God Sightings by Rev. John Knutson

Edited by John A Daly

GOD SIGHTINGS

ExperiencingGodin EverydayLife

TRUE

EVIDENCE OF A GOD SIGHTING IS NOT THE EVENT ITSELF, BUT THE LIFE GOD HAS NOW CHANGED The

forever

Introduction

This booklet isn’t about God finding a parking space for you. It’s also not about some secret way of getting God to do what you want. I’m sharing these stories so you and others might know how God continues to act through “God sightings” in our everyday lives.

I was brought up in a Lutheran family in Wisconsin and went to church almost every Sunday. As a youth, I remember thinking the altar was the box God must live in We had a communion rail that appeared to separate the congregation safely from God, with the pastor and the acolyte behind it. Sometimes, I wondered what sort of harm may happen if one entered this “Holy of Holies” place without wearing a robe

I said my “Now I lay me down to sleep” prayer each night, and especially looked forward to Vacation Bible School each summer. I never cared much for Confirmation when I was older. I remember a pastor one day hollering at us from the pulpit, saying God had a plan for each of our lives That afternoon, while getting dressed to go out and do chores, I prayed, “God, you can have me do anything you want, but just don’t ask me to be a pastor.”

Fast forward to today when I’m completing my 36th year as a Lutheran pastor, which continues to be such a joy!

My understanding of a “God in the box” relationship changed significantly after my 15th birthday. My mother had been having stomach issues and went in for routine gall bladder surgery. I’ll never forget the look on my dad’s face when the telephone rang, and he was told to come to the hospital quickly as there were “problems ”

Mom had cancer throughout her liver. She died 13 days later at the age of 35. This changed my life

By experiencing God’s love through our pastor, our congregation, our family, and my mother’s faithful nurse, I began to see that belief could be an active life of faith. At the age of 20, as described in the story “Stranded,” I went to rescue some friends who had gotten involved as staff at a Christian Reform School. Instead, I was the one rescued, as my faith was challenged, then came alive in a whole new way.

Some folks may dislike these stories and accuse me of promoting a “Santa Clause God” who gives out gifts to those who ask in the just the right way. I don’t know the right way and most of these experiences weren’t answers to prayers. Believe me, I’ve had my share of loss, “unanswered prayers”, and even depression I don’t have any special faith In fact, my spiritual gift is to get in over my head, then let God’s Holy Spirit bail my butt out.

“You need to slow down enough to connect to God and open your eyes.”

Over the years, I wrote down just a line when I would experience a God Sighting and kept the list in my Bible. During difficult times, I’ve pulled out that list, and have been quickly reminded God is with me now, just as in the past God is still faithful. The true evidence of a God sighting (or miracle) is not the event itself, but the life God has now changed forever.

Recently in a sermon, I asked the congregation, “How many of you love watching falling stars?” Almost every hand went up. Then I asked, “How many of you love to get up at 2 a.m., in the middle of the winter, and drive out into the darkness of the country so you can watch falling stars?” Hardly any hands went up Fortunately, to experience God sightings you don’t have to get up and go to a special place at a certain time. However, you do need to at least slow down enough to connect to God and open your eyes. My prayer is for you to slow down, connect with God, and start seeing God at work all around you

I hope you find your own bit of inspiration. Who knows? It may start with an open parking space.

May God bless you. <><

HERE’S MY FAITH STORY

I dedicate this to my lovely wife, Diane, who is my daily God Sighting.

CHAPTER 1

STRANDED

Never would I have imagined a life like this. After my mother died from cancer at just 35 years old (when I was 15), I had all but convinced myself that I would meet the same fate at roughly the same age. With life feeling short, I tried to live it in the fast lane.

I kept busy, working long hours. And just before my 20th birthday, I received a promotion. I managed a dozen employees (some of them three times my age) at a twocounty cooperative that tested milk for butterfat. I was able to buy a house on a fouracre lot with a barn and double-garage. There, I rented out rooms to friends. Our house became known as the “Volga Hotel”.

Volga is a small community just outside of Amery in Northwest Wisconsin that had a post office, store, two-room schoolhouse, and creamery, which all no longer exist.

The rent money paid the mortgage, which freed me up to buy “toys” like snowmobiles and a nice car. Our house had an improvised dumbwaiter to hoist beer up to the second floor and the dining room was sometimes occupied by a motorcycle in some state of repair. I still went to church at times, but it had become more habit than real devotion.

My family had gone through other big changes shortly after my mother died. It had doubled in size! There were now nine children, the original four having been joined by five stepbrothers and sisters when my father remarried. Our home had one regular size and four small bedrooms, one tiny bathroom with a tub, and a “two-holer” outhouse for the 11 of us. Our next-door neighbors (1/2 mile away) also had nine children, so when we’d all get together, it was quite an event.

Two of those neighbor kids, Maureen and Colleen, had always been a lot of fun to be around, but it had been some time since I’d seen them. They were now living at Peniel Christian School, which was sort of a Christian reform school. I had heard through the grapevine they had both become “very religious”.

One day, out of curiosity (and some concern), I decided to hop into my car (a 1975 jacked-up Chevy Vega with gleaming chrome tires and 60s-wide tires) and head over for a visit — you know, to make sure Maureen and Colleen were okay, and hadn’t been swept up into some kind of cult.

I was taken back by the scene I pulled up to about an hour later. Roughly 40 youth from all over the country were living in a two-story house and two doublewides. The children ranged from 8 to 17 years old. I soon found out each had their own story of hardship, like running away, being abandoned, getting caught up in drugs, or joining a gang. For many of them, this ministry was their last chance to turn things around before going to a lock-down unit.

Yet, optimism was everywhere.

The staff and kids were all very friendly and welcoming, and I was invited to join a group that was about to go bowling. I accepted, and we all loaded into a van. It was then I learned no vehicle ever left the property, or even moved an inch, until someone first prayed for a safe journey. I had never seen anything like that before.

We had a great time bowling, and I noticed the leaders had a way of sprinkling conversations with terms like “blessing”, “faith”, and “Praise the Lord”.

When we returned to the school, we all had supper together in a large room attached to one of the doublewides. By this time, I had been assured my friends were fine. Yet, I still felt enough out-of-place that I was ready to go home.

I thanked everyone for the fun time and told them I needed to go back, but they encouraged me to stay for a movie they were about to watch in their big room. I thought about it for a bit, and figured since it was still early, I could hang out for another two hours and still get back home at a decent time.

To this day, I can’t remember which movie it was, but I’ll never forget my shock when it ended and I opened the door to step outside, only to discover a freak ice-storm had struck. Over those two hours, the entire ground had been covered with at least a quarter inch of ice! I could barely make it down the steps of the big room, and when I shuffled over to my frozen car, it was clear that my fat tires weren’t going anywhere.

