lifestyle-religion

The history of our great nation and the history of our faith is much more than an epic 12-hour television event that tells the extraordinary story of our past. How did we get here? As David McCullough observed, “History is a guide to navigation in perilous times. History is who we are and why we are the way we are.”

This is part four of a series about Jerry, my friend and brother in Christ Jesus, who departed from this world on November 9th, 2020. Jerry was a gentle spirit, an old hippie, with a need for speed. Jerry placed seventh in the nation in motorcycle road racing at the Grand Nationals at Road Atlanta. And Jerry was a gifted musician. He sang and played guitar and played a mean blues harp. In my opinion, Jerry covered Neil Young better than Neil Young.

The actions one should or could have taken are one thing; the actions we can take now, in this moment are quite another. There is an old proverb that goes, “The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The second-best time is now.” As cultural battles intensify in our great nation, it behooves us to always remember who we are, where we came from and what our particular personal responsibilities are in light of the moment in which we find ourselves.

The time has come once again to exercise that incredibly important right as a citizen on the United States of America and vote! Not everyone in the world today has this privilege and it has been handed to us at great price and sacrifice so allow me to encourage everyone not to overlook this opportunity or the sacrifice that was made to make it possible. I heard a very profound quote not long ago that has stuck in my mind ever since. In referring to the government leaders we have now in office the speaker said, “The sitting Congress and Senate of the United States of America does not reflect the values of all Americans. They only reflect the values of the Americans who voted in the last election.”

This is part three of a series about Jerry, my friend who “sticks closer than a brother.” This series was to be our last “Big Adventure”, but it’s transitioned into my tribute to my departed friend and brother in Christ Jesus, who went home to be with our Lord and Savior on Monday, November 9, 2020. The evening that Jerry departed this world, I placed my hand on Jerry’s chest and told him, “I won’t see you in this world again but I’ll see you back home”. He took his last breath less than five minutes later.

Listen to advice and accept instruction and in the end you will be wise. Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.

It is the Lord your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him.

Jerry is “Dad” to Sarah and Joel, and “Pappy” to a passel of grandchildren. And for over forty-five years, Jerry has been my, “friend who sticks closer than a brother,” (Proverbs 18:24). Jerry is an old hippie with a fear of being normal, but I’ve assured Jerry, time and time again, that he doesn’t have anything to worry about.

O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.

Jehovah’s Witnesses will resume their trademark door-to-door ministry beginning September 1 when a two-and-half-year suspension of the work is officially lifted, just in time to begin a global campaign featuring a new interactive Bible study program.