The Fellowship of Suffering

“…that I may know Christ, and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings.” (St. Paul)

It’s a little bit odd, but there is nothing like a service project, family vacation or backpacking trip gone horribly wrong to bond people together. And it would seem that the worse the weather/hardship/discomfort, the more intense and long-lasting the bond that is formed in the crucible of suffering.

This helps to explain the otherwise inscrutable desire of Paul to experience the sufferings of Christ. Like his Savior, Paul too had been misunderstood and misquoted, misused and abused, betrayed and abandoned, tried and imprisoned by his moral inferiors. And yet, when the dust of affliction had begun to settle, the net effect was what Paul could only describe as “fellowship” with Jesus.

I think this intimate communion is what Samuel Rutherford had in mind when he penned, “Well’s them who are under crosses, and Christ says to them, ‘Half Mine.’”

No Pain, No Gain

There is a curious side effect to aerobic exercise. After a certain period, usually about 20 minutes, the body releases endorphins ("any of a group of hormones secreted within the brain and nervous system and activating the body’s opiate receptors, causing an analgesic effect" - Oxford English Dictionary) into the blood stream causing, what some have termed, "the runner's high."

For me this happens at precisely 22 minutes into my workout. The first 21 minutes of the bike-ride or run are mostly about pain and the persistent pleas of various joints and muscle groups to "cease and desist." But then, miraculously and quite wonderfully, at 22 minutes, my body's cries morph from "Stop, you idiot!" to "Nice going buddy...we're with you...go for it." If you've never experienced this, trust me, it can be rather addicting.

Similarly, there is a mysteriously potent comfort that comes to the faithful as they undergo various trials, afflictions and sufferings. It is a consolation so profound and so unlike the day-to-day graces that God regularly bestows, that those who have experienced it long to experience the heavenly solace again, even if it means obtaining it through suffering. As John Bunyan once wrote:

"Look how fears have presented themselves, so have supports and encouragements; yea, when I have started, even as it were at nothing else but my shadow, yet God, as being very tender of me, hath not suffered me to be molested, but would with one scripture or another, strengthen me against all; insomuch that I have often said, 'Were it lawful, I could pray for greater trouble, for the greater comfort's sake.'"

When Up is Down and Down is Up

Down?
Elizabeth Elliot's husband, Jim, was murdered by the Auca Indians giving her the opportunity to show them the love and forgiveness of Christ and lead a great number of them to salvation.

Joni Eareckson Tada was paralyzed as a young girl, giving her a global platform from which to declare the perfectly wise and loving sovereignty of God.

John Bunyan was imprisoned for over 18 years during which he conceived and wrote one of the top-selling books of all time, The Pilgrim's Progress.


Up?
Kenneth and Connie Parker were winners of a $25 million jackpot. Their 16-year marriage disintegrated just months after they became rich beyond their wildest dreams.


Jeffrey Dampier, a $20 million winner, was kidnapped and murdered by his own sister-in-law.


In 2002, Jack Whittaker won the largest individual payout in U.S. lottery history and immediately assured everyone, "I can take this much money and do a lot of good with it right now."

But it didn't work out like that.

Whittaker's life was consumed by hardship, including the death of his beloved granddaughter Brandi, who was a victim of a drug overdose, and the breakup of his marriage. "If I knew what was going to transpire, honestly, I would have torn the ticket up," said Jewell Whittaker, Jack Whittaker's ex-wife.


Explanation
"As the wicked are hurt by the best of things, so the godly are bettered by the worst." (William Jenkyn)

In the Cellar of Affliction

"When I am in the cellar of afflction, I look for the Lord's choicest wines." (Samuel Rutherford)

"We often learn more of God under the rod that strikes us, than under the staff that comforts us." (Stephen Charnock)

"It is said that in some countries trees will grow, but will bear no fruit, because there is no winter there." (John Bunyan)

Here's a question: When you find yourself amidst the pain of affliction, what is your first response? a) Cry out, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Please take the pain away right now!" or b) Exult in God's fatherly care and kindness and begin to prayerfully consider what He is trying to teach you.

If we are honest, most of us would have to answer "option a", but "option b" is certainly more consonant with the "For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives" of Hebrews 12:6.

Although our flesh tries to argue otherwise, the pain of affliction is not evidence of God's abandoning us. It is in fact just the opposite. It demonstrates that our heavenly Father is here and actively loving us as His children. And, were God to answer our pleas to take the pain away, the lesson intended to produce Christ-likeness would vanish with the pain.

If nothing else, the pain of affliction ought to direct our attentions and affections heavenward. As Thomas Watson put it, "When God lays men on their backs, then they look up to heaven."

Lord, make it so for all who love You. And start with me.

The Diamond Dust of Heaven

"Adversity is the diamond dust Heaven polishes its jewels with." (Robert Leighton)

"One son God hath without sin, but none without sorrow." (John Trapp)

"Affliction may be lasting, but it is not everlasting." (Thomas Watson)

"Not to be afflicted is a sign of weakness; for, therefore God imposeth no more on me, because He sees I can bear no more." (Joseph Hall)

"The Lord does not measure out our affections according to our faults, but according to our strength, and looks not what we have deserved, but what we are able to bear." (George Downame)

"A common but futile strategy for achieving joy is trying to eliminate things that hurt: get rid of pain by numbing the nerve ends, get rid of insecurity by eliminating risks, get rid of disappointments by depersonalizing your relationships. And then try to lighten the boredom of such a life by buying joy in the form of vacations and entertainment." (Eugene Peterson)

Cadre of Christian Crescent Wrenches

Last night at our Reformation Day Feast we heard from Russ and Sherrie Cole who will be travelling to Haiti next week to spend several months working at the Ebenezer Glenn Orphanage in the town of Dessaline. In his presentation, Russ very humbly referred to himself as a "crescent wrench - not the perfect tool for any job, but usually helpful."

Having spent some time in third world countries I know full well the value of the "crescent wrenches" of this world; men who can repair, rebuild or replace motors, transmissions, plumbing, generators, water-purifiers and water pumps with journeyman-skill and craftsman-like patience. Although these multi-talented saints are not usually gifted teachers and preachers. They are most often the ones that earn the trust of the locals and over time gain a hearing for the good news of our Savior.

So let's hear it for the Cadre of Christian Crescent Wrenches! May the Lord add to their number and continue to bless the nations, pave the way for Gospel preaching and glorify Jesus with their "get'er done" skills and humble service.

Cannabilistic Science

Christians tend to get all discombobulated and vexed when the science du jour asserts something contrary to the Bible. But instead of sounding the alarm, rallying the troops and storming the bastions of unbelieving science, believers would be much better served by simply exercising patience. For, as Spurgeon notes below, the greatest enemy of faulty science, is...well...science.

