Me, to office staff today:
I have believed, ever since the day I was a paralegal, that a lawyer without staff is much like a lion tamer without a chair, a bear trainer without a whip, and a race car driver without a steering wheel. Pretty much pointless, and quite possibly dangerous.
Office staff to me, responding:
Behind every great lawyer is a worn-out staff.
You can trust me on this - it’s true on both sides of the equation.
A week and a half ago, I woke up earlier than normal for a Saturday morning, glanced at my Blackberry, and knew that my day was not going to be ordinary.
“God bless you, my brother is among the persons arrested, how can you help?”
This was a direct message from a man I met via Twitter, and knew to be a Christian living in the Middle East. And I knew instantly what story he was referring to - a story of the arrest of multiple Christian pastors in the country of Iran.
My first thought was to want to help, but how? I indicated my willingness, waited, and prayed. I received a phone call from Turkey, from my Twitter friend, updating me on the situation, on his brother, Pastor Behrouz, being held in an undisclosed location, for an undisclosed amount of time, for “crimes” that were undisclosed but easily guessed - evangelization and apostasy.
A couple of days later another direct message came:
“They have been sentenced Thursday for apostasy, it means to death according the shariah”
I will admit that I had no idea what to do. One thinks of these things in theory, but when they arrive - what is the right course of action? And yet, though I did not know what to do, I knew that I needed to do something. 
So I began to e-mail - advocacy groups, news organizations, anyone I could think of.
And the amazing thing is this - when there’s a need, people respond. I was, frankly, amazed at the response I got. Now, I wish I could tell you that the story was over, but it is not. Wheels are turning, but Pastor Behrouz remains in prison, subjected to immense suffering, and not to mention the threat of death.
I was asked to write an article for Assist News, which was published last night, and I share for you here. What struck me as I wrote, though, was the hope embodied by this situation. Hope not necessarily in staying alive, though there is hope for that - no, the deeper hope comes from the chance to die. Philippians 1:21 drove this home, where Paul says, “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.“
I ask not, friends, that you read this and weep. I ask that you read it, and pray.
*****
Update: This just in from Compass Direct News.
The things that belong in them, and sometimes, the things that don’t quite fit.
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!
I’m almost a week behind on posting these, but better late than never, eh?
The San Francisco Bay Area might be known for a lot of different things, but beauty should certainly be one of them.
I think it wonderful to live in a place that allows a day trip to the Yosemite Valley. And I think it’s about time we took it. We had a great excuse this weekend, because Katie’s sister is out to visit!
We lunched on the Valley floor…
The “Tunnel View” of the valley…
The viewers looking down on the Valley…
And then we timed it just right to see this as we came around the bend. There was a turnoff - and we took it.
While last year’s Wisconsin Alumni Association meeting was held in amazingly beautiful fall weather. It seems highly ironic that this year’s, in Nevada, was covered in a wonderful snow.
There was at least one similarity, though - the same guy was elected President both times. I appreciated the vote of confidence and the many kind words.
Being re-elected also gives me the chance to look backwards and forwards at the Alumni Association. In doing so, I discovered that the Alumni Association is at the same point that I am in my own life: We are at the spot where we need to turn vision into reality. It’s a hard place to be, in many ways, but it’s sure an exciting one. The foundation is laid, the vision is there, and now it’s time to make something out of it all.
Here are my thoughts for the Alumni Association blog - which manage to be similar to introspective musings in re: yours truly.
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Every organization starts with a vision of something great. For the Alumni Association, that was a vision of expanding, promoting, and growing OBCL’s unique calling. Even as a student, I could see the vision of those that worked to establish this organization. It was apparent, and it trickled all the way down to my study-swamped self. In the intervening years, the vision has been clarified and built.
And in every organization’s life comes a time in which the established vision must be put into practical reality by dint of hard work. And as I looked back on the last year’s work done by the Alumni Association Board and numerous volunteers, I can’t help but realize that we are at that point in the Alumni Association’s life. The vision is there, and it is clear - and now comes the time in which we must turn that vision into practical reality.
This past year, the Board worked to lay the foundation to build this reality on. So many “small” components go into effective communication, effective promotion, and effective fundraising…and this list of essentials could go on. Beyond those normal challenges, the Alumni Association faces unique challenges simply because we are scattered all across this nation! One thing that I have greatly appreciated about the Board of Directors of this association is their willingness to do things the right way. We’ve never taken an idea and gone off half-cocked; we’ve taken good ideas and made them better - those ideas and that work is the foundation.
But right now we have this chance to turn vision into reality, if we are willing to put our noses to their respective grindstones and do the work. It’s time to take the foundation and build on it, taking those ideas into reality. And that is our goal for this year.
It was terrific to see the excitement of the alumni at the annual meeting last week. Indeed, I found it impossible not to get excited myself! We have the skills and the desire to do the building - and we have the foundation to build on.
It is going to be a great year.