Stay Tuned

Bruce the blogger told me to make sure to tell you good folks in blog land that he will be back in a few days. They dropped their doggie off here at the Pet Palace today and said they would be back soon. Since I was the only doggie with internet access here at the palace, I agreed to pass the word to you.

He said something about taking a break from the internet for a few days. But he will not take a break from looking for blog material. I saw his camera in his back pocket. I have a feeling when he comes back he will have plenty of blog material.

In the meantime, there is plenty of easy reading archived here to keep you busy for a week or so.

STAY TUNED.

Ruff ruff.

Highest Calling

I have been to a ton of funeral services and memorial services in my life. I thought I had seen it all. But I have never been to a service that compares to the one I attended today.

I wrote about E.K. Johnson here a couple of times. For those of you who don’t remember, you can click here for the first article. And here for the last article I wrote about him.

I got notification last week that they were having a memorial service for E.K. at Central State Hospital today. As his legal guardian,I suppose I am considered his only survivor. Although I feel strongly that I have carried out the wishes of both my dad and E.K.’s mother, I felt compelled to go to this service today.

I’m glad I did.


The audience was made up largely of elderly people who have been life-long residents of this state mental hospital. To put it lightly, when I stood up to say a few words to this group I saw one of the saddest sights I’ve ever seen. I couldn’t help but wonder how many of the residents have families that even check on them. I would think for the most were put there many years ago when they were young and now their parents have died. Or maybe some have relatives who have forgotten. I’m sure that is not true for all but I would bet that is true for most. It was obvious that they were severely mentally handicapped. I can tell you it was difficult for me to keep my train of thought when trying to communicate with this audience.

But as I was feeling sorry for the residents, I was inspired by the caregivers sitting by their sides. I’m not sure how many patients per caregiver there were, but the ratio was very small. In other words there were a lot of caregivers. I could not help but think about the special person it takes to spend their days caring for someone severely mentally challenged. It has to be a calling.

I am convinced God did not put these mentally challenged folks on earth for themselves. I feel certain He put them here for us - to give all of us an opportunity to show compassion for people who cannot take care of themselves.

I’ll say again what I have said on this blog many times: Success is not about how much money we make or our position in life or what we have accumulated. But success is about using our God given talents to help people God has put in our paths.

I saw that as clearly as I’ve ever seen it today.

It is the highest calling we have.

Ahead of the Curve

Today I called a friend who was just diagnosed with a brain tumor. She will have surgery on Thursday to remove as much of the tumor as they can. But they know they cannot get it all. She told me the good news is that the tumor is contained in the brain, if you can call that good news. The bad news is they feel certain it will come back. But hopefully the surgery will prolong her life. Three months, six months, maybe even years. Who knows for sure?

What I do know for sure is life can throw us curves. We just never know from day to day what we will be facing next. I can tell you my friend had no idea last Thursday that she would be having brain surgery the next Thursday

A few minutes after having that grueling conversation, a voice message was left on my cell phone giving me the news about another friend who had a heart attack today. She is a 45 year old fun loving gal who is about as full of life as one can get. And one who looks a picture of health. The last word I got today was the doctors were trying to determine if they could do a stent or they would have to do bypass surgery.

I can tell you when my friend was at church on Easter Sunday she did not have on her calendar to be in cardiac intensive care on Tuesday.

The lesson is we just never know what we will be facing from one day to the next. One minute all can seem to be perfect. The next minute the walls can be falling down around us.

Life can definitely throw us some major curves.

Maybe it would be a good idea to stop and smell the roses while your smeller works. If you like to fish, maybe you should make time to wet a hook. Maybe you have a friend you have not visited in a long time. Maybe it would be a good thing to go for a visit or make that call. Or take a trip with your family.

At the very least maybe we should not make mountains out of molehills. Maybe we should be a little more forgiving to folks who don’t do it just right. Maybe we should lighten up a little and spend more time hanging around folks who make us laugh and who love us in spite of ourselves. Maybe we should not take ourselves so seriously.

The curves will continue to come. That is for sure.

If only we could just learn to live ahead of the curve.

On Earth As It Is In Heaven

I couldn’t help but notice this scene Saturday at Mt. Olive Cemetery near Reynolds, GA. You will find similar scenes at most any cemetery you walk through wherever you may be. There are stories under these stones. The stories are the stuff that makes up real life.

The story of Jessie and Maude Windham and their son Julian is about real life. And if there was ever an Easter story, this is it.

Jessie and Maude Windham and their five children were visiting Jessie’s parents in the little village of Potterville on a hot August weekend in 1940. World War II was raging as the news of Hitler invading Europe was causing all Americans to be nervous. Winston Churchill delivered speeches that year that would be memorized for generations to come. Jessie Windham, a mill worker from Thomaston, GA was a few weeks from his 40th birthday. Maude was 35 years old and pregnant with her 6th child. As you might imagine, life was very busy and I’m sure money was tight for this very close knit family during these very uncertain times.