"See how often science has altered its very basis. Science is notorious for being most scientific in destruction of all the science that has gone before it. I have sometimes indulged myself in reading ancient natural history and nothing can be more comic. In twenty year's time some of us may probably find great amusement in the serious scientific teaching of the present hour, even as we do now in the systems of the last century. It may happen that in a little time the doctrine of evolution will be the standing jest of schoolboys." (C. H. Spurgeon)

Some people allege that the Church's unwillingness to accept the heliocentric (sun-in-the-middle) cosmology proposed by Copernicus early in the 16th century as evidence of the Church's need to accept the "science of the day." But in fact, the Church had a difficult time embracing Copernicus' new (and correct) way of viewing our solar system simply because it had already embraced the "science of the day" that posited a geocentric (earth-in-the-middle) solar system centuries before (oops!)

Because scientific history is replete with theories that have been proved either false or inadequate, Doug Jones has suggested that we, in proper humility, wait for at least 2000 years before we call anything a "law" of science. This is, of course, frustrating for moderns who are addicted to fast food, microwave ovens and TV shows that resolve complex situations in under an hour. But given man's God-given curiosity and amazing ability to uncover what God has covered (Proverbs 25:2) 2000 years might not be long enough.

Fear Not

"'Fear not' is one of Jesus' most frequently repeated phrases. This is because the enemy of our faith is not doubt but fear. Our level of fear is the indication of how little of God's perfect love we have received. No one gets caught up in God's drama for their lives without having to take huge risks. Those who believe they are the beloved move from one risk to the next, not because they expect to always succeed, but because they don't care if they fail. How bad can failure be? They can't lose the love of God.

Since the subtext of being the beloved of God lies beneath so many presenting issues, minor poets can never run out of love sonnets. We have to keep finding new ways of saying the same thing: 'You are the beloved of God.' But it is important that we not become sentimental about this love. The Scripture makes it clear that God chastens and disciplines those who are loved (Rev. 3:19). This is no ordinary lover we have; this one will be impossible to manipulate. It is God who molds us, and sometimes that hurts. Love isn't always easy on us, but it is always our salvation." (M. Craig Barnes, The Pastor as Minor Poet)

Law and Gospel

Some modern theologians, following Martin Luther, contend that the Law of God always/only accuses and condemns, and that the Gospel always/only encourages and saves. But a careful reading of the Bible indicates that this hermeneutic (way of interpreting Scripture) is too simplistic. In Psalm 19, "the law is perfect converting the soul." And in Paul's letter to the Corinthians, the aroma of Christ (the Gospel) is life to some and death to others.

Instead of "law versus Gospel," perhaps a better, more Biblical dichotomy is "belief versus unbelief." To the believer all of God's Word (law and Gospel) is blessing. He rejoices to hear the news of God's free grace in Christ Jesus, and regarding the law, he exults with the psalmist, "O, how I love your law, it is my meditation day and night!" In stark contrast, the unbeliever hates with equal vigor both the law that exposes his sin, and the Gospel devoid of his merit.

Martin Luther's "law/gospel" distinction was certainly helpful as he battled the works orientation of the 16th century Roman Catholic Church, but unhelpful as a permanent hermeneutic. Martin Bucer, the Reformer of Strasbourg, took Luther's teachings and refined them, retaining both the death-dealing and life-giving properties of God's law. Viz:

"Bucer absorbed everything Luther said on human sinfulness, on human failure to fulfill God's law, and on the impossibility of becoming justified through works. He agreed entirely with Luther that Christians must place their trust solely in Christ, not in their own deeds and accomplishments. But Bucer was driving at a much broader understanding of God's law. God certainly accuses us and convicts us of our sins, but we have to go beyond this understanding of God's law, which remains external and foreign to us human beings. Christians, however, relate to God's law in a new way: they consent to it in their hearts and are moved by the Holy Spirit to live and behave according to it. Borrowing from Aristotle, Bucer described the way the law works in Christians as Entelechia, as an 'active and effective energy.'" (Martin Greschat, Martin Bucer - A Reformer and His Times)

Tradition

"When writing about church history, we have to go back to the very beginning. Our pastor was born in 1930." (Sally Brown in the Peanuts comic strip)

"Tradition is the living faith of the dead. Traditionalism is the dead faith of the living." (Jaroslav Pelikan)

"Tradition means giving votes to the most obscure of all classes, our ancestors. It is the democracy of the dead. Tradition refuses to submit to the small and arrogant oligarchy of those who happend to walking about." (G. K. Chesterton)

Mosaic Taskmasters

"Surprisingly, Jesus begins his litany of woe (Matthew 23) by commending the teaching of the scribes and Pharisees. They sit in the seat of Moses, and Jesus' disciples are to 'do and observe' what they say.

They may sit in the seat of Moses' seat, but they are not Mosaic in their conduct. Moses came to break the yoke of oppression and free slaves, but the scribes and Pharisees 'tie up heavy loads and lay them on men's shoulders' and refuse to lift a finger to help. Despite their teaching, they are more Pharaoh than Moses.

These are sobering words for pastors. We, too, 'sit in the seat of Moses,' but are capable of turning the gospel of freedom into an instrument of oppression. We must be aware the hypocrisy of announcing 'Let my people go' with our lips while saying 'bricks without straw' with our lives." (Peter Leithart in Touchstone )

Greater Love Hath No Man...

When we hear Jesus extol the virtue of "laying down our lives for one another" most of us begin to fantasize about how noble we would look saving a dear one by pushing them out the path of an oncoming bus and perishing in the process. Allow me to butcher an old comedian's observation: "Dying is easy, moving your friend is hard." And that's why I am always so amazed at the turnout when one our our families needs some help to move their belongings. And even more amazed by the cheerfulness of the service rendered!

Thanks Halls, Thodys, Johnsons, Blacks, Lolos, Madsons, Eiferts, Wiley, Tracy, Knight and Lindman! Well done thou good and faithful servants.



Here are a few more pics.

Human Life is Finite

"There can be 999 trees in our garden to which we can freely go an enjoy their fruit, but where do we pitch our tent? Under the one tree we cannot have. We begin to obsess over this thing that we do not have, and we let the rest of the garden go to weeds. How can we get the one thing that is missing? It's right there. So judging the garden that God gave us and called "good" to to be not good enough, we reach for more than we were created to have."

"From the beginning we were created to be receivers, not achievers. Nothing is more countercultural to contemporary Americans."

"Freedom is found not in escaping limits, but of discovering the goodness of life within them. Our culture tells us just the opposite. It claims that we won't be free until we buy the more expensive car or house, make the next move, or get the next promotion. But none of those achievements are capable of making us free. Typically, they only enslave us."

