Pillsbury History Guy

Independence Day (July 2011)

2011-07-04T13:44:00.000-04:00

For many of us, the Fourth of July is a day for parades, cookouts, baseball, fireworks, and family get-togethers. But today is also the 235th anniversary of the official approval of the Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress. Americans have much to be thankful for because of the work of our Founding Fathers. Their tenacity and bravery put their lives and those of their families into potential jeopardy. To be sure, some of the facts related to the signers of the Declaration have been stretched a bit (see The Price They Paid), but these brave men put their lives and futures on the line for generations of Americans to come. We owe them a debt of gratitude.

Over these past 235 years, the Fourth of July has the occasion for some well-known and less well-known events. In 1826 (the fiftieth anniversary), both Thomas Jefferson and John Adams died within hours of each other. They had been political opponents for decades, but they became reconciled shortly before their deaths. During the American Civil War, the Battles of Gettysburg and Vicksburg were decided by July 4, 1863. Many historians suggest that those two battles signified the turning point of the Civil War.

More recently, the nation celebrated our Bicentennial in 1976, with much fanfare and hoopla. Along with the useful fireworks displays in Washington, D.C., and New York City, there was a spectacular passage of the "Tall Ships" in the New York Harbor. On a more personal note, I will always remember July 4, 1989. Cynthia and I had been on a tour of England with the Owatonna High School Orchestra in the United Kingdom. July 4 was the day we were to return to the States. On the elevator at our hotel, one Brit asked us, "How are things in the Colonies?" I replied that we were on our way to find out! We flew into St. Louis from Heathrow Airport in London, and then we made our way up the Mississippi River that evening. It was a spectacular sight as we saw fireworks displays in little towns all along the way. What a great memory.

We all have our own memories of the Fourth of July. And I am sure there will be many more in the future. Have a great day.

Change and Adjustment

2010-03-27T22:40:00.002-04:00

Change has been the name of the game for Nancy and me during the last several months. We moved to Greenville (SC) in late June last summer to begin our employment at Bob Jones University. I am the Academic Success Center Supervisor, and Nancy is the Instructional Resources Librarian at Mack Library.

We live in a two-bedroom apartment across the street from the main entrance to the campus. It's a bit smaller than our home in Owatonna, but it's very cozy . . . and very convenient. Our daily lifestyle has also changed as well. Typically, we drive over to campus at 7:45 A.M. and then return around 5:00 P.M. Most evenings, we are able to unwind at home during the evenings. Saturdays are the most relaxing day of the week. We often do our wash and also watch DVDs that we have checked out of the Greenville County Library. On Sunday we attend services at Hampton Park Baptist Church, the church we attended after we got married in 1970.

During the second week of March, I played English horn in the BJU Opera Orchestra. We performed Camille Saint-Saëns blockbuster work Samson and Delilah. The production featured fifty musicians in the pit orchestra and at least 150 cast members onstage. We put on three performances of Samson, and it was a rather emotional week for those of us in the orchestra. In all likelihood, this will be the last time Dr. Dwight Gustafson will conduct a major production here at BJU. I played my first opera with him in 1968, and he has been a wonderful mentor and friend over these past forty years.

It's hard to believe that there are only a few short weeks left in the school year. The BJU Graduation will be Saturday, May 8, and the prospect of that event brings back many memories of graduations past. It's part of the cycle of higher education. New students arrive on campus and four (or five) years later, they graduate. We get to know them, and then off they go to make something of themselves. Those of us who work in Christian higher education pray that our graduates will not only make something of themselves; we pray that God will shown them His will for their lives and that they will do it.

All in all, it's been wonderful to be back at BJU with so many good friends and good memories.

Transition

2009-03-27T12:49:00.005-04:00

It has been three months since I lasted posted any comments on Pillsbury History Guy. As regular readers of this blog know, as well as folks who know anything about Christian higher education in this country, Pillsbury Baptist Bible College closed its doors on December 31, 2008. Many of our students have transferred to other Christian colleges and are doing fine. Dr. Greg Huffman, president of Pillsbury College, has been visiting our former Pillsbury students at some of these other schools during the past few weeks. We are grateful that several of our sister schools graciously accepted our students for second semester. We will also be conducting a graduation ceremony on Sunday, May 24, for seniors, faculty, and anyone else who can attend. Graduating seniors will receive the last diplomas that Pillsbury will ever have the opportunity to award.

As for our Pillsbury faculty and staff, some have found employment at other schools, ministries, and churches. Some have yet to find full employment for the next school year. I would ask your prayers for them. Most of us have been working at "temp" jobs the last several weeks. Some of us did not know we had so many different talents and abilities! From time to time, God has a way of reminding us that our ways are not necessarily His ways.

Nancy and I have sought out various employment possibilities, both in Owatonna and elsewhere. We made a couple of trips in January to check out some possible job offers. In recent days, we were offered and accepted positions at Bob Jones University in Greenville, SC. I will be the supervisor for the "Center for Academic Success," and Nancy will become a reference librarian at Mack Library on campus. We will be returning "home" in a manner of speaking. Nancy and I met at BJU while we were undergraduates, we got married in 1970, and we graduated in 1971. I taught history in the University, and Nancy was the librarian at Bob Jones Elementary School from 1972 to 1983. Five of our children were born at Barge Hospital on campus. It's also worth noting that our oldest daughter Cynthia teaches in the Nursing Division at BJU.

It will be difficult to leave the Owatonna community. We love Pillsbury College, Grace Baptist Church, and many folks in our community. Nancy and I have been involved in the schools over the years, what with all seven of our kids graduating from Owatonna High School. I also have been a volunteer with the Republican Party here in Owatonna and Steele County, and I have served as an election judge in every election since we arrived in 1984. It has been my honor to play my oboe in the Owatonna Community Band and Owatonna Community Orchestra, and I have become very good friends with a number of talented and gifted musicians during our quarter century in Owatonna.

The bottom line to all of this is something I heard long ago: "Things are not going to be like they have always been." As we face the prospect and challenge of moving to Greenville in June, we covet your prayers.

The Beauty of Christmas Music

2008-12-21T20:20:00.000-05:00

Over on the Sharper Iron blog, they are running a thread on the "Worst Secular Christmas Songs." I would agree that folks in the secular music industry do miss the true message of Christmas. I suppose that when you don't have much insight into the spiritual side of why Jesus Christ was born 2000 years ago, you are probably going to focus on Santa, snow, and commercialism.

I am reminded of a discussion that I had with my good friend and mentor, Dr. Dwight Gustafson, during my freshman year at Bob Jones University. It was during the fall of 1967 that we were rehearsing Bach's Christmas Oratorio to be performed during Thanksgiving Week at BJU. I casually mentioned to Dr. Gus that I just had no idea that there was such beautiful music written for the Christmas Season. I was of course familiar with Handel's Messiah, and I had even played some Christmas music composed by Vivaldi during my high school years in Plymouth, Michigan. Dr. Gus wisely replied, "There's a lot more that you haven't even heard yet!" I think about that discussion every Christmas, particularly as I have had numerous opportunities to perform some incredibly beautiful Christmas music. Some of it is classical, as in Bach, Handel, Corelli, and Vivaldi, but some of it has been written and/or arranged by contemporary composers such as Rutter, Purifoy, and Lloyd Larson.

On December 4 and 5, Pillsbury Baptist Bible College presented A Candlelight Christmas, a Christmas cantata written by Benjamin Harlan and orchestrated by John Purifoy. We had performed this at Pillsbury about ten years ago, so it was nice to end our "Christmas at Pillsbury" concert cycle with this familiar and beautifully written cantata. It was also an emotional and fond farewell for our longtime choral director, Darrell Bevis. I have known Darrell for about thirty years, and he is one class act when it comes to selecting and performing appropriate Christian music. I am going to really miss performing with Darrell and my other Pillsbury musical colleagues.

Last Sunday evening (December 14), the choir and orchestra at Grace Baptist Church here in Owatonna performed Lloyd Larson's recent Christmas cantata, Holy Night of Miracles. Tom Lawson did a wonderful job of combining the forces of the choir and orchestra to communicate the true message of Christmas. As was true of Pillsbury's rendition of A Candlelight Christmas, Larson's text and music was a powerful example of what beautiful Christmas music is all about.

Which brings me back to Dr. Gus' wise observation: "There's a lot more that you haven't even heard yet!" I sincerely hope that you enjoy this Christmas Season, and I especially pray that you will indulge yourself in the beautiful music of Christmas.

Pillsbury College: The Last Day

2008-12-13T21:00:00.001-05:00

The last official day of Pillsbury Baptist Bible College has come and gone. On Friday, December 12, faculty, staff, and students ate breakfast together in the dining hall and then met in Kerux Auditorium for a final chapel service. Dr. Greg Huffman, the president of Pillsbury College these last several months, preached about how God providentially orchestrated the events of the "first" Christmas over 2000 years ago and how God is also orchestrating the events of our lives as well. We have come to appreciate Dr. Huffman's ability to share God's Word in a practical and meaningful way. Among the many things I will miss about Pillsbury, Dr. Huffman is at the top of the list. He has been greatly used by God during these last days of Pillsbury.

After chapel, a number of us said our last good-byes, took photos, and basically realized that this group of faculty, staff, and students will never again be assembled in one place this side of heaven. Next spring, Dr. Huffman plans to visit the Christian college campuses where our students will be attending second semester to check up on how our Pillsbury students are doing. He has also said that he is quite willing to be in charge of the "Pilly corner" in heaven. Undoubtedly, some of us will never cross paths again until that glorious day when we assemble together in heaven with all of the saints. That WILL be a glorious day.

On a personal note, I have every intention of continuing Pillsbury History Guy in the future. As an institution, Pillsbury will become "history," but the great memories of Pillsbury will live forever.

Pillsbury College: The Last Week

2008-12-09T09:30:00.000-05:00

It is the last official week at Pillsbury Baptist Bible College, and we awoke to about six inches of new snow this morning. Faculty and students are finishing off final exams this week, and on Friday we will have a last breakfast and a farewell chapel. For many of us, it has been a bittersweet last few days. We will be saying good bye to many colleagues, friends, and students for the last time, because some of us will probably not see each other again for a long, long time. Years from now, those of us who were here as "The Last Comets" will look back and be able to say that in spite of the emotions that we are experiencing now, God provided for our needs and showed us His will for our lives.

On the editorial page of this morning's Owatonna People's Press, the editor penned a nice tribute to Pillsbury. I would like to share that editorial with you:

"It must be a bittersweet time for the students and faculty at Pillsbury Baptist Bible College this week. With the end of the semester just days away and the coming of the holidays just a fortnight away, they must surely feel both a sense of completion and the joy that accompanies Christmas. At the same time, those feelings are undoubtedly tempered with a great sense of loss, knowing that when the final test is taken and final grade recorded that these students and their instructors will be saying goodbye to one another and to the college for the last time as Pillsbury sets to close its doors for good at the end of the month.

Dr. Gregory Huffman, the president of the college, compared the situation at Pillsbury to a death in the family. And as with a time of death, there likely will be mourning by those for whom the closing of Pillsbury touches most closely. During a candlelight Christmas concert on Friday night, Dr. Huffman, a former pastor, did his best to counsel and console the Pillsbury community, reminding them that even though the college will close, it will never die as it continues to live in the service and ministry of the students and the faculty.

They are wise words — words that inspire and give hope.

But there is even more reason for hope. Even as the Pillsbury faculty and staff readied for the closing of the school, word was received that representatives from another Christian college have visited the campus to negotiate the sale of the campus. If that sale occurs — and it is far too early to speculate on the sale or the potential buyor, though rumors about both abound — then it will be good not only the Minnesota Baptist Association, which owns the school, but also for Owatonna. The sale would help the association discharge the debt that led to the school’s closure. But it also would bring another strong Christian college to town. If that college, its teachers and its students are anything like Pillsbury, Owatonna would be strengthened by its coming.

In the meantime, we wish the best for those who will leave Pillsbury and Owatonna for the last time this week. Your presence has enriched this community and your absence will be felt."

Even though Pillsbury Baptist Bible College will be ceasing academic operations on December 31, it is my conviction that the College and its faculty members and students have had a positive impact on the Owatonna community.

