Oct. 29, 1994

I remember so many details of that day as if it were yesterday.

Texas Tech whipped the University of Texas in football, (easy to remember since we've only won fourteen out of fifty six games), the Goin' Band had performed magnificently (that was a common occurrence), and I was off to Barn Dance.

When I arrived, I saw several sad faces. My first thought was, "That must be our friends from the U.T. band we invited." After a while, however, I began to see sad faces that I recognized. Upon parking the car I was told, "Heath has been in an accident...he died."

Numb. Numb from sadness, numb from anger, numb from dread. If you were a friend of my fraternity brother, Heath Denton, I suppose you remember where you were and what you felt when you heard about Heath's death as well. I encourage you to share your story in the comments section of this blog.

Yesterday a few brothers from the Alpha Omicron chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi gathered together to visit the place where Heath was buried. The cemetery is in Burnet, TX, about an hour's drive from where Ryan Butler and I live. Joining Ryan and I were Heath's big brother, Tim Stewart - currently of the San Antonio Area; Steve Makelki - currently living in the Houston Area; and Jon Caspell who flew out from Lubbock to attend.

There are many powerful take-aways for me from yesterday's gathering. I will share the one I think is most important:

Jesus Christ, the only Son of the living God, gave His life so that we may live eternally in Him. God knew Heath while Heath was in his mother's womb (see Psalms 139). God had a specific purpose for Heath's being here on earth. 20 years later, we recognized that Heath's death in a strangely similar way led us to life as well. Yesterday we gave testimony to the fact that Heath's life, death, funeral, and legacy created in us a desire to live for Christ.

Heath's headstone reads, "...God's Friend." That is exactly what he was here on earth and what he is today in heaven.

Here are some photographs from our visit. Again, I encourage you to share your comments to others who read this blog by linking to the comments section.

Thanks for being my friend!

Voter Guide

No remarks from the peanut gallery on how long it's taken me to blog, or that I owe you a "Friends, Pt. 2."

I just read a great story that almost completely captures my thoughts and ideas about voting in this year's U.S. presidential election.

The fact is, I really like both guys running. You know me - I've got friends who are liberal and conservative, Christian and agnostic, straight and homosexual, every race color and creed in existence. I beleve that every one I know is an immortal soul whom God has placed in my life for a specific purpose.
I like both guys running for president and, regardless of who wins, I will pray for him every day at noon like I always do.

That being said, I'm not enthused or excited about the idea of either candidate actually being president. However I do believe this, I trust the Holy God of the universe to be acting out His will for the election. This is especially easier to accept considering - once again - I'm not "waving my pom-poms" for either.

How then did I arrive at a conclusion for my vote?

When I was in college I had a candidate that I liked best in an election year (no comments on how many election years passed throughout my undergraduate years). A week or so before the election I stopped and actually prayed to God about who to vote for. As I walked to the voter booth a strange thing happened. I could not, in good conscience, vote for the guy I liked! It was the oddest thing for someone who had not experienced a feeling like that before and, if you've never felt that - that is, a guidance from the Holy Spirit of God in your actual day-to-day activities - you probably think I'm crazy (yeah, I know, some of you think I'm crazy regardless of what I say).

So, I went to the voter booth wanting to go one direction and I truly feel God didn't allow me to. Well, the guy I liked the best still won but I am very glad to this day that my consience did not allow me to vote for him. (I voted 3rd party that year. My conscience was clear. That guy didn't have a chance!) I would be embarrassed on this day in my life had I voted my way, for I feel 'my guy' really made a mockery out of the presidency during that particular term of his service.

My friend, I believe the Bible teaches we are responsible for our actions here on earth. One of the biggest actions we can make on earth as an American is voting. We will be held, by God, to accountability for our voting! That means - 1. We should actually be registered, be informed and vote; 2. We should vote in a way that pleases Him.

Regardless of your presidential choice and/or your feelings about God, my challenge to you is that you will pray this or something very similar every day until you vote:

"God (add 'If you're there' if you're one of my agnostic friends - by the way, He is!) would You please, by the power of Your Spirit guide me to vote in a way that pleases you?"

His answer may surprise you and, if You follow Him in your voting, you are in the clear for eternity!

God is not a Democrat or a Republican. He is in it for His own glory and His is the only party with which I am truly concerned.

Thanks for reading, and thanks for being my friend.
I appreciate you!