Summer 2009 - Northwestern College

Zwemer Viewin BoxDan RossThe Community of ChristIconcluded my last Classic column by stating that while the times we are experiencingmay be economically uncertain, we serve a God who is unchanging, unshakable andworthy of trust. At the time, I had no idea how my own faith would be tested in newways in 2009.Over the holidays, my wife, Michelle, and I were hoping that after two years ofsignificant transition we would be able to settle into some sort of normalcy in 2009. Thatdesire quickly faded when on Jan. 5 we sat in a doctor’s office listening to the numbing newsthat Michelle had breast cancer.Since that day, we have been on a seemingly never-ending trip to see surgeons,oncologists and other specialists. It has been a challenging first half of the year. However,as Michelle and I have been reminded often through this process, our God is sovereign. Heknows every detail of our lives, including the journey we have been on. We know his graceis sufficient for us and that all things work together for good to those who love God, tothose who are the called according to his purpose.These truths are easier to claim, though, when not on the path we have been walking.This experience has given us a new picture of what it means to suffer. We have found muchencouragement from Isaiah 41:10: “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I amyour God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteousright hand.”While it has been a difficult journey, Michelle’s prognosis for a full recovery is quitepositive. We’ve been reminded God can bring good out of any circumstance, includingcancer. The genuine love, care and concern shown to us by the Northwestern community,our new church family at Trinity Reformed, and others in the local community have beenoverwhelming.Board members, faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends have bathed us in prayer,provided meals, watched our kids and even cleaned our home. This has been one of themost humbling experiences of our lives as so many have served us with the hands and feet ofJesus.On the day before Michelle’s last chemotherapy treatment in May, many of these samepersons joined Michelle, me and our kids as we participated in the inaugural Race for theCure in Sioux City, an event to raise funds for breast cancer research. With over 80 runnerson Team Michelle, we had the largest team of any entered in the race.Before arriving in Orange City, Michelle and I had heard a lot about the distinctivelyChristian community of Northwestern. Now we’ve experienced it. We know its strong,loving power firsthand. What a blessing it is to serve here. We praise God for each andevery person in the Northwestern family.Greg ChristyPresidentFrom the Classic websiteThe following readers posted comments about Classic articles atclassic.nwciowa.edu.Classic ThoughtsGreat article! I felt like I was on the boat with your family, feeling seasick likeyour father but holding on to that dream to get me through to the next day. Amazingfaith and courage is what brought immigrants over to our country. Hard work andperseverance brought us to the standard of living we enjoy today. Avarice andgreed have replaced the faceof the wide-eyed industriousimmigrant and are taking usdown a different road. Do weneed to ride the stormy wavesfor a while until we can findourselves again and land incalmer water? Thank you forsharing your heart-warmingstory.Colette Knudsen1,000 WordsThe photos and text inyour “Splash” photo essay brought a smileto my face. I strongly suspect I am responsible for the adjective “Mighty” in the “Battleof the Mighty Floyd.”When teaching organic chemistry at NWC, I used a simple analogy to explain thebasis for chromatography—a common chemical separation method. I referred to the“Mighty Floyd” (a tongue-in-cheek takeoff on the Mighty Mississippi) as analogous tothe mobile phase, a group of waders to the stationary phase, and a bunch of floatingbeach balls to the sample. (Doug Elrick ’87, a former NWC student of mine whoworked as a forensic scientist at the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, told me heonce borrowed my analogy to explain chromatography to a jury.)Dr. Peter HansenIowa City, IowaTackling the IssuesAnita Cirulis wrote an excellentpiece, “Land of Opportunity,” inyour spring issue. She tackled avery thorny topic and presented itas an issue of humanity, not justlegality. I wish all local residentsand our state and national leaderscould understand the issue sowell; perhaps we’d get morethan posturing and inaction inactually addressing the 12 millionundocumented who live amongus—always in fear of a misstep, alltoo often the victims of prejudice,hearing the voices of those whosay they’re Christians but thentreat other human beings withouthumanity.I receive several collegepublications, but the Classic is theonly one that includes real issuesand presents them in a thoughtful,well-researched manner. Pleasecontinue to help our youngmen and women become adultswho will help solve the world’sproblems as you educate morethan just the mind.Donna HoadleySheldon, IowaNew PerspectivesThank you so much for yourcover article on immigrationin the past issue. I greatlyappreciated the nonbiased, yetinformative, writing. There weremany issues brought up I hadnever thought of before, suchas the difficulties of employershere in the United States andhow much the trade industryaffects the desire to come to theMidwest.I believe this article representsNorthwestern well in that it isopen-ended and allows readersto form their own opinions. Thisis exactly what I encounteredat Northwestern. Thank you somuch for covering this importanttopic, especially since it will affectus all—if it hasn’t already!Carrie Mathison ’08Preston, Minn.Focused onImmigrationGood work with theimmigration feature in the springissue of the Classic. Immigration isan issue I’m interested in workingwith after law school, and Iwas impressed with the rangeof perspectives you were able topresent. I think you providedan unbiased, but compassionate,story.Laura Jacobson ’08Williamsburg, Va.No Easy AnswersI read with interest the article,“Land of Opportunity.” It mademe realize how complex theissue of immigration is and howoverwhelming the policymakingdecisions are. Perhaps the controlshould have been started manyyears ago.Eloise ChristieAlgona, IowaWE LOVE GETTING MAILSend letters to: Classic,Northwestern College, 101 7thStreet SW, Orange City, IA 51041;e-mail: classic@nwciowa.edu;fax: 712-707-7370. Letters may beedited for length and clarity. Pleaseinclude an address and daytimephone number.2 SUMMER 2009Northwestern Classic 3