MY DAD, A HUMBLE BUT PROUD MAN

My dad was a very humble but proud man, if that makes sense.  He had grown up under very meager beginnings.  His dad was an alcoholic and his mother very simple.  

He told me they never lived in any one place more than a few months.  They would move into a rental home and stay until they were evicted, then move elsewhere and do the same.  He said he would always have the bus drop him off maybe a mile from the house.  He didn't want anybody to see where he lived.

He bragged Grandpa cared for them though.  When he got paid for whatever odd job he had done, he would buy groceries for the family before he bought beer.  

Grandpa died when I was just a few weeks old.  He evidently turned his life around for the Lord several years before he passed away.  During those last few years, he was in church every time the doors were open and loved by everybody.  

My earliest memory Dad was probably me attending a Billy Graham crusade with him in California.  I remember there was snow on the ground and we had to walk quite a way up hill to get to the stadium.  We traipsed through the snow up a long hill only to discover the crusade had been cancelled due to the weather.

This was symbolic of the life my dad lived.  He lived his life trying to prove he was somebody.  There was probably not a more righteous and caring man than my Dad.  Yet, he never could accept that he was good enough to be loved by God.

Growing up, he did not go to church often.  Mom would drag him there on occasion, but mostly he resisted.  He was a godly man though.  He never drank, smoked, or cussed to my knowledge. He thought  us to love and respect God as well.

He finally did start going to church when I was about 17 years old. His spiritual struggle became evident then.  He would go to the altar often praying for God's forgiveness.  He would leave empty though, declaring he just was not good enough. 

He did find acceptance in Christ just a couple years before he passed.  He prayed through night with the pastor and discovered the grace of Jesus.  

Like his dad, his last days were spent on fire for the Lord.  He was loyal to church and went visiting with the pastor on s regular basis, declaring to others the grace and forgiveness of Jesus.  

At age 67, when I was in my early 40s, Dad suffered a massive heart attack and went to meet the Lord.  This was a shock to us all.  

I had just spoken with him the night before bragging that Michael, my oldest boy, had made the all county football team.  The last words I recall hearing from Dad were very befitting of a man who loved his family, "Tell that boy I'm proud of him."

Though Dad lacked confidence, he far surpassed his own expectations.  He spent the biggest part of his adult life in traffic management.  He never made millions, but he was a good father to his children and a good friend to those whom he knew.

He may not have recognized his own accomplishments but he took great pride in the accomplishments of others.  His wife was the most beautiful woman in the world.  His kids could do what they did better than anybody and he didn't mind telling you.  His hometown was the best place to live and his friends the best.

He was a Razorback fan like none other.  No matter how bad a season they had, they were the best in his book.

At his funeral, over 400 friends, family and loved ones packed our little FWB Church in Greenwood Arkansas.  His entire surviving Senior Class of over 40 was there.  As I spoke a short eulogy on his behalf I was able to say words not many can say of their father, "There are no regrets."

10 Random Facts about Me:

1.  The Christian Rock Group Petra opened for me and a group I was singing with in the early 80's.  Well, my college ensemble was double booked with Petra at a High School.  We were shocked when we heard them rocking as we entered.  Needless to say, the kids found out renditions of 'Charleston' and 'Danny Boy' a bit of a let down.

2.  I was ADHD when ADHD wasn't cool.  At the end of my Junior year in HS my GPA was a whopping 1.65.  By the end of my senior year I had redeemed myself to the point that all I lacked to graduate was one semester of English.  I actually graduated with a GED.

3.  I went to college on a vocal and instrumental scholarship, studied music for four years, but graduated after seven years with a BA in Social Studies.  I sang both bass and 1st Tenor in college choir.

4.  I have been happily married for over 30 years but have six children by six different women conceived four states and on two continents.  My wife and I have one biological and five adopted children.

