It would always disturb my mother when I would say, “I don’t really have many – if any – memories of my childhood.” Though I grew up in a healthy, Christian environment and was, as far as I remember, a happy child, my memories of my pre-high school years are extremely limited. I like to say that I was too focused upon enjoying the present to spend time hanging on to the past.
Bob Seger fans will remember the lyrics. “On a long and lonesome highway east of Omaha you can listen to the engine moanin’ out his one note song … When you’re ridin’ sixteen hours and there’s nothing’ much to do and you don’t feel much like ridin’ you just wish the trip was through.” He and the Silver Bullet Band released this song, “Turn the Page”, the year Monica and I were married.
I am far, far from the perfect husband, so those familiar words of St. Paul (who, I believe never was a husband) in many ways terrify me. “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her to make her holy, cleansing her with the washing of water by the word. … In the same way, husbands are to love their wives as their own bodies.” (Ephesians 5.25, 28)
I’ve never been a particular fan of Gene Autry. In fact, it’s likely that the only reason I’m acquainted with this song of his is because of a comedy album by The Firesign Theatre that was regularly quoted in my dorm during my freshman year in college. Thus, to be sure I have the actual words from Mr. Autry, I googled the lyrics before typing them: “I’m back in the saddle again, out where a friend is a friend, where the longhorn cattle feed on the lowly jimson weed. I’m back in the saddle again.”
Back in the Saddle Again Read Post »
I think I first saw the email some time Thursday afternoon, too late for me to deal with it that day. That night I was driving to Houghton Lake with Joel. We would rake leaves on Friday, prepare the cottage for the winter on Saturday morning, and then return home in the afternoon. And, of course, I did not want to bother people on Saturday night or Sunday. So, on Thursday I simply sent a quick reply with the offer a partial solution.
The election advertisements are behind us (hopefully … perhaps the only good thought I have about them is how much they help the economy). The weather looks as though it might finally be cooling down (not that I am complaining about the wonderful fall we have had thus far). And I was all set to write about how important our Christian witness is in lifting up the people we meet – and how three words to consider as we seek to be more effective are 1) intentional, 2) inspirational, and 3) invitational.
It may have been listening to a podcast that put me into the right state of mind. The podcast was from Lead Time (Tim Ahlman and Jack Kalleberg), dated October 29, 2024. Its topic was “Navigating Ethical Challenges: LCMS in a Politically Charged World with Rev. Dr. Joel Biermann.” The Rev. Dr. has been an LCMS pastor since 1985 and a professor at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis since 2002. The podcast, which I recommend you check out, wanders into many topics.
That day started with 9:30 a.m. worship at Trinity. Then came family pictures taken conveniently between raindrops. After that we were home long enough to get all packed for ten days of cruising around Lake Michigan (not in the lake, but around it). That evening we spent at Houghton Lake.
Before I say anything else, I have a confession to make. I am on vacation this week, so this is being written Saturday morning, October 12. The Tigers lost game four to the Guardians, 4-5 on Thursday and this afternoon is the elimination game. When you read this you will know the results, as well as what is happening in the ALCS. However, as I write this, I know neither.
Way back when July had just turned into August, while the days were still long and the nights warm, most people felt secure predicting that the Tigers’ season would end on September 29. Then the Tigers got hot, and the end was delayed. Then they stayed hot and swept the Astros. On Monday Skubal made sure we would play at least two more games in Detroit before “the end,” and there still is hope that their season will continue through the last week of October. However, at this time, “concerning that day and hour no one knows.” (Matthew 24.36)
