Krl and I made it through the entire harvest season without catching a cold only to return to civilization and succumb. Darn it.

I went to Roscoe yesterday to unload some parts and supplies that their trucks had left on the jobsite. Then I made a large arc-ing circle to go by and see a friend. He currently manages a cotton gin and has bales to gin before he is through. He is hopeful that their season will end by the time February does. We got into a big discussion and before it was all said and done I agreed to help him with some spread sheets for his trucking company. His trucking company has really grown. I can sympathize with a lot of what he is going through as he and his wife just try to keep it together.

On my way home I drove south on Highway 277, headed for Abilene. It was almost dark and one of my favorite night time landmarks is located between Anson and Hawley. There is a simple wood frame church building sitting on the east side of the highway which reminds me of the small rural church in the movie The Apostle with Robert Duvall. It is complete with steeple. The attraction to it isn't due to structural design. There is no visible sign proclaiming religious affiliation. The attraction is a neon sign that is located on the front of this structure. JESUS SAVES. And located on the top of the steeple is a small neon lit cross. Last night it was a powerful site because while it was just past dusk, it wasn't dark. You could see the faint outline of the church building but the sign's message was bold and bright! I began to think that maybe we sometimes let "church" get between us and Jesus. Maybe "church" should be present in the background, on the fringes, as a vehicle, as a support group, but if we are dependent on "church" for our salvation we are missing the mark. It's all about YOU, JESUS.

FATHER, forgive us when we lose focus. Keep us centered. Thank you for taking on all my troubles, all my problems. FATHER I pray for Hag, for B., for Lillie, for Rene', for Carol, for Michelle, for Aimee, for Jennifer, and for Rusty and Kim's baby, for the accident victims. I ask YOUR healing for all of them. I pray for those of us in spiritual need. I pray for our leaders. I pray for renewal. JESUS, you're my firm foundation.