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Written and Shared by: Chaplain Chris Belfield
I have loved reading and studying history – particularly military history – since the first time I remember reading a book. It was one of the very few subjects that I really enjoyed, and I must humbly add – excelled at. Perhaps that's one reason my first career was in the military and why I got a graduate degree in military history. Many repetitive themes in military history and thousands of books and hundreds of films have been dedicated to these themes. One of the more popular themes covered in hindsight is referred to as, "The Turning Point." This usually is a single significant event or a connected series of events that dramatically change a situation's outcome. When studying military history, there are three predominant aspects to be learned. These being, what caused the military situation? What was the turning point in the conflict? And how was the dispute ultimately resolved? Of course, the concept of the turning point applies to more than military history. Our recent political history will reflect a turning point that culminated in the final election results. When history is written, we will also see the same applied to the pandemic in which we find ourselves at the present moment. But this is an encouragement, not a discourse on history. Allow me to observe that we have had our own turning point on the magnificent North Shore, so to speak. We have seen the temperatures finally climb back into the positive number's region within the past week. In fact, as I write this, the sun is bright, and the temperature is in the teens. The fortune-tellers at the National Weather Service are encouraged enough to forecast a slow but steady temperature increase for the remainder of the month. They are even so daring as to state that beginning this Saturday evening, the lows each evening will still be above zero. As if to confirm this information, there has been a marked increase in bird and squirrel activity. The vole has once again shown itself. Eagles are once again soaring the thermals along the shoreline, while snow is beginning to recede back from the roadways due to sublimation's assistance from the sun's UV rays. The past several weeks have certainly been trying, to say the least. Many had vehicles that wouldn't start and furnaces that needed immediate attention. We found out which cold weather gloves really worked and which ones were for show with impressive names and little else. We came to dearly appreciate the woolen scarves a considerate sister-in-law in Virginia hand knitted for us during the bitterest cold. I used to scoff at wool knit hats to cover the head and ears and "bombardier" hats with flaps on either side. Now they are our best friends. Oh, and thanks to the USAF for the cold weather thermals they issued to all of us stationed in North Dakota. They are still working great 24 years later. So, yes, we have had our turning point for this winter with the annual polar vortex event. Of course, winter still has another 31 days, and we almost always have a spring snowstorm. But we earnestly believe the worst has come and gone. This is encouraging news for us on the North Shore, but not elsewhere. I venture to say that we either have relatives or know someone in the south is experiencing their own worst part of winter right now. The difference is that they are not prepared for a northern Minnesota winter. Still, nonetheless, they are right in the middle of it. Now is when we reach out to our neighbors down south and help in any way we can. We are all one nation under God, called to help each other as best we can. I know that there will be a turning point regarding the weather battering the country. There will be a turning point for the pandemic vaccinations, a turning point for the schools reopening for the children, a turning point for unity in our country, and finally – a turning point for turning to God and seeking him. Our encouragement verse for this week is: Hebrews 11:6 (NIV) “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” May you be blessed by God's word. Chris
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Written and Shared by: Chaplain Chris Belfield
A common question I’m asked is where I come up with the subject matter for these weekly encouragements. The answer is they come from God as everyday observations. Usually, I develop the outline by Tuesday or Wednesday. There have been times when on submission day – Thursday – I am still scratching my head and wondering what will come to light for an encouragement. This past week was extraordinary in that two appropriate titles came to mind. Which was I to choose? This was a conundrum of the right kind. I'll let you decide. The first was "The Frozen Few." The second was "Three Strikes and Still at Bat." Both had a common thread – the bitter cold we have been experiencing for the past week. Last week I discussed two shots. Those shots being vaccination shots. This time it was three shots. Those being called volleys fired as a salute. The call came for volunteers to perform military honors for a fellow veteran who had passed away. This would be a little different as the honors would be rendered in front of the local funeral home. I cannot say the name as that may be misconstrued as a business endorsement. Sorry, Mr. Cavallin. Eight senior men – I’m using the AARP definition of seniors here – dutifully stood at attention as the rifle volleys were rendered and taps were played. Two U.S. Army Honor Guard soldiers then meticulously performed the flag folding ceremony and presentation to a surviving family member. Oh, yes, the other observation was the cold. It was sunny and -8 degrees. But then there was a strong wind, which made the wind chill approximately -20 degrees. The local Honor Guard members all wore ceremonial white linen gloves. They were either holding rifles or holding flags with metal poles. The predominant thoughts were on the cold. That is until the music was played and the U.S. flag was folded and presented. What really mattered was that a veteran's service was being remembered, and the family members and friends were also standing outside with us. Cold, what cold? We were the Frozen Few on that morning. The second occurrence was infinitely more personal and closer to home – literally. It started with an email notifying me that an online funding source had approved my purchases. The problem is that I had not made any purchases nor authorized that service to make any payments. I am now a statistic as a victim of identity theft. Sure enough, my credit card was used to purchase two pro basketball team hats and ship them to Miami. Anyone who knows me knows that I don't particularly care for pro basketball. It took over two days and dozens of emails, and several phone calls to rectify the issue. Not to mention the frustration regarding the whole situation. Strike one. The same day I received a notification from the bank that the service I requested was now available. You guessed it – I never asked the service, and in fact, did not want it. When all was said and done, I had to accept the service because the service I have had for over two years has a monthly fee – though I was never charged. This is because you would expect it as a standard business – not so. Strike two. Not feeling particularly stellar at this point, I needed to go into town. However, the truck had other ideas. Yep, it would not start. Now the battery is a top-of-the-line 5-year model that I had replaced during a bitter cold spell two years ago this month. What is it about February anyway? The short story is that the alternator, much older than the battery, decided this was the time to go to alternator heaven. It was almost with a frozen tear that I watched the truck being towed away for repair. There is something unnatural about watching your truck going backwards down the highway. Strike three. Oh, yes, there was also the official letter from the state department of revenue asking to have a conversation about our taxes…from 2018! However, I am still the eternal optimist because God knows what is going on and makes the appropriate provision as needed. How you may ask? First, the credit card company will not charge for the fraudulent purchases and is sending a new card. Second, the bank fully understood the miscommunication and extended excellent customer service. Third, AAA arranged to have the truck towed, the local tow truck driver was great to work with, and the local repair shop was able to get the truck in on the same day. So, you see – even after three strikes, we are still up and going. God is good – all the time. Our encouragement verse for this week is: Philippians 4:6 (NIV) “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” May you be blessed by God's word. Chris Written and Shared by: Chaplain Chris Belfield
When looking for a retirement home on the North Shore, it was easy to be mesmerized by the lake's natural beauty and surrounding area. After all,that's the prime reason for people wanting to retire here. On a visit in 2017, Cathy and I casually mentioned to the attendant at the Two Harbors Information Center that we would consider moving here if we could have the lake view without the taxes of owning lakefront property. Quick as a proverbial heartbeat, she replied, "I know just the real estate agent for you." Long story short – she was as good as her word, and here we are with a magnificent view of Lake Superior, without lakefront property taxes. When looking at houses to consider as a retirement home, it is interesting how the obvious is sometimes overlooked when tantalized by a beautiful view. What kind of obvious things, you ask? Well, how about the driveway? We gave no real thought to the driveway as we drove up to it. We were too excited about the opportunity to look at a 90-year-old house, and it was -20 degrees on that day. Again, as we left, we paid no attention to the driveway as now all we could discuss was the house, and, oh yes – the view. Now, the driveway is long and steep. How steep, you ask? Steep enough that shortly after moving in, a strong thunderstorm resulted in a good portion of the driveway cascading down to Highway 61. Steep enough that the USPS, UPS, and FEDEX drivers have all declined to venture up the driveway in the wintertime. Now, the propane delivery driver is more fearless and will try anything at least once. Interesting to see a truck with its wheels spinning forward while the truck is sliding backward. Experience is a great teacher. This is now our third winter here, and we have a newly graded driveway and a brand new snowblower. Snow is no longer as intimidating as it once was. This past Sunday’s afternoon activities centered on the long, steep driveway as we committed to clearing off the several inches of new snow from the