Prepare Ye

B ang when the door, as a girl comes home from school with tears in her eyes and throws her backpack to the ground. Her mother comes over to her, puts her arm around her and asks what is wrong. The other children also come in, and look at the little girl and shake their heads. L ifting her daughter’s chin with her finger, the mother asks again, what is wrong. Between her sobs, the little girl says she never wants to go back to school again. When asked why, she says that everyone is mean to her and bullies her. A s they walk into another room, the mother gives her daughter a hug, and they sit down on the couch, her arm still cradling the little girl. She asks her daughter for specifics, exactly what happened to her. The little girl said everyone picks on her. C autiously, the girl begins her story. When she walks down the hall, people move away from her, like they are afraid. When she passes by, they whisper and talk about her behind her back. Some made n...

At my Mom & Dad's 50th Wedding Anniversary Party.   I was born in Saginaw, Michigan to Robert and Charlotte Campbell. I was their only child. Dad (Bob) worked for Chevrolet as a set-up man and supervised a series of machines that made disc brakes. Mom (Charlotte) was the librarian at the elementary I  went to school.     I graduated from Saginaw High School and attended Alma College, and graduated from Alma with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration. I worked for seventeen years for the Saginaw Public Schools in the Community Education Department coordinating after school activities, youth sports, academic competitions and summer recreation.     I felt the call to ministry, left Saginaw and attended the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg. I graduated from there in May of 2011 with a Master's degree in Divinity, and was assigned to the Northwest Synod of Wisconsin. I was ordained and called to ...

I'm going to try to make this blog functional again. The key part that was missing ... my motivation. Let me explain. No, there is too much. Let me sum up. PREVIOUSLY ON PREPARE YE: Since the beginning of March, when I had my last "real" post, ( The In Between Times ) I did get the call, and was assigned to a synod in the northwest part of Wisconsin (you can figure it out if you try really hard), flew out to meet the Bishop and his staff, received profiles for a two-point parish (two churches that work together to call a pastor and do other ministries). When I was preparing to come out to meet with the call committee, my mother had a heart attack. Instead of coming for the interview, I went back home to Michigan. I wound up spending the last two weeks of my Senior year with my mom in the hospital or recovering at home. She was bound and determined to come out to Gettysburg for my graduation, and made sure her doctors knew that. We drove out and she saw me graduate. W...

I spent part of this week in Myrtle Beach with my mother. She has been visiting me here in the Garden since before Thanksgiving. I promised her that if she came down here, she would be out of the cold and snow. Boy, did I screw that one up. So we went to Myrtle Beach, and while it was cold for them, it was a great respite for us. This is a combination of different versions of the sermon I gave today (January 17). It was not the sermon I thought I would give when we headed to Myrtle Beach. I was mentally writing a sermon on gifts. That shows up in here. I thought about the greatness of the proclamation of the Isaiah text. That shows up in here. I decided against preaching about the bossiness of the mother of Jesus, at least while my mom was in attendance. But it shows up in here. I don't know what I think of this sermon. I'm conflicted with faith in the face of the death in Haiti. That shows up big time in here. ‘ You save humans and animals alike, O Lord. How precious is your s...

I've been talking to a friend who has a big decision to make in the near future. They are having to decide how much of a bad situation they are willing to put up with. I'm struggling with my advice because I don't know how much of my experience and how I would deal with the situation is coloring my advice. I guess my CPExperience helps me to recognize my issues and make me aware of them. But I am still struggling with what to do and what to say (or not say.) I hope just being there to listen helps. So if you're mad, get mad Don't hold it all inside Come on and talk to me now Hey, what you got to hide? I get angry too Well I'm a lot like you When you're standing at the crossroads And don't know which path to choose Let me come along 'cause even if you're wrong Crissy Hynde & the Pretenders - I'll Stand By You (live)

For the past couple of weeks, I have been on a break. Not a Ross & Rachel break, but days of rest. It feels like I've been going non-stop for so long, I don't know what to do with time off. So I have been a couch potato. I've been going through what stuff I want to take back to Michigan when I go back for about a month to spend with my Mom, y'know the stuff I dragged out to G'burg, but haven't used in 2 years. I had been looking at taking back some books, especially ones I knew I wouldn't use in the Garden on internship, but decided to put those into storage here in G'burg. But I've spent time flipping through some, especially some that I bought pre-Seminary when I was trying to deepen my understanding of exactly what I am doing. And I've realized there are as many takes on the role and nature of God, salvation and the relationship between humanity and the Divine as there are people willing to put their thoughts to paper. Sometimes, many time...

