Thoughts from a rambling Pastor

This morning at 8:30am --- prime getting the kids dressed, fed, and out the door to daycare time --- a call came into my cell phone that I didn't recognize.  It was a really weird area code too.  I decided I should probably answer it.

"This is Sarah,"  I say.
"Yes Sarah, can I talk with your husband who is a Pastor," says the voice on the other end.

Taken back I say, "This is the Pastor."

He sounded like he had never heard of a female Pastor.  Like I was some new kind of phenomenon.  He was trying to sell this bible on audio thing but was more interested in the fact that I was a female Pastor.

Most days I forget that a female Pastor isn't that common.... or I should say, many people haven't caught up to the actuality of female Pastors.  At seminary, and the conference I am currently in, we are half male and half female.  It's funny how it takes the church, and people in the church, many years to catch up to actual life and the reality around them.

Why is it that the church feels so behind the rest of the world?  Why do we spend so much time fighting and worrying about the carpet, front doors, the kitchen, all the details, and don't get that passionate about the actual mission of the Word!?!?!

I think that's why young people aren't coming to church... or at least part of the reason.  If that is all the church is about, who wants to be a part of that?

Are we relevant to todays families?  Do we make going to church important to everyday life.  Do I feed people on a Sunday morning?  How can I do that better?  How can WE do that better?

Change

Ecclesiastes 3  (The Message Bible)

There's a Right Time for Everything

 ¹ There's an opportune time to do things, a right time for everything on the earth: 

 ^2-8 A right time for birth and another for death, 
   A right time to plant and another to reap, 
   A right time to kill and another to heal, 
   A right time to destroy and another to construct, 
   A right time to cry and another to laugh, 
   A right time to lament and another to cheer, 
   A right time to make love and another to abstain, 
   A right time to embrace and another to part, 
   A right time to search and another to count your losses, 
   A right time to hold on and another to let go, 
   A right time to rip out and another to mend, 
   A right time to shut up and another to speak up, 
   A right time to love and another to hate, 
   A right time to wage war and another to make peace.

 ^9-13 But in the end, does it really make a difference what anyone does? I've had a good look at what God has given us to do—busywork, mostly. True, God made everything beautiful in itself and in its time—but he's left us in the dark, so we can never know what God is up to, whether he's coming or going. I've decided that there's nothing better to do than go ahead and have a good time and get the most we can out of life. That's it—eat, drink, and make the most of your job. It's God's gift.

 ¹⁴ I've also concluded that whatever God does, that's the way it's going to be, always. No addition, no subtraction. God's done it and that's it. That's so we'll quit asking questions and simply worship in holy fear.
 ¹⁵ Whatever was, is.
   Whatever will be, is.
   That's how it always is with God.

Lately I have been really into reading scripture from the message bible.  I just love the freedom and insight into some of the translations.  

AND today as I think through our decision to move to Pierre, South Dakota, I am struck by the words from Ecclesiastes.  


There are moments when I see God's plan so clearly and then there are moments that I question it.  I just need to "quit asking questions and simply worship in holy fear."  God knows what will be, what was, and how it will all work out.  And I need to stop questioning that.  


Don't get me wrong.  We are really excited for our family but sad to say good-bye.  Hard to say good-bye.  


So we go forward trusting in God.  And hoping that some packing gnomes show up somewhere along the way.  I have found my unpacking gnomes (Eli and Emma) I just need to find the ones that help pack.   

Spring

In need of some Spring and new life.  It's still cold and snowy outside my window, so inside my blog I do what I want!  So, Spring it is!

Children's Sermon = Funny

This Sunday I had one of those children sermon moments.... One of those children sermons that leaves those unfortunate parents cringing at their child's comments... One of those children sermon moments that is just plain old hilarious!

So... the Old Testament text was about Adam and Eve.

I started out the message talking about plants.. and how some plants can be harmful to you if you eat them.  And how in the garden of eden God told Adam and Eve that the one tree would hurt them if the ate it.  They learned about the story of Adam and Eve in Sunday School, so I asked them what happened....

"They ate the apple!" some of them said.
"Yup, you are right.  They at the apple,"  I replied back.

Then, before I could ask another question one little boy says very loud, "AND then what happened next is my FAVORITE PART!!!!  They were NAKED!"

It was awesome!  Poor parents... but sooooo funny!   Extremely hard to come back from that one as the Pastor, but totally worth it.


