Internship -sort of.

Saying for the day: You can learn more by doing something than you can by just hearing about it.

We reach into the artifact box and out comes a church bulletin from St. mark’s Lutheran Church in Waukegan, Illinois my weekend internship parish.

Two things during my time in seminary had a greater impact on my ministry than the seminary and its program.
One was the time I spent with Pastor Kirsons and the other was my dual internship.

In the summer I put a multiple church parish together and during the year I worked oin weekends with Dr. Bob Hetico, a giant of a man.

The summer internship put me in charge of three churches.
Each of these churches had been a satellite church to a bigger congregation and my task was to see if they could be put together to form a viable parish.
I was to preach in all three churches every Sunday and to visit every home.
Here I learned that I was not nearly as good as I had thought I was.
Here I learned that dogs don’t always like pastors nor do horses.
Here I learned , as Luther learned , that preaching doesn’t make much of an impact on the daily life of most people.
I also learned the real value of listening to people and keeping in mind what I heard as I studied the text for the next Sunday.
Anchor the sermon in the Word but let it speak to people where they are (Kirson’s advice).
It was a good three months of constant learning.

The Saturday internship was different.
Here I worked under a supervisor who was one truly great Pastor.
From him I learned about the parish .
I learned that God doesn’t mind a little humor.
I learned a lot of other things as well .

Its good that now the church requires a full year of internship.

Because of my two internships I was much better prepared to begin my own ministry.

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News from Pigeon Falls– The little town in my backyard where dragons fly free.– Eino called the company in Chicago yesterday. The lady that answered said that she didn’t know of any project in Pigeon Falls bbut the man who was in charge of off premise projects was gone until Thursday. He might know. So Eino has to wait.
Well of the four people who were in the Lion’s Club preliminary yesterday only one is going on. Two of them averaged 7 points, one averaged 8 points, and one averaged 9. ( Nine being needed to go on) That was Jonathan Maki’s father, Bill. This is his story.

"Some years ago, before we ever saw a dragon on main street I was out in the pasture with Bossie the cow I raised from a calf. Bossie was one great cow. She gave more milk than any other cow I owned . My kids loved her too . She really seemed to like the attention. Well I was in the pasture and had started in toward the barn when suddenly this figure appeared in the sky. Well! First I thought it was a big bird, maybe and Eagle. But as it got closer I realized it was a big green dragon spewing fire. I have to tell you I had never seen anything like that before in my life. Then I realized it was going after Bossie. I tried to scare it away by throwing rocks but I have to tell you big green dragons are not scared of little guys throwing rocks. So I picked up a big stick and went out to protect Bossie. I felt like a Knight of old rising up to defend the castle. As it got closer, however, the heat became to much and I turned and ran for the house. I know a good Knight would never have done that but I remembered I was a farmer not A Knight. As I turned and looked it swooped down and Bossie became fire broiled roast beef which the dragon grabbed in his mouth and flew off with. I was, of course, devastated. But until now I have never told anybody because I was afraid they would think I was crazy. But now that other people are seeing dragons I can tell about it. If you don’t believe me I can show you the patch in the field that the dragon burned as nothing will grow there even now."

He did such a good job telling this story that some of the judges thought that it might have really happened. Now there’s a liar for you.
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The Link For today is Reflections Unlimited. Remeber to put the words Dr. John in your comment to get those beloved JCPOINTS ( prefered by English Dragons over all other points).
While your in a commenting mood leave me one as well. Check your JCPOINTS HERE
Yesterday we drew Catch's name and if we draw it today she wins what's in the prize box. She has the most JCPOINTS and the best odds. But today's name is Cindy. Sorry Catch. If we draw Cindy tomorrow she gets what's in the JCPOINTS prize box.
We finished teh back room in ther basement. Tomorrow Betty takes the garbage to the dump. She spent some time loading the garbage into the car. I did the August website for the Church. My daughter called to vent about work. My sister Dawn called to see if the house was sold yet. Of course, it isn't. Well I need a brrathing treatment.
GBYA