Pastor Tim's Benton Blog: "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay...

Pastor Tim's Benton Blog:

"Greater love has no one than this, that one lay...: "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends". John 15:13 As I write this blog on this M...

"Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends". John 15:13

As I write this blog on this Memorial Day 2013, I was praying for inspiration and the following thoughts came to mind in reference to the word forgotten. As I looked for pictures of my dad's ship that he served on in Korea, I was amazed at the number of pictures I found online. As I looked for ideas and inspiration for a Memorial Day benediction I came upon a benediction that was written by a Priest, yet it was accidentally left out of the observance it was written for.  Ships made by man, never forgotten but prayers not included in ceremonies. 

As history moves on and this world keeps turning, have we forgotten some of those that have given the last full act of devotion for our freedom? Have we replaced these memories with memories of days off from work, that are filled with BBQ memories? 
As a society do we walk past the homeless veteran who is living on the street, or the aged and lonely veteran that sits alone tormented by vivid images of past battles that will not clear their thoughts? 

The finest example that we can think of this Memorial Day is the saving act that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ did on that cross. He laid down his life as to save ours from hell and damnation. This Memorial Day 2013 is a day to embrace and remember those that laid down their lives for our freedom. 

The Greatest generation grows smaller everyday and soon will be only part of our memory, our job is to never forget and to learn from them while they are still physically with us. Likewise, embrace our veterans and never let them feel forgotten. If we can have a Memorial Day without forgetting the days meal, rest assured we can have a Memorial Day that includes paying homage and respect.

Lest We Forget
Pastor Tim

Pastor Tim's Benton Blog: We Never Stop Learning. Thanks Dr. Longden!

Pastor Tim's Benton Blog: We Never Stop Learning. Thanks Dr. Longden!: Rev. Dr. Leicester Longden Proverbs 18:15   ESV  An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge. ...

We Never Stop Learning. Thanks Dr. Longden!

Rev. Dr. Leicester Longden

Proverbs 18:15 ESV 

An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.

"Its Not About Us, It's About God"! These words truly sunk in as I listened intently to my former seminary professor speak at a seminary function last weekend. As I approach my second year in full-time parish ministry I returned to the seminary feeling that I had things to share and teach, yet God had other plans for me. Dr. Longden shared the fact that pastors often make the mistake of inserting themselves into the sermon, instead of inserting God. "Wow" Thank you Holy Spirit and Dr. Longden!

As I sat with Dr. Longden in his office after the service, I felt as if I were still his student as I listened intently to the words that he spoke in reference to parish ministry. So as I approach this Monday morning I to have advice for our graduates and or soon to be graduates. "Learning Never Stops"!

As people of faith we understand that as Christians our learning never stops, and that we are always a work in progress. This is why we have the Word of God in the the Bible, as to study and to constantly be a people that are growing. This is why God created the church, so that we can learn from others that are also on the same journey.

Many graduated from learning institutions last weekend and many will be graduating from a learning institution this week, my prayer for you this week is that you never forget those that taught you. Stay in contact with them, stay in God's word and be as much a learner as you are a teacher. And finally, understand that as Christians it is never about us, it is about God!

On a journey to learn some more
Pastor Tim

Pastor Tim's Benton Blog: The Hustle and Bustle of Moving On!

Pastor Tim's Benton Blog: The Hustle and Bustle of Moving On!: Courage! "So be strong and courageous!  Do not be afraid,  and do not panic before them.  For the Lord your God  will personally g...

The Hustle and Bustle of Moving On!

Courage!"So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid, and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you." Deuteronomy 31:6, TLB

Welcome to this special blog that is coming from the University of Dubuque in Dubuque Iowa. The university campus is abuzz and busy today and tomorrow with graduation festivities and ceremonies. 

As I walk around the campus today, one can feel the dreams and visions in the air that began four years ago for many of the students and parents. As the ROTC students get their 2nd Lieutenants commissions and as the nursing students get their nursing pins, dreams and prayers are coming to fruition.

We gather tonight to celebrate in the baccalaureate service tonight, as to thank God for his great provisions. After worship, we will gather with our son for the senior banquet.

Tomorrow many will gather to see seminarians graduate with Masters or Doctorate degrees, as to begin or continue callings to ministry. The next celebration will be seeing our eldest son graduate (with many others) as they receive their Undergraduate degrees. 

Many of us have or know those who will be graduating from some school or learning opportunity, and we celebrate the fact that God has heard their prayers and has brought them to this special day. 

As we witness dreams at work this weekend, please pray for our graduates a prayer for strength and courage as they move forward in life.Tell them that our Lord will be in front of them forging a path to success.

Blessing and Peace

A Very Happy Pastor and (Father of Sean).

2013 Graduate University of Dubuque: Bachelors Degree in Criminal Justice

A New Patio Umbrella

^{Romans 8:14-17
14}For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. ¹⁵For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’ ¹⁶it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God,¹⁷and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ—if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.

Last year we built a deck on our home and placed patio furniture on it, including a patio umbrella. Little did I know that in a wind storm patio umbrellas can be lifted into the air, as ours did. Luckily it didn't go to far, but it was still damaged beyond repair. The one thing that I learned was in a wind storm, the wind is going to take the umbrella wherever it wants to take it and we have no choice in the matter

As we celebrate this Sunday of Pentecost, we are introduced to a new thing and a new beginning, the Holy Spirit that sets believers free. The blessing of the Holy Spirit is in the fact that it is the intercessor for humankind and is known  by God. The Holy Spirit is like a patio umbrella in the wind, in the fact that like the patio umbrella the Spirit blows where the Spirit blows and we have no control over it's destination.

Unlike the patio umbrella blowing here and there in the wind, the Holy Spirit may blow where it wants to blow, but we have the knowledge that it is at work. The only way to control what happens to a patio umbrella is to take it down prior to the storm and place it somewhere safe until the wind passes. Fortunately for us, we cannot take down the Holy Spirit because it is carried as our intercessor in good times and bad.

As we celebrate Pentecost let us acknowledge the fact that the Spirit of God rests with humanity and is not like culture that blows us in any direction. Rather the Holy Spirit guides us with its divine presence, and hears our cries when we make them known. Our saving grace is that God loves us so much he provided a Holy Spirit wind that will never destroy us or leave orphaned and destitute. 

So as I protect my second patio umbrella from high winds, go in the peace and knowledge that the Holy Spirit may blow us in different directions, but it will never leave us so damaged that we can't be repaired. My prayer for us all this coming Pentecost Sunday is that we all look to this Sunday as a day of new life and a new thing that has been promised and delivered to us as a gift from the Father, through the Son.

Watch those umbrellas
Pastor Tim