Friday, August 01, 2014
Moderator’s Notes by Stan Rodabaugh
Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
Romans 8:5-8 (NIV)
5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.
Philippians 4:4-9 (NIV)
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
Hebrews 12:1-3 (NIV)
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
DEFINITION
(“Neuroplasticity: The brain’s ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections throughout life. Neuroplasticity allows the neurons (nerve cells) in the brain to compensate for injury and disease and to adjust their activities in response to new situations or to changes in their environment. Brain reorganization takes place by mechanisms such as “axonal sprouting” in which undamaged axons grow new nerve endings to reconnect neurons whose links were injured or severed. Undamaged axons can also sprout nerve endings and connect with other undamaged nerve cells, forming new neural pathways to accomplish a needed function.
For example, if one hemisphere of the brain is damaged, the intact hemisphere may take over some of its functions. The brain compensates for damage in effect by reorganizing and forming new connections between intact neurons. In order to reconnect, the neurons need to be stimulated through activity.
For example, if one hemisphere of the brain is damaged, the intact hemisphere may take over some of its functions. The brain compensates for damage in effect by reorganizing and forming new connections between intact neurons. In order to reconnect, the neurons need to be stimulated through activity.
Neuroplasticity may also contribute to impairment. For example, people who are deaf may suffer from a continual ringing in their ears (tinnitus), the result of the rewiring of brain cells starved for sound. For neurons to form beneficial connections, they must be correctly stimulated. Neuroplasticity is also called brain plasticity or brain malleability.” MEDICINE.NET.COM)
(The following is quoted from the book, Pocket Guide to Interpersonal Neurobiology, Author Daniel J. Siegle. Co-Director of the UCLA Mindful Awareness Research Center, and Executive Director of the Mindsight Institute. Quoted from pages 8-8 & 8-9.) “Neuroplasticity has an up side and a down side. The challenge is that negative experiences can alter brain structure in long-lasting ways that make life difficult. The positive opportunity that neuroplasticity affords is that it is never too late to use the focus of attention to alter the brain’s architecture. What we need to know is how we can optimize the brain’s integrative functioning by learning to focus our attention in integrative ways. The basics of neuroplacticity also point to several elements that support how experience –including the focus of attention—can alter neural connections in lasting ways.
“Seven—or possibly eight—aspects of our life support neuroplasticity. These include the following:
1. Aerobic exercise—when medically possible, voluntary exercise can support continued brain growth.
2. Good sleep—we consolidate our learning from the day when we get a good period of sleep with plenty of REM (rapid eye movement) states for dreaming.
3. Good nutrition—the ‘soil’ of the brain’s structures requires good food and water, including safe sources of omega-3’s, in order to function properly and allow the ‘seed’ of good attentional focus to work well.
4. Relationships—our (joyful, my addition SER) connections with others support a vibrant and plastic brain.
5. Novelty—when we get out of a rut and expose the brain to new stimuli, when we are playful and spontaneous, we keep the brain growing and young.
6. The close paying of attention—when we avoid multitasking and distractions and care about what we are focusing on, we can actually stimulate the release of chemicals locally and widely that support neuroplasticity.
7. Time-in: When we focus on our inner sensations, images, feeling, and thoughts, reflecting inwardly, we encourage the growth of regulatory, integrative neural circuits.
8. And, possibly –some preliminary studies suggest that when we laugh, we promote the healthy growth of the brain. Neuroplasticity, it seems, is in fact a laughing matter.
“In interpersonal neurobiology we seek to find direct applications of science for practical use in the world. One way of applying the basic priniciples of neuroplacticity is to suggest a “daily diet” of mental activities that promote the healthy growth of the mind, brain, and relationships. A colleague, David Rock, and I created a healthy mind platter to parallel a suggestion for a daily intake of food. Our suggestion is that people find a way to embed the activities from the platter within a regular routine. Regularity appears to be the key in habit creation and maintenance, as well as in the promotion of neuroplastic changes.”
