I sit. I listen. I feel.
The cool spring air wafts through the partially opened window.
A bird sings a welcome to spring.
The sun lends its warming touch.
I hear distant voices of what seem to be children playing.
The clock ticks softly.
Help me, Lord Jesus, to hear your voice.
Help me, Lord Jesus, to know your love.
Help me, Lord Jesus, to rest in the sure knowledge of your mercy and grace.
Amen.
My friend, Harold Burgess, went home to be with the Lord yesterday, March 28, 2011. I am not sure how long I have known Dr. Burgess, but probably about 25 years. Ours was not a formal friendship. We just kind of ended up at things together. At first, he was a professor at Asbury Theological Seminary and I was a professor at Asbury College. Later, our roles changed and he was Vice-President at the Francis Asbury Society and I was the Associate Academic Dean at Asbury College.
We met at conferences, at academic functions, and more recently at church, and in our adult Bible class, Wrestling with Truth. We both shared a significant interest in the educational work of the church. This again was not a formal interest but a nonformal one. We thought about how the church teaches by the way it exists in the world.
Harold knew everybody, had been everywhere, and was an expert on denominations in the broader Wesleyan tradition. My observations were much more limited but he graciously included me. This was one of his prevailing characteristics — grace. Now by that I do not mean that he did not have opinions. He had a way of letting people know what he thought.
His gracefulness expressed itself as interest. He was interested in me. He wanted to know how I was getting along professionally, he encouraged me in certain directions, he wrote a reference letter or two, he asked me to teach his seminary class a couple of times. All of this was interest based in grace. He had a winsome way of telling me that he believed in me and that he thought that I could be successful in various endeavors.
Another friend of mine, Judy Woolums, used to say that when people pass on to glory some of the “umbrella” of support and protection that they have provided is lost. This is so true for Harold Burgess. The views and the interests that he protected will have to be maintained by others, maybe by me.
Thank you, Harold, for being my friend. For showing me the way. And, for believing in me. I am forever richer for having met and known you along life’s pathway.
Timothy L. Thomas
Here’s one of my recent creations. Do you like it? Believe me, I got tired of gathering all those tiers!
Apron fun!
This is my good friend, Lizzie, with her four month old son, Jonathan. Yesterday she finished the quilt you see in the picture. I’ve been helping her learn how to sew and to machine quilt and this is the result. She is very pleased with the quilt and so am I. It’s sort of like a present that we’ve given each other to help us remember our happy times here at Tyndale. I will greatly miss Lizzie and all the joy she and Ben and their two boys have given us.
Yesterday my friend, Sheri, and I went to the Ontario Science Center–along with Josh (7?) and Nyah (5). We had a great time! Sheri had managed to get free entrance for us (courtesy of the Toronto public library system)–which made me happy. Almost everything at the science center is hands on and very kid-friendly. We started in the grocery store where kids could pick out “real” food and pay for it at a “real” cash register with all the appropriate sounds. Moving on, there was a superb display about outer space including a half hour mini-planetarium presentation. Later we viewed a special presentation, Nature Unleashed: Inside Natural Disasters. This was particularly interesting in light of the crisis in Japan right now. And there were magnets, a pulley system, a mirror that made me dream of better days!–and lots of stuff like that. A great day with wonderful friends. Thanks, Sheri!
Liviya is the sweet little girl who lives next door. She mostly exists in a world of happy fantasy! Usually she’s a princess, but maybe today she’s a pig! Anyway, this is Liviya’s doll along with the outfit I made for her. It includes the blanket, the hat and sleep sack, and three diapers–complete with velcro closures for little hands!
Today at Bayview Glen Church we had a baptism service. There were about 8 people baptized–one woman, one boy, and, I think, six men. Before each baptism the testimony of the candidate was read–except in one case the man gave his testimony in his own language and it was translated extemporaneously. I believe all were confessing their faith in Christ after having left Islam. It was such a glorious time of praise and thanksgiving! My heart was deeply touched by these sincere new Christians publicly making their stand for Christ. May the Lord continue to grow these in their faith and I pray that I, too, might speak so clearly for Jesus.
Here is Mimi’s latest production for Ben’s birthday. A patriotic pillow case!
Last week we attended the stage production of The Secret Garden at the Royal Alexandra Theatre in downtown Toronto. This was a musical based on the book by Frances Hodgson Burnett. There were some major differences between the book and the musical which go beyond the “license” of a musical. Some major parts of the story are changed which I will not discuss so that I do not spoil the musical for those who attend,
One big addition to the musical is a Greek-style “choir” which wafts in and out of the stage providing another “voice” in the story. I am sure many people enjoyed the show immensely but I found it too new age for my taste. I prefer the book and its rationale for the new-found health of Colin rather than the magical Indian charms of this production.
Also, the Royal Alexandra’s theater seats did not leave a lot of room for legs.
It was our privilege to hear The Holy City sung as part of our morning worship service today (March 6, 2011). This special piece of music has been a special favorite of mine for decades. My grandfather used it along with his magic lantern slides and I arranged for a recording of it to be played at the memorial services for both of my parents. It is always such a moving experience. Its message is timeless.
And once again the scene was changed,
New earth there seem’d to be,
I saw the Holy City
Beside the tideless sea;
The light of God was on its streets,
The gates were open wide,
And all who would might enter,
And no one was denied.
No need of moon or stars by night,
Or sun to shine by day,
It was the new Jerusalem,
That would not pass away,
It was the new Jerusalem,
That would not pass away.
Jerusalem! Jerusalem!
Sing, for the night is o’er!
Hosanna in the highest,
Hosanna for evermore!
Hosanna in the highest,
Hosanna for evermore!
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Hillside Laughter 