Happy Birthday, Accordion Man!

Accordion Man, originally uploaded by Praying for Lions.

Today is February 26th, 2008...My dad would have celebrated his 76th birthday today! Happy Birthday, Dad!

My dad left this world much too soon. He was only 62. I can't believe it's been almost 14 years since the day he died. Time really does fly.

Ray Jordan packed a lot of living into his 62 years on this earth. He grew up poor in rural West Tennessee...Jackson was just a wide place in the road in those days. He grew up in a broken home without a dad but he fought his way out of poverty and put his patriotism to work by serving during the Korean War. He used his GI bill to earn his Bachelor's in Accounting from Memphis State University.

Dad was married to mom for 38 years. He gave his kids what he never had...a dad who was always there to provide a good role model.

Dad worked for the University of Tennessee for 28 years! His job title was Assoc. Vice-President of Business and Finance. He would have been thrilled by Tennessee's win over Memphis on Saturday! If you cut him, he would bleed bright Tennessee Orange.

Dad came to know Christ as an adult. He served as a Sunday School teacher, a deacon, a church treasurer, and yes...even as the chairman of a building finance committee. His study Bible (its margins crowded with notes) is one of my most cherished possessions. His one piece of advice to me when I became a pastor, "Son, whatever you do, don't preach past twelve o'clock!"

Dad taught me the brevity of life. His "Home-Going" was all too sudden. I'm glad that dad and mom taught me about Jesus' victory over death and the grave. When we gathered at his graveside, we knew that it wasn't a final "goodbye" but rather "Dad, we'll see you in a little while."

Did I mention that Dad loved the accordion? Oh, yeah. I went to sleep each night listening to the sounds of dad practicing. Now you know why I'm strange...what's your excuse?

Hey, Dad! It's your birthday today! Happy Birthday, Accordion Man!

Live the Red,

Mark