Romans 12:1-2 (NIV)
1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Why am I lifting up the importance of focusing our minds? Reflect with me about the role focus plays in our lives. Some of us live day to day on automatic pilot. We continue to go about our day’s activities with little or no reflection or intention. The patterns Why am I lifting up the importance of focusing our minds? Reflect with me about the role focus plays in our lives. Some of us live day to day on automatic pilot. We continue to go about our day’s activities with little or no reflection or intention. The patterns we grew up with and are familiar with continue to guide us. I call this unconscious living or unintentional living. We can see from the scriptures I have shared, a lifestyle of following Jesus assumes that we accept responsibility for focusing our minds. Romans 12:1&2 urges us “to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice” and in the second verse it becomes clear that Paul is primarily referring to our mind when he states, “be transformed by the renewing of your mind”. In Romans 8:5b Paul writes “but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires”. Later in chapter 8 it becomes clear that we alone will not be able to transform ourselves. For the Spirit to have access to bring about transformation, our part is to focus our attention on what the Spirit desires. In Proverbs 3:6, Solomon says “in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight”. Our part is to acknowledge Him (focus on Him) His part is to make our paths straight. He does the transforming, the renewing of our mind. We focus on Him, trust in Him–not ourselves, not our old patterns or the pattern of this world. The Apostle Paul in Philippians 4:4 writing from prison suggests that it is possible for us to “Rejoice in the Lord always”. Apparently he is able to do this even in prison. He goes on to suggest that we can focus on the truth that “the Lord is near.” In verse 8 he encourages believers to think about (focus on) “whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable,” “excellent or praiseworthy”. Finally, in Hebrews 12:2 we are instructed to “fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.” Yes, focus on Jesus! Not only is He the author of our faith, he is the perfecter. That sounds like, if we do our part, focus on Jesus, Jesus will perfect our faith, His part. It reminds me of Romans 12:2 “ 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is, his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Making our bodies living sacrifices implies that our lives are focused on God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
This certainly is not an exhaustive survey of the scriptures, but I do believe it is representative. Our part is clearly to focus our attention on the Lord Jesus and His Kingdom in all we do. Here I see a connection between the good information we are able to gain from relational neurobiology and being a faithful follower of Jesus Christ. We need to have a healthy brain to have the ability to think clearly and be alert and responsible, to be aware and engaged in focusing our attention moment by moment. In the world we live in, there are people trained and skilled in trying to control what we focus on. Mostly, they have motives of making profit or being elected to a particular office. We are literally inundated with hype and gimmicks to keep us focused on issues and subjects that have nothing to do with where our true hearts would lead us. Are we really living our own lives, or is someone else is in charge of where we place our focus? This is the primary, fundamental power or responsibility we have in this life—to focus our attention. If we don’t take charge of where our attention is focused, we are living mindlessly and we are surely just puppets for someone who is focusing their attention on manipulating us.
Daniel J. Siegel has developed an exercise to help people improve their ability to focus their attention. It is a form of meditation that exercises your brain and helps you develop more and more capacity to focus your attention. It is not difficult but it can help you become much more aware of yourself, inside and out, and can help you learn to be the one to focus your attention. How about that; you living your own life! Not everyone who learns to focus attention will make Godly choices; some people will focus their attention, but it will be on what the sinful nature desires. I am suggesting you use Daniel J. Siegel’s “Wheel of Awareness” exercise to strengthen your own ability to focus your attention, and when he leads you to focus on mental activity, you use that time to focus on Scripture; when he leads you to relationships, make sure you include Jesus, Father God and the Holy Spirit in that time and “fix your (spiritual) eyes on Jesus, beginning to dialogue with Him. Be focused on your relationship with the Lord. Yes, we can choose to develop habits that are consistent with our heart. I encourage you to give it a try.
HOW TO GET TO THE EXERCISE: Google: Everyday Mindsight Tools
You will find “Breath Awareness”, “reflective practice” and “Breath Discussion and its connection to the wheel of Awareness Practice”. At the top of the web page click on Resources, then click on “Wheel of Awareness”. You will find three guided exercises that Daniel will talk you through. After he leads you through the exercises a few times you will be able to do it on your own.
