tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5162510060494348322012-02-06T11:29:33.579-08:00James Aalgaard, Wandering Norwegianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506670917768510299noreply@blogger.comBlogger771100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516251006049434832.post-20809666793636672182012-02-06T11:29:00.000-08:002012-02-06T11:29:33.610-08:00

From the Prayer of the Day for the sixth Sunday after EpiphanyAlmighty and ever-living God, with mercy you look upon our weaknesses. Stretch out your wondrous hand... From 2 Kings chapter fiveNaaman became angry and went away, saying, "I thought that for me he (Elisha the prophet) would surely come out, and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, and would wave his hand over the spot, and

James Aalgaard, Wandering Norwegianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506670917768510299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516251006049434832.post-23363512382260202632012-01-30T16:47:00.000-08:002012-01-30T16:47:14.551-08:00

"you"Uncle, what am I?His look became deepwhile his thoughts settledWell,My dear nieceCan your mind's eyeSee colors, all the colors there areAnd future, all the future there will beAnd past, all the past there has beenAnd ideasAnd emotionAnd memoriesAnd interestsAnd passions?These all are whirling and twirlingMeeting each other and casting far out,Always someday returningSome are orbiting

James Aalgaard, Wandering Norwegianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506670917768510299noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516251006049434832.post-27590322784945252262012-01-30T14:58:00.000-08:002012-01-30T16:44:00.627-08:00

  29 God gives power to the faint, and strengthens the powerless.  30Even youths will faint and be weary, and the young will fall exhausted;  31but those who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength,  they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.Thank you Joseph Huber. You searched through your colors, and out of your canvass you

James Aalgaard, Wandering Norwegianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506670917768510299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516251006049434832.post-76317720366509367122012-01-02T10:13:00.000-08:002012-01-02T10:20:50.424-08:00

Happy New Year to all.From our hymnal, Baptized and Set Free (ELW 453)"We are people created, chosen by God. Then we're washed, ever gently, in mercy and love. Sin has power no more. Jesus opened the door to a fountain bringing healing, and wholeness and more." This Sunday we will be pausing at a river called Jordan. Jesus will take the plunge. You might smartly wonder "what in the world for?"

James Aalgaard, Wandering Norwegianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506670917768510299noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516251006049434832.post-87427472418684696842011-12-21T13:15:00.001-08:002011-12-21T13:17:44.206-08:00

Generosity, a Gift of the Spirit"Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness,gentleness, and self-control"From Galatians 5:22-23In this ongoing series on this list of the gifts of the Spirit, an image of a pyramid has been used. The idea is that Joy is more possible when there is first Love. Peace, patience and the others are natural "by-products" (not the right word, but it

James Aalgaard, Wandering Norwegianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506670917768510299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516251006049434832.post-69517640781550687662011-12-20T08:10:00.000-08:002011-12-20T08:27:17.694-08:00

16So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger.  17When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child;  18and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them.  19But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. (From Luke 2)Can you turn your attention to a certain place inside your body? Last night I

James Aalgaard, Wandering Norwegianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506670917768510299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516251006049434832.post-14127093008740784912011-12-12T14:42:00.000-08:002011-12-12T14:48:02.271-08:00

God, the Inventor of HydraulicsIs your life heavy? Is there anything unbearable with which you're dealing? Are there burdens that you would rather disappeared through the night? Sometimes we wish we can stay horizontal in bed in the morning, so that our burdens don't weigh us down so much. Then we get out of bed and EVERYTHING seems to drop.From Luke, chapter one: 51You have shown strength with

James Aalgaard, Wandering Norwegianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506670917768510299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516251006049434832.post-53085642827231073302011-12-05T14:42:00.000-08:002011-12-05T14:45:14.674-08:00

The Gospel in shorthand:from First Thessalonians 5:"16Rejoice always,  17pray without ceasing,  18give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.  19Do not quench the Spirit.  20Do not despise the words of prophets,  21but test everything; hold fast to what is good;  22abstain from every form of evil."I grew up knowing the bit of trivia that says the

James Aalgaard, Wandering Norwegianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506670917768510299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516251006049434832.post-40254762816598000702011-11-21T14:39:00.000-08:002011-11-21T14:40:59.822-08:00

Welcome, dear friends, to Advent. This is the advent of Jesus. The coming of Christ. The Messiah is on the way. "Advent" is best understood referentially. It is not a stand-alone noun, really. It is a verb-like noun with a subject. The subject is Jesus. "Light one candle to watch for Messiah... let the light banish darkness" - Wayne L. Wold"O that you would tear open the heavens and come down,"

James Aalgaard, Wandering Norwegianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506670917768510299noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516251006049434832.post-49482844844378872472011-10-26T11:02:00.000-07:002011-10-26T11:02:13.646-07:00