The warm hospitality at the school continued, as I was invited to stay overnight in the boys’ house with their counselor. Thankfully, they had an extra bunk upstairs. The boys all got ready for bed, and when I crawled onto my bunk, I heard someone reading the Bible for a devotion. Afterwards, as part of a nightly ritual, each boy took a turn saying a short prayer. When it was my turn, I worried it might seem odd if I said, “Now I lay me down to sleep” or the Lord’s Prayer, so I clumsily came up with something on the spot.

As they all drifted off to sleep, a flood of thoughts overwhelmed me. I found myself saying more prayers, this time silently. My last prayer that night was, “Oh God, if You’re real, please help me have a faith like this.”

I slept like a baby. November 19, 1977. It was a day I’ll never forget.

The next morning, I had breakfast with the group and went to worship with them at a nearby Lutheran church. For a change, I wasn’t fighting off sleep during the service, and found the pastor’s sermon very powerful.

I went home with a hunger in my soul. I feverishly searched for my old Confirmation Bible and looked up the only two verses I knew: Psalm 23 and John 3:16. I also looked for where it was written that Jesus is “the way, the truth and the life”.

Everything changed after that trip to Peniel. My speech and priorities were different. I began praying regularly, and looked forward to when I could go to church. In addition to our local Balsam Lutheran church, I found myself attending a Baptist Bible study and eventually a Pentecostal worship service at the old Volga two-room schoolhouse right next door.

I saw the light of God in a whole new way, and my life would never be the same.

MY LAST PRAYER THAT NIGHT WAS, “OH GOD, IF YOU’RE REAL, PLEASE HELP ME HAVE A FAITH LIKE THIS.”

(l-r) John and Jim Knutson, October 1, 1966

CHAPTER 2

I GET IT

I was in love. Not with a person, but with my car.

Between a good paying management job, and renting out rooms at the Volga Hotel, I could put down a payment on what became my pride and joy: a ’76 Plymouth Arrow 200 GS (Sapparo model).

She was light blue, with one of the first overhead consoles, and I was fixing her up nice. I had big plans for air-shocks to lift the back end, as well as a chrome-wheel upgrade with wide tires. And, since I’d put Christian decals on the car, I figured it was also a bit of a witness.

One day in late November, I arrived home from work in Balsam Lake to find three letters from the bank waiting in my mailbox. Yellow in color behind the clear address window, they looked kind of serious — perhaps something other than deposit slips or statements. When I opened the first, I was shocked to discover it was an overdraft. The other two were as well. I had written checks that my account-balance couldn’t cover. Now I was being charged extra money?

I was mortified. Here I was, a business manager who couldn’t even manage his personal checkbook!

I prayed to God, asking for His forgiveness and to remove whatever it was that had gotten in the way of our relationship and my faithfulness.

As a manager, I had the ability to write out advances to employees when they needed them, which would then be deducted from their paycheck. But I had never written out one for myself. That evening, unfortunately, I would need to. I headed back to the office.

My next stop, with check and deposit in hand, was the bank. It was dark and snowing lightly by then. As I drove down the highway, not far from my house, I suddenly spotted a tractor parked on the road directly in front of me. It had no lights or reflectors, and it was coming up fast.

My heart racing, I steered hard to the left, trying to avoid it… but it wasn’t enough. With a loud crash, the front of my car caught the rear of the tractor, spinning me around. The Plymouth’s passenger corner was caved in almost up to the windshield. Both vehicles were totaled, the tractor having been broken in two.

Like an idiot, I hadn’t even been wearing my seat belt. But thanks to God, other than a little glass and a small cut on my head, I was fine.

Everything was now eerily quiet as I sat in the wrecked Plymouth. I felt God’s peace, and I said a short prayer.

“I get it.”

My neighbor Jerry later apologized. The tractor belonged to him, and it had stalled earlier on the road. He had gone to remove it, but got distracted and forgot it was still there.

The insurance of $4,000 was enough to pay off what I owed on the car. I even had enough left over to buy an old station wagon, which was much better for my work… and my ego.

“PRAYED TO GOD, ASKING FOR HIS FORGIVENESS AND TO REMOVE WHATEVER IT WAS THAT HAD GOTTEN IN THE WAY OF OUR RELATIONSHIP AND MY FAITHFULNESS.”

CHAPTER 3

IMPOSSIBLE!

After a while, my manager job had lost its thrill. I looked much more forward to working with church groups, and I continued to visit Peniel Christian School.

One day, I finally felt the nudge to resign from my position at the Cooperative, and become a volunteer counselor at the school. I went from making over $1,000 a month (which was pretty good for those days) to a monthly allowance of about $20, along with free room and board.

It was a stretching time of faith.

I was one of two counselors in a two-story building that housed 16 boys. We were always on the alert for fights, drugs, shoplifting and the occasional runaway. Most of the youth had already been in trouble with the law, and their parents were at their wit’s end trying to control them. While each boy had his own unique story, they also had a number of things in common. It was amazing to witness faith and prayer work miracles in their lives.

One boy, however, was not like the others. I’ll call him “Billy.” For peace of mind, as well as his safety, he stayed in a doublewide with the director’s family and several other boys. Billy was brought to the school because he had failed to thrive. He had no hobbies, nor anything that excited him. His skin was pale, his voice was soft and monotone, and we never saw him smile. The plan, or at least the hope, was some of the rowdy rebelliousness boys might rub off on him and bring him some life.

Around the 4th of July, I joined with Jim (the other counselor) to take a dozen boys to a Minnesota Twins/Texas Rangers game in the Twin Cities. Having never been to a game before, the boys were very excited. Well, at least everyone other than Billy.

Most of the boys had brought gloves, hoping to catch a baseball during the game. They begged Jim and me to get them there early, as they knew about the batting practice taking place beforehand. We obliged, and soon found our cheap seats in the outfield.

It was a sunny, blistering hot day. Nothing too exciting happened during the practice, and by the time the game started, the boys were getting a bit restless. We’d already eaten, but looking to soothe the situation, Jim offered to take the group to get some ice-cream. Eight boys went with him, and I stayed with the other four. One of them was Billy, who sat right next to me.

Buddy Bell was up to bat for the Texas Rangers. He took a big swing and connected hard with the ball. It soared high in the air and seemed to be headed our way. Everyone around us was suddenly on their feet, arms stretched to the sky.

I looked up and saw the ball bounce off one glove to our left and then another glove to our right and drop right into Billy’s open hands that rested on his lap. He had never even gotten out of his seat!

Billy held the ball, looking at it. A warm smile formed on his face.

The other boys and I watched in disbelief as strangers swarmed him, congratulating him and celebrating his home-run catch. Jim soon arrived back with the rest of the group.

“Billy caught a home run!” shouted the boys who’d witnessed it.

The returning boys couldn’t believe it. “Impossible!” one of them said.

But that day, the impossible had become possible.

As the rest of the group took their seats, even the popular boys asked Billy if they could touch the ball. It was humorous and heart-warming at the same time. After we got home, Billy would even let some of the boys have the ball in their room overnight… for a small price.

