Did the grass sing? Did the earth rejoice to feel you again? Over and over like a trumpet underground He is risen, hallelujah, hallelujah! Hi! Before another year is gone and it’s Christmas, here’s an Easter letter! After graduating from Colorado State University in August 1995, I began working for SIS Microelectronics in Longmont (now a wholly owned subsidiary of ASPEC Technology) in June of 1996, developing ICs (Integrated Circuits). I was delighted to be able to buy a Condo in the south of Loveland in January 1997, so I moved out of my sister Jenny’s house. Jenny now home schools Sammie, Rachel, and Jamie, while Emily works at Duke Communications. July 1997 found me in Israel for a week long training course, with fellow engineer Les Gardinier. We hiked around the Holy City, drove along the Red Sea, snooped among the Qumran ruins (where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found, the oldest copy of the Old Testament), and I squeezed in a road trip to the Sea of Galilee. We walked through the archaeological exhibits of the Israel Museum until our legs ached, seeing enough pots and arrowheads to drown in. Overall, one gained a sense that a huge pile of cold, hard, real objects corroborate the story told in the Bible about a people known as Israelites and a particular Israelite named Jesus. An explanatory note next to an ossuary (bone box) labeled “Joseph Caiaphas” makes a significant inference stating “Much of what we know about Jesus comes from the Bible…” On the way back from Israel I spent a weekend with high school classmates, spouses, and kids in a location amazingly like Rift Valley Academy. How fantastic yet strange to hang out just like old times yet talking about all that is new in each other’s lives! Assaulting Long’s Peak (14,255 ft) with Guy Robinson and Howard Wenger from church and my sister Sarah and brother-in-law Dale provided the uncontested (at least physically) high of 1997. 1997 had its share of weddings I attended, or in Jeff and Katie’s case, that I missed as I was in Israel. Jeff and Katie are college and church friends living in Memphis where Jeff studies optometry and Katie works using her CSU business degree. I got to run sound for the nuptials of church friends Sarah and Kurt Campbell. One “wedding” I attended was actually a reception for Praveen and Betsy Suganandam’s wedding ceremony in India. Praveen and I were neighbors and playmates for years in grade school. I had the privilege of being best man for my close friend and roommate Mark, who left to marry his delightful bride Debbie. Just after New Year’s I met my talkative 2-yr-old great nephew William, and enjoyed listening to mother son conversations: Will told Nicole something, and she would tell him that she had no clue what he said; but Will was obviously delighted that she was listening and responding to him! Grandma Gwen helps with Will a lot, as do nephews Trey and Colin when not at work or school. I also got to see Steve and Shannon Alberts (and their beagle Charlie), and high school classmate Deborah Connelley and her son Stephen. Socially… here’s a quick glimpse: breakfasts with Mark Johnson, who intentionally and consistently challenges me to grow in Christ, while listening attentively to know what God is doing in me… breakfasts with Jimmy Haynes, striving towards maturity in Christ (Hebrews 6), being changed and challenged studying A.W. Tozer’s The Pursuit of God… visits with Ryan Alberts, catching up on his life with his bride Julia in Estes Park, learning to live as The King’s men… exciting discussions and dreaming with Roger Graves, my Pastor and a kindred spirit in passion to make disciples… lunches with Eli Smith diving into the Bible, sharing the excitement of hearing God’s word to us and catching glimpses of His glory… lunches with CSU classmate Mark VonLintel and fellow engineer Glen Donelson, chatting about topics from pop music to Microsoft to Las Vegas… Pizza and laser-disc movies or darts at Glen’s place… gaining new friends that are quickly becoming trusted fellow soldiers in a small men’s group… tennis and late night M.A.S.H. episodes with roommate Todd Wilson… games of galactic conquest with roommate Dave Brott… pigging out on taco variations cooked by roommate Manuel Vasquez… breakfasts with Mickey Leonard that are a giant encouragement, a huge joy, and a tall challenge all at once. Above and beyond all other friendships and joys stands the ever increasing thrill of knowing Jesus better—the one friend who is ever faithful, hugely gracious and forgiving, yet at the same time true and righteous and just. Yes, friendship is possible with a man who has already died—if he has risen forever victorious over death! “Over and over like a trumpet underground, HE IS RISEN, HALLELUJAH!”