To my brothers

Hi Jamie, Matthew, John,
I think of our dad often. I always have. I think of him concerning the past, what I knew of him, what he did, what he was like. I think of him concerning the things he is missing out on, our wives, our children, our accomplishments. I most certainly think of how I miss his heart-felt hugs. I'm sure we could all write lots of things along these lines but what I would really like to mention in this post is his refusal to compromise. I suppose you could call it his integrity.
Now, I know that I think incredibly fondly of him and one could easily say that I am making him out to be better than he was; exalting his good side and neglecting his bad one. But that is why I am addressing you guys. You know exactly what I mean, and you also know who he was.
I am both sad and honored to say that I have hardly met anyone like him. Sad in that I wish there were more people as "integro" as he was, and honored because I had the privilege of not only knowing him but also of being his son. His refusal to compromise was never accompanied by pride or stubbornness but rather grace and compassion. He must have settled in his heart at a younger age that he would not compromise his testimony nor the Word of God. He trusted God with his life. He trusted God with his family, his ministry, his belongings. He trusted God with his reputation. He believed, understood and lived the Scriptures stating "do it unto the Lord and not unto man."
Brothers, do you truly remember what a remarkable man he was? I ask this as an adult. More than anything, this post is meant to be a challenge more than a remembrance. As four adults that we are, as heads of household, are we holding true to the biblical principles we were raised with? Are we being men of integrity in our journey through life? We all have different jobs, callings, personalities, occupations. But are we refusing to compromise the Word of God in everything we do?
I have had the amazing privilege of interacting with Pastor Joe Webb over the past 2 and 1/2 years. In that time I have slowly realized that most of what he teaches, much of the way he talks and much of what he holds dear has been achingly familiar to me. It is vague in that many years have passed, but it is also familiar because it was what our dear parents taught us since tots, that the Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
I have shared this with Pastor Joe and he has reminded me that he was dad's youth pastor and a VERY close friend of his over the years. I have told Allyson that he is one of the painfully few people I know who have such a respect for God and a desire to honor Him above any man. Mom has also told me, or maybe I read it, that Grandpa Reed was the sweetest man she ever knew and I have a feeling that would include his fear and integrity before the Lord.
Brothers, although I praise these men, I acknowledge that without the grace of Christ in their lives, they are as filthy as the worst of men. I certainly praise and glorify God above them. May they simply be examples as men who came and went before us who followed HARD after the GOD who IS and that we would refuse to compromise even in the smallest of matters. That we would accept, believe and obey the Scriptures which are graciously given to us. The WORD will judge us someday and it is here for us to read, let us NOT be caught in slumber. Have your lamps ready my fellow 'virgins' (Matthew 25:1-13) and govern your house well. In Jesus' Name. I love you.