A Very Interesting Week

I have had such an interesting week so far that I really felt the need to share some of it tonight. It started on Sunday with Church of course but then I helped the worship band for whom I run sound during the service, move equipment out to a local hotel for the Fall Synod Theological Conference. So we got set-up just before the start of the conference on Sunday evening. I had already made arrangements to take the day off on Tuesday to run sound during the contemporary worship service for the conference, but as things progressed on Sunday it was clear that there would be need for sound on Monday morning as well so I volunteered to do it. After the Monday service I stayed to hear Susan Briehl discuss the Psalms. Wow!! I was pretty moved by her discussion and she made me realize the importance of the psalms in our life. Thanks Susan from the sound guy in the back!
So of course Tuesday I was there as well and enjoyed the contemporary service. The band of course played beautifully...and they made me cry which happens on occasion.
BTW...If you ever get a chance to sit in a room FULL of pastors during a service DO IT!! I highly recommend it. It is fun to watch their different styles in the way they each worship and it is very moving. And if you think it would be a room of stuffed shirts...NO WAY. And if the bishop is reading this...awesome sermon!!
I digress...So tonight we took all of the confirmation classes to hear a very inspiring speaker, Tony Campolo. Again WOW!! Very moving, he gets right to the heart with the kids. Absolutely incredible to hear him speak about his personal journey's and those around him. He was incredible and moving.
So to sum this up I believe I have had a pretty incredible week so far and filled with inspiration. Those pastors in that conference don't know it but they helped to reinvigorate my spirit and I think God is speaking to me. I just need to listen a little closer.
In Him!

In Love with God

Faith moment given at Messiah Lutheran Church Oct 19, 2008

 

In love with God

I am going to speak from the heart. I want to talk about Love. So I want to talk about the first time I fell in Love. Let's go back to late summer 1982. Star Trek Wrath of Kahn was released, and for the ladies…An Officer and a Gentleman, Music, Journey's Open Arms was big hit, one of my favorites Shadows of the Night by Pat Benatar, or how about Workin for the Weekend, or Shakin by Eddie Money.

Nancy and I had been dating on and off for about a year at that point. One night she was dropping me off at my house when as I was getting out of the car, she said; "I Love You"

My response; "I Know"

I got out of the car and went in the house. Well even back then it took a smack over the head for me to realize a good thing.

A few days later though, I had the massive realization that I LOVED HER TOO!

I also realized that I would do things for her that I had never done for anybody else in my life. Like wear the pink IZOD polo shirt she bought for me, or paint the kitchen in our house in Tucson, Dusty Rose because after all, that was the color of the flowers at our wedding. But that's what you do when you're in love right?

You do things you wouldn't have done for just anyone.

And when the girls came into our lives it was the same way. Volunteer to haul cases of girl scout cookies around, or spend hours making sure the science fair presentation was done, or willing to give an organ just so your child doesn't need to suffer through shots and blood tests multiple times a day. But these are things that we do because we love our children.

But let's consider for a moment the greatest love of all.

God's Love

Just consider all God has done in the name of Love for us.

The heavens and earth, the fish in the lakes, (so Dave can catch them with one of those rappala's in his tackle box), the birds, the trees, summer & winter, and more winter, and more winter…did I mention winter? Roofs over our heads, food in our mouths, children singing at the Christmas program, rain, the warm summer breeze during outdoor worship service (ok the breeze at outdoor worship service, not so warm)

One thing I have learned though about love is that when you're in love you give freely with no expectations of receiving. You see, when you love like Nancy loved me it wasn't about my response, it was how she felt, and nothing was going to change that for her (Thanks God). She knew deep in her heart that I would come around to her way of thinking with a little time. In the mean time, she continued to give.

So whether you realize it or not God continues to give his love to us freely. Want Proof? Right there on the wall is the proof. He so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son and whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

He gave his son because he loves us.

And all he asked in return was to believe in him.

He says to us daily "I Love You"

How do you answer him?

"I Know"?

Or do you answer him

"I Love You Too"

Do you answer him?

Now I know your response to the next thing I say will be "Wrong Religion" and your right, "it's not act's that will get you to heaven", but, its acts that are done to show our love for God. Acts like giving of our time to help with worship, or KFC, giving of our talents to help paint, or sing, or help in the nursery, and yes even giving of our money to support the various ministries here and throughout our community and the world, like the building fund, like echo food shelf, like Kid's Against Hunger.

So are you "In Him"?

Are you in love with God like he is in love with you?

I am

I am in love with God.

