Preaching VIII (The Oregon Years)
September 20th, 2007 | Published in Blog Thoughts | 10 Comments
Randy has graciously chosen to humor me and allow me to write his Eugene memoirs. I will say right up front that Randy could classify his time in Eugene as bittersweet. I am choosing to dwell entirely on the sweet.
The day Randy tried out for the job in Eugene we knew that he was the perfect candidate and exactly what the church desperately needed. His style of teaching was positive, engaging and relevant. I remember introducing myself to him after services that first day, and he showed me a photo of beautiful newborn Madison. My first impression of Randy was that he was happy, friendly, a hard worker and very intelligent. My first impression was 100% accurate and still holds true today.
On July 10, 1993, Randy baptized my daughter, Becky. I remember right after she was baptized, he turned her around to look at everyone in the church and he said, "This is your family now, Becky." I will never forget that.
There are many sermons Randy gave while in Eugene that powerfully impacted my walk with Jesus and made me a better person. There are two lessons he gave that I still think about on a regular basis. In one lesson, Randy talked about the destructive nature that negative comments can have. He said when we tear people down, we are throwing stones at them, and that even small stones, after time, can do a tremendous amount of damage. I will never forget that. Another time, he smashed a ceramic flowerpot on the floor so it shattered in hundreds of pieces. Then he said no matter how broken you are, God can make you whole. I will never forget that. I saved one of those broken pieces and I still have it.
While in Eugene, Randy got his PhD in his spare time while starting a new church. Top that if you can, but you can’t.
While in Eugene, Randy prayed a lot. One time when setting up chairs before service, Randy told me that as he was placing each chair, he would pray for whoever was going to sit in that particular chair. I will never forget that.
Randy and family lived in a great house on Sharon street. I remember going there and eating tri-tip and playing croquet. I remember Madison chasing Reese around the house and saying, "Reesie boy!" Randy’s kids were always smiling and you can make your own conclusions there.
Randy liked to eat double layer cream cheese pumpkin pie, but that probably happens other places besides Eugene.
Randy baptized my son, David on June 2, 1997. Shortly after that, Randy and family moved to Arlington.
Like I said before, Randy’s time in Eugene could be called bittersweet. I told him if he only came to baptize my kids, then all the junk he had to deal with was worth it. He said, yes, it WAS worth it.
I will never forget that.
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September 20th, 2007 at 7:54 am (#)
I decided to take Peggy up on her offer and let her write today’s post. I promised her I would not change a single word. I did this for two reasons:
First, Peggy (and her entire family) is one of those people who makes the journey worthwhile. This family occupied a special place in our lives during our time in Oregon. One of those, very few relationships of mutual blessing.
I would gladly endure the bitter part of this experience again simply because of the bonds of friendship that were formed. My time in Oregon, the sweetest part, is savored in the faces of people.
Second, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to have a ghost writer. Now to see if she writes sermons!
September 20th, 2007 at 9:07 am (#)
the ghost writer idea does have merit…hmmm..
i’m glad that you let her tell us about you in Eugene…i’m guessing you would have been more modest.. it is good to have someone witness your life as she has and express it so eloquently and sincerely.
September 20th, 2007 at 10:54 am (#)
Even though Madison and Reese came along post-Fresno (for the most part), I get to see their happy, smiling faces from time to time. And I conclude a LOT from that…about both Randy and Beth.
September 20th, 2007 at 12:03 pm (#)
You picked a wonderful ghost writer, and yes those years were bittersweet.
I still feel your presents here each time I set up Sunday morning or lead singing or get together for life group or prepair a lesson. You left quite the positive mark on the church family here because of the Spirit that resides in you.
Blessings my friend
September 20th, 2007 at 12:10 pm (#)
This reminds me of the good that did come out of bittersweet years in Florida.
September 20th, 2007 at 1:46 pm (#)
Peggy did a good job. A great job. Can’t wait to hear her sermon.
September 21st, 2007 at 3:50 am (#)
Yes it does Greg. Thank you Mr. Ghost-Writer for the window into the good that Randy did in Oregon and continues to do today.
September 21st, 2007 at 6:51 am (#)
Thank you, Peggy, for your special insight and stories about our friend, Randy. I especially liked the story about praying for the person who would sit in each chair. Just the sort of thing I would have expected from him……………….
September 21st, 2007 at 4:19 pm (#)
do I get to write about Arlington?! will the “no editing” promise still hold?
September 22nd, 2007 at 1:48 pm (#)
Randy makes us THINK, examine ourselves and our relationship with God. That’s not an easy task for any of us. I’m glad God is “loaning” Randy to us at CCC! I’m sure that Randy’s ministry journey is just beginning and that God has many other souls for him to touch.