Saturday in Archbold

Today went like this:

1. Husk sweet corn (high-quality Zaerr corn).
2. Work on devotional.
3. Carve sweet corn off of the cobs.
4. Clean up the mess (from the sweet corn, not the devotional).
5. Go for power ride on bike.
6. Return exhausted.
7. Work on devotional some more.
8. Etc.

Not a half-bad day. Kathy worked much harder than I did!

I have been reading Bill Hybel's Just Walk Across the Room (a gift some time ago from Linda Nafziger!). It is a book that encourages all Christians to seize opportunities to form relationships with those who are not Christians because the Lord just may use those relationships to bring folks into His fold.

I have been thinking for years now that it is important for me to have some context in which I am able to form just such relationships because the reality is that I mostly hang out with people of faith. I must confess that I have failed in this regard. With the help of the Spirit, that can change.

Many of you work or live in places where you have regular encounters with those who do not know the Lord. How do you develop relationships effectively? How do you share your faith without scaring people off? How do you suspend judgments and continue to accept folks even when they are not open to hearing about Jesus?

I'll await your wisdom...

Your brother in Christ,

Jeffrey

Archbold

The clock struck midnight and we found ourselves in Archbold. The Lord protected us and provided for us in amazing ways as we traveled. Hallelujah!

Jeff

Wichita

We went to Wichita today to visit the Sedgwick County Zoo. It is an awesome zoo and the kids had a good time. It is always a blessing to spend time with Joy, Derek & family.

I have a new cell phone. Same number. I will tell you the story...sometime.

We will be overnight tomorrow night in Noblesville, IN. London is seeing a concert there before we return home.

Jeff

To Hesston

Yesterday, we left the small town of Yoder for the metropolis of Hesston, KS. We are spending a couple of days here with my sister, Joy; her husband, Derek; and children, Cedon, Caryn, and Callie. We have already had a ball!

I am able to post a few more pictures now. Will do my best to narrate.

Therin riding Grandpa Ken's mower in Colorado. He was Sam Hornish, Jr., if Sam raced tractors and sported a mullet.

My brother, Jeremy, catching my trout on the Rio Grande River. You'd think he would be a bit more generous with his elder brother.

This is a shot of the beauty of Colorado near South Fork. The picture does not even come close to doing it justice.

Therin and Savannah enjoying the high life in South Fork.

The mountain we climbed in Palmer Lake.

The fam part way up the mountain. Therin was not feeling so hot at this point (the paleness on his face is not a problem in the photo). He did recover.

Palmer Lake - my hometown - from half-way up the mountain.

Savannah celebrating her conquest. She shouted from this rock, "I'm the queen of the world!"

London and Therin celebrating in similar fashion. They did not say anything about being queens, however.

Yes, I am wearing an OSU hat. Kept my feet on the ground as I hiked a couple of miles back to the reservoirs that moisten Palmer Lake. For you nature buffs, there is a dragonfly-like beast on my hat. In his/her clutches is a moth. Good eatin'!

The Smiths at the Garden of the Gods. I have been here a million times and the rock formations still amaze me. I do not know what the person to the left in the photo is doing behind that bush.

I really love this picture. Enough said...





Here is the mystery for the day: what made me take this photo of Kathy's mom's chalkboard? Hint - I have never known Nina to be a particularly political person, but she seems to have turned thoroughly Democrat!

Hope you are not too bored after all of that.

We leave for home on Wednesday. Will be in A-bold late Thursday sometime.



Jeff

Meade and Stuff

We enjoyed our time in Meade. It was good to connect with family we have not often spent time with. Savannah formed an instant bond with Kathy's six year old cousin, DJ, not to mention DJ's kitten, Junior (who is female). Kathy's aunt Maggie cooked us an amazing Filipino meal. Her spring rolls were outrageous.

On the way to Meade, we stopped in Greensburg. This town, if you will remember, is the one practically wiped off the map by a tornado last year. To drive around town and observe the simultaneous presence of both death and life, both ends and beginnings, was a cause for pause. All over there were plots that formerly held homes, now overgrown with weeds, still sporting bent over basketball goals. I wondered if I waited long enough if I would hear the happy echoes of children scampering about near their homes. There is no indication that rebuilding will occur in these spots.

On the other hand, there are beautiful new homes sprouting up here and there. Businesses are rebuilding, and Greensburg is committed to being a place that is energy efficient and environmentally friendly, a model for us all. MDS, Habitat, and other organizations continue to have a presence in this community.

This town will never be the same. But God has not left her. From what was broken is emerging something new and God-breathed. This is a reminder to us that our God is a God who is not bound by what was or what we had hoped for but is instead intent on rebuilding lives through His unfathomable grace and power. May His name be praised forever! I cannot wait to see Greensburg in three, five, ten years!

