Friends

Each day I marvel at what God has done in my life. Each day I praise Him for the wonderful people He has placed in my life. Some of these are new friends and some are old friends. Last night I had dinner with an old friend.

I've known Richard Beeker since we were in the first grade back at Four Oaks Elementary School in Four Oaks, N.C. This was in 1963 and we've been great friends ever since. We've seen good times and bad times. We've laughed and laughed some more, and done things that can't be written here. We went through elementary, high school and college together. Through it all, for 43 years, we've been friends.

Now, as we get ready to cross the bridge from our 40's to our 50's, we share the most important bond of all...we both walk with the Lord and are not only friends, but brothers in the body of Christ. That in itself is a miracle.

Richard told me he played the worlds oldest Jesus (at 49) in their church's Easter play this year. "They even put me on the cross", said Richard. When he told me that, I started laughing. I told him to picture us as freshman in Eggers Dorm at Appalachian State University in Boone, N.C. (where we attended college). It's a Saturday night and the party is well underway. Suddenly someone comes into the room and announces that the day will come when he will play Jesus on the cross and I will own a Christian radio station and we will both walk with the Lord. I said we would have looked at that person and asked what he had been smoking and did he have any left.

Just remember, where you are in your life today will not be where you are tomorrow or the next day. Life is flowing and ever changing. Invite the Lord to guide your path and light the way. He is true and faithful. -Jim Jernigan