LESSONS IN A WALK BY THE SHORE

   I walked by the river shore today, hoping to find a treasure- perhaps a unique piece of driftwood, or some other wonderful find. The day was balmy, and the sun was smiling; but the wind was stiff, and the energy from the wind was transferring into waves sloshing against the shore. The whooshing sound of the incoming waves, and the spray in the air were refreshing. I walked quite a distance and found  a rare gnarly piece of driftwood, as well as a twisted piece. I walked slowly back to the car, not really wanting to leave the peaceful feel and sound of the river, and a beautiful little flower arrested my attention. I stood for awhile looking at it and thinking, "What is that bright little flower doing on that barren and ugly bank?"

It was alone, but glowing and healthy. I realized that a seed had somehow defied the elements and clung tenaciously to the rocky soil and coal pieces until it sprouted and became a plant, and ultimately bloomed into a bright yellow cluster of flowers that mirrored the sun in their little faces. I had to take a picture to share with you. Lesson 1: I can grow and glow alone and untended if I determine to brave the elements and barrenness.

   I noted several brightly blooming wildflowers as I wandered along the shore. I climbed the grassy bank and noticed a yellow wildflower sporting its perfect beauty as it thrived among the grasses which had succumbed to the drought. This flower had searched for the little drops of water, and had thrived and blossomed on the drops while the surrounding vegetation gave up and died. Lesson 2 for me: I can search for the little drops in life that will help me to thrive on the positive and help me to grow into beauty in the midst of defeat and death.

   For several weeks, I had taken note of the skeleton of a huge tree that had been uprooted and carried by the flood and deposited on the riverbank. Over the year, it has become smooth and polished as it lay there until it has become a sculptured marvel that could not be perfected by any gifted sculpter. "How did it become so perfect in form?" I wondered.

 It was windy today, and the river was heaving and rolling. I would sometimes hear a crashing and roaring that would cause me to jump to 'alert' status; and I would see the fury of the waves crashing and rolling along the trunk of the tree to end at the polished root and subside in a murmur of spray and foam.

Aha! This is how the tree is sculpted to  smooth perfection and beauty! Another lesson: those who can take the crashing, furious waves of life, wearing day after day at the heart and the soul will be polished and beautiful in soul and spirit-a virtual showpiece for God! Now that is a precious thought!

    We had a fun and active Sunday School today. It seemed necessary to offer lots of interactive activities, and the children rose to the spirit of fun. After the lesson, we went downstairs, and they spent a long time creating with fun scissors, cool paper, leaf-shaped punches, stamps, markers, and glue. We love the children that God has sent to us. They are often the beautiful little flowers, blooming among circumstances. Please pray for them and for us, as we bloom wherever God has placed us.

Thank you for your interest, and please pray for Lower Brule.

"IF IT BE, GIVE ME THY HAND."



Sunflower Fields Almost Ready to Harvest

     Every Sunday is different in Lower Brule, and this mystery is part of the pleasure of our going each week. Different people drop in for services, and we might not see someone for many weeks or months, and that person will come again when we are not expecting him. On the other hand, someone we have never seen in church will sometimes show up. Sometimes, not so often, no one will show up on Sunday mornings; and Ray and I have chosen a book to read and study together when that happens.

    This morning was one of those rare mornings, and we studied A Wesleyan-Holiness Theology, authored by J. Kenneth Grider. We chose this book together, as we were wanting to

'brush up' on the theology that we have embraced in our lives. We have noted in the last several years, especially, that many ideas are touted as 'theology' and 'doctrine,' and we are left scratching our heads. This book has a clear and in-depth study of the history and facets of Wesleyan-Holiness Theology. I'll only briefly share a few gleanings so far in this book if you will allow me-1) experience

2) its existential interest, and 3) its catholicity.

   1) This theology emphasizes an experience of a relationship with God even more than a framework of specific thought: The Apostle's Creed does not read, "I believe that," but, "I believe in God the Father," etc. (Grider, p. 29).

   2) Wesleyan-Holiness theology is interested in the existing human situation. It is interested in life situations of individual persons. It is interested in truth, therefore, as a way of life lived according to God's will...in goodness as consisting of acts that produce a fulfilling life in ourselves and others. ...It is content to live with what is rationally muddy. It is content to let God change our anxiety-producing situations or help us live victoriously in the midst of such situations (Grider, p. 30).

   3) In discussing the differences in opinion and thought-including differences in theology and doctrine- John Wesley wrote: For God's sake, if it be possible to avoid it, let us not provoke one another to wrath."  In Wesley's Works 8, "The Character of a Methodist," he poses the question: 'What is a Methodist?' after which he writes a four page definition of such without suggesting one doctrine as the mark of a Methodist. Wesley finishes this subject with this statement: Is thy heart right, as my heart is with thine? I ask no further question. If it be, give me thy hand. (Wesley, "The Character of a Methodist," in Works 8, p 340-347; quoted in Grider, p. 34).




