Friesen CLASSIC Update
Originally sent April 26, 2003

Dear Family & Friends,

An African proverb says, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” I figured that out at 2:15 am on Easter morning. We held a New Testament Marathon. We listened to Matthew thru Revelation being read aloud. I expected to need a wake up call during the name lists. It was not needed. First, because in the rotation, I ended up reading the lists – Matthew 1, Luke 3 and Romans 16. Second, because the others were a great motivation. I have never gone 19 hours straight reading the N.T. by myself. God used motivated students – Josh, Sarah, Dan, Meagan, Blaine, Nicole, Ty, Matt, Daniel, Zack, John, Jelani – to keep my eyes and heart open. The most dominant feeling for me was one of cleansing, or in Paul’s words, “washing with the water of the Word.” We began at 7:00 am Saturday and finished at 2:15 am on Easter Sunday. We read the resurrection story four times in the gospels. What a way to enter Easter day. “Why are you looking for the living among the dead? He is not here. He has risen as He said.” I read faster alone, but WE read FARther together.

Garry