TRAVELS WITH BOB (Part 1)
Last Friday, Linda and I began a three state journey across our Midwest Region Conference. It made me feel like an old-time circuit rider, only with faster horses. Regional director, Bob Eatherton, served as our chauffer and host for the trip. He certainly knew the terrain and left no moss gather on his tires. In the seven days on the road we covered nearly 2000 miles, attended four district meetings and met with gobs (Can I use that term? I guess I just did!) of pastors and people across the region. My head’s spinning a bit as I recall all that we saw and did. It was a great road trip for the Lord and now I have a bigger and better understanding of the region and its people and churches. I loved every minute! There are needs, but like our work everywhere, the celebrations far outnumber the challenges. Travel with me and you’ll see! Here are some excerpts from my journal.
Day One (Friday, November 9, 2007)
This morning I went to the office to catch up on email, calls and “stuff” before our upcoming trip westward. As always, there were a gazillion things needing attention, but prioritize, prioritize, prioritize! I wanted to go home by 10, but ended up staying past lunch. Chambers’ meditation today really spoke to me! Ever must we lift up Jesus and not our vain works or egos. As we venture on this journey, my prayer is to see Jesus and to let Him shine in all we do. Lift Him up!
Since Linda’s not returning to Findlay until after Thanksgiving, she had bunches of “to do” items to complete before leaving town. We finally left Findlay about 4 p.m. and drove to Bob and Deb Eatherton’s house in Columbia City, Indiana. We had just enough time to unpack our things and freshen-up before heading out to the Columbia City church facility. WOW, what a ministry center! We held the meeting for pastors and church leaders in the welcome café with all its rainbow colors. It was like a Technicolor Starbucks. A family from the church catered the meal: prime rib with all the fixings. I don’t think I ever had it any better. You should have seen the cut they gave Pastor George Reser. It was nearly sinful.
After supper Bob gave some introductory remarks and then gave Linda and me an opportunity to speak. Linda shared first about women’s ministries and its many activities. [You should go to the new CGWM website. It’s quite impressive and informative.] Then, I talked about our family, my call to ministry and the state of the church. I shared with the group our successes in world missions, but stressed that this accomplishment and any future expansion of our work around the globe is directly related to the strength of our US churches. They form the base from which we can expand worldwide. Therefore, it is absolutely essential that if we seek “more and better disciples,” we must seek more and better churches. I talked about the importance of our churches mothering or partnering together to begin new works wherever God leads, but pointed out that this would most likely happen where we already have a presence or nearby. We concluded the evening with a Q&A and a season of prayer.
Day Two (Saturday, November 10, 2007)
Bob and Deb graciously opened their home for Linda and me to stay overnight. That way we also got to see the Midwest Region office which is located in the basement of their home. I discovered that Bob collects mugs (not photos, but cups). Linda and I stick to Churches of God mugs, but not Bob. He’ll find shelf space for any vessel that will hold a cup of coffee which he finds necessary to start the day. He may have enough to use a different one every day of the year or almost. While in their home I also saw a book that took my eye: an 1860 edition of Winebrenner’s Doctrinal and Practical Sermons with an inscription by A. X. Shoemaker. Shoemaker, an intimate of Winebrenner from central PA, became prominent in the Illinois Eldership and pioneered the Chicago mission in 1864. I told Bob he could put my name on the book should he ever decide to part with it.
After brunch we headed out to southern Indiana to Terre Haute for our evening meeting at the Golden Corral Restaurant just off route 41. About 25 pastors and spouses and church leaders were present. We followed the same presentation as the first meeting, more or less. Bob promoted the 40-day prayer initiative that MRC has been conducting among the churches. They’re using John DeVries book, Why Pray?, as a guide. He also talked about the ten-week church development focus in process across the region based on Kent Hunter’s book, Discover Your Windows. Both ventures are producing a spiritual harvest for individuals and local churches. Linda again promoted Women’s Ministry and talked about the upcoming spring retreat in Findlay, March 7-9, 2008. I had the opportunity to share my personal testimony and call to ministry. Again, we concluded the evening with prayer, especially remembering the Idaville church meeting to be held tomorrow as they have some important, but difficult, decisions to make about pastoral leadership. The meeting broke up about 10:30 p.m. and we went back to the hotel.
(To be continued)
Ed
WELL DONE THOU GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT!
Attorney James Henry Booser, born in Harrisburg on February 21, 1910, departed this life on November 13, 2007 at his home in Middletown.
A faithful husband and father, Jim Booser was a friend of many, a man of productive work, faith, reason, hope and purpose. He graduated from John Harris High School's first class as president and valedictorian, Swarthmore College and Harvard Law School, near the top of his class.
As a lifelong member of the Churches of God of North America at First Church in Harrisburg and First Church in Middletown. Jim Booser served in a variety of roles as teacher, choir member, deacon and elder, served on the board of Camp Yolijwa and on numerous boards and councils of the Eastern Regional Conference and the denominations Administrative Council for over 50 years.
Upon his return to Central PA from Harvard, he became the fourth partner in the Harrisburg law firm of McNeese, Wallace and Nurick and was admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court. Also notable was his work on support from the Hershey Trust for the development of the M.S. Hershey Medical Center. He served as Middletown Borough Solicitor for 12 years and became an expert in church polity and constitutional law.
In partnership with his wife of over 68 years, Edith Metzger Booser, Jim helped nurture numerous community and church projects. Among them were the Interfaith Apartments, Adult Daycare Center and Thrift Shop, the swimming pool at Penn State Harrisburg and construction of the new Church of God on High Street. Recently Swarthmore College presented him the Arabella Carter Community Service Award.
A man of mythic powers of concentration, Jim was forever inquisitive in matters of human development, theology, law, science, history and genealogy. He was a relentless researcher and scholar. After competing as a two-miler in college, he was a lifelong runner and cherished his times blazing trails in Booser's Woods.
He is survived by his beloved wife Edith; son, Dr. Daniel and wife Helene of Houston, TX, daughter, Mary and husband William of Middletown, son, John and wife Connee of Middletown and Altoona, daughter, Joanna of Bend, OR and daughter, Martha and husband David of Middletown; brother, Richard and wife Katie of Vero Beach, FL; four nieces and nephews; nine grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
At his request body donation has been made through the Humanity Gifts Registry to Hershey Medical Center for medical research.
A Memorial Service will be held on Sunday, November 18, 2007 at 3 p.m. in the First Church of God, 245 W. High St., Middletown, PA.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions should be made to the Middletown First Church of God Building Fund, 245 W. High St., Middletown, PA 17057.
Arrangements by Coble-Reber Funeral Home, Middletown, PA.
Mr. Booser will be greatly missed by his many friends and colleagues through out the Eastern Regional Conference and the General Conference,Churches of God.
Published in the Patriot-News from 11/15/2007 - 11/16/2007.
Free Computer Monitors Available
The Churches of God office has computer monitors available FREE to CGGC churches. We have a dozen or so CRT monitors in varying sizes and case colors for distribution. Most are the Dell brand, black with 17" screens. Several 19" monitors are also available. These are FOR PICK UP ONLY (we cannot ship them to you). If you, or someone you know, will be coming to Findlay before the end of the year and you would like us to set one or more aside for you, please contact Mike Martin, comptech@cggc.org.
