People And Places

One of the things that help me refocus, broadens my horizons, and gives me a bigger picture is to head down the road for some relationship time with Jan, see new places, and meet new people. This past week Jan and I were able to do just that in California and Arizona. 

After flying to Phoenix and renting a car we drove to the Commodity Classic, a farm show, in Anaheim, California. We stayed in the Disneyland Hotel with a number of farmers and folks from Dekalb and Asgrow including BJ and Cassia who won this trip for having a winning soybean yield from a farm we rent near Reasnor. 

I enjoy people. The evening we arrived we had supper together with new friends including Clint. Clint drives the #14 Ford in Nascar races. He finished 3rd last Sunday at the Atlanta Motor Speedway. 

After supper we were able to meet and greet before a country music concert given by Dustin and his band. Dustin is a young country singer and songwriter who grew up in Tennessee. His song Cowboys and Angels put him on the charts in 2012.  

Having started out the day in Iowa at 4 am. Jan and I were ready to call it a day long before the concert was over so we hopped on a bus and headed back to our hotel. I enjoyed visiting with our bus driver. He told us he grew up in Iran and that he and his brother had come to America for medical help. After school he worked as a mechanic most of his adult life. He said his family back in his native country struggles because of the radical folks currently in charge. 

One of the hometown folks Jan met told her about a quilt store. Of course we had to check it out. I knew I was in trouble when it said fabric outlet above the store. Wowzers. It was the largest quilt store Jan had ever been in. However since everything she buys must come home in our carry-on luggage her purchases were limited. :)

Back at the Commodity Classic we visited many booths on the show floor one of which were our friends from Fellowship of Christian Farmers. FCFIs mission is to build, maintain, and strengthen faith in God for the farmer, rancher, their families, and their communities. They present the gospel at farm shows and do mission trips by volunteers. Their executive director, Dennis, and I have been friends for years and I have helped man their booth before as a volunteer. Dennis and I were introduced by Loren, a mutual friend, who was editor of Successful Farming at the time.

 

Not far from where we stayed but an hour drive because of California traffic sits the USS Iowa in port at Long Beach. This Navy battle ship was built in 1943 and had 2800 sailors aboard during World War 2. It was refurbished in 1984 and retired in 1992. It weighs 550,000 tons empty. 37 feet of it sits under water. It was built with 17 inch thick steel in places. Iowans get to tour for free just by showing a valid drivers licence.

Close to the USS Iowa is the Port of Los Angeles. Hundreds of cranes were unloading cargo ships. If you have ever bought anything that was made in China it came through this shipping port.

Speaking of Los Angeles Pastor Dale and I met for breakfast early one morning at a Denney's restaurant half way between Anaheim and Thousand Oaks. Dale was pastor at our church when I was in Council and two of the many things we did together back in Iowa was to get together for breakfast twice a month to set meeting agendas. We would also get together to pray specifically for each other. It was enjoyable catching up and once again praying for each other. I mentioned to Pastor Dale that I disliked the California traffic. It took 90 minutes to go 30 miles. He gave me good advice. He said in California you have to drive defensively aggressive.

On the last night Jan and I were in California we went with BJ and Cassia to Disneyworld. A theme park built in 1955 right in downtown. BJ is doing great since his back surgery three weeks ago. We so thank God for his progress. He still does no twisting or lifting. Thanks so much to the crew back home for taking care of the fat cattle as well as the mamma cows and baby calves for him.

On Thursday Jan and I headed to Old Mexico. Jan is the pharmacist of our family and usually gets stocked up on medications ranging from antibiotics for the grandkids to prednisone for poison ivy outbreaks. Plus I needed my boots polished. 

Once again we reminded ourselves we were flying home with just carry-on luggage so our purchases had to stay limited. Then I met Ceaser and made another new friend. We had on matching shirts. Ceaser is 28 years old and sells stuff to provide for his family, a wife and two kids. So I bought 3 billfolds, a belt, and another hat (I now have hats from New Zealand, Australia, and Mexico). We exchanged emails. Jan bought 2 purses. We stopped at the UPS store in Yuma, AZ where we were staying and shipped the stuff home. :) 

On Friday evening we attended Midnight at the Oasis in Yuma, AZ. Its a giant car show with 960 classic and muscle cars as well as street rods followed by a concert. It was 1970s rock and roll since most of the folks attending were maturing in years. Yep, about our age.

On Saturday morning we headed for Salome, AZ. Gary and Jerri are friends, and landlords of Kurt and Emily. They live in an air park. That means all the residents have an airplane hanger next to their home and an air strip in their park in the desert. We are going to enjoy each others company for a couple of days before heading back to the Phoenix valley.

We were created to have relationships. Something I noticed is Disneyland is very good about creating relationships for families. Obviously they do it so folks want to come. However it got me thinking. Sometimes folks only look at facts and events from their vantage point. Relationships happen when you involve others and their vantage point.

A story with just the facts is as boring as a newspaper. My goal on Sunday mornings is to try and include the relationships side of the story. From the folks I interact with during the week. And to you, the folks I visit with on Sunday mornings.

Relationships happen in countless ways. This is Grandma having a relationship with grandkids. She cooks for them, feeds them, cleans them, plays with them, breaks up fights, gives them naps, and changes the young one's diapers.

This is Grandpa having a relationship with grandkids. :)

The Bible says the greatest commandment is to have a relationship with God and love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. That involves being intentional about talking to Him. That usually means having a set place and time to pray. Remember knowing someone personally and having a relationship with them is rewarding.

The Bible says the second greatest commandment is just as important as the first. It actually proves the first. That is to have a relationship and love others as much or more than we love ourselves. That's being in God's image. That's heaven on earth folks.                            

Often in church we talk about how life is hard, we are sinners, and Christ can fix it for us. That's truth. It's also just the facts. That's the vertical half of the gospel. There is also a horizontal half. That's creating relationships and being intentional about loving others. Disneyland creates relationships because it turns a profit. We do it out of gratitude for what Christ did for us.