What a great message this past Sunday. The only thing wrong with it was that I realized that i have fallen asleep on many occasions. Too many ! Got a call from a old friend of mine today, July 3rd, 2008, and she told me that "Jimbo" died today. Jimbo was a friend that I spent the better part of my late teen years clear up to the time I was 24 years old. I'm talking day and night, week after week, month after month from around 1972 till around 1981 or so and sporadically ever since. After Tammy and I was married, Jimbo was my #2 man, and he and Jane was married, I was Jimbos #2 man, we kinda drifted apart. Me to the Arcadia Valley and Him to Winfield. Last time I seen him was at his mother's funeral a couple of years ago.

Any hoo, Jimbo and me did everything together. Some good, some not so good. We were not in God at that time. We drank, smoked, ran around, used drugs, built Harley's from parts in a box and had each others backs. Jimbo was a bro, as we called ourselves in those days. Trusted to the very end.

After Tammy and I were saved in 1988, people did not come around that often any more, and to be honest we did not go around them that often either. So you just chalk it up to different strokes for different folks type thing.

Jimbo was 52 years old. Died of kidney failure and diabetes. He died as he walked out of his house to do his dyalislis this morning. I would love make this a happy ending and to say that Jimbo knew the Lord before he passed on, but unless he had a death bed conversion, he was not. I had fallen asleep, and his life slipped thru the cracks. Someone please help me to stay awake.

Jimbo was a good man. Loved his wife and children. Loved his mom and dad, sister and brother-in-law.(My best man, Derrick). He would give you anything. Do anything for you. Never hurt a person who didn't earn it. He was the defender of people that the world considered weak.Many times we had to "help" in in a bar room situation after Jimbo found a young lady or man who was being picked on by bullies or thugs. Jimbo hated people that picked on weaker people and was not afraid to let people know it.

I pray that when Jimbo walked out of his door this morning and felt the life leaving him that he cried out to Jesus and received Him.

Only eternity will tell.

No funeral for Jimbo, no wake, no visitation. He would of not wanted that. Just memories. With Winfield, Mo in the news so much lately Jimbo had been on my mind. I kept saying that I needed to call him and to say hello. I did not do it, I was asleep. God forgive me.

I guess I went long here, but I wanted to put something out there in honor of my friend, Jim Vernitte. I can here his voice telling me, as he did many times, " see you later turkey boy". So long, Jimbo, thanks for everything.