“If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it."

Children's Hospital National Medical Center, Washington DC  
  (Hospital stories 2 weeks in a row....)

0730 couldn't come soon enough.  I had worked a double shift as a "child care technician," a position created for nursing students in a baccalaureate program, and I was exhausted.  It was now 0720, that's 7:20am for those of you who don't follow 24 hour clock time; I'd recorded my report for the next shift and was counting the minutes to head down to the bus stop. 

"Maybe I should check my kiddos one more time before I leave," I muttered to myself.  Some of my little ones were awake and playing and some still sleeping. 18 month old James was the last of my little patients to check.  I peaked into his room, and there he was standing in his crib, smiling broadly, and covered with blood from his IV which he had apparently ripped out, and coated in what must have been incredibly explosive diarrhea. Seriously, how could such a little guy have excrement covering every inch of himself and the crib and the floor???? and he was so happy....  SIGH.   I  could sneak out of his room and no one would know I saw this spectacle; James couldn't tell anyone. I really, really needed to sleep. Surely no one would blame me if they knew what kind of night I'd had and how pooped (bad pun intended) I was.  Choices to make; character in question. I took a deep breath of hallway air and entered the room.  "Oh, James!" 


This week's message is entitled "Wax On, Wax Off," and Brother Mick will be sharing from the passage in Matthew 16:21-28 where Peter wants to prevent Jesus from facing death, and like we often try to do, keep Jesus clean and pure where all is happy and sweet rather than understanding Jesus is going to step into the muck where most of us are wallowing. Jesus certainly had loving arms around a sweet albeit stinky little boy named James, and Jesus invites us to join him  in entering the stuff of life.


As I was sitting in my office this week and the walls began to tremble and my desk to vibrate, once I realized I was not having some sort of "spell," the verse came to mind from Isaiah 54:10 "Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed," says the LORD, who has compassion on you"  Now many are facing the effects of Hurricane Irene; let's remember God is our refuge and strength even as we fill buckets to flush toilets and boil potatoes to eat.


A fellowship meal follows the service on Sunday allowing us to spend some time in appreciation for Jeff and Cindy, as Jeff concludes his time as minister of music at Ridgeview.   God continues to use his servant Jeff in creative and amazing ways with his acting and musical gifts.  I am very hopeful that Jeff's words to us might be, "You've not seen the last of me!"  For those of you who enjoy piano music check out Jeff's website for his "In The Midst"  cd as well as his engagements.  I'm not sure if he has the cd available in digital format or not, but get a cup of tea, close your eyes, and be blessed as joy and peace flow from the dulcet sounds of the piano. We love you, Jeffrey!  http://jeffraught.com/

Monday  7pm at Ridgeview there is an affordable housing meeting with Robert Thomas, president of Tabor Community Services, to continue the discussion about housing issues in our area.  All are welcome to attend.


Some of you are teachers and back at school or going soon.  May you be filled with Spirit fruit; love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, as you touch young hearts and minds.


College students, I am praying for you as you transition with roommates, classes, sports, food, professors, environment, schedules.....

My prayer for you today:  

God of Hope, in a world that is ever changing and at times hurtful, you are present and enter the muck with us providing healing and hope.  You've revealed your true love for us through Jesus, claiming us as your children! Fill each reader with an awareness of your love; be it on a cognitive level or an emotional one; be it through a coworker today or a roommate; be it in the reading of this prayer or the perusal of the newspaper.  You are omnificent and omnipotent, Creator and Almighty, yet made yourself a servant of love and have shown us a new way and a new hope.  Come Kingdom of God.  Be done, will of God.  Here on earth, as it is in heaven.  AMEN

Without question or doubt, you are loved by God, and I love you too.  Never hesitate to contact me!

love and light,

carol

"Always remember who you are, whose you are, where you are going, and what you believe, because it does make a difference!  Oh, and don't forget to attend a church of your choice this weekend. "  jd

With thee is the fountain of life; in thy light do we see light. Psalms 36:9

"Carol, I need you to go help out on Station 2," the nursing supervisor said. 
I had just sent my only patient, 7 year old Sally sufficiently recovered from her asthma attack, home. 
Station 2 was a general medical/surgical unit with big people rather than my usual infants, children, and teens.  I didn't mind going to help, although I was hoping I would not have an assignment of patients.
"Whew! Glad you're here!" Chris, the evening charge nurse exclaimed.  "207 is driving us all nuts.  He's confused, belligerent, and destined to fall."
"OK, " I said and did a quick perusal of his chart--Samuel Roberts, 87 years old, Congestive Heart Failure.
"You have to stay in bed; you're in the hospital, " the nursing assistant was saying sternly to the old man when I entered the room. 
"Hi, Ellen, I can stay with him now."
"Thanks, I haven't taken any of my 8pm vitals yet.  Have fun!"  she said with a wry smile, hastening off to complete her many tasks.
The old man was stretched out in the hospital bed with one of his long legs trying to find the spaces in the side rails, attempting to escape.
 "Hey, there!  Where are you going?" I asked our captive. 
"I've got to get home to Elsie," he replied in a surprisingly clear and strong voice.  
 Realizing the continued attempts of reorientation had failed, and that I was set to be here for awhile, I tried a new tactic; distraction.  
"Mr. Roberts, what happened to your toes?"  With his big, puffy feet battling with the rails it was easy to see he was missing several toes on each foot.  I pulled up a chair beside him and took hold of his hand, partly to keep him from picking at his IV line and partly to provide a human touch.
"Frostbite in the war," he said without missing a beat. And just that quickly the history lesson began.  Prompted by questions, Mr. Roberts began to tell me about his life. His parents died in the influenza pandemic of 1918; he was raised by an aunt and uncle.  He ate pigs' brains and other animal parts during the Great Depression that certainly have never crossed my palate. He had been drafted in WWII. He and Elsie never had children...The evening passed quickly, and I wish I had taken notes because the details are now fuzzy.  
When I entered room 207, Mr. Roberts was a number and a label. When I left at 11pm that night, a transformation had occurred within me as divine light enveloped that room.   In my world of nursing, it was really easy to be conformed by expectations in the "to do" list and not truly see people even though it is the caring of humankind that draws many of us to nursing in the first place.  Today in your encounters, take a second look at people and see them as the masterpieces of the Creator.
"Do not be conformed to this world,^* but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.^*   Romans 12:2 
At times it seems transformation is something too lofty to attain; perhaps it is as simple as truly seeing.