- M. Craig Barnes in The Pastor as Minor Poet

We Are Made in the Image of God

"Pastors never trust the self-image of anyone. That's because most people construct their identities from an assortment of borrowed images. The typical American today strives to be as attractive as the models on fashion magazine covers, as successful in work as Bill Gates, as sensitive a spouse and parent as June Cleaver, and as death-defyingly healthy as Lance Armstrong - all while maintaining the inner peace of the Dalai Lama. The fact that these images are often in conflict with each other creates tension within the heart of the individual, who tries desperately to meet all their demands."

"The restoration of Christ, often referred to as conversion, does not make us into different people but converts us back to what God designed us to be from the very beginning - specifically, creatures who bear the mark of holiness. This is a progressive process through which we are changes "from one degree of glory to another" (2 Cor. 3:18). But our movement through this sanctification occurs not through our own efforts at developing piety. It is only as the Holy Spirit binds us into the life of Christ that we are able to take on this holiness. Thus, our spirituality is always vicarious, since it is through this union in Christ that we are made holy. He is the image of God that we bear on our lives."

"Rather than using the few reflective listening skills we learned in our Introduction to Pastoral Care seminary classes, whichi is only another way of holding up the judgemental mirror, we pastors need to hold up Jesus Christ. "See him?" we say. "That's who you really are. Everything else about you is just pretending."

- M. Craig Barnes in The Pastor as Minor Poet

Adept With Our Thumbs

"We don't fight horizontal battles without reference to the spiritual battle. Obviously. But if we fight "spiritual" battles only, then we are to real spiritual war what video gamers are to actual combat. Adept with our thumbs." - Douglas Wilson

"We have no king but Caesar!"

To reject Christ as king, is to embrace the state as king. There is no third option. The state is very happy to play the role of savior, but in times of relative peace and prosperity needs to fabricate crises from which to "save" its citizenry. Therefore "watch and pray."

The Pastor as Minor Poet (part 1)

"There is no shortage of formulas for creating a successfully constructed pastorate being peddled in the professional religious market today. All of these formulas are based on the assumption that pastors need to meet the expectations of those who are already in the church and especially of those who are not there yet...But when we [pastors] begin with our identity in Christ and the pastoral call to assist others in becoming fully alive in him, we are freed from the drudgery of being managers and service providers to pursue something more creative - being poets of the soul...I present this not as the normative or even preferred image, but simply as another biblical description of the calling of those who have been blessed with a vision that allows them to explore, and express, the truth behind the reality. Poets see the despair and heartache as well as the beauty and miracle that lie just beneath the thin veneer of the ordinary, and they describe this in ways that are recognized not only in the mind, but more profoundly in the soul...What the congregation needs is not another strategist to help them form another plan for achieving a desired image of life, but a poet who looks beneath even the desperation to recover the mystery of what it means to be made in God's image."

"Poets are devoted more to truth than to reality; they are not unaware of reality, but they never accept it at face value. The value of reality is only found by peeling back its appearance to discover the underlying truth. This is why poets care about the text, what is said or done, but only in order to reveal subtext, which reveals what it means. They value the reality they see primarily as a portal that invites them into a more mysterious en¬counter with truth. This is what distinguishes poets from those whose contributions to society are focused simply on following a particular text. Engineers, for example, follow their textbooks in constructing a bridge that leads across the deep ravines. And one hopes that they have been very, very devoted to those texts. By contrast, a poet who crosses the engineer's bridge will go home and spend all day constructing verse that reveals the longing of the soul to find such an overpass when we stand on the banks of a disaster and peer down into the valley of death."

"A good poet is hard to find, and nothing is more tragic than wasting one in a busy office."

- M. Craig Barnes

Bikestry

As my old pastor used to say, "Who has more fun than people?" (HT: Doug Milner)

Maintaining the Unity of the Saints

In his book, Vintage Church (co-written with past Mark Driscoll of Mars Hill Church, Seattle, WA) Gerry Breshears distinguishes between four different “levels of certainty” regarding doctrinal truths, and maintains that discerning what’s essential and what’s merely controversial is foundational for maintaining Christian unity within a local church. Here are the four “levels of certainty.”

Truths that we would be ready to die for: These are truths, which if denied, would put a person out of the realm of core Christian orthodoxy, and quite possibly indicate the absence of saving faith. An example of this would be the doctrine of the Incarnation (the teaching that Jesus is God and uniquely came to earth in the flesh.) For other examples, think of the sorts of truths asserted in the Apostles’ and Nicean Creeds.

Truths that would be ready to divide for: These are truths which are not essential to salvation nor core tennents of Christian orthodoxy, but would probably be necessary for warm fellowship and meaningful partnership in a local church. Examples would include church polity (who rules and how they rule), the meaning and practice of the Sacraments (who are the proper recipients and how are the elements to be administered.) As Breshears notes, “Such differences are legitimate as long as the unity of the body of Jesus Christ is affirmed and dividing points are truly central issues.”

Truths we would debate for: These are the sorts of truths that are debated intensely, emotionally and sometimes even hotly between members of a church that are growing in Christ, loving one another and ministering together. Examples would include worship music, liturgy, pulpit fare, modes of Christian education and budgetary issues. These debates are conducted in the context of true Christian community and actually serve to unite the brethren. As Breshears notes, “The wrestling may be prolonged or painful, but we do it while maintaining regular fellowship, joining together in worship and proclamation.”

Truths we decide for: These are the sorts of truths that simply reflect or express little more than personal tastes or opinions. Examples would include diet, recreation, music, clothing, entertainment, etc.

Breshears concludes with this helpful comment: “Divisive people are ones who elevate lower-level issues to divide-fors. False teachers treat die-for issues as questions open for humble discussion. As we utilize these levels as a community of believers, we can avoid the trap of being unnecessarily divisive on the one hand and compromising the faith on the other.”

Translating Joe Cocker (finally!)

Although it took a team of translators working around the clock for nearly four decades, they were finally able to translate Joe Cocker's With a Little Help From My Friends performed in 1969 at the famous Woodstock concert. FYI: Zondervan is already seeking permission to do a "gender neutral" version of the same. Enjoy.

Wedge Mountain Wowie

On a whim I decided to hike up Wedge Mountain today. Wow. Beautiful, crisp Fall day in Central Washington. It doesn't get any better than this. The views of Snow Lake and a mountain called "The Temple" were spectacular. You can view the pictures here.

Famous Last Words

As the author of Hebrews noted, “It is appointed for every man to die once, and then the judgment.” Here are some "last words" from some men who knew they were about to face that judgment. May God grant us grace to make our appearance before His throne with appropriate humility and faith.

William Pitt (18th century British Prime Minister and friend of William Wilberforce): “I have, like other men, neglected too much to have any ground of hope that can be efficacious on a deathbed, but I throw myself on the mercy of God through the merits of Christ.”

John Randolf (18th century American statesmen and orator): “Remorse, remorse, remorse! Let me see the word. Show me it in a dictionary. Write it then. Ah! Remorse – you don’t know what it means. I cast myself on the Lord Jesus Christ for mercy.”

