I’m sure by now you’ve had hundreds of accolades and comments. . . but I wanted you to know how touching in so many different ways your book was to me.  I just finished it tonight.  I can relate to the role of Billie w/Ryan – I pray I can continue to be as diplomatic as she was.  He seems to be experiencing something similar to what you did at the beginning of your collegiate journey.  The angst (although my experience was only through high school w/Jordan) of wondering what God was waiting for – how and when Jordan’s work ethic would pay off.  Interestingly, in the end, the truth prevailed.  Silly me!  I learned to just “Be still and know!”

   And Alyssa’s dream is beginning to be fulfilled by her time spent on the football field with the CUW Falcons!  I can only depend on the Lord to take that to the next level since I do not know how to help her to it in any other way.

   And then there’s the enduring of the “humilating tag of helicopter Mom” when in fact, I just REALLY like my kids and being with my kids and it will just have to be what I am.  I think they’re amazing people and they often lift me up!  I want to affirm you – the love we have for our children is put in our hearts by our Father in heaven.  Loving them to the best of our ability is what He would want of us!  That comes through in your writing loud and clear.

   But mostly, I could relate to your spiritual awakening at St. John’s.  As I look back on how I even got to CUW, how I even had the opportunity to learn about Jesus – definitely in God’s plan to use CUW as the place that I would come to know Him!  Thanks for sharing your story!  I was blessed by it!

Julie Chojnacki Buuck

Of course, we expect them to be well prepared since many of that school’s faculty are CUW alumni!  Each guest was given a copy of Faith in the Freshman — graciously presented by the high school.  Then the audience listened to my abbreviated oral version of the same story!  The wonderful students at Sheboygan Lutheran make faith in them when they become college freshman much easier for me.  A great school, with great faculty, great students, and great parents who support their mission.

Over the years my respect and admiration for President Holst has continued to grow.  He is a person whose depth of insight and consecrated integrity inspires all who have the privilege of knowing him.  Bob and his wife, Lynne, have served the Lord’s Church with the same missionary sensitivity from Papua, New Guinea to the Twin Cities and points in between.  I wish them well in retirement, and pray for the Spirit’s special guidance for Concordia-St. Paul as it seeks a successor to try to fill very big shoes!

Recently, Bob read my book and was kind to offer the note below…..

Dear Pat,

Greetings from Heartwood Center near Trego, Minong, Spooner, and Hayward, WI.  Lynne and I are spending two weeks here — vacation after conventions, before the faculty retreat on Monday, Aug. 16 and before the traditional academic year starts.

Vacation gave me the time finally to read cover to cover Faith in the Freshman.  Pat, that is an amazing book in many ways.  Thank you for taking the time and effort to write it.  Your honest and direct style is intriguing and makes pleasant reading.  Your collection of personal, historical information from letters and other sources is interesting — not merely for personal interest but of genuine historical value.  As you note, the next electronic generation will not have the written record for such reference to memories.  Your insightful introspection and bold sharing of yourself are amazing — amusing — and very meaningful.

I think that your recounting some of experiences at St. John’s is of lasting historical value.  That LCMS junior college era is over but you have captured and reminded us of its spirit, strengths, and challenges.  Personally, I was in the last JC [AA] class before the Senior College started.  We pre-sem’s all moved directly from the junior colleges to the seminary to complete our BA and then BD.  As I recall, at the seminary, the “campus culture” held that Johnnies and the St. Paul, MN, guys got along well because they could enjoy a good beer together — unlike the pious brains from St. Paul, Concordia, MO, the socially handicapped guys of Concordia, Milwaukee [who were aces in Greek but -- because they lacked co-eds - don't go on a double date with one of them!] or those nationalistic Texans who had not yet heard [or surrendered to the fact] that Texas was actually part of the United States of America.

The juxtaposition of your experience and your experience with regard to Andrew tell a powerful and poignant story which you underscore with probing but honest faith.  I admit that there is a line in the book that made sad.  I regret that Andrew felt CSP coaches [or with whomever you met on your visit] were more interested in you than he.  I wish that I had been here for the visit.  I wish that Andrew had come here — as student and as basketball player.  But it seems to be for the good.  Coming here would not have met his dream of playing D1.  I think that he would have had a meaningful college career here — in basketball too.  But, as you note, life takes amazing twists and turns but, like skiing with a mentor, God always glides with us.

Again, thank you for the book.  A great vacation read.  Lord willing, see you in Portland.

In Christ,

Bob Holst

Our visit to the “Luther Lands” also got me wondering about where Luther would land if he could extricate himself from history and step into the present.   What would Martin Luther think of the Lutheran Church in our time and place?  Lutherans of generations past have speculated upon this question.  Soon after his death the so-called “gnesio” or “genuine” Lutherans pitted themselves against those who they felt had compromised Martin’s theology and practice.

What do you think?  What would Martin Luther make of contemporary Lutheranism?  Or, more broadly, what would Luther make of the state of the Christian church more than 4 1/2 centuries after his death?  What does it mean to be “genuinely” Lutheran?  What difference does it make?

In Faith in the Freshman I mention my first interaction with Martin Luther through my reading of Roland Bainton’s biography, Here I Stand.  That was the impetus not only for my future scholarly work but also for my more in-depth faith exploration.  In the end it leads me back to where this little reflection started — our Lord’s passion, the living, the dying and rising, of Jesus Christ.  Luther’s understanding of Christian faith has been formative for me.  To be genuinely Lutheran is not only to be Christ-centered, but to begin and end with Jesus Christ and his saving work.

Personally, I don’t have much appetite for church politics.  Houston left me wondering whether the political polarization that I observed resembled the sort of factionalism St. Paul complained about when writing to the Corinthians.  While folks in New Orleans routinely exchange “high fives” with strangers walking past, people in Houston exchanged suspicious glances sizing up who was on which side.

In my work as president of CUW, I try to transcend the politics of the church.  We have lots of stakeholders and constituents, and among them are people of varying perspectives — even from within the LCMS.  That is why I enjoy working with the young people.  That is why I have “faith in the freshman” (I can’t write in my blog without a plug for the book).

So, let me throw out a few questions.  What happens to young people that causes them to become cynical when they get older?  What happens to the fresh faith of freshmen that moves so many of them to factionalism later on?  Why do the “high fives” of youth turn into suspicious whispers of adults?

Maybe you think my impressions are off base?  I’d be interested in yours.

Our efforts to help meet some of the health care needs of our community have brought recognitions mentioned in the links below.  While I am the individual being honored, the credit belongs to the terrific Concordia team of dedicated and consecrated servant leaders.  See the article about Health Care Heroes here.  See the Power Book listing here.

Award Sheet