 |
- SHERYL & STEVE FROEHLICH - LIVING THE STORY THAT GOD'S GRACE IS ENOUGH
|
| |
|
Fridays with Froehlichs #11 |
| |
|
There and back again.
Bag End greeted us as if we’d never been away. Thank you, George & Ro.
But, alas, no Gandalf awaited us to wizard all our stuff back into place.
However, in Hobbit fashion we are beginning to enjoy a third Spring. The desert was in early bloom as we said goodbye to Albuquerque in March. The azaleas and crepe myrtles were blossoming by the time we reached Georgia and the Carolinas. Now after a grey and muddy April, Spring in Ithaca is emerging.
The orioles have arrived again for the 5th year. Brilliant orange flashes as they feast at the feeder – oranges and grape jelly. Somehow, they have found us again. What a miracle of navigation. Are these the children born last year in the nest hidden deep among the trees on the other side of the creek?
Over the past 3 weeks the rain has paused long enough only once for me to do a high cut of the grass grown tall. Because of the steady mist, the leaves and grass are a lush rich green. What some regard as dreary, I find quiet and soothing.
The goats in the field next door are keeping their grass shorter than mine – it’s mildly embarrassing that their field has more well cropped grass than my yard.
And, the weeds. Yes, they are flourishing. Gandalf talks about “uprooting the evil in the fields.” I don’t think he had weeds in mind, but I am determined that the weeds shall not rule the clean earth I am tilling. At least, not in the small domain that we call the courtyard. It’s a fenced area behind the breezeway between the garage and the house. The fence keeps the long-legged rodents known as deer away from Sheryl’s tasty ornamental flowers – tulips and daffodils so far.
I have decreed that the courtyard shall be weed-free. That includes crab grass. Perhaps I am becoming my father. I have memories of my dad, hunched over, weed-puller in hand, surgically inching his way across the back yard.
My ambition to conquer this patch of dirt has somewhat unexpectedly prompted me to think about what I have accomplished in life.
Life has a way of always feeling unfinished. Our longings, our hopes, are tempered by the present reality of incompleteness. At times, that may feel like a cycle of futility, and I’m tempted to despair – the weeds keep coming back. Yet, at other times, the incompleteness kindles desire, anticipation to see my garden, my life, and the world made whole, complete. Shalom. I’m reminded that this story is going somewhere. |
| |
|
And it is a good we cannot possess alone. That is, outside relationship. That is, apart from love.
The Apostle Paul reminds us in his famous chapter on love, that in every part of this life we know and see only in part. Everything we love, know, and experience is a part of something greater – and it is that something greater than animates desire. Our hope is that one day the “it is finished” spoken from the Cross will be our desire fulfilled when we stand face to face with Jesus and with one another, the completion of everything we’ve ever longed for, everything that makes us whole. We will know then even as we are known today by the One who loves us most. |
| |
|
Our return trip from Albuquerque was a wonderful reminder of where this unfinished story is going. Each stop was a renewal of dear but interrupted friendships woven into the tale that is Grace Unscripted.
“The leg-bone’s connected to the knee-bone, the knee-bone’s connected to the thigh-bone,” might well be a song about friendship. Good friends attach us to new friends, and so the journey goes. “Oh, hear the word of the Lord.”
Some of you may know this thread in our lives. In 1994 Steve hired Brian as director of admission at Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, MS. At the same time, Brian’s sister, Emily, and her husband, Brian (confusing, we know) were attending NLPC in Ithaca as undergrads at Cornell. They were our first connection to NLPC. After their graduation in 1998, Emily & Brian moved to Rochester, NY (90 minutes north of Ithaca) but continued to be a huge encouragement to us as we began the work of rebuilding NLPC. They also were vital to launching the church NLPC planted in Rochester. Then they moved to Albuquerque, and at their recommendation the leadership invited us to come to ABQ for a season of interim service.
“For the want of a nail…” No, there was a nail. The shoe was not lost. Nor was the horse, the rider, or the message. |
| |
|
We left the high desert to return home, but we brought with us a new mosaic of friendships.
To share our friends is to share our story. As we visited a few along the way (wishing we could have visited more), we've been reminded again of the grace that is often unseen in the moment but which really has scripted our lives.
In previous editions of Fridays with Froehlichs, we’ve introduced you to other NLPC alums living in ABQ.