Once you have love, joy, and peace, can patience follow? Here we are, working our way through one of the lists of the gifts of the Spirit. Does each gift build on the previous gift? Like the tiers of a pyramid, do the gifts of the Spirit come together so that the top of the pyramid, the cap, is “self-control?” Well, I am probably linking these gifts in a way that was not intended by Paul, but it

James Aalgaard, Wandering Norwegianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506670917768510299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516251006049434832.post-82895899830348747102011-10-26T10:59:00.000-07:002011-10-26T10:59:41.437-07:00

First love, then joy, and now peace. Last month I suggested an image of a pyramid, where one level supports the next, etc. As if these gifts of the Spirit have a certain progression to them. I am not certain this is what the Apostle Paul had in mind when he was writing to the Galatians, but it is a curious thought. If love is the base, then joy can easily follow. If love and joy are intact, if

James Aalgaard, Wandering Norwegianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506670917768510299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516251006049434832.post-41296903458623636572011-08-23T16:13:00.000-07:002011-08-23T16:13:26.820-07:00

Joy, a Gift of the Spirit “Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” From Galatians 5:22-23 Last month I wrote about love. What an easy topic! I could write that article in my sleep (not really). Love is the first gift of the Spirit that St. Paul mentions in his letter to the Galatian Christians. The next gift is joy. For those of us who need

James Aalgaard, Wandering Norwegianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506670917768510299noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516251006049434832.post-65191471506111946892011-07-18T06:55:00.000-07:002011-07-18T07:21:19.549-07:00

Joseph Sittler, "Essays on Nature and Grace", 1971"The fundamental meaning of grace is the goodness and lovingkindness of God and the activity of this goodness in and toward his creation."Sittler describes creation not as grace in itself, but as the theatre of grace. I believe this resonates with the hiddenness of God."God is made known to man in the matrix of space, time, and matter, which are

James Aalgaard, Wandering Norwegianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506670917768510299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516251006049434832.post-66418153527955080632011-03-26T12:55:00.000-07:002011-03-26T13:02:09.703-07:00

'Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free,'Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be,And when we find ourselves in the place just right,'Twill be in the valley of love and delight.When true simplicity is gain'd,To bow and bend we shan't be asham'd,To turn, turn will be our delight,Till by turning, turning we come 'round right.(Shaker. 1845, Elder Joseph Brackett)Turning, turning

James Aalgaard, Wandering Norwegianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506670917768510299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516251006049434832.post-5204524963444965462011-02-05T22:42:00.000-08:002011-02-05T22:46:13.038-08:00

Aah simplicity. The art of surrounding small, seemingly insignificant moments with thought, intention and passion. The art of delving into it, living in it, and being suspended above the time it takes to be there.I'm sharing a video with you. It's been a while since I've played harmonica, but I really like the instrument, for the simplicity especially. I commend to you Sonny Boy Williamson.When

James Aalgaard, Wandering Norwegianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506670917768510299noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516251006049434832.post-33930932375515834172010-08-25T18:50:00.000-07:002010-08-25T18:53:40.029-07:00

I have much to write to you, but I would rather not write with pen and ink; instead I hope to see you soon, and we will talk together face to face. (From Third John) There’s a hardbound book that I’ve taken up again, nearly every morning for the past several weeks. It’s my journal. I jot down my thoughts, my memories of the previous day, my predictions and musings about what the near future might

James Aalgaard, Wandering Norwegianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506670917768510299noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516251006049434832.post-77672033649236619582010-08-21T11:46:00.001-07:002010-08-21T12:42:50.524-07:00

Did you know that when you are at the airport security and you try to send a harmonica through the machine, this raises all kinds of warnings? Amazing but true.I learned that little lesson a few years ago when I was flying to the Midwest. The kind lady at the screening station told me that a harmonica looks suspiciously like a gun clip. Now that I look at it a certain way I guess it's true.

James Aalgaard, Wandering Norwegianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506670917768510299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516251006049434832.post-77635214434565391262010-08-08T20:25:00.000-07:002010-08-08T21:12:56.960-07:00

This old photo shows my great grandmother and my great uncle, having what I think is an evening of correspondence. They lived in Norway, in the area called Sokndal. The property is still in our family, and correspondence continues to this day, especially now that the Internet is at our fingertips!My grandpa came to America in 1921. His connection to the family "back home" remained strong

James Aalgaard, Wandering Norwegianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506670917768510299noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516251006049434832.post-14113837464011920422010-08-06T19:17:00.000-07:002010-08-06T20:05:15.861-07:00

Our household has nine persons. Five of them actually eat food and participate in animated family life. That leaves four short members of the family: Kerstin, Elizabeth, Emily and Chrissa. They never soil their clothes, do not ask for seconds, and don't add anything to our toilet paper budget. They are American Girl dolls.Have you heard of this phenom? American Girl dolls fetch about $90, and

James Aalgaard, Wandering Norwegianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506670917768510299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516251006049434832.post-51861300521633124742010-06-23T10:59:00.000-07:002010-06-23T11:06:39.239-07:00

