Two Heroes

I have two of my heroes on my mind today. One irony is that I met both of them in 1980. For one it was instant hero status. For the other, it was a process.

Matthew David Underwood was born February 24th, 1980. Yes, my first born turns 25 today! And yes, that makes me feel somewhat ancient. It was a dreary Sunday morning (both of my boys were born on Sunday) and Dr. Citty got in the delivery room just in time to literally catch him! No foolin. Doc had a big smile on his face and said "Herb, you have a boy!" I will never forget how Matt looked so much like his grandaddy (who was in West Africa at the time) when he came out....it was unreal! He was like a minature toy figure of my dad. He still looks very much like an Underwood. He probably looks more like my dad and brother than I do. Whatever. Anyway, Matt has been a blessing every single day of these 25 years. Jan and I could not be any prouder of who he is. I didn't realize until that day how much our father in heaven loves us.....loves me. Up until that time I had not realized that our children are the first people in our entire lives who do not have to EARN our love.......it is instantaneous! I would have died for him that Sunday morning. So duh, it finally wedged thru this thick skull of mine that our Heavenly Father loves us the same way! It was a Spiritual awakening for me, as I am sure it has been for many of you. God loved me instantly, because I am His. Matt is a coach and teacher at Harding Academy in Memphis. HAPPY BIRTHDAY SON! I thank God daily for my two boys! What a blessing!

My second hero is Roscoe Lee Fouts. I met Lee at the girl's softball complex in the summer of 1980. His oldest child, Marcie, was playing as a 5 or 6 year old. Lee was a giant of a man physically, but I grew to know him as even more of a Spiritual Giant. Some people write text books on raising children........Lee and Becky Fouts lived it. They raised 5 kids here in Searcy, and I challenge ANYBODY to show me a family with 5 Christian servants like Lee and Becky have produced. Their son Nick is a missionary in Uganda, and I have blogged about him before. If I could have picked someone for my two boys to emulate, it would have been Nick Fouts. All 4 girls have fine Christian husbands any dad would be proud to call a son-in-law. As I stated, I met Lee thru athletics, and that was a common bond that we have had for 25 years now. But our bond goes much deeper than that. We both were members at the same congregation for many years. Lee was a very active deacon and leader of the youth at that congregation. But our most meaningful relationship grew out of being in an accountability group together for around 10 years. During those 10 years together we met once every week. I cherish those years together, not only because of Lee but because of the time spent with the other wonderful Christian men who challenged me weekly, if not daily. We don't meet anymore, but there is a tie there that will be for eternity! I love all those guys from the depths of my heart, and I owe them a debt I can't pay. As I have already said, Lee had been one of my heroes for a VERY long time, but last night he went into unchartered territory in the hero category. During a time of sharing and witnessing about transformation with Becky and one other person, Lee told several hundred people about how by God's grace he had overcome a 20 year addiction to pornography just recently. PRAISE GOD! It was as powerful a confession and witnessing that I think I have ever been a part of! TWENTY YEARS of being chained by Satan. Can you imagine the guilt? Have you experienced that level of being broken? Can you imagine the burden that was lifted when it was shared with those who loved him? Lee said last night it was a very painful time, and a very sad time as he and Becky and the kids walked together during this time of recovery. But, he also said his and Becky's relationship is as strong as it has EVER been, and that he had never really felt the Grace of God as he does today! VICTORY! Satan loses again! :) If you want to encourage Lee, please feel free to do that. If you feel he can help you get thru a present struggle, he is there for that also. His cell phone is 501-207-3931. I hope he hears from several of you!

So, I am on cloud 9 today. I am celebrating the birth of my first born, my Matt, who is impacting the lives of young people on a daily basis. What more could a father want? I am also celebrating the rebirth of a good friend, Lee Fouts. He is on a new walk, and I hope to walk along side him. I am humbled to be able to have the blessing of walking with him.

Aren't I blessed? I think I have two pretty special heroes today!

By God's grace I have them.