You’re a careful reader, right? What’s E.D.D.? A term I use for “Expression Deficit Disorder.” You have it. I have it. Everyone on the planet has it. EDD is failing to communicate clearly. Such communication breakdowns are one of the things that have people on edge. And really, EDD/failure to communicate well affects every aspect of life, every relationship we have.
 
Communication can be verbal and non-verbal, written and spoken. Let’s talk about words. How many words come out of your mouth each day? The average person speaks about 25,000 words day. That’s about 50 pages in print, which means that every week you speak the equivalent of a John Grisham novel. If all your words were put on paper, each year you would compile a personal library of 50 such novels. That’s a big stack of books. That’s a lot of words, a lot of communicating. Plenty of opportunities for communication breakdowns, for EDD.
 
Every time there’s a conversation, you’ve got one sinner talking to another sinner – whether it’s in person, on the phone, e-mail, texting, via endless apps. Each sinner/participant has his/her own set of perceptions, realities, frames of reference, protective mechanisms. It’s so easy to be reckless and hurtful in our speech, to try to justify careless words: Hey, I just call ‘em the way I see ‘em. If you can’t handle the truth, you shouldn’t have asked. Hey, I didn’t mean anything by that – you’re way too sensitive – lighten up. I was only kidding. Can’t you take a joke?
 
We prove over and over again what Jesus said in Matthew 12:34 – “Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.” (NIV84) Sinful hearts and thoughts yield sinful, hurtful words and actions. No amount of earthly training or therapy can fix the condition of our hearts.
    
This problem goes deeper than EDD with other people. We’re at odds with God by nature. We’re opposed to his Word by nature. The problem not with God and his Word. His Word is clear. The problem is with you and me. If I’m driving without my glasses on and the signs look blurry. Is it the signs’ fault? No, the problem is with me. Likewise God’s Word is abundantly clear, but our sinful nature and mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law nor can it do so.
 
Think of all the obstacles God had to overcome in order to communicate to us: sin, hostility, unwillingness and outright inability to listen. But he did it through his Son, Jesus Christ. Peter, who had trouble with EDD himself – outbursts of denial and pride for starters – records this in his second letter: “To be sure, we were not following cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the powerful appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.” (2 Peter 1:16).
 
The “majesty” of his ministry, the “majesty” and power of his redeeming work. By virtue of his perfect sacrifice, his perfect life, his bloody death and glorious resurrection, he earned forgiveness of sins for us, for all. And he brought this to us in a very personal way – through the Gospel God made our hearts clean and able to receive his many blessings.
 
God’s Word doesn’t just help us with communication. God’s Word IS communication. And when Christ redeemed us, he redeemed our speech/communication as well. God’s Word brings families – all of us – back from the edge when it comes to EDD. And Peter, who personally struggled with communication, offers a bonanza of spiritual encouragement to combat EDD. “All of you, live in harmony with one another. Show sympathy, brotherly love, compassion, and humility. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. Instead, speak a blessing, because you were called for the purpose of inheriting a blessing.” (1 Peter 3:8,9)
 
And this: “But regard the Lord, the Christ, as holy in your hearts. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give a reason for the hope that is in you. But speak with gentleness and respect, while maintaining a clear conscience, so that those who attack your good way of life in Christ may be put to shame because they slandered you as evildoers.” (1 Peter 3:15,16)
 
Fight EDD. Drop the sarcasm when inappropriate. Purge the urge to put others down. Instead, build others up. Copy Jesus on the e-mails and the text messages. Remember that he’s listening in on phone conversations and watching when you surf the internet. Let your conversation – every personal interaction – be seasoned with salt. God help us to communicate clearly, lovingly, compassionately in Christ.
 
In Christ Jesus,
Pastor Stephen Luchterhand

For the last few weeks, I've been carefully going through my mother-in-law Merike's papers and records.  Why?  She was hospitalized at Howard Young, Woodruff, back in December.  There she had surgery on both feet for some rather nasty infections.  She was moved to Rennes Rehab in Rhinelander.  The plan was for 2 to 3 weeks of rehab, and then she would return home.  That's not going to happen.  Grandma can barely walk due to those foot wounds.  She's out of breath and weary after a visit of only 10 minutes or so.  So the new care plan is for her to remain in the Rennes Rehab in Rhinelander for long-term care.
 
