Category: Friends

Great weekend

Well I do believe this year’s birthday (28 – geeze) may have been one of the best. I’m really blessed with a great family and great friends.
I think what may have made this year’s birthday so great may have simply been spending it with Laurie and the fact that I really didn’t expect anything for my birthday yet I got a number of great, thoughtful gifts, especially from unexpected places.
Friday night Laurie and I babysat for her brother and sister-in-law in Forney. Jake and Brooklyn are definitely one of a kind. I taught Jake how to play checkers and he didn’t want to do anything else the rest of the night. Now I need to teach him chess and see if he can beat me 4 games to 1 in that as well.
Brooklyn on the other hand went right to bed after dinner at Chick-Fil-A and sharing her ice cream cone with me. That was a fun and very messy experience.
Saturday morning Laurie and I had our first wedding shower at our parent’s church. I was the only guy in the room until my cousin Delaina brought her six-month old son Matthew to the party. I made sure to hang out with him for as long as I could. Of course me holding and feeding Matthew at a wedding shower had all those church ladies talking.
I’m quite certain that everyone believes Laurie and I will have our first child well before my sister Kara and her new husband, Tim — which is somewhat understandable considering Kara’s only 22 — but we’re in no rush either. Give us a year at least.
Saturday evening Laurie and I returned to an old haunt, Schezuan Pavilion for dinner.
I spent many birthday’s there in high school and it was great to be back — especially with Laurie. Their Chinese buffet is still one of the best on my list.
After dinner we went to watch Amazing Grace and I loved it.
It really opens your eyes to the true meaning behind the song and the abolitionist movement in the U.K.
Granted, I’m a big baby but there were several points where I got teary eyed watching the movie.
It was also great to see a movie with a pretty strong Christian message that didn’t suck.
I thought the editing was a little weak at times and it occasionally reminded me of a Hallmark movie feature but otherwise I thought it was a great true story with actors who came across as truly passionate in their craft.
I’m a big fan of Albert Finney since his role in Big Fish. I thought he played the role of John Newton with great passion and skill.
Definitely a must see. (read more on the WDL blog)
Sunday of course was another great time at encounter, followed by Jose helping me install my new Sirius satellite radio and then Laurie joining me for entry Sunday night.
All in all, a full, busy and tiring weekend but well worth it — and no pictures on my part to remember it by. Doh.

In memory of Jerry Diffee

Jerry Diffee
DIFFEE, JERRY WAYNE, Age 64, passed away February 12, 2007.

He was born September 11, 1942. in Dallas, Texas, to Buford Elmer and Zola Vandergriff Diffee, who have predeceased him. He was also preceded in death by sisters Doris Diffee and Martha Diffee; and one brother, David Diffee.

He is survived by his wife of 38 years, Charlotte Palmer Diffee; three sons, Jeffrey and wife Delaine, Jonathan and wife Michelle, Jason and wife Allison; and six grandsons, Dillon, Payton, Tanner, Micah, Mason, and Logan. He is also survived by a brother Charles Diffee and wife Lavina, a sister Joan and husband Wayne Starkweather, and sister-in-law Cheryll Diffee.

Jerry served as Associate Minister at Metropolitan Bible Church for over 40 years. He had oversight of youth and senior adult ministries, and taught a Sunday School class. He was well-known in the community for his involvement in the Kiwanis Club, Southeast Dallas Chamber of Commerce, Sparks Foundation, Southeast Dallas YMCA, and Southeast Dallas Emergency Food Center. Jerry was also a member of the Board of Directors of Hidden Acres Retreat Center, Kaufman, Texas.

Services will be held at Casa View Baptist Church. 2626 Gus Thomasson Road, Thursday, February 15, 2007 at 1:30 p.m. Presiding ministers will be his brother, Rev Charles R. Diffee; and Rev. Keith Treadway, Pastor of Metropolitan Bible Church. Visitation will be Wednesday, February 14, at Grove Hill Funeral Home from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Memorials may be made to Hidden Acres, Box 1462, Mesquite, TX 75185. Dignity Memorial Grove Hill 3920 Samuell Blvd. Dallas (214) 388-8887

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Jerry will be missed by all. Matt and I still joke that we always knew when Jerry wanted us to do something or we were in trouble — he’d always ask us to meet him for a burger at Griff’s, his treat.

He lived a life that loved God and loved His people.

Even the morning of his collapse he led another soul into the kingdom of heaven.

Jerry had a major impact on my life and my thoughts and prayers and with Charlotte and the rest of the family.

Rest in the embrace of your Savior Jerry. Well done.

My boy is growing up

Chad Crawford, who was “my son” one year for UMHB’s Welcome Week is being featured on the Beatitudes Society.

When we got to the summit, we could not believe what we saw there—an expansive panoramic view of the northern part of San Francisco Bay and an exquisite lodge where we could sit and catch our breaths. They even poured us water out of wine bottles with fancy green leaves inside! I knew I wasn’t in Texas anymore. It was a far cry from the extreme poverty we saw everyday on the streets of San Francisco—but geographically only a few miles away. I believe that there are people in my generation who want everyone to enjoy a better quality of life, who want to work to close the gap between the wealthy and the poor, who want to be better stewards of God’s creation. We believe that all of these visions are connected. Sometimes we have to take paths that haven’t been made yet, and sometimes we find roads that have been paved by those who have already been at it for decades, creating the society that my generation also wants.

Read his full article
He also has an ongoing blog.

Thomas Lehmann – Feb 11, 1947 – March 23, 2006

Tom Lehmann
LEHMANN,, THOMAS VICTOR 59, went to be with his Lord and Savior Thursday, March 23, 2006. Tom was born Feb. 11, 1947, in San Diego, Calif. to Robert and Lorraine Lehmann. He met his wife Susan Hinton in front of the Dixie Dog Stand in Sulphur, Okla., where both were attending a church camp revival meeting. The two married soon afterwards in Dallas at the Boulder Drive Church of Christ on Jan. 19, 1968. Tom was a traveling evangelist and he and his wife started their new family as they served at at various churches in Georgia, Ohio, Missouri, California and Texas. The two finally settled in the Dallas area in 1971. For the next 31 years Tom worked in route sales including a 16 1/2 year career with Little Debbie. Tom was an active member at Metropolitan Bible Church in Dallas for over three decades. He served as a youth worker, deacon, and Sunday school teacher. Tom was known among his friends and co-workers as a man of integrity with a great sense of humor. He was a humble, sweet spirit who loved his entire family, especially his grandchildren, but most of all the Lord Jesus Christ. He often expressed himself through his music and humor and showed demonstrative love to everyone he came in contact with. His parents, brother Robert, and son’s fiancee Amy Blundell preceded Tom in death. He is survived by his wife, Susan, four sons and their families; Paul and Naomi of Mesquite. Tim and Amber of Rowlett, Aaron and Keri of Cedar Hill and Matt of Waxahachie; five granddaughters; one grandson; two step-granddaughters and two step-great-grandsons, and sister Darlene Lehmann of Lakeside, CA. Visitation will be held 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday. March 27, at Grove Hill Funeral Home in Dallas. Funeral services will be held at 10a.m., Tuesday. March 28, at Metropolitan Bible Church in Dallas, with Rev. Keith Treadway and Rev. Charles R. Diffee officiating, Interment will follow at Grove Hill Memorial Park. Memorials may be made to the Amy Elizabeth Blundell Memorial Camp Scholarship at Metropolitan Bible Church. 8501 Bruton Rd., Dallas, Texas. 73217 Dignity Memorial Grove Hill 3920 Samuell Blvd. Dallas (214) 388-8887