I can’t say Billy was “healed” that day, but his life was changed, and so was mine.

Out of everyone in the stadium, it’s hard to imagine anyone who was less likely, but more needing, to catch that ball.

God had delivered him a home run. God had delivered him the impossible.

CHAPTER 4

VISITORS

I was fortunate to be spending my internship (third year of a four-year seminary degree) serving All Saint’s Lutheran in Wakefield, Michigan. The Upper Peninsula of Michigan was so beautiful, and I couldn’t wait to share it with my sister and her husband! I had three sights in store for their planned visit: the gorgeous Black River Harbor to the west, the Lake of the Clouds (up in the Porkies about an hour to the east), and an Upper Peninsula sunset.

Judy and Phil arrived on a Friday, which gave us all day Saturday to explore.

Before I laid out my itinerary, I asked them if there was anything special they wanted to do. Much to my disappointment, they wanted to go to Ashland, Wisconsin which was an hour to the east, to see a mutual friend of ours. Rocco was a YMCA camp friend, and he was going to school there.

I quickly suggested we see Black River Harbor first, since it was on the way west to Ashland. The rest of my plans would have to wait. We were unable to get ahold of Rocco by phone, but Judy and Phil had his address.

We had a great time checking out Black River Harbor, and then continued west on U.S. 2 toward Ashland. That’s when the strangest thing happened. As we neared the city of Ironwood, we passed a hitchhiker headed in the opposite direction. “I think that was Rocco!” said Phil.

“THE REST OF MY PLANS WOULD HAVE TO WAIT.”

We turned around and pulled up to the man. Sure enough, it was Rocco! He was even more surprised to see us than we were him. We asked where he was headed, and he said he was planning to camp out at the Lake of the Clouds (the second stop on my original itinerary). It was miraculous! We not only got to see him, but also gave him a ride to the lake, where the four of us enjoyed sharing the experience and sights together.

A long day was coming to an end as Judy, Phil, and I pulled back into Wakefield. We were hungry, and I knew the perfect place for a fish fry in nearby Bessemer. When we got to the restaurant, however, there was a long line and quite a wait-time. Still, we figured it was easier to wait our turn than to try and find another place to eat. Time crawled by, but our names were eventually called, and a waitress escorted us to the only open table at the busy eatery.

It was next to a window… facing west.

“Look at that sunset!” my sister said moments later.

It was beautiful.

CHAPTER 5

JUST DREAMS

JUST DREAMS

While attending the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago for seminary, I’d taken some classes at the nearby Catholic Theological Union. CTU needed students to serve as volunteers for other students who were studying to become Spiritual Directors. It sounded like a great opportunity, so I answered the call.

I was matched up with Joseph, a student from India. One of the things Joseph loved to work with was dreams. He’d have me record mine, which helped me pay closer attention to them. Some of my dreams revealed anxiety being worked out, while others had no apparent meaning at all. A number of them, however, were quite helpful.

I had hoped to be a pastor in Wisconsin. I loved the area, my family lived there, and I knew a lot of people. A number of my classmates desired to get calls in Colorado, but those openings were few and far between.

When I graduated from seminary in 1987, I discovered the only call (church opening) in the Wisconsin-Upper Michigan area was in Luck, Wisconsin. My Grandma Landahl and I both had ties there, and the Synod staff agreed it probably wouldn’t be the best place for me to get started. With my then-wife Judith taking classes until the end of the summer, I decided to work on the school’s summer crew, landscaping and painting seminary apartments while hoping more callpositions would open up.

In the call process, congregations looking for pastors fill out a form that includes information about their ministry and the type of pastor they feel the Spirit is guiding them toward. Similarly, pastors and seminary graduates fill out a form that includes their background, along with the type of congregation they feel called to serve.

That summer, my friend Mike (from the paint crew) received a phone call from the bishop in Colorado. The bishop asked him if he’d be interested in putting his name in at First Lutheran, a small parish in Ault, Colorado. Mike would have jumped at the opportunity, but he was already in the process of interviewing with a church in North Dakota. When the bishop asked if he knew anyone else who might be a good fit, Mike gave him my name.

Soon, I was the last of seven individuals being considered at First Lutheran. Their Call Committee interviewed me over the phone and invited me to come out for a visit… as their top choice! (Amusingly, I found out later the chair of the committee had kept my picture hidden from the group until after I had talked with them over the phone, due to my long hair and beard.)

I had a series of dreams after the phone interview. One dream was about going out to see Dave and Diane, my only two classmates who received calls in Colorado. Another was of Greg, the chair of the committee, repeatedly “calling” — trying to get ahold of me by phone. The last was of Judith and I flying out to Colorado, and a white minivan picking us up at the airport.

Soon after, in real life, when we walked out of the Denver airport and were picked up by a white minivan, I had a pretty good feeling things were going to work out. And they did.

In November, we were preparing to move from our apartment at seminary to the church’s parsonage in Ault. We had called a nearby U-Haul office, and described to them what all we had, as well as the size of our apartment. They recommended a 15foot-long truck, which we reserved.

Shortly after, I had a dream. In it, the truck was too small, and the group of folks helping us move ran out of room. We had to decide whether to rent a second truck, or move everything out of the first truck, and into a larger one. It was chaos! I was so relieved when I woke up and realized it was only a dream.

mmittee had kept my he group until after I ver the phone, due to and beard.”

On the morning of the move, a friend dropped me off at the U-Haul office. The plan was for me to pick up the truck while our friends began moving things out of our apartment and down to the street to load. To my dismay, the office was an absolute zoo. There was a huge line, with lots of people coming and going. After a while, I was told that the 15-foot truck had mechanical problems and was out of commission. The good news was the manager had found a 14-footer to replace it; the bad news was he realized soon after, someone else had reserved it. Next came the promise a 17-footer would show up any minute.

As time crawled by, I was making phone calls to assure our friends, even as the street-side pile of furniture and other belongings outside our apartment grew and grew, that I would eventually arrive with a truck. As the U-Haul crowd gradually thinned out, to the point there were few people left. I continued to wait.

Suddenly, a huge 24-foot truck showed up, and the manager shouted, “That truck’s mine!” He apologized for the wait, and said he’d rent me the much larger truck at the same price as the one I’d originally reserved.

Imagine my embarrassment when I finally pulled up (to a round of applause) behind our old apartment in such an enormous vehicle. I felt better however, when the last of our stuff went into the truck… and it was completely filled!

The dream had come true, and God had acted on it… even when I hadn’t.

“God had acted on it even when I hadn’t.”

CHAPTER 6

MORE DREAMS

Serving as the pastor of First Lutheran in Ault, Colorado was an amazing experience.

I remember sometimes sitting at my desk in the office over those first six months and thinking, “I have no idea what I’m doing,” but the congregation was an absolute gift in the way they trained, encouraged, and supported me in my early stages of being a pastor.

