Good Food, Good Friends, Good Memories, Good Times

Tonight we shared a meal with Brandon and Beverly Fredenburg and their kids. They are in town visiting family and dropped by Central; we ate at the Old Spaghetti Factory downtown after church.

Brandon is Associate Professor of Biblical Studies at Lubbock Christian University. Before moving there in 2000, he taught at Lipscomb and we shared ministry together at Central. We had a great time catching up.

I count Brandon as a treasured teacher, co-minister and friend. I have so many fond memories of being challenged (read: put through the wringer) by his courses. I had him two semesters in a row (my entire senior year). Introduction to the Old Testament and Intro to NT were among my most difficult courses and the most rewarding. Brandon was concerned that we be competent ministers, that we be intellectually honest with evidence and fair and Christ-like with those with whom we disagree, that we engage study as a spiritual discipline for the purpose of transformation, that we love God with our minds. A good measure of my toughness on my students can be traced back to his high expectations of me. Thank you, prof.

I have fond memories of Brandon's (always) thoughtful and (often) provocative sermons and classes at Central. He taught me to take my task of teaching seriously: to engage the text head-on in fearless yet hopeful disposition. Brandon taught as one convicted by the word. I often tell my students to go where the Word will lead you (see post below). A good measure of that is due to Brandon's influence. Thank you, friend.

Laura and I also have fond memories of helping Brandon and Beverly paint a nursery for John, lay tile, mend a chain-link fence. We ate a lot of pizza together. I remember lots of trips to Lowe's and Home Depot. I very clearly remember holding John not long after his adoption at a booth at Shoney's in Hendersonville before a Christmas play at Community Church. I remember hating to see him leave Nashville and Lipscomb and Central. Thanks for welcoming us into your lives, friends!

God is so good to bless us with people like the Fredenburgs: folks who are zealous and passionate in their discipleship, who are gracious and caring, who take a sincere interest in our lives, who invest themselves in the people of God.

Grace and peace.