A Brief ReCap...Mentzer 2013

Some of you will find this post before your copy of it finds you via snail mail.  That's okay...I'm old fashioned and I still think it's fun getting letters, but if you find yourself doubling up, feel free to recycle, etc.  Oh, and if you're looking for the Haiti Photo Book I mentioned...go back to the post before this one.  Cheerio!

 March 24, 2013  

Spring greetings from a snowy Stilwell, Kansas!  As I am writing this we are getting our third 6+” snow storm of the year, so instead of green grass and daffodils outside, I look out to see a winter wonderland.  Lots of snow, however, makes me much more appreciative of the sunshine, gentle rainstorms, and brave flowers I hope to see by this time next week.  So why all this spring-y-ness?  Well, when last Christmas rolled around, I quickly abandoned all hope of getting Christmas letters out.  Nate still wanted to send something, so I said “How about an Easter letter?”  Thus this letter was born.  I know sending an Easter letter is a bit unconventional, but hey…we’re a little odd ourselves.  Besides, Christmas isn’t the only time for love, joy, and hope.  The way I see it, if we are Christians the events of holy week and Easter Sunday really illustrate the ultimate act of love (Jesus dying for us), a true source of joy (He’s Risen!), and the best reason to hope (Sin and death are defeated…God ultimately wins!  Who doesn’t want to be on the winning team?).  Like Christmas, Jesus is also the Reason for the Easter Season! 

So that’s the rationale behind all this…now for the “New Year” newscast.  Yup…Nathan and I are still living in our same little place in Stilwell, KS.  We like the community hereabouts, and have recently started seriously looking for a home to purchase, so that will probably provide some more excitement for 2013. 



Nate with Haitian Co-Workers

Nate is still working for Black & Veatch in the Power Generation Services group; it keeps him pretty busy. This group works on several small studies and projects for power plants across the U.S. As such, he travels to different sites from time to time.  In his free time, he helps out with the youth group at our church, and has responsibilities on K-State’s Acacia Fraternity Board of Directors.  He’s dabbled with a little wood-carving, and enjoys being out of doors as much as possible either hunting, biking, hiking, or gardening and especially getting back to the farm.  He also is an unquenchable bookworm, and has already set (and so far is achieving) a goal to read one book every week this year. 

Heather and DiMarco

I started out the year working for Research Concepts, Inc., a company that makes satellite antennae controllers, as a bookkeeper.  In addition to keeping the books, I had a few other responsibilities, including helping with the remodeling of the new office building the company purchased.  I also took up teaching sewing classes for kids at JoAnn Fabrics last march.  In September I left RCI to pursue some other personal goals, but am still teaching at JoAnn’s.  I love teaching my enthusiastic and talented students, and have enjoyed creating a few new classes to add to the corporate mix.  Only recently I’ve implemented a series of Fashion Design classes for kids, including a week-long “Fashion Camp” this summer.  Bring on Project Runway!  On the side I’ve made a couple of customized quilts, two sets of banners for our church, and a few other things.  In my spare time, I volunteer with our church’s Caring Ministry helping to distribute food to needy families, and I also make trips to Manhattan as a member of Clovia’s Alumni Board.  Otherwise I keep busy reading, writing, blogging, and visiting friends. 

Last year was filled with both joy and sadness; weddings (including both of Nate’s sisters!), funerals, and two 50^th anniversary celebrations.  We also snuck in a twenty-five mile backpacking trip to the Missouri Ozarks over Memorial Day weekend, and flew out to Washington State for another wedding in January 2013.  Our big adventure for the past year was our mission trip to Haiti in June 2012. After nearly two years of saving, fundraising, supply-gathering, planning, and even a little Creole-learning, Nathan and I, along with eleven other friends from church spent a week in Bercy, Haiti.  While there we helped in the construction of a much-needed addition on to the village school.  We also held a Vacation Bible School day and played with the children that reside in the orphanage and the village.  My favorite part was worshipping at a little mountain church a few miles from our village.  We also experienced the noisy and colorful market scene, and a swam at a nearby beach.  It was a moving and eye-opening adventure, and already plans are being made to go back in January 2014.  If you’d like to see the picture book of our trip I put together, I’ve shared it on my blog http://walkwhileyouhavethelight.blogspot.com/ .  Also, to learn more about Cabaret Baptist Children’s Home, the orphanage where we stayed and helped, you can see them on Facebook, just search for Cabaret Baptist Children’s Home.