previous evening. It was that light, fluffy stuff that is easy to push if it’s not too deep or packed. Using the snowblower was not even really a consideration. Cathy even got out the leaf blower and gave that a workout until finally switching over to a shovel. She took care of the sizable parking area while I tackled the driveway's length and the entrance from the highway. It was a good workout that took 1 ½ hour to finish. As I was going down the driveway, pushing snow to either side, I occasionally looked down the driveway to see how much more was left to be done. After doing this several times, I was getting depressed about how little progress I seemed to be making. Being a positive-oriented person, I knew there had to be a better way of looking at this chore. Sure enough – I turned around and looked up at how much I had already accomplished. That changed everything. I went another several minutes and turned around to see that more was completed than what head yet to be done. It was encouraging and made the remaining work much easier to do. Last week’s news stories have all seemed to have been about the daunting tasks ahead of us and the abundance of opinions of the right actions. We are looking for clear direction, a unity of purpose, and positive signs moving on that all can readily agree with. Again, being positive oriented I look back over the past year and all that our community has accomplished by helping one another. Knowing where we have been and how far we have come makes whatever lies ahead just a series of tasks to be completed…together. Foundational is turning around from what fears we may have and looking up to God for what we need. Our encouragement verse for this week is: 1 Peter 5:7 (The Living Bible) “Let him have all your worries and cares, for he is always thinking about you and watching everything that concerns you.” May you be blessed by God's word. Chris Written and Shared by: Chaplain Chris Belfield
Last week I described how an unexpected mechanical challenge with the furnace resulted in making a new friend with the repair contractor. Now, in the cold of winter is not the time to have a furnace go out, but it does happen. It seems that each season has brought its' own challenges and rewards, but that's life. So, this season we have had the pleasure of needing a new snowblower and having the furnace worked on. I sincerely thanked God for providing the means and the local resources for what we needed. I also thanked God that we were now through with challenges for the time being and looking forward to Spring. You know – sometimes I should just quit while I’m ahead. Nope, I'm from the east coast, and we are renowned for being obstinate and stubborn. Now, as previously mentioned, I do not shy away from doing mechanical repairs. This is especially true if my YouTube instructors have provided an instructional video. However, it is essential to watch the video all the way through. So I was about to learn in a shocking way. Cathy wanted to rearrange the basement area to allow for more storage, access, and movement. She is so practical that way. So it was that the electric dryer had to move. This necessitated replacing the now too short power cord. Pretty simple, really, just turn off the power, remove and replace the cord. The simple task was accomplished in short order. Power was hooked up, and a trial run was completed. Success! Now all I had to do was replace the power cord cover, and we could move onto the next project. With the metal plate in hand, I adjusted it to fit the opening when the metal made contact with both the ground wire and a positive wire. Did I mention shocking? Yes, it most certainly was. However, the worst part was that with the sparking, there was a shorting of the circuit. No problem, I'll just reset the circuit breaker. Now it gets interesting. There were no thrown breakers – none. On top of that, half of the house circuits were out. After much searching and experimenting, I used a well-known football axiom: I dropped back 10 yards and punted. What next? You guessed it – I called an electrician. Did I forget to mention this was on a Saturday, i.e., weekend rates apply? The electrician arrived and did an extensive search for the problem. He reminded me of a surgeon doing exploratory surgery. The diagnosis was that the problem was on the power pole and the lines coming into the house. Oh, and we were informed the partial power outage also meant no well pump water. The electrician said the company would try to get one of their bucket trucks to respond, but it might not be until Monday. I was set to hunker down with partial power until Monday. Well, at least we had great heat from the furnace that had been serviced the prior week. Cathy had run into town to get gallons of water that we, and the pets, would need. It was shortly after she left that I heard a significant rumbling outside the house. Now what? It turned out to be two bucket trucks from our local power cooperative. I should mention here that it was dark, cold, and sleeting, which added to the overall memorable experience. The two gentlemen explained they had been called about a need at my address. I had not called them. Someone else – the electrician – knew what we needed. The repair was affected with 30 minutes. This required all power to be shut off to the house. It was a little unnerving to see the house completely dark with absolutely no light from within. What really