Good Morning Men,
How’s your summer going? I kicked mine off with an Arkansas Bream fishing odyssey last weekend, with the pivotal point being spending the evening with an old friend who was diagnosed with lung cancer last fall and had some spots found on his brain a few weeks ago. I knew that circumstances wouldn’t allow me to spend more than Saturday evening with him, so I planned some fishing around it. I started with taking my youngest Friday and had a good catch, then I drove to Little Rock and spent the night with my oldest, then we didn’t catch anything the next morning. I then drove to the southern part of the White River to a lake that I have wanted to fish for 20 years. With good reason evidently, as I caught about 100 in 2.5 hours. Then it was on to see my friend and fish a couple of lakes on Sunday on my way back.
I also had a friend from high school die last week from colon cancer. He was our quarterback and star baseball player on a team full of stars. He was Mr. everything, grades, sports, etc. He played baseball at Ole Miss and committed like 2 errors in 4 years.
These incidents of cancer naturally had me thinking more about death and our short time here on earth than I normally do. It’s amazing when you start thinking along those lines how fast you can get all Ecclesiastes. Really, what is it all about? Vanity, Vanity, is it all vanity? Can you leave something behind? Is it all about waiting on heaven? Or do you get all you can in this life?
Reading my high school friend’s obit, it was amazing how it read. Lots of accomplishments in high school and college (mostly concerning sports) then the rest of his life consisted of having a couple of kids, serving his customers faithfully, and, drum roll please, performing, at every Christmas, a version of Baby Elephant Walk, where he would add something to it every year. I sincerely hope my closest friends would not let someone put that in my obit. I swear, I will come back and haunt you if you do.
Tie that together with the blurb I just read for a new men’s book that, of course takes the bible and lays a course for a man’s life. The author says that men are to:
men are called to lead, to love their wives, to discipline their children, and to serve the church of Jesus Christ. Here is biblical exposition of the most practical sort teaching that reveals not only what men are to think but what they are to be.
Really? Well, there are worse things you can do than that, that’s for sure. But does it stop there? Are you going to get in the latter years of your life and know that your life counted for something?
No, I honestly believe, and this was my conclusion after my weekend, that only by learning to follow God will you discover the life that will bring purpose and meaning. You will also lead well, love your wife and discipline your kids well too. But most of all your obit will show a man who brought the kingdom to the world he lived in. No matter what you did in high school it will pale in comparison to what you accomplished later in life as God led you into the battles that matter for the kingdom.
Enough of my opinion, what does Ecclesiastes say about this, as the author, like I did, pondered the meaning of it all? The next to last verse says: Here is my final conclusion: Fear God and keep His commandment, for this is the entire duty of man.
There you have it guys, follow God. Here comes the faith part. Enjoy.
Alex
Coming up for you guys:
Band of Brothers Friday mornings 6:00 at the warehouse
Man Night
June 11th. The warehouse. Dick Aryers will be sharing with us. I have known Dick several years and have always loved his heart. He has some great life experiences that will be an encouragement to us all.
We will be eating at 6:30. See you there!
