When we were living in Scotland we discovered that Scots use the term “garden” when we in the US would say “yard”. We tend to use “garden” to refer to areas for growing vegetables, fruits, and flowers. All this reminds us of the Garden of Eden story. In that story the humans were placed in the garden “to work and take care of it” (NIV). Now the whole earth is our garden. Are we taking proper care of it? We certainly work it or even overwork it. Taking care of the earth is a more difficult task. We struggle to find the balance between use and preservation. Short term profit can look very tempting when longer term caution may be costly or inconvenient. Something as simple as recycling takes a degree of dedication to detail to maintain. Bigger solutions to our care for our “big” garden demands not only our individual participation, but also more cooperative action. We do not have agreement on what needs to be done to keep our world at its best. Political pressures also complicate our desire to care for the earth. Can we together find ways to wisely keep a balance between “working” the garden and “taking care” of it? What is increasingly clear is that it is foolish to simply close our eyes and hope for the best. Like Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, we are called to use, but not abuse the garden God has given us.
06/14/2020
In a whimsical response to the Garden of Eden story, someone once wrote, “It wasn’t the apple in the tree, but the pair on the ground.” The text in Genesis doesn’t get more specific than “the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil.” This stands in for all kinds of temptation which is common to human kind. I admit that a beautifully ripe apple can be quite tempting, but it is a far lesser problem for most of us than a chocolate donut. Apples come in an endless list of ever evolving types. New varieties have to be grafted in to maintain the proper characteristics, as I understand it. There are apparently thousands of varieties of apples most of which we never encounter in the average grocery store. Temptations likewise are an ever growing set. There are current temptations which were unknown in their detail to those who came before us. We are in no better position than Adam and Eve in their new world, but we do have the advantage of the presence of Jesus who faced his temptations and overcame them by the grace of God. Jesus can help us with our temptations. With Jesus we each become a better “pair” on the ground than we otherwise could be.
06/07/2020
This week Pastor Spencer wanted to include this statement by President George W. Bush that addresses the current climate in our country.
June 3, 2020
Laura and I are anguished by the brutal suffocation of George Floyd and disturbed by the injustice and fear that suffocate our country. Yet we have resisted the urge to speak out, because this is not the time for us to lecture. It is time for us to listen. It is time for America to examine our tragic failures – and as we do, we will also see some of our redeeming strengths. It remains a shocking failure that many African Americans, especially young African American men, are harassed and threatened in their own country. It is a strength when protesters, protected by responsible law enforcement, march for a better future. This tragedy – in a long series of similar tragedies – raises a long over due question: How do we end systemic racism in our society? The only way to see ourselves in a true light is to listen to the voices of so many who are hurting and grieving. Those who set out to silence those voices do not understand the meaning of America – or how it becomes a better place. America’s greatest challenge has long been to unite people of very different backgrounds into a single nation of justice and opportunity. The doctrine and habits of racial superiority, which once nearly split our country, still threaten our Union. The answers to American problems are found by living up to American ideals – to the fundamental truth that all human beings are created equal and endowed by God with certain rights. We have often underestimated how radical that quest really is, and how our cherished principles challenge systems of intended or assumed injustice. The heroes of America – from Frederick Douglass, to Harriet Tubman, to Abraham Lincoln, to Martin Luther King, Jr. – are heroes of unity. Their calling has never been for the fainthearted. They often revealed the nation’s disturbing bigotry and exploitation – stains on our character sometimes difficult for the American majority to examine. We can only see the reality of America’s need by seeing it through the eyes of the threatened, oppressed, and disenfranchised. That is exactly where we now stand. Many doubt the justice of our country, and with good reason. Black people see the repeated violation of their rights without an urgent and adequate response from American institutions. We know that lasting justice will only come by peaceful means. Looting is not liberation, and destruction is not progress. But we also know that lasting peace in our communities requires truly equal justice. The rule of law ultimately depends on the fairness and legitimacy of the legal system. And achieving justice for all is the duty of all. This will require a consistent, courageous, and creative effort. We serve our neighbors best when we try to understand their experience. We love our neighbors as ourselves when we treat them as equals, in both protection and compassion. There is a better way- the way of empathy, and shared commitment, and bold action, and a peace rooted in justice. I am confident that together. Americans will choose the better way.
