He is and was a veteran, a pilot, a missionary, a faithful father and husband. He is closer to a hundred now than he is to sixty. The red hair is gone, but the sense of humor and purpose remains. Some of his epistles need reading between the lines. His heritage is French with a dab of Scots Irish. Here’s his last email to me. (Not that he’s dead, just close to it).

Fear is an interesting study!   Having fallen over 40 feet PLUS a tumble of 75 feet down an embankment, took its toll. But it was a GROWTH period !   I embraced it, especially flying upside down in a biplane just hanging (open cockpit) in straps !  I add to that several engine failures going down in fields and mountains as well as being in zero conditions in fog.  “Mercies of God, what a theme for my SONG ” ! 

Psalm 23:6 

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

I hope my friend outlives me because I’d really miss him if he goes first.

Gary

I love this hymn.

There’s a land that is fairer than day,
And by faith we can see it afar;
For the Father waits over the way
To prepare us a dwelling place there.

In the sweet by and by,
We shall meet on that beautiful shore;
In the sweet by and by,
We shall meet on that beautiful shore.

I still have a few things to do here, but I think I can see the porchlight over there.

Philippians 1:23-24

For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. Nevertheless, to remain in the flesh is more needful for you. 

Yes, Paul, I know how you felt. Give it some thought.

Gary

We fear men so much because we fear God so little.

–       William Gurnall.

That is a very fair assumption. Does the Bible address this phenomenon? Glad you asked.

Proverbs 29:25 

The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.

Luke 12:4 

“I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do.

Say what needs to be said and let God take care of the consequences. Give it some consideration.

Gary

I have come to believe that giving and receiving are really the same. Giving and receiving – not giving and taking

Joyce Grenfell

There are just too many on this planet that just take, while thinking that because they give, they have the right. That includes many in the church. Does the Bible address this? Glad you asked.

1 Timothy 1:9
With the knowledge that the law is made, not for the upright man, but for those who have no respect for law and order, for evil men and sinners, for the unholy and those who have no religion, for those who put their fathers or mothers to death, for takers of life,

These folks think they can take whatever they want. Give it some thought.

Gary

Some believe that making a decision is like pinning the tail on a donkey. The chance of marking the right location is slim. I’m glad God didn’t use that method when He put us together.

Psalm 139:13-16 

For You formed my inward parts; You knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are Your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in Your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.

One might act like a jackass, but he wasn’t put together for that purpose. Give it some thought.

Gary

Such is life and life is such and after all it isn’t much. First a cradle. Then a hearse. It might have been better, but it could have been worse.

–       Norman Wisdom

Norm was unto something that the Scriptures make perfectly clear. When we come to the final days, our thoughts are on how quickly it went by.

Psalm 39:4 

“O Lord, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am!

Psalm 78:39 

He remembered that they were but flesh, a wind that passes and comes not again.

1 Chronicles 29:15 

For we are strangers before You and sojourners, as all our fathers were. Our days on the earth are like a shadow, and there is no abiding.

I don’t know what Norm did with this truth, but I know we should be prepared for the inevitable. Give it some consideration.

Gary

In quarreling, the truth is always lost.

–       Publilius Syrus.

What a waste of time! No amount of logic will make a difference. You’re only spinning your wheels, making smoke, irritating the eyes, and not making progress. You must have something more constructive to do.

Ephesians 5:16-17 

Making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

2 Thessalonians 3:2

and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith.

Quarreling is not worth the time or energy which it requires. Give it some consideration.

Gary