The thing about being a preacher is that each and every Monday morning you have to come back to the drawing board relying on the power of the Holy Spirit and your pastoral instincts to craft another Sunday morning sermon.  Sometimes you feel like you’ve got a good one ready; other times, you just feel alright about the sermon and pray that the grace of God will do the rest.  You don’t really have time to dwell too much on the sermon you just preached.  But every once in awhile, something will happen after you preach a sermon that makes you marvel how the Lord can stir within people’s hearts and lives.  I thought I would share with you one of those experiences from this past week.

I got both a call and a text from two friends of mine that have been worshipping with us for several months.  Travis Stirling actually joined First Reformed Church in November.  He’s been bringing with him a friend named Ryan Raclaw.  Both guys are maybe a few years younger than me and unlike most Church-goers; they actually prefer to sit in the very first few rows!  Travis owns his own lawn and snow maintenance service.  Ryan works part time at Jimbo’s while he’s looking for a job in the healthcare field.  I’ve gotten to know both of these guys at the gym and have really enjoyed listening to their stories.  Both of these guys grew up in the Catholic Church, but by their own admission, admit that being a faithful member of a Church really hasn’t been a part of their story.  Their story is really not unlike many stories I hear from friends my own age.  Grew up in the Church.  Went to college.  Drifted from the Church.  Always say they will come back to the Church eventually.  Faced with the conflict of staying out late and having fun on Saturday nights, while knowing the alarm for Church on Sunday morning is literally ringing in their ears.

Well, this past week I got a call from Travis who was just leaving the Family Christian Bookstore.  Literally two minutes later I got a text message from Ryan telling me that he was just leaving the Family Christian Bookstore with Travis.  He told me that he really felt convicted after Sunday morning’s sermon about the necessity of reading the Bible to grow in his faith.  He was in the Family Christian Bookstore to pick out a new Bible; one that he could understand, one that he could study with, and one that he could bring to Church.  I talked with Ryan the next morning and he said he needed help with “what make and model” of the Bible to get!  I told him it would be a privilege and honor to get him a Bible and that I’d take care of it.  Here these two friends are.  Each and every day growing in their faith.  Coming to Church on Sunday eager to learn.  Realizing the need for God’s love and grace in their lives.

My friends, these are the kind of stories and the kind of lives that God has graciously given us the responsibility to care for.  I’m so thankful that we’re not growing numerically simply by sucking up members from other Churches.  No, instead the kind of folks that are dawning our doors on Sunday mornings are the kind of people that decide should I go to First Church this morning, or should I sleep in?  Stopping by the Family Christian Bookstore to look for a Bible is a small, but important step, daily choosing to serve Christ, rather than serve yourself.  The reality is that the vast majority of us have a few dozen Bibles in our homes.  We know the stories of King David and can recite in order all the Minor Prophets.  But that’s not the reality for a growing number of people at our belovedFirstChurch.  And in a lot of ways, doesn’t that make the kind of ministry God has placed before us all the more exciting?!  This is life change.  We can make a real difference.  We’re talking about choices with eternal significance.  And they are being made each and every day right before our very eyes.

Grace & Peace,

Pastor Matt

What are the two conversation starters that are taboo?  Religion and Politics, right?  Anything else is fair game, but for friendly conversations, we better steer clear of conversations regarding religion or politics.  I find that notion ironic since nearly every other conversation I hear or am in lately seems to be about either religion or politics.  Granted, I’m a pastor by trade, so religious conversations seem to come with the territory, but I’m amazed lately how passionate conversations about politics turn out to be.  I’m leading the monthly meeting of the South Holland Ministerial Association listening about the campaign of one of our former members now setting her sights on a State Senate position.  I hear conversations among people on the treadmill at the Community Center talking about this candidate and that candidate.  But if you really want to talk politics, well then there’s no better place than the Holland Home.  You try sipping down a cup of coffee with five 80 plus year olds and just throw this question out, “so guys, what did you think about that Republican debate last night?”  You get my point.  Truth be told, I enjoy the political tenor of conversations.  I enjoy listening to the different candidates share their views and take their stands.  I enjoy listening to friends and their political takes on the whole situation.  And I enjoy listening to different ideas on how to save the world.

