One Year

Yesterday marked two events of 2010: the onset of winter here in Cooke City and my one year anniversary here at Mount Republic Chapel of Peace. It was not the first day of being on my own here, but the first service I attended with the anticipation of being on my own in a matter of weeks. As I stood at the pulpit and went through the now very familiar routine, I couldn't help but think of how scary it all seemed one year ago. Your faces staring back at me were all completely unfamiliar, with the exception of Sheri and Del, the gracious souls that were housing me during those days of transition, and the church service, though very familiar to me in many ways from my experience of ACMNP and attendance at previous MRCP church services, seemed entirely foreign.

That day posed so many questions with unknown answers. Where was I and how did I get here? Who were you people? Why did you live in possibly the most isolated place in the lower 48? Would you like me? Would I be a good preacher? Would I be a good teacher? Was I cut out for full-time ministry? Did I really think that women should lead churches? Would I be lonely? Would I fit in? Could I really handle a Cooke City winter on my own? Would my car do okay here? Would I make friends? Is there anyone else my age? Was I prepared to be the pastor of the only church for 60 miles in any direction? Was God laughing at me? What the heck was I doing here?!

One year later, I think I have the answers to the majority of my questions that day. It's been a fabulous year, filled with many new experiences, friendships, lessons, and memories. Looking back I can see why God has brought me here, at least in part, and how he has used me. That's a great gift that I recognize won't be the case for every ministry or experience I'm involved in. But it is the case here and it's a knowledge that propels me forward in the ministry God has called me to here as winter settles in for round number two and I think of what next to preach and teach on. I am so blessed by all of you, now both near and far.

The Montana Rescue Mission

Mt. Republic Chapel of Peace supports five ministries that serve people in Montana, the U.S. and the world. This week a group of servants took a trip over the Beartooths to Billings, to the Montana Rescue Mission, a ministry that serves the needs of men, women, and children in Billings without homes and hot meals. MRM is a wonderful organization, run by faithful stewards of few resources, driven by loving hearts and a faith in a God who can change lives. They know because several of the full-time staff members were themselves once residents in the building.

After a grand tour of the building facilities, we were served a wonderful (and unexpected!) lunch before heading upstairs to the two rooms were had traveled three hours to paint! It was a joy to serve the ministry in even a small way such as that, but also to think of those who would occupy those two rooms for a time and call them "home." It's often in the small things, such as clean, painted walls, that give a person a sense of dignity and self-respect, making that person without a home, still feel like a person. Even small acts of service can truly be a blessing to the world and to individuals. We were glad to be a part of the Mission that day.

Round Two

I initially took this post of INTERIM pastor anticipating my time here to be 3-5 months. Then it turned into 7 months. Then 10 months. Now I'm looking at a round-two winter, extending my time here to 19 months!!!! As unexpected as it is, I am delighted at the opportunity. Winter is, by far, my favorite time of year here in Cooke City - which is good since it dominates more than six months of the year! Not to mention the three months of the year when it tries to dominate!
It seems that this year winter has come a bit earlier than others. One year ago yesterday, Seth posted about how he woke up to a light frost and anticipated snow to fall within a few weeks. A few weeks ago I woke up to a hard frost on many mornings and the mountains have been white now for a couple weeks! The ground around Cooke City has had snow on it one morning already!


If you have checked this blog with any regularity, you've noticed that I have not updated it in a long while. I'm not a blogger, per se, and find it difficult to force myself to do so. I will do my best though. If you haven't already checked out the new church website, do so! http://www.mtrepublicchapel.org/. There are many great pictures from the summer on it!

Idolatry, and Conversations About It

Winter is showing her true fierceness here in Cooke City these days. She dumped over a foot of snow at the chapel two nights ago and is now keeping us locked inside with temperatures holding steady at -30 F. The real issue here is not that it's too cold, but that it's too cold to ski; but since my arm and shoulder are sore from shoveling snow yesterday in an attempt to free my car from the white knuckles of winter , I guess I wouldn't be out skiing even if it was a reasonable temperature!

Tonight was going to be our first evening of Bible study in the Crandall Community, but the voice of reason has forced its postponement until next week.

We did, however, have a wonderful Bible study here at the Chapel last night! Since November we have been plowing our way through the Old Testament Story, looking at God's work of redemption in Israel and in the world. Each week we see more and more of who God is and who we are through the example of Israel and her idolatry. Last night was our first look at the divided monarchy, focusing entirely on the northern kingdom: Israel. There was much bloodshed to discuss as we read about kings like Jeroboam, Jehoash, Jehu, and wives like Jezebel. The northern kingdom was destroyed by Assyria in 722 BC and the people scattered throughout the land known today as the Middle East, and they were destroyed because of their idolatry and their disobedience toward God their creator. In Lev. 26 and Deut. 28, we see how God promised Israel that if they would obey him, then he would bless them greatly, but if they disobeyed and did not follow his commandments, then he would not protect them from their enemies, would destroy their land, and would scatter them among their enemies. For over five hundred years God was patient with them, continually demonstrating compassion and grace despite their evil and wicked ways, despite the fact that they were worshiping two golden calves and Baal and many other gods, despite the fact that they did not trust God to protect them but paid tributes of money to foreign kings. God was gracious, but he also had a promise to keep, which he did in its fullest in 722 BC.

Israel broke the first two commandments time and time again: You shall have no gods before me and you shall make no graven images. Idolatry was at the heart of Israel's sin. But what does this look like for us as Christians living in America in the year 2010? I am not compelled to worship the sun when it peaks over the mountain at 11:45 a.m., nor am I inclined to hike to the peak of Mount Republic and erect an altar there to the god of the mountain. Nonetheless, this does not mean that I am in my heart any different than Israel. I am still prone to idolatry, even if it looks different on the outside from what it did 3,000 years ago, because I am still from Adam, and the same desire that afflicted Adam is the same desire that afflicts me - I want to be God. If I myself am God, then I am the creator, the controller, and the determiner of reality. It means that I decide what is or is not good, what is or is not obedient, and what is or is not honorable. I am not in subjection to anyone but myself, but decide for myself how to live my life. Adam and I are no different. Israel and I are no different. And even though idolatry here in America may not be as blatant or objective as it was for Israel or even as it is in many regions of the world today, it is nonetheless equally as pervasive and destructive. And it is equally as deserving of punishment. But as God was with Israel, so God is with me - gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love...

...even if it is -28 at 11:00 a.m.!