Lou Venden – Agosto de 2013

I remember my dear friend, Graham Maxwell, and his family. These memories cover many years and include a host of times, places and events. They are a treasured part of Marjorie’s and my pilgrim journey.

But the publication of this very significant volume takes me back especially to 1984 – to twenty Friday evenings from January to June of that year. I had the privilege of being part of the series titled Conversations About God.

Graham sat on the platform in a comfortable chair by a table with a lamp and simply “talked to us.”  He shared out of a lifetime of commitment to “speak well and truly of our heavenly Father.” He drew upon all sixty-six books in the biblical library and called us to keep our eyes on the One who said, “If you have seen Me, you have seen the Father” (John 14:9).

After his presentation of the evening’s topic he invited me to come up and take the other chair by the table. We’d dialogue some, and then I’d introduce questions from the congregation.  At our first session we drew upon queries he’d encountered earlier, but after that our audience really got into it with their written questions and comments.  

During this series, as you can understand, we got together often to pray, then reflect on what had happened in the earlier meetings and consider the congregation’s vigorous participation.  It was a setting in which we also got to know each other well and became very good friends. We were each involved in many other things, but oh how I appreciated this special fellowship and planning time. I really enjoyed being with him!

I’m sure Graham would want to join me in paying a hearty tribute to a beloved band of sisters and brothers who gave themselves unsparingly to help make this series possible. I am awed by what I personally know of all they did to make it happen. The memory of their spirit, their unflagging zeal and sense of mission still warms my heart.

He would also want to say a big “thank you” to every person who attended these Friday evening gatherings. Their presence, interest and active involvement was so vital and encouraging.

Graham devoted his life to helping us know the “truth about God.” Beginning with the conflict in God’s family he helps us understand what went wrong and what God is doing to make things right.  He challenges us to be sure about who is telling the truth – about who we believe and trust, and why. My hope is that his message through this volume will be Spirit blessed in spreading the everlasting Good News and leading us all into an ever deepening friendship with God.

Someone has said, “The Gospel we preach must be the Gospel by which our own souls are saved.” I’d like to bear witness to the truth that Graham spoke well about our heavenly Father. But just as important, whether in sunshine and shadows, on the mountain-top or in dark valleys, he lived a life anchored in God’s trustworthiness.

Dear Graham, in that glad morning of the resurrection I believe you’ll hear His commendation, “You have said of Me what is right” (Job 42:7).