"If it be, Give me thy hand."

   I am hoping I have not bored you, but I especially love the thought that we can enjoy the fellowship of anyone whose heart beats to the love of God and the love of others. I appreciate my friends who are willing to reach their hands across a table and grasp mine and pray for a specific need in my life, as I do for them; or who, in the midst of other business, promise to remember a need of mine in prayer as I promise the same to them.

    We were happy to offer our hand of love to several childen who came to Sunday School this afternoon. They are an exuberant lot, though today was a little subdued. School has begun, and they feel a bit 'down,' perhaps, that summer freedom is curtailed. They complained a little about going back to school, but I'm sure they will survive. :)



The kids decorated their own cookies to take home with them. :)

   Thank you for offering your hand in love and fellowship as you share the work in Lower Brule. Please reach across the table (so to speak), and offer prayer for the people of Lower Brule. Thank you, and God Bless You!!

CULTURE

Field of Sunflowers

   I suppose one of my very most favorite things to do in life is to watch and study people: Any people, anywhere. Ray, Esther, and I were waiting at O'Hare Airport in Chicago for Esther's flight to Florida, and I found it a most interesting vantage point to study people. We played a quiet game in which we would name in a low voice to each other our guess of each passing person's vocation. It was intriguing. Culture is another interest of mine. I love to study the culture of many countries and places; and, for that reason, I love to talk to a large cross-section of people-country people, city people, people from the west, people from the east, and people who did not originate in the USA.      

   Today was a treat of culture, as we drove around the little village of Lower Brule and observed the many people who were engaging in many different activities. The little village was pulsing and busy with many, many people. I hope you enjoy the pictures we shot as we drove around to the many activities.

Parade

Collecting candy from the parade route

Pow-Wow

Pow-Wow Tepees

Rodeo and horse auction

Rides

Thank you for your interest in Lower Brule as you continue to pray for it, and may your heart burn within you as you walk and talk with the Master this week.

CASTING...CARE

"Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you." I Peter 5:7

 I have talked with a number of people this week who have concerns, fear, and pain. While on the phone with different people, I heard a cry of pain in the background, a tone of panic in the voice of a daughter whose father was very sick and an unknown future loomed before the family, a wife who was suffering with her husband's pain. I also recognized a day this week of fear and uncertainty and pain for my own husband when he had an accident with a power saw.  These days would completely unnerve us if we could not cast all our care upon Him.  Peace is knowing that God is still powerful, He turns a heart of love to us, and He knows our future. When resting on Him (God), I have seen this week's situations work out as everyone trusted God. Some of the situations will still be existing for a long time, but peace is restored in the hearts of those who face difficulties so that these rough roads can be traversed with a clear mind.  Each day, each moment...casting...casting...casting.
As for Ray, we are so thankful that the saw did not cut 1mm deeper, as the doctor informed me that he would have lost the feeling and mobility of his thumb and fingers if it had gone that much deeper. We are also thankful for people who came to our 'rescue' to help finish up the project that was started and closed the roof against the elements. We will keep casting as the days go on, as all of us will face days of need in the future.

We had a good Sunday today at Lower Brule. We drove up this morning, knowing that the weeds in the yard were growing (the grass is burned dead from the heat), and knowing that it will be harder for us to keep things up while Ray's hand is laid up for the next 6 weeks. Happy day!! Some kind young man had come and mowed the weeds that were up in the yard. :)  We had a good morning service, and some of the children came early to Sunday School this afternoon, allowing time for us to 'bond' and talk about different things in their lives. Though the children were lively, most of them sang well and listened to the story. They were also interested in their craft project, and left happy. We came home tired but happy.

Thank you for your interest in Lower Brule. Have a blessed week, and cast... your care on Him.

The Missionary

Webster's II New College Dictionary defines a missionary as "One sent on a mission, esp. one sent to do religious or charitable work in a territory or foreign country."  I would like to add a developed definition to this one:
~one who leaves the comfort of his or her own family for the comfort of others who dearly love you and support you in bad times.
~one who has no promise of sufficient financial support to find the thrill of a Heavenly Father who knows the needs unknown to others, and supplies miraculously.
~one who knows what it is to grieve alone, but knows the depths of comfort from the Holy Spirit.
~one who rejoices at all missionary enterprises when they have joy, and one who has a deep interest in everyone everywhere.
~one who does not embrace the value system of the world-money and possessions do not hold much interest to him.
~one who knows that those who do not understand the true meaning of missions will often say cruel and cutting things, but a missionary will remember the core issue and ignore the barbs.
~after being in the presence of a true missionary, I always recognize a different 'heartbeat' in him than most people carry. The missionary's interest in sincerely in individuals.
~missionaries and their children are often 'different.' Perhaps this is sometimes  because they have seen and heard what the average man does not see and hear while they go about their work.
~a missionary who understands his mission recognizes that after all is said and done, Jesus told us to say, "I am an unprofitable servant." Real missionaries do not need to be treated special.
~missionaries know the depths of discouragement that few people feel, and they know the highest joys that are reserved for those who give themselves completely to the mission of God.
Just a few thoughts. May God bless you! Have a wonderful week! Please pray for Lower Brule.

