By Kristen, on August 7th, 2011% 
I hear something profound in that. Do you? Hear what God’s Word says.
Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. And early in the morning he came walking toward them on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.” Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” — Matthew 19:22-33
May we all rest confident in the assurance that our Lord never takes His eyes off us!
Angus Day appears with permission of www.agnusday.org.
By Kristen, on March 24th, 2011% 
LEA…Here I come!
What is LEA, you ask? I’m happy to tell you!
LEA is the Lutheran Educator’s Association. Every three years, they host a National Conference where Lutheran teachers from around the United States and beyond, get together for a time of learning and fellowship. It wouldn’t be a Lutheran gathering without good fellowship, you know! 
I attended my first LEA Conference the first year I was teaching. It was in Indianapolis. Would you believe that the first person I saw that I knew was Andy? I recognized him from our years at college. He was working at the CPH booth. Little did we know that years later, we’d be married!
This year, the LEA Conference is in Cincinnati. Cincinnati was the city of my first Call. I spent five marvelous years at St. Mark’s Lutheran School, Milford (just outside of Cincinnati). Therefore, I’m even more excited to head to there this morning!
I get to spend three days in the city where I used to live. Sure, I’ll be at a downtown hotel but I’ll recognize the streets and see Skyline signs. That’s nice. Even nicer? I get to see teacher friends and family from all over!
I know that I’ll get to see all my friends and co-workers from St. Mark’s. I’ll try not to cry but I’m quite excited to see them again so I just might. They are amazing. Each and every one of them. Simply amazing. I’ll also get to see college friends from Seward. Seward friends are priceless. Hopefully, I’ll bump into some of my family. It’s a large family and we have lots of Lutheran educators so the chances are good. Then, there are all the surprise people that I will see at LEA. That’s exciting too because you never know who you’ll meet! The extroverted Lutheran in me can hardly wait!
So, LEA? Here I come!
Note: While I’m at LEA, my husband is heading with his varsity basketball team to the National Lutheran Basketball Tournament in Valpo. Go St. Paul’s Bears!
By Kristen, on March 7th, 2011% 
This week is National Lutheran Schools Week. There are over 2000 Lutheran early childhood centers, elementary schools and high schools, including 10 universities and 2 seminaries. Lutheran schools are part of my heritage and now my ministry. God has blessed me richly by using Lutheran schools. There are so many reasons to give thanks!
As part of National Lutheran Schools Week, I am giving thanks for…
…Bethlehem Lutheran School in Saginaw, Michigan, where I attended preschool.
…Crown of Life Lutheran School in San Antonio, Texas, where I attended Kindergarten.
…Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran School in San Antonio, where I attended grade school.
…Lutheran High School of San Antonio where I was part of the second graduating class.
…Concordia University in Seward, Nebraska, where I received my excellent teaching training.
…St. Mark’s Lutheran School in Milford, Ohio, where I received my first call to teach Kindergarten and Pre-Kindergarten.
…Ascension Lutheran School in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where I now teach third and fourth grade.
…St. Paul’s Lutheran School across town in Fort Wayne where my husband now teaches.
…my parents who made many sacrifices so my siblings and I could attend Lutheran schools.
…the wonderful teachers who modeled me into the woman and teacher I am today, including but not limited to…
…Mrs. Tonder who gave me a great beginning in Kindergarten.
…Mrs. Eickstead who always cared and taught us to care.
…Miss Smith (now Mrs. Eckert) who was the reason I wanted to teach fourth grade.
…Mrs. Templeton who expected a lot but made us better with her higher expectations.
…Bob and Audrey, Cathy and Gene, who were my fellow teachers, mentors and friends, at St. Mark’s.
…Debbie and Karen, the best two aides a PreK / K teacher could ask for!
…chapels led by Pastor Dad and Pastor Dan, faithfully teaching young children about their Savior.
…the dress day activities that the children and teachers are anticipating. My all-time favorite is Word Day! I’m dressing as “authentic” this year.
…the opportunity to share and live our faith, each and every day.
…the wonderful mission and ministry opportunities of Lutheran schools.
Today and always, I am giving thanks for the blessing of Lutheran schools!
This lists numbers 451 to 470 in my Journey of 1000 Gifts.
By Kristen, on February 20th, 2011% 
Love…
We only have one word in English, but the Greek Bible uses three. My Lutheran Pastor Dad made sure I knew this. Do remember these from your confirmation days?
There is eros love…a romantic love.
There is phileo love…a brotherly love.
There is agape love…a love that loves another as much as ones self…a Godly love.
These tulips were a gift from my husband because he loves me with an eros love. He (and they) remind me to show phileo love to all those around me because God loved us first and loves us still. God loves me – us – with an agape love.
Love. It’s one word with many meanings.
