The past few weeks at church we have been studying the apostle's creed. For those unfamiliar with the Christian worldview and doctrine, this is a great place to start. One might even call it the Reader's Digest version of the New Testament. There are few ways to put into words what the early church father's stated about who they were as believers. I believe that this acurately captures who they were. Having a world-view is essential for human sanity. If we do not have a system of belief's with which to gain a understanding of what happens in life, I assume that we would each fall into a state of psychosis. It is with this in mind, that I begin the story of something new which had never happened before in my life.

My father's father passed away last week, and I attended his funeral on Friday. This was the only man I will ever know as a Grandfather, as my mother's father passed away before my parents were ever married. It is important for me that I have a clear picture not only of who this man was, but that I reconcile what happens when someone dies, and where he is today.

On Friday morning before the service, my siblings and I were encouraged to rummage through what remained of grandfather's things which were occupying dad's garage. Among the things I selected to keep as memento's of this man was a hard cover King James version of the Bible. Neatly folded near the middle of the book was a typed prayer.

Thou who are the mighy fortress of our faith, in whom men find freedom and joy, we come bfore thee in this hour with thankful hearts. We thank thee for the Church in which we find our opportunity to serve and to grow as Christians. We thank thee for thy son who has become our high priest so that we may come freely to thy throne of grace through him. Strengthen us, O Lord, so there may be found in our lives only things of peace, brotherhood, and righteousness that make for true freedom. If our lives have been crowded with other things so that we turn away as he was tuned away from the inn of Bethlehem, fogive us. We ask that thou will guide the leaaders of our country. Help them to attain peace for the world. O Lord, when our relationships with one another have been broken because we have hurt one another, forgive us and help us to forgive those who have hurt us. We are grateful, O Father, for the confidence that, no matter how dark the valley may become through which we travel, there is still light ahead. We pray, if there are those here this morning who have been struggling in the valley of darkness, before this hour is over, will come and confess Him and be buried in Christian baptism. Lord, blsess those who are on foreign fields as missionarys. Guide and direct them in this their work of bringing others to know thee. We Especially ask this mornign that you will be with our Minister and his good wife on their journey. In the name of Him, who is the head of the Church, who loved the Church so much that he gave his life for it, we paray. Amen.

If there were a clearer depiction of what my Grandfather believed in, I do not know if we will ever see written record of it. I know with no doubt in my mind, that my Grandfather has met God, and faced judgement. I know that our savior, Jesus Christ, was standing at his side when he was asked, "Why should I allow you into my heaven, Claude Simmons?". I know that Jesus answered, "I have paid for this man's sin with my own blood. He is forgiven."

If my children, grandchildren, neices, nephews, cousins, siblings, relatives by any sense of the word, or any person I meet in life, or have not met, but have discovered this text by some method read this, I would hope that they take away this one thing of truth.

Claude Simmons was not a perfect man. He made mistakes. If we look to those things to define who he was, or what we should take away as a memory of him, then I think that we fall short. Few of us experienced his failures as a husband, a father, or a man. Now, it is not important that we should look so much to the mistakes of our forefathers, but that we should acknowledge the truth of what they made known to the world. A thousand stories may be told and retold never approaching the truth of how he failed. I will tell you the one truth, which is innerrant and unchanging. The one truth that my grandfather made known, and I have no shame in sharing with the world, is that he was a Christian. While the prayer that I have written on that paper is not the apostle's creed, I can see the similarity in the faith both he and the apostles had.

I miss you grandpa, but I'll see you again.

Drove to Indiana this weekend to move Adam.

Things I learned.

1. A rubber mallet can be used in place of a leaf-spring on a small trailer, sometimes to greater affect.
2. Quality Inn feels great after an 8 hour day at work and 10 hours on the road.
3. Continental breakfasts should have a better way to describe how much you should really eat.
4. Indiana has amazing cathedral pine forests, very Narnia-ish.
5. My (now ex) roomie couldn't be happier living as close as he is to his amazing girl, I wish them both the best.