Early on Sunday morning of August 25th, Jessie and Maude’s 15 year old son left his grandparent's house to go to Sunday school. He decided to stop by Potterville pond on the way with a few of his friends to go swimming. They were swimming in the part of the pond the churches used for baptizing. There were a couple of wooden floats in the pond so Julian swam up to one of those floats and climbed on it. As most any other 15 year old boy would do, he dived off the float. He did not see another wooden float that was out of sight under the water. They are not sure if his head hit the wood float under the water and it knocked him out or his body hit it and his breath was knocked out.


But the other boys immediately knew he was in trouble and one of them ran for help. Mr. Cox and Mr. Underwood rushed to the scene and hurriedly took the young boy’s lifeless body up the hill to his grandparent’s house. When they ran in the house, Fred Underwood was carrying the boy over his shoulder. He went straight to the kitchen and laid him on the table. Dr. Sams was called to the house but it was too late.

Twelve year old Irene Windham, her 10 year old sister Dorothy and 8 year old brother Troy still remember when the two men came running in with the lifeless body of their older brother. And they remember him lying on the kitchen table. I spoke to Irene and Troy Saturday about this tragic event that forever changed their lives. And almost 68 years later, their voices still shake when they tell the story.

There is no way to even imagine the grief of Jessie and Maude Windham and what they went through in the untimely death of their oldest son. As I mentioned, Maude was pregnant when Julian died. She cried every day during the rest of that pregnancy. A few months later, God graciously gave her another son. A few years later, she would have another.

Jessie and Maude Windham were people of great faith. And the tragedy did not shake their faith. In fact their faith only grew stronger through the years. But the closest any of their other kids got to a swimming hole after that August morning was playing in a sprinkler in the yard.

Life went on for this family but they never forgot Julian. Their six children went on to live very productive lives. They all got married and produced houses full of children themselves. And those children have produced children. And those children have produced more children.

I married one of Jessie and Maude’s grandchildren.

I couldn’t help but think about this story Saturday when I saw their three graves side by side. Jessie and Maude were separated from their beloved son for many years. The pain they experienced was the greatest pain a parent can ever experience. But they also strongly believed all those years that they would be united with their son again. That belief was the essence of their faith. And that belief gave them the courage to keep on living, loving and laughing.

As I said, the rest of their children grew up and had families of their own. I am quite sure none of them will be buried on this lot.

But the fifteen year old boy who never had the opportunity to have a family is right beside his mom and dad. Right where he should be and right where they believed he would be one day.

On earth as it is in heaven.

Happy Easter folks.

Georgia Rain

I received this email this morning. I agree with Kevin that we do have a lot in common. I am a Trisha fan as well. For those of you in other states, Monticello Ga (hometown of Trisha Yearwood) is about 1 hour from Reynolds Ga where I grew up. I never met Trisha but I did meet her parents one night several years ago when I was speaking at a local Chamber of Commerce event there. Trisha's Georgia roots run deep. Great song. Great suggestion.

__________________________________________________


Bruce:
I have been reading your blog for quite some time and thoroughly enjoy it. I purchased your CD and let my wife and mother-in-law listen to it on a trip they made together to a funeral of a family member. It helped them through it.

I am an optometrist in Florida, same age as you,love the same music, went to Nazarene college in Nashville same years you were in college,tear up at the same videos as you, as big a sports fan as you, etc. etc. etc.

I know you are taking it a little easier on your blog volume, so I have a suggestion on a day you want to take it easy.

You are such a great Georgia fan, play the music video by Trisha Yearwood "Georgia Rain".

WHY?

1. Trisha was born in Georgia (Monticello)

2. The title of the video has Georgia in it. (Not the Georgia Bulldogs, or the Atlanta Braves, or the little league world series team from Georgia,etc. but at least the word Georgia).

3. It has the name of a county in Georgia, Jasper county.

4. It has another pretty girl singing in the video (and since every picture you put on your blog is of apretty girl, that fits).

Just a suggestion. I will continue reading as you inspire me to continue serving the Lord down here in Florida

Kevin

Fond Dental Memories

I had a definite lump in my throat when I read the obituaries this morning in the Macon Telegraph. I have a ton of memories of this dentist. He was most definitely one of the good guys.

Dr. Clifford Ray, DDS died on Thursday in Decatur Alabama. According to what I read he died in a nursing home there after a lengthy decline in health. I strongly suspect the good folks at the nursing home in Decatur have no idea of the impact this man had on a lot of young folks for many years.

He was a rather short man physically but he stood very tall in the eyes of the children who were privileged to be is patients. I was one of them.

He was a dentist who practiced Pedodontics. In other words he was a dentist who specialized in treating children. I never saw a needle the twenty something years I was his patient although he stuck me plenty of times. He would always tell me he was going to pinch my lip. And he would grab it and shake it so I would not know I was getting a needle. I remember years later when I went to a regular dentist as an adult and I saw the needle they were about to use on me. I almost fainted. I had no idea they were that big because Dr. Ray always hid it.