Taste and see that the Lord is good (from Psalm 34) I’m reading a book entitled “Take This Bread”, by Sara Miles. It’s an autobiographical story of a woman who became a Christian when she was encountered by Christ in Holy Communion. “I didn’t find God,” she says, “God found me.” In fact, Ms. Miles isn’t all that sure she was looking for God. One Sunday morning, a little wave of curiosity washed

James Aalgaard, Wandering Norwegianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506670917768510299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516251006049434832.post-21157531841372980912010-05-26T18:50:00.000-07:002010-05-26T19:23:26.658-07:00

This is another short post on a scandinavian novel. Bjørnson's "A Happy Boy", finished in 1860, this is a story about the coming-of-age of a boy named Oyvind. He approaches life with a positive outlook in general, but as his relationships expand and as his responsibilities stack up, he learns that the world has a colder edge to it, and that his place in caste creates barriers to his dreams.

James Aalgaard, Wandering Norwegianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506670917768510299noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516251006049434832.post-58108467775575526322010-05-19T14:57:00.000-07:002010-05-20T21:41:47.941-07:00

This is the second book I've read by Endo. The first was an amazing look into the early days of Christianity in Japan titled "Silence." If you want to know what it's like to suffer for the sake of faith, in my context Christian faith, that book will strike you in the heart.This book "Deep River" is more modern in context, but it brings up ancient faith and practices. A group of Japanese tourists

James Aalgaard, Wandering Norwegianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506670917768510299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516251006049434832.post-27099724869419683092010-05-10T21:07:00.001-07:002010-05-10T21:20:38.267-07:00

Lately I've been very interested in Scandinavian culture and history, especially Norwegian. I've read a collection of plays by Henrik Ibsen, earlier I read a book called "The Emigrants" by Wilhelm Moberg (Swedish). Now I'm reading the first of a trilogy by Sigrid Undsett, Kristin Lavransdatter.It's set in 14th century Norway, during a time when a social and economic caste system was strictly

James Aalgaard, Wandering Norwegianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506670917768510299noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516251006049434832.post-73256811431027623522009-12-30T17:12:00.000-08:002009-12-30T17:15:28.256-08:00

Here is my newsletter article for our January newsletter. Hope you enjoy! Credit is here given to Walter Brueggemann for his poem, "Re-text Us"“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me” (from Psalm 51)Dear St. Paul, Someone close to me says like clockwork every January, “Maybe this will be my year.” We’re turning another corner! Flipping open that fresh new “

James Aalgaard, Wandering Norwegianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506670917768510299noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516251006049434832.post-6293094342298706122009-12-05T19:48:00.001-08:002009-12-05T19:55:33.351-08:00

Luke 3:1-6“Every valley shall be filled, every mountain and hill shall be made low, the crooked shall be made straight, the rough ways made smooth, and all flesh will see the salvation of God.”There’s a lake in California called Lake Manly. There isn’t much fishing happening there. It’s not very often that there are any water sports going on there either. No one has a cabin there. It’s a quiet

James Aalgaard, Wandering Norwegianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506670917768510299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516251006049434832.post-21644843389078062582009-11-28T22:21:00.001-08:002009-11-28T22:48:07.607-08:00

Our family followed our Thanksgiving weekend tradition of going to the movies... and this afternoon it was Disney's A Christmas Carol, in 3-D. Here are a few thoughts about this movie, impressions of mine from a few different angles.1. The CGI is really incredible, particularly when depicting anything non-human. The apparitions were really cool and I would rank the three Christmas ghosts in the

James Aalgaard, Wandering Norwegianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506670917768510299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516251006049434832.post-35607837953288880192009-10-18T06:10:00.000-07:002009-10-18T06:17:57.447-07:00

Here is the content of a document I wrote for the members of our Church Council. I thought that I would like to share a list of my guiding principles, touchstones for me as to why I am connected with this congregation. After I shared my principles early in the year, the Council members agreed to take turns coming up with one of theirs. This is a process that's more difficult than one might think!

James Aalgaard, Wandering Norwegianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506670917768510299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516251006049434832.post-13753802153429983282009-09-14T05:12:00.000-07:002009-10-18T06:10:15.698-07:00

Well this setting has more to do with stones than with wood. There Are many more stones, still laying in the shape of a foundation, than there are pieces of timber. Stones are plentiful here. The builder would shape them so they would stack upon one another.What caught my eye however were the few pieces of wood that were strewn about. In a documentary about the vikings, certain technology was

James Aalgaard, Wandering Norwegianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506670917768510299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516251006049434832.post-42439872910698721862009-09-07T14:08:00.001-07:002009-09-07T14:29:07.171-07:00

First impressions as we all know are quite important. Like flooring tile, or hard wood floors in the case of the airports of Norway, once first impressions are had, they initiate the direction of the experience, and especially one's relationships.So my first impression of Norway, once I was off the airplane, was the quietness of the place. Although it was busy, there wasn't the racket of the