Peace Day - September 21
2014 Theme: “Visions and Dreams of Building Peace” “Your young people will see visions, and your elders will dream dreams.” —Joel 2:28 | Acts 2:17
Church of the Brethren congregations are invited to include special prayers for peace as part of Sunday services, September 21. Will you join all those around the world whose hearts are broken and lives are shattered by violence, by praying and acting for peace that day? September 21 can be a time for your congregation to lift up your concerns about violence and brokenness, and to ask God for a vision about how you can respond. Some congregations also plan public events or prayer services to connect with the broader community. You can find stories from previous Peace Day events, along with online registration, prayer resources, half-page activity sheets, children’s peace mural kits, and more, online here: www.peacedaypray.org. Contact campaign staff with questions or ideas: peaceday@onearthpeace.org
Matt Guynn
Director of Nonviolent Social Change
On Earth Peace
E-mail: mguynn@onearthpeace.org Skype: matt.guynn
Twitter: @OEPNonviolence Tel: 503-465-4557
Mail: 12727 SE Market St, Portland, OR 97233 USA
Silent & Live Auctions 2014 District Conference to benefit District Ministries
Last year at District Conference the themed baskets went over so well that we are going to do the same again this year! We are asking each church to provide a basket or two of goodies with a theme, such as kitchen, movie night and so on. We are also asking for baked goods for the Silent Auction. For the Live Auction we are asking people to provide nice Arts and Crafts items, such as woodworking, paintings, maybe pottery, and, of course, it would be nice to have a few quilts! We would like to have a dozen or so items in the Live Auction. If you would like to provide an item, please let me know ahead of time what you are planning to bring.
For more information please contact Rick Koch @ 815-499-3012 or at revrick-dutchtown@jcwifi.com
Join the Peoria Church in Mountain Mission
Every year the Peoria Church of the Brethren joins
with some Methodist Churches to take clothing,
furniture, tools, etc. to Eastern Kentucky Missions.
We collect these items throughout the year and fill
trucks, trailers, vans and cars with usable goods for
people who live in one of the poorest sections of the
country. The Peoria Church specializes in Baby care
items like diapers, wipes, furniture, baby and toddler
clothing, etc.. Then we drive together to Henderson
Settlement and Red Bird Mission to deliver the much
needed help.
This year we begin our trip on Thursday October 30th and return Sunday November 2nd. Information on accommodations and travel plans will be sent closer to the time of the trip.
If YOU or your CONGREGATION would like to joins us please call 309-682-3980 to be put on the e-mail information list. This is a great trip for retirees and young people. Expose your grandchildren to a Mission Experience, join Mountain Mission.
This year we begin our trip on Thursday October 30th and return Sunday November 2nd. Information on accommodations and travel plans will be sent closer to the time of the trip.
If YOU or your CONGREGATION would like to joins us please call 309-682-3980 to be put on the e-mail information list. This is a great trip for retirees and young people. Expose your grandchildren to a Mission Experience, join Mountain Mission.
Field Associates Named for Disability Advocacy
ELKHART, Indiana – Anabaptist Disabilities
Network (ADNet) has appointed Ronald Ropp
of Normal, Illinois and Rebekah Flores of Elgin,
Illinois, to serve as Field Associates. They join
ADNet’s team of volunteers who help to extend
ADNet’s reach and resources. Field Associates are
long-term volunteers who work part-time for
ADNet from their home location on projects related
to inclusion and hospitality toward persons with
disabilities in faith communities.
Ron Ropp has spent a lifetime advocating for and encouraging appreciation of older adults. He is available for speaking and consulting with congregations seeking to respond to the needs and gifts of persons who are aging. His wide range of experiences as pastoral counselor and caregiver give him much to offer congregations seeking to respond to the needs of older members. He is available to help congregations evaluate needs and explore plans for dealing with issues of aging and caregiving.