The Kennedy Assassination: 45 Years Later

2008-11-22T22:25:00.000-05:00

On November 22, 1963, John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas. It's hard to believe that it has been forty-five years since that fateful Friday afternoon. For four days, the three major television networks broadcast very little programming that did not directly relate to the assassination and its aftermath. Lee Harvey Oswald, JFK's accused assassin, was himself murdered in the Dallas City Jail on Sunday morning by Jack Ruby, a Dallas nightclub owner. Although there has been a great deal of controversy over the years as to whether Oswald acted alone, we may never precisely know the chain of events that led to JFK's tragic murder in Dallas. Many Americans rejected the findings of the Warren Commission, which essentially concluded that Oswald was solely responsible for the assassination. I will leave that discussion for another time.

At the time, I was fourteen years old and a ninth grader in Plymouth, Michigan. I will never forget when our school principal, Mr. Carl Taylor, came down to our gym class about 1:00 P.M. to inform us that Kennedy had been assassinated in Dallas. It was almost surrealistic, and frankly, it took some time for the impact to sink in. I rode home with my dad, who happened to teach in the junior high where I was a student, and we began watching what turned out to be a four-day marathon of the coverage of the assassination, the swearing in of Lyndon B. Johnson as Kennedy's replacement, and the funeral on the Monday after the assassination.

The course of United States history changed on that day in Dallas. The Vietnam War would become a major political issue in the politics of the 1960s, as many Americans took to the streets to oppose the war. The culture of America, particularly as it related to music and public morality, was also dramatically changed. During the spring of 1968, as the presidential campaign heated up, Martin Luther King and Robert F. Kennedy were also assassinated. It seemed as if America could not escape its national nightmare.

Eventually, America moved on, but not without further tragedies and scandals. We can be grateful that a sovereign God is still in control, and he holds the hearts of kings in His hand. We can rely on Him, even when things seem to be falling apart all around us.

Election 2008

2008-11-16T21:40:00.000-05:00

Now that a few days have elapsed since November 4, I would like to weigh in with a few brief thoughts concerning this year's presidential election:

(1) American voters made a conscious decision to elect Barack Obama with a margin of several million votes, and I respect their right to make that decision. I do not agree with Obama on a number of issues, but he will be the president of all Americans as of January 20, 2009. Indeed, as Christians, God has given us the privilege and obligation to pray for our new president. Nancy and I intend to do just that.

(2) John McCain, the candidate for whom I voted, ran a campaign against fairly overwhelming odds. President Bush's unpopularity, the War in Iraq, and the tanking of the economy in recent weeks all worked against McCain's election. Also, McCain was not as conservative as I would have liked, but he was the best choice that I had on Election Day. No matter who the Republican candidate might have been, it was an uphill proposition this year.

(3) Although President George W. Bush has had many detractors during his eight years in office, I have been saddened by the fact that so many of those who have opposed him have engaged in vicious and unwarranted ad hominem attacks on his personal character. It is possible to disagree with his policies without having to resort to character assassination. George W. Bush is a decent and honorable man. He will be able to go back to Crawford, Texas, knowing that he did his best. He made mistakes as president, but he was not the evil caricature that some on the Left would have us believe.

(4) I trust that during the next four years conservatives will be very careful in their criticism of President Obama. He will support causes that I disagree with; he will oppose causes that I support. My political obligation is to call attention to those issues, but my moral obligation is to support him as the president of ALL the American people. Remember that there will be another election, and President Obama will be held to account by the American people. As a nation, we can disagree with our president and still support him as our president.

These are my preliminary thoughts on the recent election. As they say in Congress, "I reserve the right to revise and extend my remarks."

No Resources . . . No Returns . . . No Regrets

2008-11-13T21:45:00.001-05:00

As many of you are aware, Pillsbury Baptist Bible College will be closing its doors on December 31 of this year. Dr. Greg Huffman, who was inaugurated as our new president in September, has been preaching some inspirational and timely messages in chapel. Earlier this week, Dr. Huffman shared with us the story of William Borden. His father founded the Borden Dairy Company, but William was called to be a missionary to Muslims in China. While enroute to China, William Borden died of spinal meningitis at the age of twenty-five. In the flyleaf of his Bible, he had recorded three brief slogans: "No resources . . . no returns . . . no regrets." He had voluntarily given away his fortune, he had decided that he would not return to the United States, and on the day he died, he professed that he had no regrets concerning the Lord's call to become a missionary in China.

Of course, the Pillsbury administration, faculty, staff, and student body are greatly saddened by the closing of Pillsbury. In a sense, the college has run out of financial "resources" to continue operating. We are also unable to "return" second semester to Pillsbury. But most importantly, we have "no regrets" about having been part of a ministry that has been training Christian leaders for over fifty years. Representatives of several sister schools have visited the campus to assist our students in the process of transferring to other schools for the spring semester. Most of our seniors will be able to graduate in the spring from other schools, but they will be able to have a Pillsbury diploma if they so desire.

On a personal note, Nancy and I have been a part of Pillsbury for twenty-five years. We have appreciated the college, our local church, and the Owatonna community. We don't know what the Lord has planned for us, but we are willing to wait on Him to show us the way. As I often tell my students, "Wherever you go, there you are." The problem is that we don't know where "there" is yet, but we will wait patiently for God's direction. Please pray for our students and colleagues as we seek God's will for our lives.

When Nancy and I were married in 1970, we took as our life verse Isaiah 40:31. It seems appropriate for this occasion: "But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." May God allow all of us to be "eagles."

New Pastor at Grace Baptist Church (Owatonna, Minnesota)

2008-07-08T11:20:00.000-04:00

Grace Baptist Church in Owatonna, Minnesota, has been without a senior pastor for the last eighteen months. On June 29, the congregation extended a call to Pastor Andrew Burggraff, who has been the pastor of Bible Baptist Church in Spring Hill, Florida, for the past four years. Those of us on the Pulpit Committee and the deacon board at Grace unanimously recommended Pastor Burggraff to the congregation. On the decision to extend the call to Pastor Burggraff, the congregation responded with a 98% vote of approval. Andrew, his wife Allyson, and their three children will probably be moving to Owatonna during the month of August. We look forward to Pastor Burggraff's ministry at Grace during the coming years.

Twenty years ago, Andrew's father (David Burggraff) pastored Grace Baptist for several years. Nancy and I count Dave and Lucy Burggraff as dear friends personally, as well as in the ministry. Dr. Dave Burggraff currently serves as a vice president at Clearwater Christian College in Florida. The president of Clearwater is Dr. Dick Stratton, whom we knew as a teenager at Hampton Park Baptist Church in Greenville, South Carolina, when we first got married. Dick's folks were faithful employees at Bob Jones University for many years.

Please pray for Grace Baptist Church here in Owatonna, as well as the good folks at Bible Baptist Church in Florida. We have gained a good man at their expense, so to speak. Obviously, those folks will need a new pastor in the near future. We are trusting that God will send just the right man to meet the needs of Bible Baptist Church.

Independence Day—2008

2008-07-04T21:30:00.000-04:00

Independence Day is a day of celebrating the birth of our country. The fifty-six men who signed the Declaration of Independence 232 years ago set into motion the great American experiment in representative government, freedom, and liberty. With of all of her flaws, the United States of America represents one of history's great success stories. It is a day of parades, barbecues, and fireworks. But it is also a day of great historical importance.

Two of the signers of the Declaration in 1776 were John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. Adams and Jefferson were both elected to the presidency later on in their careers, but in the process, they became bitter political enemies. They did become reconciled in their twilight years, however. In what has to be one of the great ironies of early American history, both men died on the same day. That day was July 4, 1826—exactly fifty years to the day that Adams and Jefferson had signed the Declaration of Independence. For you music aficionados, July 4, 1826, was the day that Stephen Foster was born. Later on in the nineteenth century, during the American Civil War, the decisive Battle of Gettysburg ended the day before July 4, 1863. For the South, Pickett's Charge proved to be the "high water mark of the Confederacy." For the North, Gettysburg was the beginning of the end.

From the later nineteenth century and on into the twenty-first century, the Fourth of July has become the great mid-summer holiday in the United States. Perhaps we do not appreciate as much as we ought what this holiday represents. For me, it is an occasion to listen to stirring patriotic music, to get together with family and friends, and to watch fireworks displays to cap off the day. Yet, we as a nation have much to be grateful for. We remember those who have defended our country and way of life on battlefields in distant locations. Many soldiers returned to our shores, but some of those brave men and women died in defense of our country.

I do have some personal remembrances of some more recent Fourth of July holidays. Who can forget the Bicentennial Celebration in 1976? July 4 fell on a Sunday that year, and I remember seeing at our church a very moving video presentation that recounted the personal sacrifices made by several of the signers. Some lost position, property, and even their freedom. Of course, there were a number of significant events throughout that weekend all across the country. Twenty-four years ago (1984) our family celebrated our arrival in Owatonna a couple of days before the Fourth of July.

Allow me one more memory. Nineteen years ago (1989), Cynthia and I traveled to Great Britain with the Owatonna High School Orchestra to present several concerts across England. We were slated to return to the United States on . . . July 4. We got up at 6 AM and were taken to Heathrow Airport by about 9 AM. On the elevator, one English gentlemen asked us if we planned to shoot off fireworks on the flight across the Atlantic . . . we said, no way! Our plane arrived in St. Louis during the early afternoon. Unfortunately, we had to wait until later in the evening to fly home to Minneapolis. But there was a bit of a reward as we flew up the Mississippi River that evening. Out of the airplane window, we witnessed a number of fireworks displays in little towns all the way to Minneapolis. To me, that really epitomized what the Fourth of July was all about. People all over the Upper Midwest were celebrating America in many different places at the same time.

We ought to thank God for our country, and for the freedoms—political and religious—that we have in such great abundance. Happy Fourth of July to all of you.

New President at Pillsbury

2008-06-20T16:05:00.000-04:00

We have had a quiet transition here at Pillsbury Baptist Bible College this summer. Dr. Greg Huffman became the new president of Pillsbury earlier this month. He has served as senior pastor of several Baptist churches, most recently in Roanoke, Virginia, and Macon, Georgia. Dr. Huffman has also taught modular courses at several leading fundamentalist colleges and universities. His educational background includes degrees from Tennessee Temple and Bob Jones University. He married his wife Ruth in 1968, and they have three sons.

Dr. Robert Crane, who was president of Pillsbury from 1996 until this year, has become President Emeritus. Those of us who minister here at Pillsbury appreciate the twelve years of outstanding leadership that Dr. Crane gave to Pillsbury. And we are very excited about what God is going to do here at Pillsbury in the coming years. Please pray for us as we seek to train up the next generation of Christian leaders.

A Godly Example

2008-06-19T11:45:00.003-04:00

Thirty-five years ago, I began my teaching career at Bob Jones University. As many of you know from reading some of my previous posts, in addition to teaching history courses at BJU, I also had the opportunity to play oboe in the University Orchestra and other ensembles at BJU. Aside from my teaching responsibilities, playing my oboe has been one of the great joys of my life. When you play in a group over a period of time, you really get to know the folks who are also a part of the group. Not only do you learn how to do the "technical" things like playing in tune and playing the right notes, but you come to appreciate the people who sit beside you in rehearsals and performances. I would like to spotlight one of those individuals from thirty-five years ago.

Karen Kuehmann enrolled as a freshman at BJU in the fall of 1972. It did not take long to appreciate the fact the she was an excellent flute player. But more than that, Karen was and is a person of outstanding character. But what I most appreciate about Karen is that she loves the Lord supremely. She has been an outstanding role model and good friend over the years that Nancy and I have had the great privilege to know her.

After Karen finished her undergraduate and graduate work at BJU, she taught flute and worked in the music division at Bob Jones University Press. She is an accomplished composer and arranger of pieces for instrumental soloists and other ensembles. She also received an Ed.D. degree in the 1980s.

Karen has had her share of difficult times as well. A few years ago, she had a significant medical issue that resulted in her receiving a liver transplant at a Pittsburgh hospital. As far as I know, she has made a complete recovery from that medical procedure and enjoys good health.

Having worked at BJU for about thirty years, Karen has recently decided to move back to her home state of Arizona and teach music in an elementary school there. One of the reasons she returned to Arizona was for the purpose of being closer to her family. That really doesn't surprise me at all, because Karen is the kind of person who understands the importance of family. In this day and age, family relationships have been given short shrift by many people who just get too busy or disinterested in maintaining close family ties.

As it relates to Christian ministry, I have come to understand a significant principle: "What I do, and where I do what I do, is not nearly as important as WHY I do what I do." Karen Kuehmann is an ongoing example of that mindset. I commend her highly and wish her well in her new responsibilities as an elementary school music teacher.

Minnesota Weather Alert!

