Author: Wick

This past Sunday I was allowed to preach here at Moundford. I praught (past tense of “preach”) on Luke’s story of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31). I feel like it went well Sunday morning, with two services of asking ourselves who the Lazarus in our own lives might be? And also asking ourselves what might be the “gates” in our lives…the things that are separating us from those God is calling us to love towards Him. (economic, social, status, schedule, etc…) Some gates we create, and some gates are just “there” by nature of the world we live in.

As usual, those who preach Sunday morning, are usually called on to preach for our food pantry service on Monday morning. I was excited to have a 3rd opportunity. 🙂 But in prayer Monday morning, I realized that the message I was about to preach needed a shift in focus. Many of those who came to the service that morning were the “Lazarus” on the other side of the worlds’ gates. I spent a few quick moments trying to rework the approach.

We hear from time to time that the Gospel message is best understood by those who are oppressed, disenfranchised, suffering, outcast and downtrodden. That morning, I’m not sure if I understood it in a new light….but preaching it sure was a lot more exciting than it had been on Sunday.

God had me speak about the coming Kingdom…the coming “overturning” of this world’s structures and economy. The redemption of how all things work. The fact that God was with Lazarus in this world AND after….and no matter how sometimes we wish things in our lives would work out like what we see through our “gates”…..God is with us…..and THAT is a pretty exciting thing to be reminded of.

I think most of us have moments/seasons of both identities throughout our lives.

Sometimes we’re Lazarus. We are hurting, suffering, alone, in need….and we look through gates of (finances, social status, employment, titles, popularity, etc.) and we wish we had what was on the other side. But God is with us.

Other times we’re the rich man. We’re doing pretty good. Things with our (finances, social status, employment, titles, popularity, etc.) are going so well that we forget about those on the other side of that “gate”. God calls us to remember those….and that by our solidarity with them…we are with Christ.

In Truth, no matter what side of what “gates” of this world we land on….it’s important to remember than in the economy of Christ…the structure of the Kingdom….the curtain has been ripped down the middle.

How we live in view of that will affect a multitude of eternities.

The hard part is over. Whether I make the show or not, I HAD to at least try out for “Deal or No Deal”. Especially after being chosen for Wheel of Fortune last year. They have to pick someone.

Monday night at 6pm, I staked out my spot, with about 30 people in front of me, outside the Hickory Point Mall. With a camping chair, a raincoat, and 8 umbrellas I borrowed from our church, I sat. And positioned my umbrella. And sat. And repositioned my chair and umbrella. And passed out umbrellas to others who needed a larger or functional umbrella. I got on the news, and in the news, and in the news.

The night was full of low temperatures, cold rain, powerful winds, and time spent with people who I wouldn’t normally get to sit down with for long under normal circumstances. It was fun. My father-in-law saved me by giving me a few toe/hand warmers from his store, MC Sports. They really did help me survive the night. My brother-in-law added to the help by delivering some Culver’s and my sleeping bag around 9:30pm…without that meal/warmth, I would’ve been in trouble. My incredible wife made some brownies, and told me to pack a few snacks…but like an idiot I said “I’ll be fine…the less I bring, the better.”

At 5:30am, we were allowed inside without the luxury of our chairs, but with the luxury of HEAT. I was too energized by a night with no sleep, and this new movement towards what was to come, to stay penned in for long. Thankfully, people held my spot, as I walked around trying to find people I knew. More hours passed. Time was near.

Finally, 1pm, the time had come. 10 of us at a time. We were told we had 20 seconds to talk about ourselves, and basically “sell” why we’d be good for the show. I made it through the first round, and waited in a smaller line again. Same thing. New materials were sold. I was allowed to go home.

Is it over? Not sure. I’ve heard even people who get sent home from the first round have been called 2 weeks later. I think I did well…I was myself. Time will tell. In any case, it was a rush, met some great people, and hopefully was used by God a bit in the process of it all.

I’m thankful for a wife who will still allow me to do stupid stuff like this, even though it meant a long night of stuffy noses, cries, and dirty diapers all on her own. Next time she wants to do something crazy…I owe her big.

It’s about that time again. The beast that I try to hide from most of you throughout the year, but during the next month or two I simply cannot. NHL Playoffs are about to begin. The Detroit Redwings have 3 games left to play…once against Columbus, and twice against Chicago (who is desperate for a playoff spot….you NEED to watch this passionate of a game).

The quest for Lord Stanley’s Cup….is beginning. You can sense the change in the players, as you watch them compete…even if only on television. The rivalry’s are more intense. The energy level is soaring. This is what every player desires. What every team works towards. What every dynasty is built on.

The last time the Redwings tasted victory like this, was with Yzerman still as captain back in 2002. I have an autographed jersey from just after that win. 🙂

Since that year, they’ve had several chances, but so far have fallen short of what it’s taken. This year, however…is different. I’ll have my lucky stick in hand, IBC’s cracked open, jersey on, and will not be shaving until we’re hoisting the cup…or out of the playoffs.

Most of our best players experienced injuries in recent months, creating a vacuum for the 2nd lines to pick up the slack. They did…and then some. We now have almost all of our best players back on the ice, and a newly developed 2nd and even 3rd line…that are a force to be reckoned with.

With leading scorers like Zetterburg, Datsuk, Holmstrom(if he can get through this injury), Cleary, and lately Franzen…Defensive players like Chelios, Lidstrom, Kronwall, Lilja, (and my favorite, Lebda, even though he won’t hit his peak for like 3-4 years)….and the 2 TOP goaltenders in the league, Hasek and Osgood…..if ever there was a year….this is it.

Get your octopus ready…