Memorial Weekend

This Memorial week my wife Barb and I drove to North Central Kansas to visit family and friends and to participate in the bi-annual alumni banquet of Simpson High School. It was a wonderful experience with six of our thirteen class members present. As usual there weren't any of the local graduates there, all of us coming from Missouri, Arkansas, and Goodland Kansas but we enjoyed stories of forty-five years ago and were the last group to leave after the gathering. Most, if not all of the folks gathered there, still can't believe I became a pastor because they knew me and there was no evidence that I would ever change my ways. I always jokingly comment that the reason they closed the school the year after I graduated has something to do with who I was. I know there is no truth in that statement but it does identify the tremendous change that has happened and continues.
ON this drive of four hours each way I noticed the beauty of the landscape. I really love the rolling hills and forests of Missouri but I saw a new wonder in the plains and flint hills of Kansas today. Particularly exciting was the view from the tops of the hills in the northern borders of the flint hills south of Manhattan, Kansas. You can see for miles across the valleys of lush green grass spotted with cedar and Osage Orange trees. Relaxing in the warm season grass after a morning of grazing were cattle; cows, yearlings and newborn calves. Most herds were all one breed, either red, white, black or brown, but one or two pastures were covered with a mixture of all. Either was a beautiful sight. Amazing what simple experiences like this can bring joy to the eye and the soul. I think I will try to keep my eyes open from now on.

June Newsletter notes

I don’t know about you but in my life there have been lots of peaks and valleys, mountaintop experiences and those moments where it seemed as though it would be impossible to continue. There were those days and sometimes months where I felt as though I didn’t want to get out of bed and face the world because it was just going to throw something else at me. It always seemed like those moments came just after a mountaintop experience. When things are going the best, evil has a way of stepping in and challenging our commitment, our joy in life. Can you relate to this? If so how do you cope with these valleys?
The way I have been able to handle the stresses of these moments is to accentuate the positives. If the dark moments are about your relationships with family or friends, stop and look at all the moments you cherish in that relationship and then begin to rebuild that connection. If those dark moments are financial issues, examine your current status, get help if needed and make a plan and follow it. If you need help one of the greatest resources I have heard of is the Financial Peace program with Dave Ramsey. If those low times are because of your job the best advice I can give is to begin to look for your vision for your job and how it fits into the organization or company you work for. If you are achieving those personal goals the rewards will help you find those peaks and mountaintops.
I am very fortunate in my life to have a wonderful family. Barb’s health is better than it has been in at least a decade and she is finding new energy every day. Our children have great spouses and we have the best, smartest and most beautiful and athletic grandchildren in the world (some of you might challenge me on that one.)
I have the best job in the whole world. I work for the greatest boss in the universe and my coworkers are some of the smartest and most innovative people I have known. A lot of good is happening at Lawson UMC. Attendance is up from last year which was up from the year before. The physical plant is in great shape with a new roof, storage areas organized, drainage problems solved, landscaping improved, flowers planted for color, and more ideas for improvement in process. New ministries have begun with excitement; older adult ministries, youth breakfast, children’s church, and Vacation Bible School. Our participation in missions has grown each year and this year we are taking about one fourth of our average attendance to Red Bird Mission.
God is good!! Let’s continue to build on His promises.

Pastor Homer

Good Beginnings

I decided this morning that it is time for me to start a blog and am struggling through the process. I love to write short notes about what is happening in my life and the life of the church so I hope this is a good beginning.