2008-03-13T16:10:00.000-04:00

Those of us who live in the Upper Midwest, and in southern Minnesota in particular, are experiencing a glorious day. The sun is shining, there are white puffy clouds in the blue sky, and the temperature just topped 50 degrees! This is wonderful; we've been looking forward to a day like today for months. As you can see from this view of Pillsbury College's Old Main from my office window, the snow is beginning to melt in earnest. Of course, the tree outside my window only has buds at this time; the leaves will take a few weeks to appear. Nonetheless, we are thankful that the Lord does give us four seasons every year. The Psalmist says it best: "This [is] the day [which] the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." (Psalm 118:24)

Interesting Thoughts on Vice Presidents

2008-03-11T00:15:00.001-04:00

Dr. Charles W. Dunn is a friend from my BJU days. He has been an outstanding political science professor at the University of Illinois, Clemson University, and Grove City College. Currently, he serves as the Dean of the School of Government at Regent University. As many of us do, he has a blog—his blog is entitled "The Chuck Dunn Report." He has already had several perceptive posts on the current political campaign. Today, he posted a very interesting discussion on American vice presidents. I urge you to read Dr. Dunn's comments, which are entitled: Vice Presidents: "You've Come a Long Way, Baby." Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are slugging it out for the Democratic presidential nomination, while John McCain has things wrapped up for the Republican nomination. But a huge question remains—who will be the vice presidential candidates for the two major parties? Stay tuned.

Finally . . . The End of Winter Is In Sight

2008-03-10T18:55:00.000-04:00

It has been a difficult winter for many folks here in the Upper Midwest. Some of our neighbors in Wisconsin have already received over ninety inches of snow this winter. Just last weekend, Ohio got clobbered with up to two feet of snow in some locations. Here in southern Minnesota, our snow totals for the winter have been well below average. What we have experienced is some thirty days of below-zero temperatures during the last three months. Frankly, Nancy and I would rather have the cold than the snow. The forecast for this week includes several days with temperatures in the forties. I say, "bring it on!"

Pillsbury College Missions Conference (2008)

2008-03-09T21:15:00.000-04:00

This past week, Pillsbury College hosted its annual missions conference. We enjoyed hearing from veteran missionaries and missionaries just getting ready to go to the field. According to Mr. Dan Morrell, who heads up the Pillsbury Missions Department, we had more missionaries and more mission boards represented than ever before.

The first of our keynote speakers was Rev. Steve Fulks. According to the Baptist Mid-Missions website, he is the Administrator for Church Relations and Enlistment. He and his wife Judy were missionaries in Peru from 1985 until 1997. He spoke from Ezekiel 37 concerning the role of Ezekiel in speaking to the valley of dry bones. God asked Ezekiel to prophesy to the dry bones, but it was God who breathed life into those dry bones. The application was that when we do our part to reach people with the Gospel, God will do His part to bring some of those people to Himself.

Our other keynote speaker was Dr. Mark Batory, who is the Executive Director of Gospel Fellowship Association. He and his wife Paula served as missionaries to Mexico from 1979 to 1983. He also assisted Dr. John Vaughn in planting a Hispanic Baptist church in Greenville, SC. Our daughter Cynthia attended that church for several years.

Dr. Batory spoke about the fact that several of the the apostles were those "who turned the word upside down." Yet these "Galileans" struggled while they were being mentored by our Lord during his earthly ministry. After our Lord's resurrection, God sent the Holy Spirit to minister to the needs of the apostles. It's the same way with the Christian life. Many of us are just like the "Galileans." We have struggles in our Christian life, but the Holy Spirit ministers to our needs and helps us achieve spiritual victories.

The theme of our Pillsbury missions conference was to encourage all of us to worship God more. As a result of that, we will then have the proper motivation in our ministry to others. All in all, our missions conference was spiritually uplifting.

Who Will You Vote For this Year, and Why?

2008-02-02T21:35:00.000-05:00

Every four years, American voters have the awesome responsibility of electing a President of the United States. Already, this election year has proven to be quite unpredictable. Whether you vote for a Democrat, a Republican, or a third-party candidate, you should think about the factors that help you determine for whom you will be voting this coming November. In the interest of full disclosure, I would remind you that I have been active in the Republican Party for the last forty years. I have lived in Michigan, South Carolina, and Minnesota during those years. But this post is not meant to tell you for whom you should vote; my main concern is to encourage you to consider what drives your decision to vote for a certain candidate.

For many of us, we begin the process as supporters of a particular political party. We also are interested in the political philosophy of candidates. Are they liberal, conservative, moderate, or somewhere else on the political spectrum? Another consideration is a candidate's political viability. Simply put, is the candidate of our choice electable in the country at large? Some voters also consider the likeability of candidates. As I heard one commentator suggest a few years ago, "Would you really welcome that individual into your living room or den on a regular basis?" That is a good point, I think. Personally, I believe that a candidate needs to have a sense of humor. Candidates who take themselves too seriously are going to have a difficult time trying to lead the country for four years.

There are some more difficult factors to consider, I believe. Is the candidate trustworthy, honest, ethical, and moral? Can we believe what a candidate says, or do candidates say what they think we want to hear them say? Based on what the candidate says, is it possible for him or her to actually achieve a degree of success as president? In other words, do the political promises of a candidate mean anything?

There are other some considerations that might play into your voting decision. The President of the United States heads up the executive branch, but we also have a legislative branch and a judicial branch. A good example of how this plays out is that fact that the president nominates federal judges, and those judges have to be approved by members of the United States Senate. If the president is from one party, and the Senate is controlled by another party, things can get pretty dicey. In essence, can the candidate reach "across the aisle" from time to time in order to accomplish anything?

As you begin to make up your mind for whom you will vote this fall, it is important to take into account the serious consequences of your vote. Are you voting for a candidate or philosophy, or are you voting against a candidate or philosophy? If you are unhappy with the two major party candidates, will you cast a ballot for a third-party candidate who has no chance of winning? The very nature of the American political structure allows you to vote as you see fit. I trust that you will seek God's will and vote accordingly. And when the election is over, we need to come together as a nation and support the president-elect. And most of all, we need to spend time in prayer for our nation, our leaders, and our people.

Pillsbury Baptist Bible College: Clearwaters Bible Conference

2008-01-29T09:50:00.000-05:00

Here at Pillsbury Baptist Bible College, it is our custom to begin the second semester with the Richard Clearwaters Bible Conference. This event honors the memory of the man who essentially founded Pillsbury College in 1957. Our special speaker this year is one of my personal friends, Dr. John Hutcheson. John is Field Representative for Frontline International Missions in Taylors, SC. John and I worked together at Bob Jones University in the 1970s. John was also in the pastorate for 25 years or so before joining Frontline Missions International a few years ago. John challenged us to make 2008 a more spiritually profitable year than 2007. He also shared the some of the stories and testimonies of persecuted Christians from all over the world. Those of us who enjoy religious freedom here in the United States have no real idea of how difficult it is for our Christian brothers and sisters in many countries around the world. All in all, John helped us to get off to a great start for second semester.

The World's Largest Swimming Pool

2008-01-23T16:30:00.000-05:00

With the overnight temperatures 15 degrees below zero up here in Minnesota in recent days, this story from the London Daily Mail struck my fancy. It seems that a resort in southern Chile has designed and built the world's largest swimming pool. According to the article in the Daily Mail, "[The swimming pool] is more than 1,000 yards long, covers 20 acres, has a 115-foot deep end, and holds 66 million gallons of [salt] water." Think of it—this pool is ten football fields long. If you had twenty acres of property, you could have your subdivision and build quite a few houses.

Basically, you can make of it what you will, but it seems like nothing is sacred anymore. I am certain that this Chilean resort invested a huge sum of money to develop this "natural" theme park. Undoubtedly, people from all over the world will make a visit, just so that they can say, "I swam in the largest swimming pool in the world!" I can't say that I really blame them for feeling that way, especially since the thermometer up here in Minnesota has had a hard time getting above zero the last few days.

Politics 2008

2008-01-13T22:35:00.000-05:00

If you are the kind of person who loves unpredictable politics, 2008 is certainly your year. This is the first presidential election in decades where there is no incumbent president or incumbent vice president running for election.

Regular readers of this blog will know that I generally support the Republican nominee, and I have been doing so for some years now. But I would have to say that I am in a bit of a quandary about the candidates on my side of ballot. Several of my favorite candidates have strengths, but they also have weaknesses. It may be that we are seeing a reassessment of what issues are going to be important in the eyes of the voters this coming November.

So stay tuned for a very interesting election process to develop. Everyone gets to be his or her own pundit. Indeed, the professional pundits have been off the mark already in Iowa and New Hampshire. I will offer more personal thoughts as the process develops.

One last thought—all of us will probably have an opportunity to vote in a primary or participate in a caucus. Let me encourage you to do your part in electing the next president of the United States.

Christmas Vacation Over the Years

2008-01-01T17:15:00.000-05:00

For some thirty-five years, Nancy and I have enjoyed those wonderful days known as "Christmas Vacation." For the last couple of decades or so, Nancy and I have stayed home rather than traveling during the Christmas Holidays. It was not always that way, and it would be interesting to reflect on some of those early Christmases.

Nancy and I were married in 1970, so our first Christmas together was in December 1970. We were seniors at Bob Jones University, and we decided that it would be too expensive to drive home to Michigan for the holidays. We worked in Greenville during Christmas, but it was a bit lonely for us. It was our first Christmas away from home. Bob and Dottie Harris, BJU faculty members, invited several of us over to their home for a Christmas gathering. I will always remember their kindness and thoughtfulness. It was just what we needed to get us through that Christmas.

A year later (1971), we did make it home for Christmas. On our way back to Greenville from Michigan, we were involved in an accident on Interstate-40 near Newport, Tennessee. We ended up in the median between two bridge abutments. No one was hurt, but we were concerned about Nancy, who was three months pregnant with Cynthia. Fortunately, Nancy and Cynthia did not have any problems as a result of the accident. Our Pontiac station wagon was not easily repairable, so we had to rent a car to get us back to Greenville. We learned a good lesson—someone other than the driver needs to stay awake if at all possible.

In December 1973, when Cynthia and Tricia were still quite young, we flew home to Michigan. That was quite the adventure, especially when we returned to Greenville in a near-empty plane on New Year's Eve. We did make it back to Michigan the next several years, but the last year that we drove home to Michigan for Christmas was December 1979, when we had five children seven years old and younger. As we drove back to Greenville from the Detroit area, we ran into a snowstorm at Cincinnati. We ended up staying overnight in Florence, Kentucky.

Starting the Christmas of 1980, Nancy and I decided that it was time to stay home for Christmas and establish our own Christmas traditions. And so it has been from that time until now. We enjoyed spending Christmas in Greenville through 1982. Then we were in Huntington (WV) for the Christmas of 1983. Having moved to Owatonna in 1984, we have been here every Christmas for the nearly the last twenty-five years. I am personally glad that I don't have to drive long distances in winter weather.

Generally, all seven kids (and spouses and grandkids) make it back to Grandpa and Grandma's house for Christmas. We have a nice Christmas Dinner and then open presents in the afternoon. Then it's time for games and conversation. By Christmas night, the last of the food and dessert has been served, and everyone has full stomachs and more importantly, full hearts. We celebrate Christ's birth, and we love the benefits of having our family together at this most special time of year.

G. G. Jackson (1918-2007)

2007-11-24T19:55:00.000-05:00

A good friend of mine recently passed away. Mr. G. G. ("Jack") Jackson was the longtime Postmaster at Bob Jones University. When I enrolled as a freshman at BJU in the fall of 1967 (yes, that's forty years ago!), I was told that the BJU Post Office was a good place to get a job on campus. So I walked in and asked for Mr. Jackson. When I told him my name, the first thing he said to me was, "You must be Ottis and Julie's boy." I was flabbergasted that anyone would know my dad and mom, but a number of people actually did know my folks from the days when the college was located in Cleveland, Tennessee. And so it went from there.

I worked at the BJU Post Office during my student days, and after I became a faculty member in 1972, I continued on at the Post Office during the summers and during Christmas vacations. Mr. Jackson had the reputation of being a no-nonsense boss. If one of the student employees took too long to complete a mail delivery on the campus, his favorite question was: "Where have you been, to Spartanburg and back?" Spartanburg is about twenty miles east of Greenville.

