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| A member congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America | ||
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September 2003 An author has told of meeting an old-timer, a tough, self-made man in the classic American sense. His grandparents had been dirt-poor immigrants who homesteaded in western South Dakota, living in a sod hut and barely making a living off the land in the early years. But the family had eventually prospered and the man himself had done quite well by being single-minded about money. The man told the author that when he married many years before, his grandfather, a deeply religious man, gave him and his bride a Bible. The man admitted he admired the Bible mostly because it was an expensive gift bound in white leather. He left it in the box, though, and stored it in a closet. For years afterward, whenever the two met, his grandfather would always ask him how he liked the Bible. He couldn’t understand why his grandfather kept after him since his bride had written a nice thank you note shortly after the wedding. Finally, his curiosity got the better of him and he dug out the Bible. What he discovered was that his grandfather had placed a twenty-dollar bill at the beginning of every book — more than thirteen hundred dollars in all. His grandfather knew he’d never find it. Years later, talking about it with the author, the old-timer said that the joke was on him — his grandfather knew him well. Then, true to form, he reflected on how much interest he could have made if he had found the money sooner. Kind of makes you want to get out the old family Bible, doesn’t it? Well, if that’s what it takes … I should warn you, though, that chances are you won’t find any twenty-dollar bills. But you will find riches of another sort, and there is much interest to be gained. Someone has said that one of the purposes of the church is to be a community in which people can help each other figure things out. And God knows, there is much in our lives and world that needs figuring out. Where is God in all that happens? How do you follow Christ faithfully in the midst of day to day life? Where do I find meaning and significance? Will peace deep down inside ever come? How are we to respond to all the needs calling to us? What are we to think about the tough social issues we face as a nation? And on and on. And that is the purpose of Sunday School classes for children and adults, our Bible Study groups, other study and discussion groups. If ever we are to figure things out, we need to worship and learn, we need to open our Bibles and study and discuss with others, we need to examine our thoughts and opinions and feelings and allow the gospel of Christ to re-shape them — even give us new thoughts and opinions and feelings. Sunday, September 7th, is Rally Day, the day we begin a new year of programs and ministries. If you or your children or grandchildren do not participate in Sunday School, Bible Study or another opportunity to learn and grow in faith, perhaps now is the time. I can’t promise you’ll find twenty-dollar bills, but you will find riches for managing your lives and this world with faith, and much interest — much hope and strength — will accrue! God be with you, Jeff
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