Golf News...2022 Haakon and the MG High School Golf Team

 

Maple Grove HS Golf Team 2022

Can you spot the 7th Grader?

45 YEARS AGO

Forty five years ago today God graced us with a little girl named Lindsay. It was a few days before Easter Sunday. Our pastor referred to our two daughters as "Easter and Christmas" due to the proximity of their birth-days to Easter and Christmas. Our hearts are full of joy and wonder as we remember Lindsay today. To be given a son and two daughters is a great privilege. Wathcing and praying as they grew into young men and women was a gift to be savored for years to come. 

Thank you Jesus for Justin, Lindsay and Whitney! Fearfully and wonderfully made by your hands and placed in our lives forever.

 

Who’s in Charge?

March 17, 2022

And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings.
Acts 17:26

Recommended Reading: Daniel 2:20-22

Daniel 2:20-22 (nkjv)

²⁰ Daniel answered and said:

“Blessed be the name of God forever and ever,For wisdom and might are His.²¹ And He changes the times and the seasons;He removes kings and raises up kings;He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding.²² He reveals deep and secret things;He knows what is in the darkness,And light dwells with Him.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

 

 

Dr David Jeremiah writes:

A large log was swept from the bank of a fast-flowing river and is hurtling through the rapids. (The log is our world.) On the log are thousands of tiny ants, all of whom think they are in control of the log. (We are the ants.)

Is anything more absurd than for a tiny ant to think it is in charge of a giant log that is careening on the waves of a raging river? And yet, men and women often think that we can change the outcome of this tumultuous world and bring it safely to what we think is the best outcome. The Bible states the obvious opposite: This world belongs to God, and God alone is able to work out His purposes for the world He created. The ancients believed God ruled over all (Deuteronomy 32:8; Job 12:23) as did the prophets (Daniel 2:20-22) and the apostles (Acts 17:26).

Don’t let the tumult in our world create fear in your heart. God has been, is, and will remain on the throne ruling His creation.

Nothing is beyond [God’s] control…. The Bible is clear that God is in control of everything that happens.
Joni Eareckson Tada

   

DON'T QUIT; KEEP GOING!

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. ² We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. ³ Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up. ⁴ After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin. 

Hebrews 12.1-4

We have been living in a great season of loss...family, friends, neighbors (some we knew and many we didn't know personally. It is so easy to quit and give up at time like this. 

DON'T QUIT. KEEPING GOING! 

KEEP YOUR EYES ON JESUS AND HIS GREAT LOVE FOR US AS HE WENT TO THE CROSS FOR US!

BE GRATEFUL THAT JESUS DID NOT QUIT AND GIVE UP.

IT WAS FOR YOU AND ME THAT HE REFUSED TO GIVE IN AND GIVE UP SO WE WOULD BE FREE.

FREE INDEED.

THANKS BE TO GOD IN CHRIST JESUS! 

THANKSGIVING 2021

 THANK YOU FOR BEING YOU. FOR BEING IN MY LIFE. I ASK FOR NO MORE. 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING 2021 MY FRIENDS

November 17, 2021

Days, weeks, months and years pass so effortlessly, and before you know it eighteen years have slipped away. November 17th is the anniversary of Lindsay's crossing over into the arms of Jesus. We were blessed to have the years we had. Gratitude for God's goodness and mercy continues to be the balm for loss when the unthinkable enters your life. 

Thank you, Lord, for your every present love and care for our loved ones. We have the joy of sharing each day with our family. They lift us up with their grace and love. Your love sustains us daily as we claim that "nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus!" 

See you later Lindsay! Love ya lots. 

Dad and Mom

IT'S STATE FAIR TIME AGAIN!!

First Day at the State Fair... found the Bench:

 RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE CROSSROADS CHAPEL!!  

A PERFECT PLACE....

 

FATHER'S DAY 2021

 

I am a father and grandfather. What more could I ask for this Father's Day? Seven grandkids with wonderful parents bless my life each day. Thirteen years ago, I had just started R-CHOP chemo for mantel cell lymphoma. My hair was starting to fall out. I was losing weight. One grandchild on the way but not sure if I was to see that little guy. 

Our lives were never to be the same after 7pm on November 17, 2003. As a father, I watched our young daughter slip into the hands of Jesus that night. Who would have thought such a thing would come into our lives after 30 years of marriage, but it did. It seemed to engulf us like a thick dark cloud. Grief is a strange thing. It is real and necessary. We do not seek it. It finds us. But it would not define us. Out of the darkness came light. Memories of the joy and laughter we had shared together sprang up from our friends and family. Little did we know we were being changed ever so slightly by the unthinkable. God's mercy and goodness would shelter us through the pain and darkness of grief.

