They Are Always Watching

I love children. Anyone who knows me understands that I love children and have a passion for teaching them about God and His love for them! Sometimes, it seems like I have been teaching forever, but it is always a fresh and new experience when I get into that classroom. I began teaching pre-school Sunday School back in 1987 and have taught every year except for a few, when business had me out of town on many weekends. People often tell me how wonderful it is that I feel called to teach these little ones. They don't understand that I am the one who receives the blessing. It is very seldom that I do not come home with a story of how a child said or did something that really touched my heart. This week was no exception.

This year I am working with four-year olds (probably my all-time favorite age group!) One of my little guys' (we'll call him Johnny) father is on a mission trip. I asked Johnny if his daddy was gone to Russia and he said, "Yes! He's telling people about Jesus!" I told Johnny that I was really proud of his daddy, because I had known him since he was a very young boy. Johnny looked at me and said, "I'm really proud of him too, Mr. Clint. He even told someone about Jesus when he was on the airplane!"

I thought about the godly example that father was setting for his child and how much that means to a young child. I am no educator nor am I an expert in raising children, but I do know this...they are always watching! A child watches his Mom and Dad and other adults in their life, from the time they are just a few weeks old until the day their mom or dad pass on. Whether they are a very young child or an adult, they still look to their mom and dad for the encouragement and guidance we all need. I know I still look to my mom and dad for their encouragement and their blessing. So as adults, how can we live a life that is a guide to the children in our lives? Here are a few things that I have learned over the years:

• Live the life you preach - Children notice everything. I have so many pre-schoolers tell me things that they have observed at home or school and I am confident that many of these things were never said, but they were communicated by a parent or a teacher's actions as loudly as if they had been shouted from a PA system!
• Remember to be positive - Children need positive encouragement. The most heartbreaking children I have worked with are those who have no confidence in anything they do, because they have been told that they "can't."
• It takes time - Many parents tell me that their goal is to spend quality time with their child, rather than quantity time. The sad reality is that most of the time, those parents know that deep down in their heart, they are not doing what they should be. A recent study by Focus on the Family (www.family.org) indicated that the average father spend less than 12 minutes a day in interaction with their child. Moms fared slightly better, by spending about 20 minutes with their child. The average 10-year old child watches 2.5 hours of TV and spends about 7 hours at school. I wonder where the biggest influence on that child will be?

Every person must make their own life journey and there is no way to see into the future and know what that journey will be. As parents and teachers, we often want to take that journey for our children, but we can't! However, we can be the compass that points them to the truth and to the ultimate journey...a walk with Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior!

Beautiful Scars

As I have mentioned before, I am currently reading the four Gospel accounts of the last days of Jesus' life here on earth as a preparation for the celebration of Easter and His resurrection. I had just read yesterday, one of my favorite passages of Scripture. In the Gospel of John, we read of the encounter between Jesus and the apostle Thomas. This is the story of Jesus telling Thomas to feel the scars in His hands and side, to demonstrate His resurrection and the fact that He is who He claims to be. Well, last night as I was driving home from my son and his soon-to-be bride and their new/project house, I heard a song by Steven Curtis Chapman, called Beautiful Scars. The song made me think about the passage in John that I had read earlier, as well as my life and the people I love. I realized that so often, the people we love are made even more beautiful to us because of their "beautiful scars." Those beautiful scars are often the result of wounds that we have given them and yet, they love us still. I think about my wife and my children and realize that they are even more precious because of the love they demonstrate to me, in spite of the hurts and disappointments that I have often brought them. And that realization brought me back to the ultimate beautiful scars...those borne by my Lord and Savior!

I have often shared with my children and wife, that one day in the future when I leave this earth, I will stand before my Lord in heaven. When I do, there is one thing that I want to do before anything else. I want to look at those beautiful scars that Jesus will bear for all eternity and to place my hands in His. I do not know for sure what my response will be, but I imagine it will be like Thomas, "My Lord and my God!" How could it be any other?

If It Is A Contest, I Won!