5.  I was commissioned as an officer in the Army in 1985 and served a total of six years in the Army Reserves.

6. Over the years I have made ends meet by serving as a security guard in pig slaughtering plant and a pickle plant.  I paid my way trough college mostly cooking and delivering pizza.  I have been in the ministry for thirty years, pastoring fifteen of those.  I also drove  school bus for about five years.

7.  I once met and greeted Garth Brooks as well as socialized with his wife Trish for probably an hour or so and didn't even know it.

8.  I made a public profession of faith at ages 8, 13, and 16.  When I look back to when my journey began with Christ I see the commitment and involvement beginning at age 16.  I was actually baptized after I answered the call to preach.

9.  I went back to school about 12 years ago and graduated with an MS in Counseling and have been counseling for about 10 years.  I now have a private practice in Tahlequah and an agency in Adair County.

10.  I have made a lot of mistakes, hurt a lot of people, and at times been a total disgrace to God, yet HE has managed use me anyway.  As Paul once said, "By the Grace of God I am what I .

The Easter Brawl at Buddy and Evelyn's

I'm thinking it was Easter Sunday, 1981, 34 years ago.  I was 17 years old.  The Canada kids, Bill, Bobby, and Lois, were all home at Uncle Buddy and Aunt Evelyn's and us Hewetts were visiting. 

Now understand, this was a grand event for us Hewett Kids, even now that we were all grown up.  We just about idolized our older cousins growing up.  Uncle Buddy was our 'cool' uncle. He was a Wrestling coach and his boys were all tremendous athletes.  And Lois...,well, she was Lois.

We had eaten and were just hanging out.  Lois and a young boy (escapes me who) took her dog for a walk around the lake.  

I was in the living room by myself watching tv.  Lois'  little friend came running in saying Lois' dog had bit another dog and its owner was following her down the road crazy mad wanting to fight.  

Being the macho teenage boy I was, I went to my cousin's rescue. I stepped outside and saw Lois walking down the road with a half crazed lunatic following on her heels yelling at her.

He wasn't wearing a shirt and was pretty buff looking.  He was likely in his low to mid twenties.  I am pretty certain he was strung out on something.  Regardless, he was crazy angry!

I ran out to meet them and the fellow turned his attention on me.  I do not recall much what was said, but I do recall this fellow wanted to fight.

After a bit, Dad came outside to try and defuse things.  There was no defusing anything.  He just squared up to Dad and said bring it on.

Eventually, two men came walking down the road.  One was evidently his brother and the other big burly guy his father.

Dad yelled up at them, "Would you guys come settle this fellow down before someone gets hurt?"  The burly dad yelled back down, "We're not settling anybody down. We're coming to scrape up the pieces!"

Well, by this time we had attracted  quite a crowd.  Buddy had joined us along with Bobby, Bill, and my older brother, Billy.

Of course, Uncle Buddy took over now.  He told everybody to settle down.  I recall him at one point saying, "Fellows, we need to watch our language.  There are ladies present."  (Which he soon forgot). To this Lois responded, "Dad, let's just leave.  These people are the scum of the earth."

Well, that's when it happened.  The original scum guy gave Lois a right hook across the chin.  At that, all hades broke loose.

Buddy and the Canada boys of course all converged on Mr Scum.  This left me, Dad, and Billy to deal with Big Brother and Burly Daddy.

From here on out the facts are a little blurry.  Of course the facts wouldn't be as interesting as my story anyway.

I jumped on Burly Daddy and pulled him by the beard and somehow ended up laying on my back with him on top of me.  While I was wrestling with him, Buddy was wrestling with Mr. Scum to my side while Bobby and Bill were I believe kicking the guys face in.  

Burly Daddy was just fixing to punch me when Evelyn came running over yelling, "Don't you hit him!  He's a minor!!!"  At that she reached under his armpit and pulled out a handful of armpit hair.

While this was going on, I could see Daddy and Billy duking it out with Big Brother across the road in the ditch.  Actually Daddy was wrestling around with the guy while Billy was banging the guy on the back with his fists.

