I am Iowa

I am Iowa; fertile and productive.

I am strings of corn rows bending over contoured hills etched by water flowing from known to unknown.

I am soil, deep and active; sticky in March and dusty in August.  I am a rock in Winter.

I am rivers with sand bars and muddy bottoms, with all sorts of growing things.

I am the stars and moon to light the path.  I am the ruddy morning, bright noon-day, and the purple violet evening sky.  

I am Iowa; a birth place, a resting place, a living place.

Is It Safe To Come Out Yet?

After the busy Christmas week we may feel a bit like this pup.  If you are feeling like me there were too many miles on slick roads and too many, "I'll have just a bite of that."  My mind, like my body, is a bit weary and yet still strangely hungry for something more.  I am reminded of Bono's  lyrics, "And I still haven't found what I'm looking for."

Maybe Christmas always keeps us guessing and the mystery is like our life in Christ.  We never seem to get the total fullness even as we embrace the mystery, we are found still yearning for just a bit more.  And so as I peek out from under my tree, I can proclaim it was a good Christmas, even with the remaining mystery.

I started off Sunday morning at the Des Moines Korean congregation for a meeting.  They were eating and it smelled wonderful.  Rev, Gunsoo Jung and the others invited me to have something to eat (hospitality is their thing and it comes naturally, perhaps it always does.)  We drank tea and visited about the needs of the church while the families were finishing.  The kids were outside sliding in the snow,  just like a Norman Rockwell painting.

Cheryl and I finished  Sunday at the Ankeny First "Eve Eve" Service held at the downtown campus.  We had a great time as Rev. Martha Ward always does a nice job leading a service and music was excellent with Jan Boehm, Lindsay Drake, and Melody Web and family. Rev Bob's preaching was thoughtful as we considered the reality of Jesus' birth.  The highlight personally for us was Tim, Molly, and little Maggs as the holy family.  At one point, Molly had been kneeling for over 7 minutes and just got up when the time came.  I am pretty sure I would have had to crawl to the alter and get a good grip without knocking over all the lit candles, or drop and roll to the stairs to get up after being down for that long.  We got to watch Ellie and CC and my mom, who came with us.  They all did very good and grandpa didn't have to yell at any of them during the service.

On Christmas eve day, our two sons and families and my mom with nine grandchildren gathered at the house.  It was glorious most of the time.  The twins and Maggs were doing their collective baby thing.  The older kids had lots of fun.  It was a good day.  After a huddle, we all decided to have home church and not take all the babies out in the weather.  So we sang hymns with the guitar, we lifted up concerns and thanksgivings around the circle.  Grandma read the birth story from Luke and I interpreted.  We prayed and sang Silent Night using the flashlights which came in the stockings earlier in the day.  The boys both commented  no offering was a nice touch.  The service lasted over 45 minutes.  After church we all read the A Christmas Carol together from a great popup book Wendy gave us last year.

After the kids headed for home, Cheryl and I went out to Granger, Emmanuel for their Ten PM Candlelight service.  The church is in the midst of a pastoral change and they needed an Elder to preside over the Communion.  Lay Pastor Donna Fultman presided and the traditional service of Carols and Lessons was fun and easy.  Donna's husband played his Little Martin guitar along with Barb Chambers on the piano to lead us.

We headed home into the cold winter night just before midnight, noting the lack of traffic on I-80.  After a week of no power for a full day and the remaining pieces of the storm in tow, It was good to know and sing the words, "All is calm and all is bright."

Home in Altoona

Stayed pretty close to home today for worship in Altoona UMC.  Knowing it would be a huge service I was hesitant to ask Pastor John if I could speak, but did anyway as I wanted to share my pride and excitement for all that is happening through this congregation.  Knowing they had just received over $65,000 for their turkey dinner last month and the excitement for mission this had generated made it a no-brainer to go in person to offer my thanks and encouragement for even greater things for the kingdom of God.  And so I did, and John was gracious to allow me a slice of time at the 9:40 AM service. 

The church as usual was filled to overflow and there were 40 folks in the choir along with a full orchestra.  It was an amazing worship experience. With min-sermons coming like waves washing over the congregation.  Perhaps best of all were the children singing and dancing.  After the violence of the past week we were all soggy eyed by the authentic worship of the children.  Perhaps best of all for me was a young girl who shared a ballet as the choir sang and orchestra played which disarmed everyone.  We all became like children in our hearts as she danced our dance in front of God and the world.   

If you visit prepare for amazing as the Spirit is moving in significant ways.  You can contact them or take just look at http://altoonaumc.org/  They are planning to live stream the services in the near future which may allow them another way of growing the kingdom without moving bricks and mortar.  If you are currently without a church home consider Altoona UMC as a possibility for Christmas Eve.

Worship in a Barn

On Saturday evening Cheryl and I worshiped in a barn.  Not a working barn mind you, but the smell of hay and the rich visual of the inside of the old haymow was enough to send me cascading into my childhood. 

River of Life UMC which is the new church plant of Des Moines New Hope held Christmas services at the Johnston Barn.  It was packed to overflowing at the 5 PM service; what a blessing. 

The pastor, Craig Ferguson, led a powerfully simple service of carols and nativity.  The gathered congregation was lively and engaged.  Even Santa was present and shared a poem about Jesus. 

In his sermon Craig shared top rated gifts received and offered over the years beginning with Mr. Potato Head to Pong to Tickle-Me Elmo dolls.  And he finished with, yes, best of all is the gift of life through Christ.  We were left with cookies, warm wishes, and an ornament for the tree to remember the night.  It was a Spirit filled encounter with the traditions of Christmas and we were blessed.

If you are looking for a church home in the Johnston area or just want to take a quick peak at the ministry, then head to the website for the latest information http://www.johnstonriveroflife.org/

My Christmas Wish

The news report staggers us to defend our days.  We find violence overtaking our ability to understand.  We shake our heads and scuff the soles of our shoes on the gravel path.  Good days, summer days of joy and celebration can feel distant, even corrupt. 

Perhaps I should just go shopping and try to fill the cart, fill my heart.  Perhaps I should just eat or drink something, something rich and filling, after all it is Christmas.   Perhaps I should get some sleep, preferable during the day, and slowly withdraw from obligations and relationships.

Look at the picture, look into their eyes and become aware of what they know.  What is real?  What is truth?

 My wish is for good news.

My wish is to give like never before.  Help someone yet unknown.  Seek the mystery of the season as if life depends upon it.  Look into people’s eyes, really look and see their hearts.  Hug the children in ways that bless and sanctify their lives.  Feel the pain, lean into the joy, remember what is lost, and conceive a new grace offered by the season without notice or price.  

Now go.