Our Life Together Vol. 4 Nr. 38 September 28, 1976

Although Tim Pagaard was active in doing art work, such as McFoone which has appeared in many issues, I believe that this is his first cover. Tim, correct me if I am wrong. The art work illustrates the short article by Ken on the next page.

I really like the article on Agreement. We must agree on the right things, not just agree. I think we could all think of things where two or more have agreed on some really bad ideas. Ken tells us that it is as we agree with God, we become more in agreement with one another. Good words.

I remember Joanna Smith, but have no idea where she is at the present time. In her article she presents a nice picture of how easy it is to let some "darkness" into our lives. As she says further, when we turn on the lights after we have been in complete darkness, it hurts.

This is Tim's McFoone. A good word for those of us with critical spirits at all times.

In this article Ken presents some historical thought concerning the way God had led the congregation through renewal in the Holy Spirit and then on to a shared life in community. Then he begins to lament the way that some seem to want to turn back. Its interesting that this was written in 76. The community itself didn't completely die until the early 80s. I certainly have though a lot about those years. They changed my life. From all appearances, I live a pretty conventional life, but I am not the same. The relationships that I formed in those years are among the closest that I still have. Incidentally my wife and I live with my daughter, son in law and three grand-children, so our little community is not dead.

 News from the Charismatic Fellowship gives some indication of what was happening among American Baptist in 1976. Once again I am impressed with the travel and ministry that was accomplished by our church in those days. Incidentally, the trip that I made to Lincoln, Nebraska with Ken was my only trip ever with Ken (other that things like the Kansas City Conference and Green Lake.)

The In the Family segment is enjoyable. Of particular interest to me was the note that the Buckinghams moved into Westby.

Frauke used to be such a part of our "family" at Westby. I remember when her husband passed away. This was a tough time for her.

In many ways I like Larry's article. Yet, it seems somewhat anachronistic. This was written in the days of hardcore paternalism. The man was the head. I had found out many years earlier that my wife was a lot stronger in some ways that I was. She was the rock on which I was anchored. I do like his quote from Grapes of Wrath -- I liked the whole book.

I didn't know Conrad Hoover. In fact, I don't suppose any of us at FBCCV knew him. The article is actually from Sojourners Magazine. It is a good article on community. It also gives a picture of community life as seen by Catholic monks. It is also interesting as to how close we were to Sojourners at the time. Many of us had met Jim Wallis. There are still many things that we hold in common with Jim, but as many of us have become more conservative, Jim is still "out there."

I guess that a shocking fact about world hunger is that the situation, rather than improving, has probably gotten worse. 

Billy McArthur wrote a nice testimony. I knew Billy pretty well, but knew his sister much better since his sister Cherie lived at Westby House. I used to pray with Cherie every morning before she went to work in the Navy. I don't know where Billy or Cherie are at this time.

I don't know who put the Teacher's Corner article there.

This page concludes the articles written by Ken and Larry.

The issue in many ways was pretty standard. I liked the fact that we didn't limit OLT to articles that were written by Ken and other leaders. 

Our Life Together Vol. 4 Nr. 37 September 21, 1976

The cover picture represents the hungry children of the world. I believe that this is taken from one of the magazines cited in the interior of the issue.

Ken's article has the take off point of the scripture (Matthew 27:42), "He saved others; he cannot save himself." Ken starts off with the normal response that, of course, Jesus could have saved himself. Then he moves on and states that on the other hand, Jesus had no option. He had to die in order to save us. God himself loves us so much that he had to allow his son to die. Ken then goes on to discuss our partnership with God and that, just as Jesus paid the price, we also must pay the price of laying down our lives for others. I like this article because it is brief, yet sets out this principle that was really preached over and over to those of us involved in the Ministering Community. 

Larry Clark was the man for Quotable Quotes. I liked the quote from Dr. Bob Munger -- I guess it is because I too have reached the metallic age. The article does continue on page six, but stops abruptly in the middle of the quote by Pastor Ed Burgess.

During these years, we always had financial needs, yet our needs were always met. For the most part we actually didn't have a real budget either. It was not unusual to have funds come in unexpectedly. The Renewal Center (or the Campground) was one of the projects -- dreams -- that never got off the ground. We held on to the property until the 1980s when we finally said that we had missed the Lord's timing and this was no longer viable for us. We were always trying to get money for the termite fund. I don't think FBC has been tented and processed for termites yet. Does anybody know?

As always, In the Family is interesting to me. Dan Stolebarger was just starting at Point Loma College. Ron Alsop, Jerry and Kay Owen, Stan and Ruth Jamison, Joyce and Larry Clark, Bob Granigan -- memories from the past.