Ropp brings thirty-eight years of experience in pastoral counseling and university teaching on gerontology and death and dying. Experience as a caregiver for aging parents and, more recently for his wife who suffered a stroke, enrich his perspectives on aging well. He attends Mennonite Church of Normal, Illinois. To consult with him or invite him to speak to your church or organization, contact him at 309-452-8534 or email rjroppbarn@gmail.com.
Rebekah Flores is the first Field Associate affiliated with the Church of the Brethren to begin volunteering for ADNet. Her interest in the role arose when she learned about a recently formed partnership between ADNet and the Disabilities Ministry of the Church of the Brethren denomination. She is an active participant of Highland Avenue Church of the Brethren, in Elgin, Illinois. She will be spearheading ADNet’s efforts to serve persons with disabilities in Church of the Brethren congregations, beginning in the Chicago area and expanding outward through Illinois and the Midwest.
Majoring in psychology and special education, Flores earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Barat College in Lake Forest, Illinois, and later attended Bethany Seminary in Richmond, Indiana. She is presently employed as a Qualified Intellectual Disabilities Professional by Little Friends, Inc., where she provides case management and supports adults with disabilities who reside in traditional group homes and in the community. Previously she served five years as an administrator of L’Arche Chicago, a small, faith-based, international intentional community of people with and without disabilities who share life together.
Flores welcomes opportunities to consult and speak about disability-related issues in Church of the Brethren, Mennonite, and other Anabaptist congregations in the Chicago region. Contact her at 773-673-2182, or email her at marchflowers74@gmail.com.
Anabaptist Disabilities Network is a national inter- Mennonite advocacy ministry with offices in Elkhart, Indiana. Organized in 2003, ADNet is committed to supporting congregations, families, and persons touched by disabilities and nurturing inclusive communities. Contact ADNet at 574-343-1362, adnet@adnetonline.org or visit www.adnetonline.org.
Ron Ropp has spent a lifetime advocating for and encouraging appreciation of older adults. He is available for speaking and consulting with congregations seeking to respond to the needs and gifts of persons who are aging. His wide range of experiences as pastoral counselor and caregiver give him much to offer congregations seeking to respond to the needs of older members. He is available to help congregations evaluate needs and explore plans for dealing with issues of aging and caregiving.
Ropp brings thirty-eight years of experience in pastoral counseling and university teaching on gerontology and death and dying. Experience as a caregiver for aging parents and, more recently for his wife who suffered a stroke, enrich his perspectives on aging well. He attends Mennonite Church of Normal, Illinois. To consult with him or invite him to speak to your church or organization, contact him at 309-452-8534 or email rjroppbarn@gmail.com.
Rebekah Flores is the first Field Associate affiliated with the Church of the Brethren to begin volunteering for ADNet. Her interest in the role arose when she learned about a recently formed partnership between ADNet and the Disabilities Ministry of the Church of the Brethren denomination. She is an active participant of Highland Avenue Church of the Brethren, in Elgin, Illinois. She will be spearheading ADNet’s efforts to serve persons with disabilities in Church of the Brethren congregations, beginning in the Chicago area and expanding outward through Illinois and the Midwest.
Majoring in psychology and special education, Flores earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Barat College in Lake Forest, Illinois, and later attended Bethany Seminary in Richmond, Indiana. She is presently employed as a Qualified Intellectual Disabilities Professional by Little Friends, Inc., where she provides case management and supports adults with disabilities who reside in traditional group homes and in the community. Previously she served five years as an administrator of L’Arche Chicago, a small, faith-based, international intentional community of people with and without disabilities who share life together.
Flores welcomes opportunities to consult and speak about disability-related issues in Church of the Brethren, Mennonite, and other Anabaptist congregations in the Chicago region. Contact her at 773-673-2182, or email her at marchflowers74@gmail.com.