The question then becomes, what should Christians do?  The answer to that question is about as varied as their opinions on how to fix the economy or solve unemployment.  Some have thought to simply remove themselves from the political sphere all together.  Others have contended that if you are a Christian, then you must be a Democrat, or you must be a Republican for that matter.  I think I’ve shared with you before that in the Bible’s native tongue, there really is no word for spiritual.  Meaning, all of life is spiritual.  All of life is covered by the handiwork of God.  And thus, all of our lives take on a spiritual dimension.  We can’t separate our physical life, from our spiritual life, or from our political life.  All of life is spiritual.  Which is to say, that how we vote is impacted by our Christian faith just like what we put into our bodies is impacted by our Christian faith, just like how we read the Bible is impacted by our Christian faith.  So again, what should Christians do?

Now I’m no political strategist and I certainly have a very limited IQ when it comes to public policy, but one thing that troubles me the most is how divided we have become as a nation.  It seems like we are sooooo far apart that nothing will ever really get done.  Even the process of how candidates candidate is so divisive.  When did it become normal to run all the negative political adds and throw your opponent under the bus to make yourself look better?  I wish just once we could hear a candidate answer a question without first attacking the position of another candidate.  Or maybe once we could hear a politician offer an apology when they’ve fallen short.  He said, she said, they said – who in the world knows what to believe or who to believe it from anymore anyway?!

Alright, enough venting.  But is there a solution in all this madness?  Well, I think there might be.  I think the Christian response is first and foremost an active response.  Our Christian faith should impact who we put into Office.  But maybe more than that, our Christian faith should impact the process of the political system and political process.  Praying for people from both sides to simply come together.  Praying that God would raise up a new generation of gifted and talented Christian men and women to take part in the political system.  Praying political slogans would be more than phrases on billboards and actually result in something.  But I’m praying today that the way we talk about politics would bring God glory.

Grace & Peace,

Pastor Matt

I have a New Year’s resolution for you.  Go to Sunday School.  Why is it that something like Sunday School was, for many of us, ingrained into our very D.N.A. as children growing up in the Church, and now in our adult years, we’ve somehow changed our D.N.A.?  You know what I mean.  Sunday School was just part of what you did on Sunday morning.  It was part of the liturgy of putting on the Church clothes, going to Church, eating Church pills (aka Wilhelmina peppermints), singing the Doxology (aka the sign that Church was almost over), going to Sunday School, getting McDonald’s after Church and getting home in time to watch World Wrestling Federation.  Maybe?  Well, that was my liturgical rhythm on Sunday mornings.  But somewhere, somehow, we’ve gone from the cup of coffee downstairs in the Fellowship Hall to the car ride home after Church.

So my New Year’s resolution for you is to get back into the habit of attending a Sunday School class.  And it just so happens this week begins a class you won’t want to miss.  It is being taught by our Director of Mercy & Justice Ministries, Corey Buchanan and Mike Nylen, who works for MB Bank and is also involved in dozens of communication commissions and activities.  The class is being called “A CRASH Course in Racial Harmony,” and we will be talking about issues like reconciliation, white flight, understanding cultures and the heart of God in all of this.  This is a “take the gloves off” kinda class.  We’ll be talking stereotypes.  We’ll be talking pains from the past.  And we’ll be talking about our own individual stories.

I know what you are thinking.  You’re thinking, “I know all this stuff.  I’m not a racist.  I’ve heard all this stuff before.  I know I should love my neighbors.  I know I should welcome black people into Church on Sunday.  I know all this.”  Well, if you’re thinking this, you’re wrong.  We don’t know all this.  We don’t have this all figured out.  And we don’t always love our neighbors.  My friends, the purpose is not to cast blame, lay the guilt trip on thick or make people feel bad if they moved out ofSouth Holland.  That’s not the point at all.  The point is that out of all things Jesus could have prayed for with a few precious hours before His divine body would literally be torn to pieces, He prayed for unity.  The point is that living together in unity and peace is something that all of us, since our greatest grandparents left the Garden inEden, have been struggling with.  And the reality is that until the Good Lord comes again or calls us home, we’ll never fully get there.  But the point is to keep trying.  Keep working.  Keep talking.  Keep learning.  Keep growing.  Unity is just that important to our God.  And if that’s important to Him, well then maybe it should be important to us.

