Are We There Yet?
This past month my wife and two boys and I loaded up our van and prepared for one of our many 12-hour trips to Papa and Memo’s house. Papa and Memo stands for grandpa and grandma in Tyler’s three-year-old vocabulary and they live all the way in Hartville, Ohio, which is around 700 miles of interstate driving. The trip started out like most including the early departure time, the two crying boys in their car seats, and the sun in our eyes as we headed east. We said our usual prayer, “Lord, thank you for the day and give us safe travels,” as we had a very long hard day of driving ahead of us. I don’t know how many times we have made the Ohio-Iowa trek but this trip turned out to be a little bit more of an adventure than we had hoped for. Everything was going as planned until somewhere around 250 miles into our journey I looked down at the dash to see my tachometer redlining and the speedometer steadily decreasing in speed. It was pretty obvious that something wasn’t right so I pulled over to the side of the interstate to find that my transmission had given out spraying fluid all over the engine, making it official, we were broke down. I guess that the point in this devotion could be that God kept us safe and that no one was hurt, but as I look back over what happened that day I see so much more. Of course it is a blessing that no one was hurt and that all we lost was a transmission, but what really gets me excited is the way that God had answered our prayers with so many little things. Where we saw God really taking care of us was through our two little boys that were with us that day. Our first blessing was the weather, we could have been stranded at night or in the freezing winter or during the hottest part of summer. No, we got stranded on a beautiful day, there was a nice breeze, the sun was shining, and the temperature was perfect. To some people that may not be a big deal but to two very sensitive little boys the temperature can make a huge impact on their little bodies. The second blessing is that we sat there no longer than an hour before our van was on the tow truck and we were headed to town. The third is that we were pretty much in the country and there happened to be a little town that just happened to have a Honda dealer, which by the way is the make of our van. The fourth is that even though we sat in the dealership for about 4 hours the boys proceeded to play in an area that was no bigger than most kitchen tables the whole time! They were tired, hungry, and very restless and yet they played like little angels (something we had never witnessed before). We received calls of prayer, offers of money and help, and most of all confirmation that we would be taken care of no matter what happened. Once we had all of the details worked out we rented a car and finally after 17 or 18 hours, we pulled into the drive at Papa and Memo’s and rejoiced for making it safely. This experience reminds me of Matthew 6:25-27 where Jesus is teaching how valuable we are to God and how He meets the needs of His children. Our needs were certainly met that day and we thank God for going above and beyond just keeping us safe. Maybe you have also had something along this line of adventure happen to you. Have you stopped to think about how God has taken care of you? Pastor Nathan
For A Father There are few to shout his praises And in every song and story, It is sweethearts, wives and mothers Who attain the fame and glory. But how sad that one so worthy, So deserving of our mention, Is so seldom given homage And receives such scant attention.
Faced with problems never ending, Uncomplaining, never daring To relax his toil and striving; Ever giving, always sharing. His reward lies in the pleasure That his years of service bring; And to those who love him dearly, He is just an uncrowned King. By Reginald Holmes
Briefly: June Monthly Meeting Highlights from May 27, 2009.
-13 children and youth will be attending summer camps at Quaker Heights during June funded by our camp scholarships and a designated memorial gift.
-Seven applications for active membership were approved.
-Participation in House of Compassion’s annual School Supply giveaway was approved. Look for “Stuff the Bus” announcements during the summer.
MIREMBE CONNECTING THROUGH CURRICULUM June 19-20, 2009
Family Retreat Sponsored by IAYM Christian Ed. Come learn how you can participate in children’s curriculum for Friends Churches in the U.S. and Friends Schools in Kenya and Belize AND Learn about successful midweek children’s programs in IAYM.
Friday, June 19th 6:30 bonfire/cookout 7:30 Session I Saturday, June 20th 8:00 breakfast 9:00 devotions 9:20-3:30 Session II
The retreat will be held at Marshalltown Friends Church. $15 per family if registered by June 5th, $25 per family after June 5th - includes meals. Free camping available, showers, but no electricity. For reservations contact Charlotte Stangeland at 641-676-1532 or kindra at mahaska.org
TriviaMore than 1,500 people each year are rushed to emergency rooms for injuries suffered playing Ping-Pong - usually by running into the sharp corner of the table while leaping after a shot. And last year, ten people went to the emergency room for shuffleboard-related injuries. They were either hit in the head by an errant disc or poked with a wild cue stick. So be careful, whatever sport you enjoy playing!!
Children’s ChurchChildren age 4 through Grade 4 are welcome to participate on June 14, when our lesson will be about Priscilla and Aquila and the service project will be to make table favors for our House of Compassion meal.
