I love Fridays but this one didn't start out good.  I received terrible news that my best friend was tortured and murdered by a gang of evil, greedy and power-hungry men.  He died violently at their hands.   Our world has gone mad and this is a tragedy I may not get over easily.

From what I understand early this morning he was with his team and the gang showed up and took him away.  A fight broke out but in order to keep his friends from not being hurt, he told them to stop.  He and his team had supper together last night and they had a wonderful time.  It would be his last supper.

He was my best friend.  He cared about me.  He understood me.  No matter what I did or how I acted, he was always there for me.  When those old feelings of abandonment showed up in my life, he came to encourage me.  It gave me comfort knowing he would never leave me especially in my darkest hours.  I could call on him day or night and he would answer my call for help; he would support my efforts; his words of encouragement kept me going and sometimes all he did was lend a place for me to lean into him as I cried about my troubles. 

He was the one who called me into the tea party movement.  I didn’t want to do this but he said he needed others to stand in the gap for a while.   When I became fearful of what might happen to me or others in the movement, he said not to worry.  He would be with us all the way and he would lead us through this time.  He said it was important for people to stand up for freedom.   He said too much blood had been shed by others for our freedoms and it was our turn now to protect it for future generations.  I told him I didn’t have the knowledge or skills to do this job and he said he would give me what I needed.  He always fulfilled his promises and he didn’t fail the tea party members either. 

He knew all about freedom.  He hated chains of tyranny because he said all men were put here on this earth to be free.  He felt we were at our best when freedom reigned.  He even created a program to help men find freedom through him.  He was successful in getting his message out about his services and many people today are changed because of him.  He didn’t even charge anyone for these freedom gifts!  He paid the price himself.  He loved his fellow man and was willing to put everything on the line to keep us free from the evil likes of those who killed him.

The greatest thing about him was he seemed to understand the big picture of life and he didn’t dabble in the little mundane things that really didn’t matter.  He knew the importance of helping others and he wanted to make sure all had hope in their future.  He said a lot of people would come into our lives with empty promises of hope.  He challenged us to be careful and investigate those people thoroughly.  He told us to be watchful and to guard those things most precious to us – life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.  He really felt we should live for others and if we did, the world would be a better place.

He didn’t live in the past.  He forgave you if you hurt him.  I was always amazed at how he would let things roll off his back.  When I wanted to rant and rave about a situation, he would sit and listen and then some magical words of knowledge would flow forth and I would feel foolish for my anger.  He didn’t make me feel that way; I did when I realized how childish I sounded.

He encouraged me to forgive those who hurt me.  He said if I forgave, then it was easier for people to forgive me.  He abhorred those who were judgmental towards others.  He said that if we judge people, then they can judge us by the same standards!  He was not a worrier and said that every day would take care of itself.  His focus was always on today.  He said, “You never know if tomorrow will come.”  How right he was.  His tomorrow is not to be either and that is too difficult for me to comprehend.

He was a great leader and had the ability to bring all types of people into his organization.  Rich, poor, criminals, prostitutes, thieves, women and men could all be found working together for the mission of the organization.  They learned to work together for a common goal and they traveled far and wide to get his message of love out to all the people.  There were times his team failed, but he was always there to encourage them and support their efforts.  He didn’t sit back and wait for them to do everything.  He was what some call a Servant Leader.  He was willing to go the extra mile for the mission.  If he asked you to do something, he would do it with you.  He was not above serving those who really should have been serving him. 

He was not rich yet he was one of the richest people I have ever met.  He was rich in wisdom and rich in love.  I never felt more loved at any point in my life than I did when he was with me.  When he wasn’t around, the darkness choked me and fear would set in.  Panic attacks, depression, and mistrust would consume me and the minute he came to save me, all that would disappear.  It was so much easier to live with him than without him.  I fear how life will be now that he is gone.

His organization was doing well and many people wanted his services.  The tragedy occurred because he had an infiltrator in his organization that was there for his own personal gain.  This team member was a good guy at one time but he hooked up with the wrong crowd and he began to question my friend’s leadership.  From what I understand, he is at the center of this tragedy and will personally gain from my friend’s murder.  I am sure he is suffering today for the role he played because I know he is not that kind of a man.  I fear he will not be able to look himself in the mirror anymore.

His mother is distraught which is understandable.  From the time of his birth, she knew he was special.  She adored him and believed he had a special calling on his life.  She was very proud of her son. 

His organization has shut down until further notice.  We are unable to get the full report because members of his team cannot be found.  We believe they are in fear for their own lives too so they are in hiding.    It seems that only the women who were on his team are out and about.  They are working on his burial and have much work to do.  My hope is that his organization will revive itself again and the lessons he taught his people will be carried on by them.

There are so many stories to tell you about my friend.  He helped so many people.  He provided medical attention for those in need.  He helped feed thousands of people when no food was available.  He helped hurting and sick people and his calm demeanor and powerful presence was a force of healing in their lives. 

Prior to starting his organization, he was a carpenter.  He loved to fish and even when others were not getting any on their line, he seemed to pull in a boat load.  We laughed and said it appeared the fish loved this man and wanted to be caught by him too! 

He was not married and children loved to sit on his lap and listen to him speak.  His friends are many because he was a devoted friend to all of them.  His enemies may have taken him down but for some reason, I feel I will see him again. 

If you asked me, I would say this man walked on water! 

I will miss him and wish you could have known him too.  The world has lost a great man and it will never be the same without him.  I will not be the same either.

A good friend is planning his burial and it will be private.  Due to the circumstances of his death, guards will stand at attention to ensure no one damages any of the evidence.  There are many preparations being made today and I will keep you posted on any other news we hear about this tragedy. 

Please pray for his family, his friends, his team and those whom he touched in his short life but meaningful life.  He will be missed and if you didn’t know him, you missed the greatest love ever on the face of this earth.

It’s amazing to think my friend was killed in this way.  He was such a loving person.  He did no one any harm.  Without a doubt, I know if he were here he would say, “Forgive them, for they didn’t know what they were doing.”   That is who he was and I’ll try to be like him as a testimony to my friend.  It will be difficult because I’m not as strong as him.  I am weak but he was strong.

Take a moment and listen to this song which is amazing.  It was one of his favorites and is sung by a little girl with an angelic voice.  He loved to hear the little children sing and he spoke of their sweet innocence and how we should all be like them. 

My dear Emmanuel, sleep well.  Your work is done here and tomorrow a new day dawns.  I love you and thank you for loving me in spite of myself.  God bless you.

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