After about five years, I began to feel like it was time for me to move on, so I let folks know I was looking for a new call. Still, I was conflicted. After my name wasn’t selected at another congregation, I questioned whether it truly was time. I felt similar uncertainty after a senior pastor at a large congregation asked if I was interested in becoming their associate pastor. Ultimately, I decided to stay at First.

About a year later, however, I had two dreams that once again urged me to consider a new call.

The first dream was the house my then-wife and I lived in was picked up by a hay crane, carried over the mountains, and then dropped back to earth.

I knew plenty about unloading hay. On the farm we’d first stack the bales on a wagon, usually 80-100 per load, levels of 20 bales each. In the haymow (the floor above where we milked the cows), we would use ropes and pullies to lower a steel frame that attached to 10 bales at a time. Then an electric motor would pull the 10 bales straight up. Once they hit a rail, they’d be moved to the back of the haymow until the motor was shut off and the bales were released.

The second dream also had to do with changing locations.

In addition to my pastoral duties in Ault, I had become a volunteer firefighter/EMT with the Ault-Pierce Fire Department. I also did some part-time work as an EMT with the Weld County Ambulance Service. At the time, I had one of our department’s five portable two-way radios. In my dream, I was now living in a place similar to Estes Park (the gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park), but was too far away to reach our Greeley Dispatch people with my radio.

However, it was more than just dreams.

Another strange occurrence happened that fall. The youth at our church put together a float to promote our congregation at the Highland Fall Festival. On the back of a small wagon, they had painted a beautiful brick church across a huge piece of cardboard. Interestingly, the church had pine trees in front of it, and a river to its left. It was not First Lutheran! We didn’t have pine trees up front, and the nearest river was at least 15 miles away. After the parade, I was going to throw the painting away, but the youth insisted I keep it. So, the painting sat at the front of our garage, where I saw it every time I pulled our car in or out.

In November, I was notified that I was one of two individuals selected to interview for a pastor position at Christ the King church in Durango, Colorado. Durango is a small, beautiful city on the Western Slope (not far from Mesa Verde National Park and the Four Corners).

Like in my dreams, it was on the other side of the Rockies — a place where my portable radio wouldn’t reach. And having driven through Durango on the way to Mesa Verde once with a friend from seminary, I remembered later how the city felt a lot like Estes Park.

On the day of the interview, I pulled up to Christ the King for the first time. I couldn’t help but notice the beautiful pine trees in front of the building. Also, on the other side of a trailer park to the left of the church, I couldn’t miss the Animas River.

I had a good feeling about this call, but God had it figured out all along. This was the place I was privileged to serve for the next 18 years.

“It was more than just dreams.”

EVEN THIS?

Going through a divorce is difficult, but when you’re a pastor who counsels couples, it can make you feel like a total failure. That was me, and at times I felt like I had a big “D” tattooed on my forehead. I wondered, having made the wrong decision about who to marry, how I could trust myself to ever make other important decisions.

My then-wife and I sent a letter to the entire Christ the King congregation explaining how we had tried to save our marriage with hard work and counseling, and we were sorry. We told them there wasn’t a hero and a goat, but we were both goats. Much to their credit, they were very understanding and supportive.

I let the congregation know, if the divorce damaged the congregation’s ministry, I would be gone immediately. I put myself on probation; and wouldn’t even consider dating anyone.

One year became two, and I had grown very lonely. I realized even the shut-ins I visited had more active social lives than me.

It’s hard for a pastor to meet someone.

There was still hope. A singles’ Bible study sponsored by another congregation was being held at a local Christian bookstore. I figured I could at least meet some other singles with faith. I had a hard time making myself show up. Twice I drove over to attend, but each time lost my nerve at the last minute, kept right on driving.

The third time was the charm, and I’m glad it was. I found the study very helpful and the singles very inviting.

Once a month, the group had a social where they would go out to eat or participate in an activity. The first one I went to was a gathering on the back patio of a local restaurant. I made sure not to get there too early, and when I arrived, there was one open seat next to someone I’d never met.

Her name was Diane.

Diane and I talked, and I soon learned she was a municipal judge and lawyer, and also had a six-year-old son. One more thing: she was beautiful. I’m not sure what happened with my food order, but it wasn’t ready when everyone else’s was. My food wouldn’t come for another 30 minutes, but Diane shared her supper with me.

Later that week, I asked a friend of hers if I could get her phone number. When the friend got back to me, I learned that Diane had said… “No.”

I had been part of the Bible study group for about nine months when I was invited to be on their softball team. My usual position was out in Left Field, and I was pretty excited that a certain someone kept showing up in Left Center. Diane and I talked while we waited for fly balls to come our way, and I finally got her phone number.

“I figured things could only get better from there… and they did.”

There was just one problem. Whenever I asked her out on a date, she always had a reason for not being able to go. The last excuse she gave was that she was in the process of moving to another house in Durango.

I told her, “If she ever got desperate enough to need help moving”, she could give me a call.

To my surprise, it worked! Her call came about a week later. There was a ton of legal files needing to be moved to her parents’ garage, and they had to be kept together in order.

It was great to finally spend time with Diane as we loaded the files into the back of my Jeep. When we arrived at her parents’ later that night to unload them, her father — a retired Marine Colonel — walked into the garage, took one look at my beard and long hair, and said, “You look just like the Uni-bomber!”

I figured things could only get better from there… and they did.

On Thanksgiving Day of that year, I asked Diane to marry me, and she said yes. We set our wedding day for Easter Sunday afternoon, and began planning.

We picked out a wedding dress we both liked from a catalogue. Unfortunately, it wasn’t available in Diane’s size. A friend in Durango — a very gifted seamstress — offered to make the dress, but she couldn’t get the material. She was sure we could get it at fabric store in a larger city.

We had plans to visit family after Christmas and see my best friend Harp (from seminary) who lived just outside of Milwaukee. We would check then.

During the visit, Diane and I told Harp and his wife of our mission to hunt down a place that sold the right satin cloth, French lace, and a special button for the front. There were only two fabric stores in the yellow pages, one local and another farther away in Milwaukee.

We checked out the local shop the next morning, and were disappointed to find it was in a strip mall and not very large. We looked for the items with the help of employees, but unfortunately came up empty.

Just as we were leaving, however, the store owner returned from running an errand. She asked us what we were looking for.

The owner’s eyes suddenly got very large. “I’ve got the exact satin cloth and French lace in my car!” she said. “I just picked it up!”

We couldn’t believe it.

Diane mentioned we had everything now except for the button.

“I have that too!” said the owner. “Also, we’re having a sale… so everything will be 55% off.”

Again, we couldn’t believe it.

That we could be so blessed… with even this?

CHAPTER 8

HOW’D SHE KNOW?

As Diane’s parents were getting older, we realized they needed more help. By 2011, it seemed time for a change.

