Pastoral Letter
“From the Mountain to the Cross”
July and August 2010

“Now about eight days after these sayings he took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray….And when the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone.” (Luke 9:28, 36 ESV).

Fellow Cross Bearers:

Sharon and I recently returned from a five thousand mile trip to visit our children and  grandchildren. Along the way I spent a week in Eau Claire, WI attending the 29th Convention of  the Church of the Lutheran Confession. It was a demanding week that involved a lot of sitting,  a lot of listening, and a lot of prayer. It was good to get back home again. But guess what – the  problems that were here when I left are still here. It was back into the demanding regular work  of the pastoral ministry. Someone said that convention will help you appreciate your  congregation and your calling. Sometimes I experience a letdown when I try to turn the  excitement and possibilities of convention into the reality of my ministry.