Weather and pics

We had some great times with family over Christmas.  We played outside a lot.  Here is a picture from some soccer on Thursday before Christmas.  It was quite chilly about 20 degrees and cloudy and windy.

Suzanne bought me a Huskers shirt for Christmas!  So, you can see a rivalry coming with Nebraska joining the big ten next year.

We had a boys versus girls gingerbread house competition, which came out as a tie.

 7 kids in the house, need a good game of marshmallow dodgeball!

 And of course some "calm" games of cards - Super Uno - and Scum.

 We went bowling in Edgar, NE.  First time for the Hershbergers.  Everybody had a great time and did good!

This is only 5 days after the first soccer picture.  The Hershbergers are on their way back to Ohio.  The sun finally comes out, the temperature goes up to 50 something.  The girls and I played some ball at lunch.  Notice the short sleeves and flipflops.

And today?  We are headed to single digits into Friday, New Years Eve.  Going for an annual run, and it's going to be about 4 degrees, 20 mph winds, and 100% chance of precipitation.  Blessings to all!

Merry Christmas

Peace, hope, love, joy!

Double in 3, 2, 1...

The population of our house is going to double in about an hour.  We are ready for the slaughter onslaught:)  The three girls who normally live here all got sick on Wednesday morning, and seemed out of it all day.  Now the house is scrubbed, disinfected, and laundried in preparation for Suzanne's Sister and family.  For the next several days, there will be an extra 6 of us here.  Lots of hugs and love and energy and hot drinks and games and Christmas cheer.
Merry Christmas to you and your kin,
The Nolts

Do you know how to be a sibling?

Tonight, we are taking our girls to the hospital where we will be delivering our next baby girl and having them take a siblings class.  They will learn how to hold and take good (safe) care of a baby sibling.  We will also get a tour of the hospital.  We are all really looking forward to this!
As you pastors may know, nothing escapes spiritual application... How do we take care of new brothers and sisters in Christ?  Do they need special care?  Do older siblings need to be taught how to take care of the new "babies"?
In honor of Kevin Wilder - Discipleship!

Do you have time for Christmas?

Suzanne and I have made the comment that it would be nice to have at least a foot dusting of snow.  Most people around here would prefer the dryness that we have had so far:)  There is something about snow that feels like Christmas.  Here is the funny thing.  Those who don't want snow are probably more right in their ideas.  It is doubtful that there was much snow on that first Christmas Advent.
Oh well!  The real questions should be whether we have time for Christmas.  And what really is Christmas, anyway?  Is it a holiday in December?  Is it a day off from work?  Is it a time to get together with family and eat a ton of food and exchange presents?  Is it a time to give money to charities (like MCC or the Heifer project or Crisis pregnancy centers) instead of buying that latest gizmo for our loved one?  Is it a time for singing carols?  Is it a time to exercise that family tradition?
Actually all the above can help us celebrate Christmas.  But they can also stress us out and keep us from observing the Christ, the Messiah, come to earth, God with us.
Take a moment.  Take another one.  Can you spare another one?

Its gonna be a...

Just in case you hadn't heard.  Early next year, we'll have 4.

Rain

Last night we got some rain!  It was beautiful to watch.  We have been quite dry this harvest season, for instance here are the rain falls for the last two months:
09/15/10 0.24
09/21/10 0.25
09/24/10 0.59
09/25/10 0.10
10/25/10 0.25
Then, it rained last night.  I haven't seen how much yet.  It continues to drizzle this morning.

I was up on  the roof last night cleaning out the gutters from all the leaves.  I put them in a bucket on a rope, then dropped the bucket down to Courtney.  She put them in a bag... most of the time:)  I think the last three buckets ended up on the ground, due to the wind and Courtney "accidently" spilling it... then "accidently" throwing the dumped pile into the air.  Which then blew into our neighbors yard:)  Sorry, Gary and Deb:)
Enjoying these memories!

