Post by Rob Tipton on Apr 2, 2009 12:51:41 GMT -5
Dr. Arnold was my pastor when I was growing up in Roanoke, Virginia. His teaching was foundational to my parents' growth as believers and thus to me over the years as a child. Although we reconnected later in my life as an adult, my main memories of Jack are from my childhood--how he would pull me to his side in a headlock while he greeted church-members in the narthex (I needed roughing up a bit as the brother of two older sisters). I remember his extremely-well prepared messages delivered from the pulpit. But one visual that's always stuck in my mind was a photo that appeared in the church directory. It was of Jack lying on the floor of his office with his shoes off and his socked feet propped up on his desk--his Bible open and his Vine's, Nave's, Strong's and other books of deep study all spread out around him. This became for me an iconic image of what it means to study the Bible---to close the door, take off your shoes, and really dig in. And most importantly to enjoy doing it--something that only comes when you truly love God's word. Jack did.