James Aalgaard, Wandering Norwegianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506670917768510299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516251006049434832.post-32992259548993322932009-08-30T05:01:00.001-07:002009-08-30T05:03:01.822-07:00

At Jøssingfjørd in Norway, there is a place where a few houses are comfortably tucked under a strangely shaped cliff. In Norwegian, the word "helleren" is used to describe this formation of rock, and so this place bears the same name. People think these houses are about 200 years old, but there has been some study of this site and it is believed that there is evidence of human habitation going

James Aalgaard, Wandering Norwegianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506670917768510299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516251006049434832.post-33307010670939368032009-08-24T04:50:00.000-07:002009-08-24T05:02:58.313-07:00

Near downtown Oslo there is an expansive park, filled with sculptures done by one man, Gustav Vigeland. I think all the human sculptures are nudes, and they are depicting any human emotion imaginable. Some sculptures are solitary, lonely even, and some are set in relationship with other humans. The center of the park has a pillar that rises perhaps 30 feet from its base, carved from one piece of

James Aalgaard, Wandering Norwegianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506670917768510299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516251006049434832.post-10414335840436150432009-08-20T20:57:00.000-07:002009-08-20T21:08:42.482-07:00

Oslo NorwayAt one end of Karl Johan's Gate is the old railway station. At the other end of the street is the King's Palace, "Slottet", the residence of the King of Norway and his family. While walking up Karl Johan's, I remarked to one of my relatives that the King has a long walk when he wants to take the train. He (a career railway guy himself) laughed at that but said that the King does in

James Aalgaard, Wandering Norwegianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506670917768510299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516251006049434832.post-26578992870124597482009-08-20T20:44:00.000-07:002009-08-20T20:55:31.469-07:00

I would have loved to give one of these carvings to each of my Dad's 12 cousins still living in Norway, but I ran out of time. I got pooped out preparing for the other parts of my trip.So, my hosts, and the female cousins all got a carving from me. These are called "Nisse" (niss-eh). They are little guys that go up and down the hills looking for ways to earn their keep, helping farmers chop wood

James Aalgaard, Wandering Norwegianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506670917768510299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516251006049434832.post-10506094338738394922009-08-09T06:48:00.000-07:002009-08-09T06:56:46.758-07:00

Tomorrow is a big trip for me! I'm going to Norway to see relatives, and to visit the area where my grandpa grew up. I have many goals for this trip, many hopes and dreams, and I'm so excited that I'm crawling out of my skin.Been learning a few phrases in Norwegian.Deciding how much to spend on gifts when I'm there.Getting gifts ready for the family there.Making sure that I have my camera packed,

James Aalgaard, Wandering Norwegianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506670917768510299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516251006049434832.post-65226494943152100892009-06-05T19:57:00.000-07:002009-06-05T20:49:10.483-07:00

In "When Elephants Weep," Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson speculates and gives considerable evidence (both scientific and anecdotal) for the emotional life of individual animals and communities of animals, citing examples from insects to pachyderms. Much of the book is spent describing the emotional life of monkeys and other primates.I think it's a fascinating read. It reminds me that for all we know

James Aalgaard, Wandering Norwegianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506670917768510299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516251006049434832.post-32604913454435077692009-04-11T21:44:00.000-07:002009-04-11T21:50:35.844-07:00

“So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.”Well dear friends, what kind of crazy ending is this? Were you listening to how things ended here in this Gospel called Mark? What a way to finish reporting about the greatest event in all of creation, in all of history! They were terrorized and amazed, and as

James Aalgaard, Wandering Norwegianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506670917768510299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516251006049434832.post-56397902734731088872009-04-10T10:22:00.000-07:002009-04-10T10:29:21.109-07:00

From John 12: “unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains a single grain. But if it dies, it bears much fruit."Frank Thomas wrote about congregations and change. The title of the book is “Spiritual Maturity”. Sounds like an unattainable goal! Actually he wrote about the Christian life of individuals and how that relates to congregational life. One insight of his was that

James Aalgaard, Wandering Norwegianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506670917768510299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516251006049434832.post-48496791923916768582009-04-10T10:19:00.001-07:002009-04-10T10:22:17.420-07:00

After the Maundy Thursday service, we worked together to strip the altar and clear away everything removable from the chancel.As we were leaving, Fern said, "It looks so forlorn."Exactly. It looks like we're packing up the church and getting ready to hit the trail. Like the Israelites of long ago, who were commanded to eat lamb with a walking stick in one hand.

