It is possible for persons to not notice the witness of Bill and Nancy, although it will be very apparent when they leave us. They have never lobbied for position or office; they quietly build up the body of Christ as needed as their gifts be. Nancy has led the Mission Valley Church of the Nazarene missions program for the past years. Bill has been organizationally active with us. Together they have helped us continue our close relationship with Mission Valley that has been so profound for all.

Every Sunday when I arrive, Bill, PhD in hand, years of leadership service in the church, is walking through the parking lot and around the building, picking up trash that finds its way onto the congregation's property in the city. Of course, he is also on hand for the non-English speaking congregations in case he's needed, keeping an eye on things, seeing how he can support others. If bread needs laid out, Bill is there to help. He watches as the kids file off the bus, fading into the background as he makes sure no children "slip off" to the taco shop or Burger King. He greets each pastor, makes sure each room is appropriately set up, and provides a pastoral sense to see if he can help out in some way later in the week. He'll check on the ministerial training of each in various ways so that each might continue their educational trek as they look towards Holy Orders.

Bill has served as secretary of the multicongregational board, as well as "dean" of our ministerial education program. He has advocated for non-English speakers to district boards from "the inside". He connects groups, persons, always behind the scenes; he is the sinews in Christ's body. He served as a member of our church board for years, quietly in the background. I remember when he was made a quiet comment at a contentious board meeting and a fellow board member pointed a finger at him and told him to "shut the hell up." Bill did not become angry nor resentful, nor ever vengeful at being so treated, nor bear long term grudges against the congregation when no one on the board or the congregation who was there ever expressed concern for him or apologies for being so treated. He continued in his quiet, constant presence for the unity and peace of the congregation, faithfully bearing wrong in service to Christ among the congregation.

It is perhaps little known that Bill did not grow up in a Christian home, nor did he come to the faith until his mid-20s. He was a high school gymn teacher, an ex-Marine who now is committed to the peace of Jesus Christ. God called him to God's Self in Christ, and before long, he was in Taiwan. He bears the scars of this service literally in his body. The air pollution from Taiwan has left a chronic lung problem that makes it difficult for him to preach -- after preaching he will cough for two to three days. Other ailments work at him, but he accepts his suffering with dignity and wisdom, enfolding it into Christ as he continues in his steady way. Throughout these times, Bill has taken care of his in-laws in their physical weakness, daily caring for them as they have moved from this life to life eternal -- first his father-in-law; this winter, then his mother-in-law as life slowly drained from her as she suffered with Altheimers. His sufferings have not been inconsequential, yet he lives life without drama.

Maybe you could speak some about Bill's witness, what you have noticed, the interactions with him -- if any.

Now turn to the Gospel reading, and pay particular attention to the parable from Luke 13:1-9. How does Bill's life among us help us understand this parable?

Similarly, read 1 Corinthians 10:1-13. How do "these things" combined with Bill's witness "serve as an example . . . to instruct us, on whom the ends of the ages have come"? Why is such a witness so important for the concrete life on congregations and the church over time?

Perhaps we can only makes sense of Bill's life and witness by reading the call of Moses in Exodus. What is the key to Moses' ability to continue his service over all the "trials," both from without in dealing with Pharoah, the Egyptians, and other enemies of the elect, and from within, the continual disruptions, fragmentations, grumblings, attacks, and idolatry that is to come? As one reflects on the Gospel and Epistle reminding of God's patience and mercy that gives room for the Spirit to change human beings into persons of faithfulness, constancy, and peace, how is this related to God's call? How has this call come to us in Christ? What implications does this have for us?

A final note. Beginning next week, we will not post bible studies. Instead we will distribute a book called As If the Heart Mattered: A Wesleyan Spirituality by Gregory S. Clapper. It is an excellent, profound but simple book with short, penetrating chapters to introduce us into living in an openness to the Spirit to transform our passions, our affections, to cleanse us from inward sin and fill us with love of God and neighbor. My only concern is that Clapper does not quite emphasize as John Wesley how personal engagement in the works of mercy plays a role by which the Spirit sanctifies us. I hope that the book serves us well. We're waiting for it to arrive from amazon; we will distribute it at your bible studies next week.