During the summer, especially on some of those hot and humid South Carolina afternoons (before the Post Office was air conditioned), Mr. Jackson would sometimes talk about the early days of the school in Cleveland, Tennessee. That was when he knew my mom and dad before they got married. My mom started teaching at Bob Jones in 1942, and my dad showed up after World War II in 1946. Mr. Jackson would also talk about his years in the United States Navy during World War II. He, like my father-in-law Roy Crane, was part of that "Greatest Generation" who defended the United States in difficult times. Generally, Mr. Jackson didn't bring up the subject, but he was willing to share his experiences with those of us who worked with him.

When Mr. Jackson was not working at the Post Office, he loved to work in his garden. The vegetables from his garden were just about the best that anyone was able to produce anywhere on the campus. I really believe that he used his time in the garden as a way to relax a bit and get away from the rigors of the Post Office. It was a joy to visit with him while he was at work in his garden.

I cannot conclude these comments without paying tribute to Mrs. Iris Jackson. I also worked with Mrs. Jackson for many summers, particularly in keeping student and faculty lists correct, as well as assigning box numbers. I could share many humorous stories about Mrs. Jackson, but I think I will just say that she has always been a wonderful friend to my family, especially my children. She and Mr. Jackson have been very special to me because they have been a "living link" to my own parents. I will miss him.

Japanese Square Watermelons

2007-11-24T19:10:00.000-05:00

Just when you thought you had seen it all, the Japanese come up with something different. This is from a BBC post about Japanese square watermelons:

Japan has again shown off one of its greatest innovations - square watermelons. For years consumers struggled to fit the large round fruit in their refrigerators. And then there was the problem of trying to cut the fruit when it kept rolling around.

But 20 years ago a forward-thinking farmer on Japan's south-western island of Shikoku solved the problem. The farmer, from Zentsuji in Kagawa prefecture, came up with the idea of making a cube-shaped watermelon which could easily be packed and stored.

To make it happen, farmers grew the melons in glass boxes and the fruit then naturally assumed the same shape. Today the cuboid watermelons are hand-picked and shipped all over Japan.

But the fruit, on sale in a selection of department stores and upmarket supermarkets, appeals mainly to the wealthy and fashion-conscious of Tokyo and Osaka, Japan's two major cities. Each melon sells for 10,000 yen, equivalent to about $83. It is almost double, or even triple, that of a normal watermelon.

"I can't buy it, it is too expensive," said a woman browsing at a department store in the southern city of Takamatsu.

So the next time you think there is nothing new under the sun, just think of Japanese square watermelons.

Pillsbury Begins Its 51st Year

2007-09-03T20:35:00.000-04:00

Pillsbury Baptist Bible College started classes on Monday, August 27. This is Pillsbury's 51st year of operation as a Baptist Bible college. Although Pillsbury had been a military academy for a number of decades before 1957, it was Dr. Richard V. Clearwaters (longtime pastor of Fourth Baptist Church in Minneapolis) who was perhaps the "guiding light" in the transition of Pillsbury from a military academy to a Baptist Bible college. After serving as president of the college its first year, Dr. Clearwaters and the Pillsbury Board hired Dr. Monroe Parker as president in 1958. He had been on the evangelistic circuit for some years.

Although I did not meet Dr. Parker until the last few years of his life, I have a "secondary" connection to him. He was an administrator at Bob Jones College during the 1930s and 1940s when the school was located in Cleveland, Tennessee. Both of my parents were there at the time, and they knew Dr. Parker well. Monroe Parker stayed on at Pillsbury until 1965, when he returned to an evangelistic ministry across the United States.

Pillsbury has honored the memory of Dr. Parker by designating our opening evangelistic services as the "Monroe Parker Evangelistic Meetings." We bring in a prominent speaker to encourage our students and faculty. This year's speaker was Dr. Jerry Sivnksty, whose home is in Starr, South Carolina. Jerry has preached here in past years, and he is one of our favorites on campus. He grew up in the coal mining area of West Virginia—come to think of it, there isn't much of West Virginia that isn't a coal mining area.

In addition to his southern accent, Jerry's family spoke Lithuanian at home, so he had a few "speech problems" when he enrolled in Bob Jones University during the 1960s. Bob Pratt and Joyce Parks, longtime members of the speech faculty at BJU, at first discouraged Jerry from going into evangelism. But when he said that he felt God's call to do so, they did everything they could to help him. Jerry is a perfect example of someone who overcomes a few obstacles to do what God called him to do.

That's what Pillsbury is all about, by the way. The faculty and staff want to do everything we can to help students find God's will for their lives and to help prepare them to do it. Please pray for our students, faculty, and staff duirng this new school year.

Fat Cats!

2007-08-09T00:40:00.000-04:00

Sometime back, I wrote about how some veterinarians in England were prescribing Ritalin for cats who had "personality" issues. A recent article in the London Times indicates that there are a lot of fat cats in England and that apparently the issue of obese cats is a "growing" problem. Here's an excerpt from that article:

"Fat cats in Britain are beginning to suffer the same diseases as their owners. A growing number are having type 2 diabetes diagnosed, as obesity and lack of exercise take their toll.

A pioneering study at the University of Edinburgh has found that one in every 230 cats in Britain is diabetic. Although there is no baseline for comparison, the evidence suggests that the rates of feline diabetes are rising rapidly. A study in America in the 1970s found only a fifth as many cases.

Professor Danielle Gunn-Moore, who led the study, said: "'The lifestyle of cats, just like their owners, is changing. They are tending to eat too much, gain weight and take less exercise. Unfortunately, just like people, cats will overeat if they are offered too much tasty food, particularly if they are bored and have little else to do.'"

“'While cats would naturally exercise outside, many cats are now house-bound — perhaps because they live in a flat or because their owners feel that it is too dangerous to let them out — so they have little to do all day but eat, sleep, and gain weight.'”

Diabetes in cats, as in people, is a serious, often fatal, condition and affected cats need daily insulin injections and a special diet. They also face an increased risk of pancreatitis, urinary tract infections and other problems."

I certainly don't want to leave the impression that this is just a humorous take on obese cats. I think that it speaks fairly eloquently to the fact that we humans don't take very good care of ourselves—or our animals.

I-35W Bridge Collapse in Minneapolis

2007-08-04T23:00:00.000-04:00

At 6:05 P.M. on Wednesday, August 1, the I-35W Bridge over the Mississippi River in Minneapolis suddenly collapsed into a heap of rubble. Minneapolis instantly become the focal point of local and national news reports. In the hours after the bridge collapse, most of the people who were on the bridge were rescued or were able to swim to safety. Remarkably, fewer than 100 people were injured, and amazingly, perhaps only a dozen or so people lost their lives. Ironically, the design of the bridge probably saved lives, even as it collapsed into the Mississippi River.

Even as we attempt to understand this tragedy, stories of heroism and courage have emerged. One of these incidents involved a school bus carrying sixty day campers. The bus came perilously close to falling into the river, which might have resulted in numerous casualties. One of the camp counselors, 20-year-old Jeremy Hernandez, quickly evacuated the bus, and all of the children were rescued. Naturally, Jeremy was interviewed by local and national media. The rescue efforts are still underway, but the currents in the Mississippi River have made the rescue effort difficult.

The I-35W Bridge was finished forty years ago and was opened for use in the fall of 1967. You can see the bridge under construction in this 1967 photo. But why did the bridge collapse? Over the next several weeks and months, many investigations will undoubtedly take place. Although there has already been a great deal of speculation about the cause of the collapse, no one can know for sure at this juncture. Even though most of the commentary and news reporting about this tragedy has been respectful, it is most unfortunate that a few media types and politicians have begun politicizing the bridge collapse even before all of the victims have been recovered from the river.

I would be the first to acknowledge that the political climate in this country has been become very polarized in recent years, but one would think that self-proclaimed experts would restrain themselves from waxing eloquent at least until after we find out what happened to the I-35W Bridge over the Mississippi River in Minneapolis. Perhaps that's asking too much, but one can always hope.

Sixtieth Anniversary

2007-08-03T17:30:00.000-04:00

As regular readers of this blog will remember, my father-in-law (Roy Crane) passed away this year on February 19. He died just a few months short of his 84th birthday. Had he lived until this week, he and my mother-in-law (Vera Crane) would have celebrated their 60th anniversary.

They were married in Michigan on August 2, 1947, after my father-in-law had returned from serving in the US Army during World War II. After attending one year at Olivet Nazarene College, he enrolled at Bob Jones University in Greenville, SC. He graduated in 1951 and then stayed on a year to get a teaching certificate. My wife Nancy and her sister Darlene were born in Greenville while their folks were living in Greenville.

Roy and Vera returned to Roseville, Michigan, in 1952. There they raised their family of seven children, and Nancy's mom still lives in the same house that the Cranes bought about 45 years ago. When they first moved to that house, it was located along Eleven Mile Road. About 35 years ago, Interstate 696 replaced Eleven Mile Road. The house had to be moved back and then relocated on a new foundation. The westbound service drive for I-696 runs right in front of the house.

We spoke with Mom yesterday, and we reminisced about the many good years that she shared with Dad. We are so glad that she is still with us. We pray that she will be around for years to come.

Enjoying Life in Michigan's Upper Peninsula

2007-07-25T00:00:00.000-04:00

Nancy and I (along with Tricia, Peyton, and Oscar) are enjoying a some beautiful days at the family cottage on Piatt Lake, located near Whitefish Bay and fifty miles north of the Mackinaw Bridge. The bridge was completed in 1957, exactly fifty years ago. As you approach the bridge, which is part of Interstate-75, it is pretty overwhelming, as you can see from the photos to the left.

The bridge is approximately five miles long, including the approaches, and it has four lanes. What can be somewhat unnerving is that the left-hand lane going north and south is not solid pavement. The left lane is a metal grid, and you can actually see the water 450 feet below you in the Straits of Mackinac. The reason for this is that the bridge has to be able to withstand the wind currents and have some "give and take." It was very elaborately designed back in the 1950s. The bridge connects the Lower Peninsula and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

Today (July 24) is also our 37th wedding anniversary, so it is a good time to reminisce about getting married back in 1970. We spent our honeymoon up here at the cottage. Nathan and Andrea Crane (our nephew and his wife) have recently purchased and renovated the cottage.

During our honeymoon we visited the Soo Locks over in Sault Ste. Marie as well as taking a boat trip to view the Pictured Rocks along the southern shore of Lake Superior. We drove down to St. Ignace and took the ferry boat across to Mackinaw Island. In addition to the historical sights such as Fort Mackinaw and other related buildings, the island is home to several dozen fudge shops. Incidentally, there are no cars on the island. One either walks, rides a bike, or rides in a horse-drawn carriage.

But your trip to the Upper Peninsula is not complete without a trip to see Tahqhamenon Falls. There are the Upper Falls (pictured here), as well as the Lower Falls. The river actually has a copper cast to it because of the minerals deposits that the river flows through on its way to Lake Superior. There is a five-mile trail connecting the Upper and Lower Falls, but most people just drive from the one area to the other.

All in all, it's been a wonderful time this week. Watching our grandkids swimming and having a big time reminds us of thirty years ago when we would bring our own gang up here summer after summer. Nancy's dad took great delight in his role of "King of the Raft" by throwing the kids off the raft. And Nancy's mom made great pies out of the blueberries the kids would pick. Nancy often reminded the kids about the children's classic story Blueberries for Sal, which was set in New England. But we leave Friday and return to Owatonna where we begin in-service training for the fall semester at Pillsbury.

The Detroit Tigers

2007-07-20T17:30:00.000-04:00

On Tuesday evening this week, three of my sons (Daniel, Darrell, and Andy) attended a baseball game between the Detroit Tigers and the Minnesota Twins. This has become somewhat of an annual ritual for the McGuire boys and their dad. Although the game was played at the Metrodome in Minneapolis, we were all rooting for the Tigers. And the Tigers won the game 1-0. Of course, many of our fellow Minnesotans do root for the Twins, so when our two respective teams are playing each other, we just have be nice. In fact, Tricia's husband Harlan is a diehard Twins fan, so we just talk about other stuff when the Tigers and the Twins are playing each other.

We often form allegiances for our home team based on childhood memories and experiences. Although the Tigers now play in Comerica Park (photo above courtesy of Ryan Southen), when I was growing up in Plymouth, Michigan, during the 1960s we went to games at Tiger Stadium (pictured on the right). As a junior high kid, I would sit with my dad in the upper deck bleachers out in centerfield. As I recall, it cost 50 or 75 cents to get into the bleachers. I knew that it was asking too much to sit in the box seats behind home plate; those tickets cost $3.50 in the early 1960s.