Dear friends, let us love one another. 1 John 4:11
By Kristen, on December 23rd, 2010% Here’s a different take on the ordinary shepherds at the the first CHRISTmas…
This comic is created by AgnusDay. The original comic was published on their website on December 24, 2001.
By Kristen, on November 14th, 2010% 
Photo by Hilde Vanstraelen
I missed my exit driving home the other night. It’s true! I was so lost in my thoughts that I missed not only my exit off the highway but also all the exits leading up to it. By the time I realized it, Dupont Road was disappearing in my review mirror and all I could do was keep driving. I kept driving until I reached the next exit. I filled the twenty miles (ten to the next exit and ten back) with even more thinking.
I realized as I was driving that life is often like a missed exit. There are times when I feel like I’ve missed something. Times when I actually do miss something! Many of these times, I don’t feel like things in my life have unfolded according to plan. That’s the problem right there. Too often, I concern myself with my plans and not God’s plan.
You see, I thought I’d be married sooner. I thought my teaching ministry would unfold in different ways. I thought I’d live in different states and / or countries. Yet, my life didn’t happen as I envisioned. I could call them missed exits, but I don’t because I’ve learned as a result of those so-called “missed exits.” Perhaps, I’ve learned more because I missed the exits. I know that my life has unfolded according to God’s plan.
I got married five years after graduating college and I knew who I was as a result of the time living on my own. Because I was on my own, I was able to devote myself to teaching and pursue a Masters, which I never expected. I began my ministry with five years of life as an early childhood educator and loved it. That has shaped all of my perspectives and encounters in the classroom. I lived in Ohio and Indiana and never made it (back) to China. Still, God brought amazing people into my life in these humble little Midwest towns.
Now, I’m happily married to an amazing man who loves me for who I am – every day of our lives. Now, I have a Masters degree and seven (yes, already, seven) years of teaching experience in the classroom. Now, I have an early childhood mindset that enriches my elementary mindset. Now, I am living in small town Indiana and loving it. Now, I am building new friendships. Little did I know that the detours of my life would unfold so wonderfully.
God knew. God knew that we all need missed exits to point us to what is really important – Him. Even in the midst of changes and unexpected detours, we can rely on Him. He will never leave us. He knows what is best for us even, and especially, when we don’t.
So I missed an exit the other night. So I take a detour or two through life. I am savoring the moments. I am learning to be content. I will give thanks. I will joyfully live the life that God has given me.
By Kristen, on October 31st, 2010%
You know you are a Lutheran if (one of) your favorite church celebrations is Reformation. In my case, that is most certainly true!
I love CHRISTmas and Easter and Pentecost, but Reformation is another one of my favorites.
I love the joyfulness. I love wearing red. I love singing “A Mighty Fortress” and “Thy Strong Word.” I love hearing the trumpets accompany the organ. I love hearing the Gospel proclaimed boldly. I love remembering how God has used Martin Luther and many other people to glorify Him. I love, as always, seeing God at work in the lives of His people.
In honor of this special day of Reformation, I thought I’d share a bit about Martin Luther. As a preschooler teacher, I find this quite entertaining! If you know all about Martin Luther or you know nothing about Martin Luther, I hope you enjoy this perspective on his life.
Martin Luther for Preschoolers
Look!
Look and see!
See Luther run!
Run, Luther, run!
Luther ran!
Oh, oh!
It is raining!
It is pouring!
See the lightning!
Hear the thunder!
See Luther get scared!
See Luther hide under that big tree!
See Luther pray to St. Anne.
“If you save me,” prayed Luther, “I will become a monk, okay?”
“That’s okay with me,” said St. Anne, “but if you don’t get out from under
that tree, you will be a friar!”
Oh, oh!
See the lightning hit the tree!
See the tree get rent asunder!
“Ach! Yammer!” said Luther.
See Luther clearly define Law and Gospel.
See Luther go to a monastery.
See Luther learn that indulgences are wrong.
“Wholly unnecessary, Batman,” said Luther.
See Luther write 95 Theses.
See Luther nail the Theses to the church door.
See Luther bang his hammer.
Bang your hammer, Luther, bang your hammer.
See Luther bang the wrong nail. “Uff dah!” said Luther.
Oh, oh!
Now the Pope is mad.
See the Pope send Luther an angry letter.
It is a Papal Bull.
“That is a lot of bull,” said Luther.
See Luther barbecue the Pope’s Bull.
“You burned my Bull,” said the Pope.
Now you will have to go to a Diet of Worms.
(A Diet is a long synodical convention with no meals.)
Oh, oh!
See King Charles tell Luther to shut up.
“I can’t,” said Luther.
“Then recant,” said King Charles.
“I can’t recant,” said Luther.
“Then go start the Missouri Synod!” said King Charles.
“Oh, goody,” said Luther, “now I can get married.”
See Luther look for a wife.
See Luther find nun.
See Luther and Kitty get married.