According to CBS Early Show, Guinness has less calories than skim milk. Guinness and Cheerios for everyone!

We sang this hymn in our Chapel service this afternoon. It was written by former LTSG President Herman Stuempfle about the 9/11 attacks. When foundations sure are shaken when the flames of hate consume, when the treat of sudden terror shadows life with fear and doom, help us hear your certain promise: "I am with you; do not fear." When the bonds of love lie broken, when death's grip around us winds, when our grief and tears seem endless, when the heart no comfort finds, help us hear your certain promise; "I will wipe your tears away!" When the future's path lies hidden, filled with danger, void of hope, when our way is dark, uncertain, when for light we vainly grope, help us hear your certain promise: "I will turn your night to day!" God, when evil seems triumphant, all your purposes defied, when the pow'rs of chaos threaten and our trust in you is tried, help us hear your certain promise: "I will not forsake my own!" (Her...

Sorry about the last rant. I should learn to type, save, reflect and THEN post. Mom's doing better. Should go home today or tomorrow, and doesn't need any further procedure. I'm off to the Synod Assembly to rubber stamp & meet people. Should be back in the G'burg for Memorial Day & CPE.

I'm back in Michigan, having to make an overnite drive back from Gettysburg. My mom's was put in the hospital with double pneumonia (over-achiever!). So as soon as the Graduation & Eucharist was done, I loaded up the Saturn and drove the turnpikes back to America's High Five. Mom's doing ok, taking breating treatments and antibiotics. Good thing it was Finals week so I was used to pulling an all-nighter. The one bright spot. The hospital has wi-fi internet access. Didn't get to say good bye to as many people as I wanted to, so I'll be shooting emails out. But to any 'burgers who are lurking, I just want to say thank you for making a difficult year a lot less difficult. I want to thank everyone for checking in on me, and keeping an eye on me. I want to thank the people who shared a piece of their souls to let me know I was not in this alone. Y'know, the way people were looking out for me, you think they want to be pastors or something for God's s...

A video of pictures put together to remember my dad, who passed away a couple of weeks ago. The Chieftans with Sting - Mo Ghile Mear (Our Hero) [1 & Chorus] Sé mo laoch mo Ghile Mear ‘Sé mo Chaesar, Ghile Mear, Suan ná séan ní bhfuaireas féin Ó chuaigh i gcéin mo Ghile Mear. [2] Grief and pain are all I know My heart is sore My tears a'flow, We saw him go .... No word we know of him... Chorus [3] A proud and gallant cavalier A high man's scion of gentle mien A fiery blade engaged to reap He'd break the bravest in the field Chorus [4] Come sing his praise as sweet harps play And proudly toast his noble frame With spirit and with mind aflame So wish him strength and length of day Chorus

I'm back at The LTS, and trying to get caught up on Mt. O' Reading. Holding out for 2 weeks will do that for you. While I'm interested in the reading, I just don't care to get it done. I want to sit and do nothing. I want to be here, and not be here. I want to bawl like a baby, and I want to watch the funeral's slide show over and over. I want to talk, but I'm sick of my own voice.

I made it back to Gettysburg tonight. Thirteen inches of snow and a ton of guilt couldn't keep me away. This photo was taken several years ago in the TV broadcast booth at Tiger Stadium. The dorky looking guy in the red is me. On either side of me are my two childhood heroes. Al Kaline, Tiger Hall of Famer, is on the right wearing a tie. My dad is on the left in light blue. I purchased this package to go to a Tiger game as part of Sparky Anderson's CATCH charity. We watched half of the game from the box seats behind home plate and the other half from the TV booth where Al Kaline and George Kell were broadcasting. Al Kaline was a hero of mine. He was the type of athlete we all hope to idolize. He did things the right way. He never embarrassed himself or the team or the community. In the weeks leading up to going to the game, I rehearsed what I wanted to say to Mr. Kaline. I wanted to tell him he was my idol. He made me love baseball. He showed me and everyone what the right way ...

