salvador, because my freedom in bound with theirs and because I am part of an immigrant family, like most Americans. I found myself in wholehearted agreement with what Archbishop Harry Flynn of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis had to say. “We are at a crossroads right now that will define the character of our country… Yes, holding one another accountable to the law is important, but there is also a higher law that forms the basis of our legal justice system and many of our religious traditions. Our higher law is based on the values of human dignity, community and solidarity. And we must not only hold one another accountable to these values -- we must act on them." I could be found guilty in a US court because I have ‘helped’ undocumented immigrants as I hold myself accountable to the higher law. I am proud to say I’m guilty, but I’m furious that a law exists making my actions criminal. It’s more than what’s at stake for those fortunate enough to be citizens it’s about fair immigration laws, it’s about the millions that are here working, going to school, paying taxes and contributing to society while in fear of deportation. Yesterday I marched in solidarity with folks of all colors, ages and backgrounds. We marched to let our leaders know we will not stand by silently and we marched to let each other know you are not alone in your struggle.
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More photos available on Chris' Pics Page

Superstar

Below is my topical sermon for my preaching course. I used the scenario of being at a college retreat where we just finished watching Jesus Christ Superstar and headed into a midnight worship setting.
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Who do we expect Jesus to be? We’ve seen an artistic rendition of what Judas’ could’ve been thinking as he walked with Jesus. The film portrays Jesus as a Savior who is extremely human. So human in fact that it is hard for some to see the Jesus depicted in Jesus Christ Superstar as fully God. I see that His relationships and interactions make Him one who is a divine and human being walking with other humans. His relationships with Mary and Judas as well as His pained interactions with them and the disciples make His humanity real. A real tension is lifted up concerning how Jesus’ fully humanity and full divinity coexist. Often I find myself seeing only the divine part of Jesus although he was fully human so that he could save the fully human us.

The great dose of Jesus’ humanity leads me to entertain different questions than if I had just read the gospels. My question to you tonight is what do you expect of Jesus? The gospels tell us Jesus defeated our death, but what else is there to Jesus? What does Jesus expect of us? Is Jesus one that set the example to be followed?

This question was certainly alive in the 1990’s with the WWJD or “what would Jesus do” craze. Every morning I would wake up and get ready for school, but before I walked out of my room, I would turn to my dresser and choose the WWJD bracelet color that best completed my outfit and I set off for school. I remember sitting in class looking down at my wrist and thinking about what I thought Jesus would do. A few times I even thought, what would Jesus answer on this US History test, Benjamin Franklin or George Washington?

I would eventually decide that Jesus wouldn’t be found in a classroom in the most powerful country in the world studying dead white guys. At this point, I thought that Jesus came so that we could follow his example, so did I need to be so radically Christian that I was a martyr? After all, actions were more powerful than words because they showed what I was really made of. Moreover, I was certainly going to heaven because I was a good person. The great thing about the WWJD craze was my daily focus on Jesus jumped dramatically, and I did pray more. But, Jesus didn’t have to die for me, he had to just set an example for me to follow and I could do the rest.

Now I have a somewhat broader understanding of Jesus, but I still struggle with the Jesus I want and the Jesus of the gospels. Jesus was and still is unpredictable. As I would expect, Jesus was concerned with the poor. However, he also didn’t object to Mary spending the equivalent to a years wages on a pound of pure nard to anoint his feet. What could $20,000 do for a family in sub-Saharan Africa, Mexico of Afghanistan?

In the predictable way, he cleanses the temple. Yet, he does it in a violent way, turning over tables and chairs. What do I, a want be pacifist, do with a violent Jesus? Prof. Fretheim would offer that God reacts to a violent world with violence to bring about peace. I human terms I see this as an absurd concept. As the old saying goes, “Fighting for peace is like having sex for virginity.”

