Jim Priest is CEO of Goodwill Industries of Central Oklahoma and can be reached at jpriest@okgoodwill.org. My Dad passed away some years ago and I still miss him every day.

You’ve lived long enough to have heard a bunch of tired cliches and old sayings, I know. One of Andy’s favorites from an old friend is this; “Better hold your holt.” His meaning? Hold your holt…holding on for dear life to your faith in God.

The four gospels not only record the events of what is now known as the first Easter but also bring insight into the emotional impact of those events on the followers of Christ. From the initial sadness brought on by his death on the cross, to the disbelief about his return to life, to the jubilation that came with the acceptance of his resurrection, the first Easter was one those who witnessed it would never forget. Yet strangely, even though the events of that time were recorded in detail by four different biblical authors, none of these men set down the date when it happened.

I received a letter from my lifelong friend, Don Self, recently. I thought so much of his parents, the late Charlie and Lanell Self. They were not only great teachers but two of the finest Christians I have ever known.

Dear Next Generation. It’s important to look at the deeper meaning behind Valentine’s Day because there’s a lot more going on besides heart-shaped boxes of chocolate, flowers, and teddy bears.