Pastor Dies in Pulpit

This story has been making the rounds all day long (via MyWay):

OVIEDO, Fla. (AP) - A Presbyterian minister collapsed and died in mid-sentence of a sermon after saying "And when I go to heaven ...," his colleague said Monday.



The Rev. Jack Arnold, 69, was nearing the end of his sermon Sunday at Covenant Presbyterian Church in this Orlando suburb when he grabbed the podium before falling to the floor, said the Rev. Michael S. Beates, associate pastor at Covenant Presbyterian.



Before collapsing, Arnold quoted the 18th century Bible scholar, John Wesley, who said, "Until my work on this earth is done, I am immortal. But when my work for Christ is done ... I go to be with Jesus," Beates said in a telephone interview.



Several members of the congregation with medical backgrounds tried to revive the minister and paramedics were called, but Arnold appeared to die instantly, Beates said.



Arnold had been the senior minister at the church until the late 1990s when he began traveling to Africa and the Middle East to teach pastors. The cause of death was believed to be cardiac arrest. He had bypass surgery five years earlier.



Beates also recounted Arnold's death in an e-mail he sent to members of the Central Florida Presbytery.



"We were stunned," Beates said. "It was traumatic, but how wonderful it was he died in his own church among the people he loved the most."

א = Aleph, ב = Bet...

Week one of introductory biblical Hebrew concluded last Friday. We covered seven grammar lessons during the week - an almost unreal pace to be sure. Nonetheless, I find that I'm already able to read bits of Hebrew text. It's hard to discribe the exciting feeling you have when you see a world like:

אֶלֹהִים

and realize that you've just read the word "God" or "gods" (this common word, which has a masculine plural ending, can be interpreted as either singular or plural, depending on the context).

Now that we know the basics about the definite article, prepositions, conjunctions, noun roots, masculine/feminine/singualar/plural noun patterns, and adjectives, it's quickly becoming apparent that a deep vocabulary will be the key to reading and translating texts at speeds greater than glacial. I've already memorized 22 of the most common verbs, and this week I have to know 43 of the most common nouns. One of my more adventuresome collegues has already memorized about 250 words. My goal this week is to go well beyond the assigned vocabulary and try to catch up with my friend.

Dreaming California

I accidentally discovered this awesome photo of the California coastline ealier today. I continue to be amazed at the professional-level quality of many Flickr contributors.

dreaming california Originally uploaded by Landsails.

Good News from Iraq

Arthur Chrenkoff continues compiling and publishing the good news from Iraq. Installment 18 is hot of the virtual-presses.

The New Year Begins

And it begins with Hebrew during the January term, so this will be a very busy month. We covered the Hebrew alphabet today. Studying will continue until the Sugar Bowl later this evening.

Utah Beats Up Pitt 35-7 to Become Fiesta Bowl Champs

Congratulations to now-former coach Urban Meyer and the entire Ute Squad! In honor of the victory, I'm posting the lyrics to that wonderfully urbane fight song, "Utah Man":

I am a Utah man, sir and I live across the green.

Our gang it is the jolliest that you have ever seen.

Our coeds are the fairest and each one's a shining star.

Our yell, you hear it ringing through the mountains near and far.



Chorus:

Who am I, sir, a Utah man am I:

A Utah man, sir, and will be till I die: Ki! Ki!



We're up to snuff: we never bluff.

We're game for any fuss.

No other gang of college men dare meet us in the muss.

So fill your lungs and sing it out shout it to the sky.

We'll fight for dear old crimson for a Utah man am I.



Chorus:



And when we prom the avenue, all lined up in a row.

And arm in arm and step in time as down the street we go.

No matter if a freshman green, or in a senior's gown,

The people all admit we are the warmest gang in town.



Chorus:



We may not live forever on this jolly good old sphere,

But while we do we'll live a life of merriment and cheer.

And when our college days are o'er and night is drawing nigh,

With parting breath we'll sing that song:



A Utah Man am I!

Happy New Year!

I'm celebrating the New Year with my sister at her place of employment, one of the three statewide local TV stations here in Utah. Both of our parents are out of town for the Fiesta Bowl, along with my sister's husband (who had to go to the game for work), so we're on our own as the countdown to 2005 continues.



The 10 p.m. news show has just ended, and the station will now cover the next two hours of the city's "First Night" celebration at Gallivan Center Plaza.



Wherever you are this night, I wish you all the best for a happy and successful 2005. Also, check out Mark D. Roberts's piece on celebration in the midst of suffering. Let's remember our neighbors in East Africa and Southeast Asia as we bring in the New Year.



UPDATE: You can help the victims of the tsumani by making a donation here.