I’m not sure how we began going to Dr. Ray. I think the Whatley’s next door started going and told us about him so we joined them. His office was in one of the tall buildings in downtown Macon. Although he later moved to a new office on Georgia Avenue, I remember well the elevator operator who took us up to the floor where his office was located. I haven’t even thought of an elevator operator in years. But for you younger folks, there were always elevator operators to take you from floor to floor in all the high rise buildings. You never had to make the trip alone. When you walked on the elevator they would always ask, “Floor please?” And she would take the elevator to the floor of your choice.

I always wanted to be a elevator operator when I grew up.

My dad hated going to the dentist. When we found this children’s dentist, daddy liked his no pain practice so much that he became his patient too. I remember the first day Daddy sat in his dentist chair in that old office building. Daddy was about 6’4” and Dr. Ray was about 5’5”. Daddy asked him what floor they were on. When Dr. Ray told him, Daddy said, “I just want you to know how many stories you will fall when I throw you out the window if you hurt me.”

Dr. Ray always laughed at that but was obviously not intimidated because he continued to be Daddy’s dentist until Dr. Ray retired. I think my Daddy had the distinction of being the biggest child he ever worked on.

I also have a ton of memories of going to the dentist after Dr. Ray moved to his new office. He treated many kids from Reynolds and many times several of us had appointments at the same time. A couple of mothers would take us over to Macon to the dentist and afterwards we would go to a movie or maybe out to eat. And we would have a lot of fun and a lot of laughs coming and going.

Not many folks have fond memories of going to the dentist as a child. But I do. And I have a feeling many folks who were patients of Dr. Ray will have the same fond dental memories.

It's Friday but Sunday's Coming

I don’t think any of the opportunities I've had the last dozen or so years to speak on so many different stages to many people in many states compares to the opportunity I had in the mid nineties to be part of an Easter Play we put on in Butler, GA. First Baptist Church of Butler was a small church in a small community but the Easter production was big time. Much bigger than any of us who were part of it. I would compare the professionalism of that production with any church production I have ever seen. My goodness we put in tons of hours and learned tons of lines. We stretched ourselves further than we thought we could be stretched. But to see it come together each year and see the reaction of the crowds that gathered to see it was as rewarding as rewarding can get.

But the bigger thing was the Easter story came alive for the people in the play. It was a spiritual experience to say the least. The story I had read about since childhood became very real because we acted it out. And the truth is, as we move into this Holy weekend, because of that Easter play, I don’t have to read about Good Friday to know what happened. I know the story very well. But I will read the story again anyway. And I encourage you to do the same.

The lesson of Good Friday, by the way, is the greatest lesson in life.

It is the lesson that tells you in the darkest hour of your life, the sun will come up again. It is the lesson that says you will never know real joy until you experience real pain. It is the lesson that says you will never know real happiness until you experience real sadness. It is the lesson that says you will never know hope until you experience hopelessness.

Good Friday reminds us that even in the darkest of times there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

It is the lesson that says we will never know real life until we experience death.

It’s Friday but Sunday’s coming.

Watch this, listen to the words and reflect on life's great truth.

Please Hurry Dear April

March Madness is on sterioids.

For the first time in history, tornados ripped through downtown Atlanta this weekend. The SEC basketball tournament was moved over to Georgia Tech and the only people who could attend were the player’s families. The rest of the crowd not only had to go home without seeing the games they had paid and traveled to see but some had their luggage blown out of the windows of their hotel.

I heard some were very upset because they couldn’t attend the rest of the tournament. From the pictures I saw, they probably should be thankful they are alive.

In the aftermath of that, the Georgia Bulldogs won four straight SEC basketball games and matched the number of SEC games they had won all year and won the SEC Basketball tournament. And they did it on the home court of their arch rival no less.

About the same time the Georgia Bulldogs were celebrating their unlikely victory, Tiger Woods sank a 25 foot putt on the final hole to win his seventh straight golf tournament. I had never seen him rip his cap off his head and throw it at the ground before. But I’ve never seen someone win seven straight professional golf tournaments before either.

And then I turn on the radio in my car today and hear that J.P. Morgan bailed out Bear Stearns at $2 per share when it was trading for $60 per share just a few days ago. And the federal government is throwing money at the resulting ramifications as if they make it or something. Interest rates will probably be reduced again tomorrow. It will be cheaper to borrow and you can’t help but wonder if that is what the people of our country need. But the people who pay their mortgages and are trying to save money will earn less on their savings. And as all this transpires, the American public is getting very nervous about the strength of our economy.

Then to top it all off, I not only heard the word Recession on the radio tonight but I heard the word Depression. And my cab driver in Houston had me convinced that is exactly where we are headed.

At my age with my retirement funds depending on the stock market and the strength of the economy, I wonder if I should be depressed.

