Branded

It was 1998.. I was the new kid in a very, very small town. The culture was a shock to me and my family. I knew i needed to learn to adjust, so I did. Not long after we settled in i met a man that would make a major impression in my life. His name, Elmer Nugent.

He was a fun, yet no non sense kind of guy. He became my mentor, father figure and a true Godly figure in the life of me and my family. There is a word that is used from the King James, its called.. "ensamples". It means indention.. or branded.

Elmer branded me. he challenged me not to "adjust" to culture, but rather lead it. I learned to be me and not a fake.

I just found out a couple of days ago that Elmer has cancer. He lost his son in a car accident three years ago. He has been through a lot. Yet, because he is not just a talker, but a doer, he continues to brand my life and others with straight forward encouraging talk.

Man, i hope I am just a quarter of the man he is some day.

He never branded me or others with stink'n religion. He always branded us with unveiled truth.

They have not given him much longer to live, but he will live for ever. He has branded my life.

I'm going to return to that small town to see him in a few days... what will i see? The brand that he is leaving. And if God does not wipe the cancer away and lets Elmer come home.. The Angels in heaven bess get ready to get branded by the new angel in town.

Things that matter

Thanksgiving...........

Its about the the things that matter.

A couple of years ago I lost my brother.... The time we had as kids, mattered.

A few months ago I resigned from a Church as a pastor of some wonderful people.... The people that I pastored, mattered.

Almost 21 years ago I married Tami. The whole marriage matters.

17 years ago luke was born, he matters

11 years ago Jacob was born, he matters

All of the junk, all of the things that are tangible, really dont matter. They have there place, but they dont matter.

Friends that we make and learn from, matter

Even some of the enemies that we learn from, matter

People matter.

You matter.

Be thankful.

Smile

Laugh

Enjoy your life, because NOW matters.

Happy Thanksgiving

I lost my best friend

I set here at my desk this morning in tears. I lost my best friend. My dog Fred.

Man, he met so much to me. It was as if he read my mind. EVERY TIME I came home, he was the first to greet me. He was a big dog and did not know it. He was goofy, yet smart. Wow, cant replace a dog like that. I have two other dogs, but they ain't Fred.

Me and my boys, Luke and Jacob, went out in the cold last night and buried him. Yep, we cried. And, yep I am still crying today and will for a few. You may ask, "over a dog?" Nope, over a member of my family. My best friend. Fred.