This Isn't Good Bye. It's See You Soon (For Tom and John).

There are approximately 7.286 billion people in the world and that number is constantly increasing. Yet, if only one of those 7.286 billion people were to breathe their last, it would't go unnoticed. This past weekend, the world lost a wonderful man, but eternity gained him. This man was Tom McNaughton.

At a certain point in my life, I realized how important each and every person was to me whether you are family or whether I've met you in person. Even more so this past year when the Lord called six more home. I wanted to know how many people there actually were. Therefore I (awhile back) began to make a list. If I met you and talked to you more than once, you are most likely on it. The list is not complete, but at last count there were 815 names. That is a lot of people. The Lord placed every single one in my life. So as a way to cope with loss and for others as well, I once again take the time to remember not one, but two brothers in Christ.

Tom McNaughton was someone who I didn't know well personally. But through the church and through his children, I began to know who he was. I had talked to him in brief at large church events and have heard him speak before, but even in those small moments, I saw a man who loved the Lord, his family, and the church. One thing I liked most was that he could always make you smile. Anytime I saw his name appear on Facebook, I would take more time than usual to read the post because that meant it was either good or he would say a simple comment that made it ten times better. He was funny, intelligent, took no bs, and was never afraid to show his pride in his family.

He was also a veteran. That in itself deserves high honor. For someone to put his own life in check and defended this country, built on freedom, and where the currency still reads "In God We Trust," is a great sacrifice. This country needs more patriots like him. So thank you Tom.

One last thing that I admired most about him is his family.  I met many of them before I met Tom, but by the time I did, I felt like I already knew him. All his children live up to the McNaughton name.They all reflect what it is to be a McNaughton. Through all the stuff they've been through in life, no matter what some people may think, you could tell he was proud of every single one.


I made a small mention in my New Year's post about those who passed on last year. I wrote a post before that on Brian Brickner. Now I'm writing one about Tom. It now seems fitting to me that I should write about John Schneider as well. Like Tom, John's passing was sudden an unexpected. I had so much going on in my life and had been swamped with previous losses that I couldn't bring myself to write another memorial so soon. Now I feel I should.

I first met John when I moved to Ohio nearly 12 years ago. As a 12 year old kid I saw him as one of the older ones who was trying to make me feel welcome. One of the ways he did so was by playfully picking on me then laughing afterwards to show he meant no harm. It was not long after that a series of events occurred in which I got to know who he truly was.

The first was a little over a year after we moved. He organized a Gettysburg bicycle trip and the best part was was that it was right near where I grew up. So not only did he take me back to where I longed to be at the time, all my new friends got to experience where I grew up and I experienced Gettysburg in a way I never had before.

The winter following the Gettysburg trip, he was assigned as my group leader for Ignite at Camp Tecumseh. I'll admit I was nervous because I didn't know how this older man would be able to keep up with us Jr. highers. But he surprised me. He kept up with us for the whole weekend, including the activities and power sessions. A year later, he was my group leader again as we ventured north of the border to Toronto, Canada. Two of my favorite memories of John came from here. The first is that during a rotation activity, we had to apply face paint to each other, but only with the brush pressed between our wrists (no fingers allowed). He at first sat by a watched us but then decided to get some paint too. I asked him what he wanted and he simply said "Write 'I love Sue'". So that's exactly what I did. He left it on for the rest of the evening too.

The second memory happened when we were waiting for the power session to start. There were jump ropes lying around and we were playing with them. After a few minutes, John asked to have one. He then began to twirl it as if he was a kid again. I was pretty impressed at his jump roping skills.

The thing I admired most about him was his heart for the church, the saints, and the young people. John was always willing to be involved, helping out however he could. When he was full of the Spirit, he would testify multiple times in one meeting because he couldn't hold back. One weekend, Mike Samulak and Ben Shumway organized a high school/jr. high time at the Huntington House (Ashland was only a frame for the Great Room at the time). John came for the weekend to serve because he enjoyed being with us. On Saturday evening we had gone out to play Ultimate Frisbee and it was a little cold and somewhat wet. Both Mike and Ben joined. Where was John? Through the window you could see him smiling as he watched us while cooking chili for us all. That was John.


For those we love and cherish, no time is the right time. Neither of these brothers were young, but both their passings were out of the blue. Last Saturday during the Cleveland young people's meeting (this was before I found out Tom had passed), one of the young people suggested we each give one reason as to why we can bless the Lord. Most of them said because He carries them through hard times, is always there, loves them, etc. When it was my turn, I told them that I can bless the Lord because of the people he has put in my life. I didn't tell them this, but that includes those who sometimes rub me the wrong way. Because each and every person can affect you, move you, shape you in your Christian walk whether they themselves are saved or not. I hardly knew Tom and I knew John well. But both men were part of the Church. Both men had an affect on my life. Both finished the race. This is one of the best things about the Christian life. When we go to be with the Lord, for those of us left on the earth, this isn't good bye. It's see you soon.

The Joys of Fishing

I love the great outdoors, especially in the warmer weather. Which is also why summer can't get here soon enough. One of the many passions I have that pertains to being outdoors is fishing. I'll admit I'm not as hardcore as other fishermen. I won't fish in the freezing cold or winter (unless it's an ice fishing trip), I won't get up at the crack of dawn to get the early biters, and I generally won't fish in areas that lack action or make for very uncomfortable fishing. But aside from all that, fishing is wonderful.

An old English proverb goes "Give a man a fish and he'll eat for a day. Teach a man to fish and he'll eat for life." What joy do I get from it? The new lures ready for action and wanting to see how they do. Using lures that have served me well and hope they continue to do so. Being the hunter by taking a vast body of water and trying to find the lunkers. The adrenaline rush of a fish taking the bait and you have to idea what species it is or how big it actually is. The sight of the hooked fish flying out of the water or the violent strike of a hungry one as it nails the top water lure. Being out in nature, calm, quiet, peaceful.

Every other year we go to Wisconsin to visit family, but it could also be considered a week long fishing trip. One summer as I was on the lake, I could hear the loons calling in the distance. I'd see the occasional splash of a feeding fish. I had a monarch butterfly land on my leg. A family of American Bald Eagles flew overhead. All this while reeling in a two foot Northern Pike.

Some opposed to fishing claim it's cruel. Studies have been done and proven that fish do not have the neuro-psychological capacity to feel pain. That hook in their mouth, it more of an annoyance than anything else. And what about those who claim animals are not for eating? Genesis 9:1-2 says "The fear and dread of you will fall on all the beasts of the earth, and on all the birds in the sky, on every creature that moves along the ground, and on all the fish in the sea; they are given into your hands. Everything that lives and moves about will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything." 

I haven't yet mastered this art, but I am in no way terrible either. However, this is not the only type of fishing I do. For all of us who believe in Jesus Christ, we also all are meant to be fishers. Not of fish, but of men. The Lord made all creation, including every single person who came before, who is, and who is yet to come. It is His desire that all men be saved. For many, they cannot enter into this gift unless they are "caught" by a fisher of men. "And He said to them, 'Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.'"~Matthew 4:19

Nowhere does the Bible say you have to be a master or even good at it. Because even a bad fisherman get's lucky. Just as the joy of catching a fish is great in a child's eyes, even greater is the joy for a person who repents of his sins and comes to Christ.