AVDS HC

This weekend we were in Hesston, KS for the Anabaptist Vision and Discipleship Series.  This years conference was 3-D Jesus; trying to embrace the whole Jesus, rather than just the parts that we like or resonate with.  The speakers did a great job of teaching and challenging for growth.  The Sunday morning service at Hesston Mennonite Church was a great summary of the weekend by Megan Good.  (Go to HMC's media page on their site and scroll down to sermon videos.  You may need to hit previous till you find the October 31 service.)  The service challenged us to action and created spaces for us to encounter Jesus and be transformed.  Here is another article with good summation.  Way to go Rachel from Shickley!

One thing I found important to take away, which I will state in a couple different ways:
Balance moral challenge and spiritual transformation.
Balance the horizontal and vertical pieces of the cross.
Balance relationship with others and relationship with Jesus.
Balance ethical learning and opportunities to encounter Jesus.

Here is a friend of mine's blog on another session at AVDS:
Pastor Dave's Doodles: Good Quote: "I attended the AVDS Conference in Hesston, Kansas this weekend. I heard this quote: 'You can't really know or experience God's forgiveness u..."

12:45pm inclusio (Ask Michelle Hershberger what an inclusio is)

12:45pm 30 minutes into a 45 minute drive I heard a noise.  Flat tire on van.  15 minutes later we are driving on a donut to complete our trip.  Thankful for safety.  Good doctors visit.  45 minute return trip becomes 60 on donut.  Thankful to arrive home.  Jump in car to go 10 minutes to pick up Emberlynn.  Got her and return trip turns into infinity.  Never made it home.  Belt pulley disintegrated.  Called Suzanne who is walking to pick up Courtney and Alyssa from school.  Tell her that she will need to find another vehicle if she still wants to take Alyssa to piano 25 minutes away.  And could she come pick up Emberlynn and I, 2 minutes from home.  Her first call finds a willing friend and car.  My first call finds a willing friend and a tow.  Now I am at home.  Suzanne is trying to not break down our third car for the day.  The funny thing is... I have been laughing a lot since 12:45pm.

Weather

For those of you out-of-state, the weather here in Nebraska has been absolutely amazing the last several weeks.  It has been dry and mild.  The farmers have had either a great harvest, or have had a great start, well ahead of last year.  We continue to pray for safety as they harvest, and success as they reap, store, dry, sell, transport; and prepare the land for next year.

What's the order?

Per his usual stellar self, Pastor Dave Miller from Bellwood Mennonite Church in Milford, NE scores a touchdown, or plants a seed, or loves us like a father, or calls us to respond.  I wish I could have written it myself.  Click the link below, it's not what you may be thinking:)
And Go Huskers!

Pastor Dave's Doodles: The four "F" words: "Now that I have your attention, let me explain what I mean. Suppose an alien were to visit Milford (or any Midwest town). Suppose this vis..."

Pursuing wealth

Yesterday's sermon was a hard one for me.  And it was hard for those who heard it.  When we allow God's Word to evaluate our hearts we find:
hardness, deceit, misplaced love, wrong motives, self-righteousness, mediocrity, sin, treachery, selfishness,...  and that's just my list:(
We should do this more often.
As I was reading the following article this morning, it reminded me of the sermon and how so much of entertainment pulls our hearts to wrong desires, and to be discontent.
http://www.daveramsey.com/newsletters/online/edition/personal-finance-newsletter-092710?ectid=cnl1010.final_11#bighouse
One of the dangers of a "wholesome" cable channel like HGTV, is that it's really just one big commercial all day long.  A constant diet of home improvements, house hunters, redecorating, etc. breeds discontent with what we have; it calls us to finer living, when our hearts should be called to "pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, gentleness"  (see 1 Timothy 6:11)

Pain

A couple days ago I was doing an exercise called a "Sumo Deadlift High Pull" (Disclaimer: That is not me in the video).  Evidently my form was poor and I was trying to muscle up the weight with my lower back, instead of letting the momentum of my hips snap the weight to my chin.  Now I have a sore lower back.
  Nothing that restricts movement, but I know it's there and it hurts a little.  I have found relief in keeping the muscles warmed up, and gently stretching all the connected muscles (calves, hamstrings, glutes, trapezoid, rhomboids, latisimus dorsi, etc.)  I also have noticed more relief when I sit and move with a neutral alignment.