Other than what is recorded about Jesus, how can anyone be so bold as to claim what Jesus would or wouldn’t do in any situation? We can only know what Jesus did not what he would do. Jesus was never predictable. Those who spent the most time with him still couldn’t predict his words or actions. The disciples got it wrong all the time. Not only did they get his teachings wrong, Peter denied Jesus and Judas betrayed Jesus.

The one film clip that I can’t forget is the portrayal of Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane. We see a Jesus who struggles with what has been required of Him. He fervently prays for God to take the cup away. Jesus’ will seems different from God’s. During Jesus’ prayer, He prays telling God that He did not start it and God’s will is hard and God holds every card. Jesus does say He will drink God’s cup of poison. He is willing, but now running with joy to His Godly calling.

The fully human, fully divine Jesus takes up his cross for Peter, the denier, and Judas, the betrayer and for you. Jesus came not to set an example but to save you. We are called not to do what Jesus did, but to take up our cross and follow.

Thirty Hours of Anxiety, Joy and Life

Background:
- On Monday, internship placements came out.
- According to the Confessions syllabus, oral exams over the Small Catechism (roughly 3,000 words) and Augsburg Confession (28 subject headings and a summary sentence) is to be completed by April 5.
- Aaron and I decided Sunday afternoon to spend an extra night in Aberdeen with Mike and Perry.

Monday

9:00
- I’m driving and Aaron is orally teaching me petition one of the Lord’s Prayer. The only parts I have memorized are the 10 Commandments and the explainations of the Apostle's Creed.

Noon
- Aaron and I are still driving toward the cities and Lori calls to tell us that, yes, we are going to be in South Dakota for internship.

4:00
- Mom calls and leaves a voice mail informing us that Tina will be in Ohio over Easter (we’ll be in Ohio too).

8:00
- Aaron and I drive up the hill so that I can signup for an exam time. I find out that Tuesday is the last day to take the exam. Instead of going to the “Internship Celebration or Sorrow Drowning” gathering at the local pub, we go home so I can study like mad. If I can’t pass the exam Tuesday I fail the course!

11:30
- I can’t cram another thing in my head so it’s off to get some ZZZ’s.

Tuesday

8:05
- I wake up freaked out about the exam and study for an hour.

10:45
- I take the exam and pass! Afterward I go to the grocery and buy frozen pizza to celebrate – I NEVER buy frozen pizza.

Noon
- Aaron comes home and we celebrate my triumph over the Small Catechism and Augsburg Confessions with Mario Cart, pizza and beer.

2:00
- Aaron goes to work and I curl up on the couch, turn on Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers and fall asleep 10 minutes later. Is there any better movie to fall asleep to?

6:45
- Prophets class begins with Prof. Fretheim dropping his papers followed by an announcement that he has to get his wife from the airport at 9:30. So, class will get out 20 minutes early.

Right now I’m on cloud 9. In a week from tomorrow, we’ll be in Ohio. Next year we’ll be in South Dakota (which means I can do my Chaplin internship next summer which means our senior year I’ll just take classes AND we can go to the Netherlands in August 2007 to visit Lori). I'm so excited that I just can't hide it!

The Revealing Mirror

This sermon was preached for my Preaching II course and turned in as a catechetical sermon for my Confessions course. My two primary texts are the catechism and Exodus 20.
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The 10 Commandments have become so popular many have jokingly adapted the commandments to fit their context. On a quick Google search, I found the 10 Commandments of suburbs, fashion, nurses and even the commandments of team teaching and Minnesota. This state has it’s own version of the 10 commandments. I found these 10 Minnesotan Commandments posted on Professor Mary Shore’s blog. Please excuse my non-Minnesota accent.
1. Der's only one God, ya know.
2. Don't make that fish on your mantle an idol.
3. Cussing ain't Minnesota nice.
4. Go to church even when you're up nort.
5. Honor your folks.
6. Don't kill. Catch and release.
7. Der's only one Lena for every Ole. No cheatin'.
8. If it ain't your lutefisk, don't take it.
9. Don't be braggin' about how much snow ya shoveled.
10. Keep your mind off your neighbor's hotdish.
First commandment: “You shall have no other gods before me.” Luther’s Small Catechism asks, “What does this mean?” The Small Catechism answers, “We are to fear, love and trust God above all things.”

