Let Me Share My Dad

            Every year for Father's Day, I post a letter that my father wrote me when I was in college. He was very faithful to write me during that time, and I treasure his letters today.

            My mother is my family's social butterfly. She is the one everyone has always considered to be funny. But my dad had a very good sense of humor as well. Many times this came out in his letters.

            You will get a taste of East Texas culture in the letter that follows. My dad grew up squirrel hunting in the wild woods, and he passed that love on to me.

            We always cooked the meat of the squirrels we killed, and he did not pass along to me his appreciation of that fine cuisine. Nevertheless, I have always enjoyed squirrel hunting, and I hope that you enjoy this portion of our culture.

            Daddy wrote this letter after returning home from a brief hunting trip to our property on White Oak Creek, near Saltillo, Texas. He wrote it early on Sunday morning, shortly before he taught his weekly Bible classes at my home church.

            So what follows is his letter to me when I was a sophomore at Abilene Christian University dated October 19, 1980. Unlike past letters I have printed, this one was not primarily offered for advice and encouragement; rather, it was a whimsical look at something I enjoyed and missed (squirrel hunting.) Let me share my dad with you:

Dear Mark,

            Sorry I missed your call yesterday afternoon but Quenton [a beloved family member by marriage] and I went down to the creek to do a little squirrel hunting. It was a cool cloudy day and not a leaf was stirring… and we just couldn't resist the opportunity. What we didn't count on though was that the mosquitoes liked to carry us off. When we spent four days down there a couple of weeks ago, there were very few mosquitoes, and we didn't look for any now.

            I only killed one squirrel. I probably could've killed more, but the shots kept bouncing off mosquitoes… and there was not enough punch left in them, so they were unable to kill the squirrel. They [the mosquitoes] were so big that they were able to talk. I couldn't hear anything but them talking. The mosquitoes kept coming back and telling me which way the squirrels went.

            They wanted me to be successful, though, so I would stay there and keep feeding them. I put enough OFF on me that they all got drunk, and then they really had a good time.

            Quenton’s arms [made him look] like he was a dope junkie. Well, the reason was they got their last lick in before a cold front moved in last night.

            … I have just finished my Sunday school lesson and have little time to write–[I] must get on by the house and check in before going to church. Imagine me lying [about] those little ’ol innocent mosquitoes just before going to teach a class at church.

            Mark, your mother and I decided we would just make a sizable contribution to the church instead of financing [next summer's] youth work. We are making a $10,000 contribution this morning and are including you and Lissa (my sister) on it. I made a copy of the check and am including it in this letter to you so that you can feel a part of it.

            Good luck on everything that you're doing as I am sure you have everything in the proper perspective. I have the utmost confidence in you and I feel that whatever you decide to do you will do it with the right motives and will be successful. You got what it takes “big boy.”

            We love you,

            Dad and all

            I might mention that my parents issued instructions to our church leaders that their gift was to be anonymous. My dad had sold off one of his businesses and wanted to offer a blessing to the church.

I pondered whether or not to include this portion of the letter, since daddy and mom made the offering anonymously. However, I am very proud of my parents and their generous spirit.

My father has been dead almost thirty years. Often, people reveal secrets about those long gone that are negative. I thought it would be nice to share a good secret.

            I am a blessed man, and I am grateful for my parental heritage.

            

Five Things I Think I Think (with a nod to Peter King for this idea)

1. Okay, I was wrong about Boston. Congratulations to the Bruins winning the Stanley Cup.  Tim Thomas, playoff MVP, is a phenomenal goalie.

2. Incidentally, I read that Thomas is a very committed Christian, who attends his Boston area church services regularly. Unusual for a professional athlete.

3. Yesterday, Mike Warner preached in our morning worship service. Mike preached for over thirty years for Shiloh, and was my predecessor. This year, he celebrates fifty years of preaching. Mike and his wife, Barbara, have been true blessings to Judy and me. They model what it means to welcome a new preacher to a congregation—and then help him survive and thrive! It would be worthwhile for a church to invite them to do a workshop on congregations and the preaching ministry (or on marriage, or on parenting for that matter.)

4. Here is a good quote from my colleague, Charles Smith, who preached on Amos last night at Shiloh: “Israel substituted an hour of worship for a week of righteous living.” His says he probably got it from John Willis years ago. Still, a good quote.

5. West Erwin, I look forward to sharing with you from Exodus this Wednesday night. Thanks for having me.

The Death Angel

            I came across this nugget from the pen* of the late Richard John Neuhaus, editor of the journal, FIRST THINGS. 

            Dr. Joseph Mengele was a Nazi war criminal.  You may have heard of him.  He was known as the "Angel of Death."  For years, at the Auschwitz concentration camp, Mengele tortured prisoners. He cruelly performed "scientific" experiments upon them. Many died from Mengele’s torment.

            After World War Two, Mengele fled to Argentina.  During the early 90s, the new democratic government in Argentina opened up their previously sealed files on the Nazis, who had fled to Argentina. Guess how Dr. Mengele made his living in Argentina? As a doctor who performed abortions.

            Does this subliminally speak to us about the nature and practice of abortion?

*Source: FIRST THINGS, March 2009 issue, p. 66.

Five Things I Think I Think (with a nod to Peter King for this idea)

1. Read Buster Olney’s, HOW LUCKY YOU CAN BE; THE STORY OF COACH DON MEYER a couple of weeks ago. It is the story of Don Meyer, one of the winningest coaches in college basketball history. Meyer lost a leg in a horrific automobile accident in 2008. During that ordeal, he was discovered to have cancer. In 2009, ESPN awarded him the Jimmy V (Valvano) award for courage.

            I found the book interesting because Meyer coached for 25 years at David Lipscomb University (now Lipscomb University)—my mother’s alma mater.

            The book reads quickly. Olney, who is now employed by ESPN, has a reputation for being a strong sport’s journalist. Still, he is an admitted admirer of Myer, who he got to know when Olney was working for the NASHVILLE BANNER back in the late eighties.

            I suspect because Olney is a journalist, Meyer’s Christian faith is treated from a respectful distance. Olney summarizes Meyer’s devotion to God and the impact of the church in his life, rather than celebrate it. For this reason, any secular person would feel comfortable reading this book.

            On a personal level, I enjoyed reading behind-the-scene stories about Meyer’s relationships with other coaches. He is highly respected in the coaching world, even though he has not gained the notoriety others have.

            I also was fascinated in the behind-the-scenes aspect of the most glorious moment of Meyer’s coaching career—receiving the Jimmy V award. Olney takes you onstage, backstage, and in the audience. In a celebrity driven culture, it is neat to read of celebrities being impacted in such a positive way by a courageous, Christian coach.

            I definitely give this book a thumbs-up. 

2. Do I really want to preach REVELATION in 2011?

3. Kellen Moore, quarterback of the Boise State Broncos—you have been glorious the past two seasons. It was not your fault your team lost.

4. Taking my son, Timothy, deer hunting last Friday and Saturday reminded me how much I enjoyed hunting growing up. Thanks, Mike Warner, for showing us a good time. I told my church about our adventures. I may need to blog on it sometime. I can say this, though--the Deer world is still safe from Mark Edge.

5. Judy finally gave me permission to show the 1953 version of A CHRISTMAS CAROL Thursday night to our family. The kids survived. I love that movie.