I grew up as an upper middle class white kid from two parents that went to college.  I had literally every opportunity to succeed at my fingertips.  If I wanted to go to college, I would go.  If I wanted to play on the travel soccer team, I would play.  If I applied for a job, I usually got it.  I’ve never known the feeling of being pulled over simply because of my skin color.  I’ve never felt discriminated against because of my race.  I’ve never felt like my voice isn’t being heard.  Sarah would say that’s because I’m so loud, but you get my point.  But the reality is that friends from within our Church have experienced all these things.  Friends that we have coffee with and gives hugs to in the Narthex and serve on Consistory with have experienced all these things.  And if we want to be a stronger family of God, well then we need to understand some of the pain there.  We need to talk about the deep systems in place that lift some up and keep others down.  And we need to pray for forgiveness when we’ve fallen as individuals and as a nation and pray for grace to keep us going.  Hope to see you in class.

Grace & Peace,

Pastor Matt

We’ll, we’re back at it.  I felt as if it took a good day and a half after last week’s time spent with family and friends to dust the cobwebs off my brain.  And it is good to be back home.  Last week I had a chance to reconnect with Seminary colleagues, great friends from High School that I see only a handful of times a year and attend a beautiful wedding on New Year’s Eve.  But before we start putting dates on the calendar for 2012 and already planning and preparing for future events and vacations, let’s just take one more deep breath of 2011.  One of the things that I’m working on is to take time to look back to look forward.  Which, I realize at first doesn’t make a whole lot of sense.  Here’s what I mean.  So often I’m guilty of pressing, pushing and moving forward in life and ministry that I fail to look in the rearview mirror and take in just how many miles we’ve covered.  I think what makes this all the more staggering is the presence of a son in my life.  I get excited about him starting to reach out for me and working on crawling. It seems like an eternity ago that I brought him home from the hospital and introduced him to what I call “his brother with fur.”

We’ve come a long way in 2011.  As a Church, we’ve grown numerically, Biblically and missionally.  It is my hope and prayer that you as an individual have come a long way in 2011. Maybe it was a habit you kicked, a relationship you mended, or a prayer you saw answered.  2011 was yet another year of God’s faithfulness.  As your pastor, I have so much to be thankful for this past year.  I’m grateful for an addition to my family and the gracious Church baby shower thrown by so many of you.  I’m grateful for a dynamic and creative staff that works so well together and brings out the best in one another.  I’m grateful for a wife whose categories of grace and patience I’ll never comprehend.  And I’m grateful for the trust you have in me to serve alongside of you in this wonderful adventure of ministry.  For these and so many more, I give thanks.

On Sunday, we’re going to have one more opportunity to look back to look forward.  We’re going to celebrate the tradition that I brought toFirstChurchcalled “The Tolling of the Bells” service.  On Sunday morning, the bell will toll for the 15 friends who were taken home to glory.  We’ll remember their face.  We’ll be reminded of where they sat in Church.  And we’ll remember their importance in the body of Christ.  We’ll also light 10 candles for the 10 times we gathered around the waters of Baptism.  Ten times we were reminded of God’s covenant of grace with us.  We’ll remember what their names meant.  We’ll be reminded of the promises we made to them.  And we’ll remember their importance in the body of Christ as well.  I love this service.  You can’t do this service at what some call a “mega-church” where funerals aren’t announced and Baptisms are like assembly lines.  But we do it here atFirstChurch.  We believe it is important to celebrate the lives of those who have paved the way for us and we believe it is equally as important to celebrate the times when we promised to raise children in the faith.

