HOUGHTON Safeguard the health both of body and soul. JJ -Cleobulus HOUGHTON COLLEGE • FALL 2004 NE WILLARD AV:ENUE The wholeness of our bein By David Brubaker, M.D. '90 g NEVER CEASE TO BE HUMBLED whe:n I sit among a group of people sharing prayer Irequests. Each time they mention a physical need, I gain a fresh understand­ ing of what a privilege it is for me as a physician to be a part of Christ's healing ministry. While I believe that "health," in its most complete sense, encompasses more than just our physical wellness, I am impressed by the fact that God cares about our bodies. He understands the wholeness of our being, and in His word He recognizes the connection between our physical bodies and our spiritual relation­ ship with Him. As in all parts of our lives, our outlook as Christians toward our physical bod­ ies is to be radically different fror:n that of the world. Scripture calls our bodies "temples" of the Holy Spirit. This image is usually invoked in discussions about how one cares for the body given that it is a dwelling place for the Spirit. However, I think it is equally important to consider the "temple" in the sense of "a place of worship." While it may sound obvious, what we do to and with our physical bodies matters deeply to God. To that end, I believe, He calls us both to stewardship and to sacrifice. David Brubaker is the director of the student Called to Stewardship: "Do you not know that your bodies are members of health center. Christ Himself. .. You are not your own, you were bought at a price; therefore honor God with your body."-[ Corinthians 6:15, 20 It matters very much, in practical ways, whether we consider something to be our own, or to be simply given to us in trust. We frequently hear of stewardship in the context of financial resources. We do not traditionally think in these terms when it comes to our bodies. We are inclined to say, "It's my body, I can do to it as I please." This way of thinking, however, is contrary to the idea of stewardship. We belong to Christ and are members of his Body. This truth ought to make a signifi­ cant impact on our lifestyle choices, from our attitudes toward diet and exercise to our decisions regarding the use of ,certain substances and sexual behavior. We are not free to treat our bodies in any way we please, but only in accordance with the purposes of our true owner-Chris,t himself. While the world prizes ownership, Christ seeks stewardship. Called to Sacrifice: "l urge you, therefore, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual act of worship. "-Romans 12:1 Not many of us will be called to sacrifice our bodies to the point of physical death, as Christ was. We as Chris1tians, however, are charged to die to ourselves and choose daily to use our bodie�; in ways that would bring honor to God. This requires moment by moment decisions, out of obedience to Christ, to give up the urge to satisfy our selfish desires and ambitions. These choices have spiritual impli­ cations; everything done in the body can be an act of worship as we perform deeds of service and love. Ironically, we do not need "perfect health" to make a pleasing sacrifice. The frailty of our flesh allows the power of God to be manifest through us as we submit ourselves to him as instruments of righteousness. I have been blessed on numerous occasions by patients. who have, in the midst of deep physical crises, yielded themselves by God's grace to be used by Him in their weakness to minister to me and others and to testify to God's faithfulness. While the world promotes self-gratification, Christ desires self-sacrifice. This issue of Milieu considers v;arious aspects on the theme of "health." In it you will find stories of stewardship and sacrifice. May the Lord challenge us to consider the wondrous gift he has given us in our bodies and may we endeavor to use them as instruments of worship. L ONTENTS HoucHroN Milieu VOL. 79, NO. 3 • FALL 2004 HOUGHTON Milieu welcomes letters, alumni news, unsolicited manuscripts, and art or photographs for possible inclu­ sion in the magazine. All are subject to editing. Opinions expressed are those of the authors or their subjects and are not necessarily shared by the college or the editor. Send these in care of the editor to the college, or fax 585.567 .9668, or e-mail: [email protected]. Address changes should be sent to the Alumni Office,Houghton College, Houghton, NY 14744-0128. Neither Houghton College nor HOUGHTON Milieu is responsible for unsolicited mail received by persons who ask that their addresses be printed in the magazine. Written permission is required to reproduce HOUGHTON Milieu in whole or Features in part. Contents© 2004 Houghton College. DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC