Thanksgiving Eve thoughts

 Oh give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good, His steadfast love endures forever. (Psalm 107:1 ESV) That is where we are at right now. It is Thanksgiving Eve, meaning that tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day. (I know, that is something that goes without saying, though I had to say it.) We are giving thanks for the many blessings that the Lord gives to us each day. He watches over us and cares for us each and every day, often in ways that we don't even recognize. That is the joy of the steadfast love of the Lord, it comes without our merit or worthiness, without our seeing it and without our asking. Yes, we do see His love at times, but mostly, it comes to us as we live out our lives, without knowing that He is working in our lives.

Do you give thanks? I mean, really give thanks? Paul writes, Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus. (1 Thess. 5:18 ESV) Does that means that I am to give thanks even those situations that I don't really like? Today it is raining. I thank God for the rain because it has been really dry. But then again, why did God have to allow the rain today, when people are travelling? And why is it raining right now, the day in which we will have a total of 5 dogs in the yard, meaning that there will be more of a mess to clean up? Am I thankful for the mud? And the mess? While I might be grumbling about it, I am working at being thankful for the mud. Thank You God for the rain and the mud. I can't have one without the other. Help me to be thankful, dear Lord.

This is a challenging time for us. There is such a difference in opinions as things are moving forward. To shut down or not to shut down. To keep the restaraunt open or to close it down. To let families get together or to turn them in to the police because they are getting together. What are you going to do? Can we give thanks in this time? 

Yes, we can. We still have much to give thanks for. How can I give thanks for the person who has covid? I give thanks that they are not alone but that the Lord is still with them, giving them care at home or in the hospitals. I give thanks for the health care staff. I give thanks for the medicine. I give thanks to the Lord even in this difficult time. The fact is, the Lord is still with us. When covid has passed us by, due to the vaccine and the fact that it runs its course, there will be another illness that we will face. There will still be cancer, heart disease, diabetes, depression, anxiety, fear, and a whole host of other things that people face each day. It seems to be that because of covid, we have forgotten this fact. The Lord is with us in health and in illness, in good times and bad times, when we are happy and when we are sad. Always. In all things, the Lord says, I am with you always. And again, I will never leave you or forsake you. These promises are sure and certain. You can hold fast to the Lord in faith in all that you are facing.

Giving thanks. I thank God for a new knee. I had to continue to thank Him for that knee even when it was painful and didn't seem to be going as quickly as I would have liked. I thank God for the doctors and nurses, for the physical therapists and for all those who encouraged and prayed for me. I had so much to give thanks for with the replacement. I still have much to give thanks for in my life. I thank God that my heart spasms have ceased. I was having coronary artery heart spasms (the small vessels on the outside of my heart would spasm closed) throughout the day. I was taking nitro several times a day (thank You Lord for that nitro because it really helped and continued to help me continue to live my daily life).  I had much to give thanks for as it was going on. And now that I haven't had any spasms here in 2020 (what a strange thing, in this crazy year, the heart spasms stopped). I give thanks to the Lord as He helped me through the issues for over 8 years, and I give thanks that it has now stopped. So much to give thanks for at this time.

I give thanks for being allowed to continue to serve the Church as a pastor in God's church. I rejoice that I have the opportunity to preach and teach the Word. I rejoice that I can bring God's peace and strength to people who are struggling. I rejoice that I have served an ordained minister since 1987. I think about what God has done through the ministry that He gave me. I thank Him that I am able to be this under-shepherd of the Good Shepherd. I give thanks because I am given this chance to serve the people of St. John Lutheran Church, Clarinda, IA. It thank God that I was allowed to serve people in each of the congregations of which I have been their pastor. I thank God for serving the Lord through the LWML in the congregation, zones, districts and national. I would never have thought I would be serving Him as I have been through these years. I thank the Lord for being able to bring the gospel to so many people in so many places. 

