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I had felt for years that I wanted to do something in math and the ministry. After receiving my BA with a major in math and a minor in physics, I felt God led me to Trinity Divinity School in the Chicago area. I received some wonderful instruction from the staff at Trinity. After a year there, I felt very unsettled about what God had for me in days to come. As I prayed about direction during the summer after that first year of seminary, I received a phone call from Francis Grubbs. Will you come to Hutchinson to teach math and Bible at Central Christian? It seemed right and I felt confirmation from Ezekiel 3:22, "Arise, go forth into the plain and I will there talk with thee." So it was off to the plains of Kansas and all that God had prepared for me and I had no idea how much God had to say.
Friday, November 21, 2008
LESSONS AT USD
As I look back, I realize God was teaching me some important lessons concerning the future.
---The Importance of Intercession - My senior year went really well day to day. One day near the end of the year things changed. I later learned that a chemistry professor, Dr. Coker, was praying for me every day.(I was president of University Christian Fellowship) When we elected a president for the following year, Dr. Coker switched his praying to that student. It made a marked difference in how my days went.
---Spiritual Regions - I often went home on weekends. I noticed every time I left the city limits of Vermilion, S.D., a cloud of darkness lifted. When I returned on Sunday evening, it seemed I came back under that cloud at the city limits. I didn't know much about spiritual warfare in those days, but I was beginning to learn that Satan had different works in different regions.
---MPD - Looking back, I realize now that God was showing me an example of a fragmented person. My German professor was antagonistic against me for sharing my testimony with him. He was a drinker and very crude in most classes. He was raised in Poland and was no doubt abused. Some days he would come to class in a totally different personality. Once he even shared the Gospel in class. From what I have see in later years, it now makes sense.
---God's Desire and Power to Restore - I had a very unusual time with the Lord on a Sunday evening after returning to the university. I thought I needed to study for a German test, but God had something else in mind. I finally gave into the Lord and got on my knees with my Bible. All day I had been pondering an illustration given to me how that our life was like a piece of land and if Satan had some area of that land he then had right to have access through the Lord's territory. My Bible opened to a passage in Joel 2:18 that I had previously underlined. "Then will the Lord be jealous for His land and pity His people." For most of the night, I was in the Lord's presence as He spoke to me out of the book of Joel. I saw how the Lord's people's sin had opened the land to the enemy and much destruction, God's desire for repentance and then spiritual cleansing. Joel 2:25 stood out in a great way. "And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten. . ." Little did I know that the Lord was giving me a message for the many years of spiritual cleansing ministry. God was building into my life a basis for helping people to rebuild their lives. God clearly showed me His power and desire to restore years of loss to Satan's power.
There was much that I missed that I had enjoyed at Wheaton, but my years at USD were great times of evangelism and preparation for future ministry.
---The Importance of Intercession - My senior year went really well day to day. One day near the end of the year things changed. I later learned that a chemistry professor, Dr. Coker, was praying for me every day.(I was president of University Christian Fellowship) When we elected a president for the following year, Dr. Coker switched his praying to that student. It made a marked difference in how my days went.
---Spiritual Regions - I often went home on weekends. I noticed every time I left the city limits of Vermilion, S.D., a cloud of darkness lifted. When I returned on Sunday evening, it seemed I came back under that cloud at the city limits. I didn't know much about spiritual warfare in those days, but I was beginning to learn that Satan had different works in different regions.
---MPD - Looking back, I realize now that God was showing me an example of a fragmented person. My German professor was antagonistic against me for sharing my testimony with him. He was a drinker and very crude in most classes. He was raised in Poland and was no doubt abused. Some days he would come to class in a totally different personality. Once he even shared the Gospel in class. From what I have see in later years, it now makes sense.
---God's Desire and Power to Restore - I had a very unusual time with the Lord on a Sunday evening after returning to the university. I thought I needed to study for a German test, but God had something else in mind. I finally gave into the Lord and got on my knees with my Bible. All day I had been pondering an illustration given to me how that our life was like a piece of land and if Satan had some area of that land he then had right to have access through the Lord's territory. My Bible opened to a passage in Joel 2:18 that I had previously underlined. "Then will the Lord be jealous for His land and pity His people." For most of the night, I was in the Lord's presence as He spoke to me out of the book of Joel. I saw how the Lord's people's sin had opened the land to the enemy and much destruction, God's desire for repentance and then spiritual cleansing. Joel 2:25 stood out in a great way. "And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten. . ." Little did I know that the Lord was giving me a message for the many years of spiritual cleansing ministry. God was building into my life a basis for helping people to rebuild their lives. God clearly showed me His power and desire to restore years of loss to Satan's power.
There was much that I missed that I had enjoyed at Wheaton, but my years at USD were great times of evangelism and preparation for future ministry.
Friday, September 12, 2008
ON TO USD
God began to lead in various ways to make a change in my second year at Wheaton. At semester, I transferred to the University of South Dakota at Vermillion, SD. It was difficult to leave chapels and Christian teachers and students behind. However, I felt clear about God's leading. It was quite a culture shock to rarely ever see someone pray at meals and to have an ungodly roommate.
God did some very special things in my time at USD. Through getting acquainted with Frances Grubbs, my way led to Hutchinson and my lifelong mate, Mary and a ministry that awaited me. God used a number of transfer Christian students in those days to bring many students to Christ. My last two years I roomed with a transfer student from Morningside College in Sioux City, Daryl Anderson, who has become a lifetime buddy in the faith. God was doing exciting things on this secular university. It is so important to follow the leadings of God.
