Addendum to the last post-
Today I finished my vacation on the perfect day, in the perfect way. I reconnected and rode motorcycles with 3 more old high school friends, Pat & Karen Davis and Aaron Smith. We hadn't seen each other in many years, and getting together was incredible. We met up at 9:30am, and rode north to Helen, stopping periodically to stretch, talk, and top off our gas tanks as needed. Gas has been scarce, so we had to get it where we found it. We ate at Hans Restaurant in Helen, sitting and talking, reminiscing, and laughing on into the afternoon. We nosed around a bike shop in town, then hit the road again, riding great country roads around north Ga. before making our way back south. It was a fantastic day, with fantastic friends.
I arrived home after 8pm, tired but refreshed. I took a late night walk down the driveway, reflecting on my week... rode with my parents last weekend, rode with Jimmy & Lyle early this week, then with Pat, Karen, & Aaron today. All across the beautiful Georgia landscape. I gave thanks to God my Father, not only for all the blessings of the week, but for all the blessings of my life- my beloved wife & girls, my parents & brothers, my Hebron friends, my health, my walk with God. I heard Him speak into my heart, "Its My pleasure." A simple, common statement, but from God, it took on new meaning. The Bible says, "God delights to give good gifts to His children", and I know its true. It brings God pleasure when we take pleasure in the life He gives us.
"I am, among men, most truly blessed..."
Rob

The past 3 days I spent part of my vacation riding in the North Georgia mountains, motorcycle riding with 2 old high school friends, Lyle & Jimmy. We get our families together every summer and every Christmas holiday, and have long talked about doing a road trip together. We met up at Jimmy's house in Alpharetta Sunday at 2pm, then took country roads up the state to Hiawassee, up near the state line. Jimmy's dad has a mountaintop cottage there, and I definitely fell in love with Hiawassee. It is a beautiful mountain town, on the shores of Lake Chatuge, a beautiful mountain lake. I want to live there someday!
We got up Monday morning and took off, following tranquil, scenic country roads over mountains and through valleys. The weather was sunny, breezy, & cool- perfect riding conditions. I always love riding up in the mountains- it seems to untangle my mind & heart. I worship Christ while I ride- so much beauty to behold. We rode & rode & rode...
Then Lyle's bike broke down. Late in the day, on our way back to town for a supper break, the bike just died at a stop sign. Nothing we could do kept it running. We roll-started it down a couple of hills, pushed it across a parking lot in town, and finally got it up to the cottage, coughing and hacking all the way. We never got it started again. Bummer...
Tuesday we got up late, cooked breakfast, cleaned the place up, then packed for home. Sadly, we were going back one bike short- we had to leave Lyle's bike behind at the cottage. Lyle rode with Jimmy for the first half of the trip home, and with me the last half. Kinda awkward, but we had to get him home!
We stopped up at an overlook on Hwy.9, where the Appalachian Trail crossed the road, outside of Dahlonega. We walked some of the Trail, just to say we did, and found a wild apple tree near the parking lot. The apples were small & red, and delicious. We kept to the country roads all the way back to Jimmy's house, arriving by 7pm.
Although the ride was cut somewhat short by a broken bike, it was still worth the time spent with old friends.
The older we get, the busier our lives get, the more intentional we have to be about keeping our friendships strong. I'm glad Lyle, Jimmy & I have stayed close friends over the years. Any time we can get together is time well spent.

Today I finished a study I've been doing since April, called "Walking With God" by John Eldredge. I took a walk down the driveway, enjoying the sunshine & cool Sept. breezes. As I got near the end, I looked up and was stopped in my tracks. Up & ahead of me, hanging in the noon sky, was the moon! I think I even said aloud, "The moon is up!" The moon at noon! It was unusual, and beautiful. How many people even noticed it, the moon so visible in the light of day, as they went about their busy day? It was a pleasant surprise for me to see.
Life is full of little pleasant surprises, little gifts from God to our hearts. God didn't speak anything deep or profound to me at the end of the driveway, He just gave me a gift. A pleasant surprise, simply to say, "Enjoy." Another of the many things I love about my Heavenly Father.

Today I had the great honor of participating in two 9-11 memorial services, as a chaplain & speaker. I was invited by the Red Knights motorcycle club, made up of fire fighters, to ride along with them in their annual "Ride to Remember 9-11" motorcycle event, and speak at ceremonies in Lawrenceville's Gwinnett Justice bldg & the GPSTC in Forsyth.
Several of the Spirit Riders rode with me, and the Gwinnett event featured color guards from the police & fire depts, and short speeches by the Gwinnett fire marshall & myself. It was very humbling for me to speak and participate in this, made more meaningful by the presence of the mother of Lcpl Stephen Johnston, USMC, killed in Iraq in Oct. 2006. The Johnston family are Hebron members, and I spent much time with them when they got word of Stephen's death 2 years ago. Mrs. Johnston came up to me before the ceremony, and handed me a camo bandana with Psalm 91 printed on it, saying, "This was one of his bandanas, that he would wear under his helmet. We would like you to carry it with you today in the ceremonies and on the ride. You can wear it under your helmet too, if you like." It deeply moved me, and I told the audience about Stephen in my message. And I wore the bandana under my helmet.
35 bikes saddled up and rode in the HOV lane down I-85 to Clayton Harley Davidson for a break, then on to Forsyth. *Funny aside- at about 11:55am, I and two of our guys went back inside the H-D building for a quick sip of coffee, only to come back out to an empty lot- they'd left without us! We took off on I-75 south, blasting down the interstate to catch up. We caught them all 20 min. down the road, and fell back in formation. Imagine that- they left behind one of their keynote speakers!!
The ceremony at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center in Forsyth was similar, with a fire dept. color guard, a fire service speaker, and myself. At both ceremonies, I related how, in the same way our public servants put themselves in harms way to rescue, liberate, and protect our people, Jesus Christ entered a world in turmol & chaos to save us from sin & evil, self-sacrificially.
A very solumn and reverent event, both places.
We rode back up country roads, through Monticello, Mansfield, Social Circle, and Monroe. The weather was cool & partly sunny, the surrounding countyside both calming & breathtaking. The perfect way to conclude a wonderful, tiring, humbling, day of remembrance & reflection.
May we never forget- the sacrifices of our public servants, and ultimately, our Savior Jesus Christ.
Rob

I turned 45 today.
I remember when I was younger, and my parents were in their mid-forties. I thought they were sooo old! Now, it doesn't seem so bad to me. I still have all of my hair, it still has most of its color, I still have good health- in fact, I feel half my age...well, most of the time. Everyone says I look young, I dress young, and I act young (I hope that's a good thing). I feel young, truth be known.
My staff took me out to lunch today, and gave me funny cards about the benefits & troubles with aging, and we had a great time munching on chips at a Mex diner. Lisa & the girls fixed me dinner & dessert this evening, then gave me their gifts- a small home theater system for the basement, and a cool reclining couch. Sunday football, here I come!
Many friends & family called, emailed, or text-messaged their best wishes, and it was great hearing from everyone. Its been a pretty good day, considering I'm now 45.
The only thing that unnerves me about 45 is- its 5 short years to 50. Half a century old. 2003 was just 5 years ago, and it seems like yesterday. 50 will be here before I know it. That's sobering. Time marches on...
I know my days have been marked out for me, and my times are in His hands. So whether I have another 45 years, or just a few more, I want them to count- for Christ, and for those around me.
And I wouldn't mind keeping my hair & health a little longer, as well...
Rob