Let me offer a quick suggestion for answering the question, “do I have any gods before God?” What do I fear, love and trust most? (PAUSE). Thinking in broad strokes, some gods of today are money and possessions, food and alcohol, sex and pornography. For me, I think that I fear, love and trust my work, my bank account, my professors, my husband and family more than God. Anything that I fear, love and trust more than God is my god.

Luther explains in the Large Catechism, “If your faith and trust are right, then your god is the true one. Conversely, where your trust is false and wrong, there you do not have the true God. For these two belong together, faith and God. Anything on which your heart relies and depends, I say, that is really your God.”

It’s easy for me to say, “oh, that stupid law.” It’s the bad law that caused me to sin. If the law wasn’t there then I wouldn’t have sinned. God would realize that I have my plate full with school, work and family; I am living in the 21st century with many vocations to attend to. It’s not me – it’s that outdated oppressive law. Didn’t Christ come to fulfill the law so that we live in God’s good grace?

Before we jump ahead of ourselves let’s imagine for a moment what would happen if the law was fulfilled. For a moment, let’s envision a world where the law is kept in its entirety. The law is not only the first commandment. So that means we are to fear love and trust God above all things, but we also are keeping the other 9 commandments are as well. With the world full of the law what would or wouldn’t be present? (PAUSE) First I notice a few absences, I see the lack of war, poverty, disease, murder, rape and hunger. In addition to loosing bad aspects, we gain things too. Folks in El Salvador have clean drinking water, universal healthcare is available for the poorest African and or environment is healthy. We would be righteous and justified. We would fulfill God’s law and have no need for Christ.

The truth is, we are sinners and cannot fulfill the law. The law is not bad. In fact, the law is God’s good gift for ordering our lives. We Lutherans agree that there are two main uses of the law. First, it establishes order and justice in creation. This use of the law should be the basis to structure our life here on earth in our structures, institutions, and relationships – in our family life, our work and economics, our church organization, and in our lives as citizens. This use law is intended to establish order for those relationships and to make sure they are just.

The second use of the law is to show us our sin. If we were to examine ourselves by the 10 Commandments, we would never make it past the first commandment without being convicted, as we explored at the beginning of the sermon. The law is a mirror for self-examination – it shows us our sin so that we realize our need for Christ.

We are called to live in accordance with the law, but our salvation does not depend on this. We are justified by faith in the work of Christ, not the law. Christ came for us, sinners, the ones who do not keep God’s good just law. The ones that don’t even keep the first commandment. Christ came even before we saw our sin reflected in the 10 commandments.

Thanks be to God

Hi Ho, Hi Ho, to South Dakota We Go

This evening we had our last internship orientation meeting. After the session, Aaron and I went to talk to our relater about our preference to be in Sioux Falls and Colton, South Dakota for the coming year. She was super excited and told us in a quiet tone, “you know, married couples are placed first.” Translation, “you two are going to South Dakota for internship.” This excited me for a number of reasons.

1.I’ll be at Augustana College
a.Colleges have nice breaks
b.Internship will be 9 months instead of 12

2.Summer of 2007 I can do my CPE (aka Clinical Pastoral Education or chaplin)

3.We’ll be in South Dakota in a city with people we know and family an hour and a half away

Aaron and I will make the move to Presho, South Dakota this summer to take over for a pastor on sabbatical. Aaron is responsible for the 3 point perish and I’ll be taking online classes, enjoying the nearby lake and volunteering a few days in Pierre. Pluses here, again, close to family, and I’ll also be free to travel to Ohio for my Grandma’s 90th birthday in the beginning of August.

(Teresa, I’m looking forward to your call to express your excitement!)

