Blessing

Several months ago our church was blessed when we we granted a Local Minister's License to one of our members. In our denomination it is the first steps towards ordination. It is the local body saying, "We see the gifts and graces for ministry in this person." In the months since I have been blessed to get to know him as he has worked on some of his educational requirements as he continues to prepare for ministry.

Yesterday I personally was blessed as I sat and listened to his first sermon. I have to say that it was amazing. I laughed, I was challenged and I have to say that I was very proud of him. If you have not yet heard it I recommend that you visit our church web site and look up the sermon for March 25th. (willaminafmc.org)

There is a wonderful sense of rightness when you can see the pieces all begin to fall into place and that is what I experienced yesterday. Matt was doing what God has called him to do and that showed in every word he shared.

I am so glad, so honored to be part of his journey. I know that God is going to do incredible things in and through him in the months ahead. I can hardly wait to see what happens next.

"...devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching."

1 Timothy 4:12

Just Connie

Highway Cleanup

Today was highway cleanup. The Kiwanis, Chamber of Commerce members and other volunteers showed up bright and early to walk along the highway and pick up garbage. We actually do it once a quarter and it helps keep our community clean and in good shape,

This morning we were blessed by fabulous weather after a week of snow and sleet. The sun shone bright and it made the job much easier. But after spending a couple of hours picking up garbage I have a couple of realizations. Most of the garbage was either alcohol or tobacco related ..... lots of cans bottles and cigarette packages. Draw your own conclusion there.

The other realization was people throw weird stuff out the window. Do I really want to know how some man lost his underwear? Or what was the story of the bed sheet? There are those things that completely defying any explanation. You cannot convince me that someone did not notice that they lost a TV.

But in the end we got as much picked up as we could. We made a difference to the best of our ability. And I guess that is what really matters.

Just Connie

Following the Call

Ever since high school all I have ever wanted to do was to be a pastor. The seed was planted in such a casual way. I was at a friend's house and we were sitting in a circle with the grownups who were discussing the sermon we had heard. Being who I was, I piped up with what I thought and Uncle Bud who was a Nazarene minister turned to me and said, "You should consider being a pastor". I was stunned. I was not even sure that women were allowed to be pastors. I didn't even fully understand what it was that pastors did. I can remember being shocked into silence.

But in the months that followed God planted such a strong desire in me to follow Him. And in the following grew a passion for ministry. While in college I served on church boards, led worship, headed up Campus Ministry projects and threw myself into church life. I found a joy and a rightness in all of the ministry opportunities that I explored.

In the years since then I have been privileged to not only be called to ministry but to be offered places to serve. But even in those opportunities have been those times when I have been rejected because of my gender. I often meet women who are called and trained but have no place to serve and it always fills me with a thankfulness for the doors that have been opened to me as it also fills me with a sorrow for those who are never given the chance to fulfill their call.

I pray for the day when God's people can serve regardless of gender or race. I am committed to giving the marginalized a place to be heard, a place to grow and a place to serve. I pray as well that I will never stand in someone's way as they respond to the call.

Imagine what a difference it could make .....

Just Connie

Springtime in Alaska

There is a song that I grew up singing with my family, "It's Springtime in Alaska".  It tells of how the Eskimos go swimming in 50 feet of snow. I have to admit that song has come to mind several times today. As I sit here typing this I am watching the snow come down yet again. The trees are white and and it seems that though the calendar says that it is spring, the weather does not seem to know that.

So after a very busy week and a 14 hour work day yesterday I decided to gather up my briefcase and go home. And here I am, instead of doing housework I am curled up in front of the fire watching the snow. 

I am thinking that nights like this are pretty rare and I am planning on enjoying every moment of it. in fact .... I think what I need now is ... popcorn.

Yep, fire, popcorn and netflix ..... ahhhh ....

Just Connie

Heroine

I recently saved my son from certain death. Now, he did not know it at the time and to be honest I am having a bit of trouble getting him to accept that fact. But none the less, that is my perspective.


It started early one dark morning when I blearily made my way into the bathroom to be greeted by a visitor, a visitor of rodent variety. At that point my body hijacked the rest of me as I let out a piercing scream while trying to get my suddenly uncooperative body parts back out of the bathroom. As I tried to get through a doorway that was suddenly much too small for all of me, I rammed into the shelving by the door and knocked it all down. As the house was still ringing with my screams and the crash of falling furniture my son came hurtling out of his bedroom to save me from the crazed killer he thought must be chasing me through the house.

