Haiti

The horrible tragedy that struck Haiti has left me heartbroken, saddened and reminded that we who have much, are called by God to give to those who have nothing. It’s hard to watch a nation struggle time after time especially with this last devastating earthquake, from our couches. But it’s another thing entirely when you’re connected to people who passed away buried beneath tons of rubble.
A colleague of mine, Ben Larson, was a seminary student in his last year at Wartburg Theological Seminary with his wife Renee who was also studying. Ben, Renee and Ben’s cousin Jonathan were on a mission trip during their January term in Haiti when the earthquake struck. Renee and Jonathan made it out of the building which all three were in, but Ben was trapped under concrete and couldn’t make it out. After repeated tries at rescuing Ben, Renee and Jonathan had to get out themselves. They survived. When they came back to the site a few minutes later they could hear Ben, He was singing praises to God. Renee was able to tell him that she loved him, but then the singing stopped. His last singing words were, “God's peace to us we pray.”
Ben wasn’t just any seminarian. He was the Son of two of my mentors whom I consider to be my God-parents and who are the God parents of my sister. Judd and April Larson (former Bishop of the Lacrosse Synod, ELCA) have suffered loss. I ask that you pray for their families.
This link to the tragedy in Haiti just makes me think about the hundreds of thousands of people there who have suffered mightily. The orphans, the broken in mind body and spirit. They all need our help, and so I ask you, I beg of you to send at least a dollar or more to help with the relief effort. I already have…and so I expect you to as well. My God-brother loved the people of Haiti, Jesus loves the people of Haiti and so should we.
The following article comes from the office of the presiding bishop and speaks of ways that we can donate. Please continue on reading.

Peace,
Pastor Joel Martyn


Dear sisters and brothers in Christ,
The images of the despair and destruction in the aftermath of the earthquake in Haiti continue to overwhelm us, but they also call forth our response of prayer and generosity.
Paul’s letter to the Romans gives us words of comfort and hope. Paul writes:
We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God (Romans 8:22-27).
Thank you for continuing to hold in prayer the people in Haiti and all those who are working to bring relief. Thank you for your generous financial gifts.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is already working through long-standing partnerships with The Lutheran World Federation and Lutheran World Relief to provide emergency food, water, shelter and medical supplies.
This church is uniquely positioned to provide immediate and ongoing help. The ELCA has committed an initial $250,000 from ELCA International Disaster Response, and we’ve authorized an additional $500,000 as congregations respond both to the immediate needs and long-term rebuilding efforts.
For those of you who would like to support these relief efforts, I encourage you to visit this Web page (www.elca.org/haitiearthquake) or call 800-638-3522.
Our phones are open the entire Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. CST. One hundred percent of all gifts made to ELCA Disaster Response, designated for Haiti Earthquake Relief, will be used for immediate relief and ongoing recovery.
This is what it means to be the church together in mission for the sake of the world.
I invite you to pray:
Merciful God, hear our cry for mercy in the wake of the earthquake. Reveal your presence in the midst of our suffering. Help us to trust in your promises of hope and life so that desperation and grief will not overtake us. Come quickly to our aid that we may know peace and joy again. Strengthen us in this time of trial with the assurance of hope we know in the death and resurrection of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.
In God's grace,

The Rev. Mark S. Hanson
Presiding Bishop
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

P.S. Thrivent has pledged to match $1 for every $2 their members contribute, up to a total contribution of $1 million from Thrivent. To make your matching gift (up to $250 per person), go to this Web page (www.thrivent.com/helpinghaiti).

Pain

Life is interesting. I have experienced life to the fullest. I have been to the brink of death more often than I would like. I have been there with my wife twice. I have been present within that limbo between life and death with loved ones, friends, and strangers alike. That place where everything seems to slow down. There's a battle between life and death. Of fear and peace. It's a place where clergy get the honor to be present when one of their people is making the journey to be with Christ. It's a strange spiritual road we all will someday embark upon.

I have fought demons, the enemies of all that is good and have come out victorious, if not a bit beat up spiritually. I have been attacked and beat up by people in the christian church who have agendas of their own. Agendas that didn't jive with me. My family has been attacked for reasons that are beyond me. And more...and still I have been able to bounce back with vigor and strength in God's Word, knowing that the place where I grind my feet into the dirt to take root is the place and the stance that God wants me to take no matter the flack that I receive and the distress and anger other people feel because of what God wants and firmly stands for. Trusting that God will come through for me and for his people...and yet, this one silly little pain in my neck has completely disabled me.

I have felt pain before. The pain of loss. The pain of grief. The pain of others'. even some physical pain. But nothing like the pain I felt yesterday (01-11-10). It was as if two giants from the Lord of the Rings trilogy had my neck and head in their hands, and their goal was to destroy. Many of you will understand this pain of which I write. It's the pain of a herniated disk high up on the neck. I know it's common. I know that many people suffer with or have suffered this injury and I hope that it will heal or be healed. But let me tell you, the pain and suffering that Jesus went through was nothing compared to the pain that I experienced yesterday, and the thought of that is humbling to me.

This humbling injury of mine has me thinking about the humbling and humiliating experience that Jesus went through on the day of His crucifixion. My pain holds no comparison with the pain of Christ. The torture, the humiliation, the inexorable, unimaginable pain that he went through for me is humbling. Is frightening. It's terrible. And it's as real as the wimpy, tiny little pin prick of pain in my human neck....Lord, forgive me my sin......Amen.