Saying Goodbye to My Friend Bob

I want to introduce my WP friends to my friend Bob. I had to say goodbye to Bob today. Let me tell you about Bob, I think you will be amazed.

Bob is 92 years old, going on 93. In the 1940s he was on the USC gymnastics team and was ranked as the best college gymnast on the west coast. He joined the Navy in World War II and did more push-ups in his PT test than anyone else had up to that time in the Navy. He joined the UDT, the Underwater Demolitions Team and went to the Pacific Theater to fight the Japanese. For those who don’t know, the UDT later morphed into the Frogmen which would eventually turn into the Navy Seals…basically, Bob was a WWII era Navy Seal. He lived in Coasta Mesa in Orange County and was fabulously wealthy. He later moved to Cuernavaca, City of the Eternal Spring, Mexico where he, in his own words, “lived like a king.” So much so that he had his his own live-in maid house behind his house. He is still alive and kicking today and one of the best deep thinkers I’ve ever met. He loves art, literature and political conversation and he likes to “have a little coffee with his morning cream” as he told me once at our usual coffee joint, Starbucks. That’s the physical accomplishments Bob has done. I think the spiritual accomplishments outweigh the physical.

Have you ever sat down and had a conversation over coffee with a man (or woman) who has been a deeply committed follower of Jesus for decades and is in his 90s? A man who has pursued Christ across decades and decades. A man who has had that much time to think these things through and weigh the matters of God on his heart all this time? What a treasure of wisdom and insight! This man is a treasure.

I met Bob one day when I was working back at an oil company here in Oklahoma. Their office is about 10 minutes away from the nearest Starbucks and I’d go there for coffee during lunch. I saw Bob there every day. One day, I heard the Holy Spirit whisper to me, “Joel, go talk to him!” I didn’t that day, but thankfully God is very tenacious when he wants us to do something. So one day I talked to him. It wasn’t long before every single day during my lunch break Bob and I were having long, deep conversations about Jesus and life. And that began the most unique friendship that I will always treasure in my heart.

Bob is moving to Texas this week. His daughters already live down there and it’s getting to be time for him to be living closer to them. I’m going to miss Bob, so much. I told him today I will see him in the New Jerusalem. I won’t see him again (unless God creates some weird coincidence where we run into each other again) until I am physically in the Kingdom of God. So Bob, like I said today, God bless you so much, you’ve been a treasure of a friend to me these past several years. I can’t wait to share a cup of coffee with you, me and Jesus in our Father’s house one day. And I also can’t wait to introduce you to some of my brothers and sisters that I know in the Kingdom already because I think they’ll be just as amazed at you as I have been the past several years.

Last thing, a piece of advice. Jesus said in Matthew 6:20-21, “But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal, for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Bob is a piece of treasure that I am storing up in heaven for myself. Time goes so fast here. My brothers and sisters in Christ, store up for yourselves treasure in Heaven!! You are oh so precious to our God, you are the apple of his eye. Psalm 45:10-11, “Listen, daughter, and pay careful attention: Forget your people and your father’s house. Let the king be enthralled by your beauty; honor him, for he is your Lord.” Forget these things, you are God’s beloved. Treasure your love relationship with Jesus and treasure your love and hearts of those whom are apart of our wonderful family of God. That is the will of God, that is fulfilling the two great commandments. These things are the things that we will enjoy for all time in God’s house.

I hope you all enjoyed listening to my story about Bob. I also hope you all have just a beautiful day. You are incredible special, you are blessed beyond measure, you are the treasure of our God’s heart and the apple of his eye. Don’t forget, don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

Your brother,

Joel

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