Pastor Robert Lange served as campus pastor at the Lutheran Chapel of Hope at Southeast Missouri State University where I went to college. My friend Jerry had introduced me to the campus center as we called it. Games of hearts and spades, Bible studies and conversations, sometimes-disgusting frozen dinners and deep friendships were part of my experience there. I was confirmed there. I met Diane there and we were married there. When I was confirmed Pastor Lange gave me the verse from Matthew 11:28 as my confirmation verse. When I was ordained there, his text was that same passage. It’s hard to believe that was 45 years ago.

Today marks that 45 year milestone. I am deeply aware of the incredible privilege I’ve had over the years. Serving churches in Utah, Colorado, Arkansas, and now Texas has been a journey of joy, tears, challenges, breakthroughs, and deep and lasting relationships. We still occasionally connect with friends from those congregations. Some have stood by us in great stress. Some in joyful celebration. The constant is that Jesus’ message of grace and truth has been the glue that holds us together. 

Jesus’ grace and truth is so vital because I stand with Paul as a sinner in need of God’s grace. It is essential because it is the treasure that fills me – clay jar that I am. It is refreshing because the yoke of Jesus is easy and the burden is light. It is a blessing because Jesus’ truth centers me and his grace sustains me. 

I’m also with Paul when he says, “I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service.” (1 Timothy 1:12) That judgment is a gift of extreme grace. I am ever more aware of my continuing need for God’s grace. I am ever more thankful for his mercy. I am ever more thankful for the privilege of serving as a pastor. And I am ever more content in hearing people praise God for his love and mercy, Jesus’ gentleness and lowliness, his invitation rest and calling, and God’s grace and truth.

Leland Milo Hamilton was an American sportscaster, best known for calling play-by-play for seven different Major League Baseball teams from 1953 to 2012. That’s 59 years of baseball play-by-play broadcasting. He was 85 years old when he finally retired. I’m not sure I have 13 more years of active ministry ahead of me. No one knows when his last day will come. But Milo is a sort of hero for me. I’d love to be in the game for many more years to come. I hope, also, to do so as a clay jar, filled with the riches of God’s grace, and spilling it out as much as possible, so that people will say, “May the name of the Lord be praised!”