Retiree Speaks

OK, this is my second attempt to post to the Surprise Me God website. My first attempt about a week ago is out there in the blogisphere somewhere. So hopefully this one will work. The first time I went to the Surprise Me God site was to read what our granddaughter had written which Pastor Tedd had quoted in his sermon that Sunday. Well I not only read what our granddaughter had written, I read all the other postings since the inception of the website. I am impressed by the openness, thoughts and feelings expressed by members, the tugging at my heart strings and I can identify with the writer's struggles and insights as to how God Works in our lives. Pastor Tedd, I hope that there is some way this site can be continued because I feel it is very worthwhile. I especially enjoy Pastor Tedd's postings which are right from the heart. I'm now going back to read the other postings of the past week. Right now my biggest concern is the financial situation at POP and the $80,000 deficit, so Surprise Me God.
Ron Welde

30 days of Journey - Eyes wide open!

The past thirty days slipped by so quickly. I don't think I will stop for awhile. The little prayer Surprise Me God has been a strong reminder of how much I need God in my everyday, walk around world. I hear about coincidence, chance or fate in conversations. I have begun to introduce "surprise" into those conversations. It is interesting the looks one gets...Surprise what?

I am considering a personal blog for myself...I guess you might call it a "journal". I find that the recording of the day and its events has huge implications for my prayer life. I find the words of Scripture "...keep on being filled with the spirit..." come alive in a new and fresh way. Even in the midst of struggle and discouragement over the past 30 days...there were surprises. I found that my "physical and spiritual eyes" were opened wide in a new way. Thank you God.

I am looking forward to Wednesday night's Surprise Party/Mentoring Celebration/Lenten Service. I have enjoyed this journey and Lent has been a "transformation time" as it is intended to be in our lives. Praise God.

Pastor T

Wonderful Sunday

This Sunday when the sun is shining and a little chill is in the air...ok a lot of chill is in the air....It warms my heart to know that there are so many surprises under our roof at Prince of Peace. A special friend asking how I am doing and wants to wish my daughter Mary congrats in her new job here in Minneapolis. Two beautiful babies being baptised....and the calmness that over came them both as Pastor Ted, carried them and prayed for them....and also prayed for their families.
A warm smile, a special hello.....and a little razzing.....This is the place that God has started this special experiment, and I hope we will all continue asking God Surprise Me. It has really opened me up to observe more....be a little more patient....and just to be quiet, still and to know that God is in control. I have urged my friends to try this and to let me know what they discover.......the possibilities are endless.....Peace Sue

Roller coaster........

Sitting back and reflecting on the week....Yes it has been five whole days since I blogged....I can't believe how fast the week went, but anyway...I have been on an emotional rollercoaster. Big, news and great surprise when our daughter Mary, called and said she has accepted a job here in Minneapolis. WOW.....I never expected it to happen this fast. My emotions overflowed with joy as I anticipate spending fun times with her and watching her continue to suceed in life. Then the difficulty set in as I can feel through her voice, the obvious, how difficult it will be for her to leave what has become her home state of South Dakota, and all the wonderful people who have touched her life over the past 6 years. I as a parent want to make it as easy as possible. But when your children have become adults, this is not possible. God has given me the forsight to sit back, pray, pray and pray some more to be here for her when she asks, and not try to fix it.... God has given my husband the kind and gentle words to help me to understand where our role as parents lyes. So as I pray surprise me God.... I have been asking God to guide me, more than surprise me....during this transition time for our family. I know God will surprise us with many wonderful times, and he will guide Mary into wonderful things here in Minnesota. Peace, Sue

Friday Prompting

Today as I was going one place to another I had this prompting…an overwhelming sense that I should stop to see a friend of mine. We were a part of a prayer group for several years while I was serving another congregation. I struggled with whether or not I had enough time or if he might be in his office but something drew me to stop.

I was greeted by one of his co-workers with great big hug. I guess it was worth stopping just for the hug but when Tim came around the corner it was a reunion. We hugged and began talking about families. His folks have had health issues like mine so we had some poignant moments talking about the changes in their lives and ours.

I asked Tim if he had seen our friend Chuck who was also a part of our little group. Tim indicated that they were supposed to get together last Friday for lunch and prayer but Chuck was called into work and could not meet. I grab my cell phone and dialed Chuck’s phone. He answered immediately. I asked him where he was and to our surprise he was just a couple minutes away from Tim’s office. He said, “I’ll be there right away!”

