Thanks, Paul. Y'know I'd seen that before, I guess I forgot about it. I am going to attempt to add you to my Blog list. I have problems adding anything here in Kuwait. So if I'm not successful (you'll know in a matter of minutes) I will add you when I visit the States next summer. Here goes...
This post is more apropos now than it was when I posted it. I just found out ten minutes ago, that my childhood friend died of a massive heart attack. He knew me before I was a Christian and we remained the best of friends all our life.
Rudy and I met when we were thirteen (our birthdays are ten days apart - same year, 1949). I was riding my bike on "his" sidewalk and he told me to stay off his property. I stopped my bike, thinking we were going to fight. Then he asked me, out of the blue, if I collected comic books. That did it! We were the best of friends from then on. I lived just down the street from him and we did everything together. We both started writing letters to the editors, and in those days, we were rewarded many times with original art. Rudy was my brother. I will miss him everyday.
Sincere condolences in the loss of your friend, Rudy. I agree on the apropos-ness of your post. It's striking! I do hope he knew Christ as His Lord and Savior.
Amazing similarities regarding how you guys met with my own story of my closest friend, Rick.
I was 12 in 1968 and my family had just moved to the other side of the city. It was like being on another planet, not knowing anybody and it was summer. I was to be going to a brand new school for the first time ever and I was nervous.
I looked out my window one day and saw this scrawny looking kid that looked my age with his bike upside down on the sidewalk having trouble trying to re-attach his chain that came off his bike.
I thought I would go and offer him a third hand, went over and asked if I could help him. We got the chain back on and that was it. It was buds at first sight. As it turned out, he lived just around the corner from me.
We spent everyday of the summer together, ended up in grade 8 together, high school years together, life adventures together, best man at my wedding, always there when I needed him since, etc.
Where are we today? As of four years ago, we live just around the corner from each other and we are still the best of friends.
He is the only friend I had who did not unfriend me when I became a Christian 11 years ago. He has heard the gospel, he supports me in my evangelistic work, but is stuck in humanism mode.
He's one of these guys who, by his good nature and character, would put many a Christian to shame. If anybody could make it to Heaven by his own goodness, he would be a shoe-in. But, as we know, that's not our ticket in.
I still pray for him. He knows it and appreciates it. I pray God regenerate His heart from one of stone to flesh, as He was so merciful, gracious and kind to do for a wretch like me.
I pray Rick to come to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ for as we know: Judgment Day is going to be one day to late to say "I'm sorry".
Thanks for the post, Eddie. Very apropos, indeed, no matter at what point any non-believing reader of it is at this time in their life. A day is coming when their time will end and nobody but the Lord knows when.
OUCH! Powerful! I would like to use this on my blog, if I may. If not by you, Eddie, do you have any idea who wrote this?
ReplyDeletePaul, you are free to use anything on my site. I would just ask you mention my blog somewhere.
ReplyDeleteI found this quote but there was no author listed.
I found a site that quotes it a bit differently and referencing "Whither Bound" as a possible source.
ReplyDeleteI'm reposting on my blog and linking back!
"I would just ask you mention myblog somewhere."
ReplyDeleteYou mean like this:
http://www.thewordstreetjournal.com/2010/08/if-sinners-be-damned.html
And check out comment #3.
Thank you, brother. Much and well appreciated.
Thanks, Paul. Y'know I'd seen that before, I guess I forgot about it. I am going to attempt to add you to my Blog list. I have problems adding anything here in Kuwait. So if I'm not successful (you'll know in a matter of minutes) I will add you when I visit the States next summer.
ReplyDeleteHere goes...
Hey! It worked!
ReplyDeleteI think it's because I switched my server to Mozilla Firefox. Anyway, thanks to you, I discovered that fact.
ReplyDeleteThis post is more apropos now than it was when I posted it. I just found out ten minutes ago, that my childhood friend died of a massive heart attack. He knew me before I was a Christian and we remained the best of friends all our life.
ReplyDeleteRudy and I met when we were thirteen (our birthdays are ten days apart - same year, 1949). I was riding my bike on "his" sidewalk and he told me to stay off his property. I stopped my bike, thinking we were going to fight. Then he asked me, out of the blue, if I collected comic books. That did it! We were the best of friends from then on. I lived just down the street from him and we did everything together. We both started writing letters to the editors, and in those days, we were rewarded many times with original art. Rudy was my brother. I will miss him everyday.
Brother,
ReplyDeleteSincere condolences in the loss of your friend, Rudy. I agree on the apropos-ness of your post. It's striking! I do hope he knew Christ as His Lord and Savior.
Amazing similarities regarding how you guys met with my own story of my closest friend, Rick.
I was 12 in 1968 and my family had just moved to the other side of the city. It was like being on another planet, not knowing anybody and it was summer. I was to be going to a brand new school for the first time ever and I was nervous.
I looked out my window one day and saw this scrawny looking kid that looked my age with his bike upside down on the sidewalk having trouble trying to re-attach his chain that came off his bike.
I thought I would go and offer him a third hand, went over and asked if I could help him. We got the chain back on and that was it. It was buds at first sight. As it turned out, he lived just around the corner from me.
We spent everyday of the summer together, ended up in grade 8 together, high school years together, life adventures together, best man at my wedding, always there when I needed him since, etc.
Where are we today? As of four years ago, we live just around the corner from each other and we are still the best of friends.
He is the only friend I had who did not unfriend me when I became a Christian 11 years ago. He has heard the gospel, he supports me in my evangelistic work, but is stuck in humanism mode.
He's one of these guys who, by his good nature and character, would put many a Christian to shame. If anybody could make it to Heaven by his own goodness, he would be a shoe-in. But, as we know, that's not our ticket in.
I still pray for him. He knows it and appreciates it. I pray God regenerate His heart from one of stone to flesh, as He was so merciful, gracious and kind to do for a wretch like me.
I pray Rick to come to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ for as we know: Judgment Day is going to be one day to late to say "I'm sorry".
Thanks for the post, Eddie. Very apropos, indeed, no matter at what point any non-believing reader of it is at this time in their life. A day is coming when their time will end and nobody but the Lord knows when.
"Are You Ready?"
@ Paul Latour
ReplyDeleteYour story about you and your friend prompted me to include Rick with others for whose salvation I am praying. I promise.
Craig
@Eddie
Good friends, especially lifelong friends, are so rare. I am very sorry, brother.
Craig
Sorry to hear about your friend Eddie. Sterkte.
ReplyDelete