See Kitty get morning sickness.
“What does this mean?” said Luther.
“We shall have a little Lutheran soon,” said Kitty.
“Is this true,” said Luther, “or are you just ribbing me?”
Kitty said, “This is most certainly true.”
The End.
Rev. Les Stahkle wrote this is celebration of Luther’s 500th birthday. Stahlke was former Executive Director of LAMP – the Lutheran Association of Missionaries and Pilots.
By Kristen, on September 26th, 2010% 
From Ephesians 5…“Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God…Be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity.”
What would you do if you were suddenly told your bank accounted would be credited each and each day with $86,400? At the end of the day, what you didn’t use would be lost, not to be regained. Take a moment to think of it, if you will.
Now, I’m a frugal Lutheran teacher with a thrifty heritage so I know I have some ideas right away! Do you have a thought? Regardless of how our thoughts may differ, I have no doubt we would use every bit of that money before it disappeared. It’s an exciting and intriguing thought.
Yet what would you say if I said that gift has already been given to us? Every day, we are given 86,400 seconds to use. The moments we don’t use today will not be regained tomorrow. We are given today and promised no more. Each day that the sun rises again is a gift of God because His Son rose again to give us the gift of life. It would be nice to store up those quiet moments from our morning devotions and the encouraging memories from church earlier to use on that next frustrating day. Yet, it doesn’t work that way. We have to cherish each moment for the moment that it is.
If your days are anything like mine, and I trust I am not alone, then we are continually going from the moment we awaken to the moment we fall asleep. Our days are filled with places to go and people to see…even if that place is the same school or the same church or the same office or the same home. We have plans to make, lists to check off, lessons to teach, meetings to attend, a home to manage and children for whom to care.
Here is my confession. I – we – somehow seem to think that the words ‘serve’ and ‘busy’ are synonymous. We think we cannot serve – are not serving – if we are quiet but truly, how much better we can serve if we are still!
One of my favorite passages, Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still and know that I am God.” It is a challenge to be still yet that is what God is asking of us. He asks us to be still to truly know Him, to truly know His grace and care. Be still and rejoice in your place in the family of God. Be still and celebrate that you are forgiven and free. Be still and cling to the hands of our Heavenly Father.
May you put aside the temptation to be busy and learn to be still as you truly seek the Lord. May you be thankful for each and every moment we are given. May you rejoice for all the gifts God has daily given you!
By Kristen, on September 23rd, 2010% Some days, I just want to smile. Some days, I want to smile at a bit of Lutheran humor.
I recently discovered a unique website that makes me smile. Agnus Day takes the lectionary texts from Sunday and puts them in comic form…using cute little sheep. I’m considering Agnus Day the Children’s Message for adults.
I hope this makes you smile today. I don’t tweet…yet…but this did make me smile!
Agnus Day appears with permission of www.agnusday.org.
By Kristen, on August 18th, 2010% I grew up listening to Garrison Keillor with my Dad as we drove in the car. I learned to appreciate his Midwestern perspective and his stories of Lutherans. Coming from a Lutheran Midwest family myself, and a family who loves to sing, this has always been my favorite story of Garrison’s. I hope you enjoy his Lutheran perspective as much as I do.
I have made fun of Lutherans for years–who wouldn’t if you lived in Minnesota? But I have also sung with Lutherans and that is one of the main joys of life, along with hot baths and fresh sweet corn.
We make fun of Lutherans for their blandness, their excessive calm, their fear of giving offence, their constant guilt that burns like a pilot light, their lack of speed and also for their secret fondness for macaroni and cheese. But nobody sings like them.
If you ask an audience in New York City, a relatively “Lutheranless” place, to sing along on the chorus of “Michael Row the Boat Ashore” they will look daggers at you as if you had asked them to strip to their underwear.
But if you do this among Lutherans they’ll smile and row that boat ashore and up on the beach! And down the road! Lutherans are bred from childhood to sing in four-part harmony. It’s a talent that comes from sitting on the lap of someone singing alto or tenor or bass and hearing the harmonic intervals by putting your little head against that person’s rib cage.
It’s natural for Lutherans to sing in harmony. We’re too modest to be soloists, too worldly to sing in unison. When you’re singing in the key of C and you slide into the A7th and D7th chords, all two hundred of you, it’s an emotionally fulfilling moment.
I once sang the bass line of “Children of the Heavenly Father” in a room with about three thousand Lutherans in it; and when we finished we all had tears in our eyes, partly from the promise that God will not forsake us, partly from the proximity of all those lovely voices.
By our joining in harmony, we somehow promise that we will not forsake each other.
I do believe this: people, these Lutherans, who love to sing in four-part harmony are the sort of people you could call up when you’re in deep distress. If you’re dying, they’ll comfort you. If you’re lonely, they’ll talk to you. And if you’re hungry, they’ll give you tuna salad!
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