God did some very special things in my time at USD. Through getting acquainted with Frances Grubbs, my way led to Hutchinson and my lifelong mate, Mary and a ministry that awaited me. God used a number of transfer Christian students in those days to bring many students to Christ. My last two years I roomed with a transfer student from Morningside College in Sioux City, Daryl Anderson, who has become a lifetime buddy in the faith. God was doing exciting things on this secular university. It is so important to follow the leadings of God.
HOMESICK
When I went to Wheaton, one of the things I did not know about myself was that I would experience homesickness. I thought I was quite independent and never had a thought about that. Here I was in Chicago without a car(a freshman rule) and no plan to go home until Thanksgiving. I really did get homesick. I learned I was very tied to my Mom. Singing hymns in Sunday worship just brought tears. God used those days to draw me closer to Him and gave me an understanding of what homesickness felt like. I am very grateful for a close family and growing up in a safe home.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
AN UNFORGETABLE ENCOUNTER
Early in my days at Wheaton, I experienced the grace of God in a time of testing. I had spent the weekend with my brother John and his wife Dorice in Chicago. They were at Trinity preparing for missions. I was returning to Wheaton on Sunday evening traveling by the Chicago Northwestern commuter train and was on the smoker car. My heart was overwhelmed as I faced the next week. Studies were hard and I was often belittled for coming from a small high school of about 17 in our graduation class. Later I learned that many of my fellow students were braggarts concerning their accomplishments. I was discouraged. All sorts of thoughts filled my mind. Had I just made up my own way in wanting to go to Wheaton? Had God really led me? Going back and farming looked attractive.
In the midst of the cloud of smoke and discouragement on my soul, a gentleman came and sat next to me and inquired if I was a Christian(I think I was carrying my Bible). I said I was and in answer to his questions, I said I was attending Wheaton College. He asked why I chose Wheaton. I began to tell him how God had used Jim Elliot and his testimony to inspire me to attend Wheaton. After he let me go on and on, he said, "that's interesting". Jim married my sister, Elizabeth. Jim's parents are at my home even now and I would like to have you meet them. It was such a joy to speak to them about their son.
But that was only part of the special thing God had just done. In essence He was saying, Relax and trust me. I know where you are and what's ahead. Trust my leading. The man was Dr. Howard, an instructor at the college: I can't remember much about him, but I will never forget that God met me in a smoker car on the way back to Wheaton at such a needy time in my life.
In the midst of the cloud of smoke and discouragement on my soul, a gentleman came and sat next to me and inquired if I was a Christian(I think I was carrying my Bible). I said I was and in answer to his questions, I said I was attending Wheaton College. He asked why I chose Wheaton. I began to tell him how God had used Jim Elliot and his testimony to inspire me to attend Wheaton. After he let me go on and on, he said, "that's interesting". Jim married my sister, Elizabeth. Jim's parents are at my home even now and I would like to have you meet them. It was such a joy to speak to them about their son.
But that was only part of the special thing God had just done. In essence He was saying, Relax and trust me. I know where you are and what's ahead. Trust my leading. The man was Dr. Howard, an instructor at the college: I can't remember much about him, but I will never forget that God met me in a smoker car on the way back to Wheaton at such a needy time in my life.
BLESSINGS AT WHEATON
Wheaton College was my first experience of Christian Education. It was wonderful to have classes started with prayer and often devotionals.
The chapel services were a delight. When I first saw the beautiful Edman Chapel, it had me in awe.
Dr. Angeline Brant, a very plain single lady in her 60s, gave me a love for mathematics. Her love for the subject was infectious.
It has been a blessing to get acquainted with Dr. V. R. Edman and his life. God used his writings in significant ways in my life.
I also learned how to study there. On Saturday, you had to arrive early at the library to get a place to study. Later on at the University of South Dakota, I had the choice of a hundred places in the library on a Saturday.
God also used Wheaton to alert me to much that was going on in the Christian world. I am grateful for my time at Wheaton College.
The chapel services were a delight. When I first saw the beautiful Edman Chapel, it had me in awe.
Dr. Angeline Brant, a very plain single lady in her 60s, gave me a love for mathematics. Her love for the subject was infectious.
It has been a blessing to get acquainted with Dr. V. R. Edman and his life. God used his writings in significant ways in my life.
I also learned how to study there. On Saturday, you had to arrive early at the library to get a place to study. Later on at the University of South Dakota, I had the choice of a hundred places in the library on a Saturday.
God also used Wheaton to alert me to much that was going on in the Christian world. I am grateful for my time at Wheaton College.
Monday, July 7, 2008
GOD LED ME TO WHEATON
As I look back, there were a number of things that came together to open the door to attending Wheaton College. I didn't have any counsel concerning that choice. After I read Jim Elliot's testimony including much about his time at Wheaton, I became very interested in pursuing attendance there. I transferred to a larger school so I could take Chemistry which, unknown to me, was a requirement. I applied in my junior year which was also necessary if I were to attend after graduation. It was also required to take the SAT test which I had done. I believe God graciously led me in the steps that were necessary. I really knew little about the college and knew no one who had attended. When I received my acceptance letter I was pretty excited. So, it was off to Wheaton.
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