When Nancy and I were first dating nearly forty years ago, we did sit in the box seats—the price had skyrocketed up to $4.50 a seat. We did see Mickey Mantle play during his last season with the Yankees. And did I tell you that we Tiger fans were NOT Yankee fans in those days? Indeed, when the Tigers defeated the Yankees in the 2006 playoffs, there were a lot of older Tiger fans who remembered the days when the Yankees seemed to be unstoppable. But much has changed since those days.

I must say that I am glad to continue the tradition that my dad started with me. Going to the ballpark with your boys (even though they are now in their twenties) is a lot of fun. It creates some good memories. I hope they will do the same with their children. In the interim, GO TIGERS!

Owatonna, Minnesota: A Great Place to Live

2007-07-13T13:50:00.000-04:00

Nancy and I have often discussed the fact that Owatonna, Minnesota, has been a wonderful small town (population 22,000) in which to raise our children, as well giving us the opportunity to minister at Pillsbury Baptist Bible College and Grace Baptist Church. As you may have learned from reading some of my earlier posts, we moved to Owatonna with our first five children in 1984, and twenty-three years later our two Owatonna sons (Matt and Andy) are in their twenties. Our family has come of age here in Owatonna, and now we are blessed with having our grandchildren living in Owatonna as well.

The "culture" of Owatonna is relatively conservative, but we welcome innovation. Owatonna is home to impressive architecture (see the Louis Sullivan bank above) and a number of new businesses in recent years. Probably the most well-known Owatonna landmark along Interstate-35 is our local Cabela's store. Folks interested in the great outdoors flock to Cabela's to purchase all kinds of clothing and outdoor gear. Owatonna also has a diverse business and industrial base, which provides many work opportunities for our Pillsbury students.

If you check out Owatonna on the web, you will discover that we have a number of parks and walking trails. Central Park is the venue for a number of performing groups during the summer. I play oboe in the Owatonna Community Band, and we had a top-notch concert last evening. Local business groups donated the funds for the modern bandstand you see pictured here. We are blessed here in Owatonna with an above-average fine arts scene, with high school musicians enthusiastically performing in groups such as the Owatonna Community Band. It's very gratifying to perform music with so many who really enjoy what they're doing.

Nancy took this photo of me before last night's concert, and the photo to the right is from a concert last summer. But I leave you with a "humorous" photo that I took before the concert last night. This sign is posted on the door of each restroom below the bandshell. The wording on the sign gives the impression that whoever wrote it doesn't clearly understand the English language. I'll let you make of it what you will.

The Importance of Family

2007-07-11T13:20:00.000-04:00

From time to time, we are reminded of the importance of our families. My mother-in-law recently visited us here in Owatonna. During the course of her visit, we took this four-generation photo. Tricia, Peyton Rose, Oscar Jonas, and Nancy are in the back row, and Nancy's mom is seated in the front. One sometimes sees five- and even six-generation photos in the local paper, but we are very happy to show off our four-generation family.

We attended a McGuire reunion in Louisville on June 2. The irony was that most of those in attendance were cousins, second cousins, and "cousins-in-law." There is only one living spouse from my father's generation of seven siblings. We must acknowledge the fact that we now live in the twenty-first century, and the future lies with our children and grandchildren. We are thankful for our children and grandchildren. And speaking of those grandchildren, here are two more photos of Har and Tricia's contributions to the cause:

A Crazy Weekend Stunt

2007-07-11T11:31:00.000-04:00

It seems that one Kent Couch of (who lives in Bend, Oregon) wanted to do a little flying over the weekend, but he accomplished his goal a bit differently than most normal people. According to the Associated Press, he "settled down in his lawn chair with some snacks — and a parachute. Attached to his lawn chair were 105 large helium balloons."

"Nearly nine hours later, the 47-year-old gas station owner came back to earth in a farmer's field near Union, short of Idaho but about 193 miles from home." "'When you're a little kid and you're holding a helium balloon, it has to cross your mind,'" Couch told the Bend Bulletin. "'When you're laying in the grass on a summer day, and you see the clouds, you wish you could jump on them,'" he said. "'This is as close as you can come to jumping on them. It's just like that.'"

"Couch is the latest American to emulate Larry Walters — who in 1982 rose three miles above Los Angeles in a lawn chair lifted by balloons. Walters had surprised an airline pilot, who radioed the control tower that he had just passed a guy in a lawn chair. Walters paid a $1,500 penalty for violating air traffic rules."

It's one thing to be bold and go where no one has gone before, but this guy (just like Larry Walters) is definitely messing around with the law of gravity, if not common sense. These kinds of stunts are fairly harmless unless, of course, you suddenly lose altitude! As for me, I plan to enjoy life while firmly planted on terra firma.

Pillsbury Baptist Bible College: 50th Graduation

2007-05-09T22:20:00.000-04:00

Pillsbury Baptist Bible College held its 50th graduation ceremony on Saturday, May 5. The genesis of Pillsbury College was primarily the work of Dr. Richard V. Clearwaters, who was the long-time pastor of Fourth Baptist Church in Minneapolis. In those early years, he asked Dr. Monroe Parker (affectionately known as "Monk" to his friends) to become president.

One of Pillsbury's 1963 graduates was Dr. Fred Moritz, and it was Dr. Moritz who was the commencement speaker last Saturday. In addition to preaching from 2 Timothy 2:15, he also reminisced about those early days at Pillsbury. Dr. Moritz currently serves as Executive Director of Baptist World Missions, which is located in Decatur, Alabama. Dr. Moritz has been a great friend of Pillsbury, and he is one of the most popular chapel speakers that we bring to the campus.

Of course, we want to honor our graduates. To the left, Nancy celebrates with senior Lynette Benda, who was one of our student teachers this past spring. We will be attending her wedding this coming weekend in Wisconsin. Below, senior Ray Miller is standing next to Jon Calcamuggio, who was part of the Color Guard. Jon is a graduate of Pillsbury who also served two tours of duty in Iraq.

All told, we had about three dozen graduates this year. Because Pillsbury is relatively "small," you get to know just about every graduate along the way. Of those three dozen graduates, nine were education majors, so I worked with them rather closely during the last year or so. We bid our graduates Godspeed, and we pray that He will direct their lives in their vocations, marriages, families, and ministries. That's what Pillsbury is all about.

The Old Main Tower at Pillsbury

2007-05-03T22:30:00.000-04:00

On many college campuses across the country, there are buildings and other locations that students are not allowed to access on a regular basis. And then there are places that students really don't want to access under any circumstances. When I was teaching at Bob Jones University, I would hear tales from some of the security folks about some of the strange things that went on in the Art Gallery, Rodeheaver Auditorium, and Amphitorium in the middle of the night. Just the thought of walking through the Art Gallery during the wee hours sends shivers up and down my spine, what with all those paintings and sculptures looming up in the dark as you went from gallery to gallery.

Here at Pillsbury, one of the places that is generally is off-limits to students is the tower on top of Old Main, which serves as our administration building. The fact is that over the years students have surreptitiously managed to make their way up to the tower for a spectacular view of Owatonna. Although we have just finished final exams, Tuesday was "Student Appreciation Day" on the campus. Dr. Crane announced in chapel on Tuesday morning that anyone who wanted to do so could legally walk up the three flights of stairs and spend a few minutes in the tower. So a number of us did so, including me.

It was a clear day with blue skies all around, although it was quite windy when you reached the tower. We are told that the Old Main Tower is the highest point in Steele County, so one can see quite a distance from that vantage point. I used my camera phone to take several photographs. In this photograph you can see the men's residence hall, and at the lower left is the house that we lived in for twelve years between 1984 and 1996. We can tell you many interesting stories about what it was like to live on campus and in such close proximity to the men's residence hall. I suspect that there are stories that we don't even know anything about. One of the things that Nancy didn't miss when we moved out of the old house was the periodic invasions of bats that took place when one of the kids would leave a door open on summer evenings. Nancy HATES bats!

This photograph to the right is of the northwest corner of our campus, at the intersection of South Grove Avenue and East Main Street. If you look closely, you can see the back of the sign welcoming vistors to Pillsbury College.

Although I enjoyed my time at the top of Old Main in the Tower, I was glad to come back down to terra firma. I really don't care for heights all that much. And did I share with you the fact that although I have been at Pillsbury College for twenty-three years, this was the first time that I ever made the trek to the top of Old Main. There's a first time for everything.

New President at Maranatha Baptist Bible College

2007-04-27T23:55:00.000-04:00

This afternoon, officials at Maranatha Baptist Bible College in Watertown, Wisconsin, named Dr. Chuck Phelps as the new president of Maranatha. This is great news for Maranatha specifically, as well as for those of us involved in Christian higher education. Chuck has been a youth pastor, a church planter, and a senior pastor. He serves on the boards of several Christian organizations. He and his wife Linda have five children.

I knew Chuck when he was a student at BJU back in the 1970s. As it happened, when our family moved to Owatonna (so that I could teach at Pillsbury), Chuck was the youth pastor at Grace Baptist Church. For over fifteen years, Chuck has been the pastor of Trinity Baptist Church in Concord, New Hampshire. I am very excited about Chuck becoming the president of Maranatha. He brings a strong vision for educating the next generation of young people for the Lord's service. Also, Maranatha is one of Pillsbury's "sister" schools, so we have more than a passing interest in anything that strengthens our fundamental Christian schools.

Be sure to pray for Chuck and his family as they make the transition to Maranatha over the summer.

The Thread That Runs So True

2007-04-23T22:50:00.000-04:00

Last week Pillsbury College presented its spring play, The Thread That Runs So True. "This drama is based on the true life experiences of Jesse Stuart, an unusual educator who fought all his life for quality education in rural and mountain schools. His experiences as a beginning teacher in the Kentucky mountains inspired this play." Our students, under the direction of Mr. Ken Marsh, did a wonderful job portraying the trials and tribulations of encouraging education in the rural areas of Eastern Kentucky in the early twentieth century.

My father grew up in Eastern Kentucky and was a contemporary of Jesse Stuart. As many children did in those days, my dad attended a one-room school like the one portrayed in the play by Jesse Stuart. When my dad graduated from the eighth grade, he stayed on to help the teacher for a year. The teacher just happened to be his older sister. He then went off to attend high school in another town. Dad had to pay room and board and work his way through high school. When he finished high school, he went off to college. Like many of his siblings and cousins, Dad eventually became a teacher. I often say that education is a "disorder that runs in my family." I appreciate the fact that many members of my immediate and extended family have been involved in education.

One more note about Pillsbury's production. Our youngest son, Andy, had a role in the play. He portrayed Guy Hawkins, a rough character who always wanted to beat up the teacher and put him in his place. Eventually, Guy comes around and becomes one of Jesse Stuart's star pupils.

We are very proud of Andy. In addition to performing in the spring play, he sings in the college choir and has been one of the catchers on the Pillsbury Comet baseball team this spring. He is planning on working at a Christian camp this summer, so he will be a pretty busy young man. I forgot to mention that Andy just turned twenty. We have no more teenagers! What a blessing. Of course, our granddaughter Peyton Rose will become a teenager in just three years. The cycle will begin anew.

Easter Reflections

2007-04-08T22:10:00.000-04:00

As is the case with almost all religious holidays, the "religious" character of holidays is often overshadowed by commercialism and materialism. Easter Day is no exception, what with Easter bunnies, Easter eggs, Easter outfits, Easter candy, and the like. Even though it is the culmination of "Holy Week" within some liturgical churches, it still should be a day of great rejoicing as we commemorate the resurrection of our Lord.

Numerous composers have written profoundly beautiful music to celebrate the day, running the gamut from Bach and Handel to more contemporary Christian composers. Athough Handel's Messiah is often performed during the Christmas Season, many of the well-known and well-loved portions of Messiah are actually taken from biblical texts celebrating Easter. One of Ron Hamilton's earlier works, The Centurion, tells us the story of Easter from the perspective of one of the Roman centurions involved with our Lord's crucifixion.

Here in Owatonna, we enjoyed worshiping at Grace Baptist Church this morning. In our first service, we read several Bible passages and sang a number of hymns related to Easter. We also celebrated the Lord's Supper. Then we were treated to a nice Easter morning breakfast. During the second service, there were several special musical numbers appropriate for the day. And finally, we heard a message from God's Word that empahasized how we should be affected and influenced by Christ's resurrection.

Nancy and Tricia prepared a nice turkey dinner for Easter. We had some of our children (and our two grandchildren) over for the afternoon, because we consider family fellowship to be vitally important. Although there is probably not the same level of excitement as at Christmas, we eagerly anticipate these opportunities when our family members are able to get together for fellowship. All in all, this was a good Easter Day for our family.