So why am I going through Grandma's records?  I am her Financial Power of Attorney.  Since Grandma's rehab has "plateaued," and she is remaining in the nursing home, that means she will be a private-pay nursing home resident.  However, nursing homes are costly.  Her financial assets are meager, so she will burn through those reserves rather quickly.  So this transition also means "Title 19," "spend-down," and then Medicaid. All of this is a bit more than a Northwestern College grad with a Liberal Arts Degree can figure out, so we have an elder care attorney to lead us through this labyrinth of paperwork.
 
Birth certificate, naturalization papers, bank balances, insurance, will, trust, annuities, pension, social security, Medicare, property deed:  it's enough to make my eyes glaze over.  Thankfully, up until the last few years, Grandma's filing system was pretty good.  I have been able to locate needed documents in her filing cabinet or in her "vertical, archaeological" filing system - the stack of papers on top of the filing cabinet.  It was there, on the top, that I found the yellowed leaf from the March 2, 1992, Fort Wayne News Sentinel.  A full page ad from the Lutheran Hospital, Fort Wayne.  The heading?  "There's Always Someone New at Lutheran Hospital."  I searched the page.  Sure enough, there's my little conehead!  Victoria Ann Schwanke, 7 lbs, 10 oz., November 29, 1991.  (bottom right in picture) 
 
Tori is Grandma's only granddaughter, and her first grandchild.  So Grandma carefully filed this newspaper clipping in between trust information, pension, deed-important, official records.  This clipping was just as important, maybe more.
 
And it has reminded me of what's most important in life, as I also work through the process of updating my will, setting up a trust, preplanning and paying for my funeral, "getting my affairs in order."   I want to be a good steward of my property and financial assets, so I don't leave a mess for my family.  But even more important?  My family.  Daughter, son-in-law, baby brudder, sister-in-law, nieces and nephews.  Each one precious to the Lord.  Each one bought and paid for with his blood.  (Psalm 127:3, Proverbs 19:14) 
 
Even more important?  Living my life as a redeemed child of God.  Structuring my days--not just around "retirement-ish," ice fishing, hunting, Canada trips, or Sheepshead, but treasuring each day as a gift from the Lord.  A gift to be lived to his glory.  A gift to be shared. 
 
That's why I plan to show this yellowed newspaper clipping to my daughter, perhaps in a future visit at the nursing home with Grandma. I hope it will offer a "teachable moment" as to what's most important in life--more important than whether we can stay living in our own home or need to hurdle into a new phase of life in a nursing home.  More important than making house and car payments, budgeting for utilities, clothes, food, and insurance. 
 
What's most important?  It's my family.  It's yours.  It's our Spirit-worked faith that makes us God's blood-bought children, whether we're young or old. 
 
1 John 3:1-3  "See the kind of love the Father has given us that we should be called children of God, and that is what we are! The world does not know us, because it did not know him. Dear friends, we are children of God now, but what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when he is revealed we will be like him, and we will see him as he really is. Everyone who has this hope purifies himself, just as Jesus is pure."
 
Privileged to Serve,
Rev. Glenn Schwanke

According to the Barna Group, a leading researcher offering insights about faith, culture, and generational demographics, weekly Bible reading is rising – no, spiking! – in America.
 
Surprise!
 
According to Barna, “In 2000, 39 percent of U.S. adults reported reading the Bible weekly—a number that fluctuated for years before falling to 30 percent in 2024. Now, based on interviews with more than 12,000 adults, it has climbed back to 42 percent. Among self-identified Christians, the rate reaches 50 percent—the highest level in over a decade.”
 
In addition, the surge is being led by younger generations. “Millennials (born 1980-1996) jumped an unprecedented 16 points, reaching 50 percent—half now say they read the Bible weekly. Gen Z (born 1197-2012) mirrors this pattern, rising from 30 percent to 49 percent in just one year.”
 
Surprise!
 
Per Barna: “Historically, women have been more likely than men to read Scripture weekly. For example, Boomer women have outpaced Boomer men in Bible reading every year for the last eight years. But 2025 data tells a different story. Younger men are outpacing younger women in engaging Scripture.”
 
Among Gen Zers, 54% of men are reading the Bible weekly; 46% of women do so. Among Millennials, 57% of men read Scripture weekly compared to 43% of women. (www.barna.com/trends/bible-reading-trends)
 
Surprise, again!
 
