Good Things Come to Those Who Wait

So ever since I stepped foot into our parsonage and saw our large downstairs rec room, I knew this wouldn't truly be "home" until we got a table tennis table (it's not "ping pong" if you take it seriously). My wife agreed and so for about the last year we've been on the hunt for a reasonably priced table. In fact, I was supposed to get one for my birthday last year but we we're unable to find any used ones being sold in the Bismarck area or any affordable new ones at any of the stores. We found some good deals online but then you end up paying a ton in shipping costs. So at the end of our first year in North Dakota, the only ping pong we played was on the one in the church fellowship hall.

That has now all changed. My in-laws said they'd be willing to buy me a table for my upcoming birthday. So while shopping for Christmas presents at Target a few weeks ago, we noticed they had a SportsCraft table for $139.99 and there were three on the shelf. We decided not to purchase it then but to wait. So this past Monday we were at Target in Bismarck again and saw that there was only one table left and it was on sale for a third off. But the bottom of the box was ripped and we weren't sure if it was missing any parts. So we consulted an employee and she assured us that if anything was missing we could return it and since the box was in poor condition she called her manager for permission to sell the table to us for 75% off! We walked out of the store with a brand new table for $24, came home and found that all of the pieces were accounted for and now have a table tennis table.

I also realized that I haven't mentioned anything about pheasants lately. I posted a blog entry last year after one of the two times that we hit a pheasant during our first year in ND. By God's grace we have been saved so far from any further run-ins with our fair-feathered friends. However, due to the cold weather (and apparent lack of pheasant hunters!) they are literally lined up along US-83 from Underwood to Washburn (13 miles) and especially near the turn-off to the Ethanol plant where it seems they're awaiting spillage from trucks carrying corn. My wife assures me that these must be the more intelligent pheasants as they made it through hunting season, our cold/snowy December, and getting hit by cars so far. I'm not convince!

Junior high basketball practice kicks off this Thursday. Tomorrow we have Kids' Club after school. This Sunday (God willing) we'll finally be able to have an elder meeting (we've cancelled twice due to the snow). Please pray for our continued ministry in the church and town.

By God's Grace, Jeff

New Years Resolution: No More Snow!

Okay, I know I can't actually resolve for North Dakota to receive no additional snow this winter but it would sure be nice. On Tuesday we got hammered with about another foot of snow! That makes over 30 inches for December...the most for any month on record for Bismarck. It took me an hour and a half to shovel our driveway which had a snow drift of a foot and a half covering half of it. We now have snow cliffs surrounding our walkway. If we get much more snow I have no idea of where I'll put it! Apparently during the winter of '97, Bismarck received a record 101" of snow. If 30" looks like this I can't even begin to imagine three times that amount...and sincerely hope that I won't have to!

Well, enough complaining. Doesn't the Bible say to do everything without complaining? (e.g. Philippians 2:14) I guess that covers shoveling snow as well. I was initially frustrated at having to shovel so much snow this winter, especially for the couple of weeks in mid-December where it seemed to snow every other day. However, I realized that one of the blessings of being a pastor is that except for Sundays, I don't really have any regular morning commitments that hinder me from taking the time to shovel. So I got that going for me.

This week I've been helping out at the high school basketball practices as the regular assistant coach is on vacation. It's been fun reconnecting with the kids and getting back into a basketball mindset (though my wife would say it never left). Starting next Thursday I'll be officially coaching the junior high team. I am very excited about working with the 6th-8th graders. Our first game isn't until later in January so we'll have a good few weeks to work on the basics.

Well my college teams went 1-1 this bowl season. Notre Dame broke its 15 year bowl winless drought by crushing Hawaii but Northwestern (my ala mater) was unable to finish off Missouri when they had the chance in the Alamo Bowl. The last time Northwestern was in the Alamo Bowl was my senior year. A group of us drove down to San Antonio from Chicago (in one day!), watched NU get slaughtered by Nebraska and then got stuck in an ice-storm in Texarkana on the way back (ah, memories).

By God's Grace, Jeff

Snowfall Record

When the local Bismarck TV weatherman says that we've had so much snow this month that we might as well get a little more and go for a new record, you know there's been a lot! And worse yet, winter only officially started last Sunday! But that's exactly what he said Monday night and by Tuesday morning, Bismarck had reached a new record for snowfall in December. Officially Bismarck (50 miles south of Underwood) has had over 24" of snow this month! Not only did this smash the old record by nearly 3" but we're likely to get another couple inches before the new year. And before you chalk this up to North Dakota always getting lots of snow, realize the previous record for December snowfall had stood for over 90 years (1916)!