My son and his fiance' closed on the house that will be their first home after they are married this summer. It is a nice house and with some work, it will be a great first home for them. As seems to be the norm in our family, I am helping Mark and Meghan with things like building shelves, removing vinyl flooring, putting down tile, landscape renovation, removing wallpaper, and painting. Today, as we were working, I got a phone call from my daughter Alicia. About five years ago, I spent almost a month helping her remodel the first home that she and my son-in-law, Tim purchased. The question she asked me today was this, "Whose house required more work, hers or Mark's and Meghan's?" I immediately said that it was her first house. I was thinking about all the painting, flooring and hard wood floor refinishing that we did. We worked at least 10 hours a day and usually went to bed exhausted! However, after some more thought, I realized that it has been a blessing to help both of my children and their spouses (or soon-to-be spouses) with the work needed on their first homes. In fact, it has been a greater blessing than they can know. First, I have been blessed to have been taught how to do basic remodeling and construction by my Papaw, my dad and my father-in-law. The time I have spent during my life, with these three men has been something that has shaped me into the person I am. Second, I have been blessed to learn that hard work is a good thing! God's Word tells us this, but sometimes we ignore that truth. Lastly, I have been blessed to be able to work alongside my daughter and her husband and my son and his fiance'. And in case you wonder, my wife, Anita, was right there working away as well! So, if it really was a contest, then I will let them all in on a secret...I was the winner!

A Wow Moment

Today, I met a young man named Jorge. I am doing some minor renovation for a friend's daughter and I went to the day labor center in Plano, to hire someone to help me with some of the work. I ended up with Jorge. He was a friendly young man, about 20-years old. We arrived at the house and I showed Jorge what I needed him to do. After a couple of hours, we took a break and were sitting in the shade drinking a bottle of water. Jorge looked at me and asked, "Do you know Jesu Cristo?" I told him that as a matter of fact, I did. He got a really big smile and told me, "Esta bueno!" I asked Jorge to tell me how he came to know Jesu Cristo. He told me that some missionaries came to his town in Mexico when he was 17. An American missionary told him about Jesus and his need for Him. He became a Christian and about three years ago, felt called to come to the United States and minister to Spanish-speaking people who don't know our Lord. He and his wife came to Texas and shortly after that, she was killed by a drunk driver. I told him how sorry I was and he looked at me and said, "Yes, it is sad, but she is in heaven now and I will see her again." He continued to tell me how good God is! This is a young man who makes $60 per day and yet he counts it as a blessing because it allows him to continue to minister to people who need the Lord. This young man takes the DART train and gets to West Dallas and then spends all day Saturday and Sunday going from door-to-door witnessing to Spanish-speakers.

Once again, I am in awe that God used that missionary to impact the lives of this young man and so many more. I am even more awed that He let me have this WOW moment. I am humbled!

Resolved

I love the Gospel of Luke! Luke had classical training as a scientist and doctor and, as a result, he provides a Gospel record that is rich with details that are often left out of the other Gospel accounts. As I have been reading and contemplating on the last days of our Lord while He was here on earth, I am struck by so many things. However, one of the things that really jumps out at me is found in a short verse in Luke chapter 9. In verse 51, the writer tells us, "When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem." This verse is so very powerful to me because of the resolve we see in our Lord. Jesus has just come down from the mountain where He was transfigured with Moses and Elijah. We know that Jesus knows and understands what is going to happen to Him when He reaches Jerusalem. His disciples don't yet understand all that will transpire in Jerusalem and all that Jesus will suffer. Like me so often, they didn't have a clue! But Jesus knows and fully understands the agony of the whole ordeal that is to come and yet, Luke tells us "He set His face to go to Jerusalem." The phrase "to set one's face" implies a steadfast resolve. In fact, one translation uses the term "he resolutely set His face to go to Jerusalem." I wonder what I would have done had I been in Jesus' place. My guess...no wait, I am sure that my first reaction would have been to procrastinate and see if there was another way to get this done. However, Jesus' response was to resolutely set His face to go to the very place where He knew this would all take place. As the hymnist says, "Did e're such love and sorrow meet?"

What are the things I need to set my face toward. Well, I need to make sure that my face is always set toward the New Jerusalem. My home is not here on this earth. I need to make sure my face is set on an eternal perspective, not a temporary one. Lastly, I need to make sure my face is set to take the Gospel message to as many people as possible!

What's In A Name?

Dear Mark and Luke,

Last night, as I was reading a book about the history of Scotland, I began to think about names of people and places. As I did I began to think about the meaning of your names. You see every name has a meaning behind it and when your mommy and daddy named you, they thought about the names they gave you.