James Aalgaard, Wandering Norwegianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506670917768510299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516251006049434832.post-78338393115917427922009-04-08T16:49:00.000-07:002009-04-08T17:08:31.001-07:00

“You shall eat (the lamb) with your loins girded, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and you shall eat it hurriedly, you shall gobble it. It is the passover of the Lord.”Who says God’s timing is slower than ours? That we wish God would get on with it already, that God would accomplish that which is promised, or even that for which we pray? Is watching God work really like

James Aalgaard, Wandering Norwegianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506670917768510299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516251006049434832.post-67085156388059815392009-03-30T06:55:00.000-07:002009-03-30T08:03:45.800-07:00

North Carolina today has the distinction of being the location for the latest newsworthy and horrific sin. Some self-consumed, morally numb man ushered himself into a nursing home, a freaking nursing home, and opened fire. He probably had to shuffle his firearm into his left hand and then push the button at the door before entering. Allegedly the connection he had to that place was that he was

James Aalgaard, Wandering Norwegianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506670917768510299noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516251006049434832.post-37497832607512705742009-02-18T09:55:00.001-08:002009-02-18T10:12:32.825-08:00

At death, my fingernails will stop growing. However, knowing me, they will probably need to be clipped just after I die, while my body is being prepared for viewing. I never stopped to think that funeral chapels will need to have a supply of fingernail clippers.In this case, not only do they have a supply, they also use them as a kind of advertising tool. How smart. And perhaps thoughtful.St.

James Aalgaard, Wandering Norwegianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506670917768510299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516251006049434832.post-86978634797134073222009-02-18T08:39:00.000-08:002009-02-18T08:41:00.566-08:00

Here's a litany I worked up last year, changed this year (will probably change again next year!) as we ask God's blessing on our leadership. Which includes the Church Council and the leadership from other ministries. Use it if you'd like, change it for your own situation, and/or comment.Blessing of MinistriesL: God our Creator, you have taught us that through Jesus your work is finished, and that

James Aalgaard, Wandering Norwegianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506670917768510299noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516251006049434832.post-37124376911312312152009-02-01T18:07:00.001-08:002009-02-01T18:27:31.762-08:00

At the church I serve there are a handful of new faces. What an encouragement that people are giving St. Paul a try, that they are seeking God's Word and Christian community at our house!What I've been wondering for awhile, is whether the worship service that I design is inaccessible to many people, especially those who are trying us out for the first time. This isn't a very "Lutheran" part of

James Aalgaard, Wandering Norwegianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506670917768510299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516251006049434832.post-23515349757986222602009-01-06T18:54:00.000-08:002009-01-06T19:12:18.690-08:00

Lord, you have been our dwelling place for all generations. From everlasting to everlasting, thou art God. Psalm 90:1I’m writing from the home I grew up in, near Shelly Minnesota. The family and I are here for a week of vacation, having a late Christmas with my relatives and celebrating with my parents their 50th wedding anniversary. It has been a great trip! How can the earth get so cold?

James Aalgaard, Wandering Norwegianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506670917768510299noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516251006049434832.post-37569279524580361722008-12-12T19:39:00.000-08:002008-12-13T08:03:55.296-08:00

I know it's been a long time since my last post. Writer's block. Or a busy schedule, or low level of imagination.Just finished a book by Bill Bryson, "A Walk in the Woods." The title is sure an understatement. Bryson and a buddy from Des Moines strike out on the Appalachian Trail, starting at the southern end and working north. Ill-prepared and ill-conditioned, their determination and sense

James Aalgaard, Wandering Norwegianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506670917768510299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516251006049434832.post-46334576574675598932008-11-04T15:21:00.000-08:002008-12-13T08:12:02.269-08:00

"No reply needed."You know how when you read an email, there's often a question, a tugging, whether you should reply to the message? Email threads can go on and on..."Here's the draft of the letter I'm working on...""Got it. Here's my input...""Okay, here's the final draft...""Great.""Okay.""Bye then.""Bye"What if the simple signature of "nrn" were added somewhere in the email? That way when I

James Aalgaard, Wandering Norwegianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506670917768510299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516251006049434832.post-23689356927012010492008-10-28T08:10:00.001-07:002008-10-28T08:12:38.120-07:00

First John 4:16-21 (Look it up in your own Bible!)Fear-less-ness in ChristA few of the phrases that have bounced around in the news and at the water-cooler lately are: “Panic,” “Selling Frenzy,” “Irrational”. This has to do mainly with the financial troubles that have so quickly developed in our country. Institutions that you would think are as reliable as sunshine suddenly disappear.

