Benny and oldest sister (Willie B. Bishop)
My sister (Willie Bell), nephew (Frankie,) and great niece (Na-Na) from Alabama visited us this weekend. I really enjoyed them.
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Brenda and I have been characterized as the "Dead Sea" and the "Babbling Brook" (guess who is whom). To maintain this journal I need to be more like my "Babbling Brook".
So what should I talk about today?
- 1) What am I feeling?
- 2) What am I thinking?
- 3) What has been happening since the last post?
- 4) What would I like to do that I haven't done?
- 5) Who do I want to see. . . where do I want to go?
- 6) What do I want to eat?
- 1) Nothing
- 2) Nothing
- 3) Not much
- 4) I don't know
- 5) My sisters and brothers . . . friends, family, . . . ,Panama Canal
- 6) Kentucky Fried Chicken (original) with cole slaw and green beans
OK, my feelings/thoughts have always been goal-oriented/ purpose-drivened. What do I need to get done? What is my strategy? What is the time-frame? What are the tasks? Sounds like a project plan. Hmmmm.
My life has been a process. A process of being transformed into the image that we were created; the image of God (Gen. 1: 26- 27). So in this HUGE process, what are the things that I tried to achieve/ to do in support of this transformation:
- I tried to increasing love God (with all my heart, with all my soul and with all my mind) and I walk that love out in my everyday actions.
- I tried to demonstrate my increasing love for my neighbors.
- I tried to provide adequately for my family; basic creature comforts, love, wisdom, Godly guidance and direction, etc.
- I tried to love Brenda as Christ loves his Church and to show her how much I love her, everyday.
- I tried to be a Godly father for Angie and Josh, a Godly husband for Brenda.
- I tried to be a role model for my children (Angie, Josh, Andy, and Benjamin), nieces, nephews, and young friends.
- I tried to provide Josh a foundation and example of a "man of integrity", "mighty warrior for the Lord", a "Man whose desire is the Lord".
- I tried to be a Godly mentor to all the people, especially the young men, God has brought into my life.
- I tried to be the person my mother, Julie Bell, expected me to be; Godly, family oriented, honest, loyal, of integrity, . . ., keep the family united.
- Above all else, I have tried to live my life progressively Holy (according to my knowledge of holiness) as God is Holy.
Note: My thoughts with Brenda's encouragement/probing/nagging :-).
WELL DONE, MY GUY, WELL DONE . . . and I look forward to our near now AND our distant future.
ReplyDeleteHi Benny. First let me thank you for granting access to your inner most thoughts (normally that would be considered a girl thing ;))...thanks to Brenda for nagging. Additionally I want to thank you for striving to be the person God created you to be. I'm sure he is well pleased. I don't know if you remember this, but, my first encounter with you involved a random act of kindness on your part. I had seen you around, but we didn't know each other...my sister and I were at Kay's Merchandise downtown and she had locked her keys in her car. You, without hesitation offered to take us (total strangers) to her house to get her other keys and back to her car...you wouldn't let us pay you and I still remember thinking what a kind young man you were. That was over 30 years ago and my opinion has not changed even after getting to know you. Brenda, Angie and Josh are truly blessed to have you in their lives...I know they know. God Bless, Devera
ReplyDeleteThat is so Benny. He told me about an incident he encountered when he first moved to Peoria (35 yrs ago). He had worked late into the night. As he was driving home, along Adams Street as I recall, he noticed young lady who looked like she may need help (seemed too late for a young lady to be out alone). He stopped to help her AND surprise, surprise. . . she wasn't as helpless as he assumed. That was the "Welcome to Peoria, Il" from the kid from "Plantersville, Alabama" :-).
ReplyDeleteOh yea, I forgot to say that he didn't help her.
ReplyDeleteUncle Benny,
ReplyDeleteI love the original recipe KFC too. You have been such an inspiration to me. We haven't seen each other much through the years but you have encouraged me more than you know.