As I lay in a hospital bed on Station 94 at Mayo, receiving my own stem cells on October 13, 2008, I was filled with hope not despair. I had been visited by my new grandson, Haakon, a few days earlier. It gave me such joy. I prayed on the day of transplant that the power of Jesus' presence would be in each stem cell that entered my body and that they would rescue my immune system. I have survived to see six more grand babies born into our family. Thanks to God's mercy and goodness, I survived. Not that I deserved to survive but that Jesus chose to give me the gift of more days and more grand babies!

On this Father's Day, I am grateful and in awe of the gifts God has given me over the years. My wonderful wife, children and their families are precious to me. I pray I never forget God's great love poured out on my life through the unthinkable and the amazing times of my life. I have been the recipient of the Father's love and mercy. May I share the Father's love with all the lives I might touch in the rest of my days.

 

New phase of the Journey...May 25, 2021

Heading for the Mayo Clinic in Rochester today to prepare for a knee replacement surgery on Tuesday May 25th. It's been a long time coming and is necessary. We wear out a little at a time. Our bodies are "fearfully and wonderfully made." The medical community has made it possible for us to replace or repair many parts that fail. I am thankful for the care and expertise that will give me the hope of new mobility without discomfort. Whatever the outcome I will be thankful for how God has given me this incredible body to enjoy for so many years. 

Psalm 139 is of great joy and blessing at all seasons of our lives:

For you created my inmost being;^(Q)
    you knit me together^(R) in my mother’s womb.^(S)
14 I praise you^(T) because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    your works are wonderful,^(U)
    I know that full well.
¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you
    when I was made^(V) in the secret place,
    when I was woven together^(W) in the depths of the earth.^(X)
16 Your eyes saw my unformed body;
    all the days ordained^(Y) for me were written in your book
    before one of them came to be.
¹⁷ How precious to me are your thoughts,^[a](Z) God!^(AA)
    How vast is the sum of them!
¹⁸ Were I to count them,^(AB)
    they would outnumber the grains of sand^(AC)—
    when I awake,^(AD) I am still with you.

 

 

May 8th 2021 "OH MY ACHING KNEE"

For forty plus years I have nursed a bad knee. It has been a good patient for a long time. In January I slipped on the ice and snow fracturing my fibula and traumatizing the left knee. Lois said I fell because I was wearing "inappropriate foot wear"...aka my cowboy boots. Every good cowboy knows that boots are the best footwear but not so good on ice I guess. 

Everything seemed to be healing well until one day I took a step and ouch! The knee began swelling and the pain was in areas I had not experienced before when straining the knee. The orthopedic doctor said that we had done everything to maintain the knee but now it was time to bite the bullet and do the knee.

I am going to have Mako assisted robotic total knee arthroplasty at Mayo at the end of May. I have been told it cuts healing time down and recovery is quicker. We will see if that is true. Lois has had both knees done and will be my nurse. She will crack the whip so I do my PT correctly! I asked if I would be able to run and they asked if run now. I said no. They said "maybe not...we'll see."

Isn't it amazing that we have the privilege and opportunity to replace a failing body part? God has given special gifts of knowledge and wisdom to the folks who design and replace these body parts. I am grateful that I will be able to receive a new knee. When part of your body aches it seems the whole body aches too. 

That's how the Apostle Paul described how the "Body of Christ", the Church, should function. If one part aches; we all should ache. Sadly I find myself many times numb to the pain of others. Lord forgive my self centered concern. Help me to "see a need and meet it...feel a hurt and heal it."

My little daughters many years ago at my ordination into ministry sang this song... 

"Make me a servant humble and meek."

        Make me a servant
        Humble and meek
        Lord let me lift up
        Those who are weak
        And may the prayer
        Of my heart always be
        Make me a servant
        Make me a servant
        Make me a servant today

Lord let it be according to your will. 

January 28th 2021 "Sparky...aka Old Eagle Eye"

 Every so often a person enters our lives to make us realize the common joys we share as fathers and husbands. One such man was "Sparky" aka Dr Mark Mathison. 

Our son's became friends when they entered dental school. It was an exciting time for them as they anticipated their futures in dentistry. As parents we encouraged and prayed that all would go well. It did.

