Pat -

I hope the weekend went well and that the start of school is energizing and rewarding!

I finished your book this weekend and thoroughly enjoyed it!  I was amazed to read and learn how God has so effectively used you since we met in 2004.  He is masterful!!! As soon as I got to the end, I went to my computer to “google” where Andrew is today.  Wow! Cornell!!  Very good for him!  I am sure God will use him effectively there to His purpose.  And hopefully that includes continued success on the basketball court!!  He sure excelled last year at Palm Beach State.  105 3-pointers makes my arm tired just reading about them. (I so love basketball!)

My youngest is at Valparaiso.  Chelsea has just begun her sophomore year there.  Andrew is ahead of her and a year behind my son (senior at Belmont University in Nashville, TN).  At parents weekend last year, I attended the introduction of the men’s basketball team.  I thought to myself as I read your book, I didn’t remember him on the team.  As I read on, I understood why.

Thanks for writing your story!  I could relate in so many ways!  You caused me to reflect many times on how we need to let God be in control and not us.  Then on Sunday our sermon was about Moses’ mother letting God be in complete control as she put him in a basket in the Nile.  And we know the rest of that story.

God is definitely speaking to me!!

Thanks for being a conduit!
Doug

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

Some of our guests

We christened the launch last night.  The toast, however, was not so much in celebration of the book finally being published and available as it was my way of thanking the Faith in the Freshman team.  So many people have done so much to support, encourage, and enable.  I wanted to take a moment to express my appreciation to some of them and hand out a few copies of the book.  Our evening included desserts marvelously served by my wife, Tammy; a visit to our amazing web designer, Chris Johnson, in California via iChat; an iChat update with freshman turned sophomore, Andrew Ferry, in Florida; and a champagne toast—to each of my guests.  It could not have happened without them.

I’ll admit, having the book in hand is a rush.  For me, though, I already gained everything out of the experience that I might have hoped for months ago by just writing the story.  The chance to interact with my sainted mother through letters exchanged three decades past, and the opportunity to explore in more depth my relationship with my son through more recent journal entries was poignant and moving.  Naturally, I hope others will read and relate, enjoy and be engaged by the book.  I’m eager for interaction about the themes at the center of the story.  Whatever happens from here, however, is frosting on the dessert and champagne celebration!

[View with PicLens]