Why am I telling you this?  I'm really not a complainer, and I don't want your sympathy, and I shy away from sharing what I do for exercise.  What this is really about is an analogy for our lives.  Sometimes we try to muscle up the good works and get things down on our own power.  Sometimes we are even successful at it.  But it will catch us, when we are tired or lazy and it is going to hurt.  When it does, the cure is to step back, rest, take a lighter load while we work on the details of the movement.  Then we practice supporting movements (Spiritual practices) that realign the framework and move us back into a healthy state where we can run the race, carry the load, and throw off the sin that so easily entangles us.  Finally, when we once again encounter the movement that set us back, we trust Jesus to complete the work that he began in us to completion.  This is Jesus' movement; we join him in carrying the momentum that he has already begun.

Addition, and there was much rejoicing:)

Suzanne, and 3 little girls, left a couple hours ago and drove to Salina, KS.  When she returned there were 6...
Hmm...
This doubling of the girls will last from now until Monday sometime.  It's gonna be a hoot!

The unclothed:) anabaptist

I just finished reading The Naked Anabaptist: The Bare Essentials of a Radical Faith.  It was a thought-provoking read.  Here are some links to give you an idea what the book is about.  If you are:
-Mennonite
-attending a Mennonite church
-avoiding Mennonites
-attracted to the core of following Jesus but don't like religion or church
-wondering about God

THEN - this book just might resonate with you.
I found it challenging and encouraging as one who is or was all of the above at some point.  Stuart Murray does a good job of identifying what they have found to be the helpful things in Anabaptism, while being honestly critical of lessons to learn or things to avoid.  This is a book I will need to read again.

Fruity...

Anybody feeling fruity out there?

Read the article from the link above.  I know I have thought as the author did, that I was supposed to work at being fruitful.  I was supposed to push out my own fruit.  I know that fruit is produced as we become more like Jesus; as we grow deeper in our relationship with Jesus, as we are transformed by our prayers, reading, confession, reflection, action, worship, etc.
I would still suggest that we can monitor, evaluate, and prune the fruit that we produce.  These actions remind us that we can't produce fruit on our own, and that we must stay on the vine.
God bless with water, sun, and nutrients!

An Overview of Mennonite History

I was recently made aware of a new book on Mennonite History.  You may be asking why you should be interested in reading Mennonite History.  Well you might find out you are a Mennonite and you didn't know it!  For those of you who know you are or were a Mennonite, it may be the book you need to read this week.
It is written in an accessible and nonacademic style, this revised edition updates the story and incorporates new historical research and discoveries.
Check it out at http://store.mpn.net/productdetails.cfm?PC=1431
You will find that you can read the introduction, preface, and epilogue at the link above as well.

The Lord's Prayer

This Sunday, I will be finishing the 5th of 5 sermons on the Lord's Prayer.  I broke it into verse 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and focused on one verse with supporting other passages each week.  Up to this point, I have used the lectionary scriptures as the basis for each week's sermon.  This has been a fulfilling study for me.  I have also appreciated the comments from others of the deeper meaning they have found in praying and learning about the Lord's prayer.

Most common responses:

• Importance of praying on the whole churches behalf, not just my own requests, and yet, on the other hand, the significance of changing the pronouns to first person reminding us our individual responsibility.
• Importance of not just repeating prayers and expecting magic to happen, but also recognizing that repeating traditional prayers can shape or re-energize our spontaneous prayers.
• This prayer is such a simple prayer that can be understood at our first reading, however, in depth study of this prayer continues to reveal fresh learning about the heart of God and our relationship with Jesus Christ our Savior.

Blessings, and keep praying!

Pastor Dave's Doodles: God-focused Worship

Here is an excellent post from a thinker, theologian, awesome musician, fellow Mennonite Pastor, friend, funny guy, and supper guest this evening... Think about it.

Pastor Dave's Doodles: God-focused Worship: "Does our worship service lead people to an encounter with Christ and the Holy Spirit? Think about why we do what we do in worship. Do we wo..."