Heather & Nate in Seattle, January 2013

Well, that is the last fifteen months in a nutshell.  Life, much like hiking trips, is often full of ups and downs, but after all the scrambling, sliding, rock-hopping, sore feet, lack of oxygen, cold air and unpredictable thunderstorms that roll-in, the amazing panoramic view from the peak is always worth it.  So on we climb in 2013, to see what new adventures God has in store for us.  And even if we end up having to do some technical climbing up a sheer rock face with plummeting drops on both sides…or, um…maybe let’s just say no matter what life throws our way we can keep on climbing because of the hope we have in our Risen Savior.

 Because He lives, I can face tomorrow;

Because He lives, all fear is gone;

Because I know He holds the future,

And life is worth the living just because He lives.†

Hope you have a Happy Easter, and a fabulous 2013!

  J Nathan & Heather Mentzer

Haiti Photo Book June 2012

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How Deep the Father's Love For Us

"Don't let the wise boast in their wisdom, or the powerful boast in their power, or the rich boast in their riches.  But those who wish to boast, should boast in this alone:  that they truly know Me and understand that I am the LORD who demonstrates unfailing love and brings justice and righteousness to the earth, and that I delight in these things."  I the Lord have spoken!  
                                                                                   Jeremiah 9:23-24 NLT

I stumbled on this verse by accident this morning.  It reminded me of a lyric to a song, which I couldn't quite place...something about "I will not boast..."  Anyhow, I googled it, and keeping with my song-posting-theme, I'll share the lyrics here with you.  It's super appropriate for any time.  :)

 

HOW DEEP THE FATHER'S LOVE FOR US

by Stuart Townend

 

How deep the Father's love for us,
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of searing loss,
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the chosen One,
Bring many sons to glory

Behold the Man upon a cross,
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice,
Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that left Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom

 

 

http://www.ap0s7le.com/list/song/28/Stuart_Townend/How_Deep_The_Father

 

 

 



Spring in Your Step

I love spring.

Actually, I'm kind of a "betweener" season kind of gal...Spring when everything is waking up, and Autumn when everything is getting ready for a long winter nap.  Although Autumn creates feelings that are warm, comforting and homey, Spring makes me yawn, stretch, get up, and starting going again.  It's refreshing, invigorating, and rejuvenating.  It's a chance to turn over a new leaf (literally if you're a plant).  I love to look out the window to see the daffodils start pushing through the hard earth, the fat robbins and squirrels hopping and scurrying about, the grass greening up and people out walking again (without looking like the little boy in the snow suit on The Christmas Story).  Everything is fresh and new.

I especially like Spring in a year like this, when we've had a couple of snow storms and some genuinely cold Kansas weather.  It just makes a better contrast for when the sun starts to push it's way out and warm up the earth.  Clouds no longer look dull and grey and heavy with snow.  Instead they are either a light, puffy white or a deep, dark blue that announces a spring storm rolling in.  I have so many wonderful images and associations linked to spring.  For example, the crisp, breezy spring weather reminds me of track meets.  The fresh smell of damp earth makes me think of hours spent playing in the mud or helping in Mom's garden and flower beds.  A whif of straw or cow manure reminds me of spring calving...one of my absolute favorite events of the year.  Baby calves laying in fresh straw in the barn are certainly cute and fun.  It's even more fun to see them out in the greening pasture, running and frollicking with their calf-friends with their tails shooting up in the air behind them.  On a sunny day they'll spread out, laying on their sides and soaking in the sun's rays.  What a life!  It's a brand new world to them, filled with new discoveries, adventures and innocent fun.

