Happy Thursday!

Mind is blank… nothing coming to me… what shall I write about this overcast morning? The comfortable patio chairs are wet, I’m enjoying a crappy stone bench, the next best thing… ouch my cheeks are screaming, and my back, and my neck. The things I do for you good people! lol!!!

You know I’m kidding right? I love this bench… it’s far better than blogging from the inside of my trash container… or blogging from hell! Of course I could go inside… but its summer you guys, I need the FRESH AIR!

So, what shall we talk about today? (scanning the landscape for a breaking story… all is calm in the water gardens… the birds seems to have slept in this morning…) Maybe I will pray and read my bible a little longer and see if something JUMPS!

Ok, ended up at the opening page of an old journal, dated October 1st, 2007. Here is what I wrote:

October 1st, 2007… Good morning my lovely new journal!! I’m a little sad today… my grandfather is not doing well physically. He’s 79 years old and the doctors say he wont be around much longer. His kidneys are shutting down and he is showing the same symptoms as my mom did before she passed away. It’s very sad to watch him become so weak. His mind is so strong… he’s such a funny person… always joking about something. He is such an encourager to me! Makes me feel like a champion! Really, he’s been a huge father figure. Even though I led him to Jesus a few years ago, I spent some time with him on Friday making sure he was prepared for eternity. We cried together… it hurt so bad! Tonight, the whole family was gathered together… it was lots of fun being with them. We spent some good quality time with my Uncle Tuff & Aunt Jody and their house… and then went back to eat Tuff’s amazing chili and Momma and Hon’s. Tuff called it his Triumphant Chili… tri- because it had beef, pepperoni, and sausage! Emily and I brought 4 pies from Rowes Restaurant… everyone seems to enjoy them very much! After dinner, Coree and Heaven played football with their cousins… they had a blast! Before we left, Aunt Kim asked me to say a prayer over the whole family… and I led them all in a powerful prayer! It was so AWESOME. Thank you Jesus! This was a gigantic moment for me. I never thought I would see this day… Mom would have been so excited to see that!

Since this is a journal entry, I don’t want to add or take away from the entry… but I do wish to explain a few things about that moment in time.

Three and a half years ago, my mom passed away. Even though she gave her heart to Jesus at one of my Sunday morning invitations, and I knew she was in heaven… there are NO WORDS to describe the EMPTINESS I felt in my heart during that time.

Then, a year and a half later… her dad, my grandfather… he passed away also! Thank God for the day I knelt before his recliner chair in his living room, took his hand and led him to Jesus with tears streaming down his face! Still yet, another GENERAL was taken out of my life.

Then… about six months ago… my moms brother, my Uncle Tuff passed away also! He was only four years older than me… and even though we drifted apart for a decade or so, we reconnected over his last year… and I led him to the Lord also!

All three of these EPIC voices we’re taken out of my life within three years… and there I was ALL ALONE! Yes, I still had my amazing wife and kids… and oh how I thank God for them! Yet, there is no way to explain how large a vacuum this kind of sudden loss creates. For some time, I had lost my magnetic north… I had no idea what direction I was facing… I was lost.

I remember asking God what I was going to do now that these pillars were gone from the earth. Even though I still had Emily and a few really good friends… I still RELIED on these three giants more than you guys can possibly know. I told them EVERYTHING… they were the BEST listeners! Now that they were gone… who would I call on a bad day? Who would I dump my problems on? Who was going to tell me it will be ok! My life has been very painful these past seven years… lot’s of heartache… and I couldn’t expect Emily to bear this burden all by herself!

This is when God said to me, “Chuck, now that these generals are gone… you will become the general to others! It’s your turn to LISTEN… your turn to LEAD… your turn to make the little ones feel like champions! You will learn to bring your burdens to me so that others can bring their burdens to you. You will graduate from your days of striving and start to understand more and more about leaving a legacy.”

When the generals depart… their cloaks pass to us. Whether we feel ready or not… it’s our turn to grow up fast… and become a SAFE COVERING for the next generation! As our departed generals cheer us from the clouds… we must run our leg of this race all the way to the finish, where we too will join them in that great cloud of witnesses!

Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.

2 Timothy 4:3-8 (The Message Bible) 3-5 You’re going to find that there will be times when people will have no stomach for solid teaching, but will fill up on spiritual junk food-catchy opinions that tickle their fancy. They’ll turn their backs on truth and chase mirages. But you-keep your eye on what you’re doing; accept the hard times along with the good; keep the Message alive; do a thorough job as God’s servant. 6-8 YOU TAKE OVER. I’m about to die, my life an offering on God’s altar. This is the only race worth running. I’ve run hard right to the finish, believed all the way. All that’s left now is the shouting-God’s applause! Depend on it, he’s an honest judge. He’ll do right not only by me, but by everyone eager for his coming.

Long blog today… I hope this message adds tremendous value to your amazing lives! Please leave your comments and have a most outstanding day everyone!