But I remember that I view life from a hearse. From that perspective, a hundred years from now people will probably have to use a shovel to get the dirt off my grave marker just to see what my name was.

So I will choose not to get depressed even if we are headed into a Depression. I’ll just attribute all the rumblings and strange happenings to March Madness. I think I will feel better when April gets here.

Please hurry dear April.

Here's To You, Mrs. Robinson

I have no idea how or why my mama let me go see The Graduate in 1967 when it was released. Maybe she didn’t know I saw it. I vaguely remember my friends, Billy and Buddy Bell, seeing it with me. For some reason I think our mom’s were shopping in Macon and dropped us off at the theater.

If I am remembering correctly, we went in to see that movie as 12 and 13 year old boys. We came out as 12 and 13 year old men. I had never been exposed to anything close to what I saw in that movie. My hormones were forever unleashed. The dam broke that day.

With that said, I was in a store recently and picked up a DVD version of that movie. I looked around to be sure nobody was looking at me looking at it. I secretly wondered why they had it out on the shelf for anyone to pick up. You would think this movie could be purchased only from behind the counter. Some things just shouldn’t be on the shelf. I remember when I first got married how awkward it was to go to Leonard’s drug store and purchase condoms. I would walk around the store nonchalantly waiting on Mrs. Corine to go to the back or turn her head so I would whisper to Leonard what I needed.

Now you can buy condoms in most any store. They are right there on the shelf - actually just a few feet from The Graduate.

To make a long story short, I did not buy the condoms but I did end up buying the movie. And I watched it yesterday while everybody else was watching the bad weather come through town.

And to my surprise, I quickly concluded that if The Graduate was released in 2008, it would be rated PG at the worst. You see much more on sitcoms these days. And even more surprising, there is actually a plot in the movie. And a pretty doggoned good one at that. For some reason the plot escaped me 41 years ago.

It is a story about a young guy who has just graduated from college and is trying to escape from being what his parents had predetermined him to become. The parents have absolutely no regard for their son’s wishes or desires. And Benjamin has an affair with a friend of his parents who is trapped in her completely miserable and fake life. There is a line in the movie that tells that story:

I want to say one word to you. Just one word.
Yes, sir.
Are you listening?
Yes, I am.
Plastics.

As I watched Benjamin turn his back on being what his parents wanted him to be and relentlessly pursue real love and life and happiness, I couldn’t help but smile. I was reminded that happiness is surely never found in trying to become what someone else has decided you should become or in doing what someone else has decided you should do.

In reality happiness is only found in being who God created you to be and doing what He created you to do. And happiness for your children is allowing them to do the same. And sometimes that does not match with what others think.

The interesting thing though is the girl Benjamin ended up with was exactly the one his parents wanted him to be with in the first place.

Who would have ever thought that there could be a life lesson in a movie that I thought should be hidden behind the counter.

I missed the lesson in 1967. But I got it clearly in 2008.

Here’s to you Mrs. Robinson.

No Place Like Home

I do read the comments people write on this blog. I get an automatic email whenever someone posts a comment. The challenge is when I get a question I can’t answer it because I don’t have their email address. Some send me questions directly to my email so I can answer those. Anyway, I thought I would take a few minutes and answer a few questions I’ve been asked.

First and foremost, that is definitely not Kathy sitting on the potty on the blog yesterday. She gives me a lot of latitude to be me but not that much latitude. So I took that picture of a total stranger. Not really. Actually you can find any picture you want by going to Google Images and typing in whatever you are looking for. In this case I typed in “woman on a toilet”, hoping I would find a picture of the lady who sat on her boyfriend’s potty for two years. The lady in red was as close as I could get.

And I got permission from my niece Katherine before I announced her pregnancy for the world to read. I realize some things are better coming from the horse’s mouth so to speak. And telling your friends and family that you are expecting is one of those things. So I waited until she and Russ had announced it and then I got permission. I’m smarter than you think, ain’t I?

The touching story of the life and death of E.K. Johnson is already in my repertoire of stories to be used on my speaking tour. I’ve already used variations of it twice as a matter of fact. My goal is to make E.K. as famous as Eulan Brown. If anyone deserves a little notoriety, it is E.K. and Eulan.

I got a wonderful email from the Rattle Snake Queen. Although I haven’t seen Stevie and Jane but maybe a couple of times in the last 32 years, I will give them a call and meet them for dinner the next time I’m in Athens. And hopefully meet their kids as well. I am speaking in Ponte Vedra during the summer so I plan to look up Stevie’s older brother, Cliff, and his family when I’m there. If my speaking and blogging does nothing but connect me with old friends it is well worth it.

I received a very nice letter from the Coppedges I ran into at St. Simons a few weeks ago. They had read my book and told me they laughed at the stories and appreciated the message. To get that feedback from a seminary theology professor and a wife who leads conferences all over the world is pretty nice for a country undertaker.

I also received a very nice letter from the incredible Bonnie Bailey. She thanked me for writing the blog but also said some very nice things. Her letter brought tears to my eyes. I’ve been friends with the Bailey’s a long time and I have been reminded how much I have thought of them all these years.