surprised me was the technician explaining that the two frayed lines were ready to go at any time, and this night was that time. They needed immediate replacing, and the technician had the exact power line cables required. Aside from the sudden unexpected appearance of the repair trucks, the memorable portion of this experience was how courteous, professional, and friendly both technicians were. It was like we were all family, and in a genuine sense, up here on the North Shore, we are. I sincerely hope and pray that there are no more significant challenges this season than what the past two weeks have brought. Imagine a life with no “power” inside and how truly dark it can be without others. However, these experiences have also affirmed that God always provides what we need when we need it. It also is a reminder that sometimes, others know what we need more than we do and don't hold back. Seems like this is what friendship is all about. Our encouragement verse for this week is: Proverbs 3:27 (NIV) “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act.” May you be blessed by God's word. Chris Written and Shared by: Chaplain Chris Belfield
Almost the middle of January, and we still have nine weeks and three days until spring, but who is counting? It's an interesting perspective that there are so many great winter activities offered on the North Shore, but the weather has to cooperate. Actually, by past standards, it is a mild season-to-date. There is snow on the ground, but not that much. So, the snowmobilers have not been as prevalent as in times past. The temperatures have not been low enough for an intense, hard freeze of the local lakes to encourage more ice fishing persons to venture out as much. And, of course, the pandemic has curtailed many otherwise cherished outside social events. However, all-in-all, things seem to be going along fairly well here at the homestead along the scenic highway. I knew it was too good to be true. It started Sunday evening with no announcement, no forewarning, just an imperceptible ceasing of activity. We should have known by the all too reassuring quiet. Quiet as in a 92-year-old house not announcing its age with fairly consistent utterances of systems in operation. In plain terms – the pipes and vents were not shaking and rattling to let us know the furnace was operating at peak efficiency – because it wasn’t. The first obvious sign was that the upstairs bedrooms at 2:30 a.m. were cold. The inside thermometer stated that the temperature had dropped 10 degrees from what the thermostat is usually set at. At this juncture, I should note that the furnace is almost exactly two-years-old to the very week of installment. Sure enough, a check of the furnace established that it was not running. I felt the need to share this revelation with Cathy so she could commiserate along with me. After studying the owners' manual, I decided that this was beyond my mere mortal understanding and expertise. Now, I don't shy away from repairing either an electrical, plumbing, or propane issue. However, not on something as important as a furnace, which incorporates all three at once. This revelation resulted in a call at 3:00 a.m. to the plumbing firm that installed the furnace. The rest of the evening/morning was spent in a chilly abode, having done all that we could. Cathy, a native Minnesotan, has now labeled me as a Virginia Hothouse Flower. Should I feel complimented or be concerned? The plumbing contractor was able to fit us into a busy schedule, arriving in the early afternoon. I imagined a significant repair, costing hundreds of dollars and possibly several chillier evenings. We might actually have to use the wood-burning stove in the living room. The contractor surveyed the system, made his wise and informed decision, and informed us that the repair would take 10 minutes. He was as good as his word. Within the allotted time, he had the furnace operating at full capacity. The repair was relatively simple, and we were shown how to do it ourselves. We joked with the contractor that he could have just done the repair, not told us how, and we might have to be calling him again next year. He stated that 10 years ago, he might have done that, but now he realizes how much easier his and our lives will be with us being able to save having to make that call again. What was most memorable about this event was not the furnace failing to work or even the repair. What was most memorable and enjoyable was when we spent time outside just visiting after the work was completed. A 10-minute repair resulted in a follow-on 30-minute visit and getting to know someone much better. Cathy and I definitely made a new friend. There was a mutual need that was met. We needed a trained professional to help us, and he needed an opportunity to talk to someone. We both benefit from a new friendship. This serves as a great reminder that living on the North Shore is a wonderful experience. Still, I thank God that some men and women have been called into vo-tech careers to help us who are technically challenged. Our encouragement verse for this week is: Ephesians 4:11-12 (New King James Version) “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,” May you be blessed by God's word. Chris Written and Shared by: Chaplain Chris Belfield
