March-April Connection
Honoring the Giver
by Dwight Kimberly, Reedwood Friends
I must be getting old because I often reflect on the way things were, the golden years of my youth during the 1940s and ’50s. The stress of surviving the Depression influenced the way we were raised. We carefully used adhesive tape, made our own glue out of flour & water, were thrilled with the one-party telephone, and marveled at the neighbor’s 8-inch black/white television. It is interesting that this generation of parents still adheres to many of these ideals even though there are adequate financial resources for less restrictive living. Today we don’t think this way—we have credit cards. Most of the children of the past 30 years have not known the disciplined living of the 1930s. The line between ‘”appetite” and ‘”need” is a bit fuzzy for many of us that have not faced hard times. But we should remember we are made in God’s image…
>>read more and join the dialogue>>
God’s Relationship with Creation
by Karen Oberst, Klamath Falls Friends.
One of the benefits of Celtic Christianity is that it calls us to remember the sacredness of the Earth. The Celts originally worshiped nature beings, but when Christianity came to them, this was exchanged for a love of nature as the creation of God. They believed that God has a hand in creating each flower, each animal, and each human being that comes into our world.
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Out of My Mind – Balanced Living
I’ve been thinking a lot about living a balanced life. Jesus, of course, is our example for all things good and true. Did he lead a balanced life? Not by most definitions.
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Keeping Current with Local Outreach ~ Rose Valley Hoopsters
by Susan Gann, Rose Valley Friends
At the start of each season, the young players from the Rose Valley Friends Church basketball program concentrate on more than dribbling and slam dunks. The hoopsters also take time to raise food for charity. This year’s recipient was FISH of Cowlitz County. FISH works with 18 churches in Longview and Kelso to distribute food each weekday. In a typical month, 1,700 people—adults and children—receive food boxes from FISH churches. Many people get food two or three times a month. In 2005, FISH gave out enough food to prepare more than 250,000 meals.
>>read more about the Hoopsters and their outreach>>
Keeping Current with Global Outreach – Great Lakes Leadership Training
by Lon Fendall and Ben StaleyThe students struggled to do their best to answer the tough questions in the oral exams that covered the two years of classes they had attended. When the questions seemed to be a little too easy, the exam panel asked follow-up questions to further assess their grasp of the content—Bible, 
theology, ministry methods, church administration, conflict resolution, and other topics. Those who didn’t do so well, were given another chance to show their strengths the next day. When they heard they had all passed, there was much rejoicing. These exams were at the end of one of three training programs for pastors and other church leaders in the “Great Lakes” region of Central Africa.
>>read the rest of this article>>
Friends Leadership Program ~ Mentoring and Creating Relationship
By Jamie Johnson, Friends Leadership Program Director
Can you recall a time in your life when someone older than you joined you in your journey, sought to learn more about you, and helped you experience the work of Christ in your life more clearly? As I reflect on my life, I realize that I often chronologically organize my life according to those people who mentored me. What a blessing to reflect on how I was shaped by people who cared enough about me to join their life to mine! We have embarked on a mentoring journey as part of the Friends Leadership Program (FLP).
>>read more about mentoring young Friends leaders>>
Announcements and Updates 
- Junior High Jamboree
- Thanksgiving Offering total
- Friends Leadership Program update
- Youth Challenged to Expand their Worldview team members
- Youth Challenged through Local Service applications
- Leadership Institute for Group Discernment
- Joy of Clerking workshop
- Youth Volleyball Tournament
- Sowers Fund
- Pastoral Transitions
Download a PDF copy of the March/April 2010 Connection
Wow. I just finished reading NWYM Connection. I had expected to discover some insight that would help me to grow spiritually or draw me closer to God. But I didn’t.
I got the impression that we should be worshipping the earth and the great outdoors and not use buildings or technology because they detract from God’s Creation. What is technology but an application of God’s creation?
Most of what was written in this issue, my Wiccan friend could’ve written. How are we any different? Do we worship the earth or the Creator of the earth?
I guess I just needed something different today than what I read here. Just a little disappointed.
-Alicia
Hey Alicia,
thanks for sharing your disappointment. And I’m sorry that it came across that way. The emphasis we were shooting for, was that creation is an expression of God’s creativity and care for us…and therefore we learn a lot about God’s character and God’s desires by being in relationship with nature and seeing ourselves as a part of it. Nature points to Christ, as Colossians 2:17 says: “These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.”
Creation gives us incredible insight into God…it points to God as a shadow points to the sun. And just as the shadow is NOT the sun, creation is not that which we worship. Yet it is a gift and a physical expression of God’s care and intention, and therefore deserves our respect and care.
Creation is God’s “general revelation” to the world (Psalm 19:1-3 The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge.There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.) Whether Christian or not, God can be seen in creation by everyone. And technology CAN dull our spiritual ears to that voice, if we let it, although they are not necessarily in conflict.
Thoughts? Responses? I’d love to get some pushback on this or further feedback, from Alicia or anyone else.
Bruce-
I like the way you explained it. It makes more sense. Thanks.