05/31/2020
On Memorial Day we did some of the traditional things which we did on Decoration Day. We visited the gravesites of some of our loved ones and brought flowers from our yard. The lilacs still were blooming and sprigs of them looked beautiful in the graveside vases. It felt right to bring flowers from our garden rather than purchasing them. We had a lovely moment remembering those we hold dear who have gone on before us. We did some other Memorial Day things like hamburgers and hot dogs. There was no Indianapolis 500 race this year and little pageantry that we normally would have watched on TV. We brought some flowers to add to our planting. We wore our face masks to set a good example and to protect others. I admit to being a bit shocked at pictures of crowed beaches and mass gatherings of people largely without masks or social distancing. I hope we and they do not live to regret such action. It is my instinct and inclination to protect people. So I am motivated to be cautious when there is danger, especially to people I care about. It certainly has been a unique Memorial Day in my limited experience. With all the changes this year has brought, I am thankful for the memories of those who I have loved. That much never changes.
05/24/2020
I expected this year to be one in which I traveled a lot going to meetings for the District and visiting family. The current say at home orders changed all of that. Still business needs to be done. So it has been Zoom to the rescue. Our District meetings have been digital. Zoom lets us have a meeting where we can hear and see each other. It is not ideal, but it does work. One of the restrictions is that it works better to speak one at a time. This is not quite how discussions in person work. There are always technical issues and a learning curve for new comers. The first time one uses Zoom it is frustrating, but it getter better with practice. For family visits we use Facetime which is much easier. Seeing children and grandchildren face to face is comfortable and it cuts into the loneliness of stay at home restrictions. These new approaches are worth learning. I am thankful for all the technology that enables us to stay in touch with each other. On Sunday morning Sue and I dress up and watch our service online. Even though we were involved in recording the service, we still feel like we are joining you for worship. With the frustrations, at times, with technology, who knew that I would be thanking God for technology that keeps us together.
05/17/2020
Working at home without hair dressers and makeup artists has shown us that they, like us, don’t live in a perfectly glamourous mode. Watching talk show hosts trying to interview guests while kids climb over the interviewer or the interviewee has shown us everyday chaos much like our own. For me it has humanized those polished faces we see on the small screen. The ones that I have always liked now seem more real as we get a small glimpse into their family lives. Are you surprised at how much alike we all are? We have many of the same struggles and fears. We celebrate the small triumphs of life: graduations, baby’s first steps, and hidden talents discovered. We all experience the sorrow of broken hearts and lost loved ones. We delight at having more time together and yet at times need a break even from those we love. In short we are all human. This virus crisis has not left anyone out. We are reminded that we are all on the same level. For the virus that puts us all in danger, but for our standing before God, we are all equal. What a wonderful opportunity that is. In Christ “I’ and “we” are gloriously linked. For in Christ Jesus we all matter equally
05/10/2020
In a difficult time in my life someone said to me, “You’ll be a better person for all of this.” I told the Lord, that “I wasn’t sure I wanted to be that good a person.” Seriously, I do acknowledge that the challenges of our lives do help shape us. Often we discover that difficulties and even tragedies often deepen our spiritual perceptions and enhance our compassion toward others. This does not mean that those problems are good in and of themselves, but that the God of all mercy is able to use them to good effect in our lives. In the present health crisis it is hard to look beyond the inconvenience and economic pressures to see anything positive. We are deeply grieved by the loss of life especially for our beloved elders and for the very young. No small blessing can out way the pain of these things, but we do hope to learn from our experiences. We do now know how much we took for granted in the recent past. We know that we can find alternative ways to stay in touch with each other. We know better how we should prepare for the future. Meeting together in worship as the community of faith is even more important than we realized before. As we look ahead, we hope for gentler times when we can learn our lessons in peace and plenty. Lord have mercy on us all, everyone.