Why did we wait so long to move to the North Shore? Well, to be fair, there were: multiple careers, raising children, retirements, and selling a home north of the metro area. That all only took 40 years, but the wait was definitely worth it. In my last career of twenty years, I treated myself to a hot cup of tea to start my day. Now that I have been officially “finally retired” for the past 2 ½ years, I have become totally decadent and give in to two cups of hot tea each morning. I'm talking manly tea here – English Teatime or Earl Grey black tea. Now, mornings are for enjoying tea and being with Cathy and the pets. This cherished tea time is also for catching up on world events. This is accomplished via multiple cellphone news services to get a balanced mix of news – if such a thing is possible while sitting in my favorite chair. The other morning we enjoyed the quiet solitude of the morning as a "family" when a slowly perceptible annoyance became apparent. I couldn't determine what it was until it was staring me straight in the face – the sun. It was not just any sun but a North Shore winter sun in all of its glory and majesty. What made this so noticeable was the intensity of the light, so much to be distracting. Looking out the front window, we have a fantastic vista view of Lake Superior. On this particular morning, the sunlight cascaded across the lake glistening like thousands of silver Christmas lights. It was reminiscent of past moments of peace and serenity. Interestingly, these memories also involved bodies of water in northern Minnesota. Let’s see, there was the time I saw the same glistening as the sun rose over Cass Lake, after an early morning run along the trails, and before others were outside. The only sound disturbing the calming silence was the wistful call of a loon on the lake. Another memory was coming out of the cabin on Crazy Woman Lake and seeing the lake's same effect as the sun was just breaking above the horizon. There was a calmness and peace that I wished would never end. It's at times like that where you can take time to look around and really appreciate all that God has created. He allowed you the opportunity to enjoy the splendor of his creation – even if only for a few brief moments. I’ll never forget it. If we can have visual reminders of times fondly remembered, how about auditory reminders? Some songs or sounds magically transport us to another time and place, often with special meanings for us. For me, a particular song that takes me to such places as getting my first transistor radio in the 1960s. Imagine getting a half dozen AM stations on a pocket radio and being able to take it anywhere. It even came with a leather case and an earphone - only for one side. The first song I remember hearing was Percy Faith's "Theme from a Summer Place.” https://youtu.be/Jx01TRq0YVo. It was the first time I ever heard French horns, and they are still my favorite orchestral instrument to this day. What about you? What takes you back to happy memories? So, here we are in the first full week of January 2021. We already have enough distractions to keep us occupied for the remainder of the year and beyond. That's the pessimist in me rearing its negative head. However, the born optimist in me says that the lakes, rivers, beautiful landscape, and sun are still there to behold and enjoy. Indeed, there is beauty abounding all around us. It just takes a second or two to readjust our perspective to take it in and appreciate it. Don’t look now, but I think the sun is also rising for you. What do you see? Our encouragement verse for this week is: Isaiah 6:3 (NIV) “And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” May you be blessed by God's word. Chris Written and Shared by: Chaplain Chris Belfield
Last week I shared about the trials and tribulations of snow blowing with a blower that was experiencing some mechanical challenges that would test the saints' patience – of which I am not one. As with all things mechanical, there was an undignified end to a friend that had served faithfully for over 16 memorable Minnesota winters. True, there had been necessary modifications to continue the service life right up to this winter. I like to think that these modifications gave "Matilda" her own unique persona. But, alas, since the last update, she had suffered another mechanical difficulty. Was it terminal? No, not really, but Cathy and I have better things to do in our mature years than spending hours outside in the cold performing surgery to keep the patient going. On the plus side, we followed the local chamber of commerce solicitation to support our local businesses. Hence, our local dealer reaped the benefit of our relatively immediate need for a new, as yet-to-be-named, snowblower. This contemporary marvel of technological advances includes a broader, more powerful machine that eagerly clears a clean path to be enjoyed. Cathy actually loves to snow blow the driveway. A wife who loves to snow blow, how I have been so blessed. Being the last day of 2020, I had considered an encouragement that would meet the obligatory requirements to observe the out-going of the old and the beginning of the new. I had it all lined up to use the example of the old and the new snowblower and describing excellent past service and anticipated future service. Pretty good idea, right? That was all before the call late last night. There was a need to go out and travel up the shore. This is typically not an issue, but last night the projected 1-3" of snow eventually became more like 8 inches. The challenge was the