Cathy Duncan’s Blogs –

What Flavor We Have When We Come Together…Work Together

One of my very favorite appliances is my very old electric “omelette” pan, one of the very few things I insisted on keeping following my divorce over 30 years ago.   It’s held up well…probably because I generally only use it for a “weekend” breakfast or when I have guests visiting.  Today, I felt like making an omelette for lunch…wanted a more substantial lunch before going to give blood at a local American Red Cross blood drive.

As I gathered all my omelette ingredients…the brown eggs, milk, onion, tomatoes, bacon strips, and extra sharp cheese, I realized that when all these “tastes” come together, work together, they make an incredibly delicious dish.  I also realized that it takes extra work and time to make this dish…to beat the egg and milk so it’s just the right texture; to fry up the bacon strips; to cut up the onions, tomatoes, and cheese.  It’s the extra work and time that make it extra special.

The same is true for IOKDS…what a variety of individual tastes and gifts we each bring when we come together and work together. When mixed together in mission…be it supporting local community needs like Meals On Wheels, food pantries, and thrift stores; be it supporting healthcare services including hospitals, assisted living establishments, or children with autism; or be it supporting any of the other IOKDS Departmental activities, when we come together, mix together, and work together, what a flavor we have!

Cathy Duncan
International Secretary

The Array of Clubs in My Golf Bag

 I love to play golf!  I’m especially enjoying this summer of golf because my niece, Heather, has taken up the game and we’re golf partners for our Thursday night league. Boy, has her golf game improved!  In addition to family members mentoring her and going to the driving range and playing rounds with her, she’s been taking golf lessons.  Even her weekly golf opponents are encouraging her by giving her tidbits of helpful information and complimenting her on how much she’s improved.

One of the things I’ve really been focusing on in my “coaching/partner” role to help Heather progress is the importance of the array of golf clubs in the bag.  Each club has it’s unique role to play…all made for a specific purpose.  The “driver” off the tee box when you have to advance a long distance; the differing “fairway woods”, “long irons”, “hybrid clubs”, and “short irons” to use depending on your lie, your individual skills, and the yardage needed for advancement to the green; the different “wedges” with varying degrees of loft…especially helpful are the “sand” wedge for when you get trapped in the sand trap hazard, and the “pitching” wedge for when you are close to the green; and lastly the “putter” for finally finishing the challenge of the hole by rolling the ball in the hole cup.  The diversity of the array of golf clubs in our bag helps us maneuver around a challenging golf course.  And, while we may not pull out every golf club to use during each and every round of golf we play, it’s a comfort to know all are within reach and available to work when we need it.

Similarly, to be successful in our mission of service to others lending a helping hand, our IOKDS has to have an array of members with differing backgrounds, experiences, abilities, and talents as well.  Each bringing their individual gifts and skills to help us progress down our course…some leading and “driving”; some keeping us in the “fairway” of continuing service of our long-established and successful programming; some “pitching” new ideas and new missions to grow our organization.  Yes, IOKDS needs a diverse set of clubs…I mean members…to help us continue caring for all God’s children.

Cathy Duncan
International Secretary

My Encourager in Quarantine And Always

 To update you on my recent COVID journey, I wanted to share with you all the bible verses I pulled out each morning from the “Our Daily Bread…Promise Box” I received in the mail (two days after getting the news I tested positive for COVID).  Of note, after I pulled the last verse this very morning, I received notification on my cell phone that I could view the results of my latest COVID test.

Bible Card Verses (In Order Randomly Pulled)

1. “My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.”  Psalm 121:2
2. “He that cometh to me shall never hunger.” John 6:35b
3. “He shall set me up upon a rock.” Psalm 27:5c
4. “The Lord upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down.” Psalm 145:14
5. “The Lord redeemth the soul of his servants.” Psalm 34:22a
6. “He that overcometh shall inherit all things.” Revelation 21:7a
7. “The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth.” Psalm 121:8
8. “Those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth.” Psalm 37:9b
9. “In quietness and in confidence shall be your strength”. Isaiah:30 15c
10. “Ask, and it shall be given you.” Matthew 7:7a
11. “He that shall humble himself shall be exalted.” Matthew 23:12b
12. “He shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler.” Psalm 91:3a

The result came back negative for COVID.

May God continue to grow our faith and always watch over us…this we earnestly pray.

IHN,

Cathy Duncan
International Secretary

Our Actions “Preach The Word”

Today was our first in-person church service since COVID-19 closed our building doors and it was great seeing our small congregation back in church.  It was also great to see the stain glass window above the alter with the words “Preach The Word”.   I love that window!  We do what it asks us to do best through our actions…something IOKDS is very good at as we always strive to look up, look forward, and look out as we lend a helping hand ministering to others.  We are “doers” preaching the word through our actions…always “In His Name.”

Cathy Duncan
International Secretary