 Gabby, the ultra runner and vet who cared for Luci while we were in South Africa. Gabby introduced us to the many trails in the Sandia foothills and the magnificent vistas where those trails lead.
 Joanna, the space scientist and balloonist (how fitting), the last person to manage the overhead projector at NLPC before we went digital, introduced us to her parents, Scott & Beth, who also live in ABQ. Who knew that her dad and Steve grew up in the same small denomination, and that her dad’s dad was in seminary with Steve’s brother? These new friends delighted in sharing with us the glory of homemade pizza as well as the beauty of NM. Scott & Beth took us north of ABQ to see the ancient caldera, a sprawling now gracefully forested volcanic crater that long ago sent still visible lava flowing down across the desert.
 Gary & Kira. We had the joy of sitting under Gary’s preaching one Sunday – what a gift he is to Refuge Church. Kira bubbles over with enthusiasm about her work as an economist at UNM. Gary and Steve met most weeks to pray, talk, think, and just enjoy each other’s presence…. oh, and search for the ultimate green chili cheeseburger. A couple of years ago, we had shared with Gary The Porter’s Gate’s “Sanctuary” mental health resource. Gary in turn shared it with Desiree who expressed effusive thanks when we met her unexpectedly over lunch. “Sanctuary” has transformed her care for victims of abuse. Thanks be to God.
 NLPC/Cornell alum, Sarah – our trips to Nepal (2008) and the Philippines (2017) were at her invitation – came to visit us and Laura, her close friend from college. Sarah has been working for the USDA. Because of the Executive Orders, she was told to fire the team she had worked for 5 years to assemble. Then, because she believed the Executive Orders created an ethical conflict in doing what she was being asked to do, she resigned. So, she came to ABQ to spend a few days with friends. That’s how we met Laura who is on Navigators staff working in the troubled “International District” of ABQ. In meeting Laura, we heard stories about her long friendship with Sara, and we learned about her very challenging work with immigrant youth. But, in turn we were able to introduce Laura to Shaynor (the new Mosaic pastor) and Gary so that they can engage the people at Mosaic and Refuge in supporting Laura and her work.
“The foot-bone’s connected to the leg-bone. Oh, hear the world of the Lord.” |
| |
|
Tito & Kim
 There’s Mexican food and there’s New Mexican food (where everything come with chili). Tito & Kim made sure we sampled authentic Mexican food (no chili). We’ve been friends with Tito & Kim since we were in seminary together (about 1989). Those are years of indelible, shared memories during a formative season of life, time together that creates friendships with deep connective tissue. We might simply say “Knox Chamblin” (our beloved NT professor), and just nod, smiling, remembering without a word. But then the silence would be broken as we each blurt out our favorite story about Knox.
|
| |
|
Nate & Lauren
 Lauren is taking a pause from nursing to be a full-time mom to their 2 kiddos. After completing a post-doc at Cornell, Nate is assistant professor of computer science and engineering at TX A&M… and a guitar virtuoso – check out his music on YouTube. Nate’s work in computer science builds on the accomplishments of David, a Cornell prof and NLPC elder, one of Nate’s mentors and models.
John & Heather
 In 1991 Steve had lunch with John at the Black Eyed Pea restaurant in College Station, TX, to encourage him to come to RTS for his seminary work after he and Heather graduated from TX A&M. That began a long and sweet friendship through RTS and then as they worked with a mission in Peru, planted a church in Canada, and are now back in the town they love planting Mercy Hill church. Steve had the privilege of preaching for John. What an honor for us to be present with John & Heather and their family through the whole of their life in ministry.
|
| |
|
Hal & Barb
 Steve met Hal around 1987 while working in MS for Bob at PC Graphics. Bob was the one to get this providential ball rolling when in October 1986 he invited Steve to come work for him making it possible for Steve to begin studying at RTS. Hal was also in the computer business at the time and that’s how he and Steve met. When Barb finished her Marriage & Counseling degree at RTS she began moving into staff and faculty roles at the RTS counseling center. We both received buckets of healing and transforming grace from the counseling resources. Over the years Barb has continued to be a valuable ally and resource as we have endeavored to extend God’s healing, sustaining, and transforming grace. Steve has come to appreciate and rely on Hal’s gentle wisdom on the journey. One especially tasty memory is when Hal & Barb visited us and introduced us to Ports in Ithaca – we’d never been. The vintner at Ports carries on the wine-making tradition of his great-great-grandfather from the Bordeaux region of France. We would still be oblivious to these velvety, elegant, and fabulously delicious Ports were it not for our adventurous friends.
