THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, January 13, 2011


METHODIST CHURCH, WEIRS-1889


by Rev. Victoria Wood Parrish Contributing Writer


The blackbirds and star-


lings are falling from the sky over Beebe, Arkansas and a town in Louisiana. The fish are mysteriously dying in the Arkansas river. This joins the list of other strange things happening over the past months around the world. Earthquakes (albeit mi-


nor ones) in New Hamp- shire. Snow in Las Vegas on the palm trees. Lack of snow here for much of the winter so far. Queensland under water. Pakistan under water earlier in the fall. Cholera in Haiti. Vol- canoes, tornadoes, and mudslides. I read a blog today about


all these strange and un- usual events and was amazed by the causes given by the writers. One person blamed it on cell phone use and another on testing of new jets. One wrote that the government lies and that there is a con- spiracy going on to hide the truth. Another just said that things happen, but for another, it was an


METZLER from 7


tary muscle, the PRC Navy is developing a “carrier- killing” ballistic missile that could sink American aircraft carriers from a distance, fundamentally reordering the balance of power in East Asia. Though the anti-ship mis- sile, the Dong Feng 21, has achieved “initial op- erational capability”, such a deployment could tilt the balance of power in the Pacific in three to five years. The U.S. has relied on


its aircraft carrier battle groups to project power and protect East Asian al- lies; South Korea, Japan, Taiwan and the Philip-


COMMUNITY CHURCH MEDITATIONS THE SKY IS FALLING!


act of God as punishment for the sins of the United States. I thought the opin- ion that 2011 would be the year of hell, but that 2012 would be great was both interesting and hopeful for those who make it through the year. I enjoy the Book of Rev-


elation in the Bible. Many people are horrified and terrified by it, but it really is a book of hope. It is very graphic and uses imagery of the religions and sto- ries of the day. Dragons, beasts, tantalizing and sinful women, economic hardships, disease, war- fare and all the other im- ages pull us into the story and lead us to wonder. Is this literal? When will each event happen? Has it already happened or is it now? The book starts with a


statement by John that this was a vision. He sends letter to the main churches of the times and tells them their strengths and their weakness, and then calls them to change. Then there are the visions, each one horrifying. Over and over, he says


pines. Should the PRC be able to neutralize that ad- vantage, the military bal- ance would dangerously shift in the Pacific. The upcoming Sino/


American Summit is more than just talk about trade and currency issues and but clearly underling re- gional security in Korea, reiterating internationally accepted rights of freedom of the seas, and sober re- affirmation that the PRC’s political trajectory is in- deed on a “peaceful rise.”


John J. Metzler is a Unit-


ed Nations correspondent covering diplomatic and defense issues.


“He who has ears, let him hear…” Today we might say, “Listen up and pay attention! This is impor- tant and you need to make some serious changes if you are going to make it to the end.” Later, as the visions un-


fold, his mantra is “He who endures to the end will be saved.” The visions can be in-


terpreted to be events of any age, past, present and future. However, all these events do not need to shake our faith. God has the ultimate victory and our job is to keep the faith we have, grow in faith, and stick it all out, knowing that there will be an end. The book ends with a


vision of the kingdom of God, where there will be no more pain or grief, but all who “endure to the end” will be in God’s glory. I am intrigued by the


deaths of the blackbirds (why not ptarmigans or mourning doves?) and the fish (why Arkansas and not Pennsylvania where the waste water is be- ing released into rivers?)


I worry about people in the rest of the world who are living through disas- ters, and I wonder when “the big one” will hit New Hampshire and shake us all out of complacency. But I also believe that


God is with us through it all, and that “neither death nor life… nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39)


Rev. Victoria Wood Par- rish is the pastor of the First


United Methodist Church in Gilford, NH, located on Route 11-A. It is a congre- gation of open hearts, open minds, and open doors. We invite you to worship with us on Sundays at 10:30 AM Children’s activities and nursery are available during the 10:30 morning worship. We also invite you to the United Method- ist Church in the Weirs, 35 Tower St., which wor- ships at 10:00 AM. There are also many other local congregations who would welcome you to worship.


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