tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7517191329010953892.post5424380252733966927..comments2022-04-10T09:59:31.756-05:00Comments on Every Day an Adventure: Bound together and tightly wovenMarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17520958225617025411noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7517191329010953892.post-90776908639301226902010-01-17T13:23:11.164-06:002010-01-17T13:23:11.164-06:00Thanks for sharing Mark. I was worried about worsh...Thanks for sharing Mark. I was worried about worshipping with the people of Dilworth today since I have been gone for two plus weeks. Thursday I was blessed to be with other Wartburgers and grieve with them but being at DLC was going to be different. They didnt know the story of Renee, Ben, and Jon. Pastor Mark mentioned to me how he was going to tell their story in his sermon. That made me nervous. Would I cry and should I allow myself to do it in front of these people? After worship, many people told me that they were praying for Bens family and friends etc. They even wrapped me in their loving embrace. It reminded me of exactly what you are talking about in your post today. I think you are absolutely right...Ben has reminded of those things. God bless my friend!Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02619365758739247929noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7517191329010953892.post-50890410240264466482010-01-17T19:13:19.656-06:002010-01-17T19:13:19.656-06:00I preached today and spoke primarily about what th...I preached today and spoke primarily about what the scriptures had to say about this tragedy when we take it all in and turn to God. As I prepared, I intentionally chose not to include the WTS folks in the story. I just thought it would be too self-indulgent, somehow, in this context. But it was still on my mind during the beginning of worship and closer to the surface than I realized. I got very choked up in the middle of my sermon (where I was saying that God's judgment, like the mighty deep, is unfathomable but assuredly does NOT look like a natural catastrophe meted out on the poor and vulnerable. Take THAT Pat Robertson!) I was glad to receive support after worship, reassurance in the midst of my sense of awkward embarrassment ... and was glad to know that already this community loves me enough to understand and even welcome the emotional cracks when they show. I relate so much to what you wrote.<br><br>Anyway, I changed things up for the second service and decided to tell the story, because it turns out that our congregation has been participating in support for St. Joseph's Home for several years. It made the connection more personal, which was good. And the small world thing is here, as well. Ben sang at the wedding of a daughter of the congregation, whose husband was friends with Ben at Luther. Which makes me chuckle a bit as I wonder just how many weddings & ordinations Ben sang at over the years?Andrea Myershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01540240604684132074noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7517191329010953892.post-62129473935041617952010-01-22T15:18:05.914-06:002010-01-22T15:18:05.914-06:00Mark,I haven't had a chance to talk to you sin...Mark,<br><br>I haven't had a chance to talk to you since the earthquake. I'm sorry for your loss. If you get me the DVD I can get it into a postable format for you.Nealhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12785370156422075249noreply@blogger.com