I found this post which I was working on when I first heard about the accident my parents were in. I guess now is as good of a time to post it as any. From What Privileges Do You Have? , based on an exercise about class and privilege developed by Will Barratt, Meagan Cahill, Angie Carlen, Minnette Huck, Drew Lurker, Stacy Ploskonka at Illinois State University. If you participate in this blog game, they ask that you PLEASE acknowledge their copyright. Bold the true statements. 1. Father went to college. 2. Father finished college. 3. Mother went to college. 4. Mother finished college. 5. Have any relative who is an attorney, physician, or professor. 6. Were the same or higher class than your high school teachers. 7. Had more than 50 books in your childhood home. Encyclopedia Britanica put the total over 50. 8. Had more than 500 books in your childhood home. 9. Were read children’s books by a parent. 10. Had lessons of any kind before you turned 18. 11. Had more than two kinds of lesson...

Not one of my best days here at The LTS. The preaching classes went pretty well and my sermons have been well received. But just as the snows started to fall, I sent a message that I meant one way, and someone took another way. And I hurt a friend's feelings. And I feel bad about that. Unfortunately, you can't un-ring a bell. Plus, I got my first pair of glasses that have two lenses with in each lens. And I feel bad about that. Fortunately, my ego isn't that big. Then I watch this video. And I listen to the words. And I think. And I feel bad. And I wonder, why? Annie Lennox - Why (from Live 8)

I received a link to the Gratitude Campaign from a friend, and rather than bulk emailing it, I thought I'd post it here where almost half-dozens may see it. No matter what you may think about the policies that have sent our troops into harm's way, you must respect the sacrifices the troops and their families are making. Thank you. http://www.gratitudecampaign.org/fullmovie.php

I got a call from home today. Mom & Dad told me about the news back home. Two kids were shot while attending a middle school football game. A game at the middle school where I started my coaching career. The school coached by a very good friend of mine. The two students seem to be ok, considering they were shot. One, it appears, had a disagreement with the shooter earlier in the day, and so the shooter went home, got a gun and hunted the victim down to settle the argument and shoot him. The other victim just got in the way. Early reports are that all 3 are students at the high school where I had been coaching. The one that just made the playoffs for the first time since I started coaching there. To recap: A teenager got into a disagreement with another teenager. Teenager #1 got upset and got a loaded gun. T1 then located the person who he disagreed with at a football game with several hundred people around. T1 decided to settle the disagreement by shooting at the other person whi...

Well, today (or this week, to be more accurate) was a good day. After being bummed that I couldn't, or really shouldn't, go home for Reading Days, I ended the pity party & got to work. Preached a sermon twice on Sunday (same sermon -- I'm not THAT crazy) and studied for the Greek mid-term that I took today. I did ok (but I reserve the right to amend that if I choked like Mama Cass). Missed a few easy ones, but I think I'll live to fight another day. P is for Pastor and that's good enough for me. But Monday night, I travelled to York to finally see RENT. I have wanted to see this show since I first heard about it. That would have been after Jonathon Larson died. The creator of a play dies just before it debuts, and then it becomes a smash? You couldn't make a movie from that. But whenever the tour came to Michigan, something on my schedule kept me from going. So when I read it was coming near here, I bought my ticket. Front row, just off to the right. The wa...

Upon further review, the previous post was a misguided ramble. But it felt good to get it out. I woke up this morning, and I'm still upset with God. If it was that time of year, He might not get a Christmas card. Or get one ONLY after I received one. But since I still Love the Lord, I did my daily devotional readings. I'm reading from Daily Texts 2007 from the Moravian Church. I received a copy when I went for my visit to Trinity Lutheran Church . The Scripture readings that I mentioned that I wanted to read were the passages that I missed because I didn't get this book until mid-February. So the first devotion was from Jeremiah 7:3 - "Amend your ways and your doings, and let me dwell with you in this place." Then I read the prayer for today. Praise to you, O God of mercy. You are my dwelling place. Turn me from my dullness to seek your face. In your good time, Lord, give me a wakeup call and motivate me to be a joyful worker in your fields. Amen. From "Dai...

While I love the Lord, Our God, I don't like Him right now. As I have been struggling with this process of joining the ministry, going to a seminary and leaving my job and family behind, the one thing that I have struggled with is leaving my family. I'm an only child. My parents didn't have me until close to their 10th anniversary, and had almost resigned themselves to not having any children. While I don't think that I'm spoiled, I have friends who would politely, or not so politely, disagree. I will cop to being very loved and greatly supported. My parents support anything that I do. Anyone who has ever met them always asks about them. I love them very much, and do what I can to help them around their house. That is why going 4 or 9 hours away to a seminary is a concern. Because I can't drive out to shovel the snow, or cut the grass, or hang a picture or any of the other things you do for your parents when their in their 70's. This fall and winter, my dad ...