When I told him that there was a mouse in the bathroom he looked at me with total disbelief and it was at that point that he began to lecture me about reacting so strongly to a poor little mouse and scaring him so badly. That is when I pointed out that he should be thanking me for saving his life. That “poor little mouse” I explained, was on his way to his bedroom to kill him in his sleep. I had stopped it. I had sacrificed myself, my dignity and my body parts (that had crashed into the shelves) to save him from the murderous mouse.

He opened his mouth to reply several times but nothing came out. That was when I patted him on his head and told him, "You're welcome son".

That is my story and I am sticking to it.

Thinking Thoughts

I have stuff to think about tonight. I attended a women in leadership conference today. One of the workshops I went to made me very uncomfortable. I knew that it would ... but I thought that I probably needed to go anyway.

I went to a "Women in Abusive Relationships" workshop. I have to admit that I was uncomfortable just walking in. I kept reminding myself that I have had lots of healing and I have come a long way in the last three and a half years. But yet I still found my heart beating faster as I listened. I still find it very hard to believe that I am one of "those" women. But that is the reality.

But yet, I refuse to be defined by that abuse. I recognize that there are danger points for me in that experience and I still have healing that needs to happen at those points. But I am more than my experience as an abused woman. I am learning about myself and the choices I have made. I am straining towards health and wellness.  I am loved and loving. I have friends and family who want to stand with me as I move forward. God is bringing healing and illumination to the dark spots of my past.

I am living and loving and growing and I think .... that is a pretty good place to be.

Just Connie

Project Thoughts

I am learning something new ... something I could never imagine myself doing ..... I am learning to crochet. I am actually finishing a project that was begun by sister before she died. As I am working on it my sister has been on my mind.

It makes me wonder .... I wonder who she started the project for ... I wonder what she was thinking about as she worked on it. As I work I remember the wonderful vivacious woman that she was. I remember the many things she brought into our lives. Every stitch I place brings her back to me.

And I think ..... that is a very good thing.

Just Connie

Fire Department Thoughts

I got to take a behind the scenes look at our Fire Department today. I met with the Fire Chief to go over my responsibilities as part of the Fire Board. We went over budget, policies and procedures. It was great look at workings of a real live Fire Department.

After we finished all of the paperwork and general overview, the Chief gave me a full tour of everything. We looked at the day room where the firemen and paramedics relax, the dorm rooms, the meeting rooms, the call center and then he took me into the bays where all the fire trucks and ambulances are kept. I felt like a child on a field trip. I have to say that there was something in me that wanted to get up on the Fire Trucks and turn on the sirens and lights.

But I somehow managed to keep myself in line and not embarrass myself. In truth I ended up being amazed at the quality of the Fire Department, the equipment and the personnel. And I admit to feeling privileged to be able to have this chance to serve with them.

But .... someday .... I hope I get to ride a fire truck. I think the little kid in me does not live very far under the surface.

Just Connie

Snow Play

I woke to snow this morning. I looked out the window and there was a winter wonderland in my backyard. So being totally mature I immediately put on my shoes and went running outside in the snow. Hope Puppy thought that was a wonderful idea and ran and jumped and chased snowballs with me as the sun rose.

Eventually though, I had to pretend to be a grown up and actually go and get ready for work. As I have thought about my reaction to the snow break, I realize how little time I seem to have in my life for just play. Most of my time is fairly scheduled. I have meetings and appointments and there are goals to be met and people to see.

I am thinking that play is just as important to me as an adult as it is to children. Realizing that it is important ... it seems like something that I should try to work into my life. But yet scheduling play somehow seems counter productive.

I have a feeling that allowing time in my busy schedule is probably the key. I need to be able to have the time for those spontaneous outbreaks of fun. That sounds easy but yet it also seems so hard to do. But yet if it is important and I think it is, then I should try.

Anyone want to come and help?

Just Connie

Complaint

I want to complain .... it is one of those silly little hardships of being a single woman in ministry that sometimes wears on me. For most men in ministry, on potluck Sundays their wives prepare the meal their family will bring to the potluck. For most of my male counterparts all they have to do is sail in the door and preach and teach on Portluck Sundays. But for me potluck Sundays are a bit different.

It usually starts on the day before when I bake a chicken and strip it down for use in my Potluck dish. That is when I usually bake the cake as well. Then on Sunday morning I jump out of bed and get myself ready, then I head to kitchen and begin to cook the noodles for the casserole and frost the cake. I usually spend about an hour frantically trying to get everything finished so it is fresh for the potluck. By the time that I load everything into the car and head to the church it has already been a full morning.