05/03/2020
If fully hydrated, a human being can go from 3 to 7 weeks without food before dying, but only 3 to 4 days without water. About 60% of our bodies are water, so it is easy to see why that element is so very important. Even more than food the lack of water can become an all consuming passion. Water is vital, that is, necessary for life. All over the world the need for clean water is paramount. Initiatives to provide wells for clean water are always appropriate for our charitable gifts. In the ancient world it was much the same. A reliable source of clean water was often the reason for the growth of a village. The positive pleasure of a cool drink when we are parched is a pleasure all of can appreciate. Water soothes and cleanses. Water comforts and sustains. Plants, animals and human beings are all dependent on available water. Even a cup of water given in kindness is worthy of a reward. In his conversation with the woman of Samaria, Jesus encouraged the woman at the well to receive “living water” as a gift from God. The metaphor crosses time and distance to illuminate the gift of God’s forgiving presence. The woman is bright enough to grasp the metaphor and respond to Jesus and his refreshing teachings. I wonder, are we?
04/26/2020
I miss all of you. It is hard for all of us not to be together. I am thankful for the work that has been done to record the services online. We have tried to limit the number of people involved to keep faith with social distancing. I hope this has been contributing to both your mental and spiritual well being. The scriptural advice to “not forsake the assembling of yourselves together” is less a command to be obeyed and more an acknowledgement of our need for each other. Faith needs community. A good way to strengthen community is to meet together for worship. The circumstances we currently face make that unwise, so we need to think of other ways to strengthen our sense of Christian community. We can do that through our prayers. As someone expressed it “When we are in the presence of God we are also present with each other.” It is also good to strengthen each other with whatever contact is appropriate and safe. Holy hugs may have to be more metaphorical than physical but they can express our spiritual unity. When on skype, our granddaughter spreads her arms for a TV hug, Grandma and I feel the love reaching across the distance. Let’s find creative ways to express our care for each other and turn this hard time into another loving moment of community.
04/19/2020
May 31, 2020 is Pentecost in the church calendar, fifty days after Easter. This is sometimes styled as the birthday of the church. Following Pentecost is Kingdomtide or Ordinary Time on the church calendar. “Ordinary” has a different meaning than our current regular usage. Rather than meaning mundane it is based on the counting of days from the major events in the church: Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter, Pentecost, etc. It is based on the order of the church calendar and thus “ordinary.” But when I hear the term I think of our current usage. This is especially true when right now nothing seems ordinary. I already long for an ordinary day when we can go to a café for coffee or lunch; when I can go to the grocery store without a mask or even a plan; when shops are open and people are back at work. I long not only for feel good stories on the news, but also for no new statistics on the death toll from the virus. Sue’s mom, our beloved Nana, had a hand written card over her kitchen sink that read, “Ordinary day, help me to know what a treasure you are.” After weeks of quarantine, I now get Nana’s point. I am now coming to more fully appreciate the ordinary day of the past and hope for more ordinary days in the future. God, thank you for being with us in the ordinary and extraordinary days of our lives.
04/12/2020
In a world which feels unsafe I am confident in the safety that is in Jesus. I believe in heaven where we will be present with the Lord. I believe we will share in Jesus’ resurrection, but the resurrection is much more than a future event. It is a present reality. In the Gospel of John, Jesus tells Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die will live, and anyone who lives and believes in me will never die.” Eternal life begins not at our death, but when we believe. Paul even indicates that the same power which raised Jesus from the dead is at work in us. We live in the present power of the resurrection. The transforming power is a work in us so that even though our outward form is failing our inward self is being constantly renewed. So we have the best of both worlds. We anticipate the fullness of life after death, but we also enjoy renewed life even before death. I am glad that the blessings of God do not just wait for the future. Jesus came to bring us life abundantly in the present and into the eternal future. No wonder is such a glorious time.
