So long for now brother but I'll catch up with you when I join you on the other side.

Hello once again. If you've never landed here before I know I should have a disclaimer of some kind but typically it will not take you long to decide whether to stay or not. It is Tuesday, August 14, 2012. Last Friday morning it was my privilege to serve as a pallbearer for my brother in Christ, Herman. He was a fellow member of our local fellowship, a fellow diabetic, a fellow NASCAR fan, and we both shared a common affection for coffee. Over the past year or so, Herman was not able to be out and about as much as he would have liked due to multiple health challenges. However, he and I kept up a steady forth and back via email. He read my blogs and would often comment. He had a keen sense of humor, a good spiritual foundation, and a well rounded grasp of current events. We hashed out all of the above in addition to many others. At the viewing last Thursday evening, a table was spread with his NASCAR stuff, his beloved University of Alabama emblems, and a number of the coffees he enjoyed. I lit up when I saw that bag of Community. I'll miss our exchanges but it's good to count our brothers in Christ connection as a blessing, and to anticipate our reunion one day in heaven. May God bless his sweet wife and others as they mourn this loss. Amen.

I heard an older person say once that making it to his age included having to say farewell to many friends and loved ones. I suppose it comes with the territory. You know: Do the math. But, our time here is governed by God's Sovereign timetable, therefore, we keep on keeping on, and that includes our pursuit of His plan and purpose for our lives. Some get an early call home. Others get to hang around a long time. The Apostle Paul said that he struggled with that prospect. To go home to be with Jesus was a major pull and desire of his heart, yet, he said he knew that staying on the planet was beneficial to others as he sought to share truth wherever he went. (Read about it in the Epistle to the Philippians, Chapter 1) I heard the late Dr. Adrian Rogers talking about this sovereign control over life itself. He said he had a man that once told him he was so sure of God's control that he could walk in front on an oncoming train and know that he would not be killed unless it was God's time for him to go. Dr. Rogers told him that if he tried it he would prove one thing, it was his time to go. That's right. We do have an active role to play in the life we have been given and God would have us to be responsible in our pursuit. The main thing is always this: Be Ready! Amen.

I mentioned the other day about patriotism in supporting our country's Olympic participants. Interestingly enough, a British Broadcasting Corporation leaked memo instructed their announcers to tone down their patriotic excitement for Great Britain and show more respect for the other countries who are participating. I have a very sophisticated response to this: HOGWASH! Great Britain had a wonderful Olympics. It's their best showing since the early 1900's. They have every reason to be proud and I think showing that pride is a good thing. I feel that way about our American competitors. We are a country of 335 million. China has over a billion. Much has been said about their training approaches and some have questioned how close they come to brutality in developing their stars from a very early age. They always compete well with these types of athletes. However, we, as a free people, send every kind of individual on our teams, every color, every size, and they sign up, volunteer, and while they do the time and the discipline to perfect their skills, those medals piled up for the USA produced a song for the world to hear: Let freedom ring! And, as always, that's the way I see it, and please know that you are entitled to your own opinion, including your right to be wrong. Just joking. Have a great day and may God bless. Amen.      ....More later.