It is interesting that McFoone pictures the dilemma of "Worship Wars." What kind of music is best to bring the people in. This kind of thinking led to Seeker services years later. It is still bothersome. McFoone is confronted with the real truth at the end. 

Clay Ford was always interested in reaching out to the poor and hungry. I remember the World Hunger Dinner that he hosted at one time. One of the topics at meetings of our Heads of Household was just how much should we identify with the poor. What kind of standard of living should we have. Those of us on staff were paid on the scale of welfare. I know at Westby House we always fasted on Fridays and gave the food money to the poor. 

New Covenant Magazine came out of the Ann Arbor Community which was located near the University of Michigan. It was basically a Catholic Community. I visited there later in 1979 and was teased at a men's Bible Study because I was a Baptist. There were many Catholic Priests who were very active in the leadership of the Charismatic Movement. Father Scanlan was one of those leaders. I don't know actually where he was located. 

This article by J.D. Douglas provides a nice list of scriptures about dealing with the hungry.

Dan and Sharon Stolebarger are about to get married! It is so exciting to see that they continue to serve the Lord. They are currently in Israel. I love reading their updates on Face book. They lived at Westby for some time after they were married. I served as the duty driver for much of the time. I used to take Sharon to work. Great days!

The Quotable Quotes continues on this page. Bill Ebling later became the pastor of First Baptist Church of Bellflower and my mother was his secretary. Bill preached at my mom's funeral. He also later became the interim Executive Minister of the ABCPSW. He is still an old friend.

The little article about advertising on tee shirts looks a little quaint. This practice is pretty standard now. However, I personally agree with the article. I don't like to advertise. I am not a bill board. 

I'm sure that there will be more about Here's Life in future issues. I have some stories about this campaign. Clay and I supervised this.

Then there is the birth notice for Jill Miller. Bud and I were quite close during those days. I miss him but don't know where they are at this time.

I had almost forgotten that Judy used to be the director of the Preschool. She is another lady that continues to serve the Lord. I also hear from her periodically on FB. I remember the Ministry, River of Life -- but it is just that, a hazy memory.

Our Life Together Vol. 4 Nr. 36 September 14, 1976

The Picture not only serves to illustrate the first article but it actually continues on the next page and becomes part of the article itself.

Jerry Jamison and Gary Bell co-author the lead article. Jerry and Gary were a talented duo. They headed up Abbacraft and were involved as young men in leadership of the church at that time. Gary is currently serving as a missionary in Belize -- if on face book read his This day in Belize -- well worth it. Jerry and I actually started seminary together. The article discusses the question of who crucified the Lord. We must each take the blame ourselves. They then give us the word that we should not be pointing the finger at others -- only ourselves. 

We will look at McFoone later. The little article by Ernest Harvey exhorts us to truly see the Lord. I must confess that I don't remember him.

The big article on this page is by Clay Ford, but I would like to bypass it first to look at the Christian Children's Clothes. This was a ministry headed up by Jacque Johns (no Mays) and my good wife, Linda. Jacque and Linda were both talented in their ability to sow and they also both had a heart for children. This was a natural.

Clay's article is a report about the College-Career Conference at Thousand Pines. Clay was an all around leader in the church, but one of his emphases was that of heading up ministry to the young -- particularly young adults. I remember the time that Clay and I picked up Tony Campolo at the airport (before I got out of the Navy.) They both gave me a hard time (I think it was good natured.) However this was when I was thinking about leaving the military. Clay also mentions Virgil Nelson and Lowell Fairley who both became important to me after I became the pastor at First Baptist. My first real involvement with the denomination was as a member of the Hunger Task Force. Virgil was also a member. Lowell had become the Executive Minister for the ABCPSW and helped me greatly as I moved into the pastorate. I remain very grateful to him and was sorry to see him pass away last year. Another small world note is that Lowell's son Brian became one of my best friends as he became pastor at FBC La Jolla.

Mona Pagard was Ken's wife. She was a jewel. Everyone loved her. But she was not only nice, she was wonderfully capable particularly in her work with women and children. By profession, she was a school teacher. Linda and I lived in her the Westby Household headed by Ken and Mona for seven years. We treasure her greatly. She currently lives in the Temecula area with her youngest daughter Katherine and her family.

As I have mentioned before, the "In the Family" column brings back memories. I remember most, but not all of those mentioned.

Tim Pagaard's McFoone deals with the issue of Condemnation vs. Conviction.