We don’t mark the passage of time with calendars or day planners.  We mark the passage of time with memories and experiences.  We remember 2011 for the times we had dinner with friends, the times we blew out another set of birthday candles and the times we laughed together as the body of Christ.  So go ahead and do me a favor.  Before worship on Sunday, just take a few minutes to yourself and think back on 2011.  Think about some of the great times of 2011, and go ahead and think about some of the struggles of 2011.  Think about the people who were important to you in 2011.  Think about your prayer life in 2011.  Think about what you came from in 2011.  And as you do, go ahead and look back to look forward.

Grace & Peace,

Pastor Matt

I was given a gift this past week that I’d like to share with you.  I’d like for you to come with me to the Holland Home.  We’ll need to turn the clock to Friday, December 10.  You can take the elevator to the second floor and make your way down the long hallway to room 250.  This was Marie Hamby’s room, if you didn’t know it.  And in a lot ways, how would you know it’s her room since the vast majority of her time at the Holland Home was spent anywhere but in her room.  You would see her in the coffee shop or the exercise room.  You would see her in the dining room or in the chapel.  And, you would see her playing Nintendo Wii bowling in the commons; but rarely would you see her in her room.  But on Friday, December 10, we’ll meet Marie in her room.  I would encourage you to have a seat in the recliner in her room, but that spot is being taken by Marie’s son, Chuck.

It’s late at night and Marie is struggling.  She is struggling to see, struggling to sleep and  struggling to stay here or go be with the Lord.  From what I’ve been told, in the middle of the night, Marie calls out to her son Chuck.  “Charles, are you there?”  Chuck, like the loving son that he is, said, “Yes Mom, I’m here.”  Marie asked Chuck to come close.  His Mom inching her way to glory had something to say.  Chuck, thinking these may be the last words his Mother says, quickly tries to find a pen and paper to jot down whatever these precious words might be.  As the Christmas tree is gleaming into the wee hours of the morning, Marie says to Chuck, “I have something to say.”  “Okay, Mom,” said Chuck.  “I have something to tell my church, will you tell my church?”  Hanging on every word Chuck responds, “Yes Mom, I’ll tell church.”  “Tell them I love the Lord, He is my Savior and He has been so good to me.  Tell them that I pray for the salvation of others.  Tell them that I pray for the babies of the world.  I pray for Pastor Matt’s baby and our choir director’s baby and for the grandkids.  Tell them that I am ready to be with the Lord.”

These were some of the last words Marie Hamby spoke before being taken away to Ingalls Hospital where she would eventually be taken by the hand to be with the Lord just a few short days later.  What a gift.  What a testimony of faith.  What an example to follow.  Sarah says I’m at my best doing a funeral.  I tell her that doing funerals for saints like Marie preach themselves.  Leading her family through the valley of the shadow of death this past week wasn’t always the easiest.  The floodgates of emotions around the Christmas season only amplify the emotions of losing a beloved Mom.  And still, in the midst of loss, Marie gave not only her three kids, but all of us, one very special gift to open a few days before Christmas.  It’s a gift where we can celebrate the best parts of the Christian faith; a gift that reminds us all that ours is truly Emmanuel, God with us.  Which has me thinking about if I were lying on that bed in room 250 of the Holland Home inching my way to glory; if I only had what I thought to be a few more sentences to speak, what would I say?  Have you ever thought about that question?  What would be the most important thing you’d want to say in those precious and holy moments?  I seriously doubt we’d acknowledge the vacations taken, or the homes bought or the cars driven.  My guess is that if we only had a few sentences left, we’d think about family, and church and the Lord.

As the mother Mary carried the weight of heaven and hell in her womb, the salvation of humanity was growing in her.  Like Marie who prayed for the salvation of newborn babies and for the salvation of those that don’t yet know the Lord, the weight of heaven and hell was on her mind.  This Advent season, don’t be caught up with presents, candle light services and hot chocolate.  Eternity hung in the balance between cries from an infant and a sigh of relief from His mother.  This is real and Marie knew it.  Salvation is here, my friends.  And His name is Jesus.