This year we're going home to Stockton for Easter.  One of my favorite memories of spring on the farm was getting up waaaayyy before the sun was coming up, piling in the car wearing coveralls and stacks of blankets, and driving the twenty five miles or so to the other side of Stockton.  There was Hazen Hill...an awesome eastern overloook in the middle of a pasture where our church family gathered for Easter Sunrise Service.  Usually the Gartrell and Hazen families were responsible for the event, so we always got there first.  Then Ethan, Brett and I would go running through the pasture down the hill in the dark (occasionally one of us had a flash light), trying to see which one of us would find the cross first.  There's a little area cut away into a hill, with some big rocks to sit on, and an old rugged wooden cross erected on the eastern edge of the area.  As people gather, the glow of the sun begins to rise over the little valley where Stockton sits.  We sing, we pray, sometimes there are skits or a brief message.  All the while the sun's glow is growing on the eastern horizon behind that cross.  At just the perfect moment, it slips over the horizon, and the warm, cleansing golden light spreads across the faces of every person present.  We celebrate communion, there in the glow of the new sun.  And then Dad, with his cold, battered fingers pulls out his guitar, and strums away as we all sing "The Old Rugged Cross" and end with the victorious "Up From the Grave He Arose".  It's an incredibly special moment, and one that sets the tone for a special, celebratory day. 

As the sun comes up behind the cross - the symbol of the price Christ paid for us - it's the reminder of a new beginning; a new hope.  I think that's why I love Easter so much.  Christ's crucifixion and resurrection is truly a source of hope and joy.  It's God overcoming sadness and death and claiming the victory of new life.  It's the chance for a new beginning.  After long, cold, and hard winters - physically, spiritually, and emotionally - we need the fresh start of Spring.  We need the fresh reminder that "because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed," in our winter months, "for his compassions never fail.  They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness, O Lord." (Lametations 3:23)  God gives us a fresh start with his Son, and a "new song" to sing in our Spring.   

I know my posts get ridiculously long...but if I don't write it now I'll probably forget it.  So, to put a little Spring in your step, I'd like to share the words of a hymn that is a favorite of mine.  It's called "Hymn of Promise", written by Natalie Sleeth in 1986, and goes like this:

 In the bulb there is a flower; in the seed, an apple tree;
in cocooons, a hidden promise:  butterflies will soon be free!
In the cold and snow of winter there's a spring that waits to be,
unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.

There's a song in every silence, seeking word and melody;
there's a dawn in every darkness, bringing hope to you and me.
From the past will come the future; what it holds, a mystery,
unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.

In our end is our beginning; in our time, infinity;
in our doubt there is believing; in our life, eternity.
In our death, a resurrection; at the last, a victory,
unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.

Blessings and Curses...There is no Comparison

It's the age old question of 'why do bad things happen to good people?'; the human perspective on life in a culture filled with negativity. I've posted on this before, but it's become a recurring theme, at least for me.  The last couple of months I've had a daily struggle to find joy and contentment with my lot in the midst of disappointments and heartaches. It's especially hard to be happy and joyful for others when it appears that their dreams and prayers have been seamlessly fulfilled and answered to their satisfaction, and my own have been denied or answered in a way I don't like.

I don't mean to sound like Negative Nancy or a perpetual Debbie Downer where the glass is always half full. Most of the time I'd like to think I keep a pretty positive perspective on life, but when things go wrong for me and right for someone else, I find myself wondering why. Why is one person's path rocky and steep, while someone else's way is smooth and easy? Why do some people's prayers get instantly answered just the way they want them to, while others' prayers take longer, with less satisfactory (in our opinion) results? Why are some families seemingly perfect, and others filled with disfunction? Why are some faithful people given a plethora of heavy burdens to carry or overcome, and others given a handful of featherweight ones?