Anabaptist Disabilities Network is a national inter- Mennonite advocacy ministry with offices in Elkhart, Indiana. Organized in 2003, ADNet is committed to supporting congregations, families, and persons touched by disabilities and nurturing inclusive communities. Contact ADNet at 574-343-1362, adnet@adnetonline.org or visit www.adnetonline.org.
Brethren Calling – Brethren Telephone “Service”
Champaign Church of the Brethren faces the same issue of the drop in attendance that occurs as members spend time in therapy centers after a fall or injury, move into assisted living situations, take fewer driving or walking risks in inclement weather or when failing energy and health prevent members from attending worship or small groups.
Deacon visits and mailing bulletins are some of the ways that we have kept members in the loop. Audio CD and DVD copies of the Sunday worship service are others. Not all the missing members are familiar with or have the technology to use some of the newer devices.
This is where the Telephone “Service” comes in, and why there are sometimes cell phones on the pulpit. Members attending service use their cell phones and 3 way calling to connect to 2 missing members who are the able to “attend” service in real time by using the speaker phone button on their home phones.
During a snow storm this past winter, when a 10” snow fall kept some members away, missing members were called on the phone and they were able to listen to the service on their telephones.
Along with keeping temporarily home bound members engaged in church activities this method has the added benefit of being a “no cost” "soul_ution", as many cell phone carriers provide free nights and week end service and incoming calls to land lines are also free.
God has provided all the tools we need to help His people come together to worship!
Things we have learned:
If possible mail bulletins at mid week for the coming Sunday.
Have all comments and prayer request spoken into a microphone so that they are not muffled for the phone attendees.
Call a few minutes early and pass the phone around so that members can greet one another as they would if they were in the building.
Remember charge up your battery the night before and after service.
Using 3 way calling allows two missing members to speak with one another and fellowship over the phone line too.
submitted by Dawn Blackmon
Illinois/Wisconsin District Church of the Brethren 2014 Pledged to Actual Comparison (unaudited)
As of June 30, 2014
Canton and Woodland Churches celebrate Combined Services
The Canton and Woodland Church of the Brethren
will meet at Camp Emmanuel on August 24 for a
combined worship service and pot luck. The service
begins at 10:00 AM and you are invited to join
Canton and Woodland. Canton will lead the music
and devotions. Special music will add to the
worship. A carry-in lunch will follow the service.
Calendar of District Events
August
1-3 - Men’s Camp, Camp EmmanuelSeptember
2 - District Leadership Team Meeting
6 - IL Conf. of Churches LT Meet, Champaign
8-10 - Women's Camp, Camp Emmaus
15-17 - Camp Emmaus Time Capsule Weekend
29-September 1 - Family Camp, Camp Emmanuel
29-September 1 - Family Camp, Camp Emmaus
1 - Labor DayOctober
7 - Grandparent’s Day
8 - District Executive Sabbatical Ends
20 - 10th Annual Fish Fry, Camp Emmanuel
21 - Bethany Sunday
21 - Int’l Day of Peace
21 - Mission Offering Emphasis
22 - First Day of Autumn
Domestic Violence Awareness MonthNovember
4 - Ministerial Leadership Dev. Team - Peru
5 - World Communion Sunday
6 - Child Health Day
11 - District Leadership Team Meeting
12 - Laity Sunday
14-16 - Interim Ministers Trng. - Camp Mack, IN
16 - World Food Day
16-18 - Midwest DE's Gathering - Camp Mack, IN
16-24 - Peace with Justice Week
24 - World Disarmament Day
25 - Camp Closing, Camp Emmanuel
26 - Reformation Sunday
1 - All Saints DayDecember
2 - National Jr. High Sunday
2 - Daylight Time Ends
7-8 - District Conference, Highland Ave., Elgin
9 - Stewardship Sunday
23 - Christ the King Sunday
27 - Thanksgiving
30 - First Sunday of Advent
1 - Aids Awareness Day
6 - Ministerial Leadership Dev. Team - Peru
10 - Human Rights Day
21 - First Day of Winter
24 - Christmas Eve
25 - Christmas Day
31 - New Year’s Eve