James Aalgaard, Wandering Norwegianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506670917768510299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516251006049434832.post-77884907170275333262008-10-24T21:16:00.001-07:002008-10-24T21:37:47.330-07:00

How do you like this gray store-front? Holy smokes, it didn't take long for it to become an even greater eyesore than while it was in business. Blockbuster. Rows and rows of movies except miraculously that one title idea that sent you to that store in the first place. Blockbuster "east" had already closed down about 4 months ago. Now the second one in town has bitten the dust.I suppose I

James Aalgaard, Wandering Norwegianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506670917768510299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516251006049434832.post-20965162047270552008-10-24T20:27:00.000-07:002008-10-24T21:15:52.386-07:00

In the congregation I serve, from one point of view there is just barely "critical mass." What I mean is that there seems to be a small number of those who are interested in having leadership for an event or a committee. Could be that's what goes on in most worshiping communities. A relatively small number of folk are more vocal, and so they are seen as the most willing individuals. That's

James Aalgaard, Wandering Norwegianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506670917768510299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516251006049434832.post-53472353836575046162008-09-23T21:05:00.000-07:002008-09-23T21:29:54.769-07:00

Tonight at supper, I started a conversation by saying, "Do you want to know how God surprised me today?" The kids said yes, and so I told them about an interaction that I had with one of Emily's friends, and I came away thinking that I'm glad I'm a pastor.Natalee volunteered next. She said that God surprised her by helping her through a stomach-ache at school.The family was really starting to

James Aalgaard, Wandering Norwegianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506670917768510299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516251006049434832.post-74247927369403051492008-09-23T08:35:00.000-07:002008-09-23T08:52:58.224-07:00

When I was in Galveston this July, I was there by myself. I had borrowed a vehicle from my host home (I live in Eastern Oregon), and wanted to see new sights and eat seafood. Red Snapper, blackened, was the way to go at “Fisherman’s Wharf.” This restaurant was one block away from “The Strand,” which included a row of majestic old buildings that had survived “The Big One,” the hurricane of 1900

James Aalgaard, Wandering Norwegianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506670917768510299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516251006049434832.post-84067596022835877152008-09-03T11:22:00.001-07:002008-09-03T11:23:33.239-07:00

"Listen! I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me." (Revelation 3:20)Table Fellowship I don’t remember very many sermons. Truth be told, I am a terrible listener-of-sermons. Yet I do remember this one. It was preached at my college, Trinity Lutheran College, by Jim Bergquist, the college president at

James Aalgaard, Wandering Norwegianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506670917768510299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516251006049434832.post-6407981621706215672008-08-27T16:46:00.000-07:002008-08-27T16:48:52.097-07:00

The Gospel is like the flight of a hummingbird. Many directions, hard to track, stands still only for a moment, long enough for you to wish time would stand still, and then zip! You begin to seek after what you were just witnessing, to want it again. The Gospel of Christ has this kind of characteristic.

James Aalgaard, Wandering Norwegianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506670917768510299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516251006049434832.post-36626042020389461202008-08-06T05:40:00.000-07:002008-08-06T06:09:16.306-07:00

Our Gospel passage for this Sunday Aug 10 has Peter trying out a Jesus-thing; he takes a few steps on turbulent water, toward his Lord. He quite literally gets in over his head. (What's the history of that phrase?) I've been thinking this week about my interactions with water.When I was probably heading into my sophomore year of high school, it was summer, and a friend of mine named Bob

James Aalgaard, Wandering Norwegianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506670917768510299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516251006049434832.post-35253329277227288412008-08-04T11:02:00.001-07:002008-08-04T11:20:06.840-07:00

I give thanks to God for this time that I was able to have, of renewal, of reconnecting with family, of learning. Yesterday was my first Sunday back. The congregation had a cake for me which read, "Welcome back Paster James." Only a few people noticed the typo. This was a fun time of reconnecting with the people who have called me to be their pastor. Now comes the interesting and exciting

James Aalgaard, Wandering Norwegianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506670917768510299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516251006049434832.post-38967283353497416842008-07-19T21:31:00.000-07:002008-07-19T21:48:33.454-07:00

I've arrived in Houston for part three of a three part course on Bowen Theory, aka Family Systems Theory. This is one of the final events of my sabbatical. (That was sure strange to write, as this time has gone so fast.)According to something I read, Houston is the third largest city in the U.S., behind New York and Los Angeles. Who would've thunk? This is a very busy city, and even those who

James Aalgaard, Wandering Norwegianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506670917768510299noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516251006049434832.post-33175077270056584812008-07-14T07:16:00.000-07:002008-07-14T07:28:21.213-07:00

I've come home now from a time of community and learning at Wallowa Lake OR. My friend JJ Dygert and I brought a good friend from Des Moines Iowa to help us in remembering the task and opportunity of preaching. One other pastor, and a seminarian soon entering the call process, joined us to make a small group. We had a lot of conversation about our call, our role in the church as those who

James Aalgaard, Wandering Norwegianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506670917768510299noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516251006049434832.post-82053581401819543492008-07-14T06:58:00.000-07:002008-07-14T07:16:23.468-07:00

What are the honeycombs? I hadn't known about them until this summer. To get there, you can drive through Succor Creek campground south of Adrian, and then up those rolling hills and past Three Finger Butte. Then just park and hike in the general direction of Owyhee Reservoir.It's not quite so random as that. We had a GPS unit with us. It was a day hike and I enjoyed myself thoroughly, minus

