Shocked and saddened

That's us in the Ice household, and we have been for a week. Laura's brother Jeff called early Thursday morning last week and told us of Matthew Winkler's death. I've kept up with every detail since then, well, as much as I can with no cable and dial-up. We hurt more and more as the reality of this sinks in.

It is doubly difficult because this is a family affair: there is no shortage of media attention on the Churches of Christ, Freed-Hardeman, Lipscomb, and various individual churches. This is happening within a church family that we know well and love deeply. But more so than that, we know the Winklers. Laura's brother, now in Columbus, worked with Dan and Jacob on staff at Crieve Hall. Laura's uncle, Eddie Thompson, seen often on news reports as of late, and who preached Matthew's funeral with Dan, also ministered at Crieve Hall. I've had Dan and Jacob to Ezell to speak in high school chapel. Dan in particular was been a great encourager to Laura in her Romania mission trips back in the day; he has always been encouraging to me in my teaching and ministry at Central. The Winklers have been a major part of church life in Nashville, Ezell-Harding, and this has hit close to home for many people we know and love. I think I may have met and spoken with Matthew once or twice; Laura may have met Mary. They are not close friends, or even close acquaintances, but we know the family, have connections to the family, and love the family. Everyone we know has nothing but the highest regard and respect for the Winklers. We hurt for the family. This is a family affair in more than one way.

There has been no shortage of speculation about Mary's motive, no shortage of commentary about Churches of Christ, no shortage of commentary about "conservative religion" and no shortage of rumors and baseless speculation. This hurts as well. Any time people you know and love are in the spotlight, in this kind of light, it is difficult. Any time your church is scrutinized, fairly or unfairly, it is difficult.

I don't know Mary's motive, but this isn't the time or the forum for me to add to the speculative discussion. Neither am I interested in getting into theological, sociological, or psychological discussions. This isn't the time for that. This is a time to hurt with the hurting, grieve with the grieving and pray.

Time will reveal the details of the crime, the motive behind it, and time will assist in the theological discussions that are (poorly or otherwise) going on about Churches of Christ. By the way, mischaracterizations, and those with truth behind them, seem shallow and crass to me when I know so many people who are at this moment being Christ to the hurting Winkler family. This isn't the time to criticize and speculate, it is a time to love. If ever there were a circumstance that is not the way things are to be, it is this one, for this family, at this time, so now is a time for grace and peace.

Announcement: Public Services Archivist

Come June 1st I will assume my new duties at the Disciples of Christ Historical Society as Public Services Archivist. The Society is an exciting place to be these days. Significant publications and interpretations of the Stone-Campbell history and theology are coming out all the time, unprecedented collaboration of scholars and historians is happening in many places, and meaningful interaction across the streams of the wider movement have been and are currently underway. This is a new position, so charting a course in it thrills and humbles me. The opportunity to join the Society in a mission to preserve and carry forward our heritage is one I relish. It is a ministry I anticipate.

On the other hand, leaving my friends and colleagues at Ezell-Harding is proving to be a difficult mix of emotions. I teach and partner with high-quality, well-grounded and competent people. My students are bright high-achievers. Ezell parents are supportive and committed to the education of their children. Over the last (almost) ten years Laura and I have had many wonderful experiences at 574 Bell Road. We have worked with fine colleagues, taught fine students, and poured our hearts into a ministry of daily teaching. (I have had a few knuckleheads in class, but this isn't the time or the forum).

Facing my final few weeks is difficult; being a part of the Disciples Historical Society is thrilling. Leaving friends will be hard; meeting and collaborating with new people will be a joy, I know.

But I'm not through yet: We have much work left to do in Luke. I've been around long enough to see faculty announce their intentions for the upcoming year and then pretty much quit for the last 6 weeks. I can't do that, and I won't do that. We've got too much great material to cover, to many things to explore and too much to learn to quit now (and most of all: my students deserve better).

While there is joy in new beginnings, there is also joy in finishing well.

Here's to great memories and new horizons!

Grace and peace.