Thank You Lord! Thank You for all that You have done and continue to do for me and through me. I give thanks with a grateful heart. Now, I look foward to the rest of today and these next couple days. I will be able to lead worship tomorrow. And celebrate with my family. Wow! What a wonderful life I have been blessed with. Thanks God.

Give thanks, with a grateful heart!

 I give thanks for turkey. Yes, for turkey. I really like turkey. I like it on Thanskgiving Day. I like turkey and cheese sandwiches with mustard and mayo. I like turkey leftovers. Penny makes some great turkey dishes. Turkey is really a wonderful bird to cook and eat. Yes, there are other good birds - chicken, pheasant, goose, duck, quail and the like. I like them as well. 

But at this time of the year, there is nothing like a good turkey. The smell of it cooking. The beauty of a nicely cooked turkey. The taste, the texture, oh my! Isn't it wonderful? You might not agree with me. But I give thanks for turkey.

I give thanks for many things. I give thanks for the opportunity to worship the Lord. I give thanks that I can go into the house of God, lift up my voice in praise, song and prayer, and receive the body and blood of Jesus Christ in the Lord's Supper. I rejoice that I can join together with other believers in Jesus Christ. I give thanks that I can share the love of Christ with other people. I thank the Lord that I live in a country where worship is allowed. I thank and praise God for the opportunity that I have to gather with family and celebrate the wonder of the season. 

I thank the Lord for friends. I have had many friends throughout the years. I think back to being at the Lutheran School Association in Decatur, IL and having a good friend named Garland Laskowski. We went to movies together. I don't know what happened to Garland as we went to different high schools and drifted apart. But as a kid, he was a good friend. Then I remember Gary Younger, Gary Matthews, Tom Hills, Bobby , John, and a whole host of other guys that I had as friends in high school. Yes, we moved on with our lives and went different directions. But growing up, it was a lot of fun. There were neighbor kids like Ron Tapscott, Gary and Larry, Ralph and Karl. Lots of good times, lots of fun. The Lord blessed me as I was growing up to have friends to hang out with. Thanks Lord! What a great time to grow up. We spent hours outdoors, doing all sorts of things. Fishing, golfing, playing war in the hills in Nelson Park, riding bikes, playing ball in the street (having to stop whenever a car came), trying to keep the ball from rolling down into the sewer drain (and lots were lost in that drain). Yes, I can think back and give thanks for growing up.

I had a good church to grow up in. Trinity Lutheran in Decatur, IL was just down the road from us. We would walk to Sunday School and church, then when we were older, drove. Mom made sure we were there week after week. I enjoyed going to SS, cause I was able to see my friends, the ones I went to school at LSA with, and learned about Jesus at the same time. I didn't realize how important that was untill I was older. But those years in SS were ones that really helped me to know who Jesus was and what He continues to do for me. I see that it is important for parents to get their kids to SS. So many don't. Why? Because they are lazy, they have other things that they prefer to do, or they just don't want to get going on Sunday morning, or whatever other reason. If you don't teach kids when they are young, you are robbing them of more than just childhood memores. You could well be robbing them of their eternal life. They might not continue in that faith in Jesus if they don't learn about Him as a child. 

I give thanks for the many teachers I have had through they years. Some have been really good. Some have not been so good. But they all did what they thought was best. I connected with some teachers and did not connect with others. That wasn't always their fault. There were times I didn't give them the opportunity to actually teach me. I think about Mr. Seidel in high school who helped me to grow to love photography. I think about Frau Weiss in high school who taught me German. I think about Mr. Ponivas, Miss Reeves, and others at LSA who helped me learn and grow. It amazes me to think of how many teachers helped me through the years. Thank You Lord for each one of these special people.

Giving thanks. So much to give thanks for in my life. I rejoice at these blessings and so much more. More thoughts, more thanksgiving, more times to look to the Lord in my life. I challenge you to reflect on the many blessings you have been given in life and give thanks to the Lord for them. 

Happy Thanksgiving.

