The Great American Desert

Sitting in the intense sunshine of the desert gardens of the University of Texas at El Paso. . .while my family members are at work, I enjoy a concert by Mockingbird. Simulated rain drips on mission bells into a quiet pool. The morning breeze makes the 103 degree heat rather pleasant.

Quite a change in milieu from the rain-drenched Midwest. No hand-wringing here over the delay in planting soybeans or worries of rivers overflowing into homes, farms, and towns. Anxious minds in the Great Pass to the North worry over violence in Juarez, their twin city in Mexico. Over 400 people have been murdered since the first of the year in by warring druglords. Mexican military patrol the streets. Law enforcement officials in Texas and New Mexico have been placed on the "hit list." A chilling reminder of the Wild West.

Yet the American way of life appears to flow smoothly--grocery clerks seamlessly switch from Spanish to English and back again in the customer line. The top priority in border justice does not seem to focus on illegal immigrants.

An actual street here is named "Glory Road," and Coach Don Haskins continues to be a local celebrity. But the civilized life we lead in the U.S.A., held together with gossamer threads, should be regarded with reverence and appreciation.

Annual United Methodist Conference #3

"Evangelism" is a word that makes me queasy. I picture someone handing out religious literature or trying to convert me to an idea without taking into account the beliefs that I hold dear. Changing people from one denomination to another does not seem to count as "going into the world and making disciples."

I have come to believe that relationships are the primary ingredient involved. Listening is a powerful way to demonstrate love. As St. Francis said so eloquently, "Preach the gospel
everywhere, always. . .when necessary, use words."

However, we are all aware of individuals experiencing stressful life changes, broken relationships and emptiness in their lives. Buying more stuff, exercising longer hours, or starting a new diet
does not fill hollowness of the soul. We believe that the Spirit of Jesus transforms.

With a smile, Doug Anderson, in speaking to the 1800 delegates of our regional United Methodist Conference, estimated that every 38 years, a Methodist invites someone to church. "Too many of us have our light hidden, our salt buried, and our leaven protected in airtight packages."

Certainly, if we are the hands of Christ reaching out to the drowning, we need to extend a firmer grip.*

*A thought from "If You Want to Walk on Water, You've Got to Get Out
of the Boat" by John Ortberg