Thanks for the quick report on Lloyd's Celebration of Life Memorial Service. The attendance was the largest in recent memory - 200+ crammed the El Camino Pines Lutheran Church. I want to extent special thanks to Pastor Dave and his excellent congregation for their generous spirit to allow outside services. Our gratitude also must be extended to the people of Frazier Park Evangelical Free Church for the excellent hosting of both the light refreshments at the church and the food for the family at the Wiens home. It is to Lloyd's credit that this Celebration of Life Service brought together the largest mixture of opinion in the history of the Mountain Communities. A few of his antagonists had painted him in dark hues with such approbations as "Internet Viper", the area's most divisive writer, etc. But, due to his unswerving commitment to seek the benefit of kids, families, the business community and his commitment to a Biblical Creation based environmentalism, he ended up bringing this community together. Zoe reported she had received a very positive letter from Supervisor Watson that she intends to frame. Our prayers are for the grace of our Savior to be richly visited upon the Wiens family now and as they mourn the loss of Lloyd over the next months. Zoe intends to bury Lloyd with full military honors in the new National Cemetery outside of Bakersfield in the next few weeks. Pastor Fred

Well said, both Brian and Pastor Fred. I am still overwhelmed by the experience and privilege of having participated in the service. The season of Lloyd's death is perhaps the finest example I have ever seen of Christian love in action. Truly, God is good. Taste and see! Pastor Fred's remarks about the unifying effect of the service remind me of a prayer offered for Lloyd, considering words spoken by Jesus Christ: "...Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit." (John 12:24) This is my hope. Of course, today many of us woke up and realized we will have to go on without Lloyd. The next time there is a fire I can smell but can't see, who will I call to find out where it is? The next time I want to ask a computer question without being patronized or scolded, whom will I ask? With whom will I exult in some victory for the community? Such little things, but when they are multiplied by hundreds or thousands--upon whom will the mantle fall?