Brian & Leigh
 We’ve already introduced you to Brian, brother of Emily in ABQ. Steve’s hiring Brian in 1994 was the beginning of an unusually significant relationship as together we journeyed through some excruciating trials. Our friendship is truly a celebration of grace sustaining us through the fires of adversity. Leigh’s health care business is doing great. Brian serves on the pastoral staff of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Jackson, MS. Friendship with Brian not only introduced us to Emily, but also to their parents who became amazing allies and supporters of our work.
Todd & Melanie
 Todd & Melanie have been remarkable friends since our time in MS. Melanie and Sheryl became Bible study buddies as they were each preparing to teach. Over the years Todd would periodically call Steve to check on him, each conversation beginning (Todd’s deep voice rumbling): “Steve… Todd… Howrya doin?” Those unexpected calls were a great gift of encouragement. Todd’s medical expertise as a pharmacist gave us an appreciation of the vaccine during COVID that in turn helped Steve and the elders shepherd NLPC through a difficult time in our lives. Our friendship deepened as we walked together through the anguish and joy of life in the church – when life in the church is heartbreaking, it’s good not to walk alone.
Ric
 Ric is Chancellor Emeritus of Reformed Theological Seminary. During our short visit to Jackson, he gave us the royal tour of the beautiful new campus. As he showed us around, he’d introduce Steve to staff members by saying, “Steve used to run this place.” For 8 years, Steve served first as director of admission and then as executive vice president. But it’s been Ric’s leadership and character that have had a profound formative influence on the ongoing success of the seminary. The time of service at RTS prepared us for the past 25 years in Ithaca. The seminary responsibilities gave us a view of what God is doing in the US and around the world. The time at RTS strengthened Steve’s administrative skills and relational network, both of which were vital for the work in Ithaca. Ric remains a wise and encouraging voice in our lives. |
| |
|
Jason & Carolyn
 Jason and Steve share the distinction of being on the other side of cancer. His ordeal happened in the middle of law school at Cornell. Jason and Carolyn and kiddos are now established in Birmingham, AL where Jason is partner in his law firm. The Birmingham Business Journal identified Jason as a Rising Legal Star, and The Birmingham Magazine recognized Jason in its 2020 Top Attorneys list. Carolyn’s travel service helps folks plan all manner of Disney getaways. Steve regularly relies on her travel expertise when planning flights. She has calmly fielded panicked phone calls like, "My flight's been cancelled. I'm stuck in Newark. What do I do?"
Chip & Karen
 Karen is responsible for most of what has happened in our lives over the past 48 years – she is the one who introduced us to each other in college. Thank you, Karen. Then, after our first attempt at grad school, Steve inherited Chip’s sales territory with Jostens, and we moved to Florence SC for some of the most formative years of life with the community at First Presbyterian Church. It would be hard to overstate the many ways Chip & Karen have been a joyful and thoughtful encouragement to us over the decades.
Luke & Kate
 Luke & Kate joined our NLPC fellowship when Luke retired from the military and accepted an engineering job nearby. As their family grew, they made the decision to prioritize family by moving to South Carolina to homestead on 23 acres in the Piedmont. Thomas is in charge of rabbits, Selah the sheep, Byron the pigs. Thomas and Byron serenaded us with a country guitar/lute duet. It was all we could do to keep our shoes on. |
| |
|
Will & Julia
 We might not have had the opportunity to come to Ithaca had it not been for Will’s pastoral service in the very earliest days of a fledgling NLPC when he was a graduate student at Cornell. For the past 30+ years Will has been teaching English at a high school in Budapest, and we had the delight of seeing him in action when we visited Budapest in 2022. Will has authored 2 very fine books: The Fingerprint of God and The Search for Shalom. Will has retired from teaching as he and Julia have moved to NC to care for her aging mother. Steve is immensely grateful for Will who has become a terrific conversation partner over the years on life, the world, and living faithfully for Jesus.
