Hi Dr. Ferry,

This is Dave Kolander, pastor at Christ the Lord Lutheran, Brookfield (WELS).  My daughter Anna is a sophomore at Concordia and is presently an RA.  She is very involved in the choir, voice, piano and drama programs.  Right now she is getting ready for the fall musical.  (My nephew Thomas is also a student at CUW.)

I am writing to tell you I just finished reading Faith in the Freshman.  Thank you for your wonderful book.  I laughed and cried throughout, as I relived many of my own experiences (with both my daughters Anna and Emma (Wisconsin Lutheran High School 2009, 2012) and my son Ryan (WLHS 2006)) — and as I rejoiced with you as you shared the Holy Spirit’s work with you and with your family. 

Having been blessed with parents who shared their faith with me, I cannot even imagine the humbling joy it musht have been to have been able to pass back to the previous generation the great things the Lord has done.  Thank you for sharing that message in such an interesting, insightful, and delightful way.

God bless and keep you in his Son,

Dave Kolander

P.S.  I also have my own fond memories of some of the great football, basketball, and baseball games we had against Milwaukee Lutheran, when I was a student long ago at Northwestern Prep in Watertown (now called Luther Prep).

Rachel is a sophomore at Concordia Texas in Austin.  She is thrilled to be back in the Lone Star state surrounded by her friends from Concordia.  Andrew is a junior at Cornell in Ithaca, New York.  Unlike Rachel, he really knows no one at school.  But, he’s just as eager to get going.

We made the trek across Canada with a brief stop at Niagara Falls to deliver Andrew — no car for him this year!  The trip to Ithaca went smooth if not straight.  The closest distance between two points in that part of New York is not a straight line.  There are no straight ways to get to or around once you arrive in Ithaca.

We didn’t even go straight to see Coach Courtney when we arrived.  I don’t think Andrew was too excited for him to see the splint on his wrist.  That was better than the cast and sling he had on when he got off the plane from China.

The trip to China was wonderful.  Andrew described the opportunities for spiritual growth, cultural experience, and basketball competition.  Everything went well — until the next-t0-last game when he hurt his right wrist.

The original diagnosis was a fracture.  That, however, was not the conclusion of the doctor here in Milwaukee.  Whatever the case, Andrew has a couple of weeks of healing and rehabilitation before he can return to the court.  There are no straight lines to get you where you want to go!

Check here for a recent interview with Coach Courtney by the Ithaca Journal.

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.

Along with telling some stories and selling a few books, I have had the opportunity to help others get better acquainted with Concordia University.  I also have engaged audiences on the subject of Type 1 diabetes and have asked for their prayers and support in the quest for a cure.

Below is a brief note from a Rotarian whose club I addressed last week.  He is a Cornell alumnus and was excited to learn of Andrew’s plans. 

Hi Dr. Ferry and Andrew, – What a pleasure it was to have you both visit our Rotary of Milwaukee/North Shore meeting last Monday.  As President/Elect for the coming year 2010-2011, and on behalf of all our members, I want to thank you for visiting us and telling us such a marvelous story of faith, as it relates to basketball, family, and life.  It certainly could be theme for any fine sermon as there are many stories connected to this, evident in your book, which I’m reading with great interest.  We hope you had a useful and informative dinner with the new basketball coach at Cornell.  And for Andy, I have alerted my fraternity brothers (Sigma Phi) of Andy’s move to Cornell next year and know that your experience there will be a highlight of your life as you enjoy the people, the team, Ithaca, and in general, all that Cornell will be offering to you.  Thanks again, Dr. Ferry, for your inspiring talk at our meeting and continued success at Concordia as you lead your fine school into the future.  God Bless you and Andy – Owen Perry.

Also below is the list of presentations that have been a part of my recent routine.  Summer’s schedule is filling fast!

• April 7 – New Berlin Noon Rotary
• April 14 – Port Washington/Saukville Basketball Banquet
• April 15 – Barnes & Noble Book Signing at Bay Shore Town Square
• April 16 – Book table at the Women’s Leadership Institute National Conference
• April 17 – Rite -Hite YMCA
• April 21 – Alexian Village Book Club
• April 25 – Christian Athletic Scholarship Banquet
• April 27 – West Bend Sunrise Rotary
• May 11 – Thiensville – Mequon Noon Rotary
• May 19 – Mitchell Field Noon Rotary
• May 24 – Northshore Milwaukee Noon Rotary
• May 27 – Cedarburg/Grafton Noon Rotary
• June 18 -20 – St. John’s College Alumni Reunion
• July 26 – Waukesha Rotary
• October 18-20 – Mid-South District LCMS Professional Church Workers Conference

Faith in the Freshman Cover

I’d certainly love to see you at the Thursday, November 19th “Launch” of “Faith in the Freshman” at Concordia’s Todd Wehr Auditorium.  Join me from 7-9 p.m. for some storytelling, refreshments, and friendly conversation.  Here is a chance to get a little Christmas shopping done early!  Copies of this story of hopes and hoops will be on sale, and I will happily sign one for you or your gift recipient. We can even gift wrap one, if you like!  Join us!

Click here for a map to the event.

Dear Pat:

I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed reading your book, “FAITH in the FRESHMAN.”  As a proud member of the half century club as well as a father of two wonderful boys I could personally relate to your story. I laughed when you shared the fact that God blessed you with your five children over a seven-year span, with your wife unfortunately battling morning sickness throughout each pregnancy. My wife Terri was pregnant seven times over the first 9 years of our marriage, the joy of two boys and twin daughters and the incredible sadness of four miscarriages. She shared with Tammy the constant reminder of her physical state with 24/7 morning sickness from what seemed like conception through delivery.

With similar music tastes over the past 30 years, I appreciate your courage in admitting to your “disco years” something that my children often bring up when I criticize today’s music. Although my basketball career ended in high school, I did share the memories of special friendships with teammates which included the respect for their commitment to work on their skills until the ball went flat on those cold Wisconsin winter nights. Sitting in my Pacifica, reading your book as I waited for my daughter’s soccer game to start, I realized just how similar our lives have been except maybe career paths and the fact that I am still a Methodist. I would appreciate getting an update on Andrew, I have become a member of his “fan club”. I feel blessed for having the opportunity to get to know you as a person and also privileged to be part of your Concordia Team. I wish you and your entire family the very best that life has to offer.

Reed J. Schmitt
Treasurer

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