Ed. Note: Following are some journal entries that I found while combing through Dad’s materials. It is a look into his heart through the years. The first entries were made when he was 25 years old (1955). I thought these were worth sharing. -- Doy

July 18, 1955

I remember Franklin Puckett’s meeting in Napa, Calif. I was living in San Rafael and went to hear him several times. He is one of the finest preachers I have ever heard. His knowledge of the Bible is outstanding. He quoted verse after verse — chapters at a time. Most of his preaching in that meeting was on the two covenants — fundamental lessons for saint and sinner alike.

July 18, 1955

I remember Roy E. Cogdill’s meeting in Richmond, Calif. Roy used the Book of Romans as his basis and preached expository sermons on it. His preaching is scriptural and powerful. It did me good.

July 18, 1955

I remember my first meeting. I was seventeen years old. Neil Gage and I had been going out from Childress every Sunday to a country schoolhouse — Olympas. We decided to conduct a meeting there. I don’t remember the dates, but I do remember the good it did for me. There was no electricity there, so we had to use gasoline lamps. The men would come early and get the lamps all pumped up. We would sing, and the by the time I started preaching the lamps had to be pumped up again. One of the men would clomp up to them and pump them up. When the meeting was over, they paid me fifty dollars. This amount was good for a boy like I was and a small church like that. I am sure that many brethren of days gone by (like J. D. Tant) would have felt highly paid with such a sum. Since then, I have been paid as high as $300 for a meeting and as low as $25 (maybe less). Most churches now support a preacher quite well for a meeting. I fear that many of us younger preachers take too much for granted. If we had to undergo hardships in preaching like our fathers did, maybe we should appreciate Christianity even more. Since that first meeting I have held meetings in four states, but I remember the first one more.

August 6, 1955

.... In the rush and turmoil of life, it is easy to forget God and things divine. The greatest temptation to disciplines today is to become an integral part of this changing world. The world shall pass away — the great things here will seem nothing before the judgment at the great white throne. May God help me to see Him through the clouds and smog of worldliness and live for heaven.

Jan. 1, 1956

.... It is very easy to become discouraged in doing the Lord’s work. Lord, help me to look up to Thee, that I may always know which way to go and what to do that Thy cause may prosper.

Dec. 16, 1959

Today is another milestone in my brief journey through life. Thirty years of age. These past years have zoomed across the horizon like a rocket. I am persuaded that life is like that — "a vapor that appears for alittle while and then vanishes away." The fleeting things of life are as nothing compared to the great salvation awaiting us who walk worthy of the Lord. May my eye be constantly upon the "mark for the prize of the high-calling of God in Christ Jesus."

Dec. 17, 1959

The word of God has the power to give faith and to build a strong life. I need this faith and this power. This necessitates a study of the word of the Lord — daily and prayerfully.

July 2, 1986

"Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves." — Sir James Barrie

May it every be my goal in life to bring sunshine into the lives of others. God knows that there is so much darkness in this world. There is the dark, dismal swamps of ignorance and the enshrouding fog of sorrow. The sorrow knows no beauty of sunlight on the hills — it only has the shadows in the valley. Let me do some little deed of kindness or say some little word of encouragement along the way. Perhaps in my small way I can bring a ray of light to one in darkness. Perhaps I can wipe away some tear from the cheek of the forlorn and bring at least the semblance of a smile to a troubled soul. Maybe there is a bridge that has decayed that I can rebuild. There may be some roof in disrepair that I can patch that will uplift the downcast.

When I have opened the drapes to the morning light for others, I have let the sunshine in for myself also. I want to see the brilliant sunlight and bask in its warmth. I can never do this alone.

O God, help me to let the sunshine of your glorious love shine upon the hearts of the lonely, the downcast, those who are now in darkness. This is my prayer for this day.

July, 1986

"Write on your hearts that every day is the best day of the year." — Ralph Waldo Emerson

There is such a fault among us — especially in myself. We tend to think that somewhere in this year there is going to be a very special day or maybe some few special days. We talk about that special day and look forward to it as each and every other day goes by. We see a beautiful mountain peak in the far distance, and we begin traveling toward that peak. We keep our eyes on it, and it is the topic of our conversation. But the tragedy is that by seeing only the mountain peak, we fail to see the beauty of the path that we are travelling. We do not see the flowers along the way; the sorrel is ignored; the fragrance of the blossoms is missed. We do not see the brook babbling its downward course. We see not the verdant valleys nor the hillsides checkered with sheep and cows. The flitting butterfly is not within our vision.

So if we set our sights on some "special" day, we miss the real joy and beauty of all the other days. You see, I may not reach the mountain peak. Then I would have missed all the beauty of the journey. I may not find that one special day. But by realizing that today is the best day of the year, I can savor every moment. I can drink in the beauty of the sunrise; I can walk in the glory of the noontime. I can taste the honey of the afternoon and revel in the glories of God’s paint brush as he puts the finishing touches on the sunset. I can reach out to the joy of companionship and share in the excitement of love on this special day. Let me not set my eyes in some distant peak that would blind me to the joys around me. Let me not think only of some distant day to the neglect of this moment of time. Let me know the happiness of this hour, the joy of this day and the elation of this moment in time. It will never be here again!

August 1, 1987

From where I sit I can see the blue of the mighty Pacific Ocean. I can hear the bellowing waves as they cast their foam upon the pebbly beach. I see the excitement of children at play. Boys are playing baseball and tossing frisbees. A dog is scampering to catch the frisbee before someone else can. All this is a part of God’s beautiful day that contains a small segment of the riches that He has showered upon us. All of this beauty along with the rain and the food that fills our bodies and gladdens our spirits is only a token of His care for us. Far more is the grace which He has lavished upon us through our Lord Jesus. We look at nature and see God’s power and care. We look at His word and see His overwhelming love and grace. Why is it that we can accept His physical endowments and yet reject His saving grace? We know that we must reach out to lay hold on the physical gifts; how do we not see the need of grasping the spiritual? I have taken so much from the natural world. O my God, please help me to receive Your riches from the spiritual world. Help me not to drown in tears of sorrow nor die in the depths of despair. Help me to see Your smile of acceptance and to walk in the lingering light of Your love.