Greetings from Jim Stewart

Greetings all!
According to a friend, I'm an old fuddy duddy because I don't blog or read blogs. Years ago Presbyterian ministers received a little magazine called, Monday Morning. Essentially, it was a printed blog. I didn't read it either.
I have been a Presbyterian minister since 1987. I'm originally from Iowa. I farmed. The Farm Crisis of the 1980s led me to seminary. I credit Ronald Reagan with making me what I am today - a minister and a Democrat. Most of my ministry has been in small town, rural areas. I've been particularly interested in the theology of the land. I served a church in Clinton, WI for 9 years, then a church in Williamsburg, IA for another 9 years. I briefly served as a temporary supply pastor in a church in Cedar Rapids, IA. That church was flooded in last year's flood. In 2005, in an act of serendipity, I sent my dossier to Danville, KY and accepted a call there.
The Presbyterian Church of Danville is the oldest Presbyterian Church West of the Allghenies. It was begun in 1784. Its history and much of Kentucky's history are intertwined. The church began the first seminary which later moved to Louisville. It also began Centre College. It is an interesting place to be. I have 9 Presbyterian ministers in my congregation, most are retired, one is a retired professor of religion. Some of you may know Beau Weston. He's been on a lot of GA committees and has written extensively about the Presbyterian Church. He sits in the second pew on my left on Sunday mornings. Tom McCullough is one of the ministers. He teaches Biblical archaeology at Centre College and leads groups to Israel. He was there in March. I just spent part of the afternoon with him, picking his brain about this trip.
So it's not your typical church, and sometimes I'm amazed that I'm here. It's never dull.
Danville is a lovely town, a bit atypical of most Kentucky communities. We are in the Bluegrass region, not far from beautiful horse farms. Roads are lined with dry laid rock fences, a product of Scottish settlers and probably slave labor. We are close to a Shaker Village at Pleasant Hill and to Perryville, site of a bloody Civil War battle. The church became a hospital. A monument to the Confederate dead stands in the church yard.
My wife, Shari, is a teacher. We've been married for 33 years. We have three sons, two of whom are married. Our oldest and his wife live in NYC where our daughter-in-law is finishing grad school at Columbia. They'll be moving to D.C. where she has accepted a job working in the government. Our middle son and his wife live in Cedar Rapids. The youngest is getting married this summer after we return from Israel. He works for a congressman in D.C. and his fiance just finished her Teach for America program. They are being married here in Danville, and I'll be doing the service. I conducted the services for the other two.
Going to Israel is also serendipitous for me. Going was simply beyond my imagination or expectation. I'm grateful for the opportunity, and look forward to meeting you next week. Grace & peace, Jim