Ed and Rosemary had heard from Ed’s brother that when it came to senior living, it was better to make decisions earlier rather than later. If you were early, you had choices. If you were late, sometimes the choices were gone.

We loved living in Durango, but at the time there were very few senior-living options. I had already told the congregation I felt it was time for me to move on after being there for 17 years, and I was checking out new call possibilities.

Most of the call openings were on the Front Range of Colorado, so we decided Ed and Rosemary would move, then we would follow them once we received a call to a new congregation.

The Front Range was filled with plenty of options for all levels of senior living. After a lot of research and some visits, Diane’s folks decided on a cottage at Balfour Senior Living in Lafayette.

The move went well, and we took some time off after Christmas to go out and see them. On December 31 during our visit, my Durango church’s pager went off. I called the number thinking that someone back in Durango was having an emergency of some kind. I was surprised when the person answering my call was Wilma Cobb.

Wilma had moved to the Front Range several years ago, long before I had announced I would be leaving Durango. I knew her husband was being treated for cancer. We hadn’t spoken since she moved, and I assumed the two had joined another congregation.

“I was just praying and realized you’re close by,” Wilma told me. “Ellis is probably not going to live much longer. Could you come by and pray with us?”

I couldn’t believe it! I asked her how she knew, and she said, “she could feel it”.

I put the address in my phone’s GPS and headed over. We were just 14 miles away. Ellis was failing, but still responsive. We all talked, prayed, and I shared the Lutheran version of the “Last Rites”.

The next day Ellis passed away. Wilma called to let me know of his death and thanked me for the blessing of the visit.

I was the one who was blessed.

Decades of handwritten God’s Miracles original entry 1977

YOURFAITHJOURNEY Grow

TRUST THE HOLY SPIRIT

I don’t have any special faith. In fact, my spiritual gift is to get in over my head, then let God’s Holy Spirit bail my butt out.

SLOW DOWN & LOOK FOR GOD AT WORK

You do need to at least slow down enough to connect to God and open your eyes. My prayer is for you to slow down, connect with God, and start seeing God at work all around you.

FEED YOUR HUNGER

I went home with a hunger in my soul. Everything changed after that trip to the home for children. I saw the light of God in a whole new way, and my life would never be the same.

BELIEVE IN THE IMPOSSIBLE

Out of everyone in the stadium, it’s hard to imagine anyone who was less likely, but more needing, to catch that ball. God had delivered him a home run. God had delivered him the impossible. He can for you too.

GOD IS BIGGER

God is bigger than any one of our theological boxes. My experience is I have a relationship with God through Jesus. I don’t spend time trying to put down others’ beliefs when it comes to faith. I’ll just stick to what I know. Jesus talked about “when I am lifted up” rather than when you put other people down.

CHAPTER 9

VERBATIM

VERBATIM

My dreams are usually very short, and most aren’t remembered. Some are just plain “off the wall.” Others, however, are recurring and dip into pastoral fears like losing my sermon, a worship service in complete chaos, or — believe it or not — forgetting to wear my pants.

On February 13, 2011, I had a dream like none other. It was so powerful and full of detail that I wrote it down on paper the moment I woke up. I then told my wife, Diane that after 17 enjoyable years as the pastor of Christ the King in Durango, I felt it was time to put in my name for a different call.

After some discussion and prayer, I notified the Synod Bishop’s office and filled out my transfer form. I then wrote a letter to the congregation sharing my thanks and inviting their prayers for the call process that could take six months, twelve months, or longer.

This is verbatim (word for word) what I recorded of the dream that morning:

“We’re on a trip with lots of extra stuff and find out that we have bought a new house. We go to check it out. The main door is locked, but a side door is open. There are lots of rooms, at the end of a hall it opens to a huge narthex with purple carpet. We walk down and meet 2 ladies and Clay Skurdahl coming out of the office. Clay says that he helped rally the ‘John Knutson group’. I tell him I hope the congregation votes for me since we already bought the house. I walk down and notice a large sanctuary without pews mostly empty. I figure this is the old sanctuary. I go across and see a newer sanctuary without many chairs. I go further down and hear a choir of 20 is practicing and go in. Then a pastor comes in and tells them to ‘shut-up’ because they’re too loud. They go further from the door and are hurt. I tell them that’s sad and build them up.”

When a pastor is open for a call, it doesn’t mean he or she is actively looking for a certain congregation to go to. In fact, I made it a point to not even glance at the list of congregations in search of a pastor, to keep it from influencing my decision to leave the one I was currently serving. When I put my name in at the Synod Bishop’s office, I shared that I had hoped there would be an opening somewhere on the Front Range, as we wanted to move closer to Diane’s parents who would be moving there.

Pastor Dan Bollman was Assistant to the Bishop in charge of the call process, and he told me of a congregation seeking a solo pastor in Lakewood (a suburb of Denver). After looking over their information, I thought it would be a great match. I agreed to have my name submitted among a list of others.

After a fun phone interview, Diane and I were notified I was one of two candidates, and the Call Committee would like me to come on-site for a face-to-face interview. We enjoyed checking out the church and community, and I thought it would be ideal for us. I felt the interview went well, but after about a week, I received notification the Call Committee had chosen the other candidate.

Soon after, Pastor Dan called with another possibility: Our Savior’s in Greeley, about an hour north of Denver.

I told him (and later Diane) I didn’t feel it would work, being the congregation was only about 15 miles from my first call in Ault. I didn’t want to complicate things, being so close to a former parish I had served. Dan asked me to look over the congregation’s materials and pray about it.

Diane and I reviewed the materials, and the congregation looked like an exciting and challenging opportunity. Diane suggested even if I didn’t want to consider the call, perhaps God might want me to. Dan also encouraged me to put my name in and reassured me I had been away from Ault long enough there wouldn’t be a problem. I agreed to become a candidate.

After a phone interview and the Call Committee watching some videos of me preaching and leading worship, I was notified I was one of two candidates. We were invited to come up to Greeley for a face-to-face interview. We already had a trip planned for Wisconsin after Christmas and New Year’s to see family. So, in January of 2012, we drove from Durango to Denver, flew to Wisconsin, and then drove to Greeley after arriving back at the airport at Denver.

We had taken our pick-up to Denver, since it was the only vehicle we owned with four-wheel-drive. Diane was getting over a fractured kneecap, so we had lots of extra stuff along for the trip.

We met with the Call Committee for an evening gathering, and the formal interviews began the next day. Afterwards, they took us to the church. I hadn’t been there since I had attended pastors’ Bible studies during my time at Ault. The sanctuary was very large and looked tired. There had been quite a bit of conflict and the congregation had gotten quite a bit smaller.

We knew the congregation had a parsonage (a house owned by the church where the pastor’s family could stay as part of the salary). They asked if we would like to see it, and we very much did. Loni, the secretary, got the key and we followed the group over. The front door was locked, and Loni soon realized the key wasn’t working.

A voice from behind me said, “We can go in through the side door.” My jaw about hit the floor.