Polls and surveys are not the same as the inspired Word of God. Which leads to this question: Regardless of what others are doing (or not doing) when it comes to reading Scripture, what are you doing? Are you reading weekly? Daily? Don’t know? Does it matter?
 
Surprise! Though this shouldn’t surprise God’s people – it does matter! Why? How?
 
Go back and read Pastor Schwanke’s devotion last week (Jesus: Side Effects?) He lists a number of blessings there. In fact, you could browse through the last five years of these Wednesday Encouragements and find a multitude of overflowing blessings offered…through God’s Word. Consider, for now, the following:
 

• “See the kind of love the Father has given us that we should be called children of God, and that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1)
• “(God) is able, according to the power (namely, the Holy Spirit working through God’s Word) that is at work within us, to do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine, to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever!” (Ephesians 3:20,21)
• “My righteous God, answer me when I call. When I was under pressure, you gave me relief. Be merciful to me and hear my prayer…In complete peace I will lie down, and I will sleep,
  for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.” (Psalm 4:1,8)
• Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we also have obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand. And we rejoice confidently on the basis of our hope for the glory of God.” (Romans 5:1-2)

 
Forget what others are doing. Forget the statistics drummed up by those who compile them. What matters to you is your heart and faith. Are you reading God’s Word? Are you enjoying the uncountable blessings, strength, and encouragement that awaits?
 
Don’t be surprised! Be strengthened! Find joy! Go, read, and grow in faith and hope and love.
 
In Christ Jesus,
Pastor Stephen Luchterhand

Drug ads.  They target me on my phone because of my demographic.  They interrupt television shows every few minutes, because there's so much money to be made.  I usually pay no attention.  Until the disclaimers begin.  The listing of the drug's side effects.  Here are two examples.  I won't list the drug names. 
 
1).  For a drug recommended for folks who struggle with a bipolar condition.  "Elderly dementia patients have an increased risk of death or stroke.  Call your doctor about fever, stiff muscles, and confusion, which could be life-threatening; or uncontrolled body movements which may not go away.  Risks include potentially fatal high blood sugar, high cholesterol, weight gain, low white blood cells, unusual urges, dizziness on standing, seizures, injection site pain, and trouble swallowing." 
 
2)  For a drug to help with insomnia.  "Walking, eating, driving, or engaging in other activities without remembering it the next day have been reported. . .Abnormal behaviors may include aggressiveness, confusion, agitation, or hallucinations, a temporary inability to move while waking up or falling asleep, or temporary leg weakness have also been reported. In depressed patients, worsening depression including suicide may occur...side effects include next-day drowsiness." 
 
Do you need a moment or two to digest all of that?   
 
Am I the only one who listens to these ads and thinks, "You have got to be kidding me!  Why would I contact my doctor and ask for a drug with such terrible, terrifying side effects?"   
 
And yet the ads continue.  Pharmaceutical companies spend millions upon millions of dollars on what is called Direct-To-Consumer (DTC) advertising to drive awareness for their product.  And desperate, hurting individuals who suffer from bipolar conditions, asthma, insomnia, neuropathy, diabetes, and on and on--desperate, hurting individuals reach out to their doctors and ask, "Can we try this drug?  I just can't take this anymore." 
 
Maybe that's you.  Maybe some days that's me, too.  But the side effects of many drugs are still scary.
 
But not with Jesus!  Never with Jesus!  Jesus brings no terrifying side effects that our Lord has hidden in divine disclaimers tucked away in Mark 17 or Revelation 23.  (FYI:  Neither chapter exists.)   Jesus requires no prophets or apostles who use "speed-talking" to rattle off all the bad things that might happen to those who follow him.
 
Rather, Jesus, only Jesus, brings us only blessings!  Here are just a few.
 
Ephesians 1:7-8 "In him we also have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in keeping with the riches of his grace, which he lavished on us in all wisdom and insight." 
 
Romans 8:1-2 "So then, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For in Christ Jesus, the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death."
 
Philippians 4:7 "And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." 
 
1 Peter 1:8-9 "Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not see him now, yet by believing in him, you are filled with a joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, because you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls."
 
