It was a great evening of connecting last night as we gathered with many of the pastors, spouses and boards of the churches of Southwest Iowa at the annual Pastor /Board banquet. We had the privilege of rubbing shoulders with some “giants” of the faith as our district leadership shared vision and encouragement with us. We met many of the board members who serve behind the scenes in the Kingdom of God and truly demonstrate the “Aaron and Hur” spirit of support.
Exodus 17:10-13 So Joshua did what Moses had commanded and fought the army of Amalek. Meanwhile, Moses, Aaron, and Hur climbed to the top of a nearby hill. As long as Moses held up the staff in his hand, the Israelites had the advantage. But whenever he dropped his hand, the Amalekites gained the advantage. Moses' arms soon became so tired he could no longer hold them up. So Aaron and Hur found a stone for him to sit on. Then they stood on each side of Moses, holding up his hands. So his hands held steady until sunset. As a result, Joshua overwhelmed the army of Amalek in battle."
There are times I am to let the Aaron and Hur people around me hold my arms up and there are times I am to be holding up the arms of others. My discernment of which mode I am in is extremely important in my life. Ministry is not to be done alone. We need each other. My cousin wrote me a note yesterday about our heritage. She wrote that she feels blessed to live in ” a wonderful family upon whose shoulders we stand.”
I am blessed !
Showing posts with label Heritage. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Heritage. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Treasures in the corners
As a child one of the most exciting days of the year was the opening of the box of Christmas decorations because it meant a very special day was getting close. I have never been very good at throwing things away. Consequently, there are boxes full of “valuable” stuff surrounding me. I have uncovered some treasures in my effort to unclutter my life in preparation for this Christmas. Some of the items that may seem like “clutter” have significant value when itemized while being unvalued as part of a pile in the corner. Some of them have heritage value in that they are a significant tile from the mosaic that has made up my life thus far. Other things have symbolic value in that they represent or make me think about something important to me. For example,
Cassette tapes with the voices of loved ones. I wish I had recorded more of my grandparents sharing times. I am blessed to still have those voices in my minds ears even though they were not caught on tape.
Slides, movies, videos and pictures of people, events and places. It is amazing how our minds can transform us back and allow us to almost hear and smell Christmases of the past.
I have my grandma Berge’s letter opener that I made for her. She undoubtedly used it to excitedly open letters that contained news of family. Many times those letters were the only real contact she had with some of her loved ones. I still remember which buffet drawer she kept it in and for me to have it on my shelf is an honor.
I even have my first grade report card where my teacher reported to my parents that I was having a struggle with organization and neatness. I have large items and small items and precious little time to ponder them.
I feel very blessed today.
Cassette tapes with the voices of loved ones. I wish I had recorded more of my grandparents sharing times. I am blessed to still have those voices in my minds ears even though they were not caught on tape.
Slides, movies, videos and pictures of people, events and places. It is amazing how our minds can transform us back and allow us to almost hear and smell Christmases of the past.
I have my grandma Berge’s letter opener that I made for her. She undoubtedly used it to excitedly open letters that contained news of family. Many times those letters were the only real contact she had with some of her loved ones. I still remember which buffet drawer she kept it in and for me to have it on my shelf is an honor.
I even have my first grade report card where my teacher reported to my parents that I was having a struggle with organization and neatness. I have large items and small items and precious little time to ponder them.
I feel very blessed today.
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Grandpa and the train
Since I am writing about “Heritage” this week, I decided write about trains.
From American Heritage magazine:
“In Alfred Hitchcock’s 1959 classic North by Northwest, Cary Grant escapes from New York by train and meets Eva Marie Saint in an elegant dining car as the Hudson River rolls by in the background. The train was the 20th Century Limited, and when the film was made it was still the “Greatest Train in the World,” as the New York Central Railroad had long boasted. But eight years later, on this day in 1967, the 20th Century completed its final run. And that was the end of the line for regular luxury train travel in the United States.”
It seems to me that trains are such a huge part of our heritage in that travel was renovated when the rails were put in place. With the advent of the locomotive came the fast movement and we became this mobile society that could get from point A to point B in a matter of hours instead of days. I still can remember the sound of the steam locomotives making their way up the grade. One of my memories of my grandfather, who died when I was 6, is sitting outside with him when the train left town. We were a couple miles from that sound but in the distance we could hear the train whistle and the great steam engine as it began its trek to wherever it was headed. Grandpa loved the trains. Still today you can find old men who will get emotional and excited if you talk of the trains or mention the “”Soo Line” or the “Rock Island Line.” They can tell you stories of punctuality and feats of “Making the Grade” as they poured the coal into the box. The mystic of the grand days of the railroad has waned a bit, there is still something that stirs inside me when I hear a train whistle in the distance.
