Dear Family & Friends, I teach the Baptism candidate class tomorrow at Imago Dei Community.  The CLASSIC Friesen Fortnightly from Nov. 8, 2003 seemed appropriately “baptismal”. Baptism can be a empty ritual, but in many countries the day of a baptism is life and death.  Where Christians are persecuted, the persecution often begins at baptism [...]

Dear Family & Friends, On July 1, I began year 34 at Multnomah Bible College.  This CLASSIC Fortnightly from September 10, 2004 remembers how I got here in God’s sovereignty. Family & Friends, When I’m asked how I got to Multnomah, I remember that step one was that I was turned down for 25 other [...]

Dear Family & Friends, This CLASSIC Friesen Fortnightly from November 16, 2002 has a happy ending. “Neighbors turn up heat on drug house” (Portland Tribune 11/8/02).  I was studying during all those protest marches in college.  I’m making up for lost time.  Our neighbors organized a march of solidarity up and down our streets.  We [...]

Dear Family & Friends, I just finished my 33rd year of teaching at Multnomah and this CLASSIC from Sept. 5, 2004 reminds me that God gives significance to every moment of life. If the Olympics had an event for the most depressing book in the Bible, Lamentations gets gold, but  Ecclesiastes is nipping at its [...]

Dear Family & Friends, The new baseball season is underway.  So this CLASSIC update from Aug. 30, 2003 seemed appropriate.  Listen to the quotes of one of the greats – Yogi Berra. When I was a kid, Yogi Berra was catcher for the NY Yankee baseball machine that always declawed the Detroit Tigers.   He loved [...]

Family & Friends, With March Madness in swing it was the right atmosphere to remember U of M/OSU madness from December 20, 2003. Recently, at church we shared examples of God’s sovereignty.  I did not have the guts to share my best example, until now.  I returned from an Atlanta conference on  Nov. 22, day [...]

Dear Family & Friends, Spring training is beginning for baseball so I thought this “Classic” from January 5, 2003 might be a good introduction. I collected baseball cards growing up, but they all got thrown out.  At least I made use of the piece of bubblegum in each five card pack.  I have the fillings [...]

Dear Family & Friends, I’m regularly in the weight room at Multnomah and this Classic from June 6, 2003, is a reminder that it has not always gone well. I have never lifted weights so I never had a closet full of dusty barbells.    If I visited the beach there was no doubt that I [...]

Dear Family & Friends, A Bible teacher needs regular reminders to avoid becoming a Pharisee.  So this Classic Update from May 31, 2003 may be just what the dog ordered. I just finished a unique book, Cat & Dog Theology, by Sjogren & Robison. They have a bone to pick with many Christians. The joke [...]

CLASSIC Friesen Fortnightly Originally sent May 18, 2003 Dear Family & Friends, In May of 2003, I was asked by a mother that I earlier had as a student to give advice to her soon to be teenaged son. I turned it into an “Open Letter” and it is the CLASSIC for this week. [An [...]