A Long, Cold Winter

It has been a long, cold winter up here in the north...do not be deceived...this is the kind of winter that keeps my folks saying "That's why we moved to Florida!"

These kind of winters take a toll on everybody, whether we realize it or not...we may think we are doing "OK," or that we are coping and surviving, but in reality...we are just numb to anything more than the most basic of necessities or common of courtesies...we like to kid ourselves that we don't do anything rash (none of us move away, for example, as next year might be warmer), and we don't get "too crazy."

Unfortunately this past week got a little too crazy for one young couple, and he wound up brutally beating her and she died. There are so few things in this world that are certain, but certainly this is wrong on all accounts. No matter how troubled the relationship, we have to count on a husband and a wife not to kill each other. Right before I met with the family of the deceased woman for a prayer service, I met with another young couple who are getting married later this summer.

When I told them where I was headed after our meeting, both of them shook their heads in sympathy for the young woman. I looked at them for a moment, and told them I usually don't give marital advice...after 22 years of marriage all I know is to listen more than talk...but I did offer this advice...no matter how much you hate the other person, don't kill each other. They nodded, and realized that this gift of life isn't just an intricate game of playing "house" in your folks basement at the age of 10.

It is difficult enough to get out of a relationship which carries the promise of an unbreakable vow...even in the face of abuse and degradation...but there is never an excuse for violence...because if the cross of Jesus the Christ means anything it means that we should live without resorting to violence...that we still do...well, that's why I still have a job. But I would gladly retire if we could give up violence to ourselves, to each other, and even to our God.

Paying the Rent and the Missionary impulse

The mission of Prairie Table is to build communities of Authenticity and Integrity as "families" devoted to the love of God in Christ Jesus. As such, 85% of our resources go into this endeavor, everything from Holy Communion with LateNite worship to taking our Youth of the Augsburg Confession (YAC) on field trips to explore religious sites. (The other 15% of our income is given in benevolence to our ELCA denomination).

Since we are building communities and not buildings, we are able to be flexible in how we "pay the rent." We are currently blessed to have a great relationship with Legacy United Methodist Church, which allows us to use its space, as available, for our ministry communities. It is a great gift of hospitality that they offer us, and they do not seem to mind that they have Lutherans in their basement! (As Lutherans, we do believe that if we ever get to heaven, we will have the basement there too. We assume the penthouse and upper level suites are reserved for those more temperate in their theological opinions.)

At some point in every Christian congregation there comes an issue with how to maintain what we have (paying the rent) versus how to follow God's missionary impulse. At PTM, we hope to never focus more on paying the rent than in following God's mission in the world. (It is true, in some cases, that paying the rent on a building with no Christian facilities may be what God wants...that does not seem to be a problem, however, here in Bismarck, ND).

To this end we discerned last week to engage a partnership with another missionary and her ministry. This one is somewhat like ours, it's a school in Japan (Luther Gakuin), and the missionary is a young woman named Katie Narum Miyamoto. We are not sure where our partnership will lead, but we are looking forward to seeing how we can continue to reach out to the world where God has so freely given life and breath. We're pretty sure God is with us in Bismarck, and we're also pretty sure God is there in Japan...the question will be how we can be part of what God is up to, regardless of where we are. But then, again, isn't that the question for all of us?

Defining the Story of Jesus

We spent some time tonight at Prairie Table trying to get the six most important things about the life of Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ of God straight in our minds. Each of us had a few details different (after all, we only allowed ourselves six things...which six would you choose?) I know we are suppose to be a "Book of Faith" people, but it is faith, not "book" which is the operative term for us at PTM. No Book, not even the Bible, has ever saved anyone...the Word of God...yes, that, no doubt, has saved more than a few...

So we focused on the Word of God (Jesus Christ and his promises) for tonight. Many had the promise carried in a miracle or two, a parable, the Lord's Prayer, and even the story about Mary and Martha. There was lots to choose from and we did make many and various choices...But, all of us had the cross...all of us had the resurrection...what does that say?