Lance & Melissa
 For Steve, friendship with Lance & Melissa goes back to high school. Sheryl did not join the party until college. Steve was Lance’s campaign manager in what remains (in our minds) the greatest student body officer campaign in the history of high school elections. Lance also honored us by being in our wedding. Melissa is a genius when it comes to teaching children. We have grown together in many ways and have had long conversations about many things over the years. But we are grateful to Lance & Melissa in particular for one thing: they introduced us to the music of Keith Green. Thank you. We returned the favor by introducing them to Vernors.
Tom & Marian
 Tom & Marian were at the heart of our extraordinary years in Florence, SC. This was a time in which we experienced the Church as community, brothers and sisters deeply bound to each other in sacrificial love. We learned the doctrines of grace and the significance of a covenantal relationship with God, all of which shaped how we loved each other, our neighbors, and the world. Our worship was seasoned with prayer and praise. Then, in the Lord’s providence, the group was scattered to grow and serve elsewhere. We appreciate Tom & Marian not only because we have such great fun together, but also because being with them brings to life again the amazing season of God’s grace which changed our lives. And we do imitations of our pastor, Perry Mobley who in his rich commanding voice would refer to “Isai-errrr” and “Jeremi-errr.”
Then there were all the many friends, so close to our route home, that we were unable to visit. So many other stories we could tell, but will have to save for another trip.
|
| |
|
In 2016, Suchan Kim, an operatic baritone, came to Ithaca to sing a role with Opera Ithaca. While he was in town, he worshiped with us at NLPC for several weeks, and we began a long-distance friendship. It’s been a joy to follow his career which has taken him around the world to many distinguished stages and under the baton of many eminent conductors. He sings to the glory of God and delights in bringing his Saviour praise. He recently recorded “King of Heart” drawn from the Psalms on Charles Calomiris's “Evlogia” with the Pan Hora Ensemble.
Suchan is currently singing with Opera Delaware in the world premiere of Derrick Wang’s Fearless, inspired by the incredible true story of WWII aviator Hazel Ying Lee. |
| |
|
"You & I Meet the Monster" |
| |
|
Karen Swallow Prior has very graciously published Steve’s essay on The Pilgrim's Progress. He also reads the essay on the audio link. "You and I Meet the Monster" |
| |
|
“Why did you do all this for me?” he asked.
“I don't deserve it.
I've never done anything for you.”
'You have been my friend,” replied Charlotte.
''That in itself is a tremendous thing.”
E.B. White, Charlotte's Web
“Life is too hard to take straight, to take alone, without the oil of friendship, without the intoxication of grace offered to one another through shared laughter and tears. Without music or walks in the woods. Without silliness and stories. I couldn't take life straight; I would die under the weight of grief.”
Hetty White |
| |
|
When I reflect on the past several months and the many friends from different seasons of our journey that we had the privilege of visiting with face to face, one word encapsulates all: generosity. Friendship is a ‘tremendous thing’ to quote Charlotte. Shared laughter and tears, shattered dreams and renewed vision—these colorful threads of a beautiful yet unfinished tapestry stir hope. How good of God to pull back the curtain of the great Story He is staging to let us glimpse the many ways he has been and is currently at work here and now in and through your lives. While the cloud of witnesses mentioned in Hebrews follows the naming of saints who have preceded us in death, I have been musing on the great cloud of believers very much alive now., especially ones I have How generous of God to give us each other! Knowing your stories strengthens and encourages me to keep on keeping on, to run the race with patience. As we share the journey and tell our stories along the way I envision Christian in John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, his encounters and the conversations that spurred him along. “To go back is nothing but death; to go forward is fear of death, and life everlasting beyond it. I will yet go forward."
Thank your friends for gifting us with your friendship. Our load is lighter in your company.
P.S. on my to-read list is Vauhini Vara's Searches: Selfhood in the Digital Age. |
| |
|
“No one is useless in this world
who lightens the burden of it to anyone else.”
Charles Dickens
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”
Hebrews 12:1 |
| |
|
Cultivating Oaks, which comes from the creative joy of Lancia Smith, is linked on our website. The current Spring 2025 issue is on "Generosity." |
| |
|
Personal Updates
Medical: Steve got his latest CT scan this week, and the radiology report is all clear. That's 4 years NED - no evidence of disease. Thanks be to God! |
| |
|
Sheryl is grateful for Aimivog, the monthly injectable she started using 18 months ago; it continues to manage her migraines very well. However, since returning to Ithaca, after a flurry of medical appointments including her first ever visit to a rheumatologist, she has a confirmed diagnosis: Sjogrens (SjD) an autoimmune disease. While SjD is not life-threatening, learning to manage SjD symptoms has been life altering. She is currently on 3 new prescriptions. Of most concern to her are her perilously dry eyes; her vision has been compromised. The doctor believes she can arrest the progression but she is in a ‘testing’ phase. If the prescription drops she is trying fail, there is a procedure the doctor recommends. Because these 3 drugs are new, the out-of-pocket costs are higher. Sigh.
