CJ' s REFLECTIONS

A couple of weeks ago I had the unique opportunity to sit out on a dock fishing and listening to the high school football game being played about four city blocks away from the pond. I wasn’t listening to a radio. I was hearing the announcer call the game play by play, and he was coming across loud and clear. Even if I had not wanted to listen to the game I would have been, because sound travels and the pond I was fishing at isn’t that far from the football field. Sadly I didn’t do any better fishing than the kids were doing on the ball field. But that time wasn’t wasted for me or for the kids on the ball field. I’m sure that they learned something though the experience of the game if it was about team work or about how the game is played or maybe they learned something about how to lose gracefully. All I did that night was feed the fish. I only caught two neither of which where really keepers so I released both of them to hopefully grow and be caught another day. I left the pond a little disappointed as I’m sure the football team left the ball field feeling about the same way having lost the game. That’s life full of little disappointments right?

But I said I had not wasted the time did I learn something about not catching fish? No those lessons I learned years ago fishing in Old City Lake as a kid. What I did as I sat there fishing was far more important than not catching fish. I listened to the game yes, but I also spent time talking with God. Quieting my spirit and at times just listening to nature. I watched the sunset and relaxed, something that I needed very much.

This experience reminded me that we all need to take sometime to quiet ourselves and be alone one on one with God. I will admit that when our lives are so busy it’s hard to find time to just be with God. Perhaps we all (myself included) need to make an appointment with God once in awhile and take those appointments as seriously as we do Doctor appointments. Perhaps that would help us keep them. Perhaps if we started meeting with God one on one we would be more open to meeting with God on Sunday morning. Perhaps if we met with God in prayer more often we wouldn’t have to see the Doctor as often. Perhaps our blood pressures would go down if we learned not only to spend time with God but learned to spend some time just relaxing.

I know that there are some ladies in the church who get together just to play games. We do this once a month. We get together and have a meal but more than that we play and laugh and enjoy one another’s company. Perhaps we all need to be part of a group that can just laugh together. I know that no matter what has been going on all week, no matter how tired I am, I walk away from that fellowship feeling refreshed and lighter at heart. The Friday night I went fishing and caught no keepers I was disappointed, still I walked away from that pond feeling refreshed and renewed as though a weight had been lifted from me. Why, because I had spent some time fellowshipping with God in His creation. For my efforts God gave me a beautiful sunset and a laugh or too. You see while I was fishing I threw out the line, the bobber went one way and the worm went the other. Guess if I’m going to go fishing I better learn how to put the bait on the hook better.

Hope that you will take some time to spend time with God this week.



Hope to see you Sunday

Pastor C.J.



CLUSTER NEWS


Cluster Ten is gathering at East Lake Park in Osceola for a picnic. For the last five years I have been hearing how the “cluster used to” do this very thing and how much fun it was. Well, we are bringing it back, and I hope that we will have a good turn out on September 25 at 6:00P.M. The picnic’s the “cluster used to” have where fun because people showed up for them. I hope you will come out for this one. Jane and David Beatty will be leading the games for all ages. David Neas pastor at Corydon will have a grill for you to fix any meat that you want him to cook for you (bring your own meat). The rest of the meal will be cover dish so we are asked to bring salads and desserts and drinks. Michael Deatz is going to sing during the communion service. And Pastor C.J. will be conducting a short business meeting to inquire about future events. Creston is coming and some from Mount Ayr are planning to come. First Christian Church in Osceola will be hosting the gathering. Hope many of you will plan to join in with the festivities.





1st Annual Congregational Gathering



Our new way of doing ministry together in the Upper Midwest Region begins Saturday, October 15,2011 from 10A.M. to 4:30P.M. in West Des Moines Christian Church

1. Share ministry ideas

2. Encourage common ministries to arise in the group

3. Commission Ministries Operations Council

4. Chose a representative operations Council

Rev. Dr. Sharon Watkins, General Minister and President will share with us in this new form of Ministry and preside in the installation of Rev. Bill Spangler-Dunning as Regional Minister and President.

Each congregation is invited to send 2 lay representatives

· Let’s send our most creative!

· Let them be multigenerational representatives!

· Those with bold new ideas!

· Send our most passionate!

The noon meal will be a potluck lunch so we need to take a side dish. The region is providing the meat.

Who will go for us? If you would like to go see either Larry Michael or Pastor C.J.







News on the Nation level

Disciples across the nation will be

Planting Seeds of Hope

Special offering for Reconciliation

September 25 & October 2nd



The 2011 Reconciliation Offering will be received in congregations on September 25th and October 2nd. Reconciliation Ministry Offering is used to fund our Church’s mission priority to become an pro-reconciling/ anti-racist church through experiential education, inclusive worship and intentional dialogue across difference. Funds from this offering provide Youth and Young Adult camps, training programs, leadership development, and resources to promote small group study and community-building.

Pastor CJ
Chariton Christian Church
Disciples of Christ
Chariton, Iowa