John Bunyan (author of Pilgrim’s Progress): “Weep not for me, but for yourselves. I go to the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ; Who will, no doubt, through the mediation of His blessed Son, receive me, though a sinner…”

Richard Baxter (17th century pastor, theologian and prolific writer): “I am the vilest dunghill worm that ever went to heaven. Lord! What is man; what am I; vile worm to the great God?” When assured by a friend that he had been very blessed by his writings, Baxter replied: “I was but a pen in God’s hands, and what praise is due to a pen?”

Thomas Paine (patriot, acknowledged atheist and author of Common Sense and The Age of Reason): “I would give worlds, if I had them, that Age of Reason had not been published. O Lord help me! Christ help me! O God what have I done to suffer so much? But there is no God! But if there should be, what will become of me hereafter? Stay with me, for God’s sake! Send even a child to stay with me, for it is hell to be alone. If ever the devil had an agent, I have been that one.”

William Pope (18th century leader of a band of infidels who would often mock God by kicking around and then tearing up Bibles): “I have no contrition. I cannot repent. God will damn me. I know the grace is past…You see one who is damned forever…Oh, Eternity, Eternity!....Nothing for me but hell. Come, eternal torments…I hate everything God has made, only I have no hatred for the devil – I wish to be with him. I long to be in hell. Do you not see? Do you not see him? He is coming for me.”

What Kind of EccesiAnimal Are You?

Socrates once said, "The unexamined life is not worth living." And this being true, it is often helpful to have some direction or criteria as we do so.

According to Mark Driscoll of Mars Hill Church in Seattle, WA, “People who come to church need to be assessed so that the church leaders can identify who they are and what they need.” So the question is, “What kind of ecclesi-animal are you?”

Horses are vibrant leaders who pull a lot of weight and run fast. Horses need to have character, sound doctrine and agree with the vision of the church.

Colts are emerging leaders who need training, testing and opportunities to lead. If properly broken in, a colt can be developed into a horse.

Fish are non-Christians who are spiritually lost and often not actively looking for God. Fish need a Christian friend to lovingly introduce them to Jesus and his church.

Eagles are skilled leaders who are being developed within the church with the express kingdom purpose of leaving the proverbial nest and leading a ministry elsewhere, such as missions work and church planting.

Mules are faithful workers who dependably and continually do whatever is asked of them in the church. Mules need to be thanked and protected from burnout.

Cows are selfish people who wander from church to church, chewing up resources without ever giving back to the church until they kill it. A fence needs to be built around the church to keep the cows out.

Squirrels are people who are generally liked because they are nice, but they rarely do anything meaningful. Squirrels need to be put to work in the church.

Stray Cats are socially peculiar loners who linger around the church. Stray Cats need a friend to bring them into the church and an opportunity to serve other people so that they can be meaningfully connected to the church.

Rats are people who appear to have the potential to have a fruitful ministry, but they lack dependability, humility, or maturity. Rats need to be rebuked, and if they do not repent, they must be strategically ignored until they commit to no longer being a waste of time and effort.

Sheep are people who have legitimate needs that require patient and loving support. Examples of sheep include widows, orphans, and those who are seriously ill or fighting addictions. Sheep need to be loved and served.

Ducks are disgruntled people who continually quack about whatever they are unhappy about. Ducks need to stop quacking, or the pastor(s) must go duck hunting before the ducks drown out everyone and everything in the church.

Wolves are false teachers whom Satan sends into the church to devour Jesus’ sheep. Wolves need to be quickly identified, rebuked, and if they are unrepentant, they must be shot before their false teaching destroys people in the church.

Snakes are evil people sent by the Serpent on a mission to destroy the church through anything from sexual sin to starting rumors. Leaders must stomp on the heads of snakes before they bite people and infect them with deadly venom.

Behind Every Good Man...

Fernando Ortega - "Give Me Jesus" from Adamson.TV on Vimeo.

It Just Takes Too Much Faith to Be an Atheist

(HT: S. S. Thomas)

Don't Worry, Be Happy

“What is happiness?” There are basically two kinds of people who ask this question. The first sort asks the question in an attempt to prove to themselves and others that their present circumstance makes it impossible for them to be happy. The second sort of person asks the question genuinely, seeking answers, and open to the wisdom of those “older and wiser.”

If you are really interested in understanding how to obtain happiness, try reflecting upon and then rewriting the following in your own words.

"Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects; Therefore do not despise the chastening of the Almighty." (Eliphaz to Job, in Job 5:17)

"Happy is the man who finds wisdom, And the man who gains understanding…he who has mercy on the poor, happy is he…whoever trusts in the LORD, happy is he…But happy is he who keeps the law." (King Solomon)

"I don't know what your destiny will be, but one thing I do know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who have sought and found how to serve." (Albert Schweitzer)

"I think I began learning long ago that those who are happiest are those who do the most for others." (Booker T. Washington)

"If only we'd stop trying to be happy we'd have a pretty good time." (Edith Wharton)

"You can never get enough of what you don't need to make you happy." (Eric Hoffer)

"The true way to render ourselves happy is to love our work and find in it our pleasure." (Francoise De Motteville)

"Happiness cannot come from without. It must come from within. It is not what we see and touch or that which others do for us which makes us happy; it is that which we think and feel and do, first for the other fellow and then for ourselves." (Helen Keller)

"When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us." (Helen Keller)

"Many people have a wrong idea of what constitutes true happiness. It is not attained through self-gratification, but through fidelity to a worthy purpose." (Helen Keller)

"All seasons are beautiful for the person who carries happiness within." (Horace Fries)

"Those who bring sunshine into the lives of others, cannot keep it from themselves." (James M. Barrie)

"The mind is its own place, and in itself, can make heaven of Hell, and a hell of Heaven." (John Milton)

"The truth is that our finest moments are most likely to occur when we are feeling deeply uncomfortable, unhappy, or unfulfilled. For it is only in such moments, propelled by our discomfort, that we are likely to step out of our ruts and start searching for different ways or truer answers." (Scott Peck)

"The greatest part of our happiness depends on our dispositions, not our circumstances." (Martha Washington)

"There is a wonderful mythical law of nature that the three things we crave most in life -- happiness, freedom, and peace of mind -- are always attained by giving them to someone else." (Peyton Conway March)

"Happiness is a perfume you cannot pour on others without getting a few drops on yourself." (Ralph Waldo Emerson)

"If you observe a really happy man you will find him building a boat, writing a symphony, educating his son, growing double dahlias in his garden. He will not be searching for happiness as if it were a collar button that has rolled under the radiator." (W. Beran Wolfe)

The First Rule of Economics (Mis)Applied

Just Kidding!

Funny and amazing. Famazing!