On a side note, we lived through our first round of the stomach flu at the Goldammer household.  Not the worst thing in the world, but glad we are done.  I am always thankful that I don't know about those days in advance. It's much easier to live through it while it is happening and look back and say, wow I'm glad we don't have to do that again anytime soon!


Also.... things are a changing... I feel the winds of change in the air..... Stay tuned ..............

Mrs Jackle and Hyde ?

A quick blog for this Wed morning. 

First a little note:  I DON'T HAVE TO TEACH CONFIRMATION TONIGHT!!!!  Don't get me wrong I love the kids and I do really like confirmation, BUT with that being said, it feels really good to have a Wed off from responsibilities!  AND to spend with the fam. 

So on to my thought for the day.

I have been thinking a lot about our trip up to the Cities.  It really felt like going home.  As we drove into town it felt as if we never left and that we were going to drive to the apartments, walk up the stairs, and be home.

I found that I missed the Cities more than I realized and would love to just hang out in Uptown, watch the people, and just be trendy.  I miss the culture.  The fact that you can be just about anyone and fit in.  I miss family and all of the things to do.  I even miss the traffic (gasp). 

But then there is that otherside of me ....

The side that loves the country.  I love that everyday that I take the kids to daycare I get to drive on gravel road for about 3 blocks.  Makes me feel a little bit more country.  I love that I can drive 3 blocks and be out of town.  The stars are so much brighter.  Life is simpler.  I know the doctors and they know me.  I know everyone who owns and works uptown and they all know me.  In some ways that makes like simpler. 

I could go on and on about the things I don't like about both.  I could go on and on about the frustrations that come and have come with both settings. 

I think the question that I am really asking is:  What do I really want?  And where is God calling me to be?  What is good for me and most importantly my family? 

These questions I will struggle with for a few months, maybe more.  These two questions need to be resolved and I don't have any of the answers yet.  As I shake my magic eight ball and look for answers, 8 words come to mind.  "Be Still And Know That I am God." 

....... Wish I was better at being still   :) 

Anyone out there?!?!?!

I have this WHOLE week off!!!  AND I have so many things on my to do list.  One of which is to blog 3 times this week.  We will see how this goes.

This last weekend we went up to the Cities.  Kind of as a family vacation and so Eric could go to the Vikings game.  It was amazing to home much I miss the Cities.  I didn't think I would ever say that but it was like going home.  So much going on, so much to do, family, traffic (yes even the traffic), just a few things that I miss. 

Sunday afternoon I took Eli and Emma over to the Children's Museum while Eric was a the game.  We had a rocking good time but I could have gotten the worst mother of the year award.  We were in the toddler/baby room and I turned around for 2 seconds and Eli slipped out the door, or someone let him out.. grrr...  But I turned around and couldn't see him anymore.  I finally found him in one of the other rooms playing with some water, so typical Eli to go find some form of water to play in.  I just about crapped my pants thinking he ran off or someone took him.  At about that time I decided it was lunch time and nap time.  So we left.  Regardless of that little incident, I would call the morning a success.

On our way home Monday we stopped at the Albertville Mall and have most of our Christmas shopping done.  Feels REALLY good to be almost done.  We had such a good time and only a few meltdowns... on and the kids only had a few meltdowns too.  :) 

So that was the start of my "week off".  I have so much to do and it's almost 2:30pm.  I feel a little guilty by taking the kids to daycare while I sit at home and blog but not guilty enough.  We bought a really nice chest, that we can also sit on, to put our shoes in by the door.  I put that together this morning.  I unpacked from this weekend.  Collected, sorted, and am doing laundry... which for those of you with children know how that is a job in and of itself.  I haven't gotten to folding yet.  I have started cleaning.... UGH!  And at 5 I need to go pick up the kids.... wish I could add a couple of hours to my day. 

Eric challenged me to relax, take a nap, read, and not do anything on my vacation.  HAHAHAHA... he is so funny!  I was planning on doing that this afternoon but it doesn't look like it's going to happen.  I have too much to do and would rather get all of it done so I can sit in a clean house and relax and not think about all the stuff that needs to get done.  Hopefully by Friday I can relax.... or I will have to clean again by than.  Tomorrow isn't looking good for relaxing because I have an eye appointment in GF. 

So here's to mental health weeks! 

I'M BACK

.... or at least going to work on posting more.


Sorry I took such a long sabbatical.  Oh how I have missed you blog world!  And oh how life has changed.

Not too many good thoughts coming my way this afternoon.  I had a funeral this morning and I think it took all of my brain cells.

My goal for November is to post at least three times a week.

So... more to come!