We live by the power of the Spirit...and as such, the life of Jesus Christ makes sense when we can give a version that has power and meaning for us, corporately and individually. So, when you tell people about who Jesus is, what stories about him do you use? What things did he do that affects your faith...and finally, who your God is?

What a joy to have such people like the PTM folks, and Jesus, in my life.

Dry Bones in Western North Dakota

My Bishop (Mark Narum of the Western North Dakota Synod of the ELCA www.wndsynod.org) gathered seven congregations together to work on mission here in the West. He called this gathering "Dry Bones."

Those of you who know your Bible, know that "dry bones" is a reference to the story of Ezekiel whom the Lord takes to a valley of dry, dead, dessicated human bones, and commands them to breathe. The story is a story of new life, of a God who brings life, and a God who keeps promises to people even after they are dead. For many of our congregations out here who are feeling parched and dry, this story is an apt metaphor for their relationship with God.

Of course, for this to be a promise of new life, the first life has to end, and that is tough for our congregations to do...who wants to be part of a congregation that is dying? Who wants to be part of a congregation that is dead? So there are only 7 of our of 195 congregations working this territory...most of the rest of us cannot admit our demise...

But this past week, as I gathered with leaders of these 7 congregations I asked if they had done any talking about their congregations in their communities or towns. Of those that had, the results of the conversations were, in the words of one lady, "jaw-dropping." What those congregations discovered is that most people in their community already KNEW the congregation was dead...that's why they are not part of it...In other words, the only people in a town or a community who do not know their congregation is dead are the people who are in that congregation. To those on the outside, those congregations are palpably dead. But at least these 7 congregations know this...what about the other 188?

My guess is that all the other communities and towns think those congregations are dead already. My work as a missionary here in Bismarck would indicate that...and not just Lutheran ones...I hear from a lot of people that congregations are dead...and why are they bothering to think they are alive? Now I know a lot of people in congregations can point to programs, worship services, busy calendars, and full slates of visitation...but those are ministries that are dead, just by virtue of being in dead places...(sort of like all the bodies in a cemetery are dead because the cemetery is for the dead)...

Congregations can be houses of self-delusion...that somehow we are alive because the bones in them are moving...but the story of Ezekiel's valley of dry bones is not about movement, it is about the breath and promise of God...and all the calendars and charity, all the meetings and budgets, all the sermons and songs mean nothing if there is no breath...which in Hebrew is the same word for Spirit. To me the surest sign of life in a congregation is not what it does, but how it breathes...how it lives in the life of the Spirit of Christ who frees us to breathe.

The Olympic Games, Canadian style

When the Olympic games roll around every couple of years, us folks out on the prairie suddenly get all "greek." What I mean by this is that we get caught up in the events, cheering folks from all sorts of countries that weren't even countries when many of us were kids, and finding ways to hold up to the integrity of the "game", moreso than who wins or loses. (Unfortunately, the media that broadcasts the games does not hold to such a high standard, and often only shows stuff in real time that feature folks from Canada or the USA. Oh well...)

Back in the day when the Olympics were conceived, the purpose was to showcase talent and skill, and laurel wreaths were a way to recognize superior achievement...but soon (probably after the first semi-final match) the games became all about the winning...and as the Greeks eventually lost to Ceasar, you cannot win forever...That's why the integrity of the game is so important...it can survive wars, arguments, protests, disagreements, and downright hatred...whereas winning and losing comes and goes...(unless, of course, you are the Minnesota Vikings, and winning never comes around).

Out here on the prairie we live in a world where things come and go (we haven't seen warm weather in about three weeks), and where something has to mean more than a quick flash of success or fame or a drought of hope and promise...what best exemplifies the spirit of the Olympic games for us is our land, our prairies and rivers, buttes and valleys, and its constancy amidst the swirling winds of change...(We would agree with Lord Alfred North Whitehead, the famous British mathematician, who noted that everything moves...even rocks...they just move very slowly.)

It is that constancy that allows us to understand the land as a gift from God...that we are just stewards of the mysteries of life, and that somehow, winning or losing, the land, and even ourselves still have purpose and meaning...it's tough to remember that these days amidst 8 ft. snow drifts...but when Spring does come...oh what joy!