Many ballads have been written about the heritage of the rails. One of the most famous is the true story of the “Old Ninety Seven”
It was 97, the fastest trainEver ran the southern line
All the freight trains and pass'gers take the side for 97
For she's bound to be at stations on time
They gave him his orders at Monroe, Virginia
Saying, "Stevie, you're way behind time
This is not 38, but it's Old 97
You must put her into Spencer on time"
He looked 'round and said to his black greasy fireman
"Just shovel in a little more coal
And when I cross that old White Oak Mountain
You can just watch Old 97 roll"
It's a mighty rough road from Lynchburg to Danville
And the lie was a three-mile grade
It was on that grade that he lost his air brakes
And you see what a jump that she made
He was going down the grade making 90 miles an hour
When his whistle began to scream
He was found in that wreck with his hand on the throttle
He was scalded to death by the steam
Did she ever pull in? No, she never pulled in
And at 1:45 he was due
For hours and hours has the switchman been waiting
For that fast mail that never pulled through
Did she ever pull in?
No, she never pulled in
And that poor boy,
he must be dead
Oh, yonder he lays on the railroad track
With the cart wheels over his head 97,
she was the fastest trainThat the south had ever seen
But she run so fast on that Sunday morning
That the death score was numbered 14
Now, ladies, you must take warning
From this time now and on
Never speak harsh words to your true loving husband
He may leave you and never return
The concept of the Glory train leaving the station has been the topic of many sermons illustrating the end of life here and the destination of heaven.
Woody Guthrie took to the road in the twenties and wrote songs like “This Train”
This train is bound for glory, this train. This train is bound for glory, this train. This train is bound for glory, Don't carry nothing but the righteous and the holy. This train is bound for glory, this train.
This train don't carry no gamblers, this train; This train don't carry no gamblers, this train; This train don't carry no gamblers, Liars, thieves, nor big shot ramblers, This train is bound for glory, this train.
This train don't carry no liars, this train; This train don't carry no liars, this train; This train don't carry no liars, She's streamlined and a midnight flyer, This train don't carry no liars, this train.
This train don't carry no smokers, this train; This train don't carry no smokers, this train This train don't carry no smokers, Two bit liars, small time jokers, This train don't carry no smokers, this train.
This train don't carry no con men, this train; This train don't carry no con men, this train; This train don't carry no con men, No wheeler dealers, here and gone men, This train don't carry no con men, this train.
This train don't carry no rustlers, this train; This train don't carry no rustlers, this train; This train don't carry no rustlers, Sidestreet walkers, two bit hustlers, This train is bound for glory, this train.
When you are waiting for the train to pass at the crossing, rather than complaining about the delay, take a moment to thank God for this piece of our heritage and whisper a prayer for those who paid high prices for us to have it. Most of all remember to thank Jesus Christ for making the heritage of our heavenly home a reality.
From American Heritage magazine:
“In Alfred Hitchcock’s 1959 classic North by Northwest, Cary Grant escapes from New York by train and meets Eva Marie Saint in an elegant dining car as the Hudson River rolls by in the background. The train was the 20th Century Limited, and when the film was made it was still the “Greatest Train in the World,” as the New York Central Railroad had long boasted. But eight years later, on this day in 1967, the 20th Century completed its final run. And that was the end of the line for regular luxury train travel in the United States.”
It seems to me that trains are such a huge part of our heritage in that travel was renovated when the rails were put in place. With the advent of the locomotive came the fast movement and we became this mobile society that could get from point A to point B in a matter of hours instead of days. I still can remember the sound of the steam locomotives making their way up the grade. One of my memories of my grandfather, who died when I was 6, is sitting outside with him when the train left town. We were a couple miles from that sound but in the distance we could hear the train whistle and the great steam engine as it began its trek to wherever it was headed. Grandpa loved the trains. Still today you can find old men who will get emotional and excited if you talk of the trains or mention the “”Soo Line” or the “Rock Island Line.” They can tell you stories of punctuality and feats of “Making the Grade” as they poured the coal into the box. The mystic of the grand days of the railroad has waned a bit, there is still something that stirs inside me when I hear a train whistle in the distance.