1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 "We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who have fallen asleep, so that you do not grieve in the same way as the others, who have no hope. Indeed, if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, then in the same way we also believe that God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep through Jesus. In fact, we tell you this by the word of the Lord: We who are alive and left until the coming of the Lord will certainly not go on ahead of those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up in the clouds together with them, to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore, encourage one another with these words." 
 
Guilt washed away in his blood.  Purpose and direction in life.  Peace and joy that are grounded in the Lord's unchangeable grace.  Heaven, where you and I will be reunited with all our Christian loved ones who have gone on before us, where we will be immersed in the full presence of our Lord, and where we will never need to say good-bye--ever, ever again!
 
And yet. . .what about that pain that nags at the corners of our brain all day long?  The hip that just doesn't seem to get stronger? The numb fingers that cause us to drop the wrench over and over and over again?  The deadened feet that struggle with the car's brake and accelerator pedal?  The fire in the lower back that explodes when we bend over to the side?  Dearest friends in Christ, for all these struggles and so many others, we treasure another blessing that Jesus so graciously gives.  “I tell you, keep asking, and it will be given to you. Keep seeking, and you will find. Keep knocking, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives. The one who seeks finds. And to the one who knocks, it will be opened."  (Luke 11:9-10)   And so we pray.  We pray knowing Jesus listens.  We pray knowing Jesus answers.  We pray knowing that with Jesus there are no side effects, only blessings.  We pray knowing that Jesus always knows best, even when we really hurt. 
 
2 Corinthians 12:9 "And he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, because my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will be glad to boast all the more in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may shelter me."
 
Privileged to Serve,
Rev. Glenn Schwanke

What is the number one complaint against church by people who don’t go (and do go!) to church?
Church is boring.
 
Be honest. You’ve thought it. You’ve said it. You’ve complained about it. I have too.
 
The sermons are too long or wordy or confusing. The music is so 1600s, or, it’s too contemporary.
 
There’s a big screen up front (or two), or, there is no screen up front. There are people there who make us uncomfortable. Certainly, we can find other things to do to occupy our time.
 
When I am the center of attention and life is like this big HD, big-screen TV on which everything passes by for my amusement and enjoyment and entertainment…of course, church is boring.
 
What does God think? Honestly? He gets bored with us. The same sins, the same hurtful ruts and patterns. Worshipping one moment and gleefully sinning the next. Perhaps even avoiding worship for reasons that displease and dishonor him. God told Isaiah to tell the Israelites: “Shout it aloud, do not hold back. Raise your voice like a trumpet. Declare to my people their rebellion and…their sins…On the day of your fasting, you do as you please and exploit all your workers. Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife, and in striking each other with wicked fists. You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high.” (Isaiah 58:1,3b,4) “Fasting” here is equivalent to worship.
 
You and I are guilty of the same. And God is tired of it. That he might be bored is the least of our worries.
 
Repentance is called for. Immediately. Daily. And weekly in worship! A repentant heart and a God-centered mindset make for a far more uplifting worship experience regardless of sermon length/style, music style, or the aesthetics of the sanctuary.
 
Church will never be boring again! See you this weekend – either in person or online!
 
In Christ,
Pastor Stephen Luchterhand

When was the last time you picked up your Catechism?” 
 
“When I moved to the house I’m now living in.”
 
OK, I’ll try again. When was the last time you opened up your Catechism? Do you even know where it is?
 
“Uh…Hmmm…It’s been a while…”
 
Honestly now, when was the last time you read through your Catechism? About the time you were confirmed? And even that was against your will, wasn’t it? Study of the Bible’s doctrine by way of the Catechism is often looked at something to endure. In truth, outside of the Bible, there are few resources meatier and more in depth than the Catechism.
 
Can this be a resolution for you this year? To go deep, even deeper into the Word of God? Read, study, and meditate upon the Word. Even browse through your Catechism, if you can find it. (I have extras in my office)
 
Enough of timidity and apathy. Go deep. Use the tools for strengthening faith and life that God provides. Below is a quote from Martin Luther regarding study of the Catechism and the need to “go deep.” May your heart overflow with the deep spiritual well of life and truth that is God’s Word!
 
