Where Has the Week Gone?

It's Friday and I haven't posted anything in this space since Monday. What's going on here? There was a brief pause on Monday, time to catch one's breath and 'recharge the batteries,' but to take the whole week off - no way! Let's just say I've been busy with quite normal things that needed to get done. And through it all there was a 'cup (or two) of cool water' [see this weeks Scripture Readings]. One was last evening. Beyond a sunset, it was an entire powder blue sky populated with soft, streaming clouds of peach and off white with pastel highlights here and there. Words never describe what the soul needs most, but God is good.

The Day After the Chautauqua

It's midmorning on Monday, the day after my first Chautauqua. I've never been to a Chautauqua before. Six months ago, I really didn't know what one was. It became a lot clearer this weekend. I don't think I've been to a town event any better than this (and this was a town of about 250 people). The best part about it was the great variety of things going on, one right after the other, and sometimes two at the same time. There was something for everyone, young and old alike. People seemed to thoroughly enjoy themselves, not only in the scheduled events but also in opportunity to visit and "catch up on" one another lives. It was what town celebrations once were, and should continue to be - an opportunity to be 'community' together.
Thank you Roy, Alecia, Mark, Laurie, and all those whose effort made it possible. Good job!

The Elberon Chautauqua

We are setting up today for an event we hope to be an annual thing here in Elberon, as we try to build community. It begins tomorrow and runs through Sunday. This is a great opportunity for the church and community to come together and get to know one another better. Although the church has been in this town for over 125 years, we hardly know one another. Hopefully when we are through with this and other things, we will know one another and will have formed a real 'connection.' We (the United Methodist Church) are, afterall, a connectional church. Let it be so as we connect with the people of this town.

A Different Way of Looking

I guess there is different ways of looking at anything. After so many days of TV 'talking heads' focused on The Flood of 2008 with the crest reaching new levels as it moves down the Cedar river from Cedar Falls and now to Iowa City, one eventually becomes overwhelmed and overloaded. A break is needed. Last night that break came in the form of a video from one of the local TV stations. Videos of the flood yes, but from a different angle. There were no reporters voices, only acoustical guitar music. And interspersed with the devastation of the flooding and the disruption of human lives was the beauty of 'life going on' for the birds along its path. There was reassurance of God's presence in those videos, a peacefulness and a calm in the water no longer rising. The waters recede and life does go on. I needed that very much. We all do.

When It Just Won't Quit

I don't know how many times I've heard someone (or myself) say during the past week, "I'm ready for it to stop with the rain, already!" We're ready, all of us, for things to dry out around here. And sun-shiney days - more than one at a time - that would be nice. The continual thunderstorm and tornado watches/warnings have gotten old as well. However the house we live in is not flooded and I can still get to work, unless work calls me to the other side of a flooded roadway. We pray for the rain to stop soon and, if not, then for the strength to endure until it does.

... and then again.

It even rains on the higher ground. Life can be disrupted there as well. Oh, perhaps not as often, but still their are times when our 'wellbeing' is threatened by 'too much rain.' It may not be the rising flood but the 'rain soaked' ground sliding out from under us. A high rock, large enough for all of us, would be a good place to be. "On Christ, the solid rock, I stand..."

What to Do

Sandbagging is a temporary solution to the impending danger of flooding.The measure is intended to curtail the mess that the rising water will surely create. It is necessary every time the water rises (to uncommon levels) and threatens once again. Other measures, such as building strong levees, would seem prudent, although costly and, in the overall scheme of things, also short term. Perhaps a wiser thing to do would be to move out of the flood plane. No doubt there is a life lesson here for all of us.

The Day After

Several things accomplished today, so I feel pretty good right now. Although most of the morning and afternoon was spent in the office, I did take a little time to put up a fence around two (leafless) miniature rose bushes that the rabbits had feasted on. Hopefully that works. Also finished a very good book today by Henri Nouwen (with Philip Roderick), Beloved. Read it, you'll be glad you did.

Iowa Annual Conference Day 4

The morning was almost all legislative session with 30 minutes of holy conferences before the break. A few other loose ends taken care of and then ready to finish ahead of time with resolution 207 (concerning raid at Postville). Right. In fact we had to extend the time 15 minutes into the lunch break. Eventually, after several motions to amend, etc. we passed the resolution essentially condemning what was done. Ordination service in the afternoon was good. The only ddown side for the day would be the weather. Prayer lifted for all affected by the water and storms today.

Iowa Annual Conference Day 3

Today was largely legislative agenda items with everything running very smoothly. In fact, we were a little early going to supper (dinner for some). The evening service recognizing retirees and commissioning of new probationary members challenged us to minister to all, especially those who now find themselves in a foreign land. We have been blessed by this conference in many ways. We have a lot to take back with us.

Iowa Annual Conference Day 2

Some notes from this afternoon's session:
"That's not quite right, let's go back and do it together."
We (the church) are a people in exile. We would like to go back to Jerusalem. But what if God doesn't want us to go back but rather wants us to be God's people where we are?
Exile is a breeding ground for hope. Hope not rooted in history is dangerous.
Questions to think about:
In what ways do we see that the church is living in exile?
As a people in exile, how is God equiping us to 'build houses and live in them' (that is to do more than exist/survive)?
How are we 'seeking the welfare of the city' where God has sent us?

Iowa Annual Conference Day 1

Today was good. At the afternoon clergy session, we heard five great messages by fellow clergy and then Bishop Palmer challenged us, as he always does, with his 'sermon off the cuff' given down front in the center aisle between the vote and the amen and before the return of those whom the elders had approved for ordained ministry.
Then the opening worship service tonight. Oh my! the music and the message of hope given us by James Salley. Those who were not able to be here tonight missed a Spirit-filled event. With storms moving across the state again tonight, we pray all are safe.

New Post

It's been several days (weeks) since my last post. Today is the first day of Annual Conference (Iowa United Methodist) and Althea and I are in Ames for it again this year. This year marks the fifteenth; a lot has happened since that very first as a lay member. The Spirit continues to work in all of us. Thanks John.