I am "In Him"

I wasn't always though.

I said to him a lot more times than I did to Nancy, "I Know"

So how did I fall in love with God?

Well he came to me two years ago and said "I Love You", and for the first time I said "I Love You Too"

But that just wasn't enough, I had to show him I love him, I need to prove my love, Not to you, not to the world but to HIM. I WANT to prove my love to him. I want to do things to please him and I know, I realize it doesn't help me get into heaven it doesn't give me eternal life because I sit in back and run the sound and the powerpoint slides. It doesn't get me into heaven because I come to work with the 7^th grade confirmation class. It doesn't get me into heaven because I am in bible study…none of it get's me there and honestly I am not worthy to be there…the things I have done…the things I have said…there isn't enough deeds in this world to get me into heaven. I do these things BECAUSE I love him. Loving God makes you want to give…makes you want to do…to do anything you can…to show your love for him. To LOVE HIM…to be IN HIM.

Do you want to Love Him? Read this (the bible) and you will. You can't help but love him. Pray to him, thank him, and beg him to forgive you, listen to him, worship him, praise him, laugh at his jokes, yell at him when you feel he hasn't been fair with you, but always…always…remember to tell HIM you love him.

Pray with me,

Dear father, thanks for your sense of humor, thanks for your support, thanks for my wonderful family, thanks for my wonderful church family, thanks for bringing me back to you and willing to accept me even after all of the times I rejected your love, thanks for the wonderful things you have brought into my life with you, I ask only one thing, continue to love us and know that we love you.

Amen

Men's Prayer Breakfast a personal invitation

I haven't discussed the prayer breakfasts much after so let me tell you about them now. We have had some wonderful speakers talking about there faith in work and in life. And our next will be about faith and family. I know Lee Timmerman's Understanding Christ sacrifice through a father's eye's is moving and inspirational. I know this will be a very timely message of the season understanding the loss of a child. I encourage all men to join us on March 8, 2008 at Hosanna Lutheran Church to hear this message. The breakfast starts with food and fellowship at 9:00 AM. The past breakfast's were Egg Bake, sausage, bacon, Juice, Coffee, and these incredible Cinnamon Rolls. Now I can tell you from purely a professional eaters stand point...the food at each of these breakfast's has been incredible!! While we are planning to change the menu a bit I have been assured that the Cinnamon Rolls will be on the menu. And trust me Man CAN live by bread alone if the bread is baked with Cinnamon in it!! The fellowship is great too because I have had the opportunity to meet other men from many churches in our area. And I have even connected with people I know or have met and worked with in the past. It is an incredible time for learning and growing in my Christian faith. If you are interested in attending we are selling tickets in order to ensure that we are paying for breakfast AND it is a great opportunity for us to donate to a local Charity. We have chosen a different charity each time and while I was not at the last committee meeting I am sure the proceeds will go to worthy cause. The ticket's are $10.00 and can be purchased at the breakfast. In addition, we also gave away a devotional for men that I read everyday before I start my work day and I hope will help the men that won to grow in their faith as well. I hope to see you at the breakfast and hope that we continue to grow in attendance and in our faith. By the way we do an opening and closing devotional prayer from different pastors so if you are a pastor and would like to do the devotional prayer or even host the breakfast at your church please send me an email and we would be happy to discuss our upcoming events.

Dreadfully absent

I know I have been dreadfully absent from writing on my blog but God has been very busy in my heart and body. I have been involved in two Bible study groups at church and with the Fellowship and Rec committee not to mention the Men's prayer breakfast committee. And tonight on my way home from church God moved me yet again in another direction. I don't think this is the right time to talk about it yet but suffice it to say even I can't believe God would call ME in this direction. But isn't it just like us to question...I am learning though he doesn't need to tell me twice...I listen and I will obey...Your will be done.
Amen

Mankato Area Men's Prayer Breakfast

Mankato Area Men's Prayer Breakfast
An Opportunity to share fellowship and giving with Mankato Area Christian Men

Guest Speaker: Tim Stromer
Mankato Director Kid's Against Hunger
Tim will discuss his faith journey and how he was lead to KAH

Saturday January 26, 2008
Hosanna Lutheran Church
105 Hosanna Drive. Mankato, MN

Doors Open - 8:30
Breakfast - 9:00
Speaker - 10:00

Tickets: $10.00
Proceeds to benefit community charities

For information or tickets contact:
Messiah Lutheran Church - 507-387-5537
Hosanna Lutheran Church - 507-388-1766
Email: jgangerjt@gmail.com