Minor Prophets Bible StudyWhat can we learn from the Minor Prophets? The book of Nahum tells us more about Nineveh; Habakkuk tackles the question, “Why does God permit evil?” And in Zephaniah we learn the difference between a revival and an awakening. Join the discussion at 7:00 each Monday night.
Liberty USFW Ladies of Liberty USFW will gather at Helen Settle’s home in Marshalltown at noon on Wednesday, June 10th for lunch and their meeting.
Bangor USFWOn June 23rd we’ll travel to Indianola to visit and have lunch with Naomi Holveck. This is open to all ladies. Let Margaret know if you want to go along.
Game Night for Everyone! Mark your calendars for our next Game Night to be held on Sunday evening, June 28th. Everyone is invited - bring your favorite game, snacks and come relax and enjoy the evening with your church family!
Remember Our Campers in Prayer as well as the camp staff & volunteers! Little Fry Camp June 5 - 7th Fox Camp June 7 - 11th HS Weekender June 12 - 14th Junior High Camp June 14 - 19th High School Camp June 21 - 26th JH Weekender June 26 - 28th Fry Camp June 28 - July 1st
Concert Under the Stars July 19, 2009 6:30 p.m. Bangor Liberty Friends Church Invite your family and friends to make plans to join us.
Change in Date July Monthly Meeting - Wednesday, June 24th, 7 p.m., for all Iowa Yearly Meeting reports to be approved. Committees need to meet and select a Chairman for the coming year prior to July Monthly Meeting. Missions
MESQUAKIE FRIENDS CENTERSoaring Eagles Camp is scheduled for June 22-26 at Mesquakie Friends Center. The vision is for it to become the largest Christian gathering of Native American young people in the Upper Midwest. They are reaching out to surrounding states. Your support will make it possible to:
The Friends Center asks for your prayers and support. If you would like to give financially, please write on your check to BLFC, for Mesquakie Friends Center camp.
UPDATE FROM THE BARBERSThe Barber family, settling into their work at Friends Boys School in Belize, offer grateful praises for good attendance for parent's night at Friends Boys School. They are getting acquainted with the boys in the school and another missionary family. The Barber kids are enjoying the children in the neighborhood, even those who don’t speak English. They are inventing games and crab hunting. Becky enjoys waking up to the orioles but is not appreciating the bugs and mosquitoes. They ask that we pray for their continued adjustment in traveling around Belize City and for their decision about shipping belongings from Iowa, which is very expensive.
BIKES FOR BOYS IN BELIZEThe 2009 Summer Mission Project, which we will be supporting at Crocodile Dock VBS, is “Bikes for Boys in Belize.” Purchasing bikes for the boys will not only help them get to the Friends Boys School, but will help them get to high school and to their future employment. $150 will purchase a bike, helmet, chain, padlock, pump and spare parts. The Friends United Meeting goal is to raise $6,000 for 40 bikes. The children can bring funds every night and we’ll also have an offering at the Closing Program on June 5th. Perhaps the adults can match the children’s collection!
Library Ledge: Building Men of GodOur church library has a good selection of books and audiotapes geared to men in all stages of life. Raising a Modern Day Knight and Becoming a Man of Honor are both for fathers in helping their sons become strong in their Christian walk. Straight Talk to Men & Their Wives deals with the marriage relationship. Middle Age and Other Mixed Blessings covers the middle years of questioning. Seven Promises of a Promise Keeper and The Power of a Promise Kept are for all ages of men who desire a life of integrity. Check out these and other materials of growth and encouragement on the library ledge during June.
House of Compassion Report On Thursday, May 28, 14 from BLFC made possible a meal of creamed chicken on biscuits, spinach, peas, mixed fruit, pudding, Hy-Vee cake, and drink for 60 appreciative guests. Thanks to James and Sharon, Jo and Will, Don and Joyce, Wayne and Fern who donated food or funds; Diane, Betty and Fern who prepared; Wayne, John and Gladys who served and Levi and Ramona who handled cleanup. Ask Betty about the missing fruit and Levi about running the sanitizer. We’ll have two opportunities for fellowship next month, June 12 and 25. Come have some laughs and be blessed!
“The Living Stone and a Chosen People” I Peter 2:4-10
Iowa Yearly Meeting’s Annual Sessions Thursday, July 30th through Sunday, August 2nd to be held at Wm. Penn University Come enjoy a revised format for our Annual Sessions.
Information and registrations for the annual sessions will be in the June edition of the Iowa Friend.
Discipline Revision The church has received one copy of the Discipline Revision if you would like to look at it. A copy of the revision is available online at www.iaym.org.
Thoughts & Smiles!*The real art of conversation is not only to say the right thing at the right time, but also to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment.
*If you can smile when things go wrong, you must have someone else in mind to blame.
*When you are dissatisfied and would like to go back to youth, think of Algebra.
*He who hesitates is probably doing the right thing.
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