Feb
16
Bruce M. Metzger-Ave atque vale
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The Sweet Dropper notes that Bruce M. Metzger, professor emeritus at Princeton Theological Seminary and an authority on Greek manuscripts of the Bible, has died at age 93. He was the George L. Collord Professor Emeritus of New Testament Language and Literature at Princeton Theological Seminary. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Lebanon Valley College in 1935, a bachelor of theology degree from Princeton Seminary in 1938 and a doctorate in classics from Princeton University in 1942. He became an ordained minister with the Presbyterian Church in 1939.
Metzger began his teaching career at Princeton Theological Seminary in 1938, where he stayed in the New Testament department for 46 years. During his time at Princeton Seminary, Metzger developed 25 courses on the English and Greek texts of books in the New Testament. He was also involved with committees in the production of the United Bible Societies’ Greek New Testament (1966) and the New Revised Standard Version (1990).
Think of him if you take a Greek New Testament in your hands, and give thanks to God for learned and faithful scholars.
Jan
11
Momofuku Ando-Ave atque vale
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Momofuku Ando died in a Japanese hospital last Friday. He was 96 years old. His death merits Sweet Dropper space because Ando made a major contribution to our lives, especially the lives of college students, grad students, seminary students and ministers (and their children): he invented ramen noodles and the instant noodle cup. In 1958 he unveiled Chicken Ramen, the world’s first instant noodle product. Ando was inspired to develop the instant noodle after coming upon a long line of people on a cold night shortly after World War II. They were waiting to buy freshly made ramen at a black market food stall. The experience convinced him that “peace will come to the world when the people have enough to eat.” He went on to found Nissin Food Products Co., the industry leader in Japan. In 1971, Nissin introduced the Cup Noodle featuring instant ramen in a waterproof plastic foam container…and the rest is culinary history.
Ando’s death caused me to reflect on some great moments of one-to-one ministry as an RUF intern at Mercer University and other moments with college students while an assistant pastor in Auburn, Alabama, over a couple of 15-cent packs of instant ramen (beef and shrimp are my favorites, by the way). There is a lesson here about hospitality. Hospitality, in the biblical sense, does not require Lagasse-like chef skills or Martha Stewart-esque decorating and presentation acumen. The welcome and openness of hospitality does not require food, but in the Scriptures and over history it nearly always includes eating meals together. I think about Luke’s description in Acts 2:42-47 and 4:32-36 of the early believers’ fellowship: sharing all things in common and eating together–some of the language may well suggest the Lord’s Supper, but certainly it was not restricted to that, especially if they celebrated it like we do! And hospitality can take place over instant ramen, leftover chicken, or some chips and salsa. Opening our homes and lives to others will require of us an awareness of Jesus’ sacrificial welcome to all who come to him, a light hold on material possessions and a commitment to a simplified lifestyle–and instant ramen fits into that quite well.
So here’s to you, Momofuku Ando, unwitting accomplice to the subversive welcome of the gospel of the ever-blessed God. I’ll be raising a bowl of empty carbs swimming in an MSG-laced brine in your honor in, oh, about three hours.
Dec
14
Joyce M. Horton - Ave atque vale
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Stonewall Jackson considered it a great blessing to die on the Sabbath day. Another valiant saint left the church militant for the church triumphant this past Lord’s Day, Mrs. Joyce M. Horton (1919-2006) of Clinton, Mississippi. She was a great friend of the Christian family. I cannot claim to have known Mrs. Horton well, but in the times I met her, there was always something of the savor of Christ about her. It could be well said of her what was said of Sibbes–that heaven was in her long before she was in heaven. I have friendships in circles that she influenced deeply, and I know that they will agree. Here is a lovely tribute from her obituary in the Jackson Clarion-Ledger:
‘Mrs. Horton’s passion during her years on this earth was to serve the One who created and redeemed her. In addition to the daily instruction of her six children, she taught Bible studies in her home, in local churches, downtown Jackson, in prisons, and through the Christian Women’s Club, in addition to speaking at conferences across the country. She taught the child’s version of the Westminster Shorter Catechism of the Presbyterian Church to two generations of children in her local church, and presented seminars to other churches on how to teach it. In 1979 she published the material of these seminars as How to Teach the Child’s Catechism to Children, widely-used today for training teachers in the US, Britain and Australia. At the age of 60, Mrs. Horton began a thrice-weekly Bible study for female prisoners at the Rankin County Correctional Facility and continued teaching for fifteen years, until ill health forced her retirement. During that time she taught a group study in each building, individually visited each maximum-security inmate, quelled a prison riot, rescued a relapsed ex-offender from a crack house, and by precept and example taught uncountable prisoners to love and obey her Savior. The effect of her teaching and influence on the inmates gained her unlimited access to the prison, even during “lock-down,” when no outside visitors are permitted. In 1999 she received the Presbyterian Church in America’s “Urban and Mercy Women in Leadership” award, which included a grant to her prison ministry.
‘In 1963, Mrs. Horton’s husband became one of the founding board members of Reformed Theological Seminary. For many years she prepared and served a back-to-school spaghetti dinner for students each September, and ministered to the wives of students through Bible studies, annual garden parties, personal counseling, and friendship.
‘Joyce Horton’s survivors include her husband of nearly 65 years, Frank, of Clinton; her children: Beverly Biggs of Crystal Springs; Joyce Herring and her husband Wayne of Memphis, Tenn.; Frank Horton Jr. (Bud) and his wife Jennifer of Brandon; Frosty Howell and her husband Michael of Montgomery, Alabama; Bob Horton and his wife Leigh Anne of Gadsden, Ala.; and Mark Horton of New York; her sister: Sandra Aeschliman and husband Richard of Atlanta, Ga.; her brother: Frank Matthews of Grenada; 19 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews, grand-nieces and nephews, and her self-proclaimed “black child,” Pauline Rogers of Natchez, one of the beneficiaries of Mrs. Horton’s prison ministry. Her life and her heart also embraced the, “company of the redeemed, whom no man can number.”‘
Mrs. Horton’s book How to Teach the Catechism to Children is still the best book of its kind. Teaching sound doctrine to children was important to her because she had embraced liberalism while she was in college. After she and Frank married, she embraced Reformed theology and never let go. Her life leaves a legacy of teaching ‘the trustworthy message as taught’ to many others. As she wrote in the preface to her book, ‘I take comfort in the fact that God can use a crooked stick to accomplish His purposes.’
And for believers, vale is not the final word. More fitting is the German farewell, auf wiedersehen–’until we see again.’