Back from Minnesota. (As per Diane’s request, I try not to mention my trips until I’m heading back.)
I spoke to a group gathered at Lutheran Seminary in St. Paul to discuss missional church.
One of my highlights was a day with our friends Kevin and Kamy. They have three daughters, two of whom are very handicapped (mentally and physically). To see the way they are loving those girls, to see how the gospel plays out in their home — well, that was worth the trip. Would like to tell more later!
I wanted to take a road trip with some friends to try to find Lake Wobegon, a place I’ve come to love over the past two decades, but, alas, we ran out of time.
Welcome back. I have missed your comments and had hoped you were only on a trip and not “fogged out” still with Springitis.
I can’t believe you haven’t shared a recent photo of Reese. Please?!
I’ve missed you, too, Mike, and wondered where you were. But I understand.
Lake Woebegon side trip, hunh?! What fun THAT would be! I know that Tom and I love spending late Saturday afternoons (5 to 7 p.m. here on NPR) listening to “Prairie Home Companion” and to Garrison Keillor telling his Lake Woebegon stories. We have several old cassette tapes of Lake Woebegon stories and a couple of CDs, as well.
One of our favorite was when all of the Lutheran ministers came on a mission trip on a school bus to Lake Woebegon and all ended up out in the middle of the lake in about five feet of water bobbing up and down (where they all fortuitously and immediately decided immersion baptism was the way to go!) after having all fallen off Mr. Bunson’s party barge where the barbeque grill had enveloped in flames.
It is one of the most hilarious of all of his stories and sounds just like a bunch of cofC ministers from the deep rural South with their tan polyester trousers and brown (matching in color) Hush Puppies! Too funny!
Then there’s the one about Bruno the fishing dog who . . .
Glad you’re safely home.
Cheers & Blessings to you all today! Dee
Just look for all the strong women, good-looking men, and above average children.
I like spending time in Lake Woebegon on Sunny Saturday mornings.
I believe that how we show love to the handicapped is a very true reflection of our soul.
Bruno the fishing dog is one of my favorites!
Did you sense a vergence in the force? I go to school at the U of M St. Paul Campus, which is a spits throw away from Luther.
I heard an event was coming, but didn’t you’d be there. I might have ripped myself away from my binary logistic regression analysis of parent knowledge of adolescent risky behavior and relationship quality to say, “hey.”
You sure picked the right time to be here weather-wise. One month ago we had snow. I hope the trip was fruitful.
Speaking of stories, you must read Walter Wangerin Jr.’s piece in Shouts and Whispers entitled, “Glory into Glory.” His story of his visit to his friend’s Mel’s house on the dairy farm in Milwaukee is very moving and goes a long way toward explaining the OT idea of “kabod” and the NT concept of “doxa.”
Peace.
Go see Prairie Home Companion live if possible…one of the best things I ever did on a business trip or any trip for that matter…watching the sound effects guys alone will blow your mind!
Terry
Glad your back! May we all be missional! Praise God!
I travel to Lake Wobegon every Saturday evening, much like you do. If you can’t walk the streets of that town, sip coffee with the locals at the Sidetrack Tap or taste the green bean casserole (with the little crunchy onion things on top) at the church potluck then you just aren’t listening hard enough.
Lake Wobegon, the place where, according to Garrison Keiller, “the women are strong, the men are good looking, and all the children are above average”. I didn’t know such a place actually existed!
My favorite story of Garrison Keiller’s is the one where two feuding ministers sit down together over a glorious chicken dinner and ultimately make peace. It is a wonderful story of the proclaiming the redemptive power of fried chicken.