Page 12 CALDWELL PERSPECTIVE
March 2015
Place of Grace Caldwell: Going From Good To Great pressing issues facing Caldwell over the next five years would become. As we might have expected, we heard the same answers from each applicant; jobs, taxes, housing for both the poor and high wage earners, infrastructure and schools. But at the top of everyone’s list was the same challenge: our Downtown. How do we presently engage the “culture” of Caldwell’s downtown? We complain about it. We may say, “Well, that’s just the way it is. It will never change …” Or we may have some pretty concrete ideas about the way things ought to be and seek to control future development. But what I heard from the Council seat applicants and what I hear from other “Caldwellites,” is more their hope and expectation that a new culture will emerge in the center of the City. Change is always rooted in the heart; we desire a change. Change comes from the inside out. I believe it holds true for our city, too. So, why is this important to me as a Pastor? Because God’s Word is so definitely pro-city. It’s one of the things the writers of scripture held in common with the Roman and Greek writers and philosophers of their day: cities are the best places for human flourishing. Cities were— and are—places of economy and commerce, culture and education. When Christ’s Apostles began to take the story of Jesus to the world … they went to the cities, knowing that as a city goes, so goes the culture. In Psalm 107, King David tells of the trials of a group of people, who—having been freed from enemy captivity … wandered
through the wilderness on a desert road; they found no city in which to live. Then things went from bad to worse; They were hungry and thirsty; they fainted from exhaustion. Then, in desperation They cried out to the Lord in their distress; he delivered them from their troubles. What did God do? How did God deliver these emancipated, lost, hungry, exhausted people? He led them on a level road that they might find a city in which to live. And how do they respond when they find a city? Let them give thanks to the Lord for his loyal love, and for the amazing things he has done for people! In spite of what many believe heaven to be, the Bible tells us that heaven is a city (Rev. 21:2); it’s the city of God established on earth. Heaven is a lot less like a Thomas Kinkade painting, and much more like a Chicago or Houston or Seattle made righteous. Our city is in the midst of redeveloping its personality. These days it’s appropriate to pray for our city’s culture, “the ways we live, and move, and have our being,” (in Christian-code). Sure, from time to time we may complain about it, or say, “It’ll never change,” or attempt to put our own spin on things. But I‘m meeting many more people these days who are stepping up and becoming part of the culture they want to see. Be optimistic. Be praying for your city. Be part of the culture you would like to see. Blessings.
Oral History Interviews Available at Caldwell Public Library If you are interested in the rich history of some of our “Caldwell oldtimers,” there are about 150 audio-oral taped interviews by Bill Crookham available at the Caldwell Public Library. Some of
the family names interviewed include: Babcock, Bess, Bonnell, Cramer, Crews, Corckett, Crookham, Day, Hartkopf, Humphreys, McCluskey, Rankin, Steunenberg and many others. Go check them out!
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In a recent podcast, I heard the author of a new book on belief and society. He said he saw people of faith engaging the dominant culture in one of three fashions: complaining about it, (or) they capitulating to it and adopting its standards as their own, (or) attempting to control it. But none of these are a satisfactory answer to the everyday problems I encounter in trying to live a godly life in a secular society. In fact—I would argue that complaining about, cowering in the face of, adopting standards I shouldn’t be settling for, or attempting to control the culture— sets back any ability I may have to see things change. So, if those approaches are less than best, what’s left? This is what the author suggested: be the culture you want to see. Be a culture maker. I was asked a couple of weeks ago to serve as a member of a selection team tasked with interviewing the men and women who had “thrown their hat in the ring” to fill the unexpired City Council term of the late Jim Blacker, a man who certainly loved his home town. I served on a team with some amazing Caldwell citizens from various backgrounds. It was a great experience to lean on one another’s insights as we made our way through two days of interviews (and, just so you know, Caldwell is blessed with many well-qualified men and women who are willing to serve). During our interviews, a question we asked each applicant, was what they believed the three most
Regina Otter Turns 100 Years Young
by Jim Porter
How many history-making events can the average person list in their lifetime? Landing on the moon and the invention of the computer are big ones for many, but Regina Otter (mother to Governor Butch Otter) can list the Wright Brother’s first flight, World War 1 and 2, the depression, the sinking of the Titanic, prohibition, the holocaust, and tremendous advancements to the automobile, flight, the radio and TV. She was even there for the birth of Mickey Mouse! Recently, the Caldwell Elks Lodge hosted Regina’s 100th birthday party to about 250 of her closest friends and family. All 9 of her children were in attendance. Each gave testimony to their upbringing on a video which featured entertaining stories about amazing adventures of their childhoods. Regina told of many exciting events in the early years of her marriage and motherhood. She spoke of the years her husband, (who passed away 37 years ago), traveled as
a union electrician and she was bound and determined the family stay together in his travels. It was cause for a change in many schools for her children over the years but Regina said it was a priority that the family remain intact. One story, of particular interest, was how in the Dust Bowl years they had to tie a rope from the house to the barn to find their way to tend to their animals. Every child had his/her duties in helping with rearing siblings and doing “chores.” There was no electricity or running water nor an indoor bathroom. It was quite the “Little House on the Prairie” existence. One young great grandchild was overheard saying her life was like learning all the things he reads about in his school history books. But each of her children also testified to the love and devotion and life’s lessons learned from the matriarch of the Otter clan. A standing ovation and applause from onlookers also spoke to their love of Regina too. A choir of Happy Birthday rang out and a flash of cameras let her know she made a mark on so many in her lifetime. Normally gifts go the birthday girl but in this case we say Happy Birthday, Regina and thank you for your gift of love and devotion to so many friends and family.
A Smile To Remember By Paul Opp It is overwhelming at times to be drowning in the desperation of other people and being put in the position to decide whose situation is most desperate or what family should be able to survive a calamity themselves. Being able to face the patients who we cannot help, and the sense of inadequacy that it brings, can play on ones emotions. Often the medical condition has simply progressed too far. Chemotherapy and many types of surgeries are simply not available in Iquitos and the cost to send patients to Lima, is cost prohibitive. The moments of victory and healing are wonderful and we savor them. The uncomfortable moments are far too frequent and I chose my words carefully when telling someone that we can’t help them. The other day, Dr. Ray Lunt, from our last medical group, arrived at our dental clinic and faced twice as many patients as he was expecting. A new technique allows him to make a complete set of dentures in less than two hours.
Dr. Ray quickly checked the extra patients to see if they were a good fit for this new procedure and sadly, one of the ladies simply was not a viable candidate. He explained the problem gently and expected the twinkle in the eyes of this elderly woman to fade, but instead, something marvelous happened. This dear old grandmother hugged and kissed Dr. Lunt and through tears of joy, thanked him over and over for the blessing that he was, to the friends and community members being helped, and promised to keep Dr. Lunt in her heart and prayers as he helped other people, even in other parts of the world. Blessings come our way in many forms, and sometimes it looks like we have been passed over, but just the other day we all learned what it looks like to celebrate someone else’s joy and good fortune. Ironic isn’t it? Twenty four people, all with new white dentures, but the smile we all remember, belongs to the lady with no teeth.
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