The Lord's prayer

Last Sunday I began a series on Matthew 6:9-13, The Lord's Prayer.  Each week I plan to focus on one verse.  Last week was verse 9.  Our Father in Heaven, Hallowed be your name.  These are the main points I hoped to bring out:
-Our, we, us used instead of My, I, me.  We are brothers and sisters in Christ and of Christ and because of Christ.
-Father denotes an intimate family relationship.  For those who have a loving relationship with their fathers, it is instructive to relate to God with the same openness and trust.  For those who don't have a loving relationship with their fathers, God becomes to them what they have never had.
-Heaven is beyond this world.  God's presence and power are everywhere and with us.  Remembering that God is in Heaven, reminds us that God is limited by our earthly existence.  God can break into our reality and bring healing and hope.
-Hallowed means holy and glorified.  This phrase is actually the first request.  We are asking that God's name will be held high and shown to be holy, by our lives.  We are asking for God's power to make our faithfulness bear fruit.  When we live righteously in God's power we lift God's name and reputation up and bring God glory.

May it be so in my life.  I am unable to live this out in my own power.  How about you?

Are we there yet?

Ah, the ultimate question of travel with children!
Come to think of it, it is an excellent question for our spiritual lives too.
A couple more questions for your spiritual journey:

How will I know when I get there?
Where is there?
Do I know where I am going?
Do I have a destination in mind?
Have I prepared for the journey?
Did I forget to pack something?
Do I know where to get directions?
Do I trust the directions?
Am I willing to ask for and follow directions?
Have I started the journey?

Home, by the numbers

We were gone for 11 days; 10 nights; slept in 5 beds in 4 states (Iowa, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Michigan); drove through 8 states (Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska); put about 2,500 miles on the van; filled the van with gas 4 times; got 24 mpg on 10% ethanol 89 octane gas, got 26 mpg on no ethanol 87 octane gas; ate too many fast foods; each of us consumed on average 4/5 of a quart of soft serve ice cream in 48 hours; saw dozens of wonderful family and friends, some of whom we haven't seen for 11 months; only checked email once a day; girls watched strawberry shortcake ferry berry video at least 6 times; numerous other videos viewed; biked @7 miles through 2 tunnels on the old Pennsylvania turnpike (pike2bike) with @35 Nolt cousins, of which over half were less than teenagers; had lots of conversations; shared hugs and handshakes; preached one sermon (meditation); Suzanne spent 1 day of shopping with her sister, 2 mornings of connection with a great friend; 44+ hours on the road; 1 big suitcase for 5 peoples clothes; 1 little suitcase for 5 peoples shoes; 2 more broken pairs of flip-flops; 2 rain storms while driving, and hours of sunshine; and memories...

Wind

It is windier in Nebraska than Kansas.  Really?  Could this be true?  If there have been any surprises for us here, it may be that.  It is nearly always windy.  When it is calm, you keep thinking that your forgetting something:)
Today we have sustained winds from 25-30mph, and gusts up to 45mph.
But I'm not complaining.  I'm just saying.
Have you ever wondered what God is up to?  Yeah.  Have you ever asked God?  Yeah.  Has God ever told you?  Yes and no sometimes.
Sounds kinda like John 3:8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."
It isn't always an immediate clear answer, but it can be perceived...
If you are listening.
If you are asking.
If you can step back and take a big view.
If you put out a windsock.
If you walk out in it.

God, sustain the wind of your Spirit in us.  Gust in us, and through us, bringing your healing and hope.

Retreat

Suzanne and I went on a retreat this past Friday through Sunday.  According to the Definitions from Webster for Retreat we find this:

1 a : an act or process of withdrawing especially from what is difficult, dangerous, or disagreeable b : the usually forced withdrawal of troops from an enemy or from an advanced position
2 : a place of privacy or safety : refuge
3 : a period of group withdrawal for prayer, meditation, study, or instruction under a director

So, which one was it?
Well I do not find my work dangerous or disagreeable, but sometimes it is difficult.
While not a forced withdrawal, it could be seen as a necessary time to pull back.
The St. Benedict monastery was a place of privacy, safety, and refuge.
And for sure, we were a group gathered for prayer, meditation, study, and instruction.
Suzanne and I enjoyed the time together, catching up, reaquanting with other pastors and spouses, with each other, and with ourselves.
My challenge to you, take a moment or a day or a longer time of retreat.  The work will wait for you, and it may be good for you and those around you.