Grace & Peace,

Pastor Matt

It’s been a bruiser of a week for your pastor.  I’ve been swamped with work for my doctorate.  I have about three different services and sermons dancing around like sugar plum fairies in my head and we’ve been spinning plates in the office trying to accommodate funeral luncheons, family Christmas parties, worship services and congregational treats.  I’ve also spent a great deal of time walking in darkness with people.  Marriages.  Relationships.  Finances.  Parents.  It just seems like the Advent season exemplifies both joy and pain.  And as hard as I try to separate myself from the darkness, all of those conversations and tears with friends stay with you.  So, my soul needs some TLC.

I got just that for one minute this past week Tuesday.  Every square inch of my desk was covered with either books or papers as I was plodding along through some D.Min work.  My door was half open, which usually means that I can hear what’s going on out in the office, but implies that unless you really need me, I sort of have work that needs to get done!  I heard, “Is Pastor Matt around?”  I lifted up my eyes from the computer screen only to see a dozen 4 and 5 year olds standing in my doorway along with Kathy Verhagen.  Kathy asked if her class of students from Family Christian Life Day Care could show me something that they have been working on since September.  I obviously was all eyes and ears to what they were going to show me.  Kathy said just three words as if she was a drill sergeant in the military.  “A is for?”  And immediately on command her dozen 4 and 5 year olds said confidently, “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.  Romans 3:23.”  Then Kathy, in that same tone said, “B is for?”  Again, on command, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.  Acts 16:31.”  And they kept going through the first half of the alphabet!  Think about that, four and five year olds tucking the living, breathing Word of God into their hearts.  Just hearing them recite the Bible was a boost of spiritual Vitamin C to my soul.

If you’re anything like I was growing up, I just assumed the bulk of ministry taking place in the life of a Church happens on Sunday mornings from 9:30-10:30am, and outside of that hour, the Church is a rather quiet place; maybe a coffee time here and there, but mostly an empty place.  My friends, nothing could be further from the truth at First Reformed Church.  Nearly 100 kids are taught the ABCs, fed lunch, take naps and sing songs through the ministry of Family Life Christian Day Care.  Did you know this ministry has been around nearly 30 years?  And in a lot of ways their teachers and directors are missionaries on the front lines.  They deal with moms who are scraping the bottom of the barrel to come up with this weeks’ tuition payment. They are dealing with kids who are being raised by grandparents.  The are dealing with kids that need their noses wiped and help tucking in shirts after the kids use the washroom.  That’s ministry.  That’s being salt and light.  That’s being faithful.

I needed to hear those dozen or so kids recite those Bible verses this week.  I needed to be encouraged and refreshed.  And I needed to be reminded that there’s joy in hearing a whole army of little ones call me, “Hey Mr. Pastor Man.”  It was TLC for a tired soul.  And this weekend we have an opportunity to shine a little light into dark places during a Christmas dinner and concert on Sunday night at 6:00pm.  If you haven’t signed up for the dinner, no worries, but c’mon out for the concert beginning at 7:00pm.  Marinate your soul with the songs of the season, the lighting of the Advent candles and characters who witnessed the incarnation first hand.  In the midst of such busyness, pause.  Be still.  Breathe deep.  And let the TLC of the Holy Spirit invade your life.

Grace & Peace,

Pastor Matt

So what is on your Christmas list?  I can honestly say that all I’m asking for this year are socks and boxers.  I really don’t have anything that I’m dying to have or longing to get this year.  I just have holey socks and boxers!  Here’s a question for you to think about.  What’s the best gift you’ve ever given?  Not gotten, but given?  The best gift I’ve ever given was a leather jacket that my brothers and I scrimped and scraped up money for; it was for our Mom the first Christmas after my parents split up.  Kyle and I were in High School and with all our reffing money along with a few bucks from Mark; we paid $108 for a sleek, black leather jacket for my Mom.  It was perfect and a total surprise.  She opened it up and nearly cried she was so overwhelmed with joy and love.  I’ll never forget that.  So, what is the best gift that you’ve ever given?