plows had not been up the highway yet, or if they had, it had been quite a while. The first several miles were no issue as I had traveled them so often and was familiar with the road and terrain. However, north of Gooseberry State Park and the situation changed. It was difficult to see where others had driven as the tracks had been covered up. The snow was blowing, and visibility was reduced to 50 feet or less, and I slowed down to 30 mph. When there were lights from businesses or on-coming traffic, I could make out the faint telltale signs of earlier vehicles. But at midnight, there are few lights and even less traffic to assist me. How significant a small thing like a light became. At times snow swirled around the truck so that I seemed to be encased in a darkened snow globe with only a vague reference as to where I was. Imagine the relief as I came into the reassuring lights of Beaver Bay and knew where I was. It only took 40 minutes to come 16 miles. However, the evening was not done. A person needed assistance and had no immediate means to provide what they needed. Hence, they reached out and asked for help from the county, resulting in a late-night call. What makes this relevant is that there was a meeting of a need and a provision. I was only a conduit. An incredibly gracious Christian colleague, farther up the shore, offered the safety and comfort of his home for the person in need. The person requiring assistance received the most essential requirements for the evening – a meal, warm bed, and a caring individual's fellowship to help them. Me, I was just praying for enough lights along the way to safely get home. Last week we celebrated the light of Christmas that God provided for all of us in Jesus. There are desperate times in our lives when we urgently need and seek that light, because otherwise we may be lost in the dark with uncertainty all about us. Let 2021 be your year to continue in that light, or let it be the year you accept the light of God. Our encouragement verse for this week is: John 8:12 (NIV “When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” May you be blessed by God's word, and Happy New Year! Chris Written and Shared by: Chaplain Chris Belfield
SPOILER ALERT! Christmas presents are discussed in the article. When I was nine-years-old, I enjoyed watching my grandfather cut the lawn with a push mower. He did such a meticulous job of getting into every nook and cranny of a substantial sized lawn. In fact – it was one of the larger yards in our neighborhood. Three houses shared a backyard fence with us. My grandfather was raised in rural eastern Virginia and had real skill and love for gardening and keeping the yard in pristine condition. He knew all about watering, fertilizing, edging, and providing all the essentials needed. A weed would not dare consider desecrating such a landscape with its evil presence, or such was my youthful perception. We also had pear trees, plum trees, and a rose garden that would make the White House proud. When I turned ten, my grandfather bestowed upon me the honor of being permitted to partner with the mighty Briggs and Stratton to cut the lawn for the very first time. The experience was sullied by the fact that the lawnmower had an evil spirit that took it places I did not want to go. Needless to say, the first experience was indeed a learning experience until I was shown how to direct the roaring machine to do as I wished. After that, it was much more enjoyable. I also learned a valuable lesson at that time – any job worth doing was worth doing right. I had finished putting away the mower and was set to go bike riding with my friends when my grandfather reminded me that the yard was not finished. There was raking and trimming along the fence. Raking and trimming what seemed to be an area as big as a football field? Really? The rake was a well-seasoned metal tine rake and did the job adequately. However, as this was in the pre-weed eater age, and trimming was done with hand trimmers and on your knees. I was almost an hour into the grass trimming along the fence, ensuring that no blade of grass escaped my efforts when my grandfather taught me another lesson. He stated that I just needed to cut the high points and that perfection was not required. A reprieve! Thank you, Lord! Fast Forward 30 years and the United States Air Force trained me as a navigator, nuclear missile officer, and security officer. For the duties as a navigator and missile officer, perfection was the standard and expected. Everything was timed to the highest exacting standards and was frequently tested during exercises. This mindset carried over to my training as a security officer. I was a little surprised when the rifle shooting range official saw my obvious disappointment in not hitting all of my shots within the black circle. She explained that I did not need to be perfect every time in shooting – just close enough to stop the threat and get the job done. Hence, I learned the axiom, "Close enough for government work." Fast forward again to 2020 and the changes that the pandemic has wrought. All have not been bad. In fact, if not for the pandemic, I would not have learned how to use my lathe to turn bowls, platters, and vases. A kind and incredibly patient gentleman I met at our local Sunday breakfast eatery volunteered to teach me how to turn. After hours of instruction and practice, he had successfully trained me to a level of confidence