I remarked to my wife the other day after shoveling for the nth number of days in a row that whenever I move to a colder climate, I seem to get one nice year before the "real" winter hits. My first year in the Chicago area (winter of '97-'98) was an El Nino year and I can only remember it snowing a couple times. Then this past winter (our first in ND) we had a mild winter (by North Dakota standards). It was cold but I don't think we had 24" of snow the whole winter (let alone in one month). Apparently my "honeymoon" period is over!

Sunday night Underwood has its annual Community Christmas Concert. About 20 members of the community formed a choir and the kids dance teams in town also performed. Afterward one of the local churches hosted a meal with the proceeds going to the McClean County Resource Center. It still amazes me to live in a place where a large portion of the community would gather together at the local public school for an event celebrating the "reason for the season." One whole side of the stands in the school gym were full and no doubt more would have attended had it not been so snowy and windy this weekend.

Saturday afternoon my wife and I were invited out to the senior center (age not grade) for their Christmas potluck. I had been meaning to check out the senior center as a number of the members of our congregation are actively involved there. Although we were the youngest people there by about 30 years, we had fun interacting with other members of the community and had plenty (some might say too much) to eat.

Please pray for the elders to be able to meet soon (the weather has forced us to cancel a couple of meetings now), for our Christmas Eve service tonight, for wisdom in leading the congregation and in us growing in love for the church and community. Merry Christmas!

By God's Grace, Jeff

I Do's Aren't Meant to be Undone

This past Sunday I preached on Matthew 19:1-12 (the sermon I was planning on preaching the Sunday before but due to the snow storm had to postpone). In this passage Jesus answers questions from the Pharisees and His disciples regarding marriage and divorce. The main point of this passage as it relates to us is that "I do's aren't meant to be undone." If you'd like to listen to the sermon, click here.

By God's Grace, Jeff

Limited Reconciliation but Unlimited Forgiveness

Two Sundays ago (the last time the church met!) I preached on Matthew 18:15-35 and the sermon was entitled "Limited reconciliation but unlimited forgiveness." If you'd like to listen to the sermon audio, click here.

By God's Grace, Jeff

Worship Service Cancelled

For the first time in my Christian life (and pastoral ministry) I experienced having to cancel the Sunday morning worship service. The entire state of North Dakota underwent a severe blizzard with over a half-foot of snow, sustained winds in excess of 25 mph and a wind-chill reaching -40! Since this all started Saturday afternoon and was scheduled to continue until Sunday evening, after consulting the elder board, we made the difficult decision to cancel our corporate worship service this past Sunday. We have a number of families that live out of town on farms who would have had a very treacherous (if not impossible) time making it to town Sunday morning and we have a number of elderly families who already feel uncomfortable venturing outside during the winter months. Many if not most churches in ND likewise cancelled their services and events for this past weekend. Although I believe it was the right thing to do given the circumstances, it was certainly a strange feeling to wake up Sunday morning and not have the ability to attend a worship service.

Suffice it to say, it has been cold in our neck of the woods. I think yesterday (Wednesday) was the first day since Saturday that anywhere in the state has had a high of above zero. We drove down to Bismarck on Monday (the main roads were cleared and the wind had died down) and we might have reached single digits below zero as a high. On the way down in the morning the car thermometer had a reading of as low as -19! Fortunately, we were able to safely travel there and back and were finally able to get some much needed shopping done. Although it wasn't as cold the previous weekend, we had been unable to travel due to icy roads.

Given the unpredictable weather, we decided to pick up an artificial tree instead of chancing it every year of being able to get down to Bismarck to get a fresh-cut one. Having spent seven years of my childhood in Virginia, we'd anually drive out to a Christmas Tree farm and chop down our own fresh-cut tree. We'd tromp through the dense rows of trees until we found the "perfect" one. Then Dad would slid underneath and cut it down with a saw. We'd drag it to the main road and wait for the tractor to drive by and give us a ride back to the parking lot. Of course my favorite part was getting hot apple cider once we got back to the car. Apparently those memories are not going to be able to be repeated in the Northern Plaines.

By God's Grace, Jeff

Snow Days

We'd planned to go to Bismarck for some shopping and to see a movie Friday afternoon...then Sunday afternoon...then Monday afternoon, but it looks like we'll now have to wait until at least next weekend! We've had some pretty nasty weather here this past weekend. Just about everyday it snowed and with the weather hovering around freezing (for at least part of the day) it made the roads kind of hairy. In fact, yesterday afternoon we set out to go to Bismarck only to turn around about halfway between Washburn and Wilton (less than halfway!). Our Target and Sam's Club lists are growing by the day and we still haven't purchased a Christmas tree! I would rather the temprature be well below freezing so that the roads would at least be dry. Hopefully next weekend we'll be able to travel safely though there may be another storm coming. Ah, the benefits of living in North Dakota! We've got plenty of jobs, affordable housing and a state budget surplus...anyone want to move out here and join us in the cold?

By God's Grace, Jeff