Several have asked about my mother in law Irene. She is doing fine and loves her little apartment at the assisted living facility called Antebellum Grove here in Warner Robins. She has two daughters who live here (my wife being one of them) who are in and out all the time. And she has two other children who make frequent visits. And she has several brothers who come when they can. I think her brother Troy visits her almost every night. He makes her laugh and as you know, that is the best medicine.

Several have asked how I find these random people I write about. For one I’m really not that bashful and I love meeting people. And if you travel as much as I do you do have opportunity to meet new people. And if you write a blog as often as I do you are always looking for material. So I’m always looking and listening.


But as fun as that is, nothing is better than coming home on a Thursday night and getting to lie in the floor and play with my little grandbaby girl as I did tonight. I haven’t seen her in a while and I had a lot of butterfly kisses to give. She continues to amaze me with the new things she is doing.

I do travel a lot and have the opportunity to do all kinds of stuff and meet all kinds of people.

But there really is no place like home.

Two Years is Way Too Long

I think I’ve heard it all now. The news of the woman who was stuck to her boyfriend’s toilet seat after sitting there for two years pretty much beats everything I’ve heard. According to news reports her skin had grown around the seat.

The boyfriend said he asked her everyday to come out of the bathroom. She kept refusing so he decided to call police.

After two years.

How in the world does someone sit on the toilet for two years? I’ve sat on one for two hours before.

But two years is a little much.

I guess there are at least a few advantages to living on a toilet seat.

1. You never have to get in a hurry to go to the bathroom.
2. You don’t have to excuse yourself at the table after a large meal.
3. Your feet and legs will never itch because they would be numb.
4. You could certainly save money on toilet tissue.
5. If you are the boyfriend you could charge people to come look at her.
6. I’m sure you could get in the Guinness Book of World Records.

I can think of some other advantages but this is a family blog. I do think the boyfriend should have called the police a little sooner though. My mama always taught me that after someone sits on a toilet seat for one year I should call for help.

Two years is way too long.

Just Real

After spending three days in Mississippi last week I came home to change my underwear and headed back out to Missouri on Friday. The plane delay in Springfield put me a little behind but I made it home about 6PM Sunday in time to get to eat and hangout with about 23 of my favorite people. For the last few years, Kathy and I have assisted our pastor and his wife, Jerry and Debby, in hosting a home group. As I have mentioned before these groups from our church meet in homes all over town. This is our third such group. The first was made up of folks our age. And then we began meeting with younger couples. Sometimes we meet at the Walls’ house and sometimes we meet at our house.

And I can tell you we get attached to these young couples. . This is our second group of young folks we have met with on a weekly basis on Sunday nights. We eat, we laugh a lot, we fellowship, we discuss some Biblical truths and we hang out. And sometimes we get very transparent.

I thought I would introduce you to a few of our favorite people who were at our house last night and who we have done life with the past year or so.


This first photo is of Jerry and Debby. The right reverend Walls is the pastor of Southside Baptist Church and Debby is the First Lady. Jerry is the man in charge at church. But here he’s just another guy and gets absolutely no slack. He and Debby fell in love in college and have been married around 34 years… to each other. Jerry is a native of Alabama and worships God and Bear Bryant. They have three grown sons and three gorgeous daughters in law and eight beautiful grandbabies.


Meet Jason and Noelle. Jason is one huge guy and has one huge heart. He was a highly recruited football player in high school and played college football in the University of Tennessee. He had an injury in college that derailed his football career although he did tryout with the Chicago Bears. He met his sweetheart in college and brought her back to Warner Robins and they married soon afterwards. From what I understand, most of the offensive line at UT were part of the wedding party. Jason is a high school football coach and Noelle teaches in the local school system and they both stay busy chasing their beautiful little boy. Amazingly they celebrate their birthdays the same day each year.


Next here is Brian and Natalie. Brian and Natalie both teach in our public schools and Brian also coaches. Brian is a professional softball player. He plays on a traveling team (for pay) and is a prolific home run hitter (for show). His arms are about the size of my thighs and I can see why he would have the power to hit home runs. Brian and Natalie have a beautiful little girl named Abby. Granddaddy and Grandmama just love them coming to the home group on Sunday nights cause they get to keep Abby.


Here is Kevin and Wendy and their little miracle baby Isabelle. Kevin said he has so many baby holders in their family that he hardly gets to hold their little girl unless it is 3AM. Wendy says there is no way she can even get frustrated when Isabelle cries in the middle of the night. Both are very thankful for their true gift from God. Kevin is in the insurance business and Wendy sells drugs…. legally that is… she is a pharmaceutical rep.


Ben and Amanda have been around a long time. Ben is employed at the Air Force Base and Amanda is one of those girls who will jump in and wash all the dishes before everybody else even knows they have to be washed. Amanda is in school to be a massage therapist. I have decided I will learn much more in our home group if I am sitting right in front of Amanda during the meeting so she can practice her massage skills. I really don’t mind sacrificing to further her career. Ben and Amanda have a beautiful little girl.