Beginning Thanksgiving week

 Thanksgiving 2020 is going to be different for many people. There will be many people who will not be traveling to see family. There have been many places who have placed restrictions on how many people can gather together in their houses for Thanksgiving. That actually shocks me. I get that restrictions can be made in public places, but in private places? I never dreamed that I would see a time when we would be told how many people could be in your house. When I was growing up, there were movies that had such things in them, and they were about those who finally rebelled against those in control because they were tired of not having their personal rights. Now, here it is. We are living those very things. I would not have thought that it would happen. 

Even having said that, I still think about how much I have been blessed in my life. God has blessed and continues to bless me in this life. I think about those blessings and it overwhelms me. God is good and is good to me every day. Does this mean that everything goes my way every day? No it doesn't. It means taht God is with me each day. He watches over me. He cares for me. He is with me. And that, in itself, is more than I could ever ask for. 

I sit here and look out the window to the southeast, and watch the sun come up. 

I see the sky turning pink, and I thank the Lord. The clouds are high and pink. It is is cool and crisp outside, and it reminds me that the grace of God is new every morning. It is crisp in my life. Crisp in your life. I give thanks to Him for how He is watching over me each day.

I can go through a list of things that I am thankful for in my life. The first and foremost thing I am thankful for is the fact that the Lord loved me so much that He gave His life for me. He suffered and died upon the cross and then rose again on the 3rd day - all to bring to me that forgiveness, life and salvation. He has done that for you too. Give thanks for the salvation that He has given to you through Jesus Christ. He watches over you, in all times of your life.

What else am I thankful for? My family, my church family, my family of friends, and so much more. I could get a list going. I am thankful for my dogs, who bring smiles to my face and give me much joy (even as they can be frustrating when they want to go in and out, and in and out). How do you list all that you are thankful for?

Penny, Rachael, Matthew, Brandon and Chelsey, and Shirley. My brothers, even though I don't see them except on FB. My extended family, that I may or may not be able to see regularly. Those who are my friends from different congregations and different places that we have lived. I thank God for each one. I rejoice that the Lord has brought each of you into my life.

As I go through this week, I think I might continue to think about what to be thankful for in my life. I encourage you to do the same thing. Give thanks, with a grateful heart.

A week before Thanksgiving Day

 Only a week till Thanksgiving Day. As I watch on FB, there are folks that post what they are thankful for in their lives. I think that is a good thing. I will not say that it is wrong for them to do that. As I read those things they are thankful for, I am struck by the fact that many people are thankful for the faith and life that they have in their Lord Jesus Christ. I know that in my life, the first and foremost thing that I am thankful for is that the Son of God became a man in order to carry my sins, pay the price of the law, suffer and die for me and then rise on the third day. I rejoice that the Holy Spirit has brought me to believe in Jesus Christ through the waters of Baptism, strengthened through the power of the Word and through the Sacrament of Holy Communion. 

I do admit that I am not a perfect person. I continue to sin in my life, by thought, word and deed. I struggle with temptation each and every day. No, I am not going to sit here and tell you what I struggle with, even as you do not have to tell me what you struggle with in your life. I ask the Lord to forgive me each day for the sins that I have done, both those I know and those I do not know. I ask Him to help me through the power of the Holy Spirit to help me when I face those temptations so that through His power in me, I might be able to overcome those temptations and live the life that the Lord would have me live.

It is a really tough time in our natin now. Covid-19 is still out there. People are getting sick with the virus. At the same time, many more people are not getting sick. Most of those who have tested positive for the virus have been healed from the virus (through the power of God, through medical assistance and through the wonder of how the body heals). I pray for those who have contracted the virus. I pray for their healing. I pray for those who have not contracted the virus, praying that they don't. I pray for our community here in Clarinda, that people will be kept safe and given strength. 