It just doesn't seem fair when good, faithful, godly people are made to suffer.  Why does God allow sad, hard things to happen? Being the perfectionist I am, my reflex response is to look for something I've done that resulted in hardship. Believe me, I can usually find plenty of personal defects to pin it on. The result is not pretty, and leaves me even angrier and brings my carefully buried self-destruct button dangerously close to the surface. It's an old-testament kind of philosophy...believing that hardship must be the result of sin,and going around pointing fingers in order to explain the pain away.  I think I often try to make salvation a black-and-white picture: I love and follow Christ and I get blessed. People who do bad things and don't follow God get cursed. Isn't that how it's supposed to work? Deuteronomy 30:15 says "See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction...life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him." Doesn't that bear me out? I choose life through Christ, so that means I get blessings and prosperity and everything is just hunkydory for the rest of my life, right? Unfortunately not...it doesn't always work that way.

Bad things can happen to good people.  It's a fact. People who are living faithfully suffer, just as people who could care less about spiritual things can appear to have very easy lives. We can be impacted by sin, even if it's not directly out sin. God never promised us a rose garden. Jesus never said it would be easy. He lived without sin, and yet Jesus's time on earth was fraught with trouble and ended in his crucifixion. Many faithful people throught history and today have been and still are afflicted with pain, trouble, and hardship. "In this world," Jesus says in John 16:33, "you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."  The new testament in chalk full of verses pertaining to hardship and suffering.

Compared to some people I know nothing about pain and suffering. Compared to some, I've had an amazingly good, blessed, and easy life. Compared to others, however, I've had my share of challenges and heartaches, and they've had it much, much better. But that's the real kicker here...you can't compare. There's no way to line up the scales of hardship and faithfulness and decide that I'm better off or worse off than someone else. When we try to compare ourselves to others, that's when Satan slips in and starts to whisper in our ear that life's not fair. God must not love us enough. Or in my case, I must not be good enough to deserve God's blessings. I'll admit, when I feel like I'm the one getting the short straw, it can be easy to feel resentment and bitterness towards God and others.  The truth is there is no comparison between the number of seeming blessings or curses we each receive, and no way to rationalize them away.

The apostle Paul was given a thorn in his flesh...a painful messenger of Satan.  Paul pleaded with God to take it away.  God's response?  No.  "My grace is sufficient for you," he said, "for my power is made perfect in weakness."  2 Cor 12:8.  Sometimes God uses our suffering as a reminder of whose in charge.  He's not being mean and spiteful...he experiences our pain with us, but he wants us to know that it's not by our own strength and will-power and self-esteem that we overcome troubles...only through his grace. 

So what should we do, when we're hurting and it seems that life is not fair, and God is ignoring us?  That where the last part of the Deuteronomy 30 verses comes in.  Even when times are tough, we are face with a choice.  By choosing life we choose to love God, to listen to his voice, and to hold fast to him, inspite of our circumstances.  1 Peter 4:19 says "Those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good."  Likewise, in 1 Peter 5:6-11 we read, "Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm, and steadfast." 

Our human response may be to wallow in self-pity...to criticize and to compare.  Those are destructive responses.  I know, because I've tried them.  They only leave you hurting worse and feeling emptier inside than before.  They build up walls around ourselves while tearing down relationships with others.  They leave us angry...bitter...resentful.  Instead of comparing ourselves to others, we are to fix our eyes on Christ.  Cry out to God and praise him, even when it hurts.  Ask him to share the burden with us, so that we don't get bogged down in our own sorrow.  Seek to comfort, encourage and pray for others who are also enduring hardships.  Most of all, wait expectantly, in living hope that God will "restore...the joy of his salvation" (Ps 51:12), and we will "see the goodness of the Lord" (Ps 27:13). 

It's not easy; it can be a daily...hourly, even moment by moment effort.  It's making a conscious decision to  focus on the blessings we have received and He who provides them, rather than to dwell on the ways we feel "cursed" or disappointed.  God's grace is sufficient for any hardship.  Afterall, it takes broken people to reach a broken world.

"Be joyful in hope, patient in aflliction, faithful in prayer." Romans 12:12