where I could try on my own. He also emphasized that there was a point where you stop and are satisfied with the results, rather than try for perfection. Oh, if only I had listened. Last week, I turned a bowl I was making, as a Christmas gift, from walnut and maple. It had the correct form and function. The outside buffed up to an excellent finish. All I had to do was take my time removing the inside material. All went well until I noticed a nub of wood that was sticking up in the bottom center. I mean a really tiny nub. But I was after perfection. I slowly and methodically chipped away at the nub, at 3,000 RPMs, and was just about there when the entire project blew apart from the lathe. I had gone all the way through because I had not kept an eye on the bottom's thickness—three hours of work gone. Nobody would have noticed the tiny nub but me. Christmas this year is not the perfect Christmas that we would want, courtesy of the pandemic. However, perfection, again, is not required. What is needed is to do the very best we can for others, ourselves, and be content with the blessings that we have. Our perfect God loves us just as we are – imperfect and human, but his loved children nonetheless. The perfect gift of salvation is available to all – for free. Receive it and enjoy. Our encouragement verse for this week is: Romans 15:7 (NIV) “ Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.” May you be blessed by God's word. Chris Written and Shared by: Chaplain Chris Belfield
Art Linkletter is best remembered as a TV host from 1952 to 1970 during the golden days of television. He was also an award-winning author and motivational speaker. His fame came as a result of his famous House Party program. But it was the final segment of every show that is primarily remembered today. That segment was titled, "Kids Say the Darndest Things." This was the purest and sincerest form of entertainment for all ages to enjoy. With paternal friendliness and an engaging smile, Art would ask questions about what they thought, wanted, and observed from their unique perspectives. Their answers made for some of the funniest replies. Art's reactions to the children's responses were just as entertaining because he had to react as an adult and let the kids know it was OK to just be a kid. In 1957, Art published his first bestseller book, appropriately titled, "Kids Say the Darndest Things." It was a great read then and still is today if you can find it. Now what made me think of Art Linkletter after so many years? Seeing other young children reminded me of the fun the kids had on the TV program. Specifically, two incidents occurred within two days here at home. The first was when I was taking our new child. Maggie, for a long walk through the woods. Eleven-week-old puppies need lots of exercise, and so does a sedentary owner. While in the woods, Maggie started noticing movement off to our side. I looked and saw a white blur, but nothing else for several moments. As the animal got closer, I could make out a small, darting white entity, and then there it was right in the middle of the walking trail – a ferret. I have since been informed that I saw an ermine. A what? I had to look it up, and sure enough, that's what it was. The specific, authoritative description is: "Ermine, (Mustela erminea), also called stoat, short-tailed weasel, or Bonaparte weasel, northern weasel species the genus Mustela, family Mustelidae. The species is called Ermine, especially during its winter white color phase." Nov 12, 2020, www.bitannica.com The Ermine was having fun playing hide-and-go-seek with Maggie and me for the remainder of our walk. The next example was Maggie herself. After all, puppies really are just canine children, right? Well, she had a case of the crazies right in the house. She had grabbed one of her toys and began a full-out run in a circle encompassing the living room, dining area, and kitchen. This went on for several minutes. Even when she wiped out on the hardwood floor, she just got up and continued on her mission. Eventually, she stopped, so pleased with herself, rolled over and went to sleep. Here we are two weeks before Christmas. The anticipation for young ones everywhere is growing exponentially as the day gets closer. The signs are readily apparent. There are the continuing commercial sale ads, mailings advertising bargains too good to pass up – supposedly. There has been the season music for the past month and the sight of trees being carted atop vehicles that never imagined they would be used as Christmas tree conveyances. Then there is the explicit declaration of the season – Christmas decorations, inside and outside homes and businesses. There is a certain amount of mystique and amazement when seeing the creativity people have in their decorating. They can almost be seen as art forms. So it is that for the past several generations, a tradition has carried on throughout communities everywhere – the Christmas lights tour. That is where we, as children, were all piled into the family vehicle and toured the different neighborhoods to see all the Christmas light decorations on the houses. When we became older, wiser, and had children of our own, we did the exact same thing. One of my fondest Christmas season memories was while stationed in North Dakota in the 1990s. We had the privilege of taking an elderly woman from our church on a Christmas lights tour of the community. Usually, it