Sometimes I think gift giving gets a bad rap in Christian culture; something like if you’re a Christian, then you really shouldn’t spend any money on Christmas gifts.  You know, it is just such a waste of money to give gifts to your loved ones.  Huh?  When I read the Bible, I read countless stories of people radically blessing others with gifts.  Large gifts.  Expensive gifts.  Lavish gifts.  The kind of gifts that people would have turned their heads to and gone, “what a waste of money!”  Now, I’m certainly not saying that going out and buying a brand new Lexus with one of those giant red bows on it for your husband or wife is a good use of resources simply because you love them.  On a side note, whoever really puts those giant red bows on a car?!  But when we look to the story of Scripture we see people who gave in a big way for gospel purposes.  So what separates lavish gifts that make their way as good examples in the Bible and lavish gifts that we scoff at?  Well, I think it comes down to how we handle the reality that to whom much is given, much is expected.  With the ability to give comes responsibility.  Everyone talks about “the perfect Christmas,” but does that mean we spoil our kids rotten and give them everything they’ve ever wanted?  And then when we don’t give them all that they ever wanted, and they complain, we cave in?!  Or does it mean that we spend and spend and spend and live on credit far beyond our means?  I don’t think so.  With giving comes responsibility.  With giving comes prudence.  With giving comes joy.

I stood around Fritz Boomsma’s bedside this week, holding his yellowish looking hand having come out of a bruiser of a surgery for his cancer.  Fritz didn’t seem to care in the least about what gifts he would be getting this Christmas.  I held the hand of another friend deeply hurting this past week and about the last thing on earth she seemed concerned with was with her Christmas shopping.  And I looked in my closet this week wondering what to wear and counted that I could wear a different sweater for every day for over two and a half weeks.  My point, my friends, is simply that we have enough.  Enough stuff.  Enough sweaters.  Enough things to fill our homes.

Here’s maybe something to keep in mind this Christmas season when it comes to giving gifts.  Leave room for a gift to the King.  Leave room in your Christmas shopping budget for a gift to give to the King.  Have you ever thought about that?  What tangible gift could you get for Jesus?  And think about this parents and grandparents.  Think about the lesson that we could teach our kids and grandkids and great grandkids if we all made a point to give a tangible gift to the King every Christmas?  Funny you should ask that Pastor Matt.  This weekend we’re unveiling an opportunity for you to do just that.  Give a gift to the King.  So keep your ears and eyes and hearts open to where you might be called to give a gift to the King.  Could this be the Christmas where you give the best gift you’ve ever given?  More information to come…

Grace & Peace,

Pastor Matt

If you were with us last week, you may recall that I reminded us that sometimes we just don’t want to sing.  Or sometimes we want to sing, but don’t have the words to sing.  And still other times, we want to sing, but are just too tired and frustrated to sing.  Simply put, I wanted to remind us all that sometimes this Advent season all isn’t calm and all isn’t bright and that doesn’t make you any less of a faithful follower of Jesus.

Well, I had a lot to sing about over the Thanksgiving weekend.  Despite my team losing the 4^th Annual East/West Classic, I did record four tackles, three receptions, one interception and managed to walk off the field without any broken bones.  We also had a great time with my Aunt, Uncle and their three kids.  My cousin Tyler is a stellar high school runner and I enjoyed a few nice runs with him.  My Mom had prepared a serious spread of food and as my brother told me, “I had a good eat.”  Throughout the holiday weekend, my Mom was beaming with joy, which I have a hunch had more to do with this being her first Thanksgiving with a grandchild.  But the best part of the weekend was Friday night when my family went over to the home of one of my best friends growing up, Joe Zessin.  The Zessins had three boys right around the same age as the three Waterstone boys and just as competitive.  When my parents divorced, they claimed me as their fourth son.  We were honored to have Joe’s parents, Dave and Jan, serve as Masters of Ceremony at our wedding.  So anytime we can, we enjoy stopping over at their home for pizza and beer.  It is amazing how as the years go by, the stories get better, the laughter gets louder and now as spouses and children have been added to the mix, our friendship has only strengthened.

