So how do I know it's a great family?
By their kids.
The niece married a good one.
And he had a brother who did something that a lot of 19 year olds don't do.
He died.
But he died in such a way that people saw Jesus.
It was obvious.
It was right there.
In his selflessness.
In his attitude.
All the way through his struggle and ultimate victory.
When it was determined that the cancer was terminal, I read that the Make-A-Wish Foundation gave him $5,000 to fulfill a dream.
Now that was a great thing to do.
And he appreciated it, too, I'm told.
It allowed him to buy a refrigerated truck for his favorite ministry, Pastor Pappy's Community Outreach and Food Closet.
(Now doesn't that just sound like something a teenager'd get into?)
And his wish was to help out where he could -
To give a refrigerated truck.
Now there's a wish the Foundation probably didn't see coming.
Yep. Quite the guy.
Pondering things over a cup of the Elixir, I think it is very possible that he couldn't have done otherwise.
Really.
His name might've had something to do with it. It has Scriptural premise.
He was given the same name as Saint Andrew.
You remember Andrew in the Gospels, right?
Brother to Peter, one of the three that made up the inner circle with Jesus.
But not Andrew.
He had a unique calling.
A gift.
Every time he's mentioned doing something in the Bible,
Andrew is always bringing someone to Jesus . . .
His brother, Peter, and buddies, James and John . . .
A little boy with a lunch of fish and bread; more than enough to feed a multitude . . .
(That might explain the refrigerated truck.
Well, it could - kinda.)
And then there's the Greeks - those uncircumcised, the outsiders - that wanted to see Jesus . . .
Yeah.
I didn't really know this young man.
I'm sure I met him, along with 40 other new faces, at the wedding.
But ya know,
I wish I could've known him a little better, hindsight being 20/20 and all.
From what I've heard, he's the kind of guy you'd like have a cup of the Elixir with.
A good man.
It seems he was a young man who lived up to his saintly namesake as well as making his family and his Lord very proud.
Very proud indeed.
Good bye, Andrew.
We'll see you later, eh?.