Update? Blessed in tradegy??

Its been a little while, and man have we been busy. We are at the heart of the huge ice storm, and everything has kind of taken a backseat to that. So for those looking at the website for the updates and things, we will get to those as soon as possible. We have been extremely busy here trying to help as many people as possible stay warm and fed. We have had quiet a few lose their jobs and were about to get their electric, water, or phone shut off (yes, they will even do that right before an ice storm...even the day of), so we were running through hoops trying to get enough money together to at least keep the lights on and the heaters running. THEN, almost everyone lost their power any way, so it was another marathon seeing that as many as possible had propane, kerosene, or another place to go. Also spent time getting hay out to some elderly folks cows and horses, and even rounded some up to keep them away from the trees during the worst of it.

I say all of that not to brag, for that is what being a Christian is all about, serving others. I say all of that so you will know that we are not slacking off or getting lazy in the drug ministry, but we have been serving the Lord.

And then to top all of that off, a dear, dear saint and friend of ours went home to be with the Lord. When we came to Kentucky, we literally sold everything we had and came here on a promise from God that there was a work here, and we were called to do it. We began to be attacked by the devil the minute we arrived. The house we were buying did not have any water, Roxann totally lost it seeing how far away from civilization (as we knew it anyway) we were, and we hadn't been here 10 minutes before a car pulled in the drive way and two saints, Junior and Mable Smith pulled up. They gave us water to drink, and over the next three years became family. As a matter of fact, my kids call Junior PawPaw and Mable Granny and just loved them to death. Being in the military, they never got to be around their grandparents, and took up with the two of them like they had known them their whole lives.

Junior was always available for a laugh, a cry, or just plain ole wisdom any time you needed it. Just go over and sit by the fire, and things just didn't seem too bad any more. He always believed in the Lord, but only within the last year had he gave his life to him. I remember the day clearly; I went to visit him, and he was sitting at the table reading the bible. I had just come back to the Lord myself after a brief respite in the woes of pain medicine and Jack Daniels. As soon as I walked in the door, he looked up at me and I saw tears running down his face. He said, "Jesse, it has all been in their the whole time...right there under my nose and I missed it. Just think at the difference it would have made to my sons if I had seen this forty years ago." And I sat down, and he asked me at least a 100 questions, just to make sure it was right. He told me he could have asked Mable, or his new Pastor (hers for years, but "his" only then), but he said he just felt I would actually listen to him and level with him. He asked, "Jesse, that should have been me on that cross, shouldn't it?" I told him yes. And then comforted him by telling him how we should rejoice in that cross, not feel sad or shame!

Any way, my heart is now buried in sorrow...and tears now are falling on the keyboard. Man, I loved him so much...but I know he is with his Jesus. He told me not long ago that he was getting ready to go, but I told him to quit talking like that. And recently because of a disagreement with his son I stopped visiting. We talked on the phone, but I did not want to start trouble and get them upset, so I stayed away. I was a fool to do so, but I can't go back and revisit.

But I am rejoicing as well. He was in constant pain, but not no more. He was saddened because of the choices and the lives three of his children were living...even blamed himself for it, but not no more! He will never cry or be sad again. Ever. Thats a long time.

But he is in our future. After I get over the awe of King Jesus and get settled in my mansion, I'm gonna look ole Junior up. It may be a couple thousand years, but I will find him. I know he will have a fire built (he loved a good fire in the fireplace, and heaven is all of our joy, so he will have one, and I know there will be a seat there for me.

See you on the other side ole friend!