Dusty and Ashley have also been around a while. Ashley is a RN and works in the high pressure field of time of death anatomical donations. Dusty was also a college baseball player and is an avid outdoorsman – spending most of his time in the woods. Dusty is in the sports equipment business and sales to schools among other places. He was at Natalie’s (see Natalie and Brian above) school recently and visited her for a few minutes in the hall. When Natalie came back in the room the middle school girls thought he was very cute. Natalie, not wanting to start rumors, told the kids that he was gay. I doubt Dusty will ever let her live that one down.

Aaron and Kelly are both teachers and are original members of this group. Kelly (along with Carrie – see below) keeps our group organized and makes sure everyone knows where we are meeting and most importantly – what we are eating on Sunday nights. Aaron is an avid golfer. Aaron and Kelly have been married twice – to each other. I’m not sure why but I assume it’s because they enjoy the honeymoon so much. Kelly has the longest membership at Southside going in our group. She has been attending since she was a little girl. Aaron and Kelly have two beautiful little girls.


Mike and Carrie are also charter members of our home group. Carrie has a great sense of humor and is always giving Jerry flack at every opportunity. And just as I said about Kelly, she makes sure everybody knows where and what each week. Mike is another football coach in our group. Mike and Carrie have a little boy and a little girl. You will find Carrie and Kelly (above) in the nursery on Sunday mornings at church keeping up with the throngs of babies in their care.


You can’t tell it in this photo because they look so relaxed, but Jim and April are the parents of triplets. This obviously creates a full time job for April. Jim is one of Warner Robins’ finest and works for the Warner Robins Police Department. He usually has a loaded pistol with him everywhere he goes. Actually he is part of the security at Southside on Sunday morning and strategically sits in the congregation to protect the preacher of some unruly person. A word of warning: If you decide to come to Southside I would suggest you walk slowly down the aisle if you get the urge to join the church. If you look like you are rushing the preacher, Jim will take you out.


Marc and Heather are new to our group. Marc played college baseball and is now a high school baseball coach. Heather is a RN at the Surgery Center her e in Warner Robins. Heather was one of the nurses who took care of Kathy recently during her nasal surgery. I didn’t know Heather then but if I had known her maybe I could have gotten an enema or something instead of having to hang out so long in the waiting room. I am looking forward to getting to know Marc and Heather more and more as time goes by. I have a feeling they will know me better than they intended.


Alex and Chelcey are the newest members of our group and are the only unmarried couple in our midst. I tried to get them to get married last night. We had a preacher and an undertaker and plenty of witnesses. Alex met his gorgeous girlfriend because she worked in the financial aid office at college. He told one of his friends the first day he saw her that he was going to marry her. That’s why I suggested they get married last night …before she has time to change her mind. Alex said he started dating Chelcey about three months before she started dating him. I would imagine several guys were dating her and she didn’t know it. Just a thought.

As you can see this is a group of regular folks who meet together once a week to consider the important stuff of life. And we all get close to each other in the process.

Real people. Real issues. Real pain. And real victories.

Just about as real as it gets.

The Sky is the Limit

(Springfield MO) I’m not sure if Lt. Col Pat and Dori Helms knew what they were getting into when they began having children in 1958. But I have a strong feeling they have been on quite a ride the last 50 years or so. I haven’t met the Lt. Col and his wife but I did meet their youngest daughter this weekend. And I can tell you that I am convinced that the Helms’ are amazing folks and amazing parents.

The Helms’ had four girls. If they all are like their youngest daughter Janet (I highly suspect they are), they actually had four very beautiful girls. Mark and Janet attended the same meeting I attended this weekend in Branson. And when someone told me that Janet had a famous sister, I just had to sit down and talk with this couple. And you know I always have my camera handy.

I have a feeling that Pat and Dori Helms are very proud of all their girls. This close knit family has done very well in life. Janet is a Physical Therapist, she has one sister who has a Masters Degree in Marketing, another sister who is a Q/A engineer and another sister who is, well ... an astronaut.


Janet’s oldest sister, by the way, is Susan. That is in THE Susan Helms… as in Brigadier General Susan Helms… as in NASA astronaut Susan Helms. The Susan Helms who was in the first group of females ever to graduate from the United States Air Force Academy. The Susan Helms who has been on four space shuttle missions and has logged 211 days in space. The Susan Helms who lived on the International Space Station for over five months. The Susan Helms who holds the record for the longest space walk in history.

I’m talking about THE Susan Helms.

Susan, the oldest of the Helms’ four girls, was rather shy growing up. Somewhere along the line she put her shyness aside and decided to go for it. I doubt the Helms’ were thinking when Susan went to her high school prom in Portland OR in the mid seventies that she was going to be an astronaut or a General in the Air Force for that matter. But as my dad used to say, with a little smarts and a lot of determination, a person can achieve more than they ever think possible.