Well, evidently Evelyn got distracted.  I think she started running around yelling at everybody to break it up. Anyway, Burly Daddy decided to start punching my face again.   Just as he was about to make mincemeat out of my face, Lois came running, jumped up, and planted her heels in his back.  He let out a groan and rolled off of me.

That was it.  It was over.  For whatever reason we all got up and went our separate ways.  At least that's all I recall.

I'm not sure who won.  I'm pretty sure Mr Scum wished he hadn't punched a Canada girl, Burly Daddy had to regrow some armpit hair, and Big Brother had bruises on his back for a while.

I'm also sure of this, the Canada crew is one tough bunch.  You mess with one of us, you mess with all of us!

OBAMAS Cell Phone Conspiracy...

I know that cell phones are dangerous and can be distracting in the vehicle.  The fact is thousands of people have lost their lives due to texting and driving.  That fact I do not dispute.

That is not the whole story though.  People lose their lives while eating fried chicken and driving as well.  

Why, just the other day I was casually cruising down the interstate at about 127.5 miles per hour.  I took my hands off the steering wheel, looked down, and picked up a piece of hot chicken and took a big bite of it.  

It was some of that spicy Cajun Chicken from Popeye's by the way.  That stuff is good.  If I didn't like KFC better, that's where I would get all of my chicken.

Speaking of which, I really like chicken.  I raised chickens when I was a kid.  I did it as an agri project.  I just about killed them though and failed agri.

Anyway, when I bit into that piece of chicken it burned my tongue.  I let out a yelp and dropped it in my lap...then I yelped again, 'cept this time I yelped a little bit higher.

Well, I finally got my wits about me, looked up and discovered I was on another highway, in another county, in another state.  I had no idea where I had been, what I had done, nor how I had gotten to where I was.  Thank goodness for cruise control!

The fact is, chicken is dangerous too.  I wonder how many people have lost their lives eating fried chicken.  I mean, you could choke on a bone, get clogged arteries, or if you eat Church's Chicken, there is no telling what might happen!  This is all aside from the dangers of eating chicken and driving.

You see, the truth of the matter is, the government doesn't want us having cell phones, because we use them to talk to each other.  I mean, you see something happen while vacationing in DC, what do you do?  You call your friends in Oklahoma and tell them about it.

OBAMA doesn't want us knowing the truth.    He doesn't want us to call and tell others what's going on in DC.  He seriously wants to take away your cell phone!

You see, the cell phone is the reason Obama can't eat at McDonald's any more. Nobody even knew OBAMA ate at McDonald's until a fellow caught it on his iPhone.  I saw it in Facebook, so I know it's true.

This fellow walked in McDonald's  and saw the president standing at the counter ordering.  He was was all made up to look like Stephen Tyler, but this guy knew better. Everybody knows Stephen Tyler doesn't wear a bow tie! 

Anyway, Obama ordered a triple cheeseburger, a small fry, and a medium Dr Pepper.  He then leaned over and whispered to his security guy (who was dressed up like one of Santa's Elves), "You can order your own.  Oh, and by the way, you tell Michelle, you'll be in the unemployment line with most of my other supporters."

Here's where it got weird. They didn't make the president's burger like the rest.  NOO!  They gave him real hamburger meat.  

I know this because I saw it on facebook.  They brought up a bull out of the back room and cut a piece of flesh out of him and led him back to the back room again.  Then they pounded out the piece of flesh until it looked just like the other stuff they serve.  

That's what they served the president.  They also cut up fresh French fries instead of serving those frozen things.

Then, low and behold, in came Donald Trump dressed up like Elvis.  They weren't fooled for a second though.  They knew who it was.  

I know this because what they fed him wasn't at all like what they fed Mr  Obama.  You see while Trump wasn't looking, they gathered all the dead mice out of the mouse traps and beat them into ground yucky meat type stuff.  That's what they fed Donald.

