Welcome Home, Casey Jones

His name would always bring a smile to your face.

If you didn't know him, you might think of the famous train engineer or the baseball poem about Casey at bat. But our Casey Jones was nearly 80 years old, and basically a cowboy who lived alone in a trailer. And one of the warmest, kindest, most sincere men I have ever known. On Tues morning, sitting in his chair at home, Casey went to be with the God he worshiped. A friend found him and said he looked...peaceful.

Our family knew Casey initially through his horses. He let my wife ride with him alot (she loves to ride but rarely gets a chance) and I went a few times too. He was part of our church for many years, always the first one there on Sunday morning, setting up chairs or whatever needed to be done. He never married. Never worried about money (he had very little) and always talked about the Lord. Above all, he was a man of prayer. At his memorial service I learned that he came to Christ as a young Marine, when he went to a special New Year's Eve service at a church where he was posted, I believe during the Korean War. And so it was fitting that a Marine Honor Gaurd presided over his burial on a beautiful summer day in Preston, Idaho.

Yes, Casey Jones was one of a kind. This kind, gentle cowboy...an ex-Marine who had given his life to Jesus long ago, finally met him face to face.

Casey Jones-welcome home!

The Last Word

I know, I know. I said we were done with whether Jesus was told no to his prayers or not. But...

I am always on the lookout for good books to give to students in our ministry. A few weeks ago I picked up Christian Beliefs by Wayne Grudem. I took a theology class from Dr. Grudem some years ago, and found him a brilliant and warm professor. He has a BA from Harvard, MDiv. from Westminster Seminary and a PhD from Cambridge. The book is a simplified version of his 50 lb volume, Systematic Theology, which I also have and use fairly often. The small paperback is also edited by his son, who has a Mdiv. from Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando, Florida.

So imagine my surprise as I skimmed this new book and found the following paragraphs in the chapter on prayer:

"When our prayers aren't answered, we join the company of men like Jesus and Paul, whose prayers were not answered (italics mine). Even Jesus, before he was crucified, asked his Father to "remove this cup" from him. But his humility and submission to God's will are evident in the second part of his prayer" "Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done."

Three times, Paul pleaded with the Lord to take away his affliction; the Lord did not do so, but instead told Paul, "My grace is sufficient for you..." (2 Cor.12:8-9)

These unanswered prayers did not deter either Jesus' or Paul's trust in a God who works "all things...together for good" (Rom. 8:28) (p. 52)

Nuff said.

D-day Prayer

Today is the 63rd anniv. of D-day in 1944, the greatest invasion in history (as portrayed in "Saving Private Ryan", "The Longest Day", etc.) President Roosevelt went on the radio that morning and asked the nation to pray with him. I just heard it on the radio, imagining what it was like for my parents and grandparents to hear it for the first time.

If you have a few moments, listen to or read it at: www.faithofourfathers.org/heritage/fdr.html

It's awesome.