Navy Man Returns His Wings

This letter was posted on Truthout. It speaks for itself.
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President George W. Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, D.C. 20500

Dear Mr. President:

As a young man I was honored to serve our nation as a commissioned officer and helicopter pilot in the US Navy. Before me in WWII, my father defended the country spending two years in the Pacific aboard the USS Hornet (CV-14). We were patriots sworn "to protect and defend". Today I conclude that you have dishonored our service and the Constitution and principles of our oath. My dad was buried with full military honors so I cannot act for him. But for myself, I return enclosed the symbols of my years of service: the shoulder boards of my rank and my Naval Aviator's wings.

Until your administration, I believed it was inconceivable that the United States would ever initiate an aggressive and preemptive war against a country that posed no threat to us. Until your administration, I thought it was impossible for our nation to take hundreds of persons into custody without provable charges of any kind, and to "disappear" them into holes like Gitmo, Abu Ghraib and Bagram. Until your administration, in my wildest legal fantasy I could not imagine a US Attorney General seeking to justify torture or a President first stating his intent to veto an anti-torture law, and then adding a "signing statement" that he intends to ignore such law as he sees fit. I do not want these things done in my name.

As a citizen, a patriot, a parent and grandparent, a lawyer and law teacher I am left with such a feeling of loss and helplessness. I think of myself as a good American and I ask myself what can I do when I see the face of evil? Illegal and immoral war, torture and confinement for life without trial have never been part of our Constitutional tradition. But my vote has become meaningless because I live in a safe district drawn by your political party. My congressman is unresponsive to my concerns because his time is filled with lobbyists' largess. Protests are limited to your "free speech zones", out of sight of the parade. Even speaking openly is to risk being labeled un-American, pro-terrorist or anti-troops. And I am a disciplined pacifist, so any violent act is out of the question.

Nevertheless, to remain silent is to let you think I approve or support your actions. I do not. So, I am saddened to give up my wings and bars. They were hard won and my parents and wife were as proud as I was when I earned them over forty years ago. But I hate the torture and death you have caused more than I value their symbolism. Giving them up makes me cry for my beloved country.

Joseph W. DuRocher

Let It Snow

At 3am this morning our snowcast was 1-3 inches, now it’s 6-9, WAHOO! It's hard to believe the forecast when just two days ago I was playing Frisbee and laying on a picnic table in a t-shirt and sandals. Nevertheless, I’ve been waiting for some big snow and here it comes. So far this year we haven’t been around for a big snowfall to play snowfootball in. Tonight we just might get the snow to make this winter pastime a reality – YEAH SNOW!

Hoping Against Hope

My latest sermon on based on Romans 4:13-25.
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Abraham had faith. He was not one who demanded miracles, signs and wonders. He had faith in God before he trusted God. God made promises to Abraham - HUGE promises. God said, “this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of a multitude of nations.” The problem with the covenant - Abraham didn’t have any children. This would be hard to believe for a young guy in his 20’s but Abraham was 99 and without even one child when this promise of having descendants was made to him. At Abraham’s age, he should be worried about heart disease, cancer or Medicare changes. He should not be concerned with conceiving a child. Let’s not forget about his wife, Sarah, who was barren and past childbearing age too. She too should be worried about the issues of aging, maybe Botox or a face lift. Yet, these two hoped against hope for the promise to be fulfilled.

God also promises Abraham saying, “To your descendants I give this land.” Abraham placed hope in God who promised many things to him. For this promise to be fulfilled Abraham not only needed a child but also land. Abraham hoped against hope that these things would come true.

How often do I hope against hope? Many times it is hard to trust promises. We are living in an age where promises are frequently broken and where hope can be hard to come by. What do we place our hope in? Are we hoping for an unexpected scholarship to pay the bills, hoping for a sunny warm day when we can set homework aside for a few hours and relax? Are we hoping for a miracle drug to cure a loved one? I must admit I am hoping against hope for all of these things.

