Ron Houchen
Sept 5, 2003
Ron Houchen went home this month. He made the earth better while he visited here, but while that’s important, it is not what made him a giant in the volumes of mortals.
Did you know Ron Houchen?
Houchen never grew to six feet. He probably only weighed 150 pounds when his clothes got rain soaked so I don’t refer to his physique when I call him a giant. The way he towered above us all was in a quality much harder to attain than stature or physical prowess.
Yes, his wife is an awesome Bible class teacher and visitors drooled over her cooking. Yes, his daughter is prettier than yours. Yes, his sons both preach - in multiple languages. Yes, his grandkids visited him and loved him. All of this set him apart from most, but no - this is not what made him bigger than others.
When the mentally unstable needed help getting to worship, Ron Houchen helped them out. When saints needed labor to move furniture, there was Houchen. When my wife and I struggled to get along with some other couples at church, Houchen helped smooth the way. He defied the rule of “preacher’s kids are always the worst” and became an elder to serve others. This kind of list could go on and on, but chances are you know someone just as awesome so we still have not arrived at what made him a giant.
Are you picturing Ron Houchen yet?
Known throughout congregations from California to Texas, Houchen had big shoes to fill and he did just that - but then he took it a step further. Not satisfied to just make the world a better place, Ron Houchen conquered the ultimate battlefield - Houchen managed to beat himself.
It has been my privilege to meet a lot of people (no - I mean a lot of people) and I have never met his equal in this regard. In fact, I’ll be very surprised if I ever do.
Think of the best Presidents our country has had. Think of your best friends. Think of the best people you know and the people that make history. What do they do when the spotlight is not on them? They do what people always do - they serve themselves. This is the area where Ron Houchen broke loose from the impressive crowd and raised the bar way over what most of us will ever reach. In his own private time, Ron Houchen still did not serve himself. He beat that desire down and stomped it out.
At his funeral, his son told a great story. Houchen’s co-workers wanted to “get him” for his birthday. They made a beautiful cake and filled it with vinegar. Houchen took a bite, swallowed, looked up and said, “Sure is moist!” and started to take another bite. The co-workers stopped him because they couldn‘t take it. What would I have said in similar circumstances among friends in a closed space? Ron Houchen even had his responses tamed when he was shocked - by vinegar.
My wife and I were helping the Houchens set up a room for a party. I’ve only been married a short while compared to him, but I know some things about the game and how husbands have to capitalize on mistakes their wives make. Mrs. Houchen asked her husband about the location of a table. He offered a suggestion. They moved it there. Then she said, “No, Honey, I think I want to move it over there.”
If you don’t see the rich opportunity here, then (A) you’re female (B) you’ve never been married or (C) all of the above.
How often since Adam and Eve have husbands had wives ask them how an outfit looks? Men give a good answer and then watch as the wife goes and changes. This means she totally ignored what the husband said even though she asked him. (Tangent: if you are a wife who does not realize your actions mean this to your husband, then you are welcome for the lesson in reality. May it save your marriage.)
At this point, I’m ready to call the TV cameras and sell tickets because it’s coming. Ron Houchen is about to let her have it for all the senseless questioning and nagging every guy thinks every other married guy goes through. And it’s only the four of us! Perfect setting for putting her in her place - exactly what the self in each person would like to do.
What he said knocked me cold, kind of like when the realization hit me that they were really about to shoot the dog in Old Yeller.
He raised his hand as if he were waving a friendly hello and said, “I’ve offered an opinion.” Then he started setting up chairs.
That’s it?
He had an opening like that and all he said was four words?
Yep.
Are you getting the picture yet? He had beaten his own selfishness, his own idea of what should happen, his own I-think-so’s, and he practiced it even in private.
Have you ever met a giant as big as Ron Houchen?
I’ll miss him. We little people enjoyed his company because giants are not to be found on every corner, but I’m glad he’s finally home.
Ron Houchen went home this month. He made the earth better while he visited here, but while that’s important, it is not what made him a giant in the volumes of mortals.
Did you know Ron Houchen?
Houchen never grew to six feet. He probably only weighed 150 pounds when his clothes got rain soaked so I don’t refer to his physique when I call him a giant. The way he towered above us all was in a quality much harder to attain than stature or physical prowess.
Yes, his wife is an awesome Bible class teacher and visitors drooled over her cooking. Yes, his daughter is prettier than yours. Yes, his sons both preach - in multiple languages. Yes, his grandkids visited him and loved him. All of this set him apart from most, but no - this is not what made him bigger than others.
When the mentally unstable needed help getting to worship, Ron Houchen helped them out. When saints needed labor to move furniture, there was Houchen. When my wife and I struggled to get along with some other couples at church, Houchen helped smooth the way. He defied the rule of “preacher’s kids are always the worst” and became an elder to serve others. This kind of list could go on and on, but chances are you know someone just as awesome so we still have not arrived at what made him a giant.
Are you picturing Ron Houchen yet?
Known throughout congregations from California to Texas, Houchen had big shoes to fill and he did just that - but then he took it a step further. Not satisfied to just make the world a better place, Ron Houchen conquered the ultimate battlefield - Houchen managed to beat himself.
It has been my privilege to meet a lot of people (no - I mean a lot of people) and I have never met his equal in this regard. In fact, I’ll be very surprised if I ever do.
Think of the best Presidents our country has had. Think of your best friends. Think of the best people you know and the people that make history. What do they do when the spotlight is not on them? They do what people always do - they serve themselves. This is the area where Ron Houchen broke loose from the impressive crowd and raised the bar way over what most of us will ever reach. In his own private time, Ron Houchen still did not serve himself. He beat that desire down and stomped it out.
At his funeral, his son told a great story. Houchen’s co-workers wanted to “get him” for his birthday. They made a beautiful cake and filled it with vinegar. Houchen took a bite, swallowed, looked up and said, “Sure is moist!” and started to take another bite. The co-workers stopped him because they couldn‘t take it. What would I have said in similar circumstances among friends in a closed space? Ron Houchen even had his responses tamed when he was shocked - by vinegar.
My wife and I were helping the Houchens set up a room for a party. I’ve only been married a short while compared to him, but I know some things about the game and how husbands have to capitalize on mistakes their wives make. Mrs. Houchen asked her husband about the location of a table. He offered a suggestion. They moved it there. Then she said, “No, Honey, I think I want to move it over there.”
If you don’t see the rich opportunity here, then (A) you’re female (B) you’ve never been married or (C) all of the above.
How often since Adam and Eve have husbands had wives ask them how an outfit looks? Men give a good answer and then watch as the wife goes and changes. This means she totally ignored what the husband said even though she asked him. (Tangent: if you are a wife who does not realize your actions mean this to your husband, then you are welcome for the lesson in reality. May it save your marriage.)
At this point, I’m ready to call the TV cameras and sell tickets because it’s coming. Ron Houchen is about to let her have it for all the senseless questioning and nagging every guy thinks every other married guy goes through. And it’s only the four of us! Perfect setting for putting her in her place - exactly what the self in each person would like to do.
What he said knocked me cold, kind of like when the realization hit me that they were really about to shoot the dog in Old Yeller.
He raised his hand as if he were waving a friendly hello and said, “I’ve offered an opinion.” Then he started setting up chairs.
That’s it?
He had an opening like that and all he said was four words?
Yep.
Are you getting the picture yet? He had beaten his own selfishness, his own idea of what should happen, his own I-think-so’s, and he practiced it even in private.
Have you ever met a giant as big as Ron Houchen?
I’ll miss him. We little people enjoyed his company because giants are not to be found on every corner, but I’m glad he’s finally home.