James Aalgaard, Wandering Norwegianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506670917768510299noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516251006049434832.post-78989860065307930102008-06-26T21:03:00.001-07:002008-06-26T21:21:10.073-07:00

There's a retired pastor who lives in the Boise area. He spent many years on the African continent in missions. He's a man who's very curious, and the other day he asked if I knew a book that would help him learn about the religious culture of the Pacific Northwest. So I recommended this title. I'm just now finishing reading it. I give it four out of five stars. A pretty good read.The

James Aalgaard, Wandering Norwegianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506670917768510299noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516251006049434832.post-91781402585403525082008-06-25T08:22:00.000-07:002008-06-25T08:57:09.767-07:00

While in the LA area, we took a day to visit the Getty Center. What a beautiful place, a beautiful view, there's an atmosphere of wonder there, and curiosity.On display were many paintings, illuminated manuscripts and altar pieces representing Christ. From what I could tell the collection was exclusively European and because of the age of the pieces, mostly Roman Catholic.I didn't participate

James Aalgaard, Wandering Norwegianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506670917768510299noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516251006049434832.post-39112989210771209142008-06-18T08:25:00.000-07:002008-06-18T08:55:42.239-07:00

J. Wilkes Booth is infamous for becoming the first assassin of an American President in history. This is the story of the crime and the chase that followed. Swanson weaves a suspense-filled historical account of those days. How surprising it was to read about, for example, the day of the crime, the joy that had filled Washington at the news that the end of the civil war was a foregone

James Aalgaard, Wandering Norwegianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506670917768510299noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516251006049434832.post-26065888038638981562008-06-17T09:53:00.000-07:002008-06-17T10:14:12.617-07:00

We just observed Fathers' Day on Sunday. My family and I worshiped with friends at Payette Church of the Nazarene. I had the opportunity to sit with my girls during worship, up to the point where they went to children's church. Natalee was cold, so I put my arm around her. What a great experience that was, one that is rare for me as their father, since most Sundays I'm standing in front of

James Aalgaard, Wandering Norwegianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506670917768510299noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516251006049434832.post-85123265758032959802008-06-07T19:06:00.000-07:002008-06-07T19:45:19.273-07:00

So I realized that I have a bunch of NW Airline frequent flier miles. Through an email I received it looks like I can redeem these miles for magazines. Looking through a list of magazines I decided on Time, Newsweek, and The Atlantic. Among those, the mag with the longest articles is Atlantic. They seem to choose fewer subjects but they let them go more "in depth."Ironically, the article that

James Aalgaard, Wandering Norwegianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506670917768510299noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516251006049434832.post-15219826310067287892008-06-04T22:02:00.001-07:002008-06-04T22:12:56.738-07:00

On our way home from California, we're at a motel in Minden NV and will be home tomorrow. We had a great time of renewal and family fun in Disneyland and Sea World. We spent a few nights at the home of Bill and Sonja Speer, people we befriended when they came to their first Mission Builder project at St. Paul in Ontario. Now Bill is the project manager of a new-build in Duluth MN. Unfortunate

James Aalgaard, Wandering Norwegianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506670917768510299noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516251006049434832.post-63082080565542594352008-05-13T13:36:00.000-07:002008-05-13T13:51:04.294-07:00

Not sure if it was the clear, cool mountain air, the sudden change of schedule, or my cooking, but when I got home from McCall last week my leg and lower back were a MESS. I had come home on Saturday, struggled a bit on Sunday worshiping with a congregation in Boise, and by Monday I was in a pretty bad mood.Decided finally to get myself to a chiropractor. Tuesday was the beginning of the next

James Aalgaard, Wandering Norwegianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506670917768510299noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516251006049434832.post-76381326115073491572008-05-13T12:09:00.000-07:002008-05-13T12:33:22.123-07:00

My route to McCall took me along the Oregon Slope to Weiser Idaho. As I drove I remembered that I had been to the cemetery that you drive by after turning toward Annex and Weiser. There was a family that I was with, at a graveside service, but for some reason I couldn't remember who had died and which family was involved. In fact this had bothered me for quite awhile because I had stopped at

James Aalgaard, Wandering Norwegianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506670917768510299noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516251006049434832.post-14625825335707699292008-05-13T11:59:00.001-07:002008-05-13T12:09:42.955-07:00

When Dawn and I went on a special trip for our 10th wedding anniversary (a cruise to Mexico), I bought a hat. I found it at the docks in Acapulco. It sold a few weeks ago at our yard sale because I decided it didn't fit so well, in fact it gave me a headache.When Dawn and I were guests of the Mission Builders in Carefree Arizona, we poked around Scottsdale ("Old Scottsdale", which is a fun

James Aalgaard, Wandering Norwegianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506670917768510299noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516251006049434832.post-38224514738931652032008-05-07T09:17:00.000-07:002008-05-07T09:48:01.538-07:00

I walked along the cart paths at the McCall Golf Course late last week. Along the way I found an awesome Ponderosa pine cone. I realized, that while walking I wanted to be holding something, so the pine cone was it.Tuning into the wildlife, listening to the water flowing under the snow, holding that pine cone, the thought struck me. This looks so much like a grenade. I've held a blank grenade

James Aalgaard, Wandering Norwegianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506670917768510299noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516251006049434832.post-14811037693916807962008-05-06T11:56:00.001-07:002008-05-06T12:00:53.252-07:00

Oh man, if you're interested in summer reading, pick up this. David James Duncan, The River Why. Fishing is the context, searching for meaning the theme. The writing is excellent. It's a great way to unplug for a time. I read this book about 10 years ago and have wanted to get back to it for a long time.

