God gave us a great weekend of ministry, fun, and food last weekend in Bemidji, MN, the land of Paul Bunyon and Babe the Big Blue Ox.



When we walked in, we saw this sign:
After driving another hour or so, we arrived in Motley, MN, where we continued to harass Tim by celebrating his 54th birthday at the local Dairy Queen. (We thought some ice cream would sit nicely on top of the massive amounts of liver and onions and sauerkraut soup mixing up in our stomachs.) We got the entire place (six people including us) to sing happy birthday to Tim. I actually heard three-part harmony! And the gal working the counter came up with a candle for us.
Now, I know what some of you are thinking. "Hey, did you actually do any ministry in MN?" In addition to eating abundant amounts of liver, onions, sauerkraut soup, and ice cream (this is day one mind you), our mission was also to spread God's cheer and good will to the hamlets of MN on the way. We did, however, eventually arrive at Oak Hills Christian College in Bemidji, MN. It was late and we were exhausted—and thankful to not be sick from the liver, onions, sauerkraut soup, and ice cream. The next morning, I was to speak to the students in the college's chapel service. But first, we had to have some breakfast (can't do ministry at the level of intensity we like to without a hearty breakfast) and a time of connection with my good friend, Dwight Warden, Senior Pastor of the Evangelical Free Church in Blackduck, MN (a mere 20 miles away from Bemidji).
Indeed, I did speak at the chapel service on Friday morning. We then ate lunch with them (I had a salad with chicken and three glasses of very cold chocolate milk) and hung out with them until mid-afternoon. The students were kind to us old guys and engaged us in some great conversations.
So what's the point? Not sure there is one really. But here's a thought if you'd like one:
Ministry—like life itself—is NOT just a destination. It's also a wild adventurous journey... laden with God, friends, community, debate, liver, onions, sauerkraut soup, ice cream, bacon, eggs, pancakes, salad, chicken, chocolate milk, and—in my view—second only to God in the preceding list—good coffee.Thanks for stopping by for a virtual Cup O' Joe with me... and taking this journey with us. Perhaps we might enjoy some real liver and onions... and some sauerkraut soup together sometime in the future. If not here on this planet, then in Heaven perhaps! : ) (Wouldn't that be something if liver and onions and sauerkraut soup were served in Heaven?)