The Heart of a Child
Every now and then I like to spend some alone time with one of my boys. Tyler, whose nickname is Jellybean (Bean for short), is going on four years old and Jaron, whose nickname is Jare-Bear (Bear for short), is going on two years old. Without knowing the nicknames of my family it can be very hard to follow a dialog because we most commonly refer to each other with these names. A couple months ago I was in need of doing some annual Christmas shopping and with the holiday fast approaching I decided I should take “The Bean” and head to town. Tyler loves to go to town with me because he knows that we will probably take my old single cab pickup. This means that he gets to sit up front and look out the window, and if it’s really nice outside he gets to have his window rolled down so he can stick his hand out in the wind I like taking my truck with him because it means we get to sit next to each other and I get to hold his little hand as we talk or listen to his kids CD. After we went to some stores and were satisfied with our gifts I decided to surprise him and go through the McDonald’s drive- through on our way home. Now, being the seasoned father that I am I knew that if we showed up at home with wrappers and remnants of McDonald’s on our shirts we would be in some serious trouble with “The Bear.” You can imagine the different reasons we gave him the nickname and one is because the boy knows how to eat and you don’t show him food unless you are prepared to share! So as we left the store I asked Tyler if he would help me to remember to order some food for Jaron to take home with us. After McDonalds we headed home and just as I was finishing my burger I realized that we had a problem. We forgot to get anything for Jaron and I immediately felt terrible knowing that we were too far out of town to turn around and he would be heartbroken when he learned that Tyler got McDonalds and he didn’t. I thought about ways to help the situation but I knew we were too far to turn around and go back. After I finished eating I looked over at Tyler and said, “Hey buddy, we forgot to get something for the Bear.” The answer that Tyler gave me brought tears to my eyes as I could see his little heart feeling for his brother. He thought a little bit and while taking another bite said in a matter of fact way, “Well, I could probably try not to eat all of this so that the Bear will have something to eat too.” I sat there, ashamed, because the thought didn’t even cross my mind to stop eating so Jaron could have some of mine. No, my mind was too busy trying to figure out a way to hide the evidence from Jaron so he wouldn’t know what he missed. Sacrifice is a word that isn’t always in my vocabulary and when it is it usually isn’t the first solution in my mind when trying to solve a problem. When someone willingly sacrifices something for another person it doesn’t come from the mind but it comes from the heart. I felt that God was trying to remind me that night as we drove home that my heart should be like that of this child sitting next to me. Where to him the solution to forgetting about his brother was easy, just give up some of your own. I think of how this applies to everyone that I come across every day. How many times did I waste an opportunity to show someone love because I was solving their problem in my mind and not looking at it with my heart. Jesus teaches in Matthew 18:2 that the heart of a child is what we need to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. I believe this and I feel fortunate that God has the patience to remind me of this through my children. This month I ask you, what is the condition of your heart? -Pastor Nathan
Specials & BlessingsThe Praise and Worship Committee is looking for more Specials/Blessings to be shared during the Sunday Worship Service. These could be vocal, instrumental, or a reading. There is so much talent in our congregation that would add to our Worship service. Please contact the following committee members if you would like to volunteer or if you have a suggestion:
January - Kay Feltz February - Shandra McCracken March - Shandra McCracken April - Peggy Martin May - John Good June - Lucas & Kari McCracken July - Don Davis August - Don Davis September - Peggy Martin October - John Good November - Kay Feltz December - Lucas & Kari McCracken
Thank You!~To Nick Patten and Greg Young for clearing the parking lot and drives of snow during January and February. ~To those who continue to scoop our sidewalks keeping them clear of snow. ~To our Sunday school teachers, youth leaders, and Wednesday night program leaders for volunteering their time. ~To Rick Hoover and Joe Feltz for working on the west entryway and the bathroom off of the nursery room installing new ceilings, floors and other necessary work.
House of Compassion Twenty-two from BLFC were involved in preparing, serving and clean up for 37 guests. The menu was vegetable soup, grilled cheese, mixed fruit, cherry dump cake, strawberry cake, cookies, milk and coffee. Thanks to our volunteers who donated funds or food, prepared, served or came to clean up. We learned how to make grilled cheese without margarine and how to play pickup with beef bouillon! Join the fun next time…February 25!
HOC 2009 at a Glance *The shelter averaged 29 guests per month with each guest staying an average of 7 nights. *The soup kitchen averaged 1293 meals per month with an average of 43 people eating per night. *The supply closet saw an average of 556 families per month receiving supplies. *In the fall the back to school program assisted 930 students. This was an increase of 65 students from 2008. *The adopt-a-family Christmas program adopted out 631 individuals equaling 172 families. There were less people acting as adopters this year.
February Monthly Meeting -M & C continues to form a prayer team for Pastor Nathan’s recording process. Please see a M & C member if you feel led to be a part of this very important prayer team for Nathan and Shandra’s support as he goes through the process of becoming a recorded Friends pastor.
Children’s Church We’ll meet in the fellowship hall after the children’s message on February 7 and 21. Our lessons continue on the topic of joy. Service projects will be to thank our Sunday school and Wednesday Night Teachers and give appreciation to the HOC Supply Closet workers.
Liberty USFWLiberty USFW ladies will not have a regular meeting in February but will prepare and serve the Union Kiwanis Sweetheart Supper on Thursday, Feb. 11th in the church fellowship hall. Ladies are asked to arrive at the church by 6:00 p.m. Their next regular USFW meeting will be held on March 10th at the Union Supper Club.
