February 1, 2026
Daniel, Jan, and I were outsiders in our Nebraska pastoral group, but were never treated as such. Our Nebraska “friends in the faith” always treated us like family, and for that, I’ll always be grateful. While I can’t speak for Daniel or Jan, I know they feel that way too. In fact, I know Daniel does; he said as much tonight.
Catching up with friends you haven’t seen or talked with for a while can be such a blessing.
For a bit of history, Daniel was serving a congregation near the small town of Bertrand when God called us to Peace Lutheran in Alma. While I’m almost 20 years Daniel’s senior, we hit it off right away. Month after month, Daniel and I—along with Jan, Daren, Leah, Bob, Gale, and Wade—met at one of our churches to encourage one another as friends in the faith. LCMC pastors all, we ate together, cried together, prayed and worshipped together, and held each other through thick and thin. And then, one day, Daniel headed east toward Indiana. He left behind a hole in our neighborhood group that couldn’t be filled.
Daniel and Daren were close. When Daniel took a new call, I think it was hardest for Daren most of all. Jan missed him too; they golfed together many times in the summer. And for me, Daniel was like a younger sibling I could bounce things off of. While we differed in some of our theological beliefs (those little, tiny molehills no one should die on), I love him like a brother. To this day, Daniel and I still chat a couple of times a year, if only just to catch up. Tonight was one of those nights.
For nearly an hour, Daniel and I chatted about this and that as he drove north to Michigan on his way to a retreat. He was headed to a Lutheran Monastery for a 3-day retreat with ecumenical brothers and sisters from across Lutheran synods.
“A Lutheran what?” I asked. “A monastery?”
I had never heard of such a thing. Sure enough… yup. Of course, I had to hear more. Daniel was so excited he had to tell me all about it.
I am so happy for him. I told him I’d be thinking of him and praying for his time over the next few days. Pray for Daniel also; he has to rise and be ready for morning vespers at 5:10 AM. Yikes. I hope Daniel doesn’t become a monk.
Talking with Daniel tonight just lit up my face. Now truly, most of the friends I have are friends in the faith. But there’s something special about catching up with friends you haven’t talked with for a while—especially those who make their life serving Christ.
Having friends like Daniel is a blessing. I hope you have friends like him too. If you do, whether you’ve seen them lately or not, do as I’m doing tonight: Thank God for them, and tell other people about your friend and how thankful you are for them.
God, thank You for Daniel and his service to You. I thank You, Father, that Daniel is a man I am blessed to call a friend. Bless him and his wife Stephany and their young children. Bless his ministry in Indiana. May his congregation continually be blessed by him, the way Daren, Jan, Leah, Bob, Wade, Gale, and I were blessed by him. For You’ve knitted us together as Friends in the Faith forever. Amen.