“We have become infected by a vicious and insidious plague. There are many who are so satisfied with themselves and so bored with God’s truths that they regard the Catechism as such a simple and slight instrument of instruction that they can rapidly read through it once and immediately have it all absorbed and mastered. Having read it through once, they throw it into a corner, as if ashamed to read it again…
 
“To occupy oneself with God’s Word, talking about it and thinking about it, is also a most tremendous help against the devil, the world, the flesh, and all evil thoughts. Psalm 1:2 calls those blessed who meditated on the law of the Lord day and night. It is certain that you will be offering up no incense or candles more potent against the devil than by occupying yourself with God’s commandments and words, by talking of them, by singing them, and by meditating on them. That, let me tell you, is the true holy water, the sign before which he flees and by which you can rout him.
 
“Even if there were no other result or benefit, you should read the parts of Christian doctrine in the Catechism gladly and discuss, ponder, and practice them for this reason alone that thereby you can drive away the devil and evil thoughts. For he cannot stand to hear the Word of God. The Word of God is not like some empty fiction…but as St. Paul says in Romans 1:16, it is ‘the power of God,’ the power, in fact, that flames out to blister the devil but to strengthen, comfort, and help us immeasurably.”
(From Luther’s 1530 Preface to the Large Catechism)
 
A Blessed New Year to you and yours, 
Pastor Stephen Luchterhand

Every year about this time, I wax nostalgic.  I'm filled with memories of Christmas past.  Here are two.
 
I was about 5. Every year, our families took turns hosting a Christmas party with a meal and the opening of Christmas presents.  This year's celebration was at our house, Christmas Eve, after worship at church.  Our Christmas tree was lit. We were getting ready to open presents. I saw packages--plural--with my name on them!  All was right with the world!  Until I looked out the living room window, and SANTA LOOKED BACK AT ME!  He was right outside the window!  His nose pressed against it, and he was looking me straight in the eye!  I was sore afraid.  So I hid under the card table that had been set up for present opening.  My Uncle Elton crawled under the table with me.  It took a while for my Uncle to talk me down from Santa Terror Mountain and out from under the table, but Elton and I emerged at last. I looked out the window.  Santa was gone.   
 
Years later I stumbled across the rubber Santa mask that my dad had worn that night.  It was hidden away in the back corner of a closet.  It had been a conspiracy!  My dad, my Uncle, my mother, and others had been in cahoots that night!  All because earlier, little Glenn had expressed doubts about Santa being real and coming at Christmas.
 
Let's go back even further.  I 'm 3 or 4.  I'm sitting next to my mother on the piano bench.  She's playing Christmas carols.  I'm listening closely.  It's dark outside.  There's ice on the window.  It's snowing.  We're waiting for my dad to get home.  He's working overtime.  My mom is playing Away in A Manger, to the tune of Cradle Song by William J. Kirkpatrick, 1895.
 
"Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,
The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head.
The stars in the bright sky looked down where he lay,
The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.

The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes,
But little Lord Jesus, no crying he makes.
I love thee, Lord Jesus! look down from the sky,
And stay by my cradle till morning is nigh."
 
My mom pauses often as she plays the carol.  She repeats phrases, so I will memorize them.  She wants me to learn the music, too, so she shows me the fingering on the keyboard as she plays. 
 
All these decades later, by the grace of God, I remember.  I remember what Christmas is really all about!  Not the masked Santa who appeared outside our living room window and caused me to flee for refuge under a card table.  Rather, Christmas is all about the baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger because there was no room for him in the inn.
 
"There were in the same country shepherds staying out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified! But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. For behold, I bring you good news of great joy, which will be for all people: Today in the town of David, a Savior was born for you. He is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude from the heavenly army, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward mankind.” (Luke 2:8-14)
 
We know how the shepherds responded to that first Christmas sermon.  They said to one another, “Now let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger." (Luke 2:15-16)
 
So also we hurry to the stable and kneel beside the manger of our Savor.  In worship.  In family devotions.  In our Bible reading.  And we pray.  Every day we pray. 

"Be near me, Lord Jesus; I ask thee to stay
Close by me forever, and love me I pray.
Bless all the dear children in thy tender care,
And take us to heaven to live with thee there."
 
Merry Christmas! 
Rev. Glenn Schwanke

Christmas is a week away. Finally! Or, Already? No matter how you’re feeling or how things are going, Immanuel!
 
Oh, you think there should be more to this message? Isn’t “Immanuel,” which means, “God with us,” enough? It is, but our hearts yearn for encouragement.
 
