June 2008

I preached at both the 8:30 and 10:45 worship services at Independence First United Methodist Church this morning. I was happy to be there but, as always when I’m gone, I missed being in worship here. Independence First is served by another clergy couple, Jack and Marilyn Gregory. Marilyn will be preaching here next Sunday when Jenny and I (and Elizabeth) are gone. It was nice to be able to fill in for Marilyn and Jack while knowing Jenny was taking care of things at home. It’s also nice to have another clergy couple so close so that we can trade back and forth so easily.

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First United Methodist Church is collecting flood buckets in observance of the 2007 Coffeyville Flood. Empty buckets containing a list of necessary contents are available at the main entry (glass doors). Take one home, fill it up and bring it back; the church as a whole will take responsibility for making sure it gets to people who need it (we may warehouse some right here in the church building to have on hand for in-state disasters).

If you are unable to bring in a full bucket, but still want to participate, you might consider parterning with another individual or family to fill one together. Additionally, monetary donations will be accepted. Simply write “Flood Buckets” on your check or offering envelope. UMCOR lists the estimated value of a flood bucket at $45.

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A moment of personal privilege … Many thanks to quilters Doreatha Moon, Betty Hayes, Betty Chronister and Jewel Hunt for the beautiful quilt they made for the parsonage family. It goes well with the rest of the master bedroom and is greatly appreciated.

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It’s come to my attention that some people don’t know that the church kept a number (probably about 200-300) of our old folding chairs and some of our old wooden folding tables for the express purpose of having them available to loan to church members, regular attendees, and community organizations. Contact the church office to make arrangements.

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Via the July 1, 2008 edition of the Christian Century, this is one of my greatest challenges:

“There’s nothing wrong with microwaves or mobile phones–they save time. But God will ask you what you have done with the time that was saved.”

–Egyptian Coptic mon Ruwais el-Anthony, who has lived at Egypt’s St. Anthony’s Monastery for more than 30 years [Reuters]

I’m afraid I will have a hard time accounting for the time I have saved.

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Apparently Blogger had a hiccup and the last part of the sentence of the previous post didn’t make it online. I’ve added it now.

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So far we’ve raised $2,338 for the Bridges to the Future capital campaign of the Kansas East Conference. Our Goal is $25,000. If everyone in attendance gave $1 a week we would reach our goal within the five year timeframe of this project.

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Received from Antonia Lawson

“The Field Kindley High School Golden Gales Dance Team and I want to thank you for letting us use your large tables for our rummage sale. The girls did pretty well this year and we really appreciate your help and support of the girls.

Again, than you for helping us!

Sincerely,

Antonia Lawson, Coach”

When we bought new tables, the trustees made the conscious decision to hang onto the old ones for the express purpose of having tables to loan out.

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Recently, I’ve been having some second thoughts about this post of April 8, 2008. I titled it “You Give but You Don’t Take Away.” I concluded with the statement: “I just don’t like attributing evil to God.” That is still true, but I’m reading Walter Brueggemann’s commentary on Genesis 22.1-24 (the sacrifice of Isaac) and he is developing the ides of a tension in the person of “the God of Job and Abraham who gives and takes away, who promises but also commands and tests … with these two God-fearing men (Abraham and Job) we are urged to move beyond Job’s friends as well as beyond contemporary simply civil piety which knows no dread and which goes from strength to strength.” In the command to sacrifice Isaac, God tested Abraham, the promise of many descendants appeared to be taken away before it was restored at the end of the story.

Perhaps it is simply best to not say “You give and take away” casually as an explanation for everything bad that happens, while at the same time recognizing that God is sovereign and God’s dealings with humanity are complex.

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