April — Transition Time

2007-04-01T17:05:00.000-04:00

In many ways, April is a time for transition. Although the weather can be tricky during April, especially up here in the Upper Midwest, the precipitation that we have is generally in the form of rain rather than snow. Just this past week here in Minnesota, we have had several days of rain. The grass is turning green and the buds are begin to come out on the trees. It won't be long before we store our snow blower and start firing up our lawnmower. Nancy has already prepared the ground around last year's new deck in order to plant flowers and the like. And we are also planning to put a coat of protective sealant on our new deck as soon as we get some warm, dry weather.

But April also represents other transitions as well. In the academic realm, these next few weeks are the last weeks of the school year. If you are a senior in high school, you are anticipating graduation from high school and perhaps planning to attend college in the fall. The last few weeks of high school can be pretty exciting, but you are also beginning to realize that there many changes in the offing. As for college seniors, what has been a four (or five, or six!) year academic journey is finally coming to a conclusion. With graduation from college comes the excitement (and sometimes a little anxiety) of figuring out what you are going to do with your life. For many college graduates, getting married or getting a job are at the top of the "to do" list.

And for those of us who teach, the end of another school year represents the culmination of sharing our academic expertise with a unique group of students. While we will teach some of those students in the coming years, other students will be graduating from college or will choose to attend another insitution. For me, the end of the school year has always been a time of great rejoicing. It is satisfying to finish up classes and bring the academic year to a close. This will mark the end of my thirty-fifth year of teaching, but with every graduation there is a little sadness as you say farewell to students whom you might not ever see again. You hope and pray that God will protect them and bless their lives. For them, in a way, their adult lives are just beginning (which is why we call graduation "commencement"), but for those of us who teach, it is a reminder that the years of our lives are continuing to add up.

Indeed, April is a time of transition.

Wonderful Christian Music

2007-03-26T13:50:00.000-04:00

We are enjoying some wonderfully warm weather as we begin Spring Break here at Pillsbury this week. It could possibly snow again, but we certainly hope not. I remember April Fool's Day a few years ago when the weatherman predicted a few snow flurries; we did get snow flurries, but the problem was that we got four inches of snow flurries! End of weather discussion.

A week ago Sunday was Pillsbury Day at Grace Baptist Church here in Owatonna. Pillsbury's small vocal ensemble, "Singing His Praise," provided special music in the morning service. For the evening service, the Pillsbury and Grace Baptist choirs sang several numbers under the able direction of Darrell Bevis and Tom Lawson. Dr. Crane preached in the evening service, and among other points, he encouraged all of us that Pillsbury College is moving ahead. We have had a few financial bumps in the road, but we feel that God will meet the needs of our college just as He has for the last fifty years. Please pray for Pillsbury in the days ahead.

On Saturday evening, I was greatly privileged to play in a classical and sacred concert presented by Deo Cantamus, which is Latin for "We Sing For God." This group is made up of born-again Christians who present two concerts a year at Fourth Baptist Church in Plymouth, Minnesota. The group is directed by Allen Hawkins, a gifted choral conducter who is an adjunct voice professor at Crown College. This is what Al has posted on the Deo Cantamus website: "...God has blessed us in so many ways. It is my greatest joy to use the gifts and circumstances He has provided to further glorify Him. To use music as a tool for teaching and encouraging holiness is what I enjoy doing most. This takes a commitment to high standards that is often absent in the music that contemporary society promotes. It is my goal to teach and conduct in a way that encourages individuals to pursue the standards needed to perfom at a level that inspires others and glorifies God..."

Needless to say, Al is my kind of guy. The major sacred classical piece on the program was Vivaldi's Gloria, which is a wonderful choral expression of why Christians can glorify God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. The middle part of the program was sung by "Let the Children Praise," which is a children's choir that Al works with during the year. They sang a variety of numbers, including Pergolesi, Bach, and other sacred works. Finally, the Deo Cantamus Chorale concluded the evening with a selection of "Great Hymns of the Faith." This concert was professionally done, but the purpose of the group is to "sing for God."

It was refreshing to have the opportunity of playing with Deo Cantamus. If you live in the Twin Cities, their next concert will be in the fall of 2007. It will be worth your while to attend.

Small World Department

2007-03-16T22:08:00.000-04:00

As we await the real manifestation of spring here southern Minnesota, I was reminded of the fact that in many ways we live in a small world. Although the advent of modern air travel has made the world seem smaller geographically, I am thinking of how we often interact with people who just happen to know a friend or family member. Nancy and I experienced several examples of that phenomenon in the last several days.

We ate lunch on Tuesday with friends from the Phoenix area. Our nephew, Nathan Crane, is married to daughter Andrea. It turns out that they are very good friends with missionary Ron Brewer, who was a student here at Pillsbury in the mid-1960s. As it happened, Ron Brewer spoke in Pillsbury's chapel on Thursday morning. In talking to Ron, we found out that his son and wife have been at Grace Gospel Church in Huntington, West Virginia, for the last fifteen years or so. Nancy and I taught at that church's Christian school back in 1983-1984, just before we came to Pillsbury.

On Wednesday night, the BJU Drama Team gave their presentation at Grace Gospel Church here in Owatonna. As I chatted with one of the members of the team, Seth Armstrong, we realized that he had been on the same Mexico missions team that Cynthia has traveled with for several years. Also, Seth is from the same California church that one of our Pillsbury students used to attend. The leaders of the drama team are Isaac and Jill Crockett. Isaac's dad, Leigh Crockett, was our brother-in-law Joe's BJU roommate back in the 1970s.

Finally, it's Opera Week at BJU. This year's presentation is Verdi's masterpiece Rigoletto. As it happens, I was a freshman at BJU in the spring of 1968, and the opera that year was Rigoletto. I had the privilege of playing oboe in the opera orchestra for the performance. In an interview with the arts writer for the Greenville News on Sunday, Dr. Dwight Gustafson reminisced about that performance. He had returned from completing his doctorate at Florida State University in the fall of 1967, so he was getting back into his conducting role at BJU. I consider myself so fortunate to have sat under his tutelage in the BJU orchestra for over fifteen years. A couple of notes [no pun intended!] about the 1968 performance: the title role was sung by a 26-year-old tenor named Sherrill Milnes, who became one of the great tenors of the later twentieth century. And my favorite memory from that performance is that Dr. Gustafson's wife Gwen was the understudy for the soprano lead in Rigoletto, namely Gilda. I don't remember who sang the soprano role during the final performance, but I do remember that Gwen Gustafson was absolutely terrific as the understudy!

As I say in the sidebar to this blog, "The lines are fallen unto [us] in pleasant places." (Psalm 16:6). Nancy and I have been married for nearly thirty-seven years, and we have seven wonderful children and two GREAT grandchildren. We thank the Lord for our family and for our friends, because they have enriched our lives. And God has given us great contentment as he has led us from place to place and ministry to ministry. There is no greater blessing than being in the center of God's will. I trust that you know what God's will is for your life and that you are in the place of His appointment.

2007 Missions Conference at Pillsbury

2007-03-08T22:39:00.000-05:00

The 2007 Missions Conference at Pillsbury College ended earlier today. In the opinion of many of those who were in attendance, it was one of the best conferences that we have had in recent years. Phil Hunt, who has been a missionary in Zambia for about fifteen years, was the keynote speaker. He preached powerfully, with two of his messages being based on Philippians 1:21: "For me to live [is] Christ, and to die [is] gain." Rev. Hunt observed that many Christians act as if the verse says, "For me to live is gain, and to die is Christ." We must realize that our lives are in God's hands and that we must be willing to sacrifice our lives to God's service. We could live for many years, or we could die "prematurely." Either way, God will use us as he sees fit.

Several of the speakers recalled the words of Nate Saint, one of five young men killed in Ecuador by Auca Indians in 1956. In one of Nate Saint's journals, he had made the observation that, "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose." I would have to say that was the "unofficial" theme of this year's conference. It was a great week at Pillsbury.

Tribute to Roy Crane (1923-2007)

2007-03-01T20:06:00.000-05:00

My father-in-law, Roy Crane, passed away at the age of 83 on Monday, February 19. He had been in poor health for the last several years, but he died from acute toxic shock after being transported to the hospital by ambulance. He is survived by my mother-in-law, Vera Crane, who is in her later 70s. She had been my father-in-law's primary health care provider in recent years. My mother-in-law did not want to see her husband placed in a nursing home or in an assisted care facility, so she provided the love and attention that only a wife of nearly sixty years could give. She transported her husband to the doctor's office and took him to see their children and grandchildren on special occasions. Although we will miss him greatly, he is now with his Father in heaven, and he is a far better place.

Nancy's dad was born in Farmington, Michigan, and he grew up in Mt. Clemens, Michigan. His folks later bought a farm in southern Indiana, but he did not live there. Roy enlisted in the U.S. Army on December 8, 1941, the day after Pearl Harbor was attacked. He served in India, Burma, and China under General Stilwell. After the war, he married Vera Abbey on August 2, 1947.

He attended Olivet Nazarene College for a year, and then he enrolled at Bob Jones University in Greenville, South Carolina, where he graduated in 1951. Roy and Vera returned to Roseville, Michigan, where they lived together for over fifty years and raised a family of seven children. Dad taught math and driver's education in the St. Clair Shores School District. He was also very active in his church, serving as a deacon and moderator several times over the years. And one of his favorite things was to take the family up to the family cottage in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. All of us enjoyed going to Piatt Lake, where Grandpa Crane took great delight in being "King of the Raft." We have many great memories of the days we spent at the cottage.

My father-in-law was a repesentative what Tom Brokaw has called the "Greatest Generation." I concur with Tom Brokaw. It was most fitting that there was a military honor guard at the cemetery. When the two soldiers folded the American flag that had been draped over the casket and presented it to my mother-in-law, it was an emotional moment indeed. Dad had fought to defend this country, and he was rightly honored at the time of his death. Several of his grandchildren have volunteered to serve their country in the military. He was proud of their willingness to do so.

My wife Nancy is the oldest of the seven children. The Cranes also have thirty-eight grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchildren. At the funeral service on (which was held on Saturday, February 24), 37 of the 38 grandchildren were present, along with 14 of the 15 great-grandchildren. In my personal remarks during the funeral service, I pointed out the rows of grandchildren and great-grandchildren and stated that they represented my father-in-law's "greatest legacy." Faith Baptist Church in Warren, Michigan, provided a lunch for the members of the family, and we were able to take several photos of those who were present. This photo includes the grandchildren, the great-grandchildren, and Grandma Crane sitting right in the middle. When she came up to take her seat, the kids cheered and applauded her. That WAS an emotional moment.

The last time that Grandpa and Grandma Crane visited us here in Minnesota was when Andy graduated from high school in 2005. They flew from Detroit to Minneapolis on Northwest Airlines. Although it was a little difficult on Grandpa Crane, he and Grandma managed just fine. We took Grandpa to church and to the graduation ceremony for Andy. He also enjoyed the graduation open house. It just so happened that the next day was Grandpa's 82nd birthday, so we had a party for him. You can see him here blowing out the candles on his cake, along with the help of his great-granddaughter Peyton Rose Vasquez.

Nancy's dad and mom would have celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on August 2, but her dad slipped away before that could happen. On the occasion of their 50th anniversary, we had a great celebration in Michigan. But they were quite the pair, right up to the end. Indeed, it's hard to think of Roy Crane without also thinking of Vera Crane.

On Nancy's birthday last December 10, she was talking to her dad and mom on the phone. After chatting with her dad for a few minutes, he sang "Happy Birthday" to her over the phone. Even though he was in the twilight of his life, he remembered and recognized one of his children. As Psalm 116:15 so eloquently states, "Precious in the sight of the LORD [is] the death of his saints."

Pillsbury Comets Win Regional Tournament

2007-02-19T07:59:00.000-05:00

The Pillsbury Comets basketball team won a dramatic come-from-behind victory on Saturday afternoon here in Owatonna. Pillsbury was the host school for the NCCAA North Central Region tournament, and the Comets were playing the North Central University Rams for the regional championship. The Comets were down 53-25 with fifteen minutes to play in the game, but they never gave up on themselves. They mangaged to tie the game in regulation, and then it took three overtimes before the Comets finally prevailed 91-86. Nancy and I were in attendance, and it was one of the most electrifying games that I have ever seen in person. You can imagine the crowd reaction when the game was over. The victory was a credit to our young men and the coaching staff.

