Larry Herzhaft
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The man Ken.
Ken has finally left this earth. As we stand here today, his body is here but he is not.
What did Ken do with his time God allowed on this earth in this body?
He was not a man to wax eloquent with words and speak knowledge to the masses on life and living. He, in fact, was often an abrasive and harsh man. (Maybe very harsh at times as I'm certain some of you know).
Unlike most of us being expert at hiding what we truly thing or would like to express, he often had no social filter and things would come out raw and sharp, cutting the great day you were having to the ground that only a good nights rest and a fresh morning could cure. And then finding yourself sometimes, but not always, realizing Ken was right or pegged you personally more than you would ever be willing to admit.
Ken did not have any children. So he did not influence and nurture a family to have some say, yup those are surely Kens kids. They are going to be successful in this world. Watch and see. Ken did not seek to be known among men for some great academic achievement that the world could applaud but was quick to admit he had barely an 8th grade education though smarter than any PHD.
No, He did not make himself a man to be looked upon for what he wore, though he could afford it all and was often in worn out plaid shirts and work pants with holes and grease stains. He did not attract attention by the vehicle he drove, though he could afford luxury and performance that would make most covet but was often driving a pickup or stake truck everywhere.
He didn't invite the in crowd to a lavish home though he could easily have had a gated estate with all the breath taking features and guests a seasoned business owner might have. Ken, as the world would view, was a simple man neglecting those things the some would see as a successful man.
However......... he was indeed a great man.
Great?? You might ask. Not the Ken I knew. Yes he was a great man. Not as Ken the son of Viola and Martin Herzhaft, but as he lived his life a child of the king of kings and lord of lords, and was never, and I mean never ashamed to admit it and tell about who his heavenly father was.Ken understood his life was not of happenstance and that as Gods child, he (God) was the soul reason for his existence on this earth.
Ken believed in being a hard working man as God describes in Luke 9:62. God says, no man having put his hand to the plow and looking back is worthy of the kingdom of God. Meaning, once you start serving the Lord as his child, hold on tight to the things of God. Put effort into it. Don't look back or your path will not be straight. Don't look back on what you where or where you came from. Did Ken stumble along the way? Did the plow waver a little, if someone layed an eye to Kens furo was it straight the full length of the cut. Did it vear off mid way in a different direction. Was he a perfect child of God?
As all that knew him we could easily testify he was not, as I would hope all of us, in our heart of hearts, would admit about ourselves and how we have faltered along the way.
Ken new that all he had was given by God. His plow, Kens plow, fit Kens hands, no one else's. It cut deep enough for Ken to handle. Maybe not as deep as others, maybe not as shallow as some, however, when used as God would have it used, could allow great things to be grown. Ken understood what God expected of him and that all he had to do was keep plowing. Did he stumble and faulter along the way? Sure he did. But Ken would get back up, dust himself off, fix his eyes straight ahead again and keep doing and accomplishing Gods will in his life with the plow God gave him and let God decide what would grow in the furrow he plowed and how much.