March 25 Anniversary

Anybody confused by the March 14 anniversary?  I hope so!  Suzanne and I also celebrated our 10th Wedding Anniversary last Thursday.  I spent the day in Lincoln visiting two dear brothers in the hospital.  They are both home now.
I got home @ 5pm just about the time the rest of the family got home.  Suzanne and I celebrated our anniversary with a candle lit dinner of Salmon with lemon and onion and a special sauce on a bed of rice with some very festive vegetables.  The food was delicious and the conversation was delightful.  We reminisced of the times and places of the last 10 years.  We are in love, and we still like each other too!
At the other end of the table, three little girls giggled with glee, while eating leftover spaghetti and green beans.  It doesn't get any better than that!
:)

March 14 anniversary

Salem Interview.
1 year and 16 days ago, Suzanne and I took a little drive North on 135, 35, and 81.  After a couple hours of driving we followed the signs West on a little dirt road called V.  Little did we know that it wasn't a dirt road, but it was what the locals call a gravel road.  Little did we know the people that lived on that road who today are close friends.  At the corner of 9 and V we pulled into a country church, took a deep breath, said a little prayer, and smiled at the beauty of the location.
Very soon we met some very nice people who greeted us warmly with handshakes and smiles.  We worked hard to remember their names.  We spent some time getting acquainted.  We felt at ease.  We ate Lasagna and chatted some more.  By the time the meeting was over, we felt like we had new friends.
As we said goodbye and hopped into our vehicle, we followed a little green Honda at speeds nearing death on a gravel road.  We arrived at the green Honda speedster's house and met his lovely wife.  They took us into town to show us around.  We toured the parsonage, and then went on a walk.
This was only the beginning of a new love story, as we said goodbye and headed South back to Hesston with visions of what could be dancing in our heads.  To be continued...

Hello

Hi!
The Lent, pre easter season has been extremely busy.  Can you tell?
Come Lord Jesus

Here comes Lent

Actually, here comes Easter.  Easter is literally seven weeks away.  As I reminisce Easter past in my lifetime, I can only pull up a couple significant memories.
The first one I remember is roughly middle school.  I had a new set of clothes on.  Girls in my age group, whom I was beginning to notice, were also wearing new dresses.  Everybody was looking new and fresh.  The sun was shining, the grass was green, and there were beautiful pink blossoms growing.  I made a connection between Easter and new things.
A special tradition that my mom gave me was a box of peeps:)  I remember Easters with yellow peeps.  Even in college and after being married and having children, my mom still got me yellow peeps.  There is something special about white marshmallow, yellow sugar, and rabbit shapes from mom.  I made a connection between Easter and gifts of love.
Easter 2007, we headed for Berlin Mennonite Church, and lunch with Bruce and Jocelyn Hamsher.  It was the last kick in the pants that we needed to faithfully follow the call on our lives to leave Ohio, head for Hesston, and wind up in beautiful Nebraska.  Suzanne was convicted to let God and I out of the box that she had placed us both in.  I was convicted of my lack of faith in stepping out to follow God's leading.  I lost my last excuse.  I made a connection between Easter and giving up ones life to gain another.
Pre Easter 2009, I was given the opportunity to speak in chapel at Hesston College.  I spoke on Lent.  I didnt' know anything about lent.  So, I learned about lent, and I realized that it was an ancient practice of early Christians.  A way to revive and retell the story of Jesus' suffering, death, and resurrection.  The idea of lent is that we suffer (give up things), die (surrender ourselves to Jesus' lordship), and rise again (become transformed into the image of Christ).  I made a connection between Easter and God.
How quickly we consider plain, the extravagance of Jesus' life, death, resurrection.  It happens every year.  We celebrate it at Easter... for 1-2 hours.
Here's the deal.  By beginning Ash Wednesday, to purpose to forget the resurrection, we can fully experience the pain, suffering, death, and hopelessness of the end of Jesus' life.  And then, and then, only then can we fully appreciate and celebrate the resurrection!  Woohoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Girls are growing up

It is amazing to watch the girls grow up.  Let me be honest and say that they are far from being perfect, and there are times that we parents are sorry for our responses to their imperfect actions and attitudes.  But I am also so proud of them.  They are a joy to spend time with.  They have some wacky senses of comedic timing.  They say some profound things sometimes.  They behave well when we are busy talking with other adults.  They have a zest for life, music, dancing, imagination, family interaction, animals, and friends.
God bless their little lives.