Mark Garrett, you know that you were named for your Uncle Mark and the name Garrett came from both your daddy's family and from your mommy's grandfather's family. However, both of those names have special meaning. The name Mark means valiant warrior and was the name of one of the early church leaders, a man named John Mark. He is the one who wrote the Gospel of Mark. It is amazing to me that when he was young, John Mark went on a mission trip with Paul and later turned back and went home. That doesn't sound much like a valiant warrior to me, but then the Lord gave him renewed strength and courage and we later read about him boldly preaching the Gospel and even writing one of the Gospels! God can do amazing things when we let Him. Your middle name is Garrett and this means "he rules with a bold spear." Do you realize, Mark Garrett, that your whole name means "valiant warrior who rules with a bold spear?" It is my prayer for your life that you always be a valiant warrior for the Lord, with a bold spear that is the Truth of His Word! Remember your name little one!

Luke Patton, your name is very special too. Your name comes from your daddy's side of the family and also has a special meaning in the Bible. The name Luke comes from a man named Luke, who was a doctor and a leader in the early church. Luke wrote one of the Gospel accounts and the book of Acts. Luke's account of Jesus' life and the history of the early church are two of the most detailed, accurate and powerful accounts of those days that are in existence. They form much of the foundation of what we know and believe about the early history of Christianity. Luke travelled with the apostle Paul and was with him when he wrote many of the letters found in the New Testament. In fact, between Paul and Luke, the two of them wrote more than half the New Testament! The name Luke means "light." I believe that is an appropriate name for him and I pray for you. The name Patton is also very special and means "from the town of warriors." Your whole name means "light from the town of warriors." Luke, it is my prayer that you will always be a light that brings the true Light of the World to others as boldly as if you came from a town of warriors!

So when anyone asks, "What's in a name?", you can tell them what's in your name!

I love you,

Papaw

Take Care Of Mimi

Dear Mark and Luke,
I know you two guys are really excited because your Mimi came to visit yesterday. She was very excited to be able to come and see you too! I am always a little sad when Mimi leaves to go somewhere to visit because it means that she is not here with me. You see when you have been married to someone as long as I have to Mimi, almost 33 years, then you really miss them when they are gone. The first day or two she is gone are always the hardest. I often walk around and start to say something to her and then remember that she is not here. I usually don't eat as well as I should or take care of myself as well as I should when she is gone.

There are a few things you should always remember about your Mimi. First, she loves you no matter what. She loves you when you are good and when you are bad (although she prefers it when you are good!) Did you know that there is nothing you can do to make her love you more than she does right now and there is nothing you can do to make her love you less either? You see, God is the same way. He loves you no matter what and He always will and because of that love, we love Him and want to obey Him. Mimi understands that love is patient and kind and that love is faithful and that describes your Mimi to a "T."

Second, Mimi is the wisest and most godly woman I have ever met. Probably the only silly thing she has ever done was to marry me and I am really glad she did! If you listen to your Mimi, you will always get good advice about life and about how to live life.

Third, did you know that Mimi prays for each of you everyday? She does! In fact, Mimi and I pray for you both to grow up healthy and strong, but most of all we pray for you to follow the Lord your whole life long, as your "night-nights music" says. We have prayed for you even before you were born...that's how much Mimi loves you!

Fourth, Mimi loves dessert! She loves red Sour Patch Kids and Gummi Bears. She loves strawberries and milk. In fact, I can't think of anything with sugar that she doesn't like! And she will always share with you two!

So you guys help take care of Mimi while she is there visiting you and give her lots of love and kisses. I miss Mimi and you two very much!

Papaw

Slow Down

For the past 6 weeks, our pastor has been preaching a sermon series entitled "One Month To Live." It has been very convicting and like all the sermons Chad preaches, filled with God's truth. One of the things that Chad mentioned severeal times was the fact that we all suffer from "Someday Syndrome." You know, "Someday, I'll take the kids fishing." Or "Someday, I'll take my dad hunting." "Someday, I'll take my wife on that romantic getaway!" Well, you get the picture and if you are honest with yourself, you will have to admit, like I did, that there are too many "somedays" in your life. It was no coincidence that my wife received an email about this very subject on Monday and forwarded it to me (I think she was telling me something; her spiritual gift is prophecy!) The email went as follows:

Too many people put off something that brings them joy just because they haven't thought about it, don't have it on their schedule, didn't know it was coming or are too rigid to depart from their routine. I got to thinking one day about all those women on the Titanic who passed up dessert at dinner that fateful night in an effort to cut back. From then on, I've tried to be a little more flexible.

How many women out there will eat at home because their husband didn't suggest going out to dinner until after something had been thawed? Does the word 'refrigeration' mean nothing to you?

