Highs and Lows

Wow, what a week! I had a wonderful trip to Kansas City and got to visit with a lot of wonderful friends there. KC is a really special place, and the folks at Overland Park church have really got things happening. I will blog on that at a future time.

The biggest news for us this week was the passing of a class-mate and friend. Barbara Wright Moore lost her battle with cancer on Wednesday evening. Her husband Mark works here in the Advancement office with the rest of this wonderful team. Jan and Barbara grew up together here in Searcy and attended the Academy together from start to finish. Barbara entered Harding in the fall of 74 with me and so many of you. She was talented in SO many areas......athletics, music, and drama to name a few. But she won't be remembered for those talents. Barbara will be remembered for what stood out about her the most.....her Christ-like spirit! You could never catch Barbara in a bad mood or at a time when she was not showing that beautiful smile. You couldn't help but to be encouraged and uplifted from having spent time with her! I loved Barbara very much, and will miss her greatly. She has left 3 wonderful kids to remind us of what a wonderful person she was.....and the blessing that she was to all of us. Our love and sympathy go out to Mark and the entire family during this sad time of grieving our loss. But I know this.......I am going to see Barbara again someday! She gained the Victory on Wednesday, and one day I will gain it also and go to be with our Lord and all the other believers like her that have gone first. I can't wait to see her!

I was also blessed to get to hear Don McLaughlin speak twice yesterday, and then spend some time with him. Don is another special person, and I count it a blessing anytime I can sit at his feet. The HU students really respond to him, and he impacts this place when he is here. If Don doesn't move you to want to be more Christ-like, your heart is dead or you are comatose.

Then today another "old" friend was on campus to speak. In chapel this morning, Lot Therrio got up and quoted....yes QUOTED the "Sermon on the Mount"! Lot was THE recognized leader on Harding's campus in the mid 70's. He knew EVERYBODY on campus by name, and more than that......he CARED about EVERYBODY. I can remember many nights in the dorm him coming by to just sit down to encourage us and mentor us.
He impacted me then, and I witnessed today that he is STILL impacting people where ever he is. Kinda like Light and Salt, huh?

Thanks Lot. Thanks Donnie. Thank you even more, Barbara. Thanks the most to our Father!