One of the common interests the boys shared was hunting as did their dads. About 10 years ago Justin and I were invited to join Mark and "his boys" for a hunt in SK Canada. We had a "blast" literally...pun intended.

Mark was 10 years older than myself. Sparky, a mountain of a man in size and personality became my scouting partner. "Old Eagle eye... Sparky" could spot geese miles away much to my chagrin...we bonded immediately around our boys, families and hunting. 

Over the next 8 or 9 years we spent hours in the truck scouting each afternoon sharing our hopes and dreams for our families. Mark and Marg had seven kids. He had a lot to talk about. Mark was so proud of his family. He held each child and grandchild in his heart with reverence. Oh he would be blustery at times and put on a tough front but deep inside was this soft man who loved each of his offspring in a special way.

We shared losses and hurts that the boys didn't hear about that we had shared between dads. We laughed and teased each other till our sides ached. We even found lots of geese but the boys thought we were just sitting outside of town visiting with "the locals". Their comments were centered around "Really? How many? Are you sure? Did you get permission?" Occasionally we would hunt the fields we scouted and to their surprise we had nailed it. Not always but more often than not.

Mark succumbed to a battle with cancer recently. Our last phone conversation when he was hospitalized was filled with hope of one more hunt together with our boys. Sparky had it all figured out how to take his oxygen into the layout blind in SK. We laughed and agreed we were blessed to have our boys to set up and take down the decoys while we "rested/slept" in the trucks at 4am each morning. 

I'm going to miss giving Sparky "the needle" when scouting. He would NEVER go and ask permission,"I don't do that he'd say." (with a smile)  "But it's your turn...!!" He'd just sit there until I got out and went to seek permission. I may have called him a name or two as I left the truck. Sparky would just laugh at me.

As dads you only get so many days to share one-on-one times with your adult sons or their dads. Thanks Sparky for taking us in and giving Justin and myself these precious memories of times well shared with your family.

December 25th 2020 "Merry Christmas!"

Last night had a different feel about everything...will we gather together or not...will we go to church...what if someone gets sick or is sick and they didn't know it? 

We chose to listen to the Angel's words to the shepherds: “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.

We gathered up our three families to share Christmas at Grandma and Grandpa's house for fondue...something very familiar to our Christmas eve celebrations.

We listened/watched a Christmas message and music online...not the norm for Christmas eve.

We sang table grace...not "Johnnie Appleseed"...instead "Be present at our table Lord..." with harmony...(sort of)

There was the traditional kid's table and adult's table...lots of laughs and stories about past Christmas eves.

Everyone moved into the living room and the stockings were opened to pacify the little ones for a few minutes before opening all the other gifts under the tree.

I read the Luke 2 story. Lois wanted to sing some Christmas carols. We reminded everyone that the story of Jesus we just read fills the Christmas Carols we were about to sing...Listen for the Story everyone... 

The requests came pouring in! 

"Away in the Manger"...

"Joy to the World"...

"O little town of Bethlehem"...

"Hark the herald Angels sing"...

Then... "Silent Night" with candles (Lois has a "flare" for what makes a moment precious) 

NOW...Open the presents. Chaos reigns every year at that point. What fun and joy ran rampant through our living room...in was truly a "LIVING ROOM" filled with family and The presence of JESUS last night.

One of our beautiful little girls, Mackenzie told her mom Kelly... that the best part of Christmas Eve was "The Singing". Lois was right on with the singing of carols and candles.

It sure was a different and precious night with our loved ones. The Story Never Gets Old...Jesus has come!

This was one of my most favorite Christmas Eves in the past 73 years...the Glow lingers in the house along with the smell of the cooking oil from the fondue reminding us that Jesus was and is present continuing to pour out His goodness and mercy on us all the days of our lives. 

We just needed to... "look and see..."

Isaiah long ago wrote:

"Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens:
    Who created all these?
He who brings out the starry host one by one
    and calls forth each of them by name.
Because of his great power and mighty strength,
    not one of them is missing.

²⁷ Why do you complain, Jacob?
    Why do you say, Israel,
“My way is hidden from the Lord;
    my cause is disregarded by my God”?

 
²⁸ Do you not know?
    Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
    the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
    and his understanding no one can fathom.
²⁹ He gives strength to the weary
    and increases the power of the weak." (NIV)

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EACH ONE OF YOU THIS SEASON

November 17th 2020

 

¹² Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, and patience, ¹³ forbearing one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. ¹⁴ And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. ¹⁵ And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teach and admonish one another in all wisdom, and sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God. ¹⁷ And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Colossians 3.12-17

Future "Top Gun"

 Eat your heart out Tom Cruise! Halloween 2020

 AKA:  Easton

Blessed beyond measure!