04/05/2020
When I was in High School, our family vacations were done in a small travel trailer. It was equipped with several modern conveniences. There was a refrigerator, heater, stove and even a water heater, but no television. On our way west we stopped at a camp ground and discovered a huckleberry bush full of fruit. My frugal stepmother turned that unexpected bounty into a pie. It tasted just like blueberry pie to me, but sadly with no ice cream available. Life is full of surprises. It was on that same trip that we found a man in his pickup who had been killed by a shot to the head. We had stopped for a meal and noticed the man in the pick- up had not moved in all the time we were there. When we checked we found the body and contacted the police. It was a very upsetting experience for our family. Sometimes life’s surprises are inconvenient and even tragic, but at other times they are delightful and even tasty. On the same journey we had both. In the midst of the present health crisis I notice that the news also has stories of hope and kindness, love and happiness. These small stories are blessings in a time of some uncertainty and even fear. In fact I am sure that a slice of blueberry pie would make me feel better. I even know where there is some ice cream.
03/29/2020
In 1944 Singspiration Music published a gospel song by Ruth Caye Jones called “In Times Like These.” The first verse reads as follows: “In times like these you need a Savior, In Times like these you need an anchor; Be very sure, be very sure, Your anchor holds and grips the solid rock! This rock is Jesus, Yes, He’s the one: This rock is Jesus, The only one! Be very sure your anchor holds and grips the solid rock.” World War II was on everyone’s mind in 1944 with lingering fear and anxiety. In times of fear and crisis we hold fast to our faith and our faith holds fast to us. This feels again like one of those times. It is our hope and prayer that our losses may not be unbearably great, but we will stay anchored in our faith. “The storms may roar about us, our hearts may low be laid, but God is round about us and can we be dismayed?” The dangers we face now from the corona virus are real and we must take wise precautions, but we do not live in fear. We will protect the most vulnerable around us. We will be loving, generous, and unselfish because this is who we are called to be as God’s people. In our own small and simple ways together we will be God’s faithful people. When we cannot hold each other’s hands in prayer we will still, in our minds and hearts, hold each other close in our prayers and love.
03/22/2020
I do not think of myself as old, but when the announcement was made that older people, that is people over 60, were in greater danger from the coronavirus; I was forced to count up the years. I’m not sure that I even remember what life was like when I was sixty. Realistically, I must now be a little more cautious, but I really am not afraid. That is the advantage of being older. This is not the first national or international crisis that I have seen in my life. Many were difficult and even devastating but we survived them. All of that can bring us perspective that some younger people may lack. Our faith also gives us an anchor. Whatever happens, God will be with us. We still may suffer with the rest of humanity, but we do hope in the love and grace of the eternal one who watches over us. While I am concerned for My older friends and neighbors, I am grateful the children are less threatened. Together we will get through this particular crisis. It will again be an occasion to practice love and kindness to the world around us. We will not let fear make us selfish or unkind. To quote those “great philosophers”, Sonny and Cher, “Love will keep us together!” Be wise, be cooperative, trust God and practice love.
03/15/2020
Periodically when our supply of paper towels and toilet tissue runs low, I order a big supply from Amazon. This has the advantage that the beleaguered UPS driver brings the big boxes right to our door. The price is about the same as the grocery store prices with no struggle on my part with big packages at the grocery. A couple of days ago I attempted to put in an order for paper towels and tissue only to find that they were out of stock for both. Apparently, concern about the corona virus had caused a run on these paper supplies. It is appropriate to have concern about the spread of this dangerous virus, but I fail to see why it should affect the supply of paper products. We are already trying to use safe health practices. More changes may still be coming as this health crisis develops. We will cope with them as they unfold, but we do need to keep proper perspective. As one friend expressed it, “We need prudence not panic.” This seems as solid an approach for any crisis. It is consistent with our faith and wise for everyone.
03/08/2020
We have new thermostats for the church building. They are all the same which should help avoid confusion. With differing programs an automatic system is really necessary. A building our size takes time to heat up or to cool down. We do not have to worry about someone coming in early to get the parts of the building warm or cool. At home we still have a dial thermostat of the most simple kind. Even that is a wonderful convenience. I remember living with my Grandparents with a coal cook stove and space heaters. Grandma got up early and got the cooker going. It was the only heat in early morning. Dressing in the unheated bedrooms was an exercise in speed. If you just pulled your clothes over your pajamas, you were sent back to start over. On a frosty morning it was invigorating to say the least. What wonderful convenience to just touch a dial and have instant heat. It is now so common that we may not even think of how pleasant the simple thermostat makes our life. When I think back about those earlier days and Grandma’s cold everyday morning, I am glad as a grandparent that I don’t have to stoke up the coal cook stove, but can have a cup of coffee and dress at leisure in the warmth of a centrally heated house.