We had a great lunch and a time of prayer together just like old times. It was so rich a time. I never expected this wonderful surprise. God was all over this time and meeting together. If I had not acted on this “prompting” to stop I would have missed the highlight of my day. God pulled us together to share some time again in prayer and conversation. Relationships are core to the journey of life. I have been blessed to make many acquaintances but these two men have my heart and trust. We would drop everything for each other if one had a need or emergency. We are “friends forever” in Christ.

Thank you Jesus for stirring in my heart to stop and “smell the roses” of life with my friends, Tim and Chuck. Thanks for giving me sensitivity today to your presence in my life.

Pastor T

The Sign

The day after we started Surprise Me God, my father was diagnosed with terminal melona cancer. Not a good surprise. I've struggled with our project. This is a time in my life when I've thought: "Enough with the surprises God. We need to have a good chat and I'm going to tell you how it will work." I realize this is against our project plan, but I've been feeling a little cheated lately.

There was a rumor about the hospice we chose for Dad: as a patient nears the end, the deer come in from the woods and look in the windows. It was “The Sign”.

I thought this was an urban legend. The deer showed up every night, around dusk, to eat from the feeders on the property. Although Dad enjoyed this nightly ritual, I couldn’t help but think we had been duped.

Monday came, and we all sensed Dad’s time with us was nearing an end. We gathered together in Dad’s room and tried to think of anything other than what was happening. That afternoon was sunny with blue skies. Around noon, we sensed a shadow at the window. A huge buck was staring in at us. Twice he wandered over, never to eat, only to look in. He tipped his head to us, showing that he had recently shed his crown of antlers.

Those who knew Dad knew he had a thing for deer watching. Our cabin journal contains many entries detailing how many deer were spotted during a visit. He always got a kick out of seeing a huge buck wandering solo. Later that day, we located the antlers on the hospice property.

What a great gift to have this majestic animal give us the signal that it was time for Dad to leave. I'm glad that I could see this surprise. Thank you God.

Jill Schuerman

Blue Like Jazz

Last night at Revolution we began reading the book Blue Like Jazz.

At first I just liked it because I thought it was funny and good, but the more we read the more desire I had to continue reading.
This will seem like a tangent, but it comes back around so just bare with me.
Lately I've been having a lot of problems with society and humanity at whole. On Tuesday I was waiting to go into the lunch room, but no one was moving. Pretty soon I saw the school cop go running and I was hearing rumors spreading down the line that someone was choking, having a seizer, or something to that effect. So I finally get up the ramp into the lunch room and she is laying in the middle of the ramp. Death is always something I've had a really hard time dealing with and this girl laying on the floor happened to be my friend Dezi. At this point she was purpleish, cunvulsing, and looked practically dead. We were redirected by some teacher to go like 20 steps outside and then back through different doors so we could obviously walk around her becuase by this time the teachers had gotten out a defibralater and were taking her pulse. I get outside (its not even that cold) and the girl behind me starts complaining about how stupid this is and how cold she is. I couldn't believe it. I mean seriously, if that was your best friend laying there dying on the ground how would you feel? Not that it should make a difference, becuase you should have the common decency to not only care about yourself.
So I'm already frustrated about that and then when I'm walking up the stairs to my next class I hear the guys behind me loudly stating how much they hate gay people. Honestly now. This is like my third time having to hear someone talk about it so loud that everyone has to listen just this quarter. Some of my best friends are gay and I take it very seriously/personally.
These are just some of the things that make me so angry; at high school and at life. I mean honestly, especially in high school, everyone is so self centered. Like, what can the world do for me today? How does this directly effect me? No one ever takes a step back to realize the actions they take effect other people or that the things that happen are part of a greater picture and don't just involve them. This isn't even religious, its just inconsiderate society. And I'd like to think that its just high school, but I also realize that some people will never get their thinking and reasoning levels to that mature point. I think this is why in the past year or so high school has been so frustrating for me; I just want people to mature I guess.
Okay, so moving on: When I got home last night from Revolution I sat down and read chapter one again because we had skipped some things and then continued to chapter two. This is where God comes in. Completely on a tangent, Don starts talking about how its easy to scrutenize humanity, but what it comes down to is taking responsibility for youself first and formost. That really made me think, like, am I really modeling all the things I expect out of other people? Not that I haven't always tried to be the best model I can be, but it definately put things into perspective. Who am I to be so judgemental? Isn't that part of exactly what I'm criticizing? Tollerance and understanding. I'm really doing the best I can though. Doing peer mediations at school really helps me work on my communication, patience, understanding, and helps me expand and develope my thinking and reasoning. Through other people's flaws I not only try to give them the tools it will take to improve their lives, but I leave with some new tools of my own.
Anyways, I guess the biggest thing is just striving to be your best.
Jackie Winters