CJ' s REFLECTIONS

I am setting at my desk, listening to the rain fall softly outside my window which is open to the clean spring air. I like winter but I’m very glad that spring is here. It has giving me the opportunity to air out the office and the house. (But it also reminds me that it’s time to do some old fashion spring cleaning, but the newsletter needs to go out this week so the spring cleaning,… well maybe tomorrow.) The coming of spring signals more than the passing of time it’s a new beginning and a time when life is renewed all around us. There are so many things about spring that I like and enjoy. Spring for me always starts with Easter which is of course a renewal of life too. Its fun to watch the trees come back to life and to watch the flowers grow. The grass turns green and the sound of lawns getting mowed fills the air, as does the smell of grass clippings. Which reminds me, there’s a flower garden in my front yard that is bugging me to come pull out the weeds and there’s a shade tree down beside the house which just longs to be set under. Pulling weeds or setting under a shade tree which should I choice to do? My mom used to tell me when you have a choice to make look at the pros and cons of each. So here goes. If I pull the weeds the flowers will grow better and the garden will look nicer. If I sit under the shade tree I can relax, read a book and maybe talk to God. Oh, wait; I could talk to God while I pull weeds, that’s not a pro or a con to either one. If I pull the weeds I’ll feel better because I will have accomplished something. If I set under the tree the weeds will still grow, and be there when I do get around to them, they’ll just be harder to pull. Guess I better pull the weeds before they get any bigger. Flower garden wins. But then so does the shade tree. Because after I pull the weeds I can go over, drink some ice tea and relax under the shade tree. Why is it that we have become a society of “either or” rather than both?
Why do we choose to do one thing rather then choosing to do both things? Have we become so short sighted that we can not see the possibilities of a world where both can happen? My choosing to weed the garden and sitting under the shade tree is perhaps a very simple example however it is just one example of choices we make all the time. We make it each Sunday when we choose to come to church or stay home. Do we go on vacation to see family or do we take a trip to Florida? Heather Michael found a way to make that a both this year. The family is going to Florida together with both sets of grandparents. It could have been an “either or” but Heather looked for a way and found it, to make the trip “a both”. Could it be that we don’t see possibilities for the doing the “a both” in our lives because we don’t take the time to look for new ways of doing things so that life doesn’t have to be an “either or” but rather it can be “a both”?
I choose to sit out under a tree and read a book. Can that also be a time spent with God? If I chose to read the Bible would it not be? Or if I chose to weed the garden and pray as I do it is that not spending time with God? God doesn’t want us just to come see Him on Sundays He would rather share our lives daily and be a part of our lives. Why have we assigned Him only to the Church, can’t we take God with us when we take a walk in the woods? Why do we not take God with us more? Could it be that we have gotten too caught up with making choices rather then finding a way to do both? Why do we not come to church for one hour and then spend the rest of the day on the lake or shopping or even taking a picnic with the family? Why does it have to an “either or” why can’t it be both?
I think I’ll start looking for the ways to make my life richer by doing the “both” rather than the “either or”. Maybe, just maybe, it will bring some renewal to my life as I do. Maybe it would to yours too.

Hope to see you Sunday
Pastor C.J.

Thank You to those who found out when my Birthday was and sent cards even though I didn’t let Ella put it in last month’s newsletter. It was a great day that I celebrated in my own quiet way.







The next 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 can car pool to Creston from the Church. We have a number of Kits here at the church but if you have not yet brought yours to the church please do so Sunday.
Mark your calendars for the next Cluster event to be July 30th. This will be a Member’s Class for Adults. We will be looking at Church History, Church Structure, Prayer, Baptism (its different forms and meanings), and Communion & Worship. This event will take place in Mt. Ayr from 9:30 to 4:30. Lunch will be provided for a free will offering.


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. 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.