Clark Pinnock (1937 - 2010)

Noted theologian Clark Pinnock passed away this past Sunday.  See here for more details and some thoughtful and endearing comments.  We will keep his family and friends in prayer. 

Remembering Joshua

Today would have been my son's 24th birthday.  In his memory I wanted to tell you just a couple of stories about him.  When he was in middle high he had to build something which incorporated six simple machines.  I have no aptitude for this kind of thing so I wasn't much help.  Anyway, we were coming down to the wire and I took him to the hardware store to pick out the supplies he needed.  We were walking up and down the aisles and I asked to see what he had drawn up so I could help him pick up what he needed.  He pointed to his head and said, "I've got it all up here."  I couldn't believe it.  I didn't believe it.  I envisioned us walking the store for hours (like we did when he was shopping for a new toy years before).  He picked up a bunch of stuff and we took it home.  A couple of hours later he came in from the garage with this great little gizmo that, to my amazement, worked quite well.  I was super proud of my boy. 

Joshua also loved music.  He enjoyed playing his trumpet although he was never very disciplined to work hard at it.  Nevertheless for what effort he did put into it I rather enjoyed listening to him play.  One of his favorite things to play was the theme song from Jurassic Park.  He couldn't play the whole thing but he had portions of it down pretty good.  We hired a tutor to work with him but it didn't last long.  The trumpet lost to his growing interest in skateboarding.  Again, he was never as good as he wanted to be and that frustrated him but he loved the challenge.  The last job he had before joining the Army was at Lowe's.  This gave us something in common--retail sales.  We would often swap stories of our experiences.  I miss those talks.  I miss him.

Since his death this past September I can tell you that God has sustained my family and me in ways we could never imagine.  The staff here at the store has become a second family as they supported us during those first few days and weeks and still today are an encouragement in ways that they are not even aware of.  The Army personnel staff both in Hawaii and here have been incredible.  To say they "bend over backwards" would be an understatement.  I told more than one of them that as a veteran of the Air Force I've never been so jealous of the Army.  They are a credit to their profession and their country.  Finally, there are countless friends who supported us with prayers and monetary support.  One couple in particular (who would probably prefer to be nameless) gave us a substantial gift when our money ran out due to our unplanned prolonged stay in Hawaii.  My family has been the recipient more than once of their selfless giving.  It will take an eternity to thank them.   Through all of these people God consoled us and kept us from what could easily have led to utter despair.

Thank you..  Many still ask us how were doing.  All things considered we are well and we owe a big part of that to you. Where was God when Joshua died?  He was in your hearts as you grieved with us and prayed for us.  We saw him . . . in you!   Happy birthday Joshua.

Reflections on the Death of Antony Flew

Word has spread fast since the world found out that former atheist Antony Flew died this past Thursday. Flew was a first class atheist as opposed to those who number among the New Atheists. His most popular book was God and Philosophy which has become a classic in atheist literature. He was marked by a keen intelligence and philosophical sophistication. He was considered a formidable opponent in debates. He debated some of the top Christian apologists including William Lane Craig, Terry Miethe and Gary Habermas. What sparked the most controversy was his late-life conversion from atheism to deism. The book that recounts what convinced him was aptly titled There is a God: How the World’s Most Notorious Atheist Changed His Mind. Criticism was quick and sharp. Some accused him of being just a senile old man. Others alleged that the co-author of the book, Roy Abraham Varghese, was the real author of the book with little input from Flew. The inference was that Varghese blew things out of proportion to any thoughts Flew may have had about denying atheism.

Flew is reported to have said "I don't want a future life. I want to be dead when I'm dead and that's an end to it. I don't want an unending life. I don't want anything without end." I’m sorry Flew felt this way. As Christians we should pray for his family and friends as they grieve the loss of their loved one.

Flew said his conversion was as a result of “following the evidence.” We can pray that those who continue to read his books will follow the evidence as well. Pray that God will use the transparent honesty of a former atheist to show the way that leads not simply to theism but to Christianity in all its glory. Atheists are far better served by the model left by Flew in conversations and debates with Christians rather than the models of Hitchens or Dawkins. It will be a tribute to him if they debate hard, reason well and follow the evidence where it leads.

Author Bruce Shelley Dies

On Saturday noted church historian and former senior professor of church history and historical theology at Denver seminary died.  His most popular book Church History in Plain Language remains one of our best sellers and is still a favorite of students.  Here's the notice from Denver Seminary.   Our prayers are with his family and friends. 

Baker Publishing Group Mourns a Loss

I just received word that one of the editors for Baker Academic, Jeff Wittung, died last night after being injured in a car accident on January 6th.  I met Jeff only once or twice when he was in the store but I recall he was quiet and unassuming.  Below is the information I have provided by Baker Publishing.  Please keep Jeff's family in your prayers. 

