I Lost a Friend

This one hurts. I know the truth. I know the hope. I know the assurance. I tell it to others all the time. But this one hurts. I am angry about this one.

Jody Slocum – 1949 – 2019

Yesterday morning, Jody Slocum stepped into eternity. Just a few weeks ago he was teaching his Sunday School class at Pinecrest Baptist Church in Cordele, Georgia. 

I met Jody on a Saturday evening in 2006 in Sylvester, Georgia at a campaign event for Sonny Perdue. My wife and I sat at the same table and had a nice conversation. Jody could talk to anyone about anything. It was his gift. 

The next morning, I decided to visit Pinecrest Baptist Church. I remember getting out of the car and not knowing where to go for Sunday School.

A little boy was passing by and I asked him where adult classes met. He pointed over to a door and said that he thought there was an adult class in that room.

I eased the door open to see a class filled and the teacher announced that we met the night before. You know how it is when you see someone in a different place and do not connect the person and place immediately.

Jody immediately recognized me. It took a moment for the search engine in my brain to connect the Sunday School teacher with a political event the night before.

That began a deep friendship. We shared a common faith, a common political philosophy, and a common enjoyment of the lives of those who were involved in politics. 

Jody was an avid reader of the Wall Street Journal and kept up with the latest reporting and editorials. He talked about the writers and subjects with such a grasp of understanding that it seemed as if he talked with them over breakfast every morning. 

If I wanted solid analysis of a particular issue, I called Jody to see what he knew. He always knew the latest and did not hesitate to share his opinion. 

When it came to church involvement, he was all about mission and commitment. He did not have time to complain or nitpick over non-important issues. 

He had a compelling obligation to support the men and women called of God to serve, especially missionaries, pastors, and staff members. He believed that these individuals had been called by God and invested their lives. 

He often spoke of them “leaving their nets” in a reference to the first disciples who walked away from a profession as fishermen to follow Christ. 

We were having dinner with a friend shortly after a hurricane or flood that was in the news. Jody began to talk about the Southern Baptist disaster relief operation that had developed such a reputation, that they were the first to be called. He proudly described the logistics in detail.

Jody’s wife, Beth, served as a trustee of the Georgia Baptist Children’s Home and Family Ministries. He was there with her at every trustee meeting to learn the needs. 

Jody was more than just active in church. He knew why he was active. He had a firm grasp on why he was there and why a relationship with Christ was the most important relationship that anyone could have. He had a firm grasp on matters of eternal significance. 

The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Philippians, shared his daily struggle about life here in this fallen world and stepping into eternity. “But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better; yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake.” (Philippians 1:23-24)

Jody was also torn between stepping into eternity with Christ and staying here to keep carrying out the mission. He was “hard pressed” in both directions. One truth he knew beyond a shadow of a doubt –  he was fully prepared to be “absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.” (II Corinthians 5:8 NASB)

This one hurts. Not Jody! His death reminds me of the brevity of this life and the hope for eternity.

The Apostle Paul had a lot to say about this kind of thing. In the 15th chapter of his first letter to the Corinthians, he wrote of the return of Christ and the assurance of our resurrection as believers. Right now, Jody is in the presence of Christ and seeing everything with perfect clarity.

Paul closed that 15th chapter with an exhortation and hope. With those same words to the many friends and family who are feeling the same thing right now, I close this commentary: 

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.” (I Corinthians 15:58 NASB)

Obituary Maxwell-Purvis Funeral Home

FacebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedintumblrmailFacebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedintumblrmailby feather

The Road to Majority

Each year, the Faith and Freedom Coalition holds a conference in Washington, DC. The Road to Majority Conference this year will be Thursday, June 8 – Saturday, June 10 at the Onmi Shoreham Hotel.

You may initially think that you can’t afford to go. Do not rule it out so fast. A Bus package starts at $219.00 per person which includes transportation from Duluth, GA or Blackshear, GA., hotel for 3 nights, and 1 General registration ticket. Continue reading FacebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedintumblrmailFacebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedintumblrmailby feather

A Farmer and His Faith

On Tuesday, April 25, 2017, at the United States Supreme Court, Justice Clarence Thomas, a Georgian, administered the oath of office to Sonny Perdue, a fellow Georgian, to serve as the United States Secretary of Agriculture.  Sonny Perdue joins President Trump’s administration with unique qualifications.

He grew up on a farm and has experienced the full cycle of life in farming. He knows what it is like to prepare the soil, plant the seed, care for the growing crop, harvest, move it to market, set aside proceeds from the fruit of his labor, and start the process all over again. Continue reading FacebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedintumblrmailFacebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedintumblrmailby feather