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Cooking for jesus and jefferson
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| H&N photo by Andrew Mariman Dr. Larry Bunnell is the pastor at Peace Memorial Presbyterian Church and a fan of hot sauce. |
July 1, 2006
Dr. Larry Bunnell, 53, has been the pastor of Peace Memorial Presbyterian Church for 14 years. He was born in Coos Bay and raised in Sumner, a village 10 miles south and east of Coos Bay in a low valley surrounded by wooded hills and dairies.
He received his doctorate this spring, writing his dissertation about men's anger as a source of spirituality.
He and his wife, Maryann, a speech-language pathologist, have two boys: Elijah, who is graduating from Southern Oregon University with a bachelor's in mathematics this spring, and Joseph, who is beginning college at Klamath Community College.
Your idea of heaven? Your idea of hell?
Religion is for people afraid of hell, and spirituality is for people who've been there. Since I don't take heaven and hell literally: Perhaps heaven is a stimulating discussion with bright people around an ancient bottle of Cabernet or a nice Oregon Pinot. Hell would be stuck with critical, negative, narrow-minded, moralistic people around a bottle of grape juice.
What is the last book you've read?
“God Laughs & Plays” by the great Northwest writer, David James Duncan. I think that was the last one. I average a couple books a week. If you could invite a small group of people from any time and place to dinner, who would it include, and why?
Thomas Jefferson, a brilliant, conflicted man, and a compelling writer. Jesus of Nazareth, perhaps the most intriguing and misunderstood man of the last two millennia. Henry David Thoreau, a masterful writer and thinker, nearly Jefferson's equal. Walter Rauschenbusch, 19th century Baptist minister who was the father of the modern social gospel movement.
I'd cook. Jefferson and Jesus would bring the wine. Jesus apparently makes good stuff. Rauschenbusch would bring the meat and Thoreau a well-seasoned side dish of social morality.
What would surprise people to know about you?
I've actually voted for Republicans.
How would you like your introduction to an audience to be worded?
“The bad news is he's obtuse and boring, the good news is he doesn't speak long.” Or, maybe, “Like most preachers he's invisible during the week and incomprehensible on Sundays.”
How would you word your epitaph?
“He loved Nancy's Honey Yogurt.” “I'd rather be in Philadelphia” is already taken.
What is your greatest fear?
Heights. Especially those trams that go up mountainsides suspended on a cable.
What is the oddest item in your fridge?
That's tough. Our refrigerator is a frightening and intriguing place. My wife allowed our oldest son to bring some fascinating refrigerator mold to school for show and tell. In grade school. Not college. I guess the weirdest denizen right now is Dave's Insanity Sauce. I love hot sauce but this stuff says on the label you can de-grease your garage floor with it. I believe it.
Your most embarrassing moment?
When officiating at my cousin's wedding, I referred to his bride by his former wife's name.
What is or has been your most important work?
My sons. I done good. I didn't do it alone and couldn't have done it without my wife.
If you could choose to go anywhere (past or present) and do anything, where would you go and what would you do?
Ancient Greece. Or travel around the First Century Roman world, especially Palestine. I'd like to talk with some philosophers and especially Jesus.
What new business would you like to see come to Klamath?
Powell's Books. More fine restaurants (no chains, please), too.
There's an angel on one shoulder, a devil on the other. What are they urging you to do?
They're both sleeping. They're tired of trying to get my attention. Only crazy people listen to imaginary beings.
What's your favorite local place, and why?
Probably Lava Beds. The history is palpable, the petroglyphs mysterious, and the scenery awesome, especially with a skiff of snow on black rocks at full moon.
How do you define success?
As long as the kids and the janitors like me, I'm doing OK.
The last place you vacationed?
Britain, where we spent two weeks studying Celtic Christianity at Durham University and living in the castle and embarking on a good bit of pub research. Then we went to Germany and spent two weeks exploring East Germany, especially Berlin, and Poland on our own and with German friends.
Who are your heroes, or whom do you admire?
Jesus. Julia Ward Howe. She was a 19th century suffragette, abolitionist and radical who penned “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” and was the mother of Mother's Day. Louis Golden. He is a local guy who has boldly stood up for little people. He marched with the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King. Nelson Mandella and Desmond Tutu. The Greek writer Nikos Kazantzakis, who was not only a great writer but his life could be described as the prototypical 20th century man.
Where is your favorite place to be in the Klamath Basin?
My backyard.
What natural gift would you like to possess?
To fly.
Dr. Larry Bunnell, 53, has been the pastor of Peace Memorial Presbyterian Church for 14 years. He was born in Coos Bay and raised in Sumner, a village 10 miles south and east of Coos Bay in a low valley surrounded by wooded hills and dairies.
He received his doctorate this spring, writing his dissertation about men's anger as a source of spirituality.
He and his wife, Maryann, a speech-language pathologist, have two boys: Elijah, who is graduating from Southern Oregon University with a bachelor's in mathematics this spring, and Joseph, who is beginning college at Klamath Community College.