Bangor USFW On February 16th Bangor USFW ladies will gather at 1:30 at Betty Arterburn’s home in Marshalltown. Margaret Good will bring the lesson and Betty will provide refreshments. If you haven’t paid your $5 dues please do so in February.
“Observe your dog: if he’s overweight, you’re not getting enough exercise.” -Author unknown
Creative Scrapbooking WeekendCamp Quaker Heights will host a Creative Hearts Retreat February 19-21 at Tall Oaks Lodge. To check for open spots, go to http://www.creativeheartsretreat.com. In addition to the cutting and cropping, there will be a Faithbooking class. Faithbooking is an opportunity to create a testimony in words and pictures of your own personal faith journey.
Blizzard Blast for Jr. High YouthJr. High Youth - Are you ready for a Blizzard Blast? Join Chip Daleske and other IAYM Jr. High youth in Marshalltown on Friday, February 19th at 7 p.m. through 7 a.m., Saturday, February 20th for worship, pizza, YMCA group games, swimming, free time and tournaments. Cost is $25 with registrations and fees to be sent to the Yearly Meeting office. Registrations/medical releases are available at the church or from IAYM website-http://www.iaym.org.
Quarterly Meeting at BLFC The next gathering of area Friends churches will be held at Bangor Liberty on Sunday, February 28th from 3:00-5:00 p.m. This will be a special time of worship, fellowship and refreshments, with the staff of Camp Quaker Heights sharing their “I Love Camp Quaker Heights” promotion. Social Committee #4 will be in charge of setting up for the refreshment time.
Sign outside South Seminole Church of Christ, Winter Park, FL: “Avoid stretching the truth. It can snap back on you.” -contributed
Extending our Sympathy We received word on Sunday, January 31st that our former Pastor, Dean Lambdin passed away in the early morning hours that day in Morrison, Illinois where he lived with his wife, Amy, and daughters, Emily, 13, and Hannah, 7. Dean had fallen on the ice earlier in the week and had hit his head possibly contributing to his death on the 31st. We extend our deepest sympathy to Amy and the girls and to their entire extended family. His love and care for his family and for everyone he met will be missed.
In Our thoughts & Prayers ~Amy, Emily, & Hannah Lambdin 508 N Cherry St., Morrison IL 61270 ~Tim & Kristy Albright and others dealing with serious illnesses. ~Our missionaries, Sam & Becky Barber, Nathan & Brianna Martin, and also Victor & Brenda White ~Morgan Martin working with Inter- Varsity at Coe College - specifically that she remember how important dependence upon God is and that she will stay focused on what God has called her to do. For wisdom & grace in leading students as they grow and learn together. And for new contacts for raising funds so she can spend more time on campus with students. ~Friends Church West--West Des Moines ~Camp Quaker Heights staff as they present “I Love CQH” promotions.
June Summer Quaker CampsMay 28-30 - College Student Weekender June 4-6 - Youth Execs Training Weekend June 6-10 - Fox Camp (5th-6th Grade) June 11-13 - High School Weekender June 13-18 - Junior High Camp June 20-25 - High School Camp June 25-27 - Little Fry Camp (K-2nd Grade) June 27-30 - Fry Camp (3rd -4th Grade)
Mission Updates and Prayer Requests Sam and Becky Barber ask that we pray for a reduction of gang violence in Belize. A second gang related hand grenade went off in less than a month. The Barbers need God’s wisdom to balance the demands of school, parenting and couple time. Ramallah Friends Schools will host 21 students and adults from Pennsylvania as an exchange program with Ramallah students. This team will stay with families, attend classes, do service work in a nearby refugee camp and sightsee. Ramallah Meetinghouse celebrates its centennial in March 2010. Quakers from Virginia continue to digitize and archive photographs and document oral history in the hope of producing a pictorial account of the school. Ann Riggs asks that we pray for the whole Kaimosi compound as it struggles to find a good source of water for the community. Pray that all will work together to find solutions to community problems and that Ann might help to accomplish this.
Library Ledge: Marriage Support Wondering what to get your loved one for Valentine’s Day? How about the gift of time? You could enjoy reading and discussing a book together! A Very Good Marriage, by Tom Mullen would be a good start. Or pick up Dating Your Mate or 60 One-Minute Marriage Builders for other creative ideas. A good marriage doesn’t stand still. Like our relationship with God, it needs to grow constantly or it will become stale. Take a growth spurt in your marriage; check out a book or book-on-tape found on the library ledge.
Something to Consider Honey Creek-New Providence Friends Monthly Meeting would like to share a concern for the support of the Turkana Mission located in the northern desert area of Kenya. This Friends mission was established in the early 1970s and currently has 7 indigenous pastors, 4 nursery school teachers, 1 bookkeeper and 8 helpers. Friends United Meeting has agreed to provide funds as they come in to help support the meager salaries of these workers, but seldom has been able to provide enough to fully pay the staff. The mission is able to generate some of their own support. HC-NP Friends have pledged to send $200 per month this year to support the Turkana Mission, and they challenge other monthly meetings to consider what they might to do to assist this worthwhile ministry. -from the Iowa Friend
Questions You Might Not Think to Ask • How come a wise man and wise guy are opposites? • Why do people who know the least know it the loudest? • Do massage therapists ever rub people the wrong way? • What kind of stuffing do taxidermists have for Thanksgiving? -by Robert Bimler |