That's why the president wants your cell phone. He doesn't want stories like this to leak out.  The last thing he wants is for Michelle to find out he eats at McDonald's!

The Journey through Life

A journey through life we all do take; on a mission, a change we hope to make.

It begins in the cradle and Mom's caring arms, but out of the crib faces alone life's threat of harm.

Sometimes through valleys of pain, yet other times over mountains of gain.

The road taken is uniquely selected, twists and turns like none other erected.

For some it is mostly joy and success, for others  sorrow and distress.

There is a choice for which trail we travel, but no predictor whether our path is rough or level.

We best journey according to God's plan, for no matter whether rough or level, He is in command. 

Regardless the sorrow, Regardless  the pain, life lived for God and others is not in vain.

We weather the storms and move on further, We find comfort in knowing we have helped others.

Until we reach our peak we progress fairly well; As we move forward a change we can tell.

Our movement through time seems to slow, as time itself does faster flow.

Those who have accompanied us slowly disappear, over the horizon our own end does appear.

Life's matters we continue to attend; we struggle on until we reach life's end.

The details of our journey's end we may not see; yet we know that if lived right we find peace in eternity;

 

We may have lived a life of sorrow and pain, Yet if we lived for God and others our life was not in vain.

You might not be a Christian if...

...you can sit through an adult rated movie and not feel uncomfortable.

...you feel that there are many ways to God and they are all equal.  

...you're not offended when somebody uses God's name in vain.

...you figure going to church is optional.

...your idea of Sunday Afternoon Roast is roasting the pastor over the dinner.

...somebody from work or school were to visit your church they would be shocked to see you there.

...you figure you have been good enough.

...you're glad you're not like one of them.

...your heart is not broken at the thought of 1000's of unborn babies being killed every day in the US.

...you figure the plight of the orphan, hungry, and the less fortunate is not your responsibility.

...you've never been snubbed, made fun of, or persecuted for your faith.

...your children have never heard you pray.

...your only confidence in eternity is a prayer you said sometime back.

...you figure you have an agreement with God.  You won't bother Him unless you need Him and He'll do the same for you.

...you figure premarital and/or extramarital sex are ok.

...you've never invited somebody to church nor told somebody what it means to be a Christian.

...you are more concerned with your kids getting good grades, succeeding at sports, or succeeding in life than you are them making it to heaven.

Brother Jack

Brother Jack was a deacon at my first church.  He was a good deacon and a jewel of a man.  

Now understand, Brother Jack wasn't a talker.  He stood about 6'2" or so, almost always smiling from ear to ear, but hardly ever said a word.  When he did talk his voice would crack from lack of use.

Here's the deal though, Brother Jack was a friend when a friend was in need. Why, I reckon I could call on him today to come help me in a jam, if that jam consisted of something needing fixing, and he would come running.  

Of course, sister Gloria would most likely be with him.  That's ok though.  Her and I could probably find something to cry or laugh about while we watched Jack fix whatever it was he was fixing.

This one particular time, my central ac wasn't working right.  It wasn't kicking on when it should.  

My father-in-law (a whole other blog) had looked at it.  He said the relay switch wasn't working. He took me out and showed me how to trigger it with a rubber handled screw driver and told me Brother Jack would know what to do to fix it.

Well, I took Jack over after church one Sunday morning to show him what needed fixed.  I didn't have a screwdriver though, so I took out a car key that had a plastic grip and triggered it with that.

Of course as soon as the relay made connection, I received the shock of my life.  Everything turned white and I was knocked back about three feet sprawled flat on the ground.

As soon as I had my wits about me again (as if they existed before), I looked up at Brother Jack and said, "Brother, if you were ever going to hear a preacher cuss, that would have been the time."  Brother Jack looked down at me grinning from ear to ear and said, "That was stupid."

Brother Jack may not have had much to say. What he did say though was pack full of wisdom.