Mark Twain wrote a book called, "The Diary of Adam and Eve." Both Adam and Eve make entries into their daily journal as they discover the garden and all that fills it. One of the final entries by Adam finds him at the graveside of Eve. His blessing over her is simply, "Wheresoever she was, there was Eden."

Several times recently I have been reminded that it could well be said of Jesus Christ that "wheresoever he is, there is enough." Call to mind a parable or biblical story of an encounter with Jesus...

The Feeding of the Five Thousand - a few loves and fishes become enough
The Great Dinner - through all the excuses there is enough for the poor, crippled, blind, lame
Peter and Andrew Fishing - one more try was enough
The Widow - her mite was enough
The Woman with the Hemorrhage - her faith, Jesus' touch was enough
Blind Bartimaeus - a persistent faith, Jesus' attention was again enough
The Rich Young Ruler - though he went away sad, Jesus' invitation was enough
The Cross - even there God's love was enough

Farmers in central Illinois, waiting out another harvest-delaying-rain must wonder if there is enough time. Those who are unemployed or finding unemployment benefits coming to an end must wonder if there is enough work. An area family receiving the body of their son killed in Afghanistan must wonder if there is enough comfort and meaning.

God's enough in Jesus Christ is not a casual confession of faith, but a life-long witness lived one day at a time. Thank you for sharing the journey of God's enough.

There is a book, "Unbinding the Gospel" that I am excited about our congregation exploring this Fall. Actually, it is the content of the book - a focus on evangelism - that is exciting.

Last evening I visited with a congregation in Galesburg, Illinois. As I was early for the meeting I walked the halls, read bulletin boards, sat a moment in the beautiful sanctuary. I noticed that they had a large number photographs of smiling folks with their name and "confessions of faith" written below. They were mostly dated the spring of this year. One of the members enthusiastically told me that they had studied "Unbinding the Gospel" and that they had found new and meaningful ways to invite persons to Christ and into the life and witness of the congregation. She spoke of a man who would park his car at the corner of the church parking lot. Someone teasingly said, "If you park there you have to come to church here." So he did. Later his wife came. No one had ever invited him before. Everyday evangelism.

The opening to the book, by Gay Reece, has a quotation from Eugene Peterson, the author of The Message, a paraphrase of the Bible. He wrote:

Most of us, most of the time, feel left out-misfits. We don't belong...One of the ways we have of responding to this is to form our own club, or join one that will have us. Here is at least one place where we are "in" and others are "out"....The terrible price we pay for keeping all those other people out so that we can savor the sweetness of being insiders is a reduction of reality, a shrinkage of life....As Luke tells the story, all of us who have found ourselves on the outside looking in on life with no hope of gaining entrance (and who of us hasn't felt it?) now find the doors wide open, found and welcomed by God in Jesus.

To tell you the truth, I have never felt like we are a closed congregation, that we are cautious of who we let into the fellowship of First Christian Church. But, to tell more truth, I am not sure I am the best judge of that. I wonder if some have come and felt there was no place for them, for their worship of God.

Maybe what we can do best is make sure that the doors are opened wide, that in daily life we act and speak as a people who have been found by God, that we reach out as a people who know God's welcome in Christ. Let's find new ways.

Memorial Garden

Have trouble remembering? "AJ" doesn't. A recent article tells that in 2000 she wrote that she "can take a date, between 1974 and today, and tell you what day it falls on, what I was doing that day and if anything of importance occurred on that day. She had been called 'the human calendar' for years by her friends and acquaintances." The very rare condition is called hyperthymestic syndrome, based on the Greek word meaning "more than normal remembering."

There are a few dates from the past that I can vividly remember where I was - the day President Kennedy was assassinated; the evening Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated; the explosion of the Space Shuttle Challenger; the Oklahoma City bombing; the fall of the twin towers on 9/11. Each was a traumatic national event that broke into my awareness and exposed me to a wider world than the place where I was standing at the moment.

Here, at First Christian Church, a new memorial garden has begun to take shape. Within a week flowers are blooming. I have referred to it as a memorial garden and also as a peace garden. I have been asked, "Which is it?" To me it is both, but I am happy to be consistent in calling it a memorial garden.

Will Provin and a crew of Boy Scouts, leaders and parents created the garden just outside my window. The garden is the fruit of Will's Eagle Scout Project as well as memorial funds entrusted to the First Christian Church. The garden will continue to mature and become a familiar part of the church landscape.

It is a memorial garden. When I stand for a moment in the garden, my memory does not automatically improve or expand. I not not suffer from "more than normal remembering."

But what has happened is that I can stand, quiet myself for a moment, and allow God to help my remembering. Thoughts turn to members and friends from First Christian Church I have known, loved, cared for, and who have cared and nurtured me. Their faces return to me in a few moments of quiet, peace if you would. My only response is "thank you." My world expands to recall so many who have made this church what it is - by their prayers, labors, giving, and risk-taking. I believe you can name one or two or many. In that garden my world expands to see God more clearly, this God who has stirred in their hearts and minds and in mine. My only response is "thank you."

Thanks Will. Thanks memorial fund donors. Thank you families who choose church as a place of remembering. Thank you God.

Take a moment to stand in the garden. Who comes to your mind? Click and comment below and share your memories.

