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My 'Adventure Cruise'

1/31/2022

6 Comments

 
Picture
Kent Kimball
​Recently I took a trip to the bottom of the world. Antarctica is a frigid and mysterious place, filled with untouched beauty. It has been on my bucket list for as long as I can remember. Of all the dynamic, peculiar, and remote places I’ve visited it has had the most profound impact on me.

I was gone almost three weeks. We boarded a 50-year-old icebreaker at the lowest tip of South America. We sailed toward 
the continent for 2 ½ days through the roughest seas on the planet, the Drake Passage. Most of the passengers were seasick during the entire passage, but when we finally arrived the sight that greeted us was breathtaking: white snow, ice mountains, glaciers, puffy clouds, and a black sea beneath us. The scene was entirely black and white; even the omnipresent penguins were wearing tuxedos!

My trip was billed as an “adventure cruise” for would-be polar explorers. Each day was new and exciting and different: snowshoeing, mountain climbing, swimming in the ocean, camping on the ice, kayaking, spending time on sea ice floating right past seals, penguins, sea lions, whales, and orcas.

In addition to the truly unique sights and adventures, another profound impression the white continent left me with was this: what a perfect, pristine, untouched, unchanged, uncontaminated place it is. It’s like a monochrome Eden. As inhabitants of our planet, we humans have done a thorough job of redecorating God’s creation everywhere with sometimes disastrous results.  Thankfully, the Antarctic Treaty, signed in 1959 by every country on the planet, stated that no country would own any part of it and that the entire continent would have two guiding principles: “for scientific research and to promote peace.” Almost without exception, those principles are currently adhered to by 100% of all countries in the world. How often does that happen?

So, there was pure water, clean air, and no trace of mining or any commercial endeavors except for a few now-abandoned 150-year-old whaling stations. I never saw so much as a cigarette butt anywhere. We scrubbed our boots every time we left the ship and every time we returned so that no contaminants could be transmitted from the ship or from the ice. We were not allowed to make any sudden moves or loud noises, nor were we allowed to approach any wildlife closer than ten feet. When we dug snow caves and igloos to sleep in, we restored the area to flatness the next day so that penguins wouldn’t fall into a hole and be unable to get out. In every way, we had to respect and honor the continent and its natural inhabitants.
​
I will always remember this dramatic, pure white, and undisturbed Eden and be grateful to God for the opportunity to experience this wonder of His creation.

“The earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. For He hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.” Psalm 24:1-2
In His Name,
​Kent
6 Comments

Getting Rid of Clutter

1/25/2022

0 Comments

 
It’s that time of year again. Time to take down the decorations and clear out clutter. It seems like every year after we put away the Christmas decorations, I get the “bug” to get organized again. I guess it comes from having to pack up the totes and trying to find space in the shed until we need them again. When everything is put away and I look at our living space, it seems almost lonely from the lack of bright and 
Picture
Stephanie Rogge
shiny decorations. I find the best way to cheer up the space during the dark winter months ahead is to change the furniture layout, add some pops of color, and put away the clutter. The process is never fun, but is often rewarding as I remove things I no longer have a use for and rediscover things I forgot I had. It always leaves me feeling as if I am back on track and hopeful as I wait for Spring to arrive.

For me, clutter is a burden that reminds me of things not done and quickly zaps me of energy and joy. Clutter does not have to only be physical things, but can be things that are left undone in our lives. There are some things I need to do that I tend to put off until later because they take a lot of personal time and energy, or because they make me sad. I know I should just get these things out of the way so that I do not have to think about them--but still I procrastinate.

Thankfully, I don’t have to rely on my own strength to complete the things that take a lot of my personal time. God reminds me:

Philippians 4:13 (ESV) 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV) 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
​
And when I have to face the tasks that rob me of my joy, God reminds me I am not alone.
1 Peter 5:7 (ESV) 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

Isaiah 41:10 (ESV) 10 fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
​
It’s never fun to take on the tasks that I have put off too long, but God helps to get me through them. He helps me remove things in my life that I no longer need to be concerned about and shows me new things to look forward to or things I forgot I wanted to do. Instead of having to continue carrying things undone, He gives me renewed energy and joy for what is ahead. 

In Christ,
Stephanie 
0 Comments

Why Believe?

1/17/2022

4 Comments

 
Why do I believe in God? It’s a question that many have asked each other. I have asked that question of myself for years. Up until three years ago, I really didn’t have a definitive answer, but then it hit me: prophecy. Prophecies are what brought my attention back to God.
​
The Bible is full of prophecies from beginning to end! One of the
Picture
Brandie Edwards
first that I noticed was in the Garden of Eden. God said to the serpent, “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed, he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” (Genesis 3:15) This to me is a prophecy of the coming Messiah.

Then again, a prophet Isaiah, who wrote many things and events about the coming Messiah. He even wrote about a virgin who will conceive a son. (see Luke 2)

As I dug deeper into the prophecies, which we are able to do thanks to the knowledge that is available to us. Another prophecy is, “But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end, many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.” Every day there is new knowledge on the internet and people constantly traveling to and fro.