Fifty three years ago this beautiful little blond showed up at the Moorhead Pool with Cindy Anderson Kranz. Little did I know that we would celebrate 50 years of marriage on Friday 07.10.2020. We were married at Trinity Lutheran on Friday 07.10.70  It was 95 degrees without air conditioning. With sweat dripping from our noses we repeated our vows as Pastor Paul Hanson lead us. We had to get married on Friday because we had to be back to teach swimming lessons on Monday at Barnesville and Hawley. Short honeymoon to Winnipeg, Bemidji and back. It has been a great journey together and Lois thinks we should shoot for 30 more...Uff da! I would be 103 and not sure I'd know what I had for lunch that day. We are blessed beyond measure. "God's goodness and mercy has followed us all the days of our lives."

May 11, 2020 Reflecting on my North Dakota Roots

When you say North Dakota, you will get a variety of responses from folks.
Love it or leave it seems to be the most frequent.

I love North Dakota. There I said it.

 The "smell of sage and a meadow lark calling" in the distance is mesmerizing to say the least.

The sunset in the west with its brilliant colors can take your breath away.

The cold wind out of the north at twenty plus below allows the snow to make a "squeaking sound" under your boots as you walk. There is no cleaner or fresher air than on a very cold winter day with the bright sun shining in ND.

Getting on your horse as the sun is starting to set in the west allowing you to enjoy the dusk drop around you. It is quiet except for the morning doves who flutter up along the path. Your mount snorts a bit but you keep moving around the farm eventually ending up in the yard. You well up with gratitude for all that God has given you to enjoy in this beautiful land called North Dakota.

You hear the cattle moving about behind the barn early in the morning with an occasional bleat or beller to let you know they are ready to be milked.

The smell of hay in the barn wafts across the yard as you walk toward the barn.

You hear a chicken or two feeding nearby. The dog barks. The cats run about waiting for you to milk.

The caves are getting bigger and soon will be fully grown. Little do they know that the will go to market soon.

The separator is running smoothly in the milk room as you carry in another big milk can. There will be fresh cream and milk in the fridge tonight. Put some cream in your coffee and watch it swirl around a bit. Spread that creamy butter on some toast tonight.

North Dakota shaped my life in ways.

I will be heading to ND this summer.

Need a ND fix!

April 8th, 2020 Gentle Healer

Twelve years ago, on April 16th I was in the doctor’s office. I heard these words, "I think you have a lymphoma." Words that no one really wishes to hear: "Stage 4 Mantle Cell lymphoma, poor survival rate." 

After aggressive treatment including a stem cell transplant, I went in to full remission. The numbers at the time were pointing to survival of about 3-5 years. Needless to say, after almost 12 years I'm still here. The why and how are a mystery. 

All I know is that Jesus the Healer spared my life for such a time as this. I'm a survivor and grateful to all who helped make this possible. I believe that medicine and medical research has been key to my survival. God has given men and women the gift to create and administer many treatments to bring healing to our bodies. Thank you to them for the gift of continued health I enjoy.

There was a song written that keeps bring me home to what I believe to be central to the daily healing I enjoy. No one has tomorrow. So daily I thank and ask for continued healing no matter what tomorrow might bring. I have been and am in the Hands of The Healer. I am not afraid. Fear drains us of the joy we might find in today. 

I read today that we might never shake hands again. How about hugging? Kissing our loved ones? Really? When we meet again I will not be afraid. Hug me, hold me and kiss me if you wish. Human touch is a healing balm we all need. Be gentle and kind. 

Harsh words or messages on TV warn us of impending doom. I have turned off the TV and dug deeper into the Word of God. I have faced death face-to-face in 2008 and will not accept that the Gentle Healer has not or will not come to our towns and villages. He is present and powerful right now. Have faith in His power and presence as we face this season in all our lives. Come to Jesus and have no fear my friends.

Jim Elliot Quote: "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."

