P2 at Christ Lutheran, Winnipeg

Just in time for mother’s Day. God bless all Moms and those who stand in for Moms!

The other week, our synod – the churchly geographical region we belong to within the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada – met in convention. Usually it’s a nice time of visiting with folks from around the synod, only to be interrupted by pesky church budgets, elections and such. Thank God for the good food and fine hospitality from the folks in Beausejour and area that made the business part bearable.

Well, one of the things we voted on was a national proposal to shrink the number of synods in our ELCIC from 5 to 3. SK was to join with MB, while AB is to join with BC, in a cost-saving move, as we expertly manage the decline of our church. Our synod council indicated neither for or against the amalgamation, which probably puts them in hot water with the higher-ups, but it spoke volumes to me. And, when it came to the vote, our synod voted a big NO to joining with SK. Turns out we like things the way they are, and two-thirds said so.

What that means in the larger picture, I do not know, but I imagine there’s some national church office heads being scratched as they try to put a good spin on this, and figure out what to do next. Quite the ecclesiastical monkey wrench we wield here in our little corner of Canada. We were the first synod to vote, and other synods are taking note. Thank God for the wrenches!

I showed this version on Easter Sunday at church – cool use of the word picture,

Just hit play.

It’s been 14 years since the US Food and Drug Administration approved the use of Viagra. Wow. That little blue pill has certainly become popular.

Pfizer was looking for a treatment for high blood pressure and angina – a heart condition – when they noticed the … ahem … the side effects of their little pill. Looking for one thing, in a serendipitous event, they found another.

In 1754; author Horace Walpole named a faculty possessed by the heroes of a fairy tale called The Three Princes of Serendip “serendipity.” It’s an aptitude for making desirable discoveries by accident.

We sometimes call things “coincidence.” You are thinking of someone, and they call. We are looking for one thing and find another. Our church administrator’s reliable Jeep stalled at an intersection, just as she would have pulled into the path of a car running a red light. It had never stalled before and has never since. Coincidence? I think not.

I think all of those things – serendipity, coincidence, synchronicity – are “God showing off,” as my friend Shannon used to say. God sometimes intervenes. I don’t know how or why – probably because He loves us – but God intervenes.

Go ahead. Click the link. You know you want to. What are ya, chicken?

http://ergofabulous.org/luther/?

Jeff Bethke’s poetic rant nails it.

Paul Shrofel is – let’s see – Eddy and Emma Hilderman’s grandson, Randy and Ruth’s son, Karin Adam’s brother. And here he is working with jazz singer, Sophie Milman. Paul plays piano, and co-wrote the sixth song in the set. Enjoy.

CBC Concerts on Demand – Sophie Milman

Here’s an air wick commercial in Czech? Croatian? Slovenian? that uses that song – “So Long, You Fool” :

Pretty cool for a Christ Lutheran kid.

If Jesus wanted to, he would like us on Facebook. But He usually doesn’t work that way.

Better still, Jesus likes us – make that LOVES us as we are, in real time and real life. Not virtually, not digitally, but actually and in person, Jesus, Lord of lords, King of kings, Creator of the universe, in whose death we find forgiveness of sins, life and salvation – that same Jesus is thrilled about us. He is not tired of us for always screwing up. Instead, He loves when we come with our sins for his plenteous forgiveness. He is not disgusted by our attitudes and actions that hurt, maim, kill and destroy. He understands and well provides victory conquering strife, to quote a hymn by Terry Dittmer. Jesus loves us, and on Facebook he would LIKE us. Really.

on Wednesday, and it was holy ground, there in the CCU, with his family gathered ’round. Krista, the nurse, got the water and some swabs, and she okayed the 10 of us at the bedside with him. The grace of God, right there. Thank you, Jesus.