One body many members

Yet it is still one body.  A couple weeks ago I was gone Friday and Saturday and then I preached on Sunday morning.  I asked the congregation if they missed me, or even knew if I was gone.  Alyssa said she missed me:)  Very few missed me, and so I said that I was glad that very few even knew that I was gone.  I think it should be that way.  The body of the Christ, the church, continues to be the hands and feet, ministering to others whether the paid pastor is present or absent.  There is one person whose absence should negatively affect the body; the triune God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit).
Yet, Paul proclaims in 1 Corinthians 12 that each member must function with the gifts they are given.  If they don't then the body suffers for lack of that essential sense or function.  A great mystery.  In the body of Christ guided by the Holy Spirit God is glorified.
There is false unity if diversity is not respected.
There is disruptive diversity if unity is not sought.
There is productive diversity in the presence of unity.
There is witnessing unity in the exercise of diversity.
Lord help us!

Facebook rant:)

Okay, facebook, you tricked me into it!  I am back on again.  I stayed away from you for over a month, but you went deep.  You coerced two friends into friending me on facebook.  What could I do?  I want to be their friend on your site, because I want to be their friend in real life.  You may have got me to sign back in again, but I have learned discipline in how to resist your time sucking vacuum.  I will control you!  I will not be mastered by any code!!!

Hopey New Year

Happy New Year!  What is a new year, other than a flip of the calendar?  And if your calendar is on the computer, it doesn't really flip, it is continuous.  It just flows on without a big change.
What are we really getting excited about?  I was struck by the lack of a ball drop at midnight here in CST.  I watched the 11pm ball drop in New York City.  There were people going crazy, yelling, screaming, dancing, and kissing.  Everybody was elated!
Yet, it was only 11pm here.  I couldn't get into it.  Suzanne went to bed, and I stayed up waiting for the 12am ball drop and my 12:15am run.
Pretty soon it became clear to me that there wasn't going to be a ball drop.  What was I staying up for now.  Next year maybe we'll go running at 11:15pm and be in bed by midnight:)
Here are the reflections that I had.  Everybody is going crazy about a moment in time that we have arbitrarily set as 12:00am on January 1st.  Seriously, we invented this moment!  Nothing magical or special happens at that moment, yet people prepare and celebrate that moment as miraculous!  What is it?  My conclusion, and correct me if your's is different, is that there is hope in the future, hope in a new beginning, hope in the possibilities, hope in the good intentions we have for ourselves, hope in the goodness of others intentions, hope that the world just might get better.
And it's all based on a moment that we have predetermined.  So, here's my idea.  If we can become hopeful, based on a moment that we've determined, why don't we create more of these moments?  Why don't we take or make these moments monthly, or weekly, or daily, or even 3 times a day?
As a follower of Jesus, in relationship with God, I can determine each morning to be a moment of reflection on the past, and determine in the present, that the future has possibilities.  I can see what needs improved or changed, and make a "resolution" to allow God to change me.  I can allow God to change my view of the upcoming situations.  I can allow God to change my perception of others.  What do you think?  Am I off of my rocker?!
Happy New Moment!

Third annual New Years run

I just got back from my third annual New Years run.  We began at 12:15am and ran 2 miles.  Starting at Shickley Lumber Yard, south to Centennial, North to 74, and back south to Centennial, and finish going north to the Lumber Yard.  My great friend Wes Hochstetler accompanied me.
This annual run began on our first week in Hesston, Kansas 2 years ago.  We (Suzanne and I) joined Todd and Julie Lehman, Dennis and Jen LeFevre, Margaret Weibe and her sister and brother-in-law, and a couple other crazies.
Last year Todd Lehman and I found ourselves in Ohio at the same time so we ran in Kidron, Ohio.
This year it was time to start the tradition here in Shickley, Nebraska.
Three years, three states.  Good memories and a great way to start off the New Year.
May you find God near, loving, and way more than you can ask or imagine in 2010.
God bless you!