thank God this was only my first in over 8 years in Dallas. remarkable. thank God I never lost control of the truck. surprising. thank God I know Scott Horrell. grace.

cruising along to Don Chambers and Goat on the way home from work last Friday, I heard a loud CLUNK followed by the ever-distressing POP underneath my truck. this sound did not emanate from Chambers backwoods guitar or Dylanesque voice - his Zebulon LP makes you feel the clunk and pop of life, but without the sounds.

instinctively, I pulled over and off I30 at Jim Miller and found a gas station at which to galumph to a stop. approaching the gas station I rolled down my window and heard the third signature sound of a blown tire: the vvrrr-hiss vvrrr-hiss vvrrr-hiss as it turns over and over on the hole. great.

still in my work clothes, I pulled the jack and spare out of the back, raised it up, and searched for my tire iron.

what the heck? no tire iron? what idiot neglects to carry a tire iron in his truck? really great.

I rolodexed my cell phone for a contact that could help (and didn’t live in Denton). I called Dr. Horrell and he answered with his characteristically winsome warmth. God, I love this man. after the usual greetings, he instinctively asked, “Are you ok? Do you need help?”

upon explaining my predicament (note: my wife was out of town), he made a 5-second check with his wife and then said with blessed determination, “I’ll be right there, my friend.”

a few minutes later he sailed into the gas station, grinning from ear-to-ear. I could tell he was overjoyed to be there. he could hardly wait to help. a few minutes after that we had the tire changed and I was on my way.

the aim of Dallas Seminary is to teach truth and love well. thank God Dr. Horrell blew a hole in the bull’s eye.