I Once Was Lost

It was an impressive display. Will threw his car keys about 40 feet out into our lawn. The keys settled into down into the thick grass - out of sight. And then the search began. Middle school and senior high youth as well as parents other church members stood back in fascination as the magnificent German shepherd set to work. It was a demonstration by the Gibson City Police Department canine unit.
The few commands given were in Polish, the dog's native language. With an eagerness of a parent seeking a lost child, the dog made broad sweeping circles, zeroing in on the keys. His nose was at grass level as he tried to distinguish one scent from others. Within two minutes he found the keys and crouched down until they were retrieved - much to Will's relief. This recent addition to the police department in Gibson City also found marijuana planted under the seat of our mower as well as under the bumper of Pastor Oerter's truck. (please note - planted by the police). And finally, the dog's ability to bring a running man to a halt, until assistance arrived. Altogether, an impressive demonstration.
I envied our canine friend. It is not always an easy thing to focus. Sitting in my office, I think of multiple places to be or tasks that need to be finished up. It is hard to leave the unfinished behind. I would imagine that most of us awaken in the morning to find a multitude of decisions to be made about how or where to invest the day's energy.
Last fall as we began a new season of ministry and mission our leadership through the Board, Elders, Nurture and Outreach ministries gave some attention to the Five Practices of a Fruitful Congregation identified by Robert Schnase.
They are:

• Radical hospitality
• Passionate worship
• Intentional faith development
• Risk-taking mission and service
• Extravagant generosity

These practices can be found on each Board agenda, on the walls of our fellowship place, in our chapel, and throughout the newsletter. The wonderful part of this is that they continue to show up in the life and witness of the congregation.
Extravagant generosity is evident in the tremendous response of the congregation in our recent "New Love, New Mercy" stewardship. The stewardship committee as well as the small group leaders and hosts created a healthy environment for God to do new things through us!
Keep your eyes open, your nose to the ground, as we continue to search for and discover the wonder God has placed among us. Let us take it as a gift to others in service.

From Day One

Sometimes I gently shake books - in each hand a front and back cover, pages open and dangling below. It started hen I remembered how often I used dollar bills for bookmarks.

Now and then I shake scripture, gently. Though I have never winnowed, that might be what it is like. It isn't for the possibility of money. It is for the possibility of understanding. Most days I need understanding more than money. This week the phrase "From Day One" fluttered down from Genesis 1:1-5 when I shook it a little bit.

In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth and the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light. And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day. -Genesis 1:1-5 NRSV

Say it again God. Say, "Let there be light....

• to show a way to peace for Israel and her neighbors,
• to show a way to jobs and meaningful labor for the unemployed and underemployed,
• to show a way to hope for all who are huddled in fear against terrorism,
• to show a way to comfort to those who grieve the death of one of your children,
• to show a way to compassion for those who are hungry to serve you.

Say it again God. And remind us it is good. From day one, let us be a part of your goodness.

Who are You?

Three times during this past week I made purchases. As I finished the transaction I was asked to participate in an evaluation of the one assisting me. Each said the evaluation would come in a few days. Two pointed out that the evaluation would be a reflection on them personally. These two salespersons asked me outright to give them "10's." Anything less would be a reflection on them personally.

The evaluations have not yet arrived. So I have some more time to think about it. I certainly don't want to cause any problems as both really were helpful. Eagerly and genuinely helpful. However, I am stubborn enough that I don't really care for persons suggesting how I should respond. I wanted to ask them to please rate themselves - my own version of "Who do you say you are?" (See John passage to the right of this entry.)

I wonder if our governor might attempt the same approach - "please give me all "10's." Apparently his approval rating has slipped to 4%. Trust is broken. As more information comes out, many citizen's of the state are likely asking, "Who are you?" or with more attitude "Who, in the world, do you think you are?"

John the Baptist might well have taken advantage of the opportunity to answer differently when questioned by the priests and Levites. "Are you the Messiah?" "No." "Are you Elijah?" "No." "Are you the prophet?" "No." John knew who he was and who he was not - he was the one preparing a way in the wilderness. His life pointed to Jesus, the Light of the World. In a land of deep darkness, a light has shined.

The ministry we share is one of pointing to Christ. We may be evaluated by others, but what may be most important, is that we know who we are and whose we are. The Messiah? No. But we are "God-bearers" in the world.

On Sunday, in worship, I commented on the disconnect between seasonal/ Christmas" music and what is going on around us. It isn't a new discovery, just an observation this year. My comments drew a variety of responses from "get over it Ed" to "tune it out" to "I couldn't agree more."

Walking in a Winter Wonderland seemed misplaced while Nancy and I were having lunch on November 19th as it was clear and nearly 50 degrees outside. And, O Holy Night arrived just after the sun came up on Thanksgiving morning. Both seemed to ignore where and when they were.

Songs that can evoke pleasant memories will likely be worn out and tattered at the edges by the time Christmas Day arrives. The day after, they can almost be an embarrassment as we hurry to put them away. I'm not advocating an end to Christmas music. I rather enjoy it most of the time.

However, the words of Lillian Daniel have jostled my thinking again about a season I have walked through 55 times now. She said, "But let us be clear that while the world's busy-ness may seem to be pointed toward Christmas, it is seldom pointed toward the coming Christ child."

With so many, I desire to find my voice to sing a song that takes a long look at the world's brokenness and its wonder and still find reason for hope in the Christ who is already present.