A mile east of my house, I noticed an arrangement of businesses that struck me as humorous. North of Parker Avenue at Alma you will find a 24 Hour Fitness Center. South of Parker Avenue at Alma you will find a Bally's Fitness Center. Between the two, you will find a 7-Eleven, Shipley's Donuts, Chubby's Restaurant, a Chinese restaurant (I don't remember the name), and a Pancho's All-You-Can-Eat Mexican Food Buffet. Location, location, location.

Family by Choice

"A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." (Proverbs 18:24, New International Version)

I learned from the example of my family growing up that "blood is thicker than water." I was taught you take care of your family first, no matter what, even if you didn't like them. So when I ran across the verse above, I didn't know what to make of it. It didn't fit. So I interpreted it in a way to fit what I had been taught. I had best friends, but none of them were closer than what a brother would be. Since no one was closer than family, this verse must have been referring to Jesus.

Then in 1976 a met a man my own age in San Antonio. We became friends, co-workers in church activities, confidants and business partners. He has taught me many things through the years, but none more precious than this: "There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." Thanks, Stormy.