PASADENA, CALIF.--Woody Allen once remarked that, although he didn't believe in an afterlife, he was taking along a change of underwear just in case. These comments are in no way reflective of Mark Robinson's personal theology. However, they are certainly, without any doubt, 100 percent vintage Robinsonesque-brand humor. Divine humor Mark's humor was always at its apex when dealing with theological issues. No doctrinal change, no ministerial foible and no church crisis ever escaped Mark's sharp, incisive wit, unique perspective and special analysis, always generously laced with his good-natured--and never embittered--sense of humor and irony. These and all of Mark's qualities were firmly rooted in his strong and value-oriented upbringing in the environs of Ambassador College and the Worldwide Church of God ministry, in which Mark served as an elder for many years. When religious affiliation and organizational influences faded, Mark's genuine personal interest in both the Bible and theological topics never waned. Unlike many who tend to abandon these interests when church membership or church attendance is no longer in vogue, Mark always knew where he was personally grounded and quietly maintained a genuine and continuing faith. Always stressless and imperturbable, Mark was consistently great company when he and I had occasion to travel together many times: to Israel, Mexico, Brazil, Japan, Hong Kong and Macau. |