Yes, it is a tough time, but it is one in which we have so much to be thankful for in our lives. I look at what the Lord has done for me in my life. Every time I take a step, I thank God for a new knee. I thank God for the doctors and nurses who replaced my knee and took care of me. I thank God for the therapists who are working with me 3 times a week. I thank God for the people who have continued to pray for me and my healing. I thank God for a very special person, Penny, who has cared for me in so many ways. She is truly a blessing for me and has helped me in more ways than I can name. The Lord is truly good to me, not only in this time but every day. I am so thankful for her and for my family. 

Ok, so what are you thankful for in your life? Don't just wait till Thanksgiving Day to give thanks for the many blessings in your life. Take time over the next days to think about those blessings, give thanks for them. And then, think of some way that you might be able to help someone out in their lives. How can you lift up someone who is struggling? Dropping a meal off at their door? Saying a prayer for someone? Sending a card (yes, an actually physical card!), making a phone call, being that person that encourages other people. 

Give thanks, with a grateful heart, give thanks! Yes, I do give thanks to the Lord God almighty. 

Friday the 13th

 It is Friday the 13th! You know what that means...don't you? Back in March, we had a Friday the 13th, and right after that, things fell apart in our nation and throughout the world. So maybe there is something to this idea that Friday the 13th is unlucky. The virus got going. Most of the nation was shut down. Churches were closed. It was like something out of the Twilight Zone. Then it only got worse. Over the last 8 months, it has been crazy. Who would have thought that things would have gone like they have.

So now we are facing another Friday the 13th. Should we be afraid? Should we hide from this day and wonder how bad it will get? Short answer? No. There is no difference between a Friday the 13th and a Friday the 14th. There is no difference between Monday the 13th and Tuesday the 20th. Each day is just another day. 

And on each day, the Lord is still in control. Happenstance, luck, bad luck, or whatever do not control our destiny. They do not control the future. The Lord holds each day in His hand. He is there when things go well and He is there when things go bad. He is there in good times and in bad times. 

But pastor, why do bad things happen if God is in control? Because we live in a fallen world, with fallen people and fallen nature. People do not do what is right. They chose to do wrong. They chose to hurt others. They chose to do things according to their own sinful desires. And because of that, terrible things happen in this world. The person decides to drink too much, get behind the wheel and kills a family that were heading home. Terrible. Yet, we know the Lord was there as well. Oh, how difficult that is in our thinking. If God is there, why did He allow that to happen? Why did He not stop it? I cannot answer that question. But I know that He promises that He is with us each day. He did not put that person drunk behind the wheel. The person chose to do it. And destroyed a lot of lives. Sin causes that. 

So stop thinking that Friday the 13th is bad luck for us. Today is a day that is still in the Lord's hand. Will you have a good day? Will you have a bad day? I don't know. But I know that you can trust that the Lord is with you. He will watch over you. Trust in Him. Look to Him for guidance in making decisions on what to do. And if you are tempted to sin, turn to the Lord and ask Him to help you through that temptation. 

So do you walk under the ladder? I wouldn't. Why? Because if someone is up there, they could drop something on my head. Bad luck? No. Bad choice on my part. Walk around the ladder. Will the black cat cause you bad luck if it crosses your path? Nope. Not at all. The fact is, the black cat is just a black cat and no different from the tabby cat. 

So live today in the joy of the Lord. Be wise in what you do. Celebrate the wonder of this day. Enjoy this day. Make the most of it. 

How things are going.

 It has been 5 weeks since I had a total knee replacement. Well, maybe it wasn't total because as I talked with one of the physical therapist, he said that it feels like I still have my original knee cap. So I guess that means I had an almost total knee replacement. I know, silly thinking. 

How has it gone? It has gone well. My bend is very good. The farthest I have bent in therapy is 129 degrees. That is amazing. I can remember when getting 90 degrees was amazing. I didn't think it would be possible but here it is. Have I been able to get it completely flat? I am almost there. I am working hard. I have only a degree or two to make it. But it is so tough. Getting the leg flat is challenging. And when Ed stretches my leg during therapy, working on the muscles and tendons, it gets painful. After he is done, it is very tough to even bend the leg. Stretched out, bending is tough. But it finally works.

