Family Christmas Letter

Here is the Schreiner’s 2009 Christmas Letter.

Dear Family and Friends,

The men working on the house reach down and pick up a stone.  It is crude, misshapen, and rough around the edges.  Not strong as they think of strong.  In fact the stone looks as if it is about to break, or strangely, even willing to break.  So they toss it aside.  But what they don’t understand is that when this stone breaks, there will be a new stone, a stone that will never break.  And this stone will become the cornerstone.

None of the Schreiners have become masons.  However we all are held and knit together by our common belief in the living stone.  At Christmas we celebrate the historical fact that God became man, to die for the sins of all who would believe in him.

Dad continues to work tirelessly.  He teaches (worldwide), preaches, and unceasingly writes books.  This year Run To Win The Prize, and Magnifying God In Christ: A Summary of New Testament Theology were published.  In January he and Mom will be traveling to Cameroon, West Africa to teach and help dear friends and missionaries, Philemon and Linda Yong.

Mom serves alongside Dad.  She leads a few women’s Bible studies and has the full time job of keeping Anna in line.  She is regularly out visiting people in the church and giving the elderly ladies pedicures.  She is also constantly having people over.

Daniel and Ashley are still in Washington D.C. working at a church.  They are expecting a boy in mid January.  Mom and Dad can’t wait to have their first grandchild.  For a Christmas present Dan and Ashley are flying Mom up to D.C. to see the secret nameless child.

Hannah and I are still living in Louisville, while working (Starbucks/Bank) and going to Seminary.  We have been married a little over a year now, got a dog (Kirby), and are buying our first home.  We will also be going to Cameroon in January with my parents for two weeks.

John changed his major to PE/Health.  This summer he helped the Western Kentucky football team work out and he is now working at the gym on campus.  He is involved in Campus Crusade for Christ and helps lead a Bible study.  Every time we see him he has new facial hair.  Sometimes a beard, other times just a mustache.

Anna is in her senior year at Eastern High School.  She is following in the line of her siblings and going to Western Kentucky.  Her 4×8 team in track won state in the half-mile race this past year.  She is planning on majoring in dental hygiene.  She likes teeth and talking to a captive audience.

We pray that the Lord would bless you in the coming year.  We thank God that he has provided the ultimate blessing.  We pray that you would not reject this stone but come to him, Jesus Christ, who was broken for our sake, but God raised him.

He has become the cornerstone.

With all our love,

Patrick for the Schreiners

Like Father, I Pray Like Son

A Tribute to My Dad on His Birthday:

Some of you know him as a friend, some as a theologian, others as a pastor.  But I know him as a father.

It is his birthday today, and I want you to know the man who goes home, and immediately puts windbreaker pants on.  I want you to know the man who endlessly works, yet endlessly has time for his family.  I want you to know the man behind the books, behind the lectern, behind the pulpit. I want you to know him because I pray that someday I will be half the man he is.

Os Guinness wrote, “If asked what is the deepest relationship imaginable, many people would say it is between lovers, or between husbands and wives. The case can be made, however, that from a Christian perspective, no relationship is more mysterious and more wonderful, yet sometimes more troubling, than that of fathers and sons.”

I imagine when you are a father no one (besides your wife) knows you better than your kids.  Your kids see behind the closed doors.  Paul says in Philippians 3:17 , “Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us.”

Paul wants us to look to those who walk in accord with the Scriptures.  Paul must think that watching, monitoring, inspecting, examining someone’s life shapes us.  He believes that our sight affects our faith.  We know this is true for we all “beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed.”

I want to encourage imitation of my Dad by telling three stories.  I could praise him for his knowledge of Greek, or his numerous books, or his pastoral heart, or his hospitality, but I want to focus on things that few people know.  I want to focus on the things that happened after he came home from work.  The things that are done at home, these things make men who they are.

1. Family Devotion

The game started at 7:30.  But I heard my Dad calling for everyone to pile in the car.  It was only 6:15.  I mumbled something about having to leave so early.  My dad looked at me and said, “I don’t like to miss warm ups.” John my younger brother was in his Senior year at Christian Academy of Louisville playing Varsity Basketball.  My dad did not miss a game.  And for that matter he never missed one of mine, or my older brothers.  He is on the same streak for my sister who is currently running track and cross-country.

2.  Humility

My dad is interviewed a lot in front of crowds.  Many want to know what he is like.  One time someone in the crowd stood up and asked him, “Tell us one unique thing about yourself?” He laughed and said, “I am a remarkably ordinary man.”

3.  Loving Wisdom

Knowing that he has written a couple of books that are 700 + pages some of you might think that I mean, “He loves wisdom.”  But what I mean is that he uses his knowledge in a loving way.  He communicates it to help others trust in Jesus.  Here is one example from his life.

Our dog Scamper was a beagle poodle mix.  My only and youngest sister Anna loved Scamper.  She would dress him up and take pictures of him.  When she hugged him she would curl her lips inside her mouth with all her might to let her emotion out physically.  Anna told me when she was home alone she would read the Bible to Scamper in order that he would be saved.  Anna had such a deep love for Scamper and trust in my Dad that she would continually ask him whether Scamper would be in Heaven.  Here was my dad’s response.  Full of wisdom and care for Anna, as she was truly concerned about Scamper’s eternal destiny.  He would say:

“Anna, heaven in the happiest place you can ever imagine.  If you cannot be happy without Scamper in heaven then he will be there.  But no matter what you will be happy.”

There are many more stories I could tell.  By the grace of God my Dad is a remarkable man.  I pray that just by living with him some of him would rub off on me.  I pray that I would be like my Father.

Books

I got a new book shelf today.  Hannah and I had to reorganize the books.  Although it may look like I have a lot of books, compared to some of my seminary friends this is child’s play.