Hello Everyone!

I have three gifts for you this Christmas.

The first gift comes from Benjamin Franklin. You may find this gift helpful in rising above the fray of the “Christmas” wars (especially the new battle being waged this yearÑthat of churches not “opening their doors” because “Christmas” is on “Sunday”). This is a gift of hope (if there was anti-Christ[mas] sentiment in Franklin’s day, we can certainly expect it in our day).

“How many observe Christ’s birthday! How few, his precepts! O! ’tis easier to keep holidays than commandments.”

The second gift comes from George Mueller, the man who was given great faith in Christ. Mueller committed to not making his needs known to human sources, but rather appealed to God alone to provide for every need of the thousands of children cared for in the orphanages Mueller started and operated in England two-hundred years ago. This is a gift of faith (it’s about Who you are trusting).

“Be assured, if you walk with Him and look to Him, and expect help from Him, He will never fail you.”

The third gift comes from Peter Larson as quoted in the January-February 2001 issue of Prism. It speaks for itself. This is a gift of love.

“Despite our efforts to keep him out, God intrudes. The life of Jesus is bracketed by two impossibilities: a virgin’s womb and an empty tomb. Jesus entered our world through a door marked ‘No Entrance’ and left through a door marked ‘No Exit.’”

Merry Christmas!

On Tuesday, December 27th, if all goes according to plan, I will be leaving with the Rigsbys, two other Biola faculty couples and 40 students to Israel. We will be gone until January 19, 2006.

I want to make you aware of this, to ask if you would pray for us, and to give reason why you won’t receive the next bulletin until near the end of January.

In our absence, Dave and Carolyn Stewart will coordinate and lead the music, Virgil Kleinsausser will preach in the morning worship services, and Byron Siemsen will preach in the evening worship services. I am sure, as the Lord may lead you, that they would also appreciate your prayer for their ministry. We are grateful for their availability and willingness to minister.

And, yes, we will be “open” Christmas Day.

This review is not as concise as I had originally planned. There are so many things to remember, and still many good memories and events didn’t make the final cut—like the good visit from Ralph and Leota Abee (who have lived in Tennessee ten years now, can you believe it?), the truths we have learned from the sermons mostly from Luke and Revelation, the difficulty of reading the Bible chronologically, the many additions of troops to our prayer list, and other answers to prayer—the list could go on. Here are the final months.

October
I was told there would be three. Another said five. A third said four. There was “only” one baptism, a young man, Humberto Güitron (and one is all it takes to again inspire our trust in the Lord). Then, while late in time, behold, Christmas in October came. Little did we know in that day what God had planned at the end: an offering larger than any other ever received! It is not us, but His doing. Praise the Lord for His supply.

November
From the first one 19 years ago, this would be the fourth (and final?) time that Tom Covington and I would be in a wedding together. At the first, he was ring-bearer, then groomsman, best man, and finally, groom. And to show what a small world it really is, Tom’s wife’s mother has an uncle that I went to school with in Mrs. Plank’s class at Bell Gardens Baptist Christian School. I know, I know, weddings are supposed to be about the bride, not family, or friends, or distant memories. Here’s another NEWS FLASH! In California’s special election, every proposition is defeated. Enough about politics (however, I do wish that each time we have to do the Legislature’s job, their salary was proportionately reduced, along with our taxes). In one weekend, God took three people I know and love to Himself. My uncle, Jimmie Bowers. Lifelong friend, Peni Ozmon. And, from the youth group many years ago, Jimmy Langley. Jimmy was 37 years old, married, and had a family. He served our country in the 1992 Gulf War and returned with (among other things) a heart condition and deteriorated knees (which physicians were never able to successfully treat). He died in his sleep. When I heard of Peni’s death, I thought of Jacob when he wrestled all night with the angel, a pre-Incarnate Jesus Christ. Jacob wouldn’t let go “unless you bless me.” We might have used the phrase, “unless you let me win.” In the end, Jacob got what he wanted (and more, his hip was put out of joint). Like Jacob, Peni held on to that same “angel” until she too had won. It was a stroke that sent my uncle to the hospital for nearly three weeks. I always liked that you knew where you stood with my uncle. He was like the old Texas Wrangler waiting for the showdown at high noon. Whoever flinched first, lost. If you agreed, you were in good company. If you disagreed—well, you were still in good company, you just had to be ready to stand your ground. I can’t say for sure, but I think he might have chosen many opposing views just for some good-natured play (uh, “shoot-‘em-ups”). Jimmie probably did his share of flinching first, but he never let on. I suppose that’s what makes for a good Cowboy. Moses tells us right at the beginning that God breathed into Adam “the breath of life.” As I heard the accounts of the last days and hours for each one, breathing became difficult and labored, as if God was taking back His breath. With their final breath on earth, each one breathed in freely at the presence of Jesus Christ. The meal prepared for the Harvest Dinner was especially tasty and how we give thanks to the Lord for the special singing from Carolyn Stewart. Before month’s end, Stella Rogers’ last and younger sister, Ruby, would also be in heaven.