We walked through the side door in the garage and into the house. The house was large and had bedrooms on each side of the hallway, upstairs and down. The hall downstairs led to a door that pointed toward the church.

Clay Skurdahl hadn’t been on my mind much for about 18 years, but he was a friend of mine who was a pastor in Greeley when I was up in Ault. We sometimes went on hikes together on our days off.

When Diane and I were alone, I reminded her about the dream I’d had, and I told her, “I think this will be the place.” And it was!

The congregation needed healing after much conflict and pain. We didn’t “buy” the parsonage, but we did donate some of our tithe offerings to make some improvements. After four years, I got to see more improvements… beginning with a sanctuary with no pews. The large room was gutted and remodeled with a completely new worship area.

I’m so glad to be where God has called me!

“WHEN DIANE AND I WERE ALONE, I REMINDED HER ABOUT THE DREAM I’D HAD, AND I TOLD HER, “I THINK THIS WILL BE THE PLACE.”

CHAPTER 10

DAD’S GOODBYE

August 2021

DAD’S GOODBYE

Being a Christian or a person of faith does not give anyone an exemption from the trials of this world. In fact, in many ways, being aware of God’s presence can make life more challenging as we are moved to put the needs of others first and share the love of Christ.

On August 7, 2021, Diane and I returned to my home in Amery, Wisconsin to celebrate my aunt’s 80th birthday. The celebration had already been postponed due to COVID, and we debated whether to cancel it again. Most of us were vaccinated and infection numbers in the area were low, so we decided to meet outside, and ask folks to wear masks when we were indoors.

Unfortunately, it rained that day, so we met in a large family room and tried to keep distance from each other.

The day was wonderful, as we were finally able to be together again and celebrate.

About a week later, we discovered that some of my immediate family had gotten sick. Of my parents and eight of us kids, eventually six of us tested positive for COVID. My dad was one of them. He was 87 years old.

He had battled Parkinson’s and neuropathy in his feet, and his world was getting smaller all the time. With the future looking grim, he decided not to be vaccinated and figured if he died of COVID, it would be better than what lie ahead of him.

Dad chose not to pursue any treatment and was able to secure comfort-care at the hospital. Due to COVID protocols, visitation was mostly limited to my mom and sister Judy, who would tag-team.

On August 30, Mom called and told me Dad had asked her if she would be okay, because he didn’t think he would be able to stay around much longer. That night my sister recorded Dad on her phone, thanking us kids for all our help and telling us he loved us.

The next morning, Judy texted me to ask if I could start heading out to Amery. I didn’t know how long I’d be there, so I packed some things, hopped in the pickup, and headed out for the 14-hour drive to Wisconsin from Colorado.

Dad was still alert that morning, but was fading. I was pretty sure I wouldn’t be able to see him, however, I hoped he would know I would be there to help. He was scheduled to be moved that day or the next to the nursing home, where none of us would be able to visit him since he’d be quarantined.

The drive was going well. It was helpful to reflect, listen to podcasts, and view the scenery. About seven hours in, I reached Omaha, Nebraska on Interstate 80. I had just listened to my last podcast, so I turned on my CD player to listen to whatever was in it; I don’t use the CD player much anymore. It happened to be the “Touched by an Angel” album. I listened to a couple songs, and then came the song, “Testify to Love” by Wynonna.

As it played, I recalled how thankful my dad was that he had been adopted by my grandpa. I also remembered the love he shared with my mom (who had died almost 50 years ago), my stepmom, and all nine of us kids.

At the end of the song, I played the track again, and prayed that Dad could go home and be at peace. The tears flowed, and suddenly my cellphone rang. It was my sister’s special ring. I answered.

Judy was by Dad’s bedside and was calling to update me. She told me that he was getting closer to passing. Then she said, “I think we just lost him.”

He had just taken his final breath. She got off the phone, so she could notify the nurse and call Mom.

Sure enough, Dad was at peace… and so was I.

“We'llgivethankstoGodabove ForaslongasIshalllive Iwilltestifytolove” -lyrics,WynonnaJudd

EPILOGUE

Amy Grant was my girlfriend during my college days. In case her name isn’t familiar, Amy is still an amazing contemporary Christian singer, musician, and songwriter who’s won many Dove and Grammy Awards. While at school, when her music would come on the radio, I would get knowing looks from my friends. Sometimes, they would tell others about Amy and me, and send them over to ask me about our relationship. It really wasn’t much of a relationship, however. In fact, it was extremely one-sided. To this day, Amy and I have never met… or talked… or wrote to one another. The day she got engaged to someone else, I called off the relationship!

Sometimes our relationship with God can be like that: very one-sided. Except God is always the One constantly reaching out to us.

My relationship with God started when I was baptized as an infant, grew when I was confirmed, and was lit on fire when I spent that night at a Christian reform school. I felt as if I were finally opening a gift that had been given to me many years earlier.

Your own story is no doubt different, as we each have a story to tell. In the book of Acts and in the Church, the Holy Spirit has all kinds of unique ways of bringing folks to faith. Over the years, I’ve taught many new member classes. I always make it a point to tell each group the Lutheran Church isn’t the best, or the brightest, or the “one true faith.” God is bigger than any one of our theological boxes.

In this light, it’s also a disservice when we think of others as “less than” if they don’t have the exact experiences or belief as we do. There are some who might question whether I’m a Christian or a Lutheran because of some my beliefs. Others hold to beliefs that have only been around since the 1500s or 1800s, as if there were never any “real” believers before then.

But again, God is bigger. If you are a parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, sister or brother, how many of you suspended your love for a child until you saw what that child later did or believed? My parents loved me when I could only cry, eat, sleep and poop. God’s love is much deeper than any parent’s love. God is the one always acting in love.

My experience is I have a relationship with God through Jesus. I don’t spend time trying to put down others’ beliefs when it comes to faith. I’ll just stick to what I know. Jesus talked about “when I am lifted up” rather than when you put other people down.

While I was serving in Durango, we came up with an acronym to help us grow in faith and also experience God’s presence. We urged folks to live a life of PRAISE:

Pray – Each day (and throughout) praying by listening and talking with God.

Read – Setting aside time each day to read the Bible, devotional, and/or spiritual books.

Attend – Making it a priority to attend weekly worship, Sunday School, or a small group.

Invest – Giving significant finances to support the faith and others in need.

Serve – Making sure you are serving your faith group and community with time.

Encourage – Cheering on and inviting others as they grapple with faith, love, and life.

If you make this relationship two-sided, you have a lot better chance of seeing “falling stars”, God sightings, miracles, and the presence of God.

After I started writing some of the experiences in this booklet, I began reading a book called “Miracles” by Eric Metaxas. At one point, he brings up the well-known saying of C.S. Lewis that Jesus can only be either a liar, lunatic or Lord. Because of the things He said and did, you must choose one of those three options. Metaxas says when you hear folks talk of miracles, you also basically have three options. You must decide whether the person is lying to you, is suffering from some mental delusion, or if the experience really happened just as it was shared.

