1-23-10 Surprise Me God - Day 14

One last warm day before the deep freeze of January kicks in. Time to clean off the ice off of the sidewalk before it becomes impossible.

Nothing too extraordinary, but it does remind me of the need for Christ followers to remove the slippery spots around their life (e.g., greed, anger, depression, cynicism, sarcasm, etc.) so that neither they, nor anyone else falls in their walk. Thanks for this surprising lesson and another warmer day in January.

1-22-09 Surprise Me God - Day 13

Got up, got the girls out the door, answered emails and worked on my sermon for Sunday...found a perfect illustration online about a friend to conclude my sermon...thanks God for that surprise.

Later in the morning, met Linda (a new Rejoicer) for a One to One meeting. It was great to get to know her better...and...I think she felt blessed by the conversation too. I don't know why, but I am always surprised by the fact that when I take time to listen to other people stories it turns out to be a blessing for both parties. I guess it should not be a surprise anymore, but I am always grateful for those spirit-filled times.

At Noon, I went with my friend Jason to an event he invited me to...Christian Business Men's meeting. The speaker was fantastic telling a great story of God guiding him through his life from America to Europe and back again. He summed up his story with this maxim, "The places and desitinations along the journey of life are less important than the process of the journey." I pray that that surprise insight could be learned by all of us at Rejoice! too.

My last surprise for the day was that I was scheduled to referee basketball in Hartford last night, and I was worried the whole day about ice on those county roads in the evening on the trip back. Thankfully I was gratefully surprised by a late phone call that games were postponed. It was good to use last evening for time to exercise at Family Wellness, order pizza and spend time with my girls.

Give 'em Heaven!

1-21-10 Surprise Me God - Day 12

Today's day started off with the usual stuff, prayer, email, scripture reading.

Then I headed off to a meeting with a friend with whom I recently had a difference of opinion. I had been praying that God would use this difference to make us stronger friends and make us better at what we do. God did more than that. We shared our thoughts and feelings, hopes and dreams. In the end, we not only understood each other's opinion's better, we came up with ideas for how we can better communicate in the future. Thanks Lord for transforming struggle into deeper friendship.

At Noon, I picked up my daughter Megan to have our every other week lunch date. I always let Megan pick the place. She picked Great Harvest Bread Company (57th & Louise) The lunch date started with a nice surpise. They were offering samples of bread...mmm, mmm, yummy. It reminded me of God's word, "Taste and see that the Lord is Good." Psalm 34:8. Megan and I talked about her week. Nothing too out of the ordinary, but few things are better than precious time with your daughter.

Thanks Lord for all of the relationships you have given me. I am always surprised at how blessed I am by family and friends. Give 'em Heaven!

1-20-10 Surprise Me God - Day 11

So I woke up thinking and praying, "God surprise me with some really good ideas for our Theology on Tap event tonight." So I sort of set aside that thought and worked through my email. One of my 20+ emails was from Sonia Larson our Ministry Coordinator. She wrote out 7 different spot on questions for this evening's Theology on Tap event. Awesome! Sometime the answers to our questions come from God using others to bring answers to our questions. Thanks God for the whole Body of Christ to help me with Life's Questions!

Another Surprise came that we had a first time guest Donna from Peace Lutheran come to our event. It is always great to see an unexpected friend show up. Donna offered some great insights to the conversation too. Thanks for that surprise too God.

I cannot wait to see what tomorrow brings...

1-19-10 Surprise Me God - Day 10

Today I started off doing my normal Monday stuff (since yesterday I did little work, but rather I enjoyed my daughters' day off from school) So I today put together the podcast. (a day later than normal) I was surprised I preached as long as I did. I guess I was on a roll...hopefully no one was too bored.

Later, I met with my surprise friend Matt. You see Matt and I met in an airport in Philadelphia. I was on my way home from my daughter Megan's and my trip to the East Coast to look at colleges for Meg. Our plane was delayed and so I started reading, "Have a Little Faith," by Mitch Albom. Which for those who really know me would be surprised. You see I am more of book on mp3 listener rather than paper reader. But we had lots of time and my voracious reading daughter Megan said, "You should read this book dad." So I did...what else are you going to do in a strange airport waiting for a plane? Well I am sitting there reading Albom's book and Matt (found out afterward is also from Sioux Falls) walks by and says to me a complete stranger, "So what do you think of the book?" That intro question led to a 45 minute conversation, which led to an exchange of business card, which led to a couple of emails, which led to a lunch date, which...you get the picture...which feels like it is leading to a lifelong friendship (I hope!) Well today was my second lunch date with Matt and he is a fascinating man with a wonderful curious, inquiring mind.