If you ever have the chance, stop in Greensburg for a look-see. Spend some money. Check out the world's largest hand-dug well. It truly is amazing, even though you cannot venture into its bowls since the tornado. Then travel a few more miles west and stay at the Moon Mist Motel in Meade where you will be greeted by terribly friendly folk, enjoy a pleasant room, and even have the chance to hold a tiny pot-belly pig, pet a bunny, and avoid being butted by an aggressive little goat. This part of the world is Americana at its best.

Kathy's father, John, underwent surgery this morning in Wichita to remove a growth from his eye. Kathy and I had the privilege of accompanying him and Kathy's mom, Nina, to this appointment.

In that we live so far from extended family, it has been a rarity for us to be able to do this kind of thing so we were blessed to be present. Though it is a special thing for me to be able to make hospital visits with the Central congregation in a pastoral capacity, it was good to do it as just a plain old son-in-law as well.

The surgery went well and John is home and thriving this evening.

The office where the procedure was performed was constructed in such a way that we were able to observe the surgery as it took place. That was way cool! I did not even faint once.

God continues to be good. I'm not surprised.


Jeff

Duh

There are some of you who have claimed that I am not the brightest bulb in the chandelier. Here is clear evidence. Yesterday, I plunged into a swimming pool with my cell phone in my pocket. When I realized my error I quickly removed it from my swimsuit but could only look at it with misty-eyed sympathy as it buzzed feebly but pathetically.

As I anguish in denial at the true condition of my beloved phone, the phone itself is nested in a Tupperware container filled with dry rice. Trying to remove some of the moisture, you see. Maybe I will try the microwave tomorrow...

On another note, it has been over 100 degrees the last two days. Yeowza.

Tomorrow we head for Meade, KS to visit Kathy's uncle Dave and his family. The challenge for the day: see if you can find Meade on a map!

Selah.


Jeff

Yoder

On Saturday, we left Colorado for Kansas. We got a bit of a late start in that we had breakfast with friends from Colorado Springs mid-morning. It was a delight to be with Will, Kat, and Ryan O'Hearn. Will has been a dear friend to me for years.

We were sad to leave Colorado - our family and friends - but understood that there are more loved ones yet to see.

Our trip to Kansas was uneventful and that is really good. God has answered our prayers in keeping us safe and the van intact. This is especially true in light of London's driving two hours during the trip! (Just kidding, London).

This morning, we worshiped with the S. Hutchinson Mennonite Church. This is Kathy's parents' congregation. We were made to feel welcome and appreciated. Kathy even got to sing, thus providing her with a "fix." She no longer is experiencing the heebie-jeebies.

This afternoon, we had lunch with Kathy's folks at their home along with Mike & Vonnie (Kathy's bro and wife), Leonard & Ruth (Kathy's aunt & husband), and Marv & Dorothy (Kathy's aunt & husband). The food was dynamite and the company pretty good, too, although I did fall asleep a bit prematurely (though not during church).

This evening we just hung out. Tomorrow, I have been instructed that we will be going to Salt City Splash water park and then to eat pizza. I'm game.

Last week, Therin, London, and I hiked a couple of miles back to reservoirs that provide water for Palmer Lake. I had fished these plenty while growing up and almost always caught something. The three of us spent hours there doing all we could to lure fish to their peril this time around but without any luck. I found myself getting really irritated by this lack of fishing production, finally threatening God to just quit fishing altogether and completely (it is unclear when God actually entered this whole scenario!).

Within seconds, however, I was reminded that patience really is important in fishing because I cannot force the fish to bite the lure no matter how pretty I think it is. I was then further reminded that patience in life is triply important because there is not a lot that I can manipulate. I was still further reminded that when we engage in ministry, particularly evangelistic ministry, patience is vital as well. Many people during Jesus' time of ministry did not accept his message. Why would I expect that they would accept mine?

Sometimes it takes more than a couple of fishing trips to catch fish. Sometimes our prayers are answered in terms of years instead of hours and days. Sometimes we never see the fruit of that we planted while ministering to someone. Another person will be the one who receives the joy of harvest.

Patience is not having to control the outcome of whatever circumstance is before us. It is receiving with awe the gifts of blue sky, fresh air, and the company of sons on a fruitless fishing junket and calling the junket a life-changing experience. It is thanking God for making us wait to have our prayers answered because of the way it shapes and forms our character. It is celebrating the reality that when we have done God's will in ministry, fruit beyond our comprehension is being birthed even though we may never taste it firsthand.

Patience is letting God be Lord of our lives.

It's late...

Jeff