I look around, and I see prophecy after prophecy, and I can’t help but think that maybe all those prophecies are coming to an end, and one will be left. John 14:1-3 says, “Let not your heart be troubled. In my father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have not told you. I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you to myself, that where I am, there you may be also.” This is my favorite prophecy of them all!
​
In the end, this prophecy is what all the other prophecies lead up to: a kingdom that Jesus promised to those who seek him. And that is exactly what I intend to do: seek Jesus.

In His Name,
Brandie
4 Comments

Things Aren't What They Seem

1/10/2022

1 Comment

 
Two traveling angels stopped to spend the night in the home of a wealthy family. The family was rude and refused to let the angels stay in the mansion's guest room. Instead, the angels were given a space in the cold basement.
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As they made their bed on the hard floor, the older angel saw a hole in the wall and repaired it. When the younger angel asked 
Picture
Chris Gray
why, the older angel replied, "Things aren't always what they seem."

The next night, the pair came to rest at the house of a very poor, but very hospitable farmer and his wife. After sharing what little food they had, the couple let the angels sleep in their bed where they could have a good night's rest.

When the sun came up the next morning, the angels found the farmer and his wife in tears. Their only cow, whose milk had been their sole income, lay dead in the field.

The younger angel was infuriated and asked the older angel, "How could you have let this happen? The first man was rude and had everything, yet you helped him," she accused. "The second family had little, but was willing to share everything, and now you let their cow die."

“Things aren't always what they seem," the older angel replied. "When we stayed in the basement of the mansion, I noticed there was gold stored in that hole in the wall. Since the owner was so obsessed with greed and unwilling to share his good fortune, I sealed the wall because he didn't need it. Then last night as we slept in the farmer's bed, the angel of death came for his wife. I gave her the cow instead. Things aren't always what they seem."

Hmm...something to ponder as we go about our day!

Blessings,
Chris
1 Comment

In a World Where You Can Be Anything, Be Kind

1/3/2022

2 Comments

 
The first week of January seems like a good time to think about resolutions. While it’s not pointless to think about resolving to do better, be better, if you do nothing, then why bother? I decided to look for some help and found some tips to help make and keep our 2022 New Year’s resolutions!
Picture
Janet Starkey
  • Be specific and realistic
  • Create a plan
  • Be accountable to yourself and others
  • Find joy in the process
Okay. So, this research wasn’t particularly helpful, and I didn’t feel more prepared to commit my resolutions to paper. Determined to find other help, I pressed on.

Many of you may already know Greg Laurie. I’ve only just discovered his writings. Last year he wrote, “I don’t know about New Year’s resolutions, but I do believe in resolution, which means having resolve or determination to do something. Every one of us should have resolution in our lives. We need goals. We need objectives. And we need things to aim for in life.”

Now, we’re getting somewhere!

Paul wrote in Philippians 3:13-14 after years of walking with God, “No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.”

Spiritual resolve! Greg continued with, “…we cannot be controlled by past mistakes or live in past victories. So if you blew it last year, then learn from it, and don’t do it again. Make changes in your behavior, your habit patterns, and your choices so you won’t go down that road again.

“At the same time, if God did something wonderful in your life last year, don’t live in past victories. A whole new year is before you with many new opportunities. So press on toward what God has for you.”

Today, my resolutions are (inspired by Pastor Neal) to focus on being kind, being honest, and being fair, and to learn from the past and open my mind and heart to our new future.

In a world where you can be anything, be kind.

Prayers for a blessed new year,
~Janet
2 Comments

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 First Presbyterian Church | 521 E Lakeside Ave | Coeur d'Alene | ID  83814
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  • Home
    • Connect With Us >
      • Prayer Request
      • eNews Archive >
        • 2020 eNews Archive
  • Who We Are
    • Leadership & Staff >
      • Job Opportunities
      • Blogs >
        • Blog Archive 2021 >
          • Our Mission
          • Blog Archive 2020
    • Elders, Deacons & Ministry Teams
    • History >
      • Barb McPland Clothing Giveaway
      • Keefer's Cabin
      • Past Ministers
    • What Presbyterians Believe
    • Annual Reports
  • Ministries
    • Family Ministry >
      • Nursery
      • Children
      • 1st Pres Youth
      • Family Connections
    • Missions
    • Serve >
      • Choir >
        • Special Music Archive
      • Church Ministry Teams
      • Ecumenical Kitchen
      • Family Promise
      • Handbell Choir
      • Knitting for Warmth
      • Praise Team
      • Reception Team
    • Grow >
      • Book Studies
      • Men's Fellowship
      • Presbyterian Women
      • Sermon-based Small Groups
      • Sunday Bible Study
      • Women's Circles
  • Sundays
    • Contemplative Worship
    • Classic Worship
    • Sermons
  • Giving
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