How often have your kids dropped in to talk and sat in silence while you watched 'Jeopardy' on television? I cannot count the times I called my sister and said, 'How about going to lunch in a half hour?' She would gas up and stammer, 'I can't. I have clothes on the line. My hair is dirty. I wish I had known yesterday, I had a late breakfast, It looks like rain.' And my personal favorite: 'It's Monday.' She died a few years ago. We never did have lunch together.

Because Americans cram so much into their lives, we tend to schedule our headaches. We live on a sparse diet of promises we make to ourselves when all the conditions are perfect! We'll go back and visit the grandparents when we get Steve toilet-trained. We'll entertain when we replace the living-room carpet... We'll go on a second honeymoon when we get two more kids out of college. Life has a way of accelerating as we get older. The days get shorter, and the list of promises to ourselves gets longer. One morning, we awaken, and all we have to show for our lives is a litany of 'I'm going to,' 'I plan on,' and 'Someday, when things are settled down a bit.'

When anyone calls my 'seize the moment' friend, she is open to adventure and available for trips. She keeps an open mind on new ideas. Her enthusiasm for life is contagious. You talk with her for five minutes, and you're ready to trade your bad feet for a pair of Roller blades and skip an elevator for a bungee cord..

My lips have not touched ice cream in 10 years. I love ice cream. It's just that I might as well apply it directly to my stomach with a spatula and eliminate the digestive process The other day, I stopped the car and bought a triple-Decker. If my car had hit an iceberg on the way home, I would have died happy. Now...go on and have a nice day. Do something you WANT to......not something on your SHOULD DO list. If you were going to die soon and had only one phone call you could make, who would you call and what would you say? And why are you waiting? Make sure you read this to the end; you will understand why I sent this to you. Have you ever watched kids playing on a merry go round or listened to the rain lapping on the ground? Ever followed a butter fly's erratic flight or gazed at the sun into the fading night?

Do you run through each day on the fly? When you ask ' How are you?' Do you hear the reply? When the day is done, do you lie in your bed with the next hundred chores running through your head? Ever told your child, 'We'll do it tomorrow.' And in your haste, not see his sorrow? Ever lost touch? Let a good friendship die? Just call to say 'Hi? When you worry and hurry through your day, it is like an unopened gift....Thrown away..... Life is not a race Take it slower. Hear the music before the song is over.

Good advice for all of us. If you would like to listen to the sermons series click on the following website and enjoy! http://fbcallen.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=15848

A Sad Day

Today marks a very sad day in our country. For the past eight years, under the leadership of President Bush, we have held in check the forces that wish to destroy unborn babies. Abortion funding was reduced and to a large extent eliminated in many areas. The rights of the unborn baby were held up as equally important to the rights of the parent. In addition embryonic stem cell research was limited to those strains of stem cell that were in existence at the time and no new lines were allowed to be harvested using federal research funding. However, with the stroke of a pen, President Obama has erased these protections and mandated increased federal funding of abortions and renewed federal funding of embryonic stem cell research, including harvesting new lines of stem cell, harvested from unborn babies who were killed in their mothers wombs.



I refuse to argue with those who want to claim that life does not begin at conception. The only people who make this argument today are those who simply refuse to examine the scientific and medical evidence. It would be more intellectually honest for those individuals to simply acknowledge that they choose to arbitrarily say that life begins at birth or in the case of some people, some time after birth, than to try and argue against all medical evidence and Biblical truth. However, the "big business" and the politics of abortion and embryonic stem cell research continue to try and convince Americans of the fantasy that embryonic stem cell research will do everything from allowing individuals with spinal injuries to walk again to creating the mythical fountain of youth. The facts hardly bear out the gross exaggerations and complete untruths these people preach. For a very fair and scientific examination of the truth about stem cell research and its potential go to http://www.stemcellresearch.org/polisci/index.html .



From my viewpoint, we have a president who has chosen to completely disregard his oath of office. You know, the one where he promised to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. One of the guiding and fundamental principles of the Constitution is the protection of the rights of those most vulnerable members of our society. If unborn babies do not meet this criteria, then no one does. In 2007, when a democrat-controlled Congress tried to pass legislation to increase federal stem cell research funding, former President George W. Bush made the statement when he vetoed the legislation, "I will not allow this country to cross that moral line." Apparently, our current President does not see that moral line or he chooses to completely disregard it. Sadly, I believe he and many of those who voted for him will one day have to answer for their choices. Let us continue to pray for our nation and our president!