I would like to pay tribute to Cedric Jones, the North Central coach. Even though his North Central team had just lost a heartbreaker, Coach Jones made several eloquent and gracious comments to the crowd, as well as to the Pillsbury Comets and their coach Keith Champion.

Speaking of Coach Champion, I would like to honor him for his ministry here at Pillsbury. I have known Keith for nearly ten years now, and I consider him to be a wonderful role model for his athletes. He has coached at two or three other Christian colleges, and everywhere he goes, people hold Keith in high regard. He even writes a weekly column for the Owatonna People's Press. The name of his column is "From the Sidelines," in which Keith discusses the athletic world from a Christian perspective. And before I forget to mention it, Keith received a great honor Saturday. He was named Coach of the Year in the NCCAA North Central Region. All in all, it was a wonderful weekend here at Pillsbury. We thank the Lord for His blessings in our lives. That's the bottom line of why we do what we do here at Pillsbury College.

Pillsbury College Student Teachers

2007-02-17T14:15:00.000-05:00

Friday was the last day of classes for our student teachers here at Pillsbury College. They have six weeks of block classes before heading out for their student teaching assignments next week. We have nine seniors doing their student teaching this spring; six are elementary education majors, and three are secondary education majors. Most of the young ladies are student teaching here in Minnesota, but two of them are student teaching out-of-state, one of them in Pennsylvania and the other in Wisconsin. Miss Brenda Johnson, my colleague in the Education Division, organizes a reception for the student teachers before they leave, and you can see our student teachers at the reception in the attached photograph.

Pillsbury College is all about training young people for vocational service and ministry. We will be praying for these young ladies as they begin student teaching next week. And Lord willing, they will be "walking the line" along with the other Pillsbury seniors exactly eleven weeks today when we have graduation here at Pillsbury. Graduation is always an exciting time for the graduating seniors, and Pillsbury is no exception.

New Administrative Position at Pillsbury Baptist Bible College

2007-02-13T13:44:00.000-05:00

Dr. Robert Crane, president of Pillsbury Baptist Bible College, made an important announcement in chapel this morning. Dr. Werner Lumm, who presently serves as Pillsbury's Academic Dean, will take on an added administrative responsibility. He will become Executive Vice President of Pillsbury. This will allow Dr. Crane to be away from the campus on a regular basis to promote the College and to interact with prospective students. Dr. Lumm has an extensive background in education, having served in a variety of academic settings previous to his arrival at Pillsbury three years ago.

It just so happened that our chapel speaker this morning was Dr. Carl Herbster, who is the pastor of Tri-City Baptist Church in Independence, Missouri. Before coming to Pillsbury, Dr. Lumm worked with Dr. Herbster as the Administrative Director of the American Association of Christian Schools. Dr. Herbster is also a good friend of the McGuire family. Several of his children went to school with our older children at Bob Jones Elementary School back in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Please pray for Pillsbury as we continue educating young people for Christian service. Our desire is to see our graduates serve the Lord in whatever way He leads. Some will be involved in full-time Christian vocational ministry, while others will find vocational opportunities in the secular world. All of our graduates will also be prepared to minister in good local churches as well. If you know of any high school students seeking a Christian college education, please encourage them to check out Pillsbury Baptist Bible College.

Ronald Reagan (1911-2004)

2007-02-06T14:00:00.000-05:00

Today is Ronald Reagan's birthday. He was born in 1911, as was Dr. Bob Jones, Jr. My dad was also born in 1911, just a few days after Ronald Reagan. Reagan was born in northern Illinois, and my dad was born in eastern Kentucky. I used to tell my dad that I knew three famous people who were born in 1911, but that many people didn't know who the most important person born in 1911. That was my dad!

At any rate, I am including a portion of a classic Reagan speech that he delivered in 1974. He retells the story of what happened to some of the American patriots who signed the Decalaration of Independence. In this time of great political division in our country, these words are an inspiration to me and they remind me of why we live in the greatest country in the history of the world. I trust you will be inspired and moved by Reagan's observations:

"Some years ago a writer, who happened to be an avid student of history, told me a story about that day in the little hall in Philadelphia where honorable men, hard-pressed by a King who was flouting the very law they were willing to obey, debated whether they should take the fateful step of declaring their independence from that king. I was told by this man that the story could be found in the writings of Jefferson. I confess, I never researched or made an effort to verify it. Perhaps it is only legend. But story, or legend, he described the atmosphere, the strain, the debate, and that as men for the first time faced the consequences of such an irretrievable act, the walls resounded with the dread word of treason and its price—the gallows and the headman's axe. As the day wore on the issue hung in the balance, and then, according to the story, a man rose in the small gallery. He was not a young man and was obviously calling on all the energy he could muster. Citing the grievances that had brought them to this moment he said, “Sign that parchment. They may turn every tree into a gallows, every home into a grave and yet the words of that parchment can never die. For the mechanic in his workshop, they will be words of hope, to the slave in the mines—freedom.” And he added, “If my hands were freezing in death, I would sign that parchment with my last ounce of strength. Sign, sign if the next moment the noose is around your neck, sign even if the hall is ringing with the sound of headman’s axe, for that parchment will be the textbook of freedom, the bible of the rights of man forever.” And then it is said he fell back exhausted. But 56 delegates, swept by his eloquence, signed the Declaration of Independence, a document destined to be as immortal as any work of man can be. And according to the story, when they turned to thank him for his timely oratory, he could not be found nor were there any who knew who he was or how he had come in or gone out through the locked and guarded doors.

"Well, as I say, whether story or legend, the signing of the document that day in Independence Hall was miracle enough. Fifty-six men, a little band so unique—we have never seen their like since—pledged their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor. Sixteen gave their lives, most gave their fortunes and all of them preserved their sacred honor. What manner of men were they? Certainly they were not an unwashed, revolutionary rebel, nor were then adventurers in a heroic mood. Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists, 11 were merchants and tradesmen, nine were farmers. They were men who would achieve security but valued freedom more.

"And what price did they pay? John Hart was driven from the side of his desperately ill wife. After more than a year of living almost as an animal in the forest and in caves, he returned to find his wife had died and his children had vanished. He never saw them again, his property was destroyed and he died of a broken heart—but with no regret, only pride in the part he had played that day in Independence Hall. Carter Braxton of Virginia lost all his ships—they were sold to pay his debts. He died in rags. So it was with Ellery, Clymer, Hall, Walton, Gwinnett, Rutledge, Morris, Livingston, and Middleton. Nelson, learning that Cornwallis was using his home for a headquarters, personally begged Washington to fire on him and destroy his home--he died bankrupt. It has never been reported that any of these men ever expressed bitterness or renounced their action as not worth the price. Fifty-six rank-and-file, ordinary citizens had founded a nation that grew from sea to shining sea, five million farms, quiet villages, cities that never sleep—all done without an area re-development plan, urban renewal or a rural legal assistance program."

Words and thoughts to ponder.

My Oboe Odyssey: Part I

2007-02-05T22:40:00.000-05:00

Many of us learned to play the piano or some other musical intrument when we were young, often at the behest of a parent. In my case, I had a mom who was a fine violinist and music teacher. She also taught piano, but I absolutely refused to take lessons from her, or anyone else for that matter. Fifty years later, I regret that fact, but there is nothing I can do to change that situation. Fortunately, my mom did prevail upon me to play some instrument. She often suggested that I consider the French horn, the bassoon, or the oboe. In the summer of 1961, I decided to give the oboe a shot. What a decision.

I soon discovered that many of my colleagues already had been playing clarinet, flute, trumpet, or whatever, for a year or two. And I also quickly discovered the first rule of begining oboe players: "Develop a thick skin." When a flutist or clarinetist makes a mistake, they just shrug it off. But when an oboist makes a mistake, everyone knows it. It can be very embarassing. I was most fortunate in that we had an excellent band director at Plymouth Junior High School East. His name was Mr. Larry Livingston; he had grown up playing clarinet in the "big band" era. He could be a little crazy at times, but he loved directing the band. Each spring, we had a big production called the "Band Show," and it was a fun time.

There was also the question of taking private lessons. I started out taking lessons from a high school student and then a college student, but by the time I got to high school, I was studying with Ron Odmark, the second oboist in the Detroit Symphony. He was a great guy and very easy to get along with. He taught me how to make reeds and also how to play halfway decently. I played my share of solos for the Michigan Solo and Ensemble Festival, but I never really liked having to memorize the music. But I survived.

It was also my good fortune to have a great high school band director at Plymouth High School. Mr. James Griffith (affectionately known as "Griff") was a no-nonsense graduate of the University of Michigan. We played good band literature, and I appreciated his approach. Some of my peers didn't care for him as much as I did, but that's just the way things were.

During marching band season, I did NOT play my oboe. I got to play bass drum and tenor drum instead. Of course, marching band was a lot of fun, but I was always glad to get back to concert band when the marching season was over. Mr. Griffith knew good arrangers over at U of M, so we got to play some neat pieces in marching band, as well as in concert band. All of this was good preparation for college, even though I didn't know it at the time. In future installments, I want to share some of my experiences at Interlochen's National Music Camp and at Bob Jones University.

Cats: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

2007-01-30T14:51:00.000-05:00

When we lived in Greenville, South Carolina, we had several cats and a couple of dogs as pets. One of our dogs, affectionately known as Charlie, was a beautiful standard poodle. But he became very jealous of the kids, and we finally sold him to a couple who had no children of their own. As it stands right now, we are down to one cat, and he is pictured here:

His name is Kitty Baby. Friends of ours in Greenville named their cat Kitty Baby, so we borrowed the name from them. Kitty Baby was rescued from the dumpster at our local McDonald's in 1993. Daniel was working there at the time, and he brought Kitty Baby home in a little shoe box. I determined to take the cat to the humane society the next day, but Nancy and the kids prevailed upon me to keep their cat. I did not take Kitty Baby to the humane society, and he is still with us to this day.

I must say that Kitty Baby is pretty selective about who he will allow to hold him. For some years, he was a male chauvinist cat, and he would not go to any female members of the family. Of course, when Peyton and Oscar come over to visit, Kitty Baby goes into deep hiding. He will have nothing to do with the grandchildren. He has mellowed out in his "old age," but he still has his preferences.

The reason that I even bring up Kitty Baby was an article in London's Daily Mail. It seems that some veterinarian in Brighton, England, decided to give Prozac to a cat named Twiglet. Acording to the article, "the patient would not go out for fear of being bullied, moped around the house and sought comfort in eating. The 12-year-old grey tabby, whose weight had ballooned to 15lb, became one of the first pets in Britain to be given anti-depressant drugs, on the advice of a vet who said she had 'anger management issues'. And the results have been dramatic. Five months later, Twiglet has lost almost 7lb and is roaming around the back garden without fear." I don't know about you, but medical science seems to have branched out a good bit over the years. You can check out Twiglet and her owner here:

And I close today's lesson on pets with a couple of photos of "bad-looking" cats. Perhaps these two need a little Prozac as well:

What Happened to Winter? Part II

2007-01-29T16:37:00.000-05:00

I know that some of you out there have been quite worried about our seeming lack of winter here in southern Minnesota. Just to set your mind at ease, winter has made an appearance, sort of. We experienced temperatures around zero over the weekend, and we even had a light dusting of snow today. The folks at the Weather Channel are suggesting that we might have the coldest sustained temperatures of the winter this coming weekend, with the mercury dipping down to ten below or so for a couple of nights.

Aside from keeping yourself warm, you also have to be concerned about your vehicle being able to start on bitterly cold mornings. If there is anything wrong with your vehicle, or if there are any weak links in any of your vehicle's systems, the cold winter weather will invariably expose said weaknesses and cause a degree of misery or inconvenience. But we figure that if we can get through February, we only have to survive March. Hope springs eternal, literally speaking. If anything, winter helps you to appreciate spring and summer.

Forty Years Ago

2007-01-25T09:38:00.000-05:00

It's time for a little nostalgia. I grew up in Plymouth, Michigan, which is just west of Detroit. In many ways, the Plymouth that I knew in the 1960s is quite similar to the City of Owatonna, Minnesota, where we have lived for the past twenty-three years. This is a current photo of Owatonna's Central Park:

Just to the north of Owatonna's Central Park is a bank building designed by Louis Sullivan. Folks from all over stop by to take photographs and check out the interior. It is an architectural masterpiece.

Compare Plymouth's Central Park with Owatonna's. They are strikingly similar. When I was a teenager in Plymouth, one of the big activities of the year was the Fall Festival, which was held on Labor Day Weekend, as I recall. There would be food and all kinds of gala activities over the weekend.