And more than others think possible.

You know the saying ... The sky is the limit.

It sure was for Susan Helms. And it was for Pat and Dori Helms and Janet and the other two girls.

And it is for you and me.

I Have a Picture to Prove It

I have just discovered these two famous brothers have been performing together for 50 years. If I had not struck up a conversation with the guy next to me on the plane today I would have missed them.

My new friend Gib was returning to Springfield MO from a business trip from Puerto Rico. There was a very nice lady sitting in front of us by the name of Alex who overheard our conversation and she turned to join us. Alex was returning to Springfield after visiting her family in Charleston. Gib is a supervisor with the USDA. Alex is an Anesthesiologist in Springfield.

I was heading to Springfield to rent a car to drive to Branson to speak at a meeting here today. By the way, both Gib and Alex will be getting a book from me in the mail.

As we were exchanging pleasantries, Gib noticed Tommy Smothers a couple of seats in front of us. And we both noticed he was sitting with his brother, Dick. For you younger folks, the Smothers Brothers had a very popular variety show on television in the late 60’s. They stayed in hot water because they used their show to express views that were part of the counter culture during the Viet Nam era. In other words, their writers produced rather controversial material. And their very popular show was eventually cancelled.


It was interesting that absolutely nobody but the three of us noticed they were on the plane. Most of the folks on the plane are too young to remember them.

As you might imagine I grabbed my camera as I got off the plane and followed them. I introduced myself and told them I was one of the few people on the plane old enough to know who in the heck they were. They were very friendly and made some funny comments about the options instead of getting old. The truth is I had no idea they were still alive.

But I remember being glued to the television in the late sixties when they came on television. They were funny but also had some great groups on their show such as George Harrison, Steppenwolf, Jefferson Airplane, Glen Campbell and on and on. And who could ever forget the comedian Pat Paulson who was a regular on that show. He ran for President as a comedian. And got a ton of votes.

I have learned to pay attention when I’m traveling. One can meet some new friends along the way. And there is no telling who is riding on the plane with you.

Today it was the Smothers Brothers. And I have a picture to prove it.

The Papa Who Never Says No

When I walked in the house tonight her Meme was holding her standing in the kitchen. She pointed to me as soon as she saw me.

And she called me Papa. Very plainly she called me Papa.

When I walked up to her she reached for me to pick her up. Trust me I did. I asked her to give “Papa” a kiss. She puckered up and kissed me on my lips.

In just a few minutes she was reaching back to her Meme. She saw some bananas on the counter and she wanted a “nana”. Kathy put her in the chair and cut her up a “nana”.

I sat down beside her and watched her eat. I asked her to show me her nose. She pointed at her nose and laughed. I asked her to show me her hair. She reached for her hair. Now she had “nana” in her hair. I grabbed my camera and she immediately posed. She definitely knows what to do when someone points a camera at her. She has had a ton of practice.

She had a real fork in her hand and started hitting the fork on the table. The louder the noise the more she liked it. After a few minutes of pounding the fork, I used a word I have never used before with my grandbaby girl.

I looked at her and very politely said, “No.”

Taylor obviously knew what that word meant because she gave me the most pitiful look. I’m really not ever planning on using that word again with this little girl. I’ll leave that up to her mom and dad.

I have a strong feeling I will be known as the Papa who never says no. That's what Papa's are for. Right?

You think she's got me wrapped around her little finger or what?

I Knew They Would Do It

A few weeks ago I wrote about Katherine Eiland holding her little cousin. Someone left an anonymous comment on that blog saying she looked like she was practicing. I think the commenter was exactly right. I now know she knew something we didn’t that day. The picture definitely painted more than a thousand words.

For the record, I happened to be standing on the other side of the altar the day a few years ago when Katherine Whatley got married. I knew when they left for their honeymoon that night that she and Russ were going to do it. I just knew it.

Just in case you don’t know, Katherine is very special to us. Since she is our niece and godchild, we watched her grow up from a close vantage point. We have a ton of memories of her as a child. We also remember her learning all the words from the Psalty Songbook videos that played on our television all day every day. Charity Churchmouse was one of those characters and was Katherine’s favorite and she was always singing those Charity Churchmouse songs. And trust me she knew all the words.


The songs, by the way, were about faith. Katherine eventually grew out of Charity Churchmouse videos and songs but she never grew out of her faith. She always believed that God would send her Prince Charming and would bless her life. And at just the right time He did. Prince Charming came in the form of one Russ Eiland. I don’t think I have ever seen a more perfect match.

And the blessings continue. Russ and Katherine are now pregnant. The due date is September but they won’t know if it is a little Katherine or a little Russ until April. They went to the doctor yesterday and they listened to a strong heartbeat. They now have the first trimester behind them and the baby and their excitement are growing and growing.

And life is very good.

I just knew they would do it.