would take an hour or so, but she had such a wonderful time that we slowed down and then reversed course for a three-hour tour. She laughed and clapped her hands and told us stories of how farmers decorated during the Depression in the 1930s. She didn't talk about the apparent struggles of that time. She shared the joy of using whatever was at hand to celebrate the season. This season is an excellent opportunity to let the children be children and enjoy the season's lights and sounds, no matter what age the child is. God intended and still wants us, as his children, to celebrate the season of the birth of his son, our savior, by laughing and clapping our hands in joy. There are some great light shows in the local communities and in your community. Enjoy, Our encouragement verse for this week is: 1 John 1:5 (NIV) "This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all." May you be blessed by God's word. Chris Written and Shared by: Chaplain Chris Belfield
How time flies when you stop to think about all that has happened in a relatively short time. I note that the weekly encouragements have been going for two years already. By Tuesday or Wednesday, if I do not have an outline in my head, I begin to get nervous about what to write about that will encourage others. Then God reminds me to relax and rely on his inspiration. This week, I found myself on a mental "empty tank" because of the busyness of the past week and the next two weeks looking pretty much the same. The weekly encouragements started as I provided pulpit supply to a local congregation until their pastor arrived the following year. I thought it was a good idea to help church members be encouraged by God's word and observations of all that he has done and provided. Then I remembered that this was by no means a new or novel idea but rather had been instilled at a very young age. My grandparents ensured that my siblings and I attended church, and not just on Sunday morning. There was Sunday morning, and Sunday evening, and Wednesday evening, and also special youth activities. It took years to realize that Wednesday night prayer meetings and youth activities were a mid-week refresher for the soul. The anticipated refreshments at the youth meetings were an added bonus. Some of the fondest memories of childhood are associated with youth outings and adventures. At these activities, I learned to swim, took trips to the Hershey, Pennsylvania, amusement park. I also got to ride to the meetings in a really cool car – a 1968 AMC Javelin. You have to look it up on Google to appreciate it. There was also a 1970 Plymouth Duster and a 1968 Mustang. But what also stands out is that we were encouraged as youth by messages of hope during a dark time in our country's history. While you’re on Google, check out the social and political happenings in the late 60’s and early 70’s. It is 2020, and the weekly encouragements are provided to over 50 friends and acquaintances around the country. They are also now shared weekly on the local community radio station on Friday mornings. The hope and prayer are that those who read or hear these small messages will be encouraged to reflect on how good God is to us. So it is that as an encourager and exhorter, I take pause to reflect on how so many of you and others have encouraged Cathy and me – for which we are sincerely grateful. Lake County has allowed both of us to serve as volunteers for different activities and organizations. As the pandemic increased in its effect within the local community, there was a request to consider being trained as COVID-19 case investigators and contact tracers for Lake County. Cathy, another volunteer-Katie, and I are the three principal interviewers for the county. We have all interviewed dozens of local residents who have unfortunately tested positive for the virus. There is a prepared script from the Minnesota Department of Health that we read and a computer program with pre-formatted questions where we record the answers. Seems rather sterile until you factor in the human element. These are neighbors, friends, and colleagues that we are interviewing, and that's what makes each and every call so unique. The calls typically last about 20 minutes or so, and we try to be as friendly as circumstances permit. The results have been nothing less than phenomenal. One of the mandatory questions is: "Are you pregnant?" Now, in its infinite wisdom, the state of Minnesota makes no distinction as to age or gender. Imagine the response from an 80-year-old man, who says that is the best laugh he has had for the day. A 90-year-old woman replied, no, but could she volunteer? I can honestly state that I have not had one person complain about their test result or their own circumstances. I have repeatedly heard the strength and resolve that this pandemic will pass and that things will only get better. The most significant concern is for the children and for visiting older family members. Thus, these interviews and people's resolve to continue moving forward have encouraged Cathy and me. I feel like I have made so many new friends that I have never met. Now, I am encouraged that when the pandemic has passed, I will be able to actually meet my new friends. Our encouragement verse for this week is: Hebrews 13:16 (NIV) “ And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” May you be blessed by God’s word. Chris |
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