My name is Jeff and I'm a pastor of a small, local, Christian fellowship

It's a wonderful thing to love your work; to know that when you do it you are doing something that you were born to do. I am so fortunate to be both. I don't say I am the best at what I do. God knows that are so many others who do it better. But I do feel fairly lucky to be called by such a good God to do work I can only do with his help, to be loved by a beautiful woman, and to have a workshop where I can work my craft. These musings of mine are part of that work.
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Monday, February 11, 2019

Let it shine: What I "saw" last night at "Wait & See"


Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, 'Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.' Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, 'Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.' But the wise answered, saying, 'Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.'
And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open to us.' But he answered and said, 'Verily I say unto you, I know you not.'"

Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.” Matthew 25:1-13, KJV


The Second Sunday evening of every month since last year has been set aside for an hour of corporate prayer in the sanctuary of our fellowship. I started scheduling such an event after reading Joyce Huggett's book The Joy of Listening to God (Intervarsity Press © 1987). Speaking only for myself, I know how to talk to God; it's the listening part that is challenging to me. I call these gatherings “Wait & See” because my hope is that we will wait upon the Lord and then "see" and hear what he may be saying to us.

The format that we use for this gathering is fairly simple. I put on some quiet, instrumental worship and encourage those who attend to sit quietly anywhere in the sanctuary and be still before him. Most people bring their Bible with them. I bring my journal as well. We are quiet for the first half hour or so trying to allow him room to speak. After this we circle up and share among ourselves impressions, thoughts, pictures or Scripture that may have come to mind while we sat. The goal is try and discern any common themes or Scriptures that may come to light as we share.



Yesterday it snowed all day and while by evening the snow was tapering off the plows had only begun to clear the way. Honestly, these gatherings are not well attended – usually only between four and seven people – so I fully anticipated that I might be on my own for this gathering. But if the priest in the days of the Tabernacle was required to keep the lamp of the Presence burning daily how could I neglect the Lord because of four inches worth of snow? Besides I only live three blocks away.

But three showed up – Sandy, a senior citizen, Sara, a twenty-something and Randy, one of our elders who lives out of town – and more than quorum was met. Since beginning this routine of these gatherings I have gotten better at learning to still myself before the Lord. But last night I came to the gathering with a lot of interior noise and static. I was frustrated over a few fellowship matters, our internet at home wasn't working, and one sentence out of an otherwise positive letter from a couple in our congregation raised a bit of ire in me. So out of a need to quiet myself I turned to Philippians 4 and re-read the words of Paul to myself:

Celebrate God all day, every day. I mean, revel in him! [Peterson's translation of “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again, Rejoice] Make it as clear as you can to all you meet that you’re on their side, working with them and not against them. Help them see that the Master is about to arrive. He could show up any minute!”

Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.” (Philippians 4:6-7, Msg)

I had to do this first, purposefully rejoicing in God's goodness, the wonder that for over twenty-seven years a group of people still unflinchingly affirmed me as their pastor and that probably was okay to be off the 'net for an afternoon and evening. I won't say my spirit settled immediately but eventually it did.

And then in my mind's eye as I continued to kneel at the altar I saw Pastor Guy. Pastor Guy pastors Chetek Lutheran Church down the street from us. He's something of an artist and will just as eagerly quote Scripture as he will, say, John Lennon, as a part of his weekly message. He's also writes and plays folk music. So while I knelt at the altar disciplining myself to rejoice and not to worry I saw and heard Pastor Guy playing “This Little Light of Mine” as he had done at our annual ministerial Post-Epiphany Christmas Party a few weeks before.

Pastor Guy working his magic

Journal entry #1:
We are probably the only Christians in Chetek tonight gathered together to pray. Four souls out on a snowy night to wait on God together. I can't help but hear refrains of “This Little Light of Mine” as we do. Our 'little light' burns tonight – may it light the darkness and encourage the faithful to keep their lamp trimmed.”

I then turned to Matthew 25 to re-read the Parable of the Ten Virgins. Five were wise and five were foolish. The wise ones remained alert while the foolish allowed themselves to become distracted, sleepy or both. And then suddenly, the bridegroom showed up and the wedding began in earnest to the joy of the wise virgins and the shock and disappointment of the foolish ones.



Journal entry #2:
I want to be diligent to keep my lamp trimmed with a ready supply of oil. I want to stay on task, expecting inspection at any moment. May You lead our prayers so that we at Refuge and the faithful here in town will remain diligent, fervent, serving the Lord.”

I had entered the sanctuary thirty minutes before frustrated (among other things) that I couldn't get on-line at home and the tech support people had been less than professional in their dealings with me. (To be fair, I wasn't the best of customer to them.) A half hour later, however, I was in earnest that we here would be about the Master's business when he returns.


Journal entry #3:
Yes, I'm on my way! I'll be there soon! I'm bringing my payroll with me. I'll pay all people in full for their life's work!” (Jesus in Revelation 22:12, The Message) Lord, may my life's work glorify You and bring glory to You.”

As we circled up and shared the Scriptures and impressions that we had individually felt a common theme did emerge that could be summed up this way: small things matter and cause significant change



Sandy:  “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth. Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade.” (Mark 4:31-32, NIV) All God needs is a small mustard seed of hope and he can turn things around.

Sara: “...let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16, NIV) Even a little light can brighten the darkness. So may God help us to be his light wherever we go.

Randy: Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, 'children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.' Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life.” (Philippians 2:14-16, NIV). We need to be light.




These weren't the only things that each of them shared. There were more. But I think we could sense at least one thing God was saying to us on a snowy night in Chetek: Don't give up gathering together and seeking me. Stay alert and awake. Stay on task and be diligent. Remember “even a little light” can brighten a dark room.

So let it shine, let it shine, let it shine...”








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