Yesterday was like that for me with an additional complexity. After the potluck we were having a pie auction. That meant that not only did I have potluck dishes to prepare but I had pies to create.. I spent Saturday in a flurry of baking trying to get ready. Of course that was after I had taught my Saturday membership class. I fell into bed Saturday night exhausted and not as far along as I would have liked to be with all my dishes.

But finally, Sunday found me headed to the church with my extra large casserole, my cake, two cream pies, my briefcase and of course my purse. Just getting into the church was a major undertaking. And of course it was raining buckets so I got very wet as I carted everything into the church. I put my casserole in the oven, the pies in the fridge and headed towards my office for my normal Sunday mayhem.

But somehow it all got done. The Sunday school class was taught, the sermon preached, the potluck eaten and of course the pie auction all auctioned off. I headed home tired but satisfied at the over $850 that had been raised for the Bible Quizzing Team at a very fun event.

But I would just like to say for all you male pastors out there ...... "You have it soooooo easy!".

Just Connie

CPR Class

I spent last night with a bunch of firemen.  And as I have prepared to be a Fire Department Chaplain I was reminded that  it was time (past time) to get my re-certification for my CPR. So I headed on over to the Firehouse and joined with the local EMT's and the firemen for the re-certification class.

Over the next three hours I gave chest compressions to my dummy and breathed deep rescue breathes as I saved the poor thing over and over again. Finally we were tested and sent on our way.

It was a lot of fun and you know I am thankful for requirements that make me do things I would not normally schedule. Things like this class. I learned lots, I am better equipped and I had fun.

After all, what more could you ask for?

Just Connie

Public Official

I was sworn into public office tonight. I have to say that I was a bit surprised to find myself there. I was asked several weeks ago if I would consider filling the remainder of a term for someone who had left the City Fire Department Board. Tonight they voted unanimously to appoint me to the term.

As I stood in front of the flag, raised my right hand and was sworn in, I was unexpectedly moved by the ceremony. To swear to uphold the Constitution of the United States is an amazing vow. I am really honored to have this opportunity.

This next year should prove interesting as I serve over this next year. Who knows I might even learn something?

I guess stranger things can happen ... after all I was sworn into public office tonight.

Just Connie

Microwave Woes

Last month my very large and very inefficient microwave died. One day it was working and the next it did not. I was totally outraged! Though in all fairness I have had it 10 years and I bought it second hand then. So .... outraged or not the sad truth was that I now had a 60 pound paperweight sitting int he cupboard.

So one day two weeks ago I trundled my little self off to Walmart to scope out the microwaves. After hemming and hawing and pretending that I actually knew something about what I was doing, I chose a lower end mid range micowave and carted it back home with me.

I excitedly unpacked it and placed it tenderly in the cupboard. I polished the chrome and showed it off to my son who heated a cup of coffee in it and said, "Hey do you know the 5 does not work?" There I stood looking at my beautiful wonderful purchase .... with disbelief across my face. My son immediately said, "Hey you have the receipt, so take it back." But that seemed like such a huge miserable process. So my solution was .... "who needs a 5? Use the 4 or the 6 instead". That kind of chicken thinking backfired the next day when I realized the that the start button did not work on the new microwave either.

So today my son and I headed back to the big city to try to return the microwave. I cannot even express how much I was dreading this. It had been two weeks since I had purchased it and I had actually used it before I realized that it was not working. I was not sure they would accept it back. So with fear in my heart I marched to the counter and said, "I would like to exchange this microwave for another because the 5 and the start button do not work." The manager looked at me and said, "Okay". I almost fell over I was so shocked. But I was soon loading a new microwave into the car and heading back home with it.

As I have reflected on the whole process I was reminded of a few things.

• Reality is seldom worse than the dread of what I think the reality might be (fear)
• Putting it off did not make it fix itself (procrastination)
• Having someone to push me to do the right thing helped me do it (encouragement)
• It is nice to have someone around to lug around heavy microwaves (muscles)

All in all, my fears were groundless and I caused myself a lot of stress by dreading how horrible it was going to be. Perhaps I will be quicker next time to not stay in my fear but move towards a solution. I can always hope .....

Just Connie

I Sprung a Leak

I sprung a leak today. I did not plan on it and I certainly was not prepared for it ... but nevertheless, I sprung a leak.

It was a bright sunny cold afternoon so my son and I packed up the dogs and headed down to walk around the pond. The swallows were swooping and diving, the ducks and the geese were swimming around letting us know that spring was in the air.