There is something that is difficult - stairs. I am getting pretty good going up - foot over foot instead of one step at a time. The pain is getting less. Thanks be to God! What is much harder is going down - foot over foot. It is so much more difficult. Hard. Hurts. And is somewhat scary. Every other step, is tough. I grit my teeth and do it. I force myself to do it. But boy is it tough. That and standing up from a chair without using my hands or pushing off from anything - boy is that tough. Really tough. But I work at it. As you read this, stop at this moment, push back from your computer, and stand up, without touching anything. Just stand up. See how easy that was? It isn't that easy for me yet. The lower the seat, the harder it is. Sit down now, without touching anything. Don't plop down. Sit down slowly. That is what I am working on. It is not easy.

I give thanks to the Lord for the healing He is giving me. I give thanks to the Lord for the many ways that He gives healing to these bodies. Think about how amazing it is that cuts heal, colds go away and viruses (yes even Covid) get overcome by the body. Yes, I know, there have been many people who have passed away from Covid related illnesses. My heart breaks for those families. But I also give thanks to the Lord that over 99% of the people who have contracted Covid, have overcome it and their bodies have healed from it. Thanks be to God! 

So that is my update on how things are going. I have other things on my mind - perhaps the election. Amazed me that the same people who claimed there election fraud and the like 4 years ago will say that it isn't possible this year. Is there fraud in elections? Of course there is, on both sides of the aisle. What goes on? I don't know. If you or I could see it easily, then the powers that be are really messing up. They are much better at hiding things than you or me. They get better each year, each election. Do I accept the election of Biden as president? When all is said and done, once it has been certified, I will accept it. Will I like it? No. But that is my personal opinion. You might disagree with me, and that is all right. We can have differing points of view, different opinions about the election and the outcome, but we can accept that. Not everyone will always agree. Time will tell to see what kind of response comes from this thought. 

Anyway, life goes on. Will we be forced to wear masks? I hope not. I hope that it remains up to the individual to decide. I also hope that people quit mask shaming. If you chose to wear one for your safety and comfort, then do so. If you chose not to wear one because you don't feel the need for your safety, then don't wear one. Once again, don't attack me for this statement. Each of us have opinions on this. And each can run out "officials" who say one way or the other. 

Ok, that is all. I have rambled enough. I pray for you and for our country and our leaders. I pray for healing for the sick. I pray for peace among people. I pray for the Lord to heal our nation.

Uncertain times in this world

 As I sit here this morning, I find myself thinking that we are living in uncertain times. Waiti a moment, we are always living in uncertain times. Can we ever be certain of what is going to go on during any given day? I think about what James writes, Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make profit" - yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. (James 4:13-14 ESV) Following this recent presidental election, there is a lot of hand wringing and celebrating. Those who wanted Pres. Trump reelected, there is hand wringing. For those who wanted Joe Biden elected, there is celebrating. There are those who are talking about how terrible it is going to get under a new administration and those who are saying how wonderful it will be under a new adminstration. It all depends on your perspective.

What I think about is that while I might feel that things was going well under Pres. Trump, the reality is, sin was still running rampant. He did not stop sin. He did not stop people from going against the will of God. And Joe Biden will not stop sin either. He will not stop people from going against the will of God. The reality is, people are still going to live according to their own sinful desires no matter who is president of the United States. If you think anything else, you are only fooling yourself. There is no person here on earth that is going to change the way people live.

Unfortunately, those who are leading our nation, on both sides of the aisle, are living just like you and me - living according to the ways of the world. What a challenge it is for us to live as the Lord would have us live. This is the challenge of living as a saint and sinner in this world. Each day, we might want to live according to the will of God, while at the same time, there is a part of us that might want to live according to the way of the fallen world. 

