CJ' s REFLECTIONS

Have you been watching the Decorah eagles? My cousin Allen sent me the link about a month ago and I have been peeking in on them from time to time. It has been quite amazing to watch the eaglets hatch, though I was not lucky enough to have peeked in on them at the time they hatched. Still it has been quite interesting to view them.

I have never seen an eagle up close. So to watch the mother eagle just sit on the nest was one thing but then the father showed up and I got to see them both up close. They are truly magnificent birds.

What has surprised me in watching these large birds of pray is how gently the mother bird turned her eggs and how attentive she is to the chicks now that they have hatched. I have only seen the father once but at that time the chicks had not hatched. He seemed to be very concerned as he nudged the mother off the eggs so he could look at them. He had brought her food and made sounds as though he was trying to encourage her. Then the male eagle stretched out his wings and flew off. Watching him stretch out his massive wings and so gently lift off the nest amazed me and I so wanted him to come back and do it again but he hasn’t been back when I’ve had time to peek in on them.

All three of the chicks are hatched now and they are moving around far more then I would have thought they would at a week or two old. Part of me wishes I had more time to watch them but I feel blessed to be able to see the little that I have seen of them. Oddly they have made me to think about one of my favorite scripture verses from the Old Testament. Isaiah 40:31 “but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary they will walk and not be faint.” (NIV)

This verse has seen me through some very rough times. It seemed like a promise that things would get better if I just trusted in the Lord. However, after watching the eagles this verse has taken on a somewhat broader meaning. Watching the mother eagle tuck an egg in under her wing using that sharp and deadly beak made me see how the eagle’s wing could also be a place of warmth and comfort and even protection. As I thought about that, I remembered Psalms 91:4 & 5 “he will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day,…” (NIV) For those little eaglets the mother’s wings are protection, warmth and comfort. I doubt that they know how far they are from the ground or even what the ground is. Right now their world is rather small; it consists of their nest and their parents who feed them. They are secure in their surroundings and all is right in their little world. However their world will change very quickly and when it does they will have to learn to fly on their own wings and soar high up in the sky.

The length of the father’s eagle’s wings rather amazed me. I knew they were large birds, I’ve seen them soaring over the church a couple of times but to see the wings stretched out up close covering the cameras whole view really impressed me. I could hear the force of air moving as the father flapped his wings and lifted off the nest. It spoke to me of power and strength in a new way. Isaiah implies that we too can have that power and strength if we hope in the Lord.

To hope in something means that we trust something good will happen. To hope in someone means that we trust the person we hope in, to be a person of integrity. To hope in them is to trust them to be honest and fair in all of their dealings. To trust in God is to have faith that what God has promised He will provide. To trust that He will be true to his word and all that he does. To trust in God is to look beyond ourselves and to accept that there is something, someone out there who cares for and about us. To believe what the scriptures tell us about God and about the Son and yes even what they tell us about the Holy Spirit is true and then to make it all real to us and to our lives.

Who would ever guess that watching eagles nest and hatch out their young would make anyone stop and think about God and all that he does for us. But then I’ve always thought that God was all around us. Maybe you’ve had the same experience as you have viewed the Decorah eagles. Maybe you have thought about other scripture verses as you viewed them. I’m told that I’m not alone in watching the eagles. I hope that I’m not alone in thinking about God either. At times it amazes me how God seems to remind me that he is around. So many of the simple everyday events of life seem to point me to God, reminding me that He is truly all around us if we will simply take the time to look for him. I hope that you are finding the same thing true in your life.

Hope to see you Sunday

Pastor C.J.







NEWS FROM CLUSTER TEN

Many people have looked for ways to help out the people in Japan after the earthquake and its continuing after shocks. The web sight for Week of Compassion says “While monetary gifts are the most effective and immediate way to respond to the crises in Japan, CWS hygiene kits would also be appreciated. The kits that were already sent to Japan were those pre-positioned in our CWS warehouses in the region. Those warehouses will need to be restocked.” Cluster Ten has already devised a way for you to help out by helping to restock the hygiene kits so there will be some if another disaster hits.

Cluster Ten, gathering will be in Creston. There will be a dedication serve for the Hygiene Kits going to Church World Services on May 15th at 2:30 p.m. There will be a coffee and cake fellowship time prior to the dedication service. Please plan to attend. We will car pool to Creston from the Church.

The Kids have been invited to a Pizza Party in Osceola on the way home from Creston. Please let Pastor C. J. know if you want to attend so she can RSVP to Osceola.







DISCIPLES NEWS FROM THE REDGION

Special Called Regional

Assembly was held April 9th

The "Called Assembly" gathered to ask questions about, and ultimately vote on, new ways to do ministry as “Disciples Together”. Some of these new ways were proposed by the Vision Task Group's "Proposed Regional Redesign". The assembly was held at Highland Park Christian Church in Des Moines. The vote passed and the new design will go into effect this October.

Rev. Bill Spangler-Dunning has been named Regional Minister and President of the Christian Church Disciples of Christ in the Upper Midwest Region. Bill has been serving for the last two years as Regional Minister during Transition. We welcome Bill as our called Regional Minister knowing that he will do his best to be a faithful leader in the region.

We have been invited to take part in a celebration of Rev. Don Hiscox’s Ministry. Don has served this region faithful for the last 10 years and is retiring as of July 2011, but with accumulated days of and vacation leave, his last day was March 31. There will be an Open House in Don’s honor Saturday, May 14th. From 1 to 4 p.m. with a program at 2 p.m. The event will be hosted by Capitol Hill Christian Church in Des Moines, Iowa. Watch for more information in your bulletins.







GENERAL ASSEMBLY



July 9-13 Nashville, TN

The churches representatives to this assembly will be Mary Louise Reeves, Anna Ruble and Pastor C. J. Latham. They will be voting on matters of the greater church. Including the question of who will lead the denomination for the next six years. Rev. Dr. Sharon Wilkins has been nominated to serve a second six year term. There are 13 other resolutions coming before the assembly as well. You may read about them at www.disciples.org. Besides the business meetings there will be 10 hours of continuing educational classes offered and C. J. will be taking advantage of some of those classes as they will be free. 50 hours of resource groups ranging from one-to two-and a half hours covering topics and practices under the areas of justice, leadership, mission, spiritual disciplines and vital congregations. These work-shops open to clergy and laity alike, are being offered for congregational enrichment.

The lighter side of assembly will be a Sunday evening concert featuring some of Nashville’s finest musicians, who happen to also be Disciples: Gabe Dixon, rock artist and songwriter Craig Wiseman. And a sure crowd pleaser will be Fred Craddock who will host an evening of story telling on Tuesday night. This should be a great Assembly.





Pastor CJ
Chariton Christian Church
Disciples of Christ
Chariton, Iowa