StillwatersIowa

 A story is an account of events or experiences. It can be spoken. It can be written. The story can be words, images, or both. Stories bring facts and feelings to life. I'm sure most of you can remember stories from your parents and grandparents that have been passed down from generation to generation. These brothers' great-great-grandfather was an only child in Holland. Cornelius helped his father sell eggs and vegetables. He was scheduled to go to court for kicking a dog. He came to America instead. Cornelius got married and had 9 boys. 2 of those boys, Bill and John, ended up in Iowa while the remaining 7 stayed in the southern Illinois and northern Indiana area. There's listening to stories. There's telling stories. And there's living stories by being part of other's lives and helping make memories. This week we are going to focus more on people and places. The past week in southern Iowa has been wet for the most part. Yesterday morning Jan brought out break...

Every year about this time as the planters are filling with seed for the upcoming crop, there is a foundation of trust in a farmer that believes and relies on God to take a dead seed and turn it into a bountiful harvest. Happy Birthday Malaki. Last week we visited about Passion Week when Jesus was arrested, abandoned by friends, falsely accused, convicted by both church and government, and headed for Calvary where He was crucified, died, and buried in a borrowed tomb on what we call Good Friday. Thanks for the picture Collin. However what we remember and celebrate today changed everything. Early, on a Sunday morning, Jesus conquered death. He came back to life, shocked those guarding his grave, left the tomb, and explained to folks how He had to die to pay for our wrongs. This Resurrection is the foundation of our trust that when we leave this earth we will spend eternity with Christ in heaven if we simply accept this gift. God's spiritual harvest is providing for us both here on e...

It seems we often go from Sunday to Sunday when it comes to church, thinking about God, and our relationship with Him. Then on Monday through Friday we focus on cool wet weather, delayed fieldwork, inflation, supply issues, lack of help, and shortages. Today we remember Palm Sunday, and it's so easy to go straight to Easter Sunday next week. This morning we are going to spend part of our visit seeing the Monday through Friday in-between of Passion Week, from an earthly perspective. Last Sunday my siblings and our children and grandkids came for Sunday dinner. We ate in the shop across the road since the cabin was busy. We had Big Mac Sundaes. In a bowl you start with bread crumbs, then loose hamburger, pickles and onions, homemade special sauce, french fries, and then cover the whole works with hot cheese. One Sunday Jesus asked his disciples to bring him a young donkey, which he rode into the capital (Jerusalem). The country was under the thumb of Roman politics and a church with ...

Taking off one's shoes has been and still is a sign of politeness, consideration, respect, reverence, and humility. It's a good habit to have. It's a good habit to teach to our next generations. It's been a boot week around here this past week with continued cold wet weather. We have not been to the field yet and the forecast is not promising. This spring reminds me of 1983. Our daughter Becky was born on April 15 and we had not been to the field that year yet either. In the Bible I can think of three times when shoes were asked to be taken off. All three times were encounters with God. And all three were during times of troubles, transition, and triumphs after obeying God. In Exodus 3 Moses was a hired hand for his father-in-law tending livestock when he noticed a bush burning. He was curious so he walked over to check it out. When Moses got close God told him he was on holy ground and to take off his shoes. God said that He saw the troubles of the Israelites in bondag...