Death seems such a morbid way to end the year and it would be, if we had no hope. Because of the current movie, there is a lot of hype about and interest in The Chronicles of Narnia and The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. In another book (that wasn’t published until after C.S. Lewis’s death) entitled, Letters to Malcolm, Lewis imagined what heaven would be like. In his conclusion he said, “Guesses, of course, only guesses. If they are not true, something better will be.”

Of all that I remember about this year, the testings we each have endured, the joys we all have enjoyed, and the trust in our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ which has been made stronger, I’m still holding out for “something better [that] will be.” How about you?

God’s faithfulness never ceases to amaze me. He knows exactly how much and how long we can enjoy His blessings before we become complacent; as well as how much and how long we can endure His tests of faith before we become exasperated. Here is the next installment of remembering the past year.

July
The Widow of Nain’s miracle oil eventually ceased, and so has God’s miraculously stretching the same and equal amount each of the three congregations contribute to cover common expenses of the property and buildings here, after 17 years! God was now going to do some new miraculous stretching—of our faith, because just six month’s prior, our budget was reduced. How would God provide for this? I don’t know, but He has. Christina Hayes, oldest daughter of Richard and Ellen (who are missionaries with Village Missions), goes to Korea as a short-term missionary with AWANA. NEWS FLASH! There were no bulletins July 3rd or 10th. Why? I don’t know, but “Alaska” (get it? “I’ll ask yah”—oh, nevermind!). Casey Leona Frees birth date may be disputed, but the day of her dedication isn’t! July 17, 2005. Peter and Rosanne, Jerry and Eliana move down by the Riverside (To study war no more? No, to buy a house.).

August
The sleepy month involves a whole lot of moving and shaking (a California comparative term to describe possible wind-thingys [a.k.a. hurricanes]). In Biblical terms, we might call moving and shaking the “testing of our faith.” After 20 years in Gotham, Jeannie Leonard moves to the Country Inn. Richard and Jennifer Jarman move newborn Abigail into their home. Vera Knight moves to Nevada City (in California?). Betty Swartzlander moves from New York to Heaven. Two days later, son David Swartzlander makes an unexpected move up, too, taking his own life. Pastor Tony Núñez (temporarily) moves “across the pond” to Oxford to present a paper. But, Tony’s family caught up with and followed him through Great Britain and Spain, all the way back home. Bill and Joyce Holeman move to Bell Gardens (for one night only) to initiate the “come to Youth Haven Bible Camp in August 2006” campaign! Are you coming? And then the wind did howl. Hurricane Katrina wreaked more havoc on the United States than any other natural disaster in our history. Where was God? In the “eye of the storm”! How do we know? Here is only one assurance. We were privileged to be eye-witnesses to the answer of a 20 year prayer when Ramon Garibay was baptized. Another baptism (my nephew, Joshua) was witnessed, among a multitude of others at the Pacific Ocean that day, by both parents, all four grandparents, and one great-grandfather (Tom Hester). Passing on the faith.

September
The faithfulness of others stirs us to remain faithful. Trinity Bible Church, led by Pastor Don Thomas, celebrates ten years of ministry in Powell, Wyoming. Alex Blakney, missionary in Wolaitta, Ethiopia and friend of our beloved Dr. Barlow challenges the church at Bell Gardens to press on, always holding onto our blessed hope. That encouragement would be needed because on Labor Day, Betty Vanderwall’s earthly labor would become complete, now she could rest eternally. Hurricane Rita threatened to be more devastating than Katrina, but God was merciful in greatly reducing her impact. James Austin, a part of the youth group in the early 1980’s found the church website and made contact via email. Still a deep thinker and free spirit, Daryl (as he was known then) has exchanged his bike with a wife and daughter and continues to search and mine the riches of the Scriptures. Eugene Kim. I didn’t remember him, but he remembered me. He knew every detail of our routine at church and in various activities. He knew others that I do remember from the years he was here. He was amazed that I was still here (I think he meant at the church, not that I was still living). I just didn’t remember him. But since moving away from this area, he has continued to follow the faith of Jesus Christ and Eugene gives credit for the foundation of truth he learned while here. I would give the credit to our Father who lovingly guards each of our every steps. I hope it is not the last time we will have an opportunity to fellowship together. God always delights in writing the final chapter of our life. Roy Peters’ heavenly homecoming chapter couldn’t end without his example of persevering all the way through times of faltering faith and one finding forgiveness.