For years my cousin Zack’s health problems were misdiagnosed. Finally, at age 5 his condition was correctly identified as Autism. His parents, my aunt and uncle did not know what to think. They had no clue what Autism was or what this diagnosis meant. Their immediate thought was that of hope. The hope that he would get better one day, somehow. The thought process was we’ll get him the right therapy and use medication if we must, but he’ll get better.

As he got older, we realized the implications of Zack’s condition. He understands and responds to words, but he cannot use these words for his own communication. He cannot verbally tell others he wants a cheeseburger instead of chocolate pudding or that he wants to swim instead of swing. He doesn’t respond to physical contact like you and I do. Zack is more content ripping a telephone book into strips than being held or cuddled.

Because of the late diagnosis, Zack missed what is commonly known as the ‘learning window’. However, the doctors say that he can learn a skill for the workplace. So now he is learning how to fold sheets, towels and washcloths so that he can one day work at a hotel in housekeeping.

Zack’s dad has tried every treatment he can find, hoping against hope that something will work. Hoping that one-day Zack will begin to speak and be nurtured by the love and affection he receives. My uncle frequently looks through multiple search engines for the latest information and medical breakthroughs.

I remember learning about one of these breakthroughs while I was in college. A drug that would normally be used for another illness was prescribed for an autistic child. While normally not intended for treating autism, this drug worked a miracle for the autistic boy. Within days of taking the medication, the 10 year old boy began to speak and all the symptoms of autism were gone. The wall of silence crumbled and blank stares were shattered with smiles. My uncle found this drug available through an Internet pharmacy operating in England. He bought drug and gave it to Zack hoping against hope that the same results would occur.

Unlike Zack’s experience, Abraham had promises to hope in. Abraham had a promise from God. From a world as Abraham knew it, the deck was stacked against God’s promises. Abraham had promises from God. The promises that God makes, God keeps.

My families hope against hope comes in a different form for Zack. I can’t hope in a promise of Zack being healed from autism. God has made no such promise. The drugs from England provided some positive behavioral modification, but Zack still lives with autism.

The hope in the promise of healing from the English drugs is not the same hope in a promises made by God.

We talk about promises, but what promises does God make to you and me and Zack?

We are promised that God will be with us in all circumstances, near to us, dear to us, at our side. As God was with Abraham, so God continues with us in Christ. There is nothing we have done or could do to deserve this gift.

We are promised that in Christ we shall live forever with Christ, that we shall never die, that Christ conquered death and that we shall live eternally with God. We did nothing to earn or deserve eternal life with God.

Like us, Abraham didn’t earn what was promised, but thanks be to God that the fulfillment of the promise didn’t depend on the works of Abraham. We remember and celebrate the promise given to Abraham and Sarah still because of the ever faithfulness of God’s word. And it is this word, this promise from God, in which we hope against hope.

Bathroom Bugs

One night, I entered the bathroom. My intentions were to brush my teeth when - lo and behold - a ladybug had entered the cabinet behind our mirror. Yes, a ladybug was in the bathroom snuggled in beside my toothpaste. Instead of killing it myself, I quickly remembered why I married Aaron. He has a gift for killing ladybugs and their cousins.

Story two – one year earlier: One early morning (think 4am) we were at a Shalom Hill Farm, a retreat center in rural Minnesota. The place where we were staying had an Asian Beetle infestation. So, Aaron and I were fast asleep when Aaron jumped out of bed and began shaking his head and making scary noises. Somehow, the light came on and he managed to say, “there’s an Asian beetle in my ear!” It took me a good minute or two to wake up enough to laugh, then another 3 minutes to settle down enough to help. We spent the next 20 minutes sticking things (pen caps, paper clips and finally tweezers) in his ear trying to get it out. That morning he stomped the beetle so many times you’ve thought he was trying to stomp it to the bedrock below.

Henceforth he shall be known as Aaron the Lady Bug/Asian Beetle Slayer.

Not that I don’t value Aaron’s work, but to see a real killer in action check out what Wesley killed in his bathroom at
Wesley's Bathroom Kill.