How to Study

How to Study

R. H. Boll

There is a crying need of Bible study, and faithful study will bring its own sweet reward. There is such a joy of discovery (Ps. 119:162), such a quickening of zeal, enlargement of the spiritual horizon, strengthening of faith and courage, and renewing of the mind, as could never come by mere listening to sermons or reading of religious books and articles. These latter were, indeed, not meant for substitutes, but rather as aids and encouragement to Bible study. When they become substitutes, they are a bane, not a blessing.

A good commentary used aright is a help, but it often becomes the occasion of cheating its possessor out of the most beneficial and healthful of spiritual exercises-the using of his own mind, his own power of perception and reflection. Do not be deprived of the great advantage of learning for yourself at first hand. Do not let even the few comments that will appear in these lessons take the place of your own searching.


The most important suggestion I have to make is this: Study for spiritual benefit. You can gather into your mind a collection of facts, figures, and statements, and get no more good from it than if you had memorized the catalogue of a museum or the inventory of a storage room. You can study in a spirit of controversy and gain little or nothing by hunting down of “points.” Lawyers, politicians, and even infidels, often show considerable acquaintance with the Bible text, but no evidence of the spiritual benefit they might have obtained from it. Something depends on the attitude of the student.


Let it, then, not be sufficient to learn a list of biblical facts and truths. Let us look for principles. Let us study the meaning and import of each fact and its direct or indirect bearing on our own life. Above all, let us study to get nearer to God, to please him better, to know his will that we may do it, and that, being filled with his thought and his mind, we may be more like him. Never leave out of view the fact that you are studying the word of God, that is pertains to the healing and welfare of your soul, and that God’s eye is upon you. Study in sincerity and love and open your inmost heart to the truth.

R. H. Boll, Lessons on Hebrews. Nashville: McQuiddy Printing Company, 1910.

How cool

Thanks to Brennan and Jason for this neat site.

Telling isn't it?

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In other news:

Room 152: this six-weeks is now half-over!?! The school year will be a memory very soon. The study in Luke is starting to pick up and rock-and-roll. Papers will start coming in in just over a week.

Your My Best Friend: so sings Don Williams. Laura gave me his definitive collection CD for the big 3-0. Next Saturday he will be giving his first concert in Nashville in 20 years and we will be there. In fact, we were the first to get tickets. Don is giving the concert, likely his last Nashville concert ever, to benefit the Cheap Hill Church of Christ (where he is a member). Publicity flyers were sent to all the area churches, and I saw ours in the mail at church, we called, and, well, we were the first to get tickets. Laura and I both have great childhood memories of Don's music. She remembers her Dad playing the albums over and over; I remember 650 AM. We both remember the early Saturday morning one spring (when we were dating) when I called in to 650 and requested "You're My Best Friend" for Laura. If more country music were like his, I'd listen to more of it.

Green peas and sweet potatoes: currently Ella's favorites. Apple sauce is running close behind.

Herbie: that loveable VW, currently Darby's favorite movie.

Speaking of, tonight is pizza and movie night, and why am I still at school???

Grace and peace.

A Prayer Before Reading Scripture

A Prayer Before Reading Scripture

Isaac Errett

O Lord, I am about to read thy holy word. I pray for a teachable spirit. May I come to thee hungering after righteousness. May my soul pant for thee as the hart panteth for the water-brook, and drink of the water of life and be satisfied. Open thou mine eyes to behold wondrous things out of thy law. Enable me to receive the word of the kingdom into a good and honest heart, that I may bring forth fruit unto eternal life. May thy word be a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path; and may I give heed to it as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day-star arise in my heart. May I love thy law, and rejoice in its teaching as one that findeth great spoil. May it be more desirable to me than gold, yea than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey, or the droppings of the honeycomb. Be pleased, O Lord, to enlighten the eyes of my understanding, that when I read I may understand thy will. And may thy doctrine drop upon my waiting spirit as the rain, and thy speech distill as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass. Let thy word be unto me the joy and the rejoicing of my heart. Save me from every blinding influence of passion and prejudice, and from all perverseness of spirit, lest I should handle thy word deceitfully. And let thy truth search my inward parts and discern the thoughts and intents of my heart. Let me receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save my soul. And do thou search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts; and show me if there is any wicked way in me; and lead me in the way everlasting. These petitions I humbly offer to thee in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Isaac Errett, Letters to a Young Christian. Cincinnati: Standard Publishing Company, 1877, pages 162-164.