Questions

Life is filled with questions. Many of these questions are simple, with no real significant long-term impacts in our lives. Questions like, "What will I eat for breakfast?" or "What color socks will I wear? (This is simplified even more for me because I only have blue, black or brown!) Some of life's questions are complex and have long-term, even eternal impacts in our lives. These questions include such things as "Who will I marry?" or "What career choice will I make?" However, there is one question that was asked almost 2,000 years ago that continues to be the most significant question ever asked.



As Christians all over the world begin to focus their hearts and minds on the upcoming Easter season, I have begun to read all four Gospel accounts of the last week of Jesus' earthly life. This week I read from Matthew and I came across the question that always stops me in my tracks. In Matthew 27, we read the account of Jesus' trial before Pilate. After Pilate has agreed to release the criminal, Barabbas, he turns to the crowd and asks, "What would you have me do then with this Jesus the Christ?" I suggest that a more profound question has never been asked, in all of history past or will ever be asked in the future..."What would you have me do with this Jesus?" There is not a person who has ever lived, or is living now, or will ever live that is not faced with this question. The life, burial and resurrection of Jesus is the hinge point of all history. Every event in time either points forward to the cross or back to the cross! The life of Jesus demands a response.

As we prepare to celebrate His resurrection, I pray that the response you will have to the question, "What would you have me do with this Jesus?", will be the same response the apostle Thomas had...to bow in adoration and thanksgiving and cry out, "My Lord and my God!" There is no other answer to the question.

Banana Splits and Wednesday Fellowships

I will never view a banana split the same way after my evening serving them at the Wednesday night fellowship at church. I had no idea that Baptists could be so assertive! I am convinced if we preached the Gospel the way we went after banana splits, the Lord could just go ahead and return because we would have reached all the unreached people groups in the entire world.

In a more serious vein, I love Wednesday nights and the fellowship and prayer time that we share at our church. It is a great time to visit with friends and members of your Bible Fellowship Group (that's Sunday School for you uninitiated!) However, the best part of the evening is the time we spend listening to and praying for the needs of others. There is a great blessing in taking the needs of others before the Throne of Grace. For one thing, as our pastor said this past Sunday, if we focus on the needs and problems of others it takes the focus off of ourselves and puts it directly where it should be...on our Lord and Savior. Another blessing we get to share when we pray with and for others is that we get to see the answer to prayers! When we intercede for others we are reminded that God is sovereign and He is still on His throne. One of my favorite lines from a movie comes from the movie, "Rudy", when the Catholic priest tells Rudy that, "In my forty years in the ministry, I have learned two things...there is a God and I am not Him!" I am always reminded of those two facts when I have the privilege of lifting others to the Lord in prayer.

If your church offers a prayer time on Wednesday evenings or any other time, I highly recommend it! And if they offer a fellowship meal, what could be better? Banana splits and prayer...as we say in Texas, "It don't get no better than this!"

Sometimes An Old Hymn Says It Best

Over the past two years, I have been trying to start a construction management and development business along with two Christian friends that I met in my previous job. We prayed for a long time about it and really feel that God was calling us to do this. We have great plans for what we would be able to do in the kingdom! However, over the past several months it has become obvious that things were not going well financially. We have several projects that have been put on hold due to the tightening credit markets and as a result, we felt it was necessary to "do something else" until some of these projects were funded by the lenders and investors. We had been talking with a large engineering and construction company about doing some contract work in the Middle East and had agreed to start rotating back and forth between the States and the Middle East. In fact, I had a flight itinerary and a detailed travel schedule for the next several months. This was going to allow us to pay off some of the debts we had piled up and hold on with our business until one of our projects got started. However, as usual my plans were not necessarily those of God. Just about 24 hours before I was set to leave the country, the project was put on hold due to contract issues. I have to confess that when I received the call informing me about this, it made me physically sick. For most of the day, I sat in my office in a state of shock. I called Anita, who was out of town visiting her parents and told her the news. Then I also called my son and my daughter. Everyone was so concerned about me and how I was doing. Late in the day, my son wrote me one of the nicest emails I have ever received. Then I received an iTunes gift from my daughter and son-in-law for a download of a collection of hymns called "All I Owe" by Matthew Smith. I can tell you that receiving the email and the hymns were the best things that happened to me in the midst of a great outpouring of love from friends and family.