Many ballads have been written about the heritage of the rails. One of the most famous is the true story of the “Old Ninety Seven”
It was 97, the fastest trainEver ran the southern line
All the freight trains and pass'gers take the side for 97
For she's bound to be at stations on time
They gave him his orders at Monroe, Virginia
Saying, "Stevie, you're way behind time
This is not 38, but it's Old 97
You must put her into Spencer on time"
He looked 'round and said to his black greasy fireman
"Just shovel in a little more coal
And when I cross that old White Oak Mountain
You can just watch Old 97 roll"
It's a mighty rough road from Lynchburg to Danville
And the lie was a three-mile grade
It was on that grade that he lost his air brakes
And you see what a jump that she made
He was going down the grade making 90 miles an hour
When his whistle began to scream
He was found in that wreck with his hand on the throttle
He was scalded to death by the steam
Did she ever pull in? No, she never pulled in
And at 1:45 he was due
For hours and hours has the switchman been waiting
For that fast mail that never pulled through
Did she ever pull in?
No, she never pulled in
And that poor boy,
he must be dead
Oh, yonder he lays on the railroad track
With the cart wheels over his head 97,
she was the fastest trainThat the south had ever seen
But she run so fast on that Sunday morning
That the death score was numbered 14
Now, ladies, you must take warning
From this time now and on
Never speak harsh words to your true loving husband
He may leave you and never return
The concept of the Glory train leaving the station has been the topic of many sermons illustrating the end of life here and the destination of heaven.
Woody Guthrie took to the road in the twenties and wrote songs like “This Train”
This train is bound for glory, this train. This train is bound for glory, this train. This train is bound for glory, Don't carry nothing but the righteous and the holy. This train is bound for glory, this train.
This train don't carry no gamblers, this train; This train don't carry no gamblers, this train; This train don't carry no gamblers, Liars, thieves, nor big shot ramblers, This train is bound for glory, this train.
This train don't carry no liars, this train; This train don't carry no liars, this train; This train don't carry no liars, She's streamlined and a midnight flyer, This train don't carry no liars, this train.
This train don't carry no smokers, this train; This train don't carry no smokers, this train This train don't carry no smokers, Two bit liars, small time jokers, This train don't carry no smokers, this train.
This train don't carry no con men, this train; This train don't carry no con men, this train; This train don't carry no con men, No wheeler dealers, here and gone men, This train don't carry no con men, this train.
This train don't carry no rustlers, this train; This train don't carry no rustlers, this train; This train don't carry no rustlers, Sidestreet walkers, two bit hustlers, This train is bound for glory, this train.
When you are waiting for the train to pass at the crossing, rather than complaining about the delay, take a moment to thank God for this piece of our heritage and whisper a prayer for those who paid high prices for us to have it. Most of all remember to thank Jesus Christ for making the heritage of our heavenly home a reality.
Monday, December 3, 2007
Heritage
I never know what event will boost me into the Christmas mentality each year. This year it was a special day of Southern Gospel Christmas music. Our special friends. The Hannah’s”, a gospel quartet from Arkansas, presented the Christmas story in song in a way that reminded us of all the reasons we celebrate this time of year.
There is something about southern gospel music that stirs my soul in a more intense way than other forms of music. I have become a true fan of contemporary gospel as well, but a dose of old southern gospel every so often really blesses me. Perhaps part of that is watching the congregation (all age groups) respond to the message in the songs. It’s kind of a wake up call to the heritage we take for granted.
Our heritage is a highly valuable asset that must be kept intact in our mind. I don’t quote Walt Disney very often, but I think he hit this one correctly when he said,
“Or heritage and ideals, our code and standards - the things we live by and teach our children - are preserved or diminished by how freely we exchange ideas and feelings.”
I think I will spend some blog time this week on the subject of “Heritage”
There is something about southern gospel music that stirs my soul in a more intense way than other forms of music. I have become a true fan of contemporary gospel as well, but a dose of old southern gospel every so often really blesses me. Perhaps part of that is watching the congregation (all age groups) respond to the message in the songs. It’s kind of a wake up call to the heritage we take for granted.
Our heritage is a highly valuable asset that must be kept intact in our mind. I don’t quote Walt Disney very often, but I think he hit this one correctly when he said,
“Or heritage and ideals, our code and standards - the things we live by and teach our children - are preserved or diminished by how freely we exchange ideas and feelings.”
I think I will spend some blog time this week on the subject of “Heritage”
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