Albert

I received a phone call the other day about a good friend that was hospitalized. He was not doing well and the step-daughter called for prayer, words of encouragement, and to share her pain and frustration.
I have known Albert for 40 years, since the age of 11. I am old and so is Albert! Looking back at his life which most people have never seen, is a simple man with a great heart. He has been different from most people at times, some would say weird. I and he would say weird!

Here is a list of things that he has done.
A Christian for over 80 years, a husband, a father, a master carpenter, an eagle scout, a boy scout leader, a leader in the Church, which included being a member of the Board of Directors, a treasure, a janitor, ground keeper, usher, Sunday school teacher for adults, a 5th grade teacher for an all boys class, a prayer warrior, a promise keeper before the moment was around. An owner of a car which he never drove, a biker before spandex (100’s and 100’s of mile on that old Schwinn bicycle), a helper for the elderly, a great worker, a slow worker that always got the job done (worked on his own time), a reader of the Bible (hours each day), a gardener what could grow anything, a lover of food, hard-headed, a friend.

Wow what a life! And yes he is going to make it! He will add a few years to that great number on earth and a few things to what he has done, but for the most of his work he has run his race and he has won!

“In a race everyone runs, but only one person gets first prize. So run your race to win. To win the contest you must deny yourselves many things that would keep you from doing your best. An athlete goes to all this trouble just to win a blue ribbon or a silver cup, but we do it for a heavenly reward that never disappears.
So I run straight to the goal with purpose in every step. I fight to win. I'm not just shadow-boxing or playing around.
Like an athlete I punish my body, treating it roughly, training it to do what it should, not what it wants to. Otherwise I fear that after enlisting others for the race, I myself might be declared unfit and ordered to stand aside”1 Cor 9:25-27

Today Albert had 3 meals. He opened up the word of God and read to his hearts content. He is a happy man!
What have you done today to make your life matter and to be happy? Albert would tell you to listen to Paul and ----- “RUN TO WIN”.

Pastor Ken (in the race of and for my life)