2009 Oklahoma Strackbein's 

This last September Holy Cross Lutheran Church sent me to Israel for my yearly education opportunity.  The trip was with several other WELS pastors.  We spent half our time in the Galilee area and the other half around Jerusalem.  

Even though it was not Christmas it was a real joy to have the opportunity to share a Christmas message with our group as we sat outside shepherd caves overlooking the hills of Bethlehem.  The fields were the same fields where Ruth and Boaz worked.  In the distance we could see the Judean wilderness where John preached.  Everything was parched as the earth waited for the beginning of the rainy season. As I finished my devotion, a flock of sheep wondered into view at the bottom of the hill where we were.  

How easy it was to look into the sky and imagine what the shepherds must have seen.  Of course we don’t have to imagine what they heard. The Bible tells us exactly what the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.”  Why the joy?  We don’t have to be afraid of God’s anger and our just condemnation.  The baby in Bethlehem, came to save us by taking God’s anger and condemnation upon himself.  What was His motive? The answer is love.  Not just love for the high and mighty, but for everyone, for you and me. This plan is truly divine. No man-made religion would ever have invented a god who would save us by sacrificing himself.  Man-made religions always invent a salvation whereby man has to make himself right with his god by self sacrifice and a rigorous life of good deeds.  

What a joy it is to serve the one and only God of the universe with worship, praise, and our very lives.  Because Jesus the Savior came and won our salvation, there is every reason for us to join with the angels who filled the night with their worship. “Glory to God in the highest,” they said.  Because of Jesus, God has declared himself at peace with us and all mankind. It is with the same spirit that we share with you the blessings he has granted to our family this year. 

Glory to God!  God ended a year of pain for Barbara.  The total hip replacement surgery was a complete success.  Thanks be to God!  Barb’s cancer remains stable.  The cancer in the bone marrow is growing, but slowly.  She is able to control the symptoms (neuropathy, high protein concentration that clogs up the blood, very low white blood cell counts) with certain essential oils, weekly high dose intravenous vitamin c sessions, swimming almost every day, and a low sugar, no caffeine diet.  Again we want to especially thank all of the people who helped pay for these vitamin C treatments as our insurance does not cover them. 

Glory to God!  Holy Cross bestowed upon us a very beautiful and memorable 30^th anniversary in the ministry celebration.  All our children except Daniel, who is serving with the Air Force in Korea, were able to be present at the special afternoon service.    We were thrilled to see a bus load of friends from our first parish in Salina, KS as well as the Kohlwey’s and Carl Toepel who came all the way from Wisconsin.  My brother Philip preached the sermon based on Luke 17:7-10, “The Glory Is Not For The Servant, But For the Master!”  If anyone wants to hear that sermon, go to the Holy Cross Lutheran Church web site, www.holycrossokc.org click on the “audio sermon” menu and then click “archived sermons.”  Look for his sermon theme and click on it. 

Glory to God!  We had the distinct privilege of attending our youngest son Tom’s call to be a vicar at Grace Lutheran Church in Prairie Du Chien, Wisconsin.  We were also able to visit our families in Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin. We took in Barb’s 40^th class reunion from Spooner High School in Wisconsin.  Last but not least we celebrated our 35^th wedding anniversary with a two day stay at Branson, Missouri. 

Glory to God!  Our life in Oklahoma is a joy.  Even though Barbara missed a month of tutoring because of her surgery, her boss held her job for her.  She began work early in December with sixth through eighth graders.  She also has this age group in a pre confirmation class at church teaching Bible history stories. The congregation is also doing well. Our ladies and men are very active and friendly.  Several outreach projects took off including the decision to start a daughter congregation in Norman about twenty minutes to the South.  It will mean a lot of extra work.  We pray many new people will hear the Gospel and be brought into God’s kingdom. 

Below is a picture of our family.  Ben and Sarah, with our two grand daughters, live in New Ulm. Isaac is using his architectural skills in San Francisco. Peter has worked hard on an organic farm in Michigan.  He will be home with us for the winter.  Daniel (bottom photo) will be moving to Germany for the next three years. It is possible he may be able to visit us in January before he goes. Thomas is in his third (vicar) year at the seminary. The rest of the people in the picture are family members who attended the 30^th anniversary celebration. 

May God grant you all a very blessed celebration of Jesus’ birth!