Today I heard that the Supreme Court upheld the individual's right to carry a gun for self-defense and protection. Yesterday a person in Henderson, Kentucky, shot and killed five people at the Atlantis Plastics plant, then killed himself. The news was so "ho-hum" that our regional news didn't even report it.
In our county, people just get drunk and shoot their television sets. Why can't everyone else be as civilized?
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Summer Fun
Twelve baby kittens at the farm
Hollyhock dolls
Wading in a sand-bottomed creek
Firefly catching
Goldfish swimming in the water garden
Mud puddle splashing
Bicycling through a walnut grove
Snails, pillbugs, and butterflies
Sandwiches at a playground
Water sprayed from a hose
Following trails in the state park
Fishing at sunset
. . .Summer Fun!
Saturday, June 21, 2008
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.
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.
Monday, June 16, 2008
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
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
Friday, June 13, 2008
Annual United Methodist Conference
Sitting in the conference hotel dining room, I noticed another delegate who was also eating alone and asked her to join me. Reverend Barbara Lovelace, United Methodist minister, told me that she had been a career foster parent for several years after retiring. We discovered we had much in common as I had once worked as a therapist with a therapeutic foster care program; we had a lively conversation.
Some time after her retirement, the district superintendent in her area called her and asked if she would pick up the ministry again with two small churches and she agreed. We talked about social problems in rural areas and shared thoughts about how churches might be able to meet the needs. She and I both enjoyed the variety of music and worship styles of the conference worship services and discussed how these ideas might fit into our home churches.
One of the pleasures of participating in a large conference gathering is the people whom you meet and from whom you learn. Before we parted, Barbara told me that she is 87 years old.
Some time after her retirement, the district superintendent in her area called her and asked if she would pick up the ministry again with two small churches and she agreed. We talked about social problems in rural areas and shared thoughts about how churches might be able to meet the needs. She and I both enjoyed the variety of music and worship styles of the conference worship services and discussed how these ideas might fit into our home churches.
One of the pleasures of participating in a large conference gathering is the people whom you meet and from whom you learn. Before we parted, Barbara told me that she is 87 years old.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Annual Conference of John Wesley "do-gooders"
Twenty-one million people in the world today crawl because of land mines, cluster bombs, war, and birth defects. The leg handicapped cannot work or carry on daily activities of living. Often they lie in dark back rooms of houses and are left out of the mainstream of life.
In 1994 an idea was conceived. . .Methodist missionaries from Zaire, Larry and Laura Hills, said, “We need hand-cranked, sturdy, affordable wheelchairs with hauling capacity for the many persons we have with leg disabilities. They must travel very rough roads and trails.”
Here in the heartland of the United States, United Methodists designed and built prototypes of these wheelchairs for testing. Personal Energy Transportation (P.E.T.) was launched! Today P.E.T. International sends PETs all over the world and the organization has become inter-denominaltional.
At the 2008 annual conference, personal donations bought 600 PETs
which will be assembled in our region and sent to Africa or South America. John Wesley’s three simple rules included “Do good”,and we strive to do just that.
In 1994 an idea was conceived. . .Methodist missionaries from Zaire, Larry and Laura Hills, said, “We need hand-cranked, sturdy, affordable wheelchairs with hauling capacity for the many persons we have with leg disabilities. They must travel very rough roads and trails.”
Here in the heartland of the United States, United Methodists designed and built prototypes of these wheelchairs for testing. Personal Energy Transportation (P.E.T.) was launched! Today P.E.T. International sends PETs all over the world and the organization has become inter-denominaltional.
At the 2008 annual conference, personal donations bought 600 PETs
which will be assembled in our region and sent to Africa or South America. John Wesley’s three simple rules included “Do good”,and we strive to do just that.
Monday, June 2, 2008
On Sons-in-Law
As Father’s Day approaches, I am thinking of some of the finest fathers
I know: my four sons-in-law. Without exception, they are hard-workers, treat their wives (my daughters) with great respect, share in home and childcare responsibilities. All the adults in our family are child-centered, and my daughters and sons-in-law are committed to bringing up their children with values and integrity, working together as a team.
I have listened to many complaints from my contemporaries about the bums who married their daughters, and I wonder why we should be so fortunate. One from the East Coast, one Danish citizen, and two Middle American first cousins—each uniquely different from the other three, yet holding many common traits. In each, I see some of the sterling qualities that distinguish their father; my daughters must also have recognized these qualities.
They seem to enjoy and appreciate rural life even though they live in cities. One Christmas we gave each of them a farmer’s cap inscribed with “Hired Hand.” They have been undaunted by fence building, cattle round-ups, and working in the hayfield.
God has blessed our family with these gentle men.
I know: my four sons-in-law. Without exception, they are hard-workers, treat their wives (my daughters) with great respect, share in home and childcare responsibilities. All the adults in our family are child-centered, and my daughters and sons-in-law are committed to bringing up their children with values and integrity, working together as a team.
I have listened to many complaints from my contemporaries about the bums who married their daughters, and I wonder why we should be so fortunate. One from the East Coast, one Danish citizen, and two Middle American first cousins—each uniquely different from the other three, yet holding many common traits. In each, I see some of the sterling qualities that distinguish their father; my daughters must also have recognized these qualities.
They seem to enjoy and appreciate rural life even though they live in cities. One Christmas we gave each of them a farmer’s cap inscribed with “Hired Hand.” They have been undaunted by fence building, cattle round-ups, and working in the hayfield.
God has blessed our family with these gentle men.
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