Family is something that has been more inclusive for me.  Family was taking a village to raise a child.  Family meant friends and friend’s parents.  I’m forever grateful to my Mom for encouraging me to develop those lasting friendships with surrogate families.  And now, as I’m the parent, I can only hope and pray that Willem will one day have friendships that are as rich and life giving.  Advent is a season that is synonymous with family.  So much of our holiday get togethers, worship services, cookie exchanges, and Christmas brunches are experienced with family.  And for some, this is a slice of heaven.  For others, this is a time to just get through, rather than treasure.  As kids grow and have kids of their own, new family dynamics are created.  Some good, and some not so good, and in any case, they are amplified during this time of year.

So here’s what I’m thinking.  If you’re reading this and find yourself in the category where family get togethers are stressful, contentious and at times even painful, my word of encouragement for you today is to create a new reality.  Not by checking out and not by putting on some fake smile.  But instead, try to create a new reality this Advent season.  Start a new tradition.  Forget about the baggage of last year.  Begin with a new attitude.  Look for someone that you can give a word of encouragement to.  And if you’re reading this letter and find yourself in the category where family is something so dear to your heart, my word of encouragement to you is to bring on a few more “family” members.  Invite the friend without family close by to your Christmas Eve tradition.  Welcome the girlfriends and boyfriends and friends to the Candle Light Service at 11:00pm.  Ask if a widow from Church has a place for Christmas brunch.  You know you’ll have more than enough food!  And if there’s any consolation in all of this, it’s that the first family was anything but the Walton’s.  A few unwed teenagers, pregnant, broke, surrounded by animals and a few dingy looking shepherds.  A perfect family, whatever that looks like.

Grace & Peace,

Pastor Matt

I hope this letter finds you full of good food and good times with family and friends.  I think I’ve shared this with you before, but this whole Thanksgiving weekend is my favorite string of days throughout the whole year.  Sarah and I were married the day after Thanksgiving back in 2007.  The whole rhythm of eating, napping, watching the Lions and eating again is heavenly.  We ran in our first annual First Church Turkey Trot that made all the calories eaten later that day, just a little sweeter.  And, at least for the past several years, I’ve played in a tackle football game pitting thoseHollandkids who went toEastMiddle Schoolagainst those kids who went toWestMiddle School.  Keep in mind, I don’t have the best insurance, so when a 240 pound 20 year old comes barreling down on me, I more often than not play the part of a bull fighter waving a red cape and get out of the way!  Yup, these are some of the best days of the year for your pastor.

But as I was thinking about the series of fun events over the next few days, I couldn’t help but think about my friend Jon.  Jon is right now serving in the Army and is stationed inAfghanistan.  To be more specific, he’s in theKandaharregion ofAfghanistan, which if you keep up with current events you know, when things go down inAfghanistan, they go down in theKandaharregion.  I met Jon a few years ago while in Seminary; he’s actually the brother of a really good friend and we just sorta hit it off.  We lost touch for a few years, but have recently been reconnected.  He’s without a Church home and a pastor, so while he was stateside for a three week leave, I asked if I could be his surrogate pastor.  He graciously obliged.  So, I’ve been praying for Jon every day since November 7, the day when he went back toAfghanistan.  I like Jon because he’s a straight-shooter.  When we were together, he was telling me about some of his experiences, which from what I’ve been told is not that common for people serving in the military.  Jon told me that he honestly doesn’t like to tell others how downright scary things are over there simply because he doesn’t want people to worry.  But for some reason, Jon gave me the humbling privilege to hear part of his experiences.  He shared with me things like the sheer culture shock it was to go from living in absolute squander to the sheer abundance back home.  Things like Afghani people literally bathing in rivers that American forces use to dispose of human feces. Things like witnessing good friends get wounded, or sometimes, even worse.  So I keep praying and emailing.  Every few days or so, I’ll get a quick two sentence email from Jon, sometimes just letting me know he’s okay.

