MOOSINGS FROM THE LAST FRONTIER...: REPORT FROM THE LAND CONVENTION

REPORT FROM THE LAND CONVENTION DRY CREEK, ALASKA

by SarahJ

FIRST DAY

This morning we woke up to -46°; it is now -36°.

Thomas led worship; Bro Buddy preached - his theme was “You can preserve your own life or have His life for eternity. Whichever life you choose, is the one you will be living” Bro Bill closed the meeting with a quote from William Law and said that God has us in the place that we NEED to be in.

FRIDAY NIGHT

Well, it might’ve warmed up at some point to -25°, but it didn’t stay there long. It is already back to -38° and dropping.

We have very, very few guests this convention. I guess the cold is keeping them away. Guests here today were Rose Dunning, Sue Brown, Peter and Stacey Casey, and Joseph Casey. Ministry guests are Buddy Cob, John Jeffreys, Bill and Bette Grier, Wayne and Anne Gentry, John Basalyga, Earnest Watkins, David Digloria, Dick Kunz, and ?

We had an excellent meeting tonight. Ben led worship; Bill Grier preached on “to die laughing” – strange title, I know. Bro Andy helped me sum his word into this summation – that we are to laugh at the impossibility of our calling and that going to the house of mourning makes us better. Bro Bill talked about the need to laugh at our impossible situation but also about the need to judge ourselves in order to be purged (clean). Text was from Ecclesiates 7:1-3. There were other scriptures too.

Bro John J closed the meeting, but then Sis Bette hopped up to talk about invitations saying that we’ve been sent an invitation from God. She concluded with “how are we responding (rsvp) to God? A two minute exhortation! She is so awesome…just love her flair!

SATURDAY

just real quick like…. I woke up to -35°, but it quickly dropped to -42° and has stayed there consistently for the rest of the day.

Visitors this morning were Don and Val Wimberly from Tok, from WSF David Digloria brought out his wife, Hannah, Woan Chuie, and ???? Paul and Jenee and children and Amaris arrived in time for the afternoon service. Plus we still have the guests that we had yesterday.

Bonnie led praise – it was excellent; she overcame many obstacles of singing songs that we couldn’t remember or had never heard of. Bro Buddy was the first preacher. He added to what he had to say yesterday – the theme being the only way to have life is to die the right death. This is opportunity to die so don’t miss it. There are three steps to the kingdom – the pit, the prisoner, and ruling and reigning. Bro Earnest followed on the dying theme using Gen 22 for text. He compared our life journey to Isaac’s – we have to pass through the climbing of the mtn and the various test involved in order to die; in doing this journey we will have life.

A quote from Bro Earnest is, “All my favorite scriptures are in the Bible”. J A quote from Bro Buddy is, “May God take a liking to you”.

Bro Bill closed the meeting and got quite fired up in his closing summation. He exhorted us that the word was nothing unless we could figure out a way to apply it to our daily lives. He said that even though the kingdom of God won’t be brought in through violence, we do have to use violence to cast down our vain imaginations and violence in putting away the things that we love.

SATURDAY NIGHT

It is presently -47°. I wish I could take a picture of tonight to show you how it looks but it is too dark so I will try to use my words to give you a visual. Orion, the constellation, is hanging over the plateau mountain, the moon is hanging over the sawmill area. There is a thick ice fog that has settled in making everything appear murky. The moon has a haze around and over it. All the “street lights” have hazes. There is a heavy, thickness layering everywhere. It is a little interesting looking, almost pretty, if it weren’t soooooo cold!

Praise was led by Ben. Bro John Jeffreys preached the first word. He talked about almond blossoms – the answer is curled up inside in a brown little thing – the answer will be revealed after the winter. J I can’t say who told me that summary, but it sounds good to me. Bro John spoke with much fervor (I was in hearing it from the kitchen); it makes me vow to myself to get the cd and listen to it myself.

Bro David Digloria preached next. He said sometimes you have to go through things to get over your fears, and you have to have to die in order to resurrect.

My crew and I built “super” subs for supper and passed them out along with pickles, chips, veggie soup, and an apple to everyone.

After everyone cleared out, Bro Dick Kunz and Bro Gary Horender started a sing along with the kids. Some older folks hung around to watch and sing. The kids had a REALLY good time. Both Gary and Dick are just great, great guys. I cannot say enough kind things about those guys. They love the Lord; they love the kids. We had a great worship time with the young people.

A funny quip here is that Robin stayed for that but then came home early. When I asked him why he said: "Mom it's too loud!"…haha…oh well

Anyway, I’m tired. And I want to get to my warm bedroom. Night all. If I haven’t answered you personally recently, someday, I will. J Night, Sarah

LAST DAY SUNDAY

This morning we woke up to -50°. It was soooooo depressing. I got up early and drank lots of coffee and finally I began to cheer up. Plus my kids were all up early (and Chris and Bekah came) so we had some fun family time before the first meeting. During the day, the temps rose to -27°, but as usual, the temperature is dropping. It is now -40°. Today we expected to see the actual sun pop over the mountains, but I never saw it. I either missed it, or we are off in our calculations by a day or so.

So… Bro Joe McCord flew in from the Peru conventions a day ago and Whitestone brought him out this morning.

Patrick and Griselda led worship this morning. Bro Joe preached on the word of the Son – “I will come into Him and will dine with Him and He with me” – we will either have peace multiplied or sorrows multiplied. Text from Rev 3 and 5; also I Peter 1:1,2 and Psalm 16:1,4. Bro Dick Kunz preached next. His text was taken from the parable of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16). Bro Buddy closed the convention. We never heard from Bro Wayne (but he often doesn’t preach at our convention), and we never heard from John Basalyga. I guess we’ll catch them at a different time.

Bro Joe is staying with us tonight. We kept him up much too late. I hope we can have him ready to leave by 6:30 am when Garth comes by to collect him. The ministry will be driving to Haines tomorrow.

Wendy, Kathryn, Hannah, and Allyson made a really nice sit down dinner for us tonight – chicken tetrazzini, salad, punch, bread, green beans. and ice cream splits with all the fixins' for dessert.

I’m sorry we missed out on so much company due to the cold weather. We missed seeing all you fellow Alaskans that usually visit.

The kids and Bro. Dick put on a short show for us on the life of Joseph. Bro. Dick just amazes me how he can do so much on short notice. He got some costumes together with the help of May, and managed to include the whole of the grade school in it. Plus asking Kev and Annie to play the part of Potiphar and his wily wife…! many good laughs when Benj (12) was faced with Annie (18)…hahaha