Your idea of heaven? Your idea of hell?
Religion is for people afraid of hell, and spirituality is for people who've been there. Since I don't take heaven and hell literally: Perhaps heaven is a stimulating discussion with bright people around an ancient bottle of Cabernet or a nice Oregon Pinot. Hell would be stuck with critical, negative, narrow-minded, moralistic people around a bottle of grape juice.
What is the last book you've read?
“God Laughs & Plays” by the great Northwest writer, David James Duncan. I think that was the last one. I average a couple books a week. If you could invite a small group of people from any time and place to dinner, who would it include, and why?
Thomas Jefferson, a brilliant, conflicted man, and a compelling writer. Jesus of Nazareth, perhaps the most intriguing and misunderstood man of the last two millennia. Henry David Thoreau, a masterful writer and thinker, nearly Jefferson's equal. Walter Rauschenbusch, 19th century Baptist minister who was the father of the modern social gospel movement.
I'd cook. Jefferson and Jesus would bring the wine. Jesus apparently makes good stuff. Rauschenbusch would bring the meat and Thoreau a well-seasoned side dish of social morality.
What would surprise people to know about you?
I've actually voted for Republicans.
How would you like your introduction to an audience to be worded?
“The bad news is he's obtuse and boring, the good news is he doesn't speak long.” Or, maybe, “Like most preachers he's invisible during the week and incomprehensible on Sundays.”
How would you word your epitaph?
“He loved Nancy's Honey Yogurt.” “I'd rather be in Philadelphia” is already taken.
What is your greatest fear?
Heights. Especially those trams that go up mountainsides suspended on a cable.
What is the oddest item in your fridge?
That's tough. Our refrigerator is a frightening and intriguing place. My wife allowed our oldest son to bring some fascinating refrigerator mold to school for show and tell. In grade school. Not college. I guess the weirdest denizen right now is Dave's Insanity Sauce. I love hot sauce but this stuff says on the label you can de-grease your garage floor with it. I believe it.
Your most embarrassing moment?
When officiating at my cousin's wedding, I referred to his bride by his former wife's name.
What is or has been your most important work?
My sons. I done good. I didn't do it alone and couldn't have done it without my wife.
If you could choose to go anywhere (past or present) and do anything, where would you go and what would you do?
Ancient Greece. Or travel around the First Century Roman world, especially Palestine. I'd like to talk with some philosophers and especially Jesus.
What new business would you like to see come to Klamath?
Powell's Books. More fine restaurants (no chains, please), too.
There's an angel on one shoulder, a devil on the other. What are they urging you to do?
They're both sleeping. They're tired of trying to get my attention. Only crazy people listen to imaginary beings.
What's your favorite local place, and why?
Probably Lava Beds. The history is palpable, the petroglyphs mysterious, and the scenery awesome, especially with a skiff of snow on black rocks at full moon.
How do you define success?
As long as the kids and the janitors like me, I'm doing OK.
The last place you vacationed?
Britain, where we spent two weeks studying Celtic Christianity at Durham University and living in the castle and embarking on a good bit of pub research. Then we went to Germany and spent two weeks exploring East Germany, especially Berlin, and Poland on our own and with German friends.
Who are your heroes, or whom do you admire?
Jesus. Julia Ward Howe. She was a 19th century suffragette, abolitionist and radical who penned “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” and was the mother of Mother's Day. Louis Golden. He is a local guy who has boldly stood up for little people. He marched with the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King. Nelson Mandella and Desmond Tutu. The Greek writer Nikos Kazantzakis, who was not only a great writer but his life could be described as the prototypical 20th century man.
Where is your favorite place to be in the Klamath Basin?
My backyard.
What natural gift would you like to possess?
To fly.
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leesa wrote on Jan 23, 2009 12:37 PM:
" these things should never happened in this world. the world should be safe. "
samantha r. wrote on Sep 23, 2008 12:12 PM:
" this article is So true when your a teen girl and your pregnant It seems to feel like your life is over and there is no way you can fix it but that's not true if your young and your going to have a child then stay focused in school your child wants you to succeed in life so he/she can succeed in life my name is Samantha R. I'm 14 years old i live in Klamath falls and i might be pregnant :] If so I'm determined to make sure my child has a better life then i did :] "
Babe wrote on Jan 23, 2008 6:54 PM:
" I think that chiloquin people do need help and not just the teens but i have also seen places that are alot worse i moved from L.A to chiloquin and ive been back there since and trust me chiloquin is nothing. I also think that crime and drugs etc. are noticed more because it is so small compared to other places and there is no form of disaplin at all "
Tony P. wrote on Jan 19, 2008 7:55 PM:
" I remember the night the plane went down.. My mother crying and my dad in tears.. his dad searched for him for years...
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Jane D. wrote on Apr 10, 2009 12:00 AM:
I Love You Bobby
May your soul Rest In Peace
-Deems "