RELATIONS Doug Roorbach '81 15 EDITORIAL ASSITANT Staying healthy for life Christie Tanner DESIGNER Valerie Smith '85 18 PHOTOGRAPHER Man on a (medical) mission Steve Johnson '95 CAMPUS NEWS 20 Sarah Lingenfelter '99 A nudge of motivation: COVER & FEATURE ILLUSTRATIONS Faculty and staff wellness program David Stith The HOUGHTON Milieu, issued three 22 times a year by Houghton's Office of Public Relations, is the primary print commu­ Active for life nication to connect the college with its various constituencies: alumni, faculty, staff, students and other friends. Milieu 23 supports the mission of the college by providing information of interest and by Annual re ort: developing and enhancing campus-audi­ p ence relations and understanding through Checking Houghton' s vital signs wide-ranging articles and timely reports of campus news. The magazine projects the college as a significantforce for Christian In Every Issue liberal arts education in society. 2 One Willard Avenue 4 Exchange www.houghton.edu ?@Houghton 12 People & Programs Houghton 46 Legends & Legacies 47 Alumni Association College a higher purpose in mind 48 Milestones 55 Grist Milieu• Fa/12004 It's not easy being Green ... Along with Rod McCalJum, I can Rod McCallum apparently misun­ Many of the letters we received be more direct in my analysis than the derstands Republicans, or at least Chris­ afterthe Summer 2004 issue of Milieu Houghton writers-who did a superb tian Republicans. He seems to imply were regardingRod McCallum's arti­ job, but with requjred diplomacy. Chris­ that we are perhaps unaware that Christ cle, "Thoughtson becoming Green.'' tians in both evangelical and mainline wants us to love and give to the poor (or churches have been scandalously indif­ perhaps just cold-hearted), and that we I don't think it is the job of gov­ ferent to the plight of the weak and pow­ demonstrate this by supporting conser­ ernment to confiscate and redistribute erless in our midst, and therefore refuse vative social policies. On the contrary, wealth to try to fix our social ills, which to advocate for changes in public policy we are passionate about meeting the are spiritual in nature. Christ encouraged tO right injustices. [t seems to me that, needs of the world, and we do not believe people to II give freely." This improves for a variety of reasons, Christians have Ln pawning this responsibility off both the lot of the receiver and the char­ melded political/economic theories into acter of the giver. "Radical self-sacrifice," their Christian faith, and Jesus - - .--.- - ---- - -.- . by definition, must be voluntary. The has lost. When our Christian apostle Paul admonished believers to not colleges and seminaries start tolerate idle people, hence the "Christian speaking to this directly, and work ethic." Regarding the "key values" pastors have the courage to of the Green Party, I have found that relate Jesus to justice from the femjnism and djversity means accepting pulpit, it just may start a great the murder of the Lmborn, encouraging awakening in our land. l pray Washington the destruction of marriage and the fam­ that this effort of yours may be ily, and accepting homosexual behavior. the beginning. values All are contrary to God's word. I trust Darwin Cooper '50 that, as the writer matures as a person government. and Christian, he will realize that no one Anything can be proven repre ntatives party holds all the cards of virtue, bur, of "biblical" through the use of se the two prominent parties, one ridicules exegesis. As a religion major I and marginalizes Christians and their was warnedmany times to refrain faith world view and the other does nor. from its use. To point at particu- Erick Amthor lars: how does equal opportunity stand in the face of the parable Your Summer 2004 issue of Milieu of the talents (To whom much is politics featuring the relationships between po­ given, much is required)? Or how litical action and our Christian faith is does the statement that, "Christ's the most encouraging news I have seen Message was not that we should coming from the Evangelical Christian become successful and encourage Community in my lifetime. Finally, you others to do the same" reconcile on the government! When the have taken the courageous step proclaim­ with psalm after psalm and proverb after state takes over the church's role, people ing Jesus and His teachings as being the proverb that has prosperity as our reward have less need of the church. Think about benchmark for judging public policy, for faithfulness to his covenant? The the purpose of suffering in Romans and not political/economic ideology of Israelites did not chase the principle of 8:20-21 (to drive people to God).