As I walked I threw a stick for Hope Puppy to chase. The game soon led her into the pond where she happily swam after her stick. I laughed as I picked up the stick as she galloped at my side hopping up and down, spraying water everywhere. And that is when it happened .... as she was hopping up and down her tooth caught my hand. I stood there looking down in disbelief as the blood began to drip off my hand. I was trying to be somewhat unobtrusive as I applied pressure to try to slow the bleeding down. But as my son turned around and caught sight of me, the look on his face told me that I was not unobtrusive enough.

Giving up trying to hide it, I began searching for anything I could wrap around it to help slow down the bleeding. The only thing I had in my pocket was ..... the plastic bag I brought in case Hope Puppy needed a rest stop. As I wrapped the bag around my finger I began to laugh .... it was just too ridiculous. My son eyed me warily and asked me if I was feeling light headed. As I continued to giggle, I pulled the bag tight  and we headed back to the car.

Once back in the car I discarded the very gory looking plastic bag, grabbed some diaper wipes and began to wrap them around my hand. As I tried to slow the bleeding, it dawned on me that I had gone from the doggie waste bags to diaper wipes neither of which I remember being utilized in my first aid classes. I laughed all the way home.

Eventually we made it home and I was able to scrub and disinfect all the bloody parts. Then I had to clean up the car and the bathroom both of which looked like an axe murderer had stopped by. Now I am sitting here in front of the fire with a very nice pressure bandage keeping everything where it is supposed to be.

Who knew that walking could be so hazardous?

Just Connie

The Reality of Study Days

Mondays .... I love them! They are my sermon and study day. Can you picture the quiet contemplation as I search God's heart and study the Word? Quiet music in the background ... reference books spread across my desk .... pages of notes and thoughts .... somehow it never is quite the way that I hope it will be.

For instance, this morning I made a 7:30 run to the post office where the box was jammed with mail. From there I headed to the church. I want to give you an idea of what it is like to just get from the car to the church. I grab my briefcase (weighs about 30 pounds) and put it on my shoulder, then I grab my backpack which has my exercise clothes, my purse, the sack that has my lunch in it and then grabbed with stack of mail which I tried to balance on top of the bags I was carrying. While staggering to the church under this load I was searching for the front door key out of the 50 some keys on my ring. all the while Hope Puppy is dancing around my feet is sheer excitement and threatening to upend the whole thing.

But I finally make it in and staggered to the church office where I sorted mail, listened for messages and went through everything that was put in my box on Sunday. Then I grab my briefcase once again, my backpack, purse and lunch and head to my office in the other end of the church. By the time I am trying to unlock my door my phone is ringing and as I sprint to the phone I am dropping lunch, sacks, bags and briefcase. Hope Puppy is still jumping up and down at my feet and impeding any real forward progress I am making. Of course by the time I get to the phone they have hung up and then it is time to hand up the backpack, stow my purse, pull out my computer form briefcase and do a quick check of my e-mail for anything that has to answered before I begin my nice quiet day of study.

It is while I am answering the 15 e-mails I received overnight that I get my first visitor of the day. By the time I waved goodbye to them and finished my e-mails more of the morning had disappeared than I really wanted.

But I pulled out my Bible and looked up my Scripture reference, put on some nice Gregorian chant music and began to think about what the Scripture passage was saying to me. And that is when the next visitor came in. Sigh .....

Since then I have studied, been instant message several times, fielded several phone calls and generally tried to arrange my studying around everything else that is going on. I have to admit that it is days like today when I really, REALLY, miss having a secretary in the office. It was nice to have someone to run interference for me on Mondays.

However, with all of that complaining and whining being said, the thing I know is that God will still speak to me and the message will come together. Perhaps not in the quiet contemplative way that I would most like, but in the way that is reflective of life.

And I guess that sermon preparation built out of life is probably .... a very good thing.

Just Connie

Quietness

Quietness .... it is surrounding me this evening like a warm fuzzy blanket. The fire is adding a soft glow to the room and the dogs are curled up on the couch next to me. I am filled with a sense of peace as I enjoy a very rare quiet evening at home.

Having my son staying with me has been a wonderful opportunity to get to know the man he has grown into. It has been nice to have company and someone to unwind with at the end of the day. However .... at times I find that I miss having alone time.

But currently my son is spending a few days in Salem working and that means the doggies and I are on our own. This morning I slept in, puttered around the house, went out for coffee and then came home and took a nap. A wonderful day of peace and relation that has been very rare as I have struggled to throw off the last of my illness.

So I will enjoy every moment of  two rare days off. I will get some extra rest and I will perhaps even get a few things done around the house. But mostly I will let the peace and quiet flow through me.

And that is a very good feeling indeed ....

Just Connie