4 ONE October–November 2013
FirstGlimpse Thank You Bows, ribbons, stars, flowers, lace, curlicues… I shook my head in disgust as I worked my way down the card aisle. I couldn't help but wonder, "Do they even make masculine thank you cards these days?" After a diligent search, I finally found a no-frills, navy blue note with a simple "Thank You" in bold, white print. Perfect. (It was stuck behind a pink card with peacock feathers and a shiny, purple border. Yuck!) Later, while I penned a message in the card, I wondered again, "Have men stopped saying thanks?" As I considered my own shaky track record, I decided it is time to express some long-overdue words of gratitude: • Mom, thanks for the long nights you pored over schoolwork. I can still hear the click of your red pencil as you made corrections, wrote out detailed lesson plans, and passed down your work ethic along the way. (Oh, and thanks for not killing me the time I dropped a perfect lemon meringue pie on the way to Homecoming.) • Dad, I didn't need an alarm clock for the first 18 years of my life. Your accordion did the trick. That accordion—annoying as it was—signaled that you had finished hours of Bible study while I slept. Thanks for teaching me to love and respect the Word of God. • Mark Trout, you taught this shy, chubby bookworm that life is more than the end of the next chapter. Thanks for teaching me to "write my own story," accepting each challenge God places along the way. The adventure continues to unfold. • " You are a good writer. You should develop this talent." Mr. Shafer, you will never know how much those 10 words affected my life. Thanks. I still have the essay on which you wrote them. (It may have been the only "A" I made in your class.)
Okay, it’s your tu rn. to thank one pers I challenge you on send an email, po this week, whether you st better) send a ha a Facebook note, or (even ndwritten note. Never underestim at handful of well-p e God’s ability to use a laced words. • Bethlehem Church, thanks for putting up with beginner mistakes for 21 years. • Jack Williams, thanks for taking a rookie writer under your wing, teaching me the ropes, especially the importance of the third edit, and introducing me to the enchantment of Free Will Baptist history. • The Brewers—Jim and family—on behalf of pastors everywhere, thank you for your faithfulness. You continually remind me how vital godly, dedicated laymen are to the work of the Kingdom. Kansas State Moderator Zane Brooks recently said, "I just don't know what this state would do without Jim." I'll second that! • Thanks to ONE Magazine readers, especially those who periodically drop checks in the mail to help cover costs. Your gifts are far more than funds. You inspire me to keep striving for excellence!
You will find no flowers or frills on this page, but you can be sure the words are sincere. They represent only a fraction of the gratitude I feel for the many people who have made such a profound impact on my life. eric thomsen, managing editor
Editor-in-chief: Keith Burden Managing Editor: Eric Thomsen Associate Editors: Ken Akers, David Brown, Danny Conn, Elizabeth Hodges, Ida Lewis, Ray Lewis, Deborah St. Lawrence, Sara Poston, Stephen Nelson, Jack Williams Layout & Design: Randall House Publications Design Manager: Andrea Young Design: Sondra Blackburn, Marianne Mandrell Printing: Randall House Publications. While ONE Magazine is provided to the reader free of charge, tax-deductible donations are both accepted and appreciated. To make a donation, simply send check or money order to ONE Magazine, PO Box 5002, Antioch, TN 37011-5002. PHOTO CREDIT: Sean Warren, Mark Cowart, Eric Thomsen, Shutterstock.com, Istockphoto.com, Stockxpert.com, Designpics.com.