This Week :)

Storm moving in as we drove

This week at Lower Brule started last Monday, as Ray and I drove out in the evening to pick up the trash thrown in the yard, mow the grass and trim it up. We were pleased when we found the yard partly mowed, and we were able to finish the job and trim the yard neatly by dark. We were able to visit some people, also. Throughout the rest of the week, we were preparing the bus to take out and leave at a friend's house where it would be safe during the week, thus diminishing the cost of the fuel that we had been spending to take it or our van back and forth on Sundays. We still need to put some signs on the bus, but we can get that done quite easily. We had decided that we would take Thursday through Saturday for a few days to 'go apart and rest awhile,' and we left the bus near Lower Brule and drove on over to the Black Hills to camp and refresh. We had a wonderful time, and enjoyed God's beauty.

Camping and resting

   Ray and I seldom 'sit alone' on Sunday mornings, but this morning was one of those times. We had a good time praying together, and we sat down together and read some doctrinal statements. We feel that it is very important that we adhere to our doctrine, as a deviance in small points can greatly change our destination. I read the following quote while leisurely reading a book, and I thought it was an interesting one: "...if you don't use heaven as a continual referendum for your ideas you'll find earth a continual recall to your ambitions." ~This Side of Paradise, Francis Scott Fitzgerald

Part of the group today

We had a larger than usual group of children in Sunday School today, though we have had that many before. The children are so precious, and they love to sing and hear the Bible story. Today we told about Peter and John being miraculously released from prison by an angel. They wore their Bible verse home on their arm: "With God all things are possible."  They went home happy and we went home happy-tired. :)

Thank you for your interest in Lower Brule Wesley Chapel. Please pray for the people of Lower Brule.

WHY WE DO IT...

Cast thy bread upon the waters,

Ye who have but scant supply;

Angel eyes will watch above it;

You shall find it by and by;

He who in his righteous balance

Doth each human action weigh,

Will your sacrifice remember,

Will your loving deeds repay.

Cast your bread upon the waters,

Far and wide your treasures strew;

Scatter it with willing fingers;

Shout for joy to see it go!

For if you do closely keep it,

It will only drag you down;

If you love it more than Jesus,

It will keep you from your crown.

Cast thy bread upon the waters,

Waft it on with praying breath,

In some distant, doubtful moment

It may save a soul from death;

When you sleep in solemn silence,

'Neath the morn and evening dew,

Stranger hands which you have strengthened,

May strew lilies over you.

                      R. Edgar (William J. Kirkpatrick)

I started the car, drew a deep breath, and let it out in a sigh. I did not place my hand on the gearshift to reverse out of the driveway, but simply asked Ray, "Why do we do this?" It was a thought I had grappled with most of that week. Ray was emphatic and defensive: "We do it for the Lord, and we do it because we want to do it!" OK, he was right-I backed out of the drive and we drove to Lower Brule and held church and Sunday School and returned home in the afternoon, as usual. We love working with the people of Lower Brule; we love the friendliness of them, the eager acceptance and love of the children. The beauty of the area speaks peace to us, and the moods and changes in the river blend with our moods and changes. We worship freely in the little church building there. Ray and I enjoy our quiet time that we get to spend down by the river or high on the overlook eating our sandwich lunch between morning worship and the afternoon Sunday School. Our little drive in the car over and back is a special time to relax and exchange ideas and plans-an oasis in our busy lives. There are times when we can see the small impact that we have in lives in Lower Brule, also; though Ray carries more of the ministry there with the adults. He especially enjoys a ministry with the men of Lower Brule in many different areas. We never know what influence we carry-once he listened to a man who was angry and bent on a mission of killing someone who had offended him, and he prayed with him and helped him to change his plan of action. I'm sure there are times that we are not aware of helping others in emotional times of their lives, but we have influenced them to the good.
The harder side of working at Lower Brule is the financial side, the physical wear and tear, the inability to meet deadlines of work that needs to be done, the ridicule and criticism of those who should be helping with encouragement when we do not reach their ideas of 'success' in the work, and the aloneness-especially when faced with a huge task or an emotionally demanding circumstance. One thing we have discovered in the 'harder side' of the work: God picks up in those instances. We have experienced miracles in those times when we could not do it ourselves and in financial crunches, and those have become precious memories that we will always cherish.

Thank you for your interest in and prayers for Lower Brule as we 'do it because we want to do it!' :)