York Rite Festivals: Waco: Chap/Coun/Cdry on Sat., Oct 2 (8AM), Contact Daniel Walling ((254) 829-2910); Austin: MM, PM, MEM on Fri., Oct 8 (7PM), RAM, Coun/Cdry on Sat., Oct 9 (8AM), Contact John Whistler ((512) 515-5070); Denton: Chap/Coun/Cdry on Sat, Nov. 20 (6AM Bkfast) Contact Jason Pierce ((940) 391-3786). Courtesy candidates welcome.

Order of High Priesthood/Order of Silver Trowel Conferrals: Houston (Melrose Cdry): Oct 16 (3:00/4:30 PM); Waco (Grand Lodge): Dec 6 (7:00/8:30 PM).

Sesquicentennial Celebration in San Antonio on March 5, 2005 at Airport Holiday Inn Select-Airport, 77 Loop 410 NE, (210) 349-9900.

To the Sir Knights of Texas:

October is a month of change. Though in my part of Texas, seasonal change is less visible, we think of the leaves on the trees turning yellow and gold and beginning to fall. I have an October birthday, and this year will pass another milestone in my life attaining the "ripe ole age" of sixty. It is a milestone that I have actually looked forward to attaining since it means that I will finally begin drawing my Naval Reserve retired pay and all of the other benefits I earned as a member of the Armed Forces who served for 24 years.

The Fall of each year is also a time of cooler air and rain that comes with the Fall harvests, Octoberfests, and, of course, football season. As Fall rains dampen and restrain some of our outdoor activities, into our own personal lives a little rain must fall also-or, so goes the old adage. By our age, we know that means something unpleasant has occurred. That's my intro to tell you that a little rain that has fallen on my parade.

For those of you who have not already learned of the change in my health condition, on August 23, a prostate biopsy showed cancer. Although I was not pleased to hear the results, the report was very encouraging in that the cancer is small, believed to be contained and treatable. Although I have not decided the treatment option, I am leaning toward having the procedure recommended by my urologist, a radical prostatectomy, in December so I will have the Holidays to recover from the surgery, which I am told will take a minimum of three weeks out of the office and then some half days until I build back up to full steam at about 5-6 weeks. That will allow me to be up and running-so to speak-in time to participate in the installation of the officers of my Commandery in January.

I have already enlisted the prayers of our Grand Prelate who has been going through his own personal cancer problems with great strength of faith and successful treatment. What a great person to have chosen for that job at this time! His uplifting view of life is contagious. I really appreciate him and Sara and what splendid Christian role models they are. By the time you read this, they will have returned from attending our South Central Department Conference in Shreveport, si Dios quiere (If God wills it.).

I hope that I have not provided you with, as my staff said, "too much information," but I want you all to know what's happening. As I have mentioned in the past, I am quite confident that God has put each of us-including me-in our respective places of service at this time in our history for a purpose. This is merely my hurdle to overcome at this juncture in my race. We all face numerous hurdles in our daily walks, and I pray that as each of us looks in our own rear view mirrors, we can see how God has used all our experiences to His purpose. I am mindful of the admonition of Paul to the Thessalonians at 1 Thess. 5: 16-18:

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

As I pray for His Will in this new trial and test in my life, I solicit your prayers as Barbara and I face the decisions that must be made that they will, in fact, be in His Will. I know that rain does ruin a few parades, but it also provides refreshment and regeneration and allows a time to be reflective of the gifts and joys that God has given us, especially as we achieve other milestones in our lives.

In closing, I am also mindful that mine is not an isolated need for prayer, nor is my need any more or less important that the many Sir Knights across this Grand Jurisdiction of Texas who also need each of your prayers, perhaps more than I do. I therefore request your continued prayers for the many in our Templar Body who are suffering far more serious problems than am I. I encourage each of you to reach out with a word of comfort to each of them that you know personally. It will mean and does mean a great deal. The Psalms are replete with songs of ascent (120-134), in which the Psalmists reflects upon the fact that the Lord is from whom our help comes, that we should rejoice and be glad, for this is a day that the Lord has made (118:24), just as Paul admonished us as noted above. I am content in that repose, but will continue to pray, giving thanks in whatever my circumstances may be. I trust you are doing likewise.