These are all events that happened to me. Most of them were witnessed by others as well. All of them were beyond my control. I can only state what I’ve experienced, but that experience connects me with people of faith throughout the ages.

I pray that you may know God in new and deeper ways. As Ephesians 3:18-19 says, “I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge so that you may be filled with all of the fullness of God.” NRSV God bless you in your exciting journey!

In Christ’s Love,

Pastor John <><

APPENDIX: LIST OF MORE GOD SIGHTINGS

Some years ago, I started a list in my Bible of God sightings that I had experienced. I would just write down a line of notes so I could later recall it.

My original list has 176 of these events so far, but for this publication, I have removed “sightings” that I would categorize more as a blessing, a coincidence, or a response to a shared need. But whenever help shows up at just the right time (whether asked for or not), I still consider it as God at work.

You don’t need to set those same parameters. In fact, I encourage you to be gracious in giving God the credit. You may want to make your own list of God sightings that have happened in the past and watch for those that will happen in the future!

Here’s my list of notes: Stranded at Peniel on 11-19-77 by an ice storm when I wanted to escape in my car with 60’s tires. Overdrafts and car accident with Arrow GS Nov. 1979, owed $3,800 on car and received $4,000. Billy’s home run ball on the 4th of July from Buddy Bell of the Texas Rangers.

Jude and Phil visit, I wanted Black R., Lake in the Clouds, sunset, they see Rocco, hitchhiking.

Call to Ault, dreams visit Dave & Diane, picked up white minivan, Greg W. trying to call, U-Haul to Ault 15’ reserved, dream not big enough, 15,14,17,24 finally available, just fit.

Dreams lifted up with hay fork to other side, place like Estes, radio, float pic Sept., Durango and Christ the King.

GOD SIGHTINGS, CONT.

• Wedding dress material, Waukesha 2 places, no and then all 3 things in owner’s car, 55% off.

• Wilma Cobb calls when I’m at Balfour, knows close by, visit Ellis 14 miles, dies next day.

• Dream 2-13-11 stuff in truck, front door, hallway, Clay, conflict, happens 1-13-12.

• Driving as Dad is dying, praying and feel God’s presence, Judy calls and Dad takes last breath.

MAY THESE GOD SIGHTINGS AND THE ONES YOU EXPERIENCE, BE SHARED SO

OTHERS MAY COME TO A LIVING FAITH, AND FIND HOPE, LOVE, AND WONDER.

God sightings during DHIA Co-op and the Volga Hotel 1977-1980

• Milk testing in Shell Lake and instead of staying there that night like normal, felt a strong nudge to go home, awakened about 1 AM to a living room chair fully on fire, couldn’t wake up my roommates, finally got them up after fire out, house was filled with smoke. •Brock & I trying to find St. Luke’s hospital in Minneapolis. Ask person in car at a stop light and he’s going there just had to follow.

• Lights on at Al’s while staying overnight for milk testing, thought he had turned on light to start milking, went outside at about 3 AM, had been too busy, heard song lyrics “Gotta take time to get alone”.

• Wanted to go to a Bible study but had milk testing at Brihn’s, the cows milked much faster than normal, farmer said, “I can’t believe this is going so fast!”

God sightings during DHIA Co-op and the Volga Hotel 1977-1980 (continued)

• Praying for guidance on future and three different times got a call for opportunities to preach at Balsam Lutheran.

• Gary Zinn and I both being told to turn to II Cor. 10 in Blackwell, OK related to our trip that day.

• Lord answers Elton’s age as 15 when the records had him down as 16.

• Answer about helping with Luther League when pastor calls back within 5 min.

• $50 to Peniel 3-31 and received a raise of $50 a month 4-10-78.

• $500 needed for house payment and received $250 for motorcycle and $250 for house insurance.

• Call from Irvin Christianson if wanted to test on April 20 when weekend at Peniel at stake.

• Needed dresser, end table and lamp and got all three from Walfrid without them knowing needs.

• Sermon on John 12:24 in the evening worship after I had prayed to understand that exact scripture that afternoon.

• Hiring Brian Caudy from phone call while talking with Dorothy concerned about needing to hire someone.

• Testing at Olson Bros. & also a check test at Johnson’s, John Johnson calls and asks to help, I was double booked. Dorothy had just said, “How are you going to do both?”

• Lord’s answer about school and Peniel through Katrina “keep pressing on”.

• Brock’s funeral and “I know my sheep & no one takes them out of my hand” on the radio on the way to cemetery and later found that verse on bookmark he had given me.

Others during Peniel and UW Stout 1980-1983

• Prayer for Dave talking to Ken, both very angry, came back and talked about an experience like “having water poured on a hot fire”.

• Can’t stop my station wagon (full of kids) while going down Knapp’s icy hill and curve guided snowy shoulder all the way down.

• When praying about Stout, Rick shows up, late class = InterVarsity, I’m 2 of 33 to get in Psych class.

• Station wagon’s brakes and alternator $161 bill in Texas and exactly what offering given to Patti.

• 8 inches of snow at Camp Arrowhead from Fri. night to Sat. noon for InterVarsity retreat, asked to speak.

• Share at InterVarsity when speaker can’t do the Bible Study, led to me being Large Group Leader and then President.

• Comments and A’s from Mr. Edmondson after being satisfied with C’s, he made fun of faith.

Others during Peniel and UW Stout 1980-1983 (continued)

• Topics on God in Impromptu finals “accepted atom, rejected sermon on mount” Omar Bradley, “Lord set limit on our wisdom, but no limit on our stupidity”.

• $20 from Grandpa and Grandma when completely broke.

• Winning a $500 scholarship by surprise when I was denied a $200 one.

• Meal from Ted when broke after praying that I would be OK.

• 6 cents to $216 from transportation check when broke.

• Selling my house (The Volga Hotel) in two weeks in a poor market while at school.

• Giving my testimony in Psych class after being challenged with “God is technology”.

• Getting 100% on Algebra test while in the “Twilight Zone” and an A on the final.

• $50 from Grandpa and Grandma, tithe $5 and receive $50 from church.

• Radio program over WVSS asked to do 15 min, expanded to 2 hr. and then 4 hr. every Sunday morning.

• Unsure about $50 registration for Urbana, $50 next 2 days received $10 from Grandpa & Grandma and $40 Dentist credit.

• Prayed about part-time job, in 4 days received an offer of $6 an hour to tutor Ted Uribe.

• Going home with $6, give away $5 and get $10 from Kirk.

• $53 from Aunt Margaret when I had 5 cents to my name.

• $50 from G&G when I had 55 cents left.

• $10 from Dorothy when needed something for Sunday’s offering.

• Rain for Dad and camp, but not for our cabin’s campout (mouth of Secret), two other cabins returned to camp because they were dumped on.