Video Recaps | Full Episodes | Webisodes

A Thanksgiving Service in Hell

"Let us not glide through this world and then slip quietly into Heaven, without having blown the trumpet loud and long for our Redeemer, Jesus Christ. Let us see to it that the Devil will hold a thanksgiving service in Hell when he gets the news of our departure from the field of battle." - C. T. Studd

The Government Can!!!

Funny Music + Sad Topic = Very funny video.
Enjoy.

Rogaine!

According to Tim Hawkins, as Eric Clapton rolls into the winter of his years, his classic "Cocaine" will must needs be replaced by "Rogaine." Enjoy.

If Your Lord Call You to Suffering...

"If your Lord call you to suffering, be not dismayed; there shall be a new allowance of the King for you when ye come to it. One of the softest pillows Christ hath is laid under his witnesses' head, though often they must set down their bare feet among thorns." (Samuel Rutherford)

Samuel Rutherford on the Lord's Seemingly Harsh Dealings

"Let not the Lord's dealings seem harsh, rough, or unfatherly, because it is unpleasant. When the Lord's blessed will bloweth cross your desires, it is best in humility to strike sail to him and to be willing to be laid any way our Lord pleaseth; it is a point of denial of yourself, to be as if ye had not a will, but had made a free disposition of it to God, and had sold it over to him; and to make use of his will for yours own is both true holiness, and your ease and peace."

Matthew Henry on "The Difficulties of Providence"

“The difficulties of providence, otherwise unaccountable, may be resolved into this—God intends in them to show himself, to declare his glory, to make himself to be taken notice of. Those who regard him not in the ordinary course of things are sometimes alarmed by things extraordinary. How contentedly then may a good man be a loser in his comforts, while he is sure that thereby God will be one way or other a gainer in his glory!”

Charlie the Lonesome Cougar

Here is an actual retouched photo:


A few weeks ago I rode the Freund Canyon loop with Doug Milner and my son Jason. On the way down a cougar jumped onto the trail behind me and chased me down the hill, swatting at my rear tire! I was completely unaware and oblivious to the danger (ignorance is bliss!) Jason, who was coasting down the trail behind me, stood up on his pedals and yelled at the top of his lungs. The cat froze, jumped off the trail and into the brush trail-side. As my son rode past the cougar it accelerated and ran along side Jason for about 25 meters.

There were a few other close calls which you can read about in a Seattle Times article here.

The Fish and Wildlife folk tried to track, tranquilize and relocate the mountain lion, but before they could do so, it attacked some livestock at the base of the canyon, and was shot by the farmer. Thus endeth the short saga of Charlie the Lonesome Cougar.

I'm Greener Than You...

"Nissan announced that they’ve developed a new car that gets 367 miles per gallon. It’s called the Nissan Fred Flintstone....In a related story, Toyota just announced their new car will get 500 mpg, plant rainforests, and give birth to endangered pandas." (Conan O'Brien)

Insufferably Inarticulate

This is a rhetorical masterpiece. Unlike modern-speak, every word in this short monologue counts and every inflection conveys the proper and intended meaning of the speaker. This should be required viewing for everyone who uses the English language either professionally or conversationally. Enjoy.

Whereat Our Cups Ranneth Over

Brother Andy caught two humongous salmon out of the Columbia River yesterday morning and his first impulse was to celebrate and share (I love our folks!) So he and Julie invited four other families from church over for a salmon feast (for a total of 25 souls!) The salmon was grilled to perfection, one fish slightly candied and the other smothered in herbs and spices. The Halls brought over a delicious Texas German potato-salad to supplement Julie's home-made corn bread (made with home-ground corn.) Wow! After dinner and some wonderful table fellowship, including some amazing stories of God's preserving graces and a toast to John and Marillyn who were celebrating their 22nd wedding anniversary, we sang psalms out of the Cantus Christi together for about 40 minutes. After each psalm a half-dozen little hands would shoot up with a suggestion of what to sing next! And then to top off an already perfect evening, we all, the whole lot of us, divided into two teams for a rousing game of "Trivial Pursuit" whilst partaking of apple-crisp, sweet zuccini-bread, whipped cream, banana cream-pie and ice-cream. "How good and pleasant it is when the brethren dwell together in unity." 'Nuff sed. Amen.

What is That?

What a privilege it is for us to care for our parents in the "winter of their years." Enjoy. (HT: Brian Nolder)

Acapella Tribute to John Williams (Star Wars)

Clever and humorous. Clemorous. (Soundtrack by "Moosebutter") Enjoy.

Guitartistry

A-mazing.

Don't Buy Stuff You Cannot Afford

Houston, we have a problem. When Saturday Night Live is dispensing better wisdom on money than either the government or the Church it might indeed be time to buy gold or convert our hard-earned dollars to some stabler currency.

P.S. I love Steve Martin's facial expressions in this sketch.

Monty Christie

Forty years later this sketch is still quite funny. Enjoy.

True Feminine Happiness

A.W. Pink once noted, "None of us break the laws of God. Rather we break ourselves upon them." When God through Paul exhorts women to be into their husbands, into their children and into their homes (Titus 2:4) He has their true happiness in mind. The Feminist revolution promised happiness to the women who would forsake God's ways. But statistics are increasingly indicating that it was a vain promise all along, as noted in the following blurb from the June 26 edition of "The Week."

"By virtually every measure, American women are better off today than they were 30 years ago, said Ross Douthat in The New York Times. They are “wealthier, healthier, and better educated,” they can leave abusive husbands and sue sexist bosses, and they enjoy “unprecedented control over their own fertility.” And yet, a new study by University of Pennsylvania economists Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers found that over the past few decades, women’s self-reported happiness has actually decreased, “both absolutely and relative to men.” Is the culprit the decline of the two-parent family and traditional sexual mores? Or is it the famous “second shift,” in which women still do most of the housework even as they work outside the home? Whatever the explanation, the reality is that the feminist revolution has “delivered women to greater unhappiness.”"

And let's be honest, "If momma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy." The woman, as the hub of the family wheel, cannot but affect all of the family. Like the "root of bitterness" of which the author of Hebrews speaks (12:15), a woman's unhappiness "defiles many." May God restore his people to the true happiness of His ways.

Our Buttons Bursteth, Yea, Verily

Our lovely daughter Rachael has long been a piano and vocal virtuoso but is now branching out into choral conducting. Click here to view her in action at SPU's year-end concert last week. A-mazing!

As Arrows in Your Hand...

The very first command in all of Scripture is "be fruitful and multiply." Our negelect of this command is beginning to bear some bitter fruit. To a large degree the Church has been infected with the world's view of children, and thus infected, is losing her vitality and influence. According to the Bible, bearing and raising children is a martial exercise, and a tactical necessity for victory. Please join me in praying that we will once again consider our children to be divine "blessings" rather than "burdens to be borne."

