Catch up time... to start I had a blast seeing who I got to see... So thank you all for making time, as mine was limited! I hope to see more of you next time I am in Iowa, which will probably be this fall/winter. I will keep you updated! :)
The Iowa United Methodist Annual Conference was awesome!There were a few things on the business end that frustrated me! However, Corey was a sport and just laughed at me!! Thanks for that! :) One of the highlights was a guest speaker named Bishop Kulah. He was from Africa. (I cant remember where, and didn't put it in my notes, sorry.)
Bishop Kulah said many things, and some of it related to where he came from. One of my favorite analogies has to do with walking. He started off by saying that where he comes from, walking is not a sport. Not a way to get fit. Walking is community, fellowship, meditations, questions and connections. When we walk in life we meet people in a community and fellowship with them. We meditate on things, ask questions of others we are waling with and make connections. (He put it much better than I, of course, I am not a Bishop either though, LOL.) So we should walk with Christ. Build a community, fellowship with other Christians. Meditate on God's word, allow Jesus to ask us questions, and make connections with Jesus and God, and our community! I love this. I cannot quite seem to put it into words that show how it makes me feel. I haven't been doing all that, and this was a good way to put it into perspective for me! WALK WITH CHRIST! :)
One thing I absolutely related to that he said, "Scripture is primary, discipline is secondary." This just may be my new motto! LOL. How often do we read scripture to make sure that what we are hearing is the true word of God. Are we learning and meditating on God's word? Or the word of our Pastor, or neighbor, or fellow Christian? Now don't misunderstand me. I am not saying that I am perfect, or that those listed above are not well meaning, but I believe this helps us to keep accountable to God, not to people. This leads to another quote: "Some people believe the Bible contains the word of God. I believe it IS the word of God" Which I too believe. We should follow the word of God! I feel that the Discipline of the UMC is rooted in the word, and as hard as it may seem some days, hours or minutes, I am trying to live my life through His word. I often fall short! Former Iowa Bishop Ruben Job said, "regardless of circumstance, you are a child of God." Regardless of the many times I fall, or fail, I can always remember that I am a child of God! And I hope you all do too!
Out in Fort Dodge there is this ministry that "takes it to the street." It is an outdoor ministry in which started out as a children's program, but now reaches those from infant to 92 years of age! It is a summer ministry in which they have sites outdoors where they do mini church services. The coordinator sometimes gets slack from some members of her congregation because this ministry does not necessarily bring more members into their church. But as she points out, it is not about filling the pews, it is about bringing the gospel to those who won't hear it anywhere else! Kudos Jennifer!! YOU ROCK!
Pastor Dwayne had a retirement ceremony that some people were able to make it down to Des Moines for! Which I am glad for, because my dad was one of them!! I love you Dad! ;)
Well guys, my next post will be about Cancun, it will probably be shorter than this one, but I hope you enjoy it! And I am sorry it took me so long to post this! LORI, I am sorry, I know I told you it would be up Saturday night! I fail!! The family had guests over and it was late before I got back upstairs! Sorry!
Til next time!
Jules
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