2019 GGO
As our 2019 GGO (Greater Greek Open) comes to a close, I’m sitting on the terrace overlooking the lake. This week seemed to fly by as a bunch of old friends reconnect right where we left off last year. We have laughed and joked around all week like we were back in college. This was our 31st year of getting together to play golf for a few days and reconnect. We all met at Johnson Bible College together back in 1979 to begin studying for ministry. We are now a funny group of old farts who play golf and tell some of the same stories on one another each year.
Introductions:
Tony Atkins (“Mr. Pres”) is from College Station, TX (Row 1 Center)
Jeff Bullock (Greek) is from Sturgis, KY (Row 3 Right)
Tim Burgiss (“Bim”) is from Corning, AK (Row 1 Right)
Dwayne Hicks (“Derwood” & “Draino”) is from Carrollton, GA (Row 2 Left)
Dave Locke (“Lave Docke”) is from Maryville, TN (Row 3 Left)
Terry Ray (“Daddy Rabbit”) is from Maryville, TN (Row 3 Center)
Tim Ray (“Floyd” “Skeets”) is from Blueridge, GA (Row 2 Right)
Doug “O.B” Roberts is from Powell, TN (Row 1 Left)
Gravity and time have made us look somewhat different than we looked years ago. We eat too much. We talk too much. We are slow. We are out of shape. We are blunt with each other. We are honest with one another. We are there for one another. I can call any of these guys and they will be there for me as quickly as they can. (Note: “Quickly” means something different 40 years later!)
We did talk about our journey with the Lord some this week as well. We are all serving quite differently in our local churches. We all still seek the heart of God and work at our walk with Him each day. We were sitting out on the terrace by the fire and gazing up at the stars and one of us said: “The heavens declare the glory of God.” Our accommodations for our GGO this year was on Lake Wedowee. We had sunset cruises on the lake and morning Bible Study Boat rides. On one of the morning Bible Study rides we looked more carefully at this passage. Check this out….
1 The heavens proclaim the glory of God.
The skies display his craftsmanship.
2 Day after day they continue to speak;
night after night they make him known.
3 They speak without a sound or word;
their voice is never heard.
4 Yet their message has gone throughout the earth,
and their words to all the world.
God has made a home in the heavens for the sun.
5 It bursts forth like a radiant bridegroom after his wedding.
It rejoices like a great athlete eager to run the race.
6 The sun rises at one end of the heavens
and follows its course to the other end.
Nothing can hide from its heat. (Psalm 19:1-6 NLT)
We profoundly love and respect one another and have deep relationships that have gotten stronger over the years. We are more like family now than just friends. I am very thankful for our paths crossing those many years ago.
Pressing On!
Dwayne
As always it takes too long to get here and ends too quickly… I am indeed blessed to have such good friends for such a long time… God bless to each of you.
We always start off each year like a moment has not even passed. These men are my brothers. We have a connection that is hard to express. We laugh, we cry, we cry laughing! We pray for one another. My first text when something comes up is to our group text. Love these guys!
I stayed outside a little longer than everyone Friday night just to get one last look at the Alabama sky. The word “awesome” was the word that came to my mind. We overuse that word a lot. But, God is truly awesome! The stars over Alabama are pretty awesome! God put each one in it’s place……Our God is an awesome God, He reigns from Heaven above with wisdom, power, and love…our God is an Awesome God! Blessed to have my lifelong friends.
Love how this week has gone from a short 2 day outing to almost a full week. The time spent together will not compare to our time in heaven when it will be spent with those we love here on earth for eternity. I never laugh so hard, never compete so hard ,never pray so hard and love so hard when I’m with these guys. Fellas, love you and these 31 years have been great. Let’s do again! 😃
Without question the GGO is my favorite week of each year. As the years go by it is more difficult to act like we are 20 years old again, but we give it the old college try.
The GGO to me is a little heaven on earth, and O what a foretaste of glory divine!
I love you all my GGO brothers!
I remember 31 years ago were Terry told be that the GGO was a one time thing the guys were going to do. Ha ha. So glad you have each other. What a bless your week together is to you guys and to your wife’s. Hope you know how much I appreciate you all. GGO forever.