Knox Presbytery Spring Tour 2009

I am currently on day three of a whirlwind tour of Knox Presbytery (CREC) of which I am currently serving as the presiding minister. Here is the schedule, I'll post pictures and comments as I have time:

April 28 - Holy Trinity Church, Colville, WA
April 29 - Christ Church, Spokane, WA
April 30 - Trinity Church, CdA, ID
May 1 - Christ Church, Missoula, MT
May 2-3, Christ Covenant Reformed Church, Billings, MT
May 4, Emmanuel Chapel, Helena, MT
May 8-10, The King's Congregation, Boise, ID
May 11, Christ Covenant Church, Enterprise, OR
May 12, Trinity Church, Tri-Cities, WA
May 13, Christ Church, Moscow, ID
May 14, Trinity Reformed Church, Moscow, ID

We also have a church in Grande Prairie, Alberta, that, Lord willng I will visit sometime this summer.

Riverdance Revisted

Remember the first time you saw Riverdance? I do. Wow. But then Michael Flatley went out on his own and at some point started believing all the reviews about him and his amazing feet. As Moses observed regarding prosperity, "...Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked" (no pun intended.) So here's an homage to Flatley (sort of) and the best "father/son" act I've seen to date. You can enjoy the video here.

Niiiiice!

During the 1970s and early 1980s, Larry Carlton was a busy session musician in Los Angeles, making up to five hundred recordings a year, including albums by Steely Dan, Joni Mitchell, Billy Joel, Quincy Jones, the Partridge Family, and Charly García's Clics Modernos. His loopy, dazzling guitar work on Steely Dan's "Kid Charlemagne" from their 1976 LP The Royal Scam has been listed as the third best guitar solo on record by Rolling Stone Magazine.Enjoy.

My Skiing Buddy

Thanks Bekah!

Out of the mouth of babes...

The text is a little small, so here's some help with the dialogue between Jason and Roger Foxtrot:

Jason: "My bank desperately needs and infusion of capital"
Jason: "I was hoping you could give me one or two million dollars."
Jason: "I know you probably can't really afford that. But I figure you could just put it on a credit card.
Roger: "Remind me why we encourage our kids to watch the news."
Jason: "Dad, some guy from Visa's on the phone."

You Move Me

Yesterday we moved one of our single saints into to her new apartment and doing so brought two scripture verses and a proverb to mind:

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

“By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

“Many hands make light work.”

Special thanks to: Gary, Emily, Andrew, Chloe, Doug, Jessica, Josie, Melanie, Felicity, Sarah, Rodger, Lynn, John, Minky, Becky, Jacque, Thomas, Samuel, Tom, Daniel, Caleb, John, Betty, Justin, Derek, Luke, Drew, Bob, Darillyn, Ken, Xander, Ashleigh, Andy, Brant, Tage, Simon, Brooke, Doug, Abigail, Madelyn, Megan, Bart, Coreen, Lucas, Patrick and Conner (forgive me if I left anyone out!)

Special Props to:
- The old guys (no names) for moving stuff around despite various physical limitations/maladies.

- Daniel and Caleb (who played a bruising game of Rugby the previous day.)

- Gary (just home from a weekend away with the Eastmont track team.)

- John (for building, sharing and maneuvering his amazing “tunnel” of a trailer.)

Favorite quote of the day: “I think that trailer is bigger than my house!” (Bart looking at John’s homemade trailer.)

I count it my highest joy and greatest privilege to serve the Lord in the midst of a communion composed of the most joyful, thankful, cheerful, self-sacrificing and hardworking folk that I have ever had the pleasure of associating with.

C'mon and take a free ride, free ride...

The unseasonably cold and rainy weather this Spring has prevented me from getting out on the ol’ mountainbike as early as I usually do. But yesterday, one of my biking buddies, Doug Milner, coaxed me into trying a run up Number 2 Canyon (my favorite training ride) on the western edge of Wenatchee. It was an ambitious ride for the first one of the season , but I figured, “Hey, Doug’s a dentist and could perform CPR (or an emergency root-canal) if necessary.” So we gave it a go. As George Costanza was wont to exclaim, “I’m back Baby!!!” But even more to the point, as my late Uncle Rex used to say, “Won…der…ful.”

Jolly Good Show Man!!!

A mile wide and a half inch deep...

Ladies, please be kind to us...

You Get More of What You Subsidize...

"AIG, which has already received $170 billion in taxpayer money, paid $165 million dollars in bonuses. They say the bonuses were justified because the company made an extra $170 billion dollars last year." (Jay Leno)

Who Better?

Former presidential candidate John Edwards spoke to Brown University last night to a crowd of 600 people. I think the topic was “From Hair to Paternity.”

He spoke to the students at Brown about poverty and morals. Who better to lecture young people about poverty and morals than a rich personal injury attorney who knocked up his mistress? (Jay Leno)

Bernie "Made-Off"

Bernie Madoff pleaded guilty to $50 billion in fraud. He told the judge he was deeply sorry and ashamed and the judge said, “Oh,” before sentencing him to probably the rest of his life.

I feel bad for the victims, but the guy’s name is “Made-Off.” Seriously — that’s not a red flag?

That’s like hiring a guy named “Bernie Hepatitis” to serve you clams. (Jimmy Kimmel)

The Wise Guys

I've been teaching guitar on-and-off for about 25 years now. But I have never had the privilege of instructing anyone like the four "little dudes" that I am teaching right now. Andy, Patrick, Caleb and Jordan are the funnest, hard-chargingest, go-for-it students that I have ever strummed with.



Last Friday night we played at the open-mic night at Cafe Mela here in Wenatchee. It was our second (and best) outing. We played the Monkees' "I'm a Believer", Tom Petty's "I Won't Back Down", Larry Norman's "The Outlaw" and finished with CCR's "Proud Mary" (with an artistic nod to Ike and Tina Turner's arrangement of this classic number.)

For now, at least, we are calling ourselves, "The Wise Guys." Mostly because we're not very. But, all things considered, we're having a whale-of-a-good-time in spite of ourselves. Rock on.

Poem: I Love Death!

After "The Wise Guys" played at Cafe Mela last Friday evening, we were followed by a couple of acts of the "head-banging-scream-the-lyrics-whilist-looking-like-death-warmed-over" variety. As our abortion mills, homosexuality and self-sterilization testify, we are a culture increasingly captivated by death, barrenness and ugliness. But it is nonetheless startling to hear people actually singing about their love for death, etc. with microphones, to real people, acting like they really mean what they are "singing."

Anyways, I came home inspired to write a song about loving death and its evil partners-in-crime. I am hoping to sing it soon at Cafe Mela as a parody. My only fear is that the crowd might miss the "parody" aspect my offering. Oh well...

Note: I've used a nom de plume (pen name) so that I can deny writing this "song" later on.


I Love Death!
Blade Houston

I love death, my favorite color is black
I’m actually looking forward to my first heart-attack
Don’t wanna see a bright light on the other side
I'd much prefer a chasm dark and ten miles wide!
I love death!