Hey God, I cannot thank you enough for all these God-incidences with Matt. And thanks today for another lunch with my new friend. God I am still surprised and amazed that you used a wonderfully uncharacteristic event of me reading a book in an airport in Philadelphia to lead me to a new friend. I guess it is almost poetic that we would meet in Philadelphia "the City of Brotherly Love."

Thanks for the surprises Lord...keep them coming! Give 'em Heaven!

1-18-10 Surprise Me God - Day 9

MLK Day always seems to sneak up on me. I am grateful for a surprise day off with my kids. We had lunch together. I was able to clean some more ice off the driveway once again in just a jeans and a flannel shirt.

The beauty of the Hoar Frost on the trees was another wonderful surprise.

Late in the evening I went cross-country skiing using my new headbad-headlamp that I got at the REI store in Minneapolis last week. (love that store) Love me new toy. Well anyway the conditions were perfect. Just the perfect tempeture for exercising and the groomed grooves on the path were perfect too. It was wonderful to take 6 foot stride/glides. It is just a kick! Sort of like sailing when the wind is just right...you almost want to say "wheeeeeee!" on each stride.

Thanks for the surprise of a nice day off with my daughters and a nice evening skiing

1-17-08 Surprise Me God - Day 8

Woke up at O'Dark:30 as is my custom every Sunday. You see I am not a morning person. I have to fake my body out to thinking the day is mid-day by the time worship happens so that this pastor/evening person/closet-introvert can actually say an intelligible sentence in public. But by the grace of God am I able to preach at all. So for me, every Sunday that I preach is sort of a "Surprise Me" moment.

I was wonderfully surpised by Karen Lukens before worship who came up to me and began by praying with me over our friends in Haiti. Needed that!

I was wonderfully surprised to see several new faces in worship this morning. I know it does not make God any more present when new faces are "in the house," but the place just feels more electric on days like today.

I was surprised when Lindsay said after the pre-worship prayer, "We are going to really rock it today." And they did...well I should say...God used them to rock the place! Mom's were dancing holding their children. Little kids were swaying to the music. People had their hands raised giving praise to God. (no small task for Scandanavian Midwesterners!) Not only that but Shane's scripture readings and prayers between songs were spot-on inspired. Great day of worship!

Earlier, Sonia asked me before worship...how are you doing/feeling? I shared how I was uncomfortable preaching after such a difficult week...Haitian tragedy and being away from home for 3 days at a conference did not help either. I shared, "If any good comes this week, God gets the complete and total credit!" I am not sure how it was received...I guess the hearer has to judge that.

After worship, Confirmation. The Forsman girls once again brought a friend. We ended sooner than usual...duh...there was Vikings game going on!

Ugh the Vikings game...the ViQueens (my team) was playing the favored CowGirls of Dallas. I have a strong dislike for the boys with the star on their helmets. (the 99 yard Tony Dorsett run on MNF, the debacle of the Herschel Walker trade...can you say Russell Maryland, Darren Woodson and Emmitt Smith to Dallas 5 players, 5 other draft picks for one worn out running back...and oh don't even mention the Drew Pearson Push Off play 34 years ago...ugh....don't get me started)

Anyway surprise, surprise the boys in purple came to play...whodathunk?!? 34-3 Lovin' IT! I suppose the Vikes could get blown out next week in New Orleans...but today was a wonderful surprise.

After the game I shoveled snow/puddles...without a coat in January. What a great surprise.

Last, the day ended by going to the Sioux Falls Stampede hockey game with the Forsman's. Our boys won in overtime! Someone from Family Wellness just gave away the tickets after worship. What a great surprise. What a great game. To top it all off, we were surprised to see the Behrend family at the game sitting just below us.

What a great day Abba-Daddy...thanks for the Surprises!