Are you familiar with "The Psalms of David, Imitated in the Language of the New Testament"? You are, in fact, the second part of the hymnic paraphrase of Psalm 98 found there we know so well we can sing it by heart.
 
In 1719, Isaac Watts published the above volume. It includes the beloved Christmas hymn (based on Psalm 98), "Joy to the World."
 
Watts didn't intend for this hymn to become a Christmas carol. He wished to write/sing about Christ's second coming. Verse 3, with its references to "sins...sorrows...thorns" and "the curse" actually departs from Psalm 98 and expounds upon the events of Genesis 3. 
 
We, and people all around us, are burdened mightily by sins/sorrows/thorns/the curse. Adding to the burdens are the many tasks and events which clutter December’s calendar and to-do list. There is joy to be found in so much of the spectacle of the season, but it is momentary, fleeting.
 
But there is great and lasting joy to be found in all that our Savior-King has done and continues to do for us. The month of December isn't necessarily a month-long joyride for folks. It's busy, exhausting, anxiety-inducing and often tinged with deep sadness. For us, and for all around us.
 
But there is great joy! God help us to "repeat the sounding joy" at every opportunity to one another and to all around us. Christ the Savior is born, and yes, Sir Watts, he is coming again! Soon! Praise God!
 
Hear the words of the angel and respond with the shepherds: “The angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. For behold, I bring you good news of great joy, which will be for all people: Today in the town of David, a Savior was born for you. He is Christ the Lord.’” (Luke 2:10,11)
 
A Blessed Christmas to you and yours!
Pastor Stephen Luchterhand

The picture to the left is a triumph!  A monumental moment!  To be able to see my garage floor!  To park snow removal equipment where it's handy!  That's the result of over 3 years of planning, napping, resting, dawdling, procrastinating, and then actually doing something about the mountain of boxes that filled half of my house garage.  This mountain had been built when a U-Haul truck was unloaded by a group of caring Christian friends from Trinity, Minocqua, and Peace, Houghton. back at the end of June, 2022.  Ever since then, I'd shuffle around a box or two at the base of the mountain.  Sometimes I would dare to go mountain climbing in search of a box that I really needed.  (Where in the world are my Stormy Kromers?  Ah, in a box with plates and duct tape.  Makes perfect sense.)   
 
But this year, come August, I had had enough.  I vowed to dismantle "Mount Retirement," box by box.  No small feat.  Because everything that had been hastily thrown into packing boxes before I moved to the deep south from the snow country of Houghton--all that stuff needed to be sorted.  And quite a bit went out by the road under a free sign.  (It's amazing what people will take when it's free.  Even some stuff that I was ready to haul to the dump.)  Some stuff was set aside for my daughter or family.  Other stuff went to Good Will.  Still more tool stuff moved into the Tractor Shed where I plan to set up my shop.  Other stuff, bigger yard equipment stuff and seasonal stuff went into the new garage Chris Smith built for me last year, my famous "Taj Magarage."  A smidgen of my stuff went into what I call my "shed in a bag."  That's where my Pontoon boat spends its winter, nestled next to a pile of lumber and a few other odds and ends assortment of stuff I’ve accumulated over the years.
 
For a few months, I felt like I was playing Jenga with stuff.  This piece of stuff fits there.  This piece there.  This one up there.  That one down at the bottom over there.  At times I would think, "Why in the world am I keeping this piece of stuff?"  So I'd put it out by the road, or on the side for my daughter, or in the car for the next trip down to the Rhinelander Goodwill.
 
This was a step beyond downsizing.  Ask my daughter.  I had done that before leaving Houghton.  This was brutal.  This was destuffifying. 
 
And it's been liberating.  It reminded me of what Elma Cline told me years ago.  I visited Elma and her husband in their home in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where I served my first parish, Holy Scripture.  We'd enjoy a cup of coffee and some goodies.  I'd share God's Word and the Sacrament, and Ed and Elma would share the wisdom that comes with age.  During one visit, Elma looked at me and said, "Pastor, the day comes when you realize your stuff owns you.  You don't own it."     
 