I don’t like chrysanthemums or anything that’s green
I love the clang and scream of massive metal machines
Apocalyptic barrenness is what I most adore
Shriveled, dried, parched and fried, and rotten to the core!
I love death!

Good and kind, and nice and neat are asinine and boring
Wicked, slimy, coarse and grimy set my heart a-soaring
Malevolence and violence, malice and ill-will
Grease the rails that guide my soul into the depths hell!
I love death!

I love pain, my favorite pastime is alarming
Cuz I love to see the ruin of the things that I am harming
Break and smash, rip and slash, obliterate and burn
Skewer, pierce, bleach and dye, agitate and churn!
I love death!

I love death
Long live death!

I love death
Long live death!

not!

"Seven Pounds" Poll

The answer to the "Seven Pounds" poll is "WSMOV" for "William Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice." In the Bard's play, a Jewish usurer, Shylock, contractually obligates a merchant named Antonio to forfeit "a pound of flesh" should he not be able to repay his debt by a certain deadline. In the movie, Will Smith's character decides to surrender seven "pounds" of his flesh in lieu of seven debts that he feels can never repay.

These Are the Things You Don't Day to Your Wife

I reckon this would be Tim Hawkins' exposition of the verse in 1 Peter wherein the apostle admonishes husbands to "...dwell with your wives with understanding..." Enjoy.

Penelope Strikes Again!!!

Color me strange, but I think the Penelope sketches are quite funny. Here's "Penelope Goes to Therapy." Enjoy.

A Voice Crying in the Wilderness...

Unfortunatley, Ron Paul makes way too much sense to be taken seriously by the American Congress, or for that matter the American people. Our last President, and our current President have conspired/are conspiring to fix the economy using the very same strategies and means that provoked the current, unprecedented crisis. God have mercy on America, and the global markets dependent on her health.

Swiss Rhythmic Precision

What happens when you combine "djembe joy" with the watch-like precision of the Swiss? See for yourself. (HT: Jay Barfield)

Two Wrongs Don't...

Ouch. 'Nuff said.

Skate-skiing!!!

Well, today I was finally able to try out my new skate-skis (a Christmas present from the saints at Trinity Church.) Wow. What a hoot! Skate skis utilize cross-country-esque skis propelled forward with an ice-skating-esque stride. Very fun actually. Ellen, aided by the Nordic blood flowing thickly in her veins, did quite well, and was very soon zooming around the track. I love that woman!

They Say It's Your Birthday...

'Twas a wonderful evening: Guitar music; psalm-singing; gourmet cheese, fruit, chocolate and wine; Billy Collins' poem "Forgetfulness"; Steve Martin's "Changes in the Memory After Fifty"; a speed round of Trivial Pursuit and Tri-Bond; stories galore; much laughter and a few tears; and all shared with people who love us (not the way a boy loves ice-cream, but rather the way God loves a sinner.) So far 51 is lookin' pretty good. My cup runneth over, yea verily.

Penelope Goes to Traffic School

Savvy comedians draw upon the half-dozen or so "characters" that we all have in our lives (Note: It is very likely that you are a "character" in someone else's life.) To provoke us to laughter all they have to do is identify the annoying flaw, exaggerate it a bit, and "Voila!" something between a knowing chortle and a belly laugh results. A frequent target of the comic's barb is the self-absorbed character who is never content to share the spotlight with anyone else, and who always has a story to top the one that was just told by any poor slob who dared to garner a shred of attention. So the Dilbert Comic strip has "Topper", Brian Regan has "Me-Man" and SNL has "Penelope."

"Penelope Goes to Traffic School" (thanks Bargers!) is a clan Helsel favorite for two reasons. 1) It is a very funny sketch in its own right. And 2) If you ever feel that someone is acting "Me-Mannish" all you have to do is mimic Penelope's uber-unique vocal-pattern saying "I'm saltier than you" to give "Topper" the bum's rush.

To watch the video click on the title above. Enjoy it. Hold it up to yourself as a mirror. And pray for the Lord to put to death in you any remaining bits of "Penelope."

And, for the record: I'm saltier and best friends with all the Muppets.

A Boy and His Snowkite

As my old pastor used to wryly observe, "Who has more fun than people?"

Book Review: Glittering Images

A while back a fellow CREC pastor recommended Susan Howatch's book, "Glittering Images", the first in her "Church of England" series. I just finished the book a couple of days ago and can recommend it to you with a few caveats.

The book is set in mid-twentieth-century England and centers on the life of an up-and-coming priest in the C of E. In this book Howatch displays a profound understanding of the human psyche, true spirituality and the devasting effects of sins such as hypocrisy, sexual immorality, father-hunger and deception. The book could also be considered a primer on Biblical counseling as pictured in the minstrations of the Fordite monk Jon Darrow.

The book is well-written and filled with many a plot twist and/or suprise revelation with a satisfying development of the "glittering image" theme from beginning to end. I was in "story" grip" by page 50.

The caveats: If this book were a movie it would probably be rated "R." However, having said that, the steamier scenes were neither gratuitous nor pornographic, and one could argue "necessary" to the proper development of the story. I would also take exception with what seems to be portrayed as the Biblical qualifications for a man in the ministry. But, even with these misgivings, I would still recommend the book to the mature, discerning reader. Entertaining, and lots of "grist for the mill." A good reminder that life is messy, sanctification is long, slow and hard. And that true healing comes through prayer, honesty, humility, repentance, forgiveness and self-denying love.

2012 The Movie

This coming July Hollywood is going to "bless" us with another version of the coming global apocalypse. This time drawing on the ancient Mayan culture's belief that the world will come to an end in 2012. This causes me to scratch my bald little pate for at least two reasons.

Firstly, why does the world ascribe so much wisdom and foresight to a pagan culture renown for its obsession with bloody rites of human sacrifice?

And secondly, although it is easy to understand the world's fascination with the endless stream of "end of the world" scenarios, why does so much of the Church share the world's preoccupation with apocalypse? The world envisions man destroying the planet and its inhabitants and grows tired of trying to stave off the inevitable. Worldlings muse, "Well, apocalypse is indeed horrible, but at least it will bring peace to our troubled planet."

The world neither understands God's promise to redeem the whole world (Romans 8:20ff) nor does it understand redeemed-Spirit-filled-man-in-Christ as the instrument of that redemption. And lacking promise and means it much prefers the quick and painless suicidal-bullet of apocalypse.

And sadly, much of the modern Church agrees with the substance of this scenario. The earth is "going to hell in a handbasket." Man is the cancer, not the answer. So Jesus is coming back to destroy the world and take his people to heaven to live with him (Question: Where in the Bible does it say that we will spend eternity in heaven?) The Church much prefers this "easy way out" to the hard work of gradual, global and generational redemption. She prefers the apocalyptic destruction of the nations to the demanding labor of discipling of the nations. She prefers the few months required for cosmic apocalypse to the several millennia required for cosmic redemption.