Donor Support: We are changing to a new fiscal sponsor, but not to the agency we reported in our last newsletter. We are now under the care of New Horizons Foundation. Our New Horizons Grace Unscripted "project" page is active. The YES partner page will remain open for another 60 days, but we ask that you send any gifts only to New Horizons. The Support page on our Grace Unscripted website now directs donors to New Horizon. The good news is that New Horizons assesses only a 5% service fee for gift processing. New Horizons is set up to receive gifts from every source imaginable: crypto, donor advised funds, real estate... you get the idea. We believe this change to New Horizons will resolve all of the concerns some donors have communicated to us.
♥ For the past 2 years, a sponsor has covered the cost of our website and related internet expenses (including online security). The sponsor will no longer be covering those annual costs which total almost $500. We'd be grateful if you would prayerfully consider a gift to cover some or all of these costs.
Family Reunion: We are planning a family reunion in July in OH around Sheryl's mom's 90th birthday if her health allows her to make the trip. She fell again a couple of days ago and fractured some vertebrae - she's undergoing kyphoplasty surgery today.
New Interim Assignment: Steve has accepted an invitation to serve as interim pastor for Westminster Presbyterian Church in Rock Tavern, a congregation founded in 1854. It's a church in NY State Presbytery, about 3 hours east of Ithaca toward NYC. It's located on the Hudson River close enough to West Point that several faculty and cadets attend. They've asked Steve to preach, teach Sunday School, and lead a light evening service 3 Sundays a month. The furnished but vacant manse is adjacent to the church so on most weekends Steve can drive over on Saturday afternoon and drive home on Monday morning. It's a 6-month commitment that started May 4. Oh, and it's a bit more formal than Mosaic in ABQ. Because Sheryl wants to focus on reconnecting with community after our long sojourn in NM, she will usually not accompany Steve on these Westminster weekends. Please pray that Steve will have the stamina for these long Sundays and will have safe travel. Pray also for Sheryl's peace of mind while Steve is away and that she will enjoy her Ithaca community. |
| |
|
Chicago: We are in the very early stages of planning a possible NLPC reunion trip to Chicago in October. We have a window of time during the 2nd half of the month when we can do this, so we are beginning prayerfully to noodle about this idea.
EOs & Funding Cuts: Since mid-January, we have been in conversation and prayer with many of our NLPC/Cornell alums who work for the government and who are directly impacted by the rash of Executive Orders. We mentioned one instance earlier in the newsletter. Then a couple of weeks ago, when Cornell learned the school was losing $1 billion in research funding, we were invited to a prayer meeting organized by professors, department chairs, staff, graduate students, and local church leaders all of whom are being directly impacted by the EOs. It was sobering, yet hopeful even though many important practical and personal questions remain unanswered. We share this not to make a political statement but to share how these EOs are making an immediate impact in our life and discipleship. We know that some people regard these cuts as necessary housekeeping, while others see them as reckless slash-and-burn destruction. One of the Chesterton House staff is in conversation with major donors about covering some of the lost funding for graduate students who have in a blink lost their income, jobs, and security for their families. Some have had their immigration files scrubbed and visa records vaporized -- they are terrified. Steve wrote a statement to be used with these donor conversations to describe how we directly are experiencing the impact of the EOs. For us (the Froehlichs) that includes medical research for migraines and research for the impact of the burn pits which have left Christopher, our oldest son, fully disabled. Rather than take up space in the newsletter, you may read Steve's statement here. |
| |
|
Benediction
Now may the companionship
of the man of sorrows,
and the power
of the King of Glory
rest upon you all.
Amen
From Grace Be With You
by Dale Ralph Davis
|
| |
|
Please take a few moments to browse the website
Grace Unscripted.
Please prayerfully consider supporting our work through Grace Unscripted.
Visit the Support page.
Thank you. |
| |
|
