Everything wasn’t copacetic. “It’s probably nothing” no longer applied to me. I’d moved past that point. I couldn’t leave well enough alone when I’m not well enough. How did this happen? It’s like a birthday that makes me an entire year older in just one day. That’s unfair. Life can be a bearcat that takes us to places we’d never hoped to go. When that happens, I see a … [Read more...]
Pastor Devotions – Toil and Trouble
By Pastor Jeff Jacobs Unity Lutheran Parish - St. Paul, Saetersdal and St. Matthew’s, Granger “Vanity of vanities! (Eccles 1:2b) The Hebrew literally means vapor of vapors, but it’s translated many ways: “utterly meaningless,” “all useless,” “nothing but smoke.” That’s Ecclesiastes’ conclusion about much of life – its toils and gains are vapor. Authorship … [Read more...]
Pastor Devotions – Oh, Those Assumptions!
By Pastor Paul Hauschild Chatfield and Root Prairie Lutheran Churches There was once an elderly woman who went to the grocery store in California to do some shopping. When she returned to her car, she noticed four men getting into her car in a big hurry! They were trying to steal the car! The woman dropped her shopping bags, reached into her purse, and pulled out a … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past – Anger, Patriotism as Never Known Before
Five Caledonia High School students were celebrated with a dance in their honor, and the next day as they headed to the train station, they were accompanied by a throng of citizens with music provided by the community band. Why? Just five days earlier, on April 7, 1917, President Woodrow Wilson had signed a resolution of Congress, declaring war between the United States and … [Read more...]
Eat Well, Be Well, Have Fun
“Real soup is to the body, what Peace is to the soul” – Isabel Allende Some days around here it seems like Ground Hog Day. Tomatoes and peppers continue to pour out of the garden. So, sticking with my latest F=fall harvest theme I want to share a couple of the things I’ve been doing and making in our kitchen. First and foremost, I have been canning up a storm. You … [Read more...]
Where Did You Get Your Driver’s License – in a Box of Cracker Jack?
“Where did you get your driver’s license - in a box of Cracker Jack?” When I first got my driver’s license, I noticed that not all the other drivers were the perfect driver I was. When I saw a case of numbskullery behind a steering wheel, here’s what I’d say: “Where did you get your driver’s license - in a box of Cracker Jack?” One of my prized possessions in my junk … [Read more...]
Pastor Devotions – Where Does The Road Lead?
By Pastor Mark Woodward Maple Leaf Parish of the UMC Cherry Grove, Fountain, Preston, and Spring Valley: Faith Churches (and Lenora) Recently on a cool, pleasant evening I went for a walk on a quiet country road. There was a gentle breeze and the evening was peaceful with colorful wildflowers and the songs of roadside birds. As I walked along, I got to thinking … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past – The Parade-Leading Blacksmith and the Last-Paying Passenger
Third of a three-part series “He formed everything from door hinges to implements required to clear the land, plow, seed and cultivate the fields and fashion the tools used during the harvest.” Houston County researcher Josephine Hefte thus characterized Thomas Abbotts, originally from England, who arrived in Caledonia in 1856, establishing a blacksmith shop, and later a … [Read more...]
A Goodly Heritage – Change of Pace
Isn’t it nice when you take a break for a change of pace? That is just what we did. The pattern of summer’s rainy weather this year made farming a challenge. Getting work done was frustrating. Yet, finally the work did get done enough so that we could have a getaway. We traveled to our cabin in northern Wisconsin. Although a short visit, it became a much needed … [Read more...]
I Used a Slide Rule to Calculate How Many Years We’d Been Married
My honey-do list had become a year longer. It was our anniversary, so we ate inside the fast-food restaurant. My wife deserved the royal treatment. I’ve seen people do some insanely courageous things. My wife has done them throughout our married life. She’s an excellent cook. I wasn’t born to cook. I was born to express my gratitude to those who cook for me. She even … [Read more...]