Think about it. If the redemption of the creation described by Paul in Romans 8 means the destruction of the creation. Do you really want to be redeemed?

I partied in Y2K and will party in 2012. Because I share in neither the pessimism of Mayan prophets, the pessimism of modern "earth-firsters", nor the pessimism of Christian "Last Days" doom-mongers. Because, according to Paul, Jesus will not return until all of his enemies have been subdued beneath his feet (1 Cor. 15:25) and I very much doubt that will happen in the next three years. Three millennia maybe. But three years? Me thinkest not.

Hollywood will probably make a bundle on this apocalyptic tale of distress and doom. But it will pale in comparison to the mega-bundles made by their Christian counterparts over at LastDays Inc. And sadly, in 2013, having forgiven the false prophets their pathetic prognostications, most of us will be ready for more of the same. Hey, wait a minute! Aren't false prophets a sign that the End is near??? Sound the rapture alarm!!!!!

Djembe Joy

As someone once noted: "Scratch a guitarist and you'll find a frustrated drummer." A friend of mine has loaned me his djembe (an African drum) while he finishes law school in Virginia (thanks Jess!!.) What a hoot (the djembe, not the guy.) Color me "scratched and found." To paraphrase Eric Liddell (in Chariots of Fire) "When God made me, he made me rhythmical, and when I drum, I feel His pleasure." This video does not feature djembes, but it does portray the bodily joy of hitting objects that go "boom" and "kack" and the communal joy of doing in concert with others. Enjoy.

R.I.P. Uncle Rex

My uncle Rex died last Wednesday after a long battle with a rare disease. Rex was the only brother of my mother who died when I was eleven years old. He was a graduate of my alma mater, Queen Anne High School. And in his senior year won a state championship title by running a 4:21 mile. The summer after my mother passed away, Rex took me on a 300+ mile bike-ride down the Oregon coast. At the time I thought my uncle did this because I was such a cool nephew. It wasn't until years later that I was able to correctly understand his desire/intent to help me through a very dificult time. Typical Rex. Helping and teaching in a way that made you feel like you were helping him.

All who knew Rex mourn his passing and look forward the great reunion "on the other side." I am thankful to have been shaped and molded by my Hollowell heritage. My love of story and off-kilter sense of humor were bequeathed to me by both sides of my family, but especially from the Hollowell side. Rex will be remembered by all as a man who loved God, his wife (my aunt Joan) and his children and grandchildren intensely; a man who thought clearly and demanded the same of those around him; a man who (like his Savior) felt called to mock and expose those who abused their positions of authority; a consumate teacher who could make even subjects like Logic and Philosophy come alive to his students; a man who preferred walking to driving, solid oak to chipboard, and Saabs to Fords (i.e. he liked the "good stuff" enough to sacrifice and save for it.) Rex will be remembered fondly for his dry wit, ready retorts and disarming sense of humor.

But the legacy that I most cherish, will longest remember, and by God's grace emulate, is Rex's indefatigable thankfulness. In the iron-grip of MSA (Multiple Symptom Atrophy, a disease with ALS/Lou Gherig's Disease-like symptoms) Rex was ever the cheerful and thankful soul. As my aunt Joan commented early on in the disease's progress, "It's taking from him his two favorites activities in life - walking and talking." And yet every time anyone asked him how he was doing, his reply, invariably was a happy, albeit laborious , "Won...........der..........ful." A wonderful word displaying a profound understanding of God's wonderful grace uttered by someone whom all will remember as a wonderful man.

It just occurred to me that Rex's passing, as painful as it is, has completed and accomplished a long awaited reunion, long delayed by disease and death. Rex's father (my grandfather) Homer, died when Rex was very young. Rex's sister (my mother) died when Rex was 32. Rex's mother (my grandmother) died just a few years ago. This little family, formed by God, and for a time deformed by death, has been wonderfully reformed in heaven. I sure hope that this reunion is being "taped" for our enjoyment later on. O death, where now is your sting? Where is your victory?


Obituary:HOLLOWELL, Rex Leon
Passed away the evening of the 7th of January after a long battle with MSA. He is survived by his wife Joan; son Sean; and daughter Staci. Rex was born in Kansas in 1939 to Marie and Homer Hollowell. After the early passing of her husband Marie went to work as a house mother at a local college. This led to a job at Seattle Pacific University. Rex later attended Seattle Pacific where he and Joan met. Following his graduation from SPU Rex attended Edinburgh University Seminary for a year. He returned to Seattle to marry Joan and pursue a Master's Degree in Philosophy from the University of Washington. A teaching opportunity at Spokane Falls Community College brought the new family to Spokane where he enjoyed a 32 year career teaching philosophy. His extended family includes Sean's wife Darcy and their two girls, Cecilia and Ada, and Staci's husband Eric. A celebration service will be held at Hamblen Park Presbyterian Church.

Joy to the World!!!

One of the things I love about the Christmas season is the way that Christians get so wonderfully (and Biblically) optimistic about the progress of the Gospel in and around the world. For a short time the Bride of Christ parks her doom-and-gloom "Last Days Madness" favoring instead the sentiments expressed in words like "He comes to make his blessings flow, far as, far as the curse is found." If you would like a confirmation of the hymn writers declaration, then feast your heart on this article written by an atheist about Africa's need for God.

Ode to a Snowboard

O, Arbor snowboard no longer mine, how did I love thee? Let me count the ways.

Our modern society is oft obsessed with ugliness and just as often unable to manufacture a product that works well. But every once in a while providence brings to us an object in which form and function, art and engineering, poetry and practicality are wonderfully wed and fantastically fused. My Arbor snowboard was just such a thing. It looked as good hanging on the wall of my study as it performed under my feet as I carved lazy S's down the snow-covered runs at Mission Ridge. Unlike many snowboard topsides, it did not display a single knife, chain, demon, issue of blood, skull, flame or scantily-clad vixen. Neither was it defaced with a cacophony of mismatched colors or delirium-inspired graphics. My sweet-old-school Arbor had a Hawaiian Koa-wood top. 'Twas plain and simple with a small "Arbor" logo near the top of the board. In the four years that I rode this board there was only one outing that someone did not stop me to comment on how beautiful the board looked. "Wow!", "Niiiiiice" and "Sweet-old-school" were the most frequent unsolicited observations.

After my mountain bike accident last summer and the resultant shoulder-separation, I happened to hear on the radio that the number one Emergency Room producing sport in the nation was, you guessed it, snowboarding. That bit of medical trivia, the increasing creakiness of my bones,and my own concussion three years ago (and subsequent toboggan ride and ambulance trip to the ER) convinced me to sell the board to someone whose recuperative powers exceed my own (heavy sigh.)

Good-bye sweet board. Long may you run. Long may you run.