As I contemplated the day, I realized that even in the middle of this struggle, I have been blessed beyond belief and certainly beyond anything I deserve. As I listened to the hymns that Alicia and Tim sent, I really homed in on a hymn that was written more than 200 years ago, by a man who knew and understood the undeserved mercy and grace of our Lord, John Newton. Yes, the same John Newton who wrote "Amazing Grace" also wrote a hymn titled "The Lord Will Provide." I had never heard this hymn, but was struck by the truth of the lyrics and comforted by the peaceful melody. The words to this hymn were exactly what I needed to hear. The last verse of the song goes like this:

When life sinks apace, And death is in view, This word of his grace Shall comfort us through: No fearing or doubting With Christ on our side, We hope to die shouting, The Lord will provide.
I love to sing choruses and praise music and I love to hear Southern Gospel and Gospel Bluegrass music. However, I am more and more convinced that the old hymns written by people like John Newton, Horatio Spofford, B. B. McKinney, Fanny Crosby, Martin Luther and others, sometimes offer a deep truth and comfort that comes straight from the Word of God. I guess that sometimes an old hymn says it best!

God Bless Texas!

Well, today marks the 173rd anniversary of the day that Texas declared her independence from Mexico. Most people in this world do not understand what it means to be a Texan. We are often the butt of jokes and wisecracks from those who have no clue as to what Texas is really all about. So today, in remembrance of the brave men and women who sacrificed their lives and their fortunes to make Texas the place that it is today and in hopes of maybe enlightening some of you who do not understand, here is the most famous letter in Texas history. Written by Colonel William Barrett Travis from the Alamo, this letter embodies the true Texas Spirit!


The Travis Letter
William Barret Travis, a young lawyer, in his 20's, from South Carolina, was ill-prepared for the monumental task he had at hand. With only limited military experience, his rank of "Colonel" was more honorary than anything else. Seemed everyone was a colonel in the fledgling Texas Army. Yet, he faced the overwhelming odds he found himself staring at with a grim - and bold - determination. It is not often in life that someone, with all on the line, gets to practice what they preach. In his plea for assistance, Travis sets down the rules for exactly that ... and then, he lived it! In this most powerful letter, one of the truly moving documents of our storied past, Travis gets to say what everyone would love to be able to have the opportunity to say. They are not mere words - stirring though they are - for they foretold his destiny. It would not be long before "victory or death" would be at hand.

Read this letter slowly ... savor every word ... it is the stuff of legend!


Commandancy of the Alamo
Bexar, Feby. 24th 1836


To the People of Texas & all Americans in the world --
Fellow citizens & compatriots -- I am besieged by athousand or more of the Mexicans under Santa Anna --I have sustained a continual Bombardment & cannon-ade for 24 hours & have not lost a man -- The enemyhas demanded a surrender at discretion, otherwise, thegarrison are to be put to the sword, if the fort is taken-- I have answered the demand with a cannon shot, &our flag still waves proudly from the walls -- I shall nev-er surrender or retreat. Then, I call on you in the nameof Liberty, of patriotism & everything dear to the Amer--ican character, to come to our aid, with all dispatch --The enemy is receiving reinforcements daily & will nodoubt increase to three or four thousand in four or fivedays. If this call is neglected, I am determined to sustainmyself as long as possible & die like a soldier who neverforgets what is due to his own honor & that of his coun-try --Victory or Death.

William Barret Travis
Lt. Col., Comdt.

P.S. The Lord is on our side -- When the enemyappeared in sight we had not three bushels of corn --We have since found in deserted houses 80 or 90 bush-els & got into the walls 20 or 30 heads of Beeves.
Travis

Happy Texas Independence Day, Mark and Luke!

Why Blog?

I have finally given in and begun a blog. First my daughter and my brother started to blog a couple of years ago. Next, my pastor started blogging and then my future daughter-in-law started. So what's a guy to do? It is my intention to write about a variety of things that have some meaning to me. Some posts will be humorous, some will be sad. Some posts may be very profound and have deep significance (at least to me!) Some posts will be directed at my children or grandchildren. Hopefully, they will all be somewhat interesting.

I would like for you to know a few things about me as I start on my blogging expedition. The first actually relates to the title of this blog, "After His Heart". I took this title from the description of David, that we find in the Bible, where in I Samuel 13:14, he is described as a "man after His own heart." That is my desire for my life. Second, I am married to the most wonderful woman that I have ever met. She has been beside me for almost 33 years and as most people who know me agree, I definitely married well. I have two great children who are married (or soon will be) to the loves of their lives. Lastly, I have two little grandsons that are the greatest!

I hope you will come back soon to read a little more about my life and the journey on which the Lord is taking me!