Category: Published Columns Page 1 of 3

If you were to walk into the sanctuary of Orfordville Lutheran Church (OLC) and look up towards the balcony, you would see a model ship suspended from the ceiling. The Norwegian name for the ship is “Haabet” which means “The Hope.” And across the back of the ship in tall, white letters, it simply says “HOPE.”

The Hope was originally built in 1879 by Peter Kaatrud. He refurbished it in 1892, and it was displayed in the sanctuary from 1892-1912. In 1957, after a 45 year absence, Martin Nelson restored The Hope to its original appearance, and it was again placed in our worship space.

Read More

I’ve always been a fan of Mr. Rogers, and I highly recommend the new documentary “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” about his life.

The documentary includes a clip from Fred Rogers’s commencement address to Middlebury College in 2001. During the speech, Mr. Rogers invited the graduates to think of those people who had believed in them and helped them reach this moment. He reminded the graduates: “From the time you were very little, you’ve had people who have smiled you into smiling, people who have talked you into talking, sung you into singing, loved you into loving.” Then, he allowed a minute of silence for them to think of those special people.

Read More

I remember learning not to call people names on the playground as a child. A nickname may be okay if your friend likes it or chooses it, but you must stop if they don’t like it. I remember my parents and teachers emphasizing a respect for people’s names.

Did you learn this lesson too? Name-calling has always been a problem, but it seems to be growing – even among adults who should know better.

Read More

I don’t consider myself an expert in many things and few people come knocking on my door asking for my opinion on the news of the day. But I do believe part of my role as pastor is helping people to place their trust in the right things. Often my job is simple: I direct people to trust in the promises of God. But we live in a world of false narratives and empty promises, so the work becomes subtler: We listen for the whisper of God’s true story amidst all the noise.

One of the things that strikes me as I read the Scriptures is that often the most important part of the story takes place on the edges rather than on center stage.

Read More

I love books, so it was a great joy to join the board of the Orfordville Public Library earlier this year. One of the best parts has been learning about the number of ways our library benefits the community.

As a patron, I knew about some of the services already. I especially enjoy checking out audiobooks to listen to in the car, and I had regular contact with Sarah Strunz, the director, and other library staff and volunteers through the monthly Senior Luncheon program – which takes place at Orfordville Lutheran but is put on for the whole community by the library. But since joining the board, it has been wonderful to learn about the many other ways the library serves the community through access to resources and information and through events and programs.

Read More

Perhaps if you’re like me you’ve been drawn into the popular Netflix show Stranger Things. It can be suspenseful at times, but I love the characters at the center of the story. (I got into trouble for recommending it to my spouse who doesn’t like scary shows. I described it as “other-worldly,” which made her think it was going to be like Narnia or Lord of the Rings. But it’s more like Stephen King than J.R.R. Tolkien.)

I don’t think it’s giving too much away (consider this your spoiler alert!) to say the young characters in the series encounter an alternate dimension called the Upside Down. The Upside Down is like a mirror version of our world. It shares the same locations and infrastructure of this world, but is full of decay, darkness, and monsters.

Read More

Nearly a year ago, my grandpa Bob Twiton died. Since then my family has been through its share of “firsts” – our first Easter without grandpa, birthdays, anniversaries, and Christmas. I know of several other families who are going through the same journey of grief.

My grandpa was a pastor for over 50 years. It’s remarkable to think of the number of weddings, baptisms, funerals, visits, council meetings, confirmation lessons, and sermons that can happen in a half century. I remember, too, the stories grandpa passed on from his life and ministry.

Read More

When Martin Luther began the Protestant Reformation nearly 500 years ago, he compared his work as a reformer to that of a court jester.

In 1520, he wrote to the German nobility and emperor asking for them to take up the work of reform. He said to these powerful leaders, “I shall for the time being become a court jester.” And he compared the hat he wore as a monk to a jester’s cap with bells. Why would Luther pick such a foolish image for himself?

Read More

There is a deep humor and profound mischief in the Christian message that is often overlooked.

Part of what makes a joke work is an element of surprise. First, we are given a premise or set-up. For example, “Why did the nose stop going to school?” Then, the punchline takes us in an unexpected direction: “He was tired of getting picked on.” The premise sets up our expectations and the punchline subverts them.

Read More