03/01/2020
We have a wonderful opportunity on Saturday, March 14 to see a live performance of Ken Medema and Ted Swartz at the Manchester Church of the Brethren. The Manchester Church is sponsoring the event. It is an expensive undertaking and the church has asked for gifts to help defray the cost. We will designate our Outreach offering this month to help cover these expenses. The performance is part of the year long celebration of the founding of the South/Central Indiana District. We will be taking an offering to support the performance. Those of us who have seen Ken and Ted have always been entertained and inspired by their work. There will be laughter and even some tears. Several of us are planning to drive to North Manchester for the service. There is a sheet on the table outside the office to sign up on. You may volunteer to drive or sign up that you would like to go, but need a ride. Ted’s brilliant comedic skills and Ken’s spontaneous composition and excellent piano work make for a rich evening. An offering will be taken with all the proceeds going to Heifer International. Come join us for an inspiring and entertaining evening.
02/23/2020
In a cabinet near our coffee maker we have a collection of coffee mugs. At least half of them are mine. Some were gifts and some I purchased. Many of them have a logo or pictures inscribed on them. I have my favorites. I currently favor a “squaty” yellow cup given me by friends, but my favorites change from time to time when a favorite is in the dishwasher. One mug announces “Don’t bother me I’m reading.” Another has polar bears from a trip to Canada. A South Dakota themed mug reminds me of home, while Florida and Colorado mugs recall children and grand-children. One ugly green mug has the advantage of being unbreakable plastic material. A large white mug has a cartoon bear and the word Papa underneath. Three mugs in my office proclaim “peacefully, simply, together.” Every time I use them for coffee or tea they all call up memories, names and faces. They often start my prayers as the warm beverage lifts my early morning fog. What triggers your memories? Are the memories ever preludes to prayer? A missions group I know of has prayer cards that feature pictures of the missionaries so that we can see their faces as we pray. What are the spontaneous prompts that encourage you to pray right at the moment or with special pockets of prayer scattered throughout your day?
02/16/2020
I miss having a home phone. In many ways a cell phone is far more convenient. It is always with you so you are less likely to miss a call. In emergency situations it is wonderful. Pay phones were never where you needed them. Cell phones are not the perfect solution. For one thing they have to be charged regularly. Nothing is more frustrating than to have an important call cut off because you forgot to charge your phone. Then there is the embarrassment when your phone goes off at a movie or concert or even in church because you forgot to turn your phone off. Or how about no one being able to reach you because you forgot to turn your phone back on? For a while we thought you would only be called on your cell phone by someone to whom you had given your number. Robo calls changed all that. And then there are those places, especially in rural areas, where suddenly there is no services, home and cell, but now I wonder. Do you still remember your old pre-cell phone number? Do you remember other numbers or do you depend on your cell phone contact so you don’t have to remember? Over all modern technology seems a very good thing, but occasionally I feel a bit of nostalgia for “the good old days.”
02/09/2020
As I remember it, my daughters were fine with eating liver when they were small until they went to school and learned that kids don’t like liver. At least that is the way I remember the situation. I can remember when I learned to like spinach. It had nothing to do with Popey the Sailor. My Aunt Lillian was canning spinach. It was a hot steam day and there was apparently a bumper crop of spinach. Aunt Lil’ was usually the most mild mannered person imaginable, but she must have had enough. When I asked what was for supper there was an explosion. “There is plenty of spinach. If you are hungry, you can jolly well eat that!” And so I did. As a young teenager I had not been aware that the rest of the family was nowhere to be seen. The bottomless pit that is teenage boy hunger found the spinach just fine if I was hungry enough and finally aware of the mood of the kitchen. I have liked spinach ever since. Later I found other good greens and row ones quite tasty especially cooked with bacon or side pork and a little vinegar sprinkled on top. Apparently, necessity is the mother of appetite as well as invention. How many of our preferences are shaped either by the situation or by the opinion of others?