We have long enjoyed His blessings. Will we also faithfully endure His testings? Trust is a lifetime exercise.

My goal was to complete more of this review than I did. But I don’t think God regulates the time allotted to remembering His goodness. In fact, by contrast, the psalmist cries, “…do not forsake me until I declare Your strength to this generation.” That could take awhile, even…a lifetime!

April
It was not an April Fool’s joke! Pastor Rigsby decides to preach the Gospel…of Luke, that is (having finished the Pastoral Epistles begun in the previous year). Luke starts with the beloved account of the miraculous birth of Jesus Christ. That’s nothing! If you read the April bulletins, you will discover that Casey Leona Frees was born April 20, 28, and 29. How could this be? Oh, wait! April Fools on you! After three attempts at accurately reporting (and three weeks of life), I learned the real date is April 29. Perish the thought that Casey will compare notes with Kerry Rigsby and consider herself “scarred for life.” Olivia (Smith) Brown, a former youth group and church member in the 1950’s, dies. Arvalee Palmer’s brother, Vern Price, also dies. I don’t know how it can be, but the Bible says it, so it must be true: “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.”

May
There was no need for a “May Day” alert when Elona Siemsen would sing in the evening service, a song she composed. An alert sound technician would have made a recording. The melody and the words were beautiful! The sound tech is as dumb as ever. And, what is with the Music Committee? Why hasn’t he asked Elona to sing since? Oops, did I forget to ask? Again? By mid-month, returning to sing at Bell Gardens Baptist, Becky McKinley (who normally sings music she has written) sings “The Old Rugged Cross.” A pure delight! O.K., Becky didn’t really come all the way from Kentucky just to sing, but it was nice that she did. She was here, with husband John and kids in tow…I don’t know, something about John getting a position at Talbot. For its size, God has certainly allowed an unusually high number to begin their ministry at Bell Gardens Baptist. By Memorial Day, my favorite niece, Sarah Vanderwall was already reliving her memories of Junior High (Middle School, or whatever they call it now), having graduated the Eighth Grade (I mention this, because she “let” me come to her graduation, where “Mr. Clean” presides as the principal). A few days later, joys turned to sorrows and horror upon hearing that Bill and Barbara Bielecki’s son, Tim, took his life.

June
Standing in the parking lot that Sunday morning, I watched as Pastor Tony Núñez bolted through the doors exclaiming, “in twenty years this has never happened!” Without a context, it would be hard to know what “this” was. Tony was referring to the half-powered flickering lights that would continue through most of Pastor Rigsby’s sermon later that morning. When the lights finally went completely out, Pastor Rigsby looked my direction and asked if he should change sermons. I can honestly say, that has never happened either. Who has an unused, ready to preach sermon in his coat-pocket? Pastor Rigsby do! (I must have missed that lesson in seminary). Sarah Cho, William Oh, Gina Cha, Carolyn Toyos, and Michael Moon graduate high school. Even attending Michael’s graduation was a trip in more ways than one…down memory lane, and a;; the way to Chino Hills. Two days after the graduations, the beach season began! I am not sure if it is really the beach they like or the burgers with grilled onions, chili heated in a coffee can, and pineapple slices. I liked the way the water was red in color all summer. June 25th is a day that will live in infamy! Fifty years ago, on this day (contrary to Bro. Byrd’s official signature on a legal document), Sonny and Alice Covington were married at Bell Gardens Baptist. Curtis and Naoko Rigsby were also married on this same day (2005) in Hawai’i. Pastor Rigsby was adorned in full academic regalia (with flip-flops on the beach?). I sure hope he got the date right. I am making my plans to be present at their 50th Anniversary in 2055. In honor of this landmark Anniversary, the Covington family would head north—to Alaska; leaving on a jet plane, riding the rail, escorted via coaches, and cruising the Inside Passage. What a trip!

St. Augustine of Hippo is credited with saying, “God is always trying to give good things to us, but our hands are too full to receive them.” These three months certainly confirm that to be true! More to come…