James Aalgaard, Wandering Norwegianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506670917768510299noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516251006049434832.post-86011078831291872112008-05-01T07:11:00.000-07:002008-05-01T07:59:36.645-07:00

This is the first day of my three month sabbatical leave. For a long time, I've wondered how a time away like this would be. I know others who have had sabbaticals, both clergy and academic, and I've seen renewal in them. How it "looks" for each of those individuals is different.I will miss: the relationships I have with the people of St. Paul, leading worship, preaching, and being involved in

James Aalgaard, Wandering Norwegianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506670917768510299noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516251006049434832.post-77884682954715067492008-03-28T22:01:00.000-07:002008-03-28T22:13:04.801-07:00

My father's property includes this little patch of ground, affectionately called the "prairie land" by the family. Probably one-third of it is virgin prairie, which by definition means that the ground has never been broken, never been tilled for crops. The longer I live (I'm 36 now), the more strongly I believe that this is a treasure for me and for my family.I think the trees on that property

James Aalgaard, Wandering Norwegianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506670917768510299noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516251006049434832.post-31636593316319132612008-02-21T12:19:00.000-08:002008-02-21T13:12:39.705-08:00

I think the liturgical season of Lent, which begins with Ash Wednesday, is one that bears spiritual fruit for individuals and communities. Except, that the fruit comes much later, and perhaps not so much in the midst of the season itself. Take this image for example. The artist is Karen Eckmeier, of "Quilted Lizard" (linked to the title of this entry).The piece lacks vegatation, really any

James Aalgaard, Wandering Norwegianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506670917768510299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516251006049434832.post-6799354293214038192008-02-20T20:50:00.001-08:002008-02-20T21:27:16.490-08:00

Grandpa came from Sweden. His childhood was spent in the territory called Jamtland, which is a place of curiosity. I would like to some day visit that area. From what I've heard and read, Jamtland was a particular part of Scandinavia which had been in dispute. For a time, both Norway and Sweden claimed Jamtland. The residents still hold an independence parade, rather in jest, but it still

James Aalgaard, Wandering Norwegianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506670917768510299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516251006049434832.post-89855409385440495642008-02-20T20:14:00.000-08:002008-02-20T20:49:59.808-08:00

From my perspective, radio will never go out of style. There is so much pleasure and benefit from this medium. One can think casually about what is being heard, while watching and thinking about another thing (like blogging, wood carving, and cooking).This program is called "Speaking of Faith." It has a gentle and deep way of speaking about ideas, faith experience, and mystery. I've been fed

James Aalgaard, Wandering Norwegianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506670917768510299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516251006049434832.post-21184781455986050492008-02-12T22:08:00.000-08:002008-02-16T19:58:47.873-08:00

Reading out of my first Wendell Berry book, "The Art of the Commonplace." It's a collection of essays on various topics, but is quite "hard hitting" when he comments about the dominant culture of this modern nation and other "developed" countries. The basic assessment is that through creative energy, those in power have utilized inventions that provide convenience, to exploit people they

James Aalgaard, Wandering Norwegianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506670917768510299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516251006049434832.post-61625415394254805872008-02-09T06:58:00.001-08:002008-02-09T07:09:20.347-08:00

"Wenyukela" (Raise Your Spirit Higher), Ladysmith Black MambazoI have this album, and this is the title track.  Most of these tracks are great, even the out-of-left-field "Fak' Ibhande" (Don't Drink and Drive): "Brothers and sisters, don't drink and drive... we still need you..."Most of the tracks are Christian spirituality.  And perhaps it's with this commonality (I'm a Lutheran pastor) that I

James Aalgaard, Wandering Norwegianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506670917768510299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516251006049434832.post-42159226612420991602008-02-07T21:56:00.000-08:002008-02-07T22:01:40.173-08:00

i'm curious about family members from my grandmother's generation. i've not kept up good contact with most of my dad's cousins, and so I decided finally, at the age of 36, that I would start writing letters. tonight i wrote to Elaine and to Arlyne. I asked them to tell me something about their parents. the link associated with this posting shows many family members and their relation to one

James Aalgaard, Wandering Norwegianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506670917768510299noreply@blogger.com0