• Almost going to borrow money, received $50 G&G and $25 from Judy.

• Winter coat from Judy when almost bought one, (used for 35 years) Pat said time to let it go.

• Helping Allen from prison & praying if it was right, next chapel = Matt. 25 least of these.

• Post card from Vicki after she had asked for prayer, healed of hypoglycemia.

• Fall Sem. 27.5 credits, 12 classes, IV Pres, 4 Forensic events, Sabbath day, 9As, 2Bs and a pass.

Others during Seminary in Chicago and Internship in Wakefield, MI 1983-1987

• Pray to be used at shelter, powerful bathroom Bible Study, 1 Salvation Army, Red, minorities and a teddy bear.

• Needed $200 in a week for Clinical Pastoral Education, letter from Uncle John Scott extra $200.

• Needed a car by Easter to get home for a wedding and interviews, Uncle John calls w/ free ’97 Granada.

Others during Seminary in Chicago and Internship in Wakefield, MI 1983-1987 (continued)

• Had only five of eight needed homeless shelter volunteers, call Doug and find out three Brethren helping at shelter that night.

• Told Teaching Parish I needed $1.3-1.5K for Honduras mission, Balsam Church = $800, Grace offering = $710. They didn’t know what the other group was giving.

• In Honduras needed $200 for a new roof and LCW at Balsam donates $200.

• Needed $300 for fruit tree project, $160 Grace, $52 VBS, $50 Balsam, $29 Grace SS = $291.

• Broke at Easter, $100 from George Johnson.

• Bills to pay & no $, $500 from George & knew amount as I was opening envelope.

Others during call at First Lutheran in Ault, CO 1987-1994

• Dream about wife Judith’s job at Triangle Cross, got job as director.

• Dreamed walking with two children who were “ours”, call to foster Brenda and Sherri.

• Mary Malstrom’s 11am funeral, 7:30 am Paramedic 3 Ft. Lupton call drill site, Air Life.

• 12-26-90 delivering a baby, day after helping a suicidal person, familiar feeling at birth as when I was at a person’s bedside as he died.

• Ambulance Paramedic 3 shift and another funeral, late call at a house, but family decide to fly person out.

• Wedding rehearsal and ambulance shift, call with Paramedic 1 to Platteville to Denver, decide to go to Greeley.

Others during call at Christ the King Lutheran in Durango, CO 1994-2012

• Needing a pianist and new person Carol Priest said she had sold 2 pianos so she could buy a guitar. She becomes leader for Saturday night service.

• Lost looking for Children’s hospital in Denver, came across Dave Widmer, Roger & Cora going there so we followed them.

• Church’s remodel not ready for carpet, carpenters needed more time, carpet is late in coming.

• Increase giving $200, $300, $400 a month, then receive a gift of $5,000.

• Increased pledge for building $150 a month, expected $1K raise for next year, received $6K.

• Old pickup blew up in Aztec, Neil Osborne ride, signed over title, Dave Kolb Jeep at same price as I received for the pickup.

• Looking for Youth Director for two months and then Ashley calls just off Lutheran Youth Encounter.

• Church conflict results in Seed for the Parish story, Mosaic DVD story, and Dan Bollman’s retreat.

Others during call at Christ the King Lutheran in Durango, CO 1994-2012 (continued)

• Prayed about starting Stephen’s Ministry, Stephen Ministers Paul & Jigger arrive in 1 month, $8K given to fund ministry by family who made more money than expected.

• Installing Endowment Board that Sat and Sun, have $40K of $50K needed, Sat afternoon main has envelope with $10K from Elenore.

• Church hit by 2008/09 financial crises, short $25K, Durango roundabout land buyout from church pays $25K.

• T100 pickup timing belt goes out, bill of $799, bonus surprise of $800. They didn’t know about the bill.

Others during call at Our Savior’s Lutheran in Greeley, CO 2012-present

• Eric’s car totaled, Wed. prayed, Thurs. GMC Jimmy donated by another family without knowing of the need.

• Envelope of cash given to me to help others when I didn’t really think I’d need it, that afternoon someone texts me they needed $ for Dr. appt. today.

• Needed four tickets for rodeo John & Michelle and boys, John M. calls with 4 he can’t use.

• Brad Frye and internship, helped over Covid time, all three concerns about internships (maturity, time, $) all solved.

• Needed renter for Durango Condo, hoped for dependable, responsible, get along = Alpine Air pilot only 4 afternoons a week.

• Memorial of $45K is given to Our Savior’s to use where needed during COVID.

• COVID = 2020 budget $13K in red, $36K check for mineral rights = $23K in black.

• Need new worship computer $4K, family makes extra $40K and tithes $4K and says what need?

• $60K memorial gift given for outreach when needed $ for consultation and staffing

• Needed singer for Chr. Eve, Emma at 477 Distillery, had shared with her husband that this would be the 1st Christmas not singing just before I called to ask if she would sing.

• Called wrong number and said, “This is Pastor John.” Person cried, in the ER and had just prayed for God to help her.

• Congregation prays and decides to be more generous when we had severe financial problems. In 12 years, gave away $1.6 million to other ministries and needs, and are now financially stable.

Can you imagine how different the Bible would be if we removed every miracle of God? These miracles are recorded because they were shared from people’s experience, and they blessed believers with boldness and faith to know that God is still present and active in this world.

It would be awful if folks believed miracles never happened or that somehow God’s ability or will to act in our world has been shut-off.

May these God sightings and the ones you experience, be shared so others may come to a living faith, and find hope, love, and wonder! <><

P.R.A.I.S.E. livealifeof

PRAY

Each day (and throughout) praying by listening and talking with God.

READ

Setting aside time each day to read the Bible, devotional, and/or spiritual books.

ATTEND

Making it a priority to attend weekly worship, Sunday School, or a small group

INVEST

Giving significant finances to support the faith and others in need.

SERVE

Making sure you are serving your faith group and community with time.

ENCOURAGE

Cheering on and inviting others as they grapple with faith, love, and life.

FOR READING Thankyou

JOHNKNUTSON,AUTHOR

PastorJohnretiredinMay2024afterservingcongregationsinGreeley,AultandDurango,CO Hewasavolunteerfirefighter/EMTfor26years HelivesinOregonwithhiswife,Diane,aretired municipaljudge.TheirsonPatrickandhiswife,Steph,liveinNevada.

JOHNADALY,COPYEDITOR

JohnDalyisawriter,believer,andlifelongColoradanHe’stheauthoroffivepublishednovels (TheSeanColemanThrillerSeries),andwritesregularpolitical,media,andculturalcolumnsfor variouspublicationsHelivesinGreeley,COwithhiswifeSarah,andchildrenChaseandOlivia

MARIAKMILLER,LAYOUT&DESIGN

Mariaisanaward-winningwriterwhoseworkhasappearedinChickenSoupfortheSouland LivingLutheranSheservesascommunicationsdirectorforOurSaviors,Greeley

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