Do you feel that it is all right to have sexual relations outside of marriage? The Lord doesn't. Do you feel that it is all right to end the life of the unborn child before he/she is born? The Lord doesn't. Do you feel it is all right to talk poorly about another person, perhaps the person that was elected that you don't like, or the person who was not elected that you don't like? The Lord doesn't. Do you feel it is all right to mask shame people? The Lord doesn't. Do you feel it is all right to destroy someone's reputation? The Lord doesn't. 

I am not saying that I am a perfect person, living according to the will of the Lord each day. I am not. I sin daily. I do ask God to forgive me each day, to forgive me for the sins that I have done, those I know and those I don't know. Having said that, I would say the same about each and every person. We are all sinful people who need the Lord each day. We need the forgiveness of the Lord each day. 

And then, as we are forgiven, then we need to ask the Lord to help us to live differently today. We need our hearts to change. Instead of talking poorly about each other, we should build each other up. Instead of tearing down one side or another, we should find ways to build each side up. 

Will that happen? In truth, I doubt it. Why? Because of sin. Because we are sinful people. We will do what we can to say what we feel we should, and we will justify it. I don't care who you are (myself included), we will not live in perfection. As I listen to the news (both sides), I do not hear unity and peace. I hear sinful division. Again and again. I am sure that someone will be upset with me for saying these things, but that won't surprise me. Why? Because we are sinful people who will do what we can to say unkind things about others, even those we don't know. We will make judgments. We will speak our opinions, which are generally uniformed and baseless. And we will feel that we are correct in doing so.

Lord, I pray for our nation. I pray for our leaders. I pray for each person. I ask that we might live according to Your will. (I know that many do not hold onto You, don't believe in You, don't want anything to do with You, but I ask that You would still work in their lives.) Lord, Your will be done.

Peace in uncertain times.

 So much uncertainty. Many people, myself included, thought that we would be moving past the election on Tuesday, having a president elected. It didn't matter which side you supported, I would think that you were hoping for the same thing. Then the nation could begin to move forward, either with one man reelected or one man elected. As you go into an election, you have no idea how the outcome will be. So there is uncertianty. But that didn't happen. Here it is, 2020 +2 days and we are still waiting. Both sides are jockeying for position to try to declare that they have won. And the people of the nation wait, uncertain of the outcome. 

It is that way in a many areas of our lives. There is uncertainty when it comes to health, to jobs, to relationships, to covid-19 and a whole host of other areas. Uncertainty causes nerves to be on age. It causes people to begin to feel frustrated. What can be done?

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. (John 14:27 ESV) Jesus comes to bring peace to our lives. It isn't peace in the sense that the world sees or expects peace. We want peace to be in such a way that there is no conflict. We know that there will be conflict in this world. When the angels spoke to the shepherds on the night of Jesus' birth, they said, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. (Luke 2:14 KJV) What peace? It is a peace with God. 

For the Savior came to save from sin, death and the devil. He came to bring peace with God among people, for the sinner is separated from God. Through faith in Christ, forgiveness is given, which brings peace to the heart. In Christ, there is forgiveness and in that forgiveness comes peace that passes all human understanding. 

Can we have certainty? Yes, in Christ. But can we have certainty in these uncertain times? Yes indeed, in Christ. But there is so much that we do not know or do not control That is right. The reality is, there is so much that we do not control. I work hard to be in control of my health. I do the things I am supposed to do. At times, I feel pretty certain things are well. But then there are times, such as now, following a total knee replacement, that I am not in control. I want to feel good. I want pain and discomfort to go away. I do the physical therapy and the exercises. But I am not in control. And this brings uncertainty. It frustrates me. But instead of focusing upon the pain or the discomfort and the uncertainty, I need to take my eyes off that which I cannot control, and fix my eyes upon that which is certain - my Lord Jesus Christ. He will fill my heart with assurance and certainty. Is it easy? No. Is it possible? Yes. As the Holy Spirit gives me strength through faith in Christ.