Grand Rapids, MI, January 11, 2010 -- Baker Publishing Group mourns the loss of a colleague and friend, Jeffery A. Wittung. Jeff, one of Baker's academic editors, was injured in a car accident on his way to work January 6, 2010. He passed away the evening of January 10. He leaves behind a wife, Marne, and two daughters: Ana (5) and Kate (1).


Jeff joined the Baker staff in April of 2006. He quickly established himself as a colleague of exceptional intellect, wise judgment, gracious spirit, and keen wit. Academic authors who worked with Jeff frequently commended the quality of his editorial interactions. In the workplace, Jeff combined an old-fashioned work ethic with cutting-edge theological insight, wrapping them in a polite, cordial, and good-humored demeanor.

Jeff's scholarly acumen was also on display outside the workplace. He held an advanced degree from Nazarene Theological Seminary (MDiv) and had just finished work for his MPhil from Drew University, completing his comprehensive exams at Drew with distinction. Jeff's interest in the theology of the early church was evident while at Drew, where he was involved in the production of volumes in the Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture series and was coeditor of a well-received volume of academic essays, Partakers of the Divine Nature: The History and Development of Deification in the Christian Traditions.

His academic and professional skills and accomplishments, however, were not the primary focus of his life. Jeff was a devoted family man who loved his wife and daughters deeply. He also expressed his knowledge and spiritual gifts in teaching and preaching at his local church, Encounter Community Church of Belding, Michigan.

We at Baker Publishing Group will miss Jeff greatly, and we invite you to pray for the family Jeff leaves behind: his wife and daughters; his mother, father, and sister; his in-laws; and the extended family. They find comfort in Jeff's faith and in their own, but their loss is severe.

Returning to Work on Monday

After a very difficult two weeks I will be back to work this coming Monday. I have a lot of catching up to do. Thanks to so many of you who were able to attend the visitation or funeral (or both). I've received more hugs in the last two days than I have in the last two years and I enjoyed every one of them. On behalf of my entire family I want to say thank you to all of you who held us up in prayer. For the first time in my life I can say "I felt your prayers" and truly know what that means. And I know many of you have told me that you will continue to pray--thank you. I've heard the first year is the hardest (all the missed holidays and birthdays). I have no doubt it will be. I trust that God will see us through the year ahead as he has the past two weeks. We have three great kids (OK, Adam's a bit old for "kid" but you know what I mean)who continue to keep us busy and two beautiful grand kids who we can't wait to spoil and tell them endless stories about their dad.

For Joshua

Funeral Plans for Joshua

Funeral services will be 1:00 pm Friday, October 2, 2009 at the Langeland-Sterenberg Funeral Home, 315 East 16th St, Holland with the Reverend Paul Davis officiating. Visitation will be 5-8 pm Thursday at the funeral home. Burial with military honors will take place at Graafschap Cemetery.

We are also grateful to the Holland Sentinel for the story they did on Joshua. You can find it here. His obituary can be found here.

Update on My Family

Jan and I are now back in Michigan. It must sound odd but we've never been so happy to see Michigan after returning from Hawaii! We are holding up well and we attribute that to God's sustaining power in answer to your many prayers.

We do not have any arrangements yet for local a funeral. Joshua's body is still in Hawaii and will be released soon. As soon as we have any information I will let you know.

We want to say how grateful we are to all of you for your prayers, comments, cards and gifts which have meant so much to us. The pain has certainly been eased by the comfort of so many. I've shared with so many how gracious God has been to us through friends, both old and new, and family. I hope to share some of those with you in the future. God's goodness has been a rock to keep us above the temptation to despair. In the past when I've had to sign a condolence card I have written something I heard in a sermon by E. V. Hill which says "Earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot heal." I can testify that a week after Joshua's death that healing has begun. The tears still come and our grief and pain run deep but God's grace runs deeper.

In Memoriam - Joshua D. McBride

On September 18th my first born son, Joshua, died. They were able to keep him alive (though not conscious) long enough for us to get here so we could be with him when he died.

We have felt the overwhelming support of your prayers and comments. The staff here at the base have made us feel so welcome and comforted. We will be be staying here through Wednesday so we can participate in a memorial service the base is having for him on Tuesday.

Local funeral arrangements will be made after we return home.

I want to say thank you to the staff at Baker who have been with us every minute of this dark time. Thanks to countless others of you who I know only through the wonder of the internet. I knew you were there as well.

Joshua was 23 years old and is survived by his wife, Sarah, and two children: Raven, 3 years old and Hunter, 7 months. He also has a younger brother Adam who is 21, and two sisters: Sarah, 16 and Bethany, 10.

To God be the glory.