View From the Grove

 This week Brother Mick will be sharing from Romans 12 albeit a different direction than I took you.  This is a passage with much to chew on-- certainly not baby food! The title of the message is "Reasonable Worship," and we'll be contemplating how our powers of reason tie in with worship.  Worship will be down in the grove beginning at 9:30am;  ahh, I love the outside service, but, alas!,  I won't be there!  We'll be heading to Harrisonburg where the daughters will check into their college dorms and begin soccer preseason training. 
Sarah and Laura have also headed to their colleges, and Travis, Dustin, and Brandon will be close behind.


Check out the progress on enclosing the Upstairs Room! :) 
Mennonite Disaster Service will soon be announcing the project locations for this fall.  Stay tuned to find out the where and when.  Perhaps you can be a part of a team rebuilding homes and hope. http://mds.mennonite.net/
The "Ingathering" for August is paper supplies for The Factory Ministries.


My prayer for you today:  Creator God, you are the fountain of life; in your light do we see light.  Thank you for your presence with us; never do you leave us or forsake us.  Transform us to your likeness that your will would be done, here on earth as it is in heaven.  Come Kingdom of God.  Be done will of God, on earth as it is in heaven.  In Jesus name.   AMEN


Without question or doubt, you are loved by God, and I love you too! 
Love and Light,
carol
http://www.ridgeviewmennonite.net/

 *Names and identifying details have been changed.

"Always remember who you are, whose you are, where you are going, and what you believe, because it does make a difference!  Oh, and don't forget to attend a church of your choice this weekend. " JD

Let me hear what God the Lord will speak,
   for he will speak peace to his people,
   to his faithful, to those who turn to him in their hearts. Psalm 85:8

Cliff stood up abruptly and said, "I'm going to go check on the kids." 
We had a "house church" meal at Ridgeview, and the kids ages 3-11 were outside playing while the adults were conversing and laughing around the table.  We all kind of shrugged, I said, "OK," and the rest of us returned to our chatter.
A few minutes later my hubby returned looking unsettled and a bit shaky. 
"That was close, really close," he muttered.
"What's wrong?" someone asked.
"As I walked out the back door of the church, I looked up to see Alyssa flying down the hill on her bike, feet off the pedals,  toward the bank behind the church.  I just barely got to her before she went over," he replied emotionally.

Those of you who know Cliff, know he is a soccer player(10) with speed, agility, and an inherent knowledge of angles.  Had any of the rest of us gone out to check on the kids, I suspect we would have stood there and cried, "OH, NO!" as this sweet little girl flipped over the steep bank at the back of the church.  I am convinced that Cliff heard an unspoken whisper which he obeyed. 
I just heard that our little bike rider is now engaged to be married, and it is this good news that sparked the remembrance. :) Congratulations, Alyssa and Weston!

This week Brother Mick's message is "A.D.D. Disciples" with the scripture  being Matthew 14:22-33.  With so many distractions in our lives, how can we stay focused on Jesus? 
As the first Sunday of August, we being a month's sabbatical from Sunday school with fellowship beginning at 9am and worship starting at 9:30.

Bob and Rick, church workers extraordinaire, began the Upper Room enclosure.
Whoo Hoo!


I may not have internet access next week while I'm at the beach, :) so there may or may not be a Communique. 


Those of you in college are finishing up your summer jobs and activities and beginning to order your books, buy items for your dorms, make plans with roomies, and get into shape for your sports' seasons.  Is it really August? I hope to meet with some of you before you leave! 

My prayer for you today:  The mighty one, God the Lord, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting.  It is you, Creator God, to whom we lift our hearts with thanks.  You are visible all around; open our eyes to see.  You are speaking; open our ears to listen.  You are instructing; grant us courage to be obedient. You are present; open our hearts to greater awareness. Lord, I pray that each person reading this would have increased consciousness of your love and comforting presence today.  There is so much that draws us away from you, yet you keep calling us back; back to love you and love our neighbors.  Come Kingdom of God. Be done,  will of God-- on earth as it is in heaven. In the name of Jesus. AMEN

Without question or doubt, you are loved by God, and I love you too!

Love and Light!

Carol

http://www.ridgeviewmennonite.net/

"Always remember who you are, whose you are, where you are going, and what you believe, because it does make a difference!  Oh, and don't forget to attend a church of your choice this weekend. " JD