It’s hard to understand the death of a loved one. One minute they’re there, and they’re talking to you, and they’re sharing their heart with you–their loves and hates, their fears and apprehensions, their frustrations and their desires. And the next minute they’re gone, and you’re looking at this dead corpse, and you want to talk to them–to tell them that it doesn’t have to be this way. They can get up and walk. Isn’t that what Christ’s resurrection is really about? Shouldn’t they just be able to stand up and give you a hug? WHY ARE THEY SITTING THERE? I don’t get it. It baffles my mind. Why don’t they just stand up? Why are they so lifeless? Where is their breath? WHERE IS THEIR BREATH? Why are those dead, lifeless eyes staring at me? I want you to smile at me. I want to see your eyes twinkle with life. Why do you stare at me? And why does your death want to consume me also? I have life in me, and if I could give you that life, I would give it to you. I would give you my breath. Why can’t we share breath? Why the heck did you stop breathing?

I have a teacher’s meeting, the first one of the school year, that I’m very excited about. I can’t wait to figure out who my students will be and all the new improvements this new year will bring. Teaching is about serving and being involved and all those other cheesy things; but even if it does sound cheesy, it really is all so great, and I love being a teacher.

The R. L. Dabney Center for Theological Studies will hold its Fall “Special
Session” Saturday, October 25 at Auburn Avenue Presbyterian Church. The
speaker will be Norman Shepherd. Professor Shepherd will be giving four
lectures on the topic of “Justification.” The lectures will begin at 9:00
a.m. and conclude at 1:00 p.m. (with lunch, discussion/question and answer
session to follow from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m.)

The cost of the “Special Session” is only $10 per person ($5.00 for pastors
and seminary students). Lunch will be $3.00 per person. If you would like to
register for the “Special Session” please write Auburn Avenue Presbyterian
Church (224 Auburn Ave, Monroe, LA 71201) or call the church office
(318-323-3061) between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Tuesday through Friday.

Norman Shepherd did his undergraduate study at Westminster College, New
Wilmington, PA, and received his theological training at Westminster
Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, PA (BD, and ThM under John Murray). He
pursued doctoral studies under G.C. Berkouwer at the Free Reformed
University, Amsterdam, with additional study at the University of
Goettingen, Germany. He taught systematic theology at Westminster in
Philadelphia from 1963 to 1981, and then pastored two churches, First
Christian Reformed Church, Minneapolis, MN (1983-1989) and Cottage Grove
Christian Reformed Church, South Holland, IL (1989-1998), until retirement.
He was raised in the United Presbyterian Church of North America and
transferred to the Orthodox Presbyterian Church in 1958 when the old UP
Church was absorbed into the Presbyterian Church (USA). He was ordained to
the ministry as a teacher of the word of God in 1963 in the OPC and
transferred to the Christian Reformed Church in 1982. He is widowed with two
married daughters and resides in Holland, MI.