Gentle Healer

Selah

The gentle healer came into our town today
He touched blind eyes and the darkness left to stay
But more than the blindness
He took their sins away
The gentle healer came into our town today

The gentle healer came
Into our town today
He spoke one word that was all he had to say
And one who had dies just rose up straight away

The gentle healer came into our town today

Oh he seems like just an ordinary man
With dirty feet and rough but gentle hands
But the words he says are hard to understand
Yet he seems like just an ordinary man

The gentle healer
He left our town today
I just looked around and found he'd gone away
Some folks from town who followed him
They say
The gentle healer is the truth, the life, the way
The gentle healer is the truth, the life, the way

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Card Michael J

Gentle Healer lyrics © Birdwing Music, Mole End Music, Emi Christian Music Publis Obo Birdwing Music (1051), Emi Christian Music Pub Obo Mole End Music

Daily Reading for such a time as this

Assurance of God’s Protection

91 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High,
    who abides in the shadow of the Almighty,
² will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress;
    my God, in whom I trust.”
³ For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler
    and from the deadly pestilence;
⁴ he will cover you with his pinions,
    and under his wings you will find refuge;
    his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
⁵ You will not fear the terror of the night,
    nor the arrow that flies by day,
⁶ nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
    nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.

⁷ A thousand may fall at your side,
    ten thousand at your right hand;
    but it will not come near you.
⁸ You will only look with your eyes
    and see the recompense of the wicked.

⁹ Because you have made the Lord your refuge,^[a]
    the Most High your habitation,
¹⁰ no evil shall befall you,
    no scourge come near your tent.

¹¹ For he will give his angels charge of you
    to guard you in all your ways.
¹² On their hands they will bear you up,
    lest you dash your foot against a stone.
¹³ You will tread on the lion and the adder,
    the young lion and the serpent you will trample under foot.

¹⁴ Because he cleaves to me in love, I will deliver him;
    I will protect him, because he knows my name.
¹⁵ When he calls to me, I will answer him;
    I will be with him in trouble,
    I will rescue him and honor him.
¹⁶ With long life I will satisfy him,
    and show him my salvation.

Footnotes:

1. Psalm 91:9 Cn: Heb Because thou, Lord, art my refuge; you have made

Revised Standard Version (RSV) Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1946, 1952, and 1971 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

How would you like to wake up every morning with this little one!

Almost every morning since July Lois and I have had the privilege of waking up to Lindsay calling out "Grandma!" or "Grandpa!".

Whitney and Colin have sold their home and purchased another. They moved into our lower level in July. It has been a multi-generational family experience that one rarely has these days. We have been blessed to hear the stories of the day from Easton and Gus.

Oh there are times when the decibels might reach high levels but the joy of having them in our home out weighs the noise.

We have expanded our TV menu to Peppa Pig, Mickey Mouse Club House, Teen Titans Go, Phineas and Ferb only to mention a few.

Family meals have been special. That's where we learn more about the day that was.

Late November they will move to their new home in Plymouth. It will be an exciting day for them and bitter sweet for us.

Love them all dearly.

In memory of Helen and Lester Drege 09.29.2019

In memory of Helen and Lester Drege: (Helen’s service was this past Saturday in Rugby, ND. She was 97 years young!)

Helen and Lester Drege were such good friends of my parents, Olga and Merwyn Ostrem. Yes, they were relatives but much more. Mom would wait for Helen’s Christmas greeting and if it was delayed for some reason she would call to check in with Helen and Lester. That’s what family does.

When Aunt Della Ostrem’s funeral service was held the winter temps in Rugby had dropped to -50 below zero without the wind chill. If you know North Dakota there is always a wind. They were reporting -90 degree wind chill at the Minot Airforce Base an hour away from Rugby. Our family was staying at the local motel and my truck was frozen solid. Lester came to the rescue and helped us get to the funeral service plus arrange for the truck to be thawed out. What gracious folks we were blessed to have as relatives. 

When my Mother, Bonita and I traveled together to Rugby, it would be one of the last times Mom visited Helen in her home. Helen was gracious as ever. 

When I think of Rugby and my Grandmother Gemina (Drege, Ostrem, Fossum) I always remember our visits to Ada and Sievert Drege’s home. Sievert and Gemina were brother and sister. I never had the opportunity to know my grandfather Anton Ostrem. I came to know a little about my grandfather as I listened to Sievert and Grandma reminisce about Anton. 

Helen and Sievert’s son Allen Drege (Lester’s brother) was a folk hero in the Ostrem household. He was known for such beautiful music he provided for so many.

Life has a way of pulling us apart from family. I wish we would have had more days and memories as kids to share as families. Maybe our memories are yet to come in the years ahead. Only God knows.

May God give us a perfect joy in knowing that our parents gave us faith, hope and love!