I can’t even imagine what that life is like.  I never had a grandparent who served in the military to tell me stories.  My best mental pictures come from movies like “The Hurt Locker” or “Band of Bothers.”  But for Jon and thousands of forces protecting our freedom around the world, this is their reality.  Can you imagine for one minute eating some dehydrated block of food out of a brown bag instead of turkey and pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving?  I want to throw myself a pity party just thinking about it.  So as I’m filling my face with turkey and mashed potatoes and pie, I’m going to be thinking about Jon.  And, I’d encourage you to think of our men and women serving around the globe who won’t be able to see family and friends this Thanksgiving.  And when your Thanksgiving prayer is being lifted up, why don’t you go ahead and think about those friends who have decided to be part of something larger than themselves.  This Thanksgiving, I’m thankful for Jon.

Grace & Peace,

Pastor Matt

Maybe you can help me with something.  Something has been on my mind for quite some time and after looking at it from all angles; I still just can’t put my finger on an explanation.  Here’s the dilemma that has been bugging me lately.  Why is it that seemingly an entire generation of people lacks commitment?  I know, I know, that’s a pretty bold and generic statement, but let me explain.  My generation, known as the “Millennial Generation”, aka “Generation Next”, aka “Net Generation”, aka “Echo Boomers”, or aka “Worst Generation” lumps people born between the mid 1970’s to the early 2000’s.  And, it just seems that one of the characteristics that describe it is a lack of commitment to really anything.

Think about it.  Service groups like the Lion’s Club or Kiwanis Club are shriveling up across the country because the majority of their members are 50 or up.  Or think about the Church.  Why is that so many young people are vacant from Churches, only to re-appear like some long-lost prodigal son or daughter when they start their families and watch their kids to be baptized?  Or think about relationships.  Why is it that we hear more and more stories of people living together, raising kids together, and doing holidays together, but forgoing ever getting married?  Could it be that we simply lack commitment?

Why is that?  Obviously I don’t have all the answers.  But maybe it’s because we’ve grown up with things that have a short life span.  We get new phones and computers every few years, so perhaps it’s the same case with the turnover in our lives?  Or maybe it’s because we’ve been spoiled rotten our entire lives and have never really been told “no,” and have been preached to that we can grow up and be anything we want when we’ve flunked out of organic chemistry first semester freshman year in college.  Or maybe it’s because we simply can’t comprehend longevity.  No one anymore gets through school and works at the Lumber yard, or at the Bank or in the same job for their entire working career.

Now I just might be all wet on everything I’ve said (written), but then again, I might not be.  This past week, I pulled a three-bowler of chili at our Wednesday evening church dinner hosted by our “Weed & Feed” group that tends to the beauty of our Church campus.  I saw Glenn Gouwens who taught school for the better part of 30 years and now has anteed up in the life of the Church.  That’s faithfulness.  I had a warming conversation with Nell DeYoung, who hasn’t missed a Sunday in worship, even after standing beside the graveside of her beloved husband, Hank, just a few months ago.  That’s commitment.  And I had a conversation with Charles Dix who was already planning what the Weed & Feed group would be working on next before the snow comes.  That’s loyalty.  I could go on, but you get my point.  Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy I’ve grown up in a generation where I can get a new cell phone every two years.  But I think we’ve lost something from previous generations.  I think we’ve lost a willingness to commit; a desire to put your name on the dotted line and be held responsible; an earnest interest in sticking with something, even if it’s not “successful” in the short term.

How do we combat this problem?  Again, I’m not so sure.  I don’t think it’s really worth rattling off all the positive benefits of service, commitment, and faithfulness throughout the years.  Maybe it’s enough to look to the life of Jesus.  You don’t think Jesus had all the excuses in the world to give up on us?  You don’t think Jesus had all the reason in the world to get off the cross?  You don’t think Jesus had all the logic to take the road most traveled?  But he didn’t.  He stuck by us.  He hung there for us.  And he walked with us.  Would it be too much to ask that we do the same?

Grace & Peace,

Pastor Matt