My first hate mail…

Congratulations to “Ali in Dioschland” for sending me my first hate mail. In response to a post from sometime ago he accused me of being part of the crusades and having sex with children during the liturgy.

Lets see. It’s “Deutschland”, or Germany as most people around here call it. I’m Orthodox, we were for lack of a better term “crusaded upon” and if you had ever been to a Liturgy you might discover that its pretty difficult to have sex with anyone while you’re wearing three layers of clothing and people are watching.

But I digress…

Just a note to…

all the Vikings fans. You were warned about Brett Favre, amazing moments, consuming ego, abounding talent, heartbreak plays, and summers of drama. There was a reason the Packers were okay with letting him go and now you know.

In my own life…

and in my service in ministry I have brushed up against the dark side of things more often than I can recount. It really is a jungle out there and all of us, even if we don’t think so, are being hunted.

All I know for sure is that if you stay close to Jesus you’ll make it through. Yes, you will get dinged up a bit and if every once in a while you wander away you’ll know some dangerous times. Just stay within eyeshot of the Light and you can find your way back.

You don’t have to always understand everything and there will be a lot of things out of your control. Yet if you’re with Jesus it will be okay, one way or another. Time passes, things change, but Jesus remains. Know just that and you will live well.

St. Elias is getting ready…

for their new Priest. The call has gone out to fix up clean up and make everything ready. My prayer was that they would rise to the occasion and it looks like they have.

I wish them only the best in the future. To date they have been the best Parish I have ever served and while it is time for me to go, there are good things ahead for me as well, there will always be a part of me in LaCrosse, Wisconsin.

I hope I have left them better, more ready, and set to be the church that God wants them to be. They have everything they need in the grace of God, the Holy Spirit present in them, and they can do all things through Christ who strengthens them.

Come September 1, I’ll be out of a job as a Pastor and ready to rest, retool, and see what the future brings. I’m staying a Priest and Orthodox, but  I still don’t know exactly where I will land. Been there, done that, and God has always shown the way.