Our Life Together Vol. 4 Nr. 47 December 2, 1976

The cover sets the stage for Ken's lead article on the healing of the lame man at the pool of Bethesda which is found in John 5.

Ken wisely lays the groundwork; healing occurs when one wants to be healed. I do question the statement that 80%of all illness is psychosomatic. Of course, this is written in the 70s! I do agree however that we deal with not only physical illness but emotional and spiritual components to that illness. We are all complex individuals. Actually this is a very practical exegesis of the problem of healing. It is basically still applicable today.

Larry's article on Words of Appreciation is still timely. I don't think that we fully understand how to appreciate people in our congregation, or to accept a compliment. We seem to feel that if we give someone a compliment, that we think that they are just performing; remember it is all for the Lord. Then there is the person who sings well and someone compliments them. "Oh, it wasn't me! It was the Lord." I always tried to tell the people in the choir that when complimented just say, "Thank You!" Certainly Larry is right, we are trying to do these things for the Lord. Yet, it is nice to be appreciated.

The picture looks a lot like the Sonshine household (or was it earlier when it was Skyhill Ct.?) I see Clay, Cheri and their kids; Kerry, Carolyn Farrer and child. Most of the household has been cropped out. Clay really has written a nice article on the importance of family -- not just the nuclear family, but the church as family. I think that this was the strong point of our Ministering Community. No, I don't want to go back -- but the seven years that I lived at Westby Household was a major high point of my life. 

Bob and Irene Biccum were members for a few years. They were among the real old (probably late 50s or early 60s -- seems young now.) I believe that they were originally from Canada. They held no "position" in the church and they weren't in one of the residential households. They were strong members of the church.

Bobby Dyal wrote a lot for OLT. They were usually like this, short little articles. He was another of the old ones. Patty Hendricks -- I remember her -- whatever happened to her? I don't know who Steve Spohn is. Then of course "In the Family" always brings back memories to me.

One of the amazing things at this time was the size of the Basic Principles (New Members) class. We had several of these classes every year. I eventually became one of the teachers of this class. These were such exciting days. Something was always happening. 

Janet Scott is discussing our Halloween festival. We didn't call it Halloween -- it was an alternative. We continued to hold alternative festivals for years. They took many forms, but they were always great times.

Danny Stolebarger found it! I was always jealous of his ability to grow facial hair. He could have a beard one day, shave the next and have another beard the next day. I could go weeks without shaving and no one noticed. I still like keeping up on him and his family through face book.