At any rate, I was a high school senior exactly forty years ago. Our high school building had been around for decades, and there had been renovation and modernization over the years. I remember my Latin teacher (yes, I took Latin in high school) describing how the building had burned in 1918 when SHE had been a student. Since I graduated in 1967, Plymouth has built three new high schools in conjunction with the nearby community of Canton. My old high school is now Plymouth Central Middle School. This is what my old high school looks like today:

During the spring of 1967, I enjoyed all of the perks of being a senior and making preparations for graduating in June. I remember two or three significant events in the midst of all the hoopla. One of the big decisions that I had to make was where I would go to college. I had applied to Schoolcraft Community College and to the University of Michigan. Schoolcraft had accepted me without any conditions, but the U of M accepted me conditionally. I suspect that my GPA in high school was not quite high enough for their standards.

Of course, my parents wanted me to consider going to a Christian college, and I was certainly open to that possibility. Since Dad and Mom had ties to Bob Jones University, we decided to make the trip down to Greenville. We visited campus during the week of Bible Conference. I stayed in the dorm and attended several of the services, and it was during that week that I heard Ian Paisley speak for the first time. I went by the Admissions Office and spoke with David Christ, who was in charge of Admissions. I thought it interesting that someone with that name was employed by BJU, but he and I have been friends for many years in spite of that fact. The rest, as they say, is history. I was accepted by BJU and of course returned to Greenville that fall as a freshman. I will write more on that experience in another post.

When I returned to Plymouth, I went on another trip, this time to New York City. I was in a high school class called International Relations, and one of the perks of that class was the opportunity to visit the United Nations. So the members of our class boarded the train in Ann Arbor and made our way overnight to Grand Central Station in New York City. We spent about four days in NYC, visiting the United Nations and seeing the sights. We visited the Statue of Liberty and Rockefeller Center, among other things. We also took the subway (at night, no less) down to Greenwich Village, which was most interesting. But our sojourn in NYC came to an end, and we soon made our trek back to Michigan.

As graduation approached, one more memorable event occurred. During our final exams, the Six Day War between the Israelis and the Arabs broke out. Since I had just been to the United Nations, I followed the proceedings with great interest. I was particularly impressed with the diplomacy of Abba Eban, Israel's foreign minister. It was finally time for graduation. The graduation ceremonies were held in those days at the PHS football field, and on June 16, 1967, I received my high school diploma. I was ready to conquer the world, but as I will discuss in future posts, my life's history took quite a few twists and turns during the next forty years.

Four-Dimensional Ultrasound Scans

2007-01-16T21:18:00.000-05:00

The Internet is a major source of information, and every once in a while, a remarkable story comes to light. The Daily Mail of London ran such a story on January 16. It seems that British scientists have developed an amazing new technology. This new breakthrough is known as a "four-dimensional" ultrasound scan. According to the Daily Mail, "The new 4D scan uses the same frequency of sound waves as in a normal ultrasound. But the sound waves are directed from many more angles, producing a 'real-time' video of the foetus as it moves and allowing scientists to say the images are in four dimensions. This advanced technology has allowed scientists to capture the development of foetuses like never before, including twins and triplets jostling for space in the womb while grasping each other's hands and even faces. The images have also allowed scientists to create life-size silicone models and astonishing computer-generated images of the multiple foetuses, some of which are seen in the pictures shown here."

As far as I am concerned, these images are a stunning acknowledgement that a baby in the womb is a miracle of God's creation. I am reminded of Psalm 127:3, which states that "children [are] an heritage of the LORD: [and] the fruit of the womb [is his] reward." These images serve to remind us that every child is a gift from God; we have no business supporting abortion.

What Happened to Winter?

2007-01-11T09:20:00.000-05:00

At this time of year, the cold weather usually has us in its icy grip, and the Pillsbury campus often looks like this. But such is not the case this year. It is not my desire to get into the global warming debate, but it is worth noting that the weather here in southern Minnesota has been wonderfully mild the last couple of months. During our first winter in Owatonna (1984-1985), we saw the thermometer dip to 28 degrees below zero by the middle of December. And we received a fair amount of snow as well. Over the years, we have had our share of brutal winter weather during December and January. But this year, we have had exactly two snowstorms (if you can call them that). We had six inches on November 10, and then we had two inches on New Year's Eve. The temperatures have been quite moderate as well, with readings in the 30s and 40s not at all uncommon. But it is supposed to get down below zero by early next week for those who love cold winter weather.

If you are from Colorado, the very thought of any more snow this year sends shudders up and down your spine. I wouldn't much blame you for feeling that way. And who knows? Perhaps we will get dumped on before spring arrives. About all we can do is talk about the weather, so we will have to take it as it comes. Since I am not an winter outdoor enthusiast, I am grateful that we have gotten off fairly lightly this winter.

Dr. Walter Fremont (1924-2007)

2007-01-08T15:16:00.000-05:00

Dr. Walter Fremont had a remarkable influence on the development of Christian education in America during the last third of the twentieth century. And he served as a wonderful influence in my life. When I came to Bob Jones University as a freshman in 1967, he was the Dean of the School of Education. Four years later, I graduated from BJU and was preparing to teach history on the college level. I worked on a master's degree at Clemson University, and then Nancy and I returned to BJU in the fall of 1972. I taught history at BJU for eleven years under the leadership of Dr. Edward Panosian (who taught History of Civ at BJU for 42 years).

Yet, it was Dr. Fremont who was always a role model and a Christian gentleman. He was famous for his enthusiasm and zeal, both in and out of the classroom. He would sometimes take off a shoe and a sock and comment on "how beautiful are the feet" of a Christian. About twenty years or so ago, he was stricken with Lou Gehrig's Disease. The disease may have slowed him down a bit, but it was wonderful and heartwarming to visit him in Barge Memorial Hospital on the BJU Campus. You came away realizing that you had been in the presence of a remarkable individual.

I am honored to have known him, and I am greatly honored that he was a friend. We will miss you Dr. Fremont.

The Political Realities of Early 2007

2007-01-03T19:31:00.000-05:00

On occasion, I plan to offer my take on the political scene, both here in Minnesota and on the national level. In the interest of full disclosure, I am the co-chair of the Republican Party here in Steele County, so you can consider my comments in that light. By any measure, Republicans had a rough time in the 2006 elections. Gil Gutknecht, our Republican congressman for the last twelve years, was defeated for reelection. Several Republicans running for statewide office were also defeated. But our Republican governor, Tim Pawlenty, managed to win his race by 20,000 votes. We can be grateful that we have a Republican governor, considering the fact that both houses of the State Legislature are controlled by the Democrats.

Governor Pawlenty is a believer, and as part of his inaugural activities, he began the day by attending a worship service at the nondenominational evangelical Wooddale Church in Eden Prairie (see attached photo). Philosophically, Pawlenty is a moderate conservative, but more important than his political philosophy is that he is a man of his word. We need more political leaders like Governor Pawlenty; he is one class act. I am proud that he is my governor.

On the national level, President Bush's popularity has declined since his reelection in 2004. Republicans have lost their majorities in the US Senate and the US House. But now is not the time to despair. There will be another election in 2008. If Democrats in Congress overreach and engage in ultra-partisanship, then Republicans can make a comeback. I never like to see my candidates lose elections, but under our constitutional republic, the voters get to decide on who they want in office. Republicans need to do a better job of articulating what they stand for, and they need to give voters a reason to vote Republican in 2008. The Chinese proverb says, "May you live in interesting times." Stay tuned, because the next two years will be very interesting. There will be many twists and turns before we vote again in 2008.

The Week Between Christmas Day and New Year's Day

2006-12-30T19:49:00.000-05:00

Normally, the week between Christmas Day and New Year's Day is pretty quiet. But this year has been an remarkable exception to the rule.

On the international scene, we have witnessed the deaths of two former world leaders. One of these world leaders was President Gerald Ford. As I write this, his state funeral is underway. By my count, Ford is the eighth president to die during my lifetime. For most of us baby boomers, the assassination and death of John F. Kennedy in 1963 was probably one of the saddest events that we will ever experience, aside from the events of September 11, 2001. But the funeral of any president is a poignant reminder that we live in a country that God has blessed abundantly, in spite of our own spiritual failures.

The other former world leader was Saddam Hussein. His execution is certainly a dramatic event in the ongoing Iraq War. Of course that war has divided our nation. I would like to think that this division will soon come to an end, and I am praying to that end. We need to pray for our political and military leaders, and we need to pray for our brave soldiers in Iraq.

On a more personal note, Christmas Day was a wonderful family event. All of our children, except for Michael, were able to be with us for the day. Nancy, Cynthia, and Tricia collaborated in the preparation of a great feast, with the main entree being ham (since we had a turkey for our Christmas Prequel, as mentioned in a previous post). I am attaching to this post a photo of those three most important women in my life. That photo was actually taken a year ago during the Christmas Season. The meal was followed by the opening of presents. Most of the gifts were clothing items and books, with Peyton Rose and Oscar Jonas receiving some toys in the process. I must admit that when our children were younger, they would not have been able to wait until the afternoon of Christmas to open presents. My, how they have matured.

Nancy paid a visit to Mayo Clinic on Wednesday and Thursday. She underwent several tests and consulted with Mayo physicians over the two days. As far as we can tell, she is in good shape physically, but it is reassuring to receive medical confirmation of that fact. Thursday was particularly busy for us. Cynthia, Nancy, and I drove over to Mayo at 6:00 AM to eat breakfast at Perkins, and then I dropped Nancy off at the front entrance of the clinic at 7:30 AM. The reason for this early breakfast was that Cynthia had to fly back to Greenville on Thursday morning. So I drove Cynthia to the Minneapolis airport and then returned to Rochester to be with Nancy as she waited for tests and consultations. Finally, we walked out of Mayo at 5:30 PM. We arrived in the dark and then left in the dark. The irony was that Cynthia had already landed at the Greenville-Spartanburg Airport BEFORE we left Mayo. It was a long day.

This has been an unusual week. We still have about ten days before Pillsbury begins second semester, so we have a bit of respite before that new beginning. Nancy and I wish you a Happy and Prosperous New Year in 2007.

Christmas at Pillsbury and at Grace Baptist Church

2006-12-20T23:06:00.000-05:00

One of the great things about the Christmas Season is the opportunity to play and sing wonderful Christmas music. Two weeks ago, Pillsbury College presented its Christmas Concert. Pillsbury's choral director is my longtime friend Darrell Bevis, who was a graduate student in music at Bob Jones University back in the 1970s when I taught at BJU. I played oboe for this concert, as you can see from the attached photograph.

On Sunday evening, December 17, the Grace Baptist Church Choir sang John Purifoy's Christmas cantata, which is entitled "Born a Savior, Born a King." Again, I had the privilege of playing in the orchestra, and I also was able to sing in the bass section when I wasn't playing oboe. Although I do believe in multi-tasking, I assure you that I do not sing and play at the same time!

During my freshman year at BJU—in 1967, no less!—I discovered that there was a ton of beautiful Christmas music that I had hardly heard, much less performed. In addition to Handel's "Messiah," I discovered Bach's "Christmas Oratorio," among other great Christmas music. I remember commenting to Dr. Dwight Gustafson, the BJU Orchestra director and long-time Dean of the School of Fine Arts, that it was like discovering a whole new dimension of music. He agreed!

Even though I draw a salary to teach history and education courses, I still love the opportunity of playing at Pillsbury, at church, and in several groups here in the Owatonna community. Just this past spring, the Owatonna Community Orchestra and Chorus performed John Rutter's "Requiem," which is an absolutely gorgeous contemporary English choral masterpiece. I am thrilled to have continuing opportunities to play my oboe. I thank the Lord for allowing me to develop at least a passable ability to master the oboe.

I trust that you will have a wonderful Christmas with your family and friends.

Christmas 2006: The Prequel

2006-12-16T20:20:00.000-05:00

Nancy and I enjoyed having all seven of our kids for dinner this afternoon. This amounts to the first installment of Christmas 2006. Michael and Anna moved to Fort Lauderdale in September, and because of their work schedules, they had to take their Christmas vacation a few days early. Cynthia arrived from South Carolina yesterday, so we were able to get everyone together on a beautiful sunny December afternoon in Minnesota. It is wonderful that our two grandchildren (Peyton and Oscar) live here in Owatonna, so they play a big part in the festivities.

The First Post

2006-12-16T00:15:00.000-05:00

This is my first post on my own blog, so I have much to learn. As I get this figured out, I'll add more entries. But this is the beginning.