Sunday, 28 February 2010
Waiting for Change
 I was thinking recently how tired I am of the cold, snow . . . and more snow . . . and more snow.
This has been an historic winter in South Jersey and we have been lucky (???) to be a part of it. I think that more than many other recent years, spring is going to be greeted by most people with an enthusiasm that sometimes lacks with the start of a new season. But because the snow and cold and dreary, messy winter seems to have lasted forever, two things happen. We think constantly "When will this ever end?" and secondly a desire to hide inside and just make it through until things improve.
I realize that many of us live our lives the same way. Things so often are more tough than we wish they would be. The troubles of life pile up, we endure the coldness of broken relationships, the frustrations of life, and it feels like we are going through an eternal winter. And it causes us to think, "When will this ever end. When will my life get better." And so we spend our time just trying to survive day to day. There is no joy or contentment, because our focus is on the things that still need to happen to make us happy again.
But I wonder if we have the wrong focus. Perhaps it is not just about things getting better, about our circumstances improving, about that new job, new relationship or getting healthy. Maybe it is about seeing the blessings of today, no matter how small they may seem to be. God promises us that he is with us all the time. He said that no matter what we face, he is there to walk beside us, give us someone to talk to, and to give us strength in the things we do or face.
By recognizing that Jesus is there for us, that he loves us, maybe it will allow us to actually enjoy the snow, and have fun until spring arrives.
Posted on 02/28/2010 12:40 PM by Weldon Lemke
Comments
17 Apr 2010
 Orion J Beadling
Hello Pastor Lemke,
While checking your blog, it is, perhaps, no accident that I should have happened first to land on this one dated February 28, 2010, for it is exactly 70 years to the day (i.e. 70 years since 02/28/1940) since an incident occurred that has led me to your site.
On the chance that there may be someone among your congregation who may recall (or alternatively have heard of) an event that occurred on that date in 1940, I am curious to learn of any details or consequences resulting from that event.
Here are a few facts that may serve to refresh the memory of anyone who may be aware of that event.
February 28, 1940 was a Wednesday. Unlike that date in 2010, the weather was unseasonably warm in Pine Hill, although, quite to the contrary, North Jersey was experiencing a quite severe ice storm.
Wednesday vesper services were being held at the Branch Avenue Nondenominational Church. Whose pastor at the time was Reverend Earb who lived in the parsonage next door to the church.
The church building, which occupied the site of the present day Hope Chapel, was a white wooden structure that stood closer to the side of Branch Avenue than does the chapel. The vestibule at the front of the building was rather small and was topped by the bell tower. The door to the vestibule faced Branch Ave and on this particular evening was opened and the vestibule was illuminated by a single light hanging from the ceiling. There may have been an additional light mounted outside the front of the building over the door (not sure, but it seems there was this light). The door from the vesibule to the sanctuary was closed.
Being February and after seven in the evening, outside the building and away from the lights mentioned it was quite dark.
The congregation was signing in the sanctuary and their voices could be heard at least as far away as the five points (that is, the corner of Tenth Avenue and Branch Avenue). The vesper services were in full swing.
Just in the middle of a hymn being sung, an event occurred that interrupted the singing. The singing ceased, the entire congregation filed out through the vestibule and onto the ground in front of the church where they stood, discussing and looking up and down Branch Ave. At length the happy conversation ended and the worshipers returned inside and their singing resumed, although somewhat louder and perhaps a little more joyful now.
My question, Pastor Lemke, is whether or not any one who was at that service or who is otherwise aware of the event that interrupted it is known to any of your present congregation. If so, and if that person can identify what the event was, I may be able to provide some missing details of which he/she may be unaware, and he/she may be able to provide me likewise.
As things turned out, my family and I left Pine Hill shortly following that time and I never heard any more about it, although the memory of it remains vivid to this day. We were scheduled to leave Pine Hill the next day (February 29, 1940), but due to the (afore mentioned) severe ice storm in North Jersey that night the moving van was not able to move us until the following day, March first 1940.
Just thought you might like to hear a little history,
Orion J Beadling
obi@stny.rr.com
11 Mar 2010
ChristineConstantino
thank you for that blog.....so true about things we can get ourselves lost in...i myself ,has been there !with what has been going on in my own life and as you had mentioned,, relationships ,,money,, kids...so on..i think that may be our father god just letting us spread our wings to see how we'll do...only to think that hey ,,, we can do this on our own!!! then we fall...and try again,,and again...until i myself can't thinks why can't i do this !!! then only to realize i can't do anything with out my father love and guidence...he is the only one and the only way,,,,,but with that said,, i woke up ,,said oh crap ,,hurt feelings etc...then my brother call me ,,, not very close to him,,,,tuff marine style of a man,,and said lets go to the shore ,,, had fun together,,,,and to this man,soldier,hero on my eyes look at me and cry like a baby because he's dying...and i asked him if he believed in god ,,,i was afraid to ask,,,,but had nothing to lose,,and he said yes,,, and the relief to here those words were ublievable..and for the first time , in my life with my brother they were the most comforting words i have eveer heard,,,,,, do realy have a point.... but i do ask the lord to place the love in my heart,,, today was great even under the cirumstances.
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