Opportunity of a Lifetime

What is the best way to approach one of the greatest athletes in University of Georgia history? You tell him you are a Lambda Chi from the University of Georgia. He might just tell you to pull up a chair.

I have already written about attending the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame banquet in Atlanta a couple or so weekends ago. The room was full of the greatest sports figures in the state of Georgia. But when I found out Charlie Trippi was in the house, I just had to go meet him.

I found out about Charlie Trippi soon after I pledged Lambda Chi in 1972. He was undoubtedly the most famous of all my fraternity brothers. And as part of the initiation process, I learned all about this famous athlete.

To give you a little background, Trippi ran in the same backfield in 1942 with Heisman Trophy winner Frank Sinkwich. Georgia won the Rose Bowl that year and Charlie Trippi won the outstanding player award in that game. Trippi finished second himself for the Heisman Trophy in 1946. And he is one of four football players who have their football jerseys retired at UGA. Trippi also went on to enjoy an illustrious career in professional football and won the world championship his rookie season.


I should also note that Charlie batted .331 for the Atlanta Crackers in 1947. He decided against a pro baseball career because of the time away from his family. And not only is Charlie Trippi a member of the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame but he is also a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame as well as the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame.

So I walked up to his table in awe and introduced myself to him and his wife as one of his fraternity brothers. He quickly asked me a very interesting question: “Do they still drink as much beer at the Lambda Chi house as they used to?”

I think I know the answer to that question but I am over 30 years removed from the Lambda Chi house. But I could tell him they certainly don’t produce athletes like they did 55 years ago.

Charlie Trippi is definitely a great one. And it was an opportunity of a lifetime to get to meet him.

It is Certainly Not About You and Me

Rick Warren deals with a huge question in his book entitled, “The Purpose Driven Life."
The question is a simple one. “What on earth am I here for?”

I was forced to think about the answer to that question as I stood and spoke at the open grave of Ephraim K. Johnson, Jr. this afternoon.

E.K. Johnson, Jr. was born to loving parents, E.K and Corine Tucker Johnson, in May of 1922. E.K. Jr. was very normal and healthy young boy until he had his tonsils removed. Something happened during the surgery and he never was the same afterwards. In fact, he never spoke another word and never gained his mental capacity. His father owned and operated a local store at the time and spent every dime he had in an attempt to get his son proper medical attention. He lost his store and became broke in his quest to help his son. In 1946 E.K. Jr. was admitted to Central State Hospital in Milledgeville. E.K. Sr would die the following year.

In 1959 Corine Johnson, who figured she did not have long to live and had no one to take charge of affairs at her death, paid a visit to my dad at the funeral home to pre-pay the funeral expenses for herself and her incapacitated son. During that conversation she asked my dad if he would look after her son, E.K. Jr., who was a patient at Central State. Of course Daddy promised her he would. When she died four years later, Corine had named my daddy in her will to look after her son. Soon afterwards, daddy became the legal guardian for E.K. Johnson, Jr. About 40 years later and a few months before my dad’s death, he and I drove over to Milledgeville to visit E.K. Johnson. During that drive to Milledgeville, Daddy reminded me of the story of Corine and E.K. Johnson and asked me to continue to look after E.K. after his (my dad’s) death.

A few weeks after Daddy’s death in January 1994, I was appointed as E.K's legal guardian. And I have looked after his affairs for the past 14 years. Today I completed the job and the promise made by my dad to Corine Johnson almost 50 years ago.

Today E.K. Johnson had a proper burial next to his mother in Mt. Olive Cemetery near Reynolds.


There were only ten people in attendance including my wife and me and the undertaker in charge. Three of the people who looked after him in Milledgeville made the drive to Reynolds for the service. (Viola, Zena and Joyce are pictured here with me). And there was a local couple who lived across the street from Corine and used to drive her to Milledgeville to see her son. And there was a distant relative and her friend who was nice enough to drive her to the funeral. I’ve been to smaller funerals but I can count them on one hand.

But the ten of us had a special time considering the question, “What on earth was E.K. here for?” When you consider his life from our perspective it was not much. He spent 61 of his 85 years in a mental institution. He has not spoken a word since his tonsils were removed when he was a young boy. He was diagnosed with severe mental retardation at a young age. On the surface he didn’t have much of a life.

But when you consider the truth that Rick Warren talks about that our life is not about us but about God, E.K’s life may be worth much more than we realize. And when you consider the truth that God never makes a mistake you begin to think about God’s purposes in the life of E.K. Johnson.

I know that our life on earth is only a drop in the bucket when you compare it to eternity. Just maybe God planted E.K. here for “a few minutes” for people like me to be reminded that life is not about how much money we have or the material things we accumulate. But this life may be more about how we treat and take care of people who are put in our lives that cannot take care of themselves.

Jesus said it himself. “I tell you whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it for me.”

This afternoon as I considered the life of E.K. Johnson, I was reminded of what on earth WE are here for.

And it is certainly not about you and me.