NOTE: PLEASE SEE ALSO MY OTHER, MORE FOCUSED BLOGS: bonhoeffernowandthen.wordpress.com biblenowandthen.wordpress.com
I am Michael Hayes, a follower of Jesus Christ, a follower who has often lagged far behind, fallen flat, or strayed from the path. I am inexpressibly grateful that Jesus waits for me or picks me up or laughs at me in loving gentleness.
I enjoy dwelling in Scripture, where I find such ideas as that Jesus expects us to love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. Jesus added that word “mind,” by the way. It wasn’t in the original quotation from the ancient book of Deuteronomy.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer continually draws my attention. Executed for his role in the main conspiracy to assassinate Hitler, Bonhoeffer’s thinking about God and humankind is a wonderful example of a mind that is biblically grounded yet creative, provocative, insightful.
I also enjoy the study of history and the challenge to put our own day into its historical context. Making connections seems important to me. I am fascinated, for instance, by the thought that such folk as the Moral Majority (now defunct) try so hard and so unwittingly to enforce the intertwining of Church and State first established in the early fourth century by Constantine.
Who am I? That question cannot be answered without the affirmation that my wife and children (and grandchildren!) and my close friends are a substantial part of my being. I am who I am because they are who they are. We are one in Christ.
And for all that I am grateful. Hmm, not a bad epitaph:
Mike’s not here; he has moved on.
But he said to tell you, Thank You.
mikenowandthen 
Hello! My name is Aryssa Carvalho and I am currently writing an article for the Sonoma State Star on the CSU InterVarsity issues at Sonoma State. I was wondering if I could ask you some questions.
Thank you.
O dear, I somehow missed your comment/question earlier. I’m very sorry. I’m happy to correspond with you about anything you’re writing, though I’m sure I’m too late now. What is your take on what’s happening at Sonoma State?
Mike,
Did you drive a Triumph?
Was it Stanford Lyman you debated?
If so, greetings
Stan Tillinghast
Class of 1965
Hi Stan — I sometimes borrowed a friend’s Triumph and, yes, it was Stanford Lyman. I thought he was a pretty poor imitation of another professor I had had, Jacobus tenBroek, one of the finest teachers I’ve ever had. Lyman was easy to defeat in debate after having studied with tenBroek.
I remember your name but can’t quite picture your face. What was our connection?
Face or not, it’s good to hear from you!
I failed to add an observation about Lyman: After taking several classes from him, I learned that he had in fact studied with tenBroek and had even been his teaching assistant for two years. He tried to be like his master but did not succeed.