It is that way with the election. You cannot control the election. But you can have peace knowing that in the election, whichever candidate wins, the Lord is still in control. If you support Biden, you want him to win. If you support Trump, you want him to win. You have probably done everything you could to make that happen. But in the end, the outcome of the election will be according to the will of the Lord. It is tough to say that if your candidate loses. But it has to be said. Whoever wins, we need to put our hearts forward, and pray for the winner, that the Lord will guide him. And we should pray for the one who loses. Why? Because that is the way that we should be as Christians. Will we agree with whoever is elected? Of course not. Even if it was your candidate, I am sure that there will be things that he does that you will not agree with. But it should be that we pray for each candidate, as well as for those who are in the midst of all the swirling controversy of the ballot counting. 

Certainty in an uncertain time. That is what we have in Christ. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7 ESV)

May that peace come into your life, and help you to face another uncertain day. 

The Time Changes. How do you handle it?

 Time change! Spring forward, fall back. That means that last night, we gained one hour. We turned the clocks back one hour. It happens on the 1st Sunday in November each year. Today is November 1st. Even though it seems really, really early this year, it is the right time. We gained an hour last night. 

Did you enjoy your extra hour of sleep? Or did you wake up at your "normal" time, which means that if you wake up at 6 a.m. you were waking up at 5 a.m.? Perhaps you were able to sleep that extra hour. If so, good for you. It is a difficult thing to do. If you have pets, especially dogs, that is hard to do. They don't understand this time change stuff. If they normally go out at 6 in the morning, they still want to go out at 6 in the morning, even if that is now 5 in the morning. If you have cattle or other animals, they don't understand the time change. You can't tell them, "Tomorrow we will go back to standard time and that means that I will be out here an hour later," and expect them to understand. They still want to be fed at the same time. If you milk, they still want to be milked at the same time.

It is the same thing with infants and little kids. For those of you who have an infant, I feel for you. They don't get the time change thing. So they will get you up at the "normal" time, which means you probably won't get that extra hour of sleep. I remember those days. It takes about a week for them to finally get into the new time. So this is going to be a challenging week for parents of infants and small children and for those who have pets and farm animals. 

Does this time change make a difference? I don't know. It is nice to have the sun come up earlier. But that only means that it will go down an hour earlier. Ugh! So with sunset at 6:15 p.m. on Saturday evening, it will now be at 5:15 p.m on Sunday. Wow! That is going to make the evenings a little longer. Good luck to you as you make the adjustments. 

I do want to say something today about All Saints Day. November 1st is that special day when we remember those who died in Christ. That means that they died believing in Jesus as their Savior. The comfort that gives to their family is the assurance that they have entered into eternal life with their Lord Jesus Christ. It brings to mind John 3:16, For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but shall have eternal life. Life eternal with Jesus Christ when we breath our last. How? Not by anything we have done but by everything He has done for us. He gives us that assurance in the waters of our Baptism, continues to strengthen us in that faith through Word and Sacrament. And then, when we face that day when we close our eyes for the last time, He tells us He will take us to be with Him in heaven. We lsiten when He says, I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. (John 11:25-26 ESV) Life in Christ. I think about my mother, Gen Brawner, who is with her Lord in heaven. I think of my father-in-law, Norman Rex, who is with Jesus in heaven. I think of Harry Foerster, Cecil Osborne, and Charles Brawner, who are with their Lord in heaven. I think about so many who have been a part of the congregations I have served, and I sing the praise of the Lord for they are with Him in heaven. Thanks be to God!

For all the saints, who from their labors rest...is a song that we will sing in church today. It gives me such comfort, for the loss of a loved one hurts, but the pain is comforted in the knowledge that they are in heaven with Jesus Christ. All praise be to God! Alleluiah!

Have a great time change Sunday and a wonderful All Saints Day. God bless you.