Anything that happens during the rest of 2007 will probably be an anticlimax after my last birthday celebration. Family and friends at Riverside spoiled me with goodies and gifts, jillions of cards, phone calls and emails. The first one to remember my birthday was my "number one" son, Steve. He drove all the way from Fort Worth a whole week early just to deliver his cards and gifts personally. He also took the time to help me set up my new computer which replaced the antiquated one I've been wrestling with daily. Dan, my computer-gifted grandson at Dell, helped me select it. For my birthday, he personally financed the state-of-the-art upgrades. This is the first time that I've been on the forefront of computer technology. Wow, what a piece of equipment this is! It could easily transform you into a computer addict. Good thing I love Jesus more than Bill Gates. Come to think of it, there have been times in the past when I wanted to toss Bill Gates out of one of his "Windows!" He probably would not have enjoyed the "Vista".

 

Then another part of our precious clan, Des and Lisa Steyn, made a fleeting visit to Kerrville to honour their old dad. Lisa and I go back a long way. In fact, she was the first one to be "Daddy's girl" and helped me to earn the title, "Dad". Their two daughters, Lauren and Christy, are two outstanding, spiritual young ladies. They have often sent their "hard earned" pocket money to support the Bible College in South Africa. Des' mother, visiting from South Africa, was also here. Norma was among the first people whom I taught and baptized into Christ in Benoni many years ago. An extra bonus was to have present Dan and his wife, Sheena, who used her considerable talents to make a most beautiful birthday cake. This is the first time I have ever had three birthday cakes! Does that make me two hundred and ten??!

 

It's unfortunate that our other two daughters, who live in Memphis and New Zealand, were too far away to have been here. "Daddy's Darlings" (and their families) were sadly missed. Still, I suppose that I must be grateful for our children who were able to be here. On sweet sister reminded me,"See, Al, if you and Donna weren't in America, your children couldn't drop in on you." True! But it's also true that the McGuffins (with the help of Gayle and Tom Baird) hosted a beautiful luncheon for my birthday celebration. It's only natural that I would mention the McGuffins and Bairds in the same context with our children because they are also "family". Both of those families are not only related to us in Christ but they also have a South African connection. Both  families have lived in South Africa -- Lyle and Colleen McGuffin were students at our Bible College in the seventies. Gayle Baird, of course, was born in South Africa.

 

Birthdays are fabulous--even those that mark the Biblical benchmark--three score and ten, Psalm 90:10 (KJV). Mostly, they affirm us! They remind us that we are loved.They mark important milestones on our earthly pilgrimage, Hebrews 11:13-14. They point to God as the giver and sustainer of all life, Colossians 1:17. God blesses us with many days. One card humourously expressed it, "'You know,  Methuselah, you still don't look a day over 700' -- celebrating yet again the day the Lord made you!" (Did they mean me!? Methuselah? Excuse me??) Another card is also a keeper, "If God had a candy bar, He'd give you half. If you told a joke, He'd surely laugh. If God had a scrapbook, you'd be in it. If He held a raffle, He'd let you win it. May the same God Who sent His only Son send you blessings filled with birthday fun."

 

Yep, it's all on the cards. I hope your birthday celebration matches or surpasses mine.

 

Love you all,

 

Al -- "The Horne of Africa".

 

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