Today, I had to ask my husband the big question. “When I go out to do chores, how long will it take you to come out and look for me?” He set down his paperwork, looked at me through his reading glasses and his lips began to curl up in a mischievous little smile. “Why?” he queried. ”Did you have some trouble today?” I began to give him the blow-by-blow facts as I went … [Read more...]
Pastor Devotions – Behold, I Myself Will Shepherd My People
By Rev. Peter Haugen St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church On that first Maundy Thursday, our Lord Jesus proclaimed that a day is coming, the great and awesome day of the Lord, when He Himself will judge all people, separating the sheep from the goats, the Christian from the non-Christian. There is a rich irony in this. The Judge is about to be judged. Nevertheless, He … [Read more...]
Fresh Off the Farm – Be Careful What You Read
Don’t shoot me, but I took a siesta in the white sand of Siesta Beach in Florida today. At 72 and sunny, I can’t say I’m missing the 27 and cloudy of home. Why am I here? Because I read a book. Maybe this is the part where I tell you to be careful what you read. Reading has consequences. Reading could transform your entire world – or at least your classroom. Let me … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past – Pioneer Life Could Often Be Brief
Life was challenging and often brief for Houston County pioneers, as early as the 1850s. The two earliest recorded deaths in Jefferson Township, the most southeastern township in the county, occurred in 1856, both accidental. Rev. Leonard Sharp, a Protestant Campbellite, had been preaching in Winnebago valley as early as 1854, perished below a falling tree in January, 1856. In … [Read more...]
Journal Writing Project – My Experience With Selfishness and How It Can Be a Good Thing
By Brennus Braaten I have learned a lot in the last couple of months about life and how I should live mine. Now I am not saying that I am any sort of genius when it comes to this, believe me, I understand that I have only lived a quarter of my life and still have a lot to learn. However I do believe that I have learned some very valuable lessons that I will hold on to for … [Read more...]
Back When the World Smelled Like Theater Popcorn
I like movies. I grew up during the Dark Ages. They were the grim times before cat videos were available 24/7. Cat videos were then available 0/7. Social media consisted of papers tacked to a strategically placed bulletin board. I spent my boyhood in a home with three TV channels and zero TV remotes. There were three movie theaters within a comfortable driving … [Read more...]
A Bus Plus Potholes Equals More Bounce to the Ounce
My mother put another shovelful of instant coffee into her cup. “Have fun at school,” she said. Fun? How could we have fun? We couldn’t even Google anything yet. A school bus was bliss and despair on wheels, a consistent and reliable conveyance to amazing learning opportunities. Serenaded by the sounds of a door opening with a mechanical clunk and creak, I boarded … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past – House Calls Might Last Many Hours – or Even Days
Part two of a two-part series When making house calls, Dr. Giles James Sheldon would stay until the crisis was over. The first medical doctor in Houston County, Minnesota, was known to stay at the home of a patient overnight or even several days. In 1861, he remained with one patient from November 22 to December 2. The doctor left a handwritten journal that provides an … [Read more...]
Thyme & Again – Contemplating Currying Favor
By Angela Denstad Time and again, odd coincidences spring up as patterns of thought lead to unlikely connections and serendipitous insights. As I was trying to curry favor with my finicky feline, brushing the little lion soft as a lamb, I wondered how March might unfold and where this Year of the Horse might lead us. Weather-wise, the groundhog predicted more winter, … [Read more...]
Pastor Devotions – Reflections on the Lenten Journey towards Holy Week
By Pastor Nissa Peterson Chatfield and Root Prairie Lutheran Churches When I was young, the Lutheran church I attended performed a yearly passion play - a drama of Christ’s arrest, trial, and crucifixion. I participated as one of many children by singing, waving palms, and being in the crowd. This play taught me a lot about Christ’s death and resurrection that we … [Read more...]