Amen, Elma.  Amen.  Sorting stuff.  Storing stuff.  Maintaining stuff.  Fixing stuff.  Moving stuff.  Replacing stuff.  Upgrading stuff.  I have come to the point in my life where I don't just want to downsize my estate, I want to destuffify!  Live simply.  (Well, maybe keep all my ice fishing, fishing, and hunting gear.)  Our Savior knew what he was talking about when he warned, "Watch out and be on guard against all greed, because a man’s life is not measured by how many possessions he has.” (Luke 12:15)
 
Perhaps you need to destuffify this Christmas season?  When we tear down our mountains of stuff, we recognize that the greatest gift of all is already ours.  By faith, together with the Apostle Paul we can shout, "But, whatever things were a profit for me, these things I have come to consider a loss because of Christ. But even more than that, I consider everything to be a loss because of what is worth far more: knowing Christ Jesus, my Lord. For his sake, I have lost all things and consider them rubbish, so that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own, which comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness that comes from God by faith. I do this so that I may know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, being conformed to his death, in the hope that in some way I may arrive at the resurrection from the dead." (Philippians 3:7-11)
 
Privileged to serve, 
Rev. Glenn Schwanke

Rather than put my boat/motor/trailer away by November 1st in my father’s roomy (but packed) storage garage for the winter, this year I opted to keep it in my own garage in hopes of getting out for some musky “hunting” during November.
 
It paid off.
 
The two days my son Andrew and I managed to get onto the water resulted in one boated musky each time out. Our excursion on November 6th was especially memorable for two reasons: 1) I caught my first-ever November musky; 2) We met Loon(ey), pictured above.
 
I’d always thought the expression, “crazy as a loon,” was disrespectful to loons, but I now think differently. In the spring, loons will make quite a ruckus to drive you away from their nesting area. And, it is wise to steer clear. Let ‘em live. Let ‘em grow.
 
But in November? The loon that harassed us for at least two hours that day made more ruckus than all the loons I’ve ever encountered before combined. The flapping of the wings, the haunting tremolos (the loon’s call), the dive-bombing around and under the boat picked up by the sonar, the click of the reels as the loon sought to disrupt our musky fishing by tugging at our live-bait musky suckers (or maybe it was just hungry?!)
 
Let me be clear: Looney sought us out. Looney entered our territory. Looney disrupted our fishing. Not the other way around.
 
Why? Was its winter quarters near the Gulf of Mexico not yet ready? Had its flight been canceled or delayed due to the government shutdown? Was it injured, desperate? Had its partner taken off with another loon, leaving this one with a broken heart, destined to remain until it would be caught in the soon-to-form ice?
 
I feared we might inadvertently hook the thing. Looney was spoiling for a fight. We even tossed our smallest sucker at it as a sort of peace offering/sacrifice. To no avail. Looney didn’t even acknowledge.   
Toward the end of our two hour standoff, during which we had to monitor the suckers quite closely, I raised one of the suckers from the depths to check on it and a nice musky responded to that action with a satisfying (and spectacular!) strike. Landed it, then released it to fight another day.
 
Which lake, you ask? You know better than to ask. Choose one of the following, or add your own: Area Lake, Banana Lake, Lake Noname, Lake Nunya (as in “none of your business”). Though, if you ask nicely…
 
I know the Bible doesn’t call Satan “crazy as a loon,” but the behavior on display that afternoon mirrors Satan’s approach: brazen, unafraid, crafty, distracting. The Apostle Peter’s description comes close to our experience that day: “Have sound judgment. Be alert. Your adversary, the Devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8)
 
Satan is not funny or entertaining. He is not a silly little red entity with horns, a tail, and a pitchfork. He is a terrorist with honey on his lips and hell in his heart. He is a liar and a murderer who puts out his hand for a friendly greeting while clutching a weapon in the hand that’s behind his back. He will do whatever it takes to attack, assault and afflict you.
 
But there is Someone much more powerful than the devil who holds him in check. In fact, Jesus Christ has already won the victory over him on Calvary’s cross, descended into hell to declare it, and risen from the dead to prove it. His victory is ours by faith.
 
The writer to the Hebrews describes this victory: “Therefore, since the children share flesh and blood, he also shared the same flesh and blood, so that through death he could destroy the one who had the power of death (that is, the Devil).” (Hebrews 2:14)
 
The lakes are frozen over. Muskies (and loons!) will have to wait until next Spring